Highlights of Tuscany
Rural Tuscany and Renaissance Splendour
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10 Days from $3,625per
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You are viewing the 2019 itinerary
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Discover the true colours of this acclaimed region on a tour of the highlights of Tuscany. Ochre and terracotta hill towns linked by winding white roads, interspersed with fields of poppies and sunflowers contrast with the magnificent architecture of the great Renaissance cities.
Leaving from our St Pancras Departure Office, we board the Eurostar, travelling in Standard Premier Class to Paris, continuing by high-speed TGV to Chambéry, spending the night. On Day 2, we continue to Florence by high-speed rail before changing to a coach for the short transfer to Montecatini where we stay for 7 nights.
Please note: For Departure TUS1908f & TUS1906s your journey from Paris to Chambery is via Lyon Part Dieu.
Today we travel by coach to beautifully preserved medieval Siena, a charismatic Tuscan city where steep, narrow streets wind haphazardly through the town, occasionally opening out onto charming piazzas. The city is delightfully traffic-free, making it perfect to explore on foot. Walking among the terracotta-roofed houses, you will frequently stumble across secret squares and hidden back streets, discovering countless small fountains outside tiny community churches.
Sights of interest in Siena include the magnificent Duomo, one of Italy's great cathedrals with a nave flanked on both sides by intriguing giant striped columns, constructed from black and white marble. The cathedral boasts statues by Donatello, Bernini and Michelangelo as well as a unique and elaborate mosaic floor. Enjoy free time to explore after a guided tour.
Today we take an excursion deep into the heart of the Tuscan countryside, travelling by coach through the undulating ochre-coloured hills and past countless lonely farmhouses. Our first destination is charming San Gimignano, a striking walled village with a delightfully rural feel. The village is perhaps best known for the thirteen towers dominating the skyline, visible for miles around, which were built by competitive Tuscan families in the Middle Ages.
This afternoon we venture deeper into the countryside to Castello di Meleto. Surrounded by fields and vineyards, the property is located in the beautiful Chianti region, at the end of a pathway lined with cypress trees and laurel bushes. We enjoy a cookery demonstration using typical Tuscan produce and traditional recipes handed down through the generations, before sampling some of the delicious wines for which the area is justly famous. We enjoy a guided tour before dining in the castle.
Today is free to explore the attractive spa town of Montecatini. The extravagant 18th century Tettuccio Terme spa is certainly worth a visit, not only for its healing waters but also for its beautiful Liberty architecture.
A small funicular railway connects Montecatini Terme with Montecatini Alto, the old town located a few hundred metres above, which offers superb views across the rolling hills of the surrounding Tuscan countryside. Here you can admire the pretty townhouses, and the imposing churches towering high over the town below, before choosing a restaurant or café to enjoy lunch and soak up the atmosphere. Tonight we dine in a local restaurant.
A short rail journey (Standard Class) this morning takes us to the beautiful city of Florence - 'the jewel of the Renaissance'. We enjoy a guided tour of the city's many treasures, including the Duomo with its iconic red-tiled dome, and the beautiful Ponte Vecchio - a 14th century bridge that is home to 43 jewellers' shops.
Your afternoon is free to explore Florence at leisure. Picturesque narrow streets and squares, including the Piazza della Signoria - the people-watching centre of Florence - are only part of the city's charm; much of the beauty of the city is found indoors. One fifth of the world's Renaissance art is kept and displayed in Florence's museums, galleries, churches, monasteries and palaces; many in the Basilica Santa Croce and as many as 1,700 masterpieces in the world-famous Uffizi Gallery.
This morning we travel by rail (Standard Class) to Lucca - Tuscany's best-kept secret; a place of true beauty that has managed to escape the tourist crowds. Majestic city walls encircle a Roman and medieval heart packed with piazzas, art galleries and tiny churches, all connected by an intricate network of narrow cobbled streets. A stroll around the wide walkways along the top of the ancient ramparts is an excellent way to discover the true charm of the city, while you can get a bird'seye view from the Guinigi Tower, which has an oak tree growing from its top.
We then enjoy lunch in a local restaurant, before continuing to Pisa, where we have a guided tour that includes the city's beautiful Field of Miracles. Here we see the world famous Leaning Tower, which began to lean as soon as it was built and was used by Galileo to study gravity, and the marvellous white marble Duomo. The cathedral is often overlooked by tourists who flock to see the bell tower, one of the finest examples of Romanesque architecture. Day 8 is free.
Leaving Montecatini after breakfast this morning, we travel by coach to Florence, then by high-speed rail to Turin, where we spend the night.
On Day 10 we leave Italy behind, travelling by direct TGV to Paris, where we cross the city by coach to board the Eurostar to London. On arrival in the capital, your tour concludes.
This tour also has Standard Class departures available, as well as a fly home option. If you return by air your tour will end on Day 9, when you transfer to Pisa airport for your flight to London.
The following departures are guaranteed to operate:
For this tour, we recommend arriving to, and departing from, London Gatwick or London Heathrow airport (LGW or LHR). London Gatwick is approximately 30 miles from your start and end point, and London Heathrow is approximately 19 miles from your start and end point.
It is your responsibility to check and fulfil the passport, visa, health and immigration requirements applicable to your itinerary. We do not accept any responsibility if you cannot travel, or incur any other loss because you have not complied with any passport, visa, immigration requirements or health formalities. You agree to reimburse us in relation to any fines or other losses which we incur as a result of your failure to comply with any passport, visa, immigration requirements or health formalities.
Provisional departure and return times, where available, can be found together with our dates and prices by clicking on the 'Prices & Availability' button. We write to all booked customers approximately 10 weeks prior to the start of their tour to advise the exact departure and return time for their particular group.
An escorted experience and all travel arrangements
Comfortable accommodation in your destination
Delicious meals included
Exciting excursions and free time to explore
Not Included
I have recently been on a Great Rail Journey to Tuscany -
stunning scenery with the olive groves and vineyards, the mellow
stone of the hillside towns and of course the wonderful buildings
in Florence, Siena and Pisa. Very clean everywhere
too. One thing of note - it was very hot when I went
in early June - 80 degrees upwards - and so quite tiring for
walking around much. Probably better to go in April or May
in hindsight. The local guides were excellent and showed us
the main 'hotspots' and a history of each place but
the two-hour walking tours are also quite challenging for
those with mobility problems. Our Tour Manager, Ian, was very
knowledgable and helpful and able to give us some 'inside' tips of
his own.
On the last day of our tour, we went to another delightful
place - San Gimignano, which is a small medieval town surrounded by
its own wall and has a very relaxed feel to it. Lovely views
of the Tuscan countryside from there. We were then taken up to
a castle deep in the heart of the Chianti region, where we had a
cookery demonstration, a wine-tasting and then a meal in their very
fine dining-room. Quite an experience to savour!
Altogether magnifico!
The carefully organised program, the well-managed travel
arrangements and the use of skilled guides in each of the centres
visited gave us a wonderful insight into this very attractive area.
The hotel in Montecatini was very comfortable, the food appetising,
and the staff extremely kind and welcoming. Travelling comfortably
in First Class on high-speed trains enabled us to appreciate the
ever-changing scenery along the route.
The flexibility of the program enabled us to learn as much as we
could absorb from the guides with free time later in the day to
explore further while in Florence, Siena and Pisa. The free days
gave us chance to return to these honey pots or to escape from the
crowds. We enjoyed the last day, in particular the hospitality at
the castle. We soaked up the warmth of the weather and we greatly
appreciated the care of the Tour Manager and the company of our
fellow travellers.
Rural Tuscany and Renaissance Splendour
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