Tuscany and Rome for Solo Travellers by Express Coach

Local departure by coach or Home Connect service, then by coach overnight through France.

Arrive in Chianciano Terme for a six-night stay.

Our included excursion today is to Florence, the artistic capital of Italy with fashionable shops, museums, cafés and splendid architecture.

Why not join our optional guided tour to get the most from your visit? Travel by coach up the hills behind the city to Piazzale Michelangelo. From here, you can enjoy a magnificent panoramic view of the city and the surrounding countryside. Once you have taken your photos, the coach will take you back to the city, where your guide will lead you on a walking tour through the delightful streets of Florence, pointing out the major sights. See the Santa Croce church, the burial place of Michelangelo, the famous statues in Piazza della Signoria and also the magnificent Duomo of Santa Maria del Fiore.

Today you have the full day to discover the Italian capital city of Rome on our included excursion. Also, known as the ‘Eternal City’, it has been a millennium-long centre of power, culture and religion. The historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with wonderful palaces, churches, basilicas, Roman ruins, monuments and fountains, all complemented by a cosmopolitan atmosphere. Upon arrival in this beautiful city, you will have time at leisure to savour the special ambience of this former capital of the Roman Empire.

To make the most of your visit, why not join our optional guided tour? On foot and by coach, you will be introduced to the city’s wonderful sights, including the mighty Colosseum (entrance not included) and the Trevi Fountain.

Please note: although Rome is a relatively compact city, the guided sightseeing tour is by coach and on foot, and is therefore not suitable for anyone with mobility difficulties.

Enjoy a day at leisure or join our full-day optional excursion to two delightful Tuscan towns, accompanied by a local guide. San Gimignano, a medieval town that owes its famous skyline – affectionately known as ‘Medieval Manhattan’ – to the rival families who tried to outdo each other by building taller and taller towers. Of the original 76 towers, only 13 still survive today.

San Gimignano has been declared as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and is home to the crisp Vernaccia di San Gimignano white wine. The medieval centre of the town has been virtually untouched since the twelfth century. Be sure to see Piazza della Cisterna, which lies at the heart of the Old Quarter and takes its name from the well at its centre.

Next we travel to Siena, one of Italy’s best preserved medieval towns, was built on three hills and is encircled by almost intact city walls. It is filled with fine examples of Gothic architecture and boasts one of the world’s most unique town squares, the lovely shell-shaped Piazza del Campo. With its narrow streets, alleys and palazzi constructed with rose-coloured bricks, Siena is a perfect example of a typical Tuscan town.

Today’s included excursion introduces you to Umbria, the ‘Green Heart of Italy’. First we head to Assisi, world famous as the native town of St. Francis.

Enjoy free time to explore or, to make the most of your visit here, why not join our optional guided walking tour? We start in the upper part of the town (Parte de Sopra), home to the Church of Saint Claire, which dominates the Piazza with its pink and white-striped façade. Saint Claire was a loyal follower and friend of Saint Francis and the church was dedicated to her shortly after her death in 1253.

We continue to Piazza del Comune and then walk through the typical medieval streets to the Lower part of the town (Parte de Sotto) to the magnificent Basilica of Saint Francis.

Later, we take a scenic drive through the Umbrian countryside to beautiful Lake Trasimeno, the largest Italian lake south of the River Po.

A leisurely day or join our optional scenic drive around the Tuscan countryside. We begin with a visit to the enchanting fortified hill town of Montalcino. Built in 1361, the city fortress dominates the highest point and includes the tower of St. Martin, the tower of St. John and an old church, which is now known as the chapel of the castle.

We then continue to the Renaissance town of Pienza, which was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996. Finally, our scenic drive takes us to the medieval hill town of Montepulciano, famous for its wine and the traditional dish of ‘Pici’, a type of thick spaghetti served in a rich sauce.

There will be free time for you to explore each of the towns at your leisure and perhaps sample some of the famous produce.

We leave Chianciano and journey north overnight.

Return home.