Simply Tuscany

Your holiday begins at London St Pancras, where we meet the Tour Manager before boarding the Eurostar service to Paris. Changing trains in the French capital, we continue by rail to Turin.

Setting out at high speed, after passing Lyon our train slows to a more leisurely pace and we enjoy a scenic journey through the French Alps. Stopping enroute at Chambéry, we arrive in Turin station where we transfer to our accommodation for the night. After checking in, we enjoy our first dinner together in the hotel restaurant.

• Dinner

There is a free morning to explore Turin independently after breakfast. Surrounded by the Italian alps, the city's wide boulevards and grand squares are lined with cafés, shops and bars. Places to visit include the Fiat factory car museum, first opened in 1923, or the 16th-century Castello del Valentino, a World Heritage site with a botanical garden. You could walk through the public park on the banks of the River Po, or may wish to visit the city's cathedral where the Shroud of Turin is located inside a secure vault.

We continue our journey south, travelling towards Florence by rail. There, we change trains and enter typical Tuscan landscapes of rolling hills, cypress trees and olive groves, before reaching the historic spa resort of Montecatini Terme. Our hotel is in the modern, lower part of the town, close to the railway station, while above us is the medieval Old Town of Montecatini Alto. Arriving early evening, we walk the short distance to our hotel where dinner is served this evening.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Our first day in Montecatini Terme is at leisure. Popular for centuries due to its healing water, the town's 18th-century Terme Tettuccio is a drinking spa, where you can taste the water, look around the marble-lined pools and fountains, and admire Art Nouveau tiles on a guided tour. During April to October, the Montecatini Opera Festival takes place in different places around the city, including the spa complex.

You could also explore the Old Town of Montecatini Alto above the city, taking the funicular which runs late into the evening and has great views over the valley. At the top of the hill, Montecatini Alto has a central piazza, surrounded by ancient buildings, pretty pavement cafés and a charming church. This is an ideal spot to relax with a drink and soak up the atmosphere. Tonight you are free to dine independently, and there are several tempting eating places to choose from, either close to our central hotel or up in Montecatini Alto.

• Breakfast

A memorable excursion awaits, to the magnificent city of Florence. On arrival by train, a local guide introduces us to the city. From the Santa Maria Novella square we walk past the city's striking Duomo, through the medieval centre to the Palazzo Vecchio. We pass the Uffizi gallery courtyard, and our tour ends at the Ponte Vecchio, the famous 14th-century bridge, overlooking the River Arno.

The afternoon is free to enjoy Florence in your own way. You might be inspired to climb the 414 steps of Giotto's Campanile, for stunning views across the rooftops. Or visit one of Florence's impressive galleries, churches and Medici palaces. Please note, if you plan to visit the Uffizi or Accademia galleries it's best to book ahead to avoid the queues.

Another option is to cross the river to the Boboli gardens, a vast green space with fantastic views of Florence. Or visit the Mercato di San Lorenzo, where you'll find fresh produce, local crafts, indoor and outdoor dining areas, and a Chianti wine booth. We return to Montecatini Terme by rail with time to unwind before dinner.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Setting out by rail to the medieval walled-city of Lucca, you have a free morning to look around this less-visited Renaissance gem. Lucca is delightful to explore on foot but, to avoid getting lost in the maze-like centre, you could pick up a map at the Tourist Information Centre. Look out for frescoed churches and striking piazzas, especially the breathtaking Piazza Anfiteatro, which was once a Roman amphitheatre. Walking along the wide walls is a great way to see the city from above. Within the city walls is the baroque-style garden at Palazzo Pfanner, where parts of the film 'Portrait of a Lady' were shot.

We continue by rail to Pisa, where there's time to explore. In the Field of Miracles is the iconic Leaning Tower and the city's white marble Duomo. Pisa's Old Town, between the Field of Miracles and the Arno river, is a medieval area with piazzas, cafés, and shops. At the end of the afternoon we catch the train back to Montecatini Terme before dinner at our hotel.

• Breakfast, Dinner

With a day at leisure you could continue getting to know Montecatini Terme. Among the Art Nouveau buildings of the historic centre is the early 20th-century Palazzo Comunale, or Municipal Palace, which hosts Montecatini Contemporary Art (Mo.C.A) gallery and features the work of artists including Joan Mirò.

Alternatively, you could make the most of our proximity to the railway station with its frequent rail service, and take a trip to another Tuscan town or city. For example, the coastal resort of Viareggio is 50 minutes' away or the buzzing city of Bologna takes two hours to reach by train.

This evening you're free to dine on your own, and you're spoilt for choice in Montecatini Terme or Montecatini Alto - where you'll find a range of eateries, from simple osterias and pizzerias to traditional trattorias or formal ristorantes.

• Breakfast

Ahead of us is another exciting day, an excursion by coach to ancient Siena, a charming Tuscan city with a fantastic history and beautiful buildings. On arrival, our local guide takes us to the church of San Domenico and past the magnificent Duomo. We continue to the historic centre of Siena, where we reach the city's incredible Piazza del Campo - a grand, shell-shaped piazza that's one of Europe's best-preserved medieval squares. Our guide tells us the history behind the piazza, where the world-famous Palio horse races are held every July and August - an event that's been celebrated for hundreds of years.

After our tour you're free to continue sightseeing at your own pace. With its many pavement cafés, the piazza is the perfect place to enjoy a glass of Chianti or a gelato. Or you might like to try some of Siena's popular cured meats and cheeses - the local favourites are Pecorino cheese and finocchiona, a delicious salami made with fennel. We return by coach to our hotel where tonight is our last dinner in Montecatini.

• Breakfast, Dinner

This morning we say ciao to Tuscany as we transfer by coach to the resort town of Viareggio on the coast. From here we take the train to Ventimiglia, close to the French border, following the scenic coastline most of the way.

On arrival in Ventimiglia we're taken by coach into France, to the attractive resort of Saint-Raphaël on the Côte d'Azur where we spend the night, after a three-course dinner at our hotel.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Our Tuscan adventure has taken us across timeless landscapes to historic towns and Renaissance cities, from our relaxed base in Montecatini Terme, we've explored the highlights of this renowned region by rail. These include the wondrous Renaissance treasures of Florence and Lucca, the iconic sites of Pisa, beautiful Siena and the glorious Tuscan countryside.

After breakfast this morning, we leave coastal Saint-Raphaël and join our train to Paris. In the French capital we take the Eurostar service to London St Pancras. As our train pulls into London St Pancras, your holiday draws to a close and you are free to make your way home.

• Breakfast