The Essence of Tuscany - A Classic Tour including Coastal Viareggio and Cinque Terre

Day 1 - Montecatini Terme

Join your tour group at the hotel.

Hotel Minerva Palace, Montecatini Terme (4-star)

Day 2 - Florence

Today we’ll take the train to Tuscany’s beautiful capital city: Florence. Known as the ‘cradle of the Renaissance’, its streets are filled with incredible architecture, from the green and white marble façade of the Duomo (and the spectacular dome that crowns it) to the Romanesque grandeur of the Palazzo Vecchio. A guided walking tour will lead us to some of the highlights, including the cathedral, the imposing Basilica di Santa Croce, and the Piazza della Signoria - the historical heart of Florence’s social and political scene. The afternoon is at leisure for you to discover more of this wonderful city. Perhaps admire the vast collection of artworks in the Uffizi or Accademia galleries, or cross the Arno to visit the treasure-filled Pitti Palace, once the home of the powerful Medici family.

Hotel Minerva Palace, Montecatini Terme (4-star)

Day 3 - Lucca - Pisa - Torre del Lago

Nestled in the countryside midway between Pisa and Florence is the lovely little city of Lucca. Its pretty piazzas (especially the oval-shaped Piazza dell’Anfiteatro) and cobbled, café-lined streets are perfect for exploring on foot. If you’re feeling energetic, climb the 230 stone steps to the top of Torre Guinigi, where you’ll find a shady hanging garden of holm oaks and views across the terracotta rooftops and out to the Apuan Alps and Apennines. For something flatter, walk along the Renaissance walls that wrap around the city - they stretch for four kilometres. After a morning in Lucca, we'll head to Pisa, where we'll stop off to have a look at the famous Leaning Tower. Then, we’ll head to the lakeside town of Torre del Lago, where we’ll pay a visit to the Villa Puccini Museum. This art nouveau villa was once home to Giacomo Puccini, and its serene setting inspired some of his most famous operas, including La Bohème, Tosca and Madame Butterfly.

Hotel Minerva Palace, Montecatini Terme (4-star)

Day 4 - San Gimignano - Siena

UNESCO-listed San Gimignano is a classic Tuscan town: a jumble of honey-hued stone buildings clustered on a hilltop, surrounded by vineyards and groves of olive and cypress trees. But look up and you’ll see the sky punctuated by 14 medieval towers. These ancient ‘skyscrapers’ were built by wealthy families to flaunt their power - once upon a time there were more than 70 of them soaring above the town. As we make our way towards Siena, our base for the rest of our Tuscany tour, we’ll pause for a stroll around the medieval walled town of Monteriggioni.

NH Siena (4-star)

Day 5 - Siena

We’ll spend this morning uncovering Siena’s layers of history, from its Etruscan roots through its medieval ‘golden age’ to the 17th century, when the city’s world-famous horse race - il Palio - first took place. We’ll stand in the Piazza del Campo, one of Europe’s greatest medieval squares (and the setting for the twice-yearly Palio), and tour the grand cathedral, a masterpiece of Gothic and Romanesque architecture. After our guided Siena tour, the rest of the day is at leisure. Perhaps visit the Palazzo Pubblico and climb Torre del Mangia for views across the city, before rewarding your efforts with a scoop of gelato in one of the cafes skirting the Piazza del Campo. If you’re an art lover, you’ll want to stop by the Pinoteca Nazionale, with its fine collection of Renaissance paintings.

NH Siena (4-star)

Day 7 - Chianti

We’ll head into the heart of ‘wine country’ today, as we discover the delights of Chianti. We’ll slowly wind our way through the hills, stopping for a delicious Italian lunch at a lovely village restaurant. We’ll round off our tour of Chianti with a tasting at a winery.

NH Siena (4-star)

Day 6 - Siena

Today is free for you to relax or explore as you wish. Our optional excursion takes you to the Val d’Orcia Terre Senesi, where you’ll visit a peaceful abbey and admire the lunar-like clay landscapes of the Crete Senesi. You’ll then continue to the Renaissance city of Pienza, where you’ll sample locally made pecorino cheese.

NH Siena (4-star)

Day 8 - Volterra - Bolgheri - Viareggio

Making our way towards the coast, our morning stop will be the medieval jewel of Volterra, a double-walled hilltop village with a renowned history of alabaster production. There’ll be time to wander amongst the craft shops before we continue on through Tuscany’s dramatic coastal hinterland to Bolgheri. A village adored by the 19th-century poet Giosuè Carducci, it’s cypress tree-lined avenue was immortalised in his poem ‘Davanti San Guido’. Evolving around its medieval castle the lovely hilltop village is now surrounded by the vineyards that helped it become the birthplace of ‘super Tuscan’ wines, producing some of the most famous Tuscan reds and whites including Sassicaia. We’ll have time to explore or maybe sit and enjoy a glass under the castle’s gaze. We’ll arrive later in the coastal city of Viareggio.

Grand Hotel Royal Viareggio (4-star)

Day 9 - Viareggio

We’ll begin with a guided walking tour to explore this glamorous art nouveau city, a favourite holiday destination for the elite in the early 20th century. Alongside their elaborately styled villas along the coast, Viareggio became ‘the pearl of Versilia’ with a 3km-long promenade ‘la Passeggiata’ playing host to all kinds of art nouveau buildings. Some of the best examples still remain, including the Gran Caffè Margherita, Caffè Concerto Eden and the Balena bath house. The afternoon is free to explore at your own pace. Our hotel is on the promenade, so you’re perfectly situated for a wander.

Grand Hotel Royal Viareggio (4-star)

Day 10 - Cinque Terre

We head to La Spezia to board a boat for our day’s excursion along the coast to the world-famous Cinque Terre. Clinging to the rugged hillsides, these five colourful seaside villages have for centuries only been linked by walking trails and accessible by water or train. We’ll hop off our boat in three, to wander past bobbing fishing boats, small sandy beaches, traditional trattorias, seafood restaurants and rainbow-coloured buildings that ooze character. The exact villages visited will be decided on the day, but each is as wonderful as the other.

Grand Hotel Royal Viareggio (4-star)

Day 11 - Pietrasanta

This morning we’ll head a little way inland to Pietrasanta, a town that has welcomed artists and creatives for centuries, leading to its nickname the ‘Athens of Italy’. Situated between the coast and the Apuan Alps (where Michelangelo came to source the best white marble), it’s a delightful place to wander. As you amble towards to the Piazza Duomo, you’ll be tempted to browse in the workshops and craft shops or admire the many examples of ancient and modern art dotted around. There are a number of museums to while away your time or you could relax and people watch from a café on the square. We’ll return to the hotel for the afternoon.

Grand Hotel Royal Viareggio (4-star)

Day 12 - Viareggio

Today is free to spend as you please. Maybe wander further along the promenade or into town to explore more. Or head onto the beach’s golden sands for a day of vitamin sea.

Grand Hotel Royal Viareggio (4-star)

Day 13 - Viareggio

Say goodbye to your tour group for your onward travel.

Viareggio