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.
Highlights
Guided tour of Renaissance Florence
Siena with a guided tour
San Gimignano
Sightseeing tour of Pisa
Lucca
Restaurant dinner in Montecatini
What’s Included
First and Standard Class Rail Options
4* Hotel Accommodation Breakfast Every Day Selected Evening Meals 1 Lunch
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 TUS1802a you will travel to
Lille on the Eurostar where you will catch the train to Lyon before
completing your journey to Chambery by coach.
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, we travel by coach to Florence, then by
high-speed rail to Turin, where we spend the night. If you are
returning by air, you will transfer to Pisa airport today for your
flight to London, where your tour concludes.
On Day 10 we leave Italy behind, traveling 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.
We offer a Standard Class and First Class rail options for
departures on this tour. You can find out which class each
departure is by clicking on the information button in the pricing
grid.
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.
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
The services of a professional UK Tour Manager from start to
finish
Exclusive meeting point at our dedicated Departure Office in St
Pancras
First and Standard Class rail options available (Standard
Premier Class on Eurostar journeys with a light meal and
drinks)
Comfortable accommodation in your
destination
9 nights' hotel accommodation including 1 outbound overnight
stay in Chambéry, 7 nights at the 4-Star Grand Hotel Francia e
Quirinale in Montecatini, and 1 inbound overnight stay in
Turin
Delicious meals included
18 meals, including 9 breakfasts, 1 lunch and 8 dinners,
including a specialty dinner in Chianti and dinner in a local
restaurant in Montecatini
Exciting excursions and free time to
explore
Guided tours of Florence and Siena
Visit to Castello di Meleto in Chianti, including a cookery
demonstration, wine tasting and dinner in the castle
Sightseeing tour of Pisa
Excursion to Lucca
Excursion to San Gimignano
Parts of this holiday make use of portable audio headsets on
guided tours, allowing you to hear your guide clearly wherever in
the group you are
Enhancing your holiday experience
Luggage transport available from as little as
£95
What our customers think
100%
of travellers would recommend this tour
Tour Rating
based on 13 verified reviews
Great holiday & very good tour manager
Ms S Lee
Overall this was a very lovely holiday experience delivering a wonderful introduction to, and overview of Tuscany, with the right balance of guided & escorted tours and free time to explore. The hotel was well placed in Montecatini Terms, serving very good food and incredibly friendly and helpful staff. The location allowed easy access to the station for some of our day trips, and Montecatini Alto is certainly worth a visit, with stunning views across the Tuscan landscape. All day trips were well organised, good transport, and we were met by local guides to give an overview and interesting introduction to the places we visited, and there was usually enough time for an independent exploration following the guided tour. Late September is one of the busiest in the tourist season, Florence, Sienna and Pisa were absolutely packed with people, you have to expect long queues and waiting times everywhere.
Mr J Moore
Although a large group of people they were all very friendly and the tour was organised superbly by Sharon, the only criticism would be the very long day on the coach when we left the hotel around 10.00 and didn't arrive back until 11.00pm
Mr K Hitchen
holiday good food out of hotel poor
The hotel was a very good standard, the excursions were excellent and the tour manager was well organised and went beyond expectations.
Capt J Mitchell
Really good.
Did not like any of the guided tours in Italy as we could mainly not understand what was being said.
Guides gave far too much detail.
More thought given by tour managers as to seating on trains. Should ask if everybody was happy with their seating . Often in a poor seat facing 'back to the driver' and/or with a pillar obstructing view. I was not the only one.
Mr J Appleby
Exceptional accommodation and meals.
Planned excursions and off-days were correctly spaced.
Fantastic tour manager, very comfortable accommodation and good food.
Mr C Munslow
We had a fabulous holiday with Great Train Journeys. The train journey was well organised, very comfortable and efficient.
The hotels we stayed in were absolutely perfect, good rooms, good service and excellent food.
Our visit to Tuscany was very memorable.
Our tour manager was very efficient, helpful and went the extra mile to ensure we all had a very enjoyable holiday.
Dr E Nash
Holiday experience great. A few problems with moving cases at stations etc with distances to walk
