Escorted Tour
For centuries Italy has attracted visitors in search of culture and romance and there are few countries that can rival its renowned Classical origins, its art, music, architecture, scenery, food and wine. As home to the Roman Empire, the Renaissance, the Roman Catholic Church and the Vatican, its contribution to the arts surpasses that of any other nation.
Tuscany embodies much that Italy is famous for, possessing more historical monuments than any other country, let alone province, on earth. Its cities, Florence - arguably the finest city of the Renaissance, Siena and Pisa, together with smaller towns and medieval villages like Lucca and San Gimignano, house some of the world’s finest artistic treasures. Combine this with the haunting beauty of the local countryside, an enviable climate, one of the world’s great cuisines, and of course, with the Italians themselves, and you have all the ingredients for a superb holiday.
Visit Florence, Italy’s finest renaissance city and enjoy the rural charm of Tuscany on our superb escorted tour
Return flights
Seven nights bed and breakfast staying in three-star superior and four-star hotels, with four dinners
Stay in central Florence and enchanting Tuscany
Guided tour of Florence – pearl of the Renaissance
Reserved, timed visit to the Uffizi, quite simply one of the world’s finest art collections
Visit to San Gimignano, one of Italy’s most beautiful hill-top villages
Guided tour of Siena, one of the finest medieval cities
Visit to Pisa – home of the leaning tower and it’s amazing cathedral, some of Italy’s finest renaissance buildings
Experience the hauntingly beautiful Tuscan countryside
Escorted by our experienced tour manager
Itinerary
Day 1
You should arrive at the airport to take your flight. On arrival, a coach will take you to Florence and our hotel where we stay for three nights on a bed and breakfast basis, either at the three-star superior rated Hotel Corona D’Italia, ideally located in the San Lorenzo district of the city, ten minutes walk from the Cathedral. All the rooms have private facilities, air-conditioning, mini-bar, hairdryer, television and telephone. The hotel has a bar and breakfast room. Or at the four-star rated Grand Hotel Mediterraneo. This hotel enjoys an enviable position on the banks of the River Arno, close to the Piazza Santa Croce and well located for access into the historical centre. All the rooms have air-conditioning, mini-bar, satellite television, safe and hairdryer. The hotel has a choice of restaurants, offering international and Italian cuisine, plus a lounge, American bar and terrace (summer only).
Day 2 - Florence
After breakfast you have a guided walking tour of Florence, “pearl of the Renaissance”, a superb and beautiful city and deservedly on the traveller’s map since the days of the Grand Tour. The sights are legendary and you see some of the best of them: the Cathedral – which can house a congregation of thousands and the Baptistry – the oldest building in the city. You will also see the Ponte Vecchio – the superb bridge over the river Arno, lined with goldsmiths and a symbol of the city itself.
During the afternoon you have a reserved visit to the Uffizi art gallery where superlatives are the minimum expressions you can use to describe its phenomenal collection. Built up over three hundred years, this originally private collection belonging to the all-powerful Medici family, and subsequently bequeathed to the people of Florence, contains masterpieces by some of the greatest artists who have ever lived: Botticelli; Leonardo da Vinci; Michelangelo; Titian; Rembrandt and Van Dyck. There are many more too, literally room upon room of them which will amaze you!
Day 3 - Lucca & Pisa
After breakfast you leave for Lucca, birthplace of the great composer Puccini, a delightful city where you can wander amongst the medieval streets, tiny piazzas and along the ramparts circling the city. Its cathedral is outstanding and famous as one of the most intricate in Tuscany. Then you take the short drive to Pisa where nothing can prepare the visitor for the almost shock-like impact of its bizarre leaning tower! Famous since the dawn of tourism, it has tilted since it was built over six hundred years ago and today still remains one of the great must-see buildings on earth. We then return to our hotel.
Day 4 - Free Day, Florence
Florence will amaze you and there is so much to see, yet being medieval it is also so compact. Today you are free to explore this wonderful city of the Renaissance. There is the Accademia, the oldest art school in the world which houses Michelangelo’s David, one of the world’s finest sculptures; the Archaeological museum containing an outstanding collection of exhibits from ancient Greece, Rome and Egypt; the Science museum which contains many of Galileo’s telescopes together with the world’s first adding machine. Situated in the medieval heart of the city is the magnificent cathedral, dominating the skyline, some of which dates from the 4th century. Built from white, green and pink marble it glows in the sunshine and the richness of the interior is remarkable with beautiful frescoes and an amazingly intricate marble pavement. However, Florence is much more than a city caught in the past, it has an ambience you will love, packed with cosy restaurants and street cafés where you can simply watch the world go by, the very essence of Italy and the Mediterranean lifestyle.
At the end of the day you drive to one of our carefully selected four star rated hotels in Tuscany for the next four nights on half-board. The Park Hotel Le Fonti, partly converted from an old farm, is set on the edge of the old town of Volterra with spectacular views over the surrounding countryside, and has a bar, good quality restaurant and a panoramic terrace. The Palazzo San Lorenzo is set right in the heart of the town of Colle Di Val d’Elsa, known as the ‘City of Crystal’. Converted from an old hospital the hotel offers thoroughly modern comforts, a beautiful winter garden housing the bar and breakfast room, outside terrace and a restaurant serving delicious local specialities. Hotel ll Piccolo Castello is situated in its own grounds close to the walled hilltop town of Monteriggioni. Built on one level around a central garden the hotel is decorated with traditional frescoes and is a lovely relaxing base, with spacious lounge and manicured gardens, bar and restaurant serving delicious Tuscan food. Rooms in all hotels are air conditioned with private facilities, mini bar, safe, television and telephone. In short your comfort is assured whichever hotel you stay in.
Day 5 - San Gimignano & Volterra
After breakfast you start to explore the rural Tuscany of undulating hillsides, isolated farmhouses surrounded by tall cypress trees, biscuit and ochre coloured valleys, made famous by Renaissance paintings and countless travel posters. You soon arrive in one of Italy’s most beautiful villages, San Gimignano, with its stunning skyline of thirteen towers, built by rival nobles during the 13th century, it evokes images of medieval Tuscany perhaps better than any anywhere else in the province. This wondrous village is delightfully rural and it is lovely to just wander through its cobbled streets, take in the view and simply absorb its atmosphere. Vollterra, is a typical Tuscan town, dramatically situated high on a hill, commanding dramatic views of the countryside and surrounded by immense stone ramparts. The small historic centre is a maze of narrow cobbled streets surrounded by the high buildings so typical of Italy. Street life revolves around the main Piazza, one of the finest and best preserved in Tuscany, and beautifully atmospheric, especially during the evening when the locals, often entire families, meet and seemingly argue about the day’s events. What could be finer than to sip a glass of wine as the sun goes down and absorb this wonderful ambience. Founded by the Etruscans, easily defended, Vollterra grew prosperous during medieval times mining alabaster, used to carve intricate artefacts, which decorate the innumerable churches and cathedrals of Tuscany and beyond. The craft is still carried on today and you will have the opportunity to visit the many artisan outlets. It also has one of the best archaeological museums in Italy, which is well worth a visit.
Day 6 - Siena
After breakfast we take the short drive to Siena, one of the finest medieval cities in the world which was, during the 12th and 13th centuries one of its richest and a similar size to Paris! An unrivalled period of building took place and the palaces, grandiose townhouses and spacious piazzas you see today, were created. The main square, the Campo, is widely acknowledged as one of the world’s finest! Unusually formed in a half-moon shape, the square is surrounded by tall and centuries old buildings, all very different and yet also harmonious. With its abundance of pavement cafés, just enjoy a coffee and reflect on all the visitors who preceded you.
Perhaps the finest place to visit in Siena is its outstanding cathedral, one of Italy’s greatest. Built from black and white marble it has some of the most intricate carvings imaginable, some of which are by the great master himself, Michelangelo. The floor is a revelation, laid with countless thousands of interlocking stones, creating a unique inlaid surface at which, one can only marvel at the sheer skill of its creators. Impressive as it is today, had a planned additional nave been completed during the 14th century, it would have created the largest church in Christendom. The Black Death halted construction as two thirds of the population perished and the city fell into rapid decline. Little else was built but fortunately even less demolished, thus accounting for Siena’s remarkable preservation. We will have a guided tour of the city and during the afternoon you are free to explore as you wish.
Day 7 - Free Day
Today we have a free day to explore as you wish. So what is it to be? A stroll around the village, a coffee in the main square watching the world go by, a dip in the hotel pool or just catch up on some reading - the choice is yours.
Day 8
The coach will return us to the airport at the appropriate time to take our return flight.
From Manchester or Edinburgh
02 May 2024 Edinburgh Airport Corona d'Italia Hotel 3* Superior £1,499.00
11 May 2024 Manchester Airport Grand Hotel Mediterraneo 4* £1,609.00
07 Jun 2024 Manchester Airport Grand Hotel Mediterraneo 4* £1,919.00
07 Jun 2024 Manchester Airport Grand Hotel Mediterraneo 4* £1,919.00
21 Jun 2024 Manchester Airport Grand Hotel Mediterraneo 4* £1,549.00
20 Sep 2024 Manchester Airport Corona d'Italia Hotel 3* Superior £1,799.00
20 Sep 2024 Manchester Airport Corona d'Italia Hotel 3* Superior £1,799.00
06 Oct 2024 Edinburgh Airport Grand Hotel Mediterraneo 4* £1,819.00
06 Oct 2024 Edinburgh Airport Grand Hotel Mediterraneo 4* £1,819.00
11 Oct 2024 Manchester Airport Grand Hotel Mediterraneo 4* £1,499.00
All passengers must have a valid passport for this tour. Depending on the country issuing your passport, a visa may also be required. More information can be found at the Identity & Passport Service
Identity and Passport service
Customers should ensure that they are fit enough to travel, please check with your General Practictioner and www.fco.gov.uk/travel and www.nathnac.org
The latest advice from the Foreign & Commonwealth Office about travelling abroad
Foreign and commonwealth office
TRAVEL INSURANCE
We advise customers take travel insurance for all bookings
Call Just Travel Cover 0800 2942972 quoting reference L4746 for best prices or
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Tour operated by Riviera Travel ATOL NO 3430.
Westoe Travel act as agent for Riviera Travel
Riviera Travel Terms and Conditions apply
Mobility We want to ensure you make the correct choice before you book your holiday with us. If you have any concerns regarding the suitability of the holiday due to reduced mobility we would encourage you to call us to discuss these concerns
We strongly advise that you check the latest advice from the Foreign and commonwealth office about travelling abroad both before booking and before travelling
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