Treasures of Tuscany and Florence

Treasures of Tuscany and Florence

Join this magical trip to Tuscany and you’ll stay in a comfortable four-star hotel in the delightful town of Montecatini Terme. Renowned for its thermal waters, it’s the perfect place to relax and unwind.

You’ll head out to explore all that Tuscany has to offer on a series of day trips. We’ve included a guided tour of the incredible city of Florence and an opportunity to admire the Leaning Tower of Pisa. You will also discover stunning medieval towns surrounded by beautiful countryside and enjoy a tasting of wine and local specialities in Chianti – delicious!

In between the sightseeing you can make your own plans, relax at the hotel, explore independently, or join one of our optional excursions, it’s your holiday so pick whatever’s right for you.

What's Included:

• Return flights from London
• 7 nights in a 4-star hotel
• 13 meals: 7 breakfasts, 1 light lunches, 5 dinners and welcome drink
• Travelsphere Holiday Director and Specialist Local Guide
• Overseas transfers, other transportation and porterage

Included Holiday Highlights:

• ​See the Leaning Tower of Pisa and visit the Leonardo da Vinci Museum
• Local food and wine-tasting at Castello di Vicchiomaggio in Chianti
• Night at the Montecatini Opera Festival (subject to timetable and weather)
• Trip to the 'art city' of Florence
• Tour of medieval Lucca

Day 1 - 7: Grand Hotel Tamerici and Principe Accommodation

Grand Hotel Tamerici & Principe is in the heart of the spa town of Montecatini Terme, close to parks, thermal spas and shops. Distinguished by elegant furnishing the family-run hotel has a big hall with different seating arrangements, a garden terrace with a swimming pool, a bar and a restaurant serving a mix of Italian and international cuisine. The hotel has a Wellness Centre (payable locally), including the Myricae SPA with sauna, Turkish bath, emotional showers with chromo-therapy, a hot tub with mini-pool, a relaxation area and Tearoom. If you wish to upgrade to a prestige room with a balcony for a supplement please call and our Holiday Advisors will be happy to assist (available on selected departures).

Day 1: UK - Pisa

Your holiday starts today as you travel to the airport and fly to Pisa. When you arrive, we’ll drive you straight to your hotel in the peaceful spa town of Montecatini Terme. Situated between Pisa and Florence, it’s the perfect place from which to explore the delights of Tuscany.

Meals included: D

Day 2: Pisa - Vinci

Your adventure begins in earnest with an exciting morning excursion to the city of Pisa. Awe at the aptly named Leaning Tower of Pisa that sits within the city’s Field of Miracles, next to the impressive marble cathedral and mighty Pisa Baptistery.

Later, we'll head to the hilltop town of Vinci, famous for being the birthplace of legendary Italian artist and sculptor Leonardo da Vinci. Known for his hugely influential works like 'The Last Supper' and the 'Mona Lisa', a Local Guide will teach us all about the artist's life during the Renaissance era. We'll also stop off at the Museum of Leonardo da Vinci to see some of his early inventions.

Meals included: B,D

Day 3: Chianti

Wine aficionados will particularly look forward to today's trip to Chianti, one of the country's most prestigious wine regions. We travel to Greve, where you'll find the idyllic Castello di Vicchiomaggio, one of the most beautiful and well-preserved castles in Tuscany, immersed in a park of more than 130 hectares. The castle in the heart of the Chianti Classico region has a long history of wine-making, dating right back to the 10th century. It's made an awful lot of wine! Take a tour of its 16th century underground wine cellars to see where the wine is traditionally aged in huge oak barrels and learn how the grapes are still harvested by hand. It'll then be time for a tasting and a light lunch of complementary local speciality dishes on the castle's atmospheric terrace which overlooks miles of lush Tuscan vineyards.

Later, you'll get to enjoy an open-air performance at the renowned Montecatini Opera Festival.

Meals included: B,L,D

Day 4: Florence

Today we discover irresistible Florence. The capital of Tuscany and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it's also known as Italy's 'art city' thanks to dozens of stunning structures and galleries packed with masterpieces from the Renaissance period. Tick off its top sights, from the medieval Ponte Vecchio lined with jewellery shops to the magnificent Duomo with its terracotta-tiled dome, on a tour hosted by a Local Guide.

Florence is also a great city to indulge in a spot of shopping, whether that's designer stores or local markets. Head to Mercato Nuovo for unique souvenirs and to see the bronze statue of Il Porcellino (the Boar) that's said to give you good luck if you rub its snout and place a coin in its mouth.

Meals included: B,D

Day 5: Montecatini - at Leisure

Enjoy a day at leisure soaking up the delights of Montecatini Terme. Perhaps visit one of the town's thermal spas for a pampering treatment or take a funicular railway ride up to the medieval village of Montecatini Alto to admire fabulous panoramic views.

You'll also have the chance to join an optional excursion that begins with a visit to the beautiful hilltop town of San Gimignano. We'll spend the morning admiring gorgeous views of the Tuscan countryside and exploring the town's 14 medieval towers, built by families as a display of their power and wealth. Next up is a brief stop at the charming hamlet of Abbadia a Isola and its peaceful 10th-century abbey, before we head to the town of Monteriggioni for a guided history tour of its beautifully intact medieval walls and buildings. Try on replica armour and get to grips with historic weaponry at the Museum of Medieval Armour and Weapons before tucking into a traditional meal at a local restaurant.

Meals included: B

Day 6: Montecatini - at Leisure

You have the flexibility of deciding how to spend your day. You could indulge in another relaxing spa treatment in Montecatini Terme, explore the town’s tempting range of restaurants and boutiques, or pack in even more Tuscan treasures with our full-day optional tour. You’ll visit the beautiful hilltop town of Montalcino. It's famed for producing Brunello di Montalcino, a red wine made primarily from subtly spicy Sangiovese grapes. After meandering around the town's cobbled lanes, we'll move on to Siena to discover its lovely medieval charm. Strolling through the perfectly preserved city centre, you’ll discover highlights including the spectacular fan-shaped main square, Piazza del Campo, and a striking white-marble cathedral.apons before tucking into a traditional meal at a local restaurant.

Meals included: B

Day 7: Lucca

Today, you'll spend time in one of Tuscany's most beautiful towns - Lucca. It lies just west of Montecatini Terme and is bursting with some of the finest examples of Italian medieval and Renaissance architecture. As well as being the birthplace of composer Puccini, Lucca is also home to the Volto Santo relic. This sacred wooden sculpture of Christ thought to date back to 742 AD, is kept in the city's stunning Romanesque St Martin Cathedral.

Meals included: B,D

Day 8: Pisa - UK

It’s the end of an incredible week in Tuscany and after breakfast, we’ll take you back to the airport for your flight home.

Meals included: B