Highlights of Tuscany

We meet at London St Pancras, where we take the Eurostar service to Paris. Changing trains, we continue by rail to Turin where we spend the night. An attractive Italian city filled with Baroque and Renaissance architecture, Turin is a fantastic introduction to the country, with wide boulevards and grand public squares lined with enticing cafés and bars.

• Dinner
• Eurostar Meal

Leaving Turin, we continue to Florence by rail. From here we transfer to Montecatini Terme, where we stay for seven nights. The picturesque town is nestled amidst glorious Tuscan countryside and is split into two parts. First, there's Montecatini Alto, the oldest part of the town which sits at the top of a hill. There are many delightful buildings dotted along the narrow streets here, together with a choice of pretty pavement cafés and a charming church. Montecatini Alto is connected with the lower part of the town by a funicular railway, which runs late into the evening and offers wonderful views over the valley.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Enjoy a free day to get to know Montecatini. The attractive spa town is famous for its thermal waters, and there's a number of wonderful spas you could spend some time in. The extravagant 18th century Tettuccio Terme spa is worth a visit, not only for its healing waters but for its beautiful Liberty architecture, marble-lined pools, fountains and Art Nouveau tiles. There's also Terme Leopoldine, which is built in the style of a classical temple.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Today takes us into the Tuscan countryside, through ochre-coloured hills and past secluded farmhouses. We arrive in San Gimignano, a walled village known for its thirteen towers, where you have some free time to explore. This afternoon we venture to Castello di Verrazzano. The castle is located in the Chianti region, nestled on top of a hill overlooking the lush countryside. We enjoy a guided tour of the gardens and historic aging cellar before a tasting of the wines for which the area is famous. After, we settle down for dinner using the best of local Tuscan produce.

• Breakfast, Dinner

We travel to Lucca, where you have some time to explore. A ride along the ancient ramparts offers up unforgettable views, and bike hire is included, with a choice of single, tandem, or four-seater bikes - the perfect way to get to know the city. We enjoy lunch in a local restaurant before continuing to Pisa, where a guided tour introduces us to the famous Field of Miracles. We see the iconic Leaning Tower, renowned around the world for its jaunty angle, as well as the striking white marble Romanesque Duomo.

• Breakfast, Lunch

We travel by rail to the beautiful city of Florence - known as 'the Jewel of the Renaissance'. We enjoy a guided tour of the city's treasures, including the Duomo with its red-tiled dome, and the Ponte Vecchio - an elegant 14th-century bridge. Your afternoon is free to explore at your own pace. Labyrinthine streets and quaint city squares are only part of the city's charm; much of the beauty of the city is found indoors, with one fifth of the world's Renaissance art kept and displayed in Florence's galleries, churches, and palaces.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Today is spent exploring Montecatini Terme at your own pace, or perhaps relaxing in the comfort of your hotel. If you fancy heading out to explore, you could take the funicular railway to Montecatini Alto, the medieval old town. Here, you can admire views across the Tuscan hills and stroll amongst the townhouses, churches, and town walls, before choosing a café in which to enjoy lunch. Typical Tuscan cuisine is humble yet mouthwatering, with simple dishes executed exceptionally well. Try crostini di fegato, warm bread topped with chicken liver pate, or pasta finished with olive oil and shaved truffle foraged from the surrounding countryside.

• Breakfast

We travel to medieval Siena, a charismatic Tuscan city where a labyrinth of narrow streets open out onto charming piazzas. The Duomo here is one of Italy's most magnificent, boasting statues by Donatello and Michelangelo, as well as an elaborate mosaic floor. The city's most famous sight, however, is the incredible Piazza del Campo - a grand, shell-shaped piazza that's regarded as one of the continent's best medieval squares. We discover the sights on a guided tour before some free time, perhaps to sample some of the cured meats and cheeses that are popular in the city. Opt for Siena's most iconic cheese, pecorino, alongside finocchiona, a delicious local salami made with fennel.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Bidding farewell to Montecatini Terme, we transfer to Viareggio for a rail journey along the stunning coast. We take in the truly beautiful scenery that passes by the train's windows on the way to the French city of Nice, on the sparkling Côte d'Azur. We spend the night here in a local hotel.

• Breakfast

Our holiday comes to an end today as we board the train for Paris. In the French capital, we change for the Eurostar, which takes us back to London St Pancras.

• Breakfast
• Eurostar Meal