Highlights of Tuscany

After meeting at our London St Pancras Departure Office, we take the Eurostar to Paris, continuing by rail to Turin for the night. On Day 2 we continue to Florence and transfer by coach to Montecatini, where we stay for seven nights. Day 3 is free in Montecatini, an attractive spa town famous for its thermal waters. 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.

• Day 1 - Eurostar Meal, Dinner
• Day 2 - Breakfast, Dinner
• Day 3 - Breakfast, Dinner

Today takes us by coach deep into the Tuscan countryside, through undulating ochre-coloured hills and past secluded farmhouses. Our first destination is San Gimignano, a walled village with a charming rural feel. The village is perhaps best known for the thirteen towers which rise up into the skyline. This afternoon we venture to Castello di Meleto for a guided tour. Surrounded by fields and vineyards, the castle 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 dinner and a tasting of the wines for which the area is justly famous.

• Breakfast, Dinner

This morning we travel by rail to Lucca, where you have some time to explore. 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's-eye view from the Guinigi Tower, which has an oak tree growing from its top. We enjoy lunch in a local restaurant, before continuing to Pisa, where a guided tour includes the Field of Miracles. We see the renowned Leaning Tower, famous for its jaunty angle, and the white marble Duomo, a superb example of Romanesque architecture.

• Breakfast, Lunch

A short rail journey 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 Ponte Vecchio - a 14th-century bridge that is home to 43 jewellers' shops. Your afternoon is free to explore Florence. Labyrinthine streets and squares, including the Piazza della Signoria - the café-packed peoplewatching centre of Florence - 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 museums, galleries, churches, and palaces.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Today is free in Montecatini. You could take the funicular railway to Montecatini Alto, the medieval old town atop a hill. Here, you can admire views across the Tuscan hills, and stroll amongst the pretty townhouses, historic churches, and ruined town walls, before choosing a café in which to enjoy lunch.

On Day 8 we travel to medieval Siena. Siena boasts a magnificent Duomo, which is regarded as one of Italy's great cathedrals and boasts statues by Donatello and Michelangelo. The city's most famous sight however, is the Piazza del Campo - a vast, shell-shaped piazza that is regarded as one of the greatest medieval squares on the continent. We enjoy a guided tour before free time to stroll among the terracotta-roofed houses, stumbling across secret squares and hidden back streets, or perhaps sample some local produce. The city is famous for Sienese panforte, a traditional desert similar to Christmas cake, and packed with fruits and nuts. Or, seek out some local cured meats and cheeses, which are best accompanied by a glass of Tuscan wine.

• Day 7 - Breakfast
• Day 8 - Breakfast, Dinner

Leaving Montecatini, we travel by coach to Viareggio for the train to Nice, via Genova, where we spend the night. On Day 10 we take the train to Paris, where we board the Eurostar to London St Pancras.

• Day 9 - Breakfast
• Day 10 - Breakfast, Eurostar Meal