The Essence of Tuscany - A Classic Tour including Coastal Viareggio and Cinque Terre
The Essence of Tuscany - A Classic Tour including Coastal Viareggio and Cinque Terre
The Essence of Tuscany - A Classic Tour including Coastal Viareggio and Cinque Terre
13 Days
Tour operator:
Tour code:
TTTVC
Tour Overview
Rural Tuscany really is a picture-perfect sight - rolling hills draped with grapevines, honey-stone houses and fields of silvery olive trees. On this relaxed Tuscany tour, we’ll combine the countryside and the region’s historic towns with the relaxing cities and characterful villages on the coast. In 13 leisurely days, we’ll travel from Renaissance Florence to art nouveau Viareggio, sampling superb wines in Chianti and concluding with a trip to the colourful villages of the Cinque Terre, each clinging to the hills overlooking the Ligurian Sea.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1
Titan’s VIP door-to-door travel service collects you from home for your flight to Florence. Our Italy tour begins in Montecatini Terme, a spa town in the heart of Tuscany - we’ll head straight to our hotel here.
Day 2
Today we’ll take the train to Tuscany’s beautiful capital city: Florence. Known as the ‘cradle of the Renaissance’, its streets are filled with incredible architecture, from the green and white marble façade of the Duomo (and the spectacular dome that crowns it) to the Romanesque grandeur of the Palazzo Vecchio.
A guided walking tour will lead us to some of the highlights, including the cathedral, the imposing Basilica di Santa Croce, and the Piazza della Signoria - the historical heart of Florence’s social and political scene.
The afternoon is at leisure for you to discover more of this wonderful city. Perhaps admire the vast collection of artworks in the Uffizi or Accademia galleries, or cross the Arno to visit the treasure-filled Pitti Palace, once the home of the powerful Medici family.
Day 3
Nestled in the countryside midway between Pisa and Florence is the lovely little city of Lucca. Its pretty piazzas (especially the oval-shaped Piazza dell’Anfiteatro) and cobbled, café-lined streets are perfect for exploring on foot. If you’re feeling energetic, climb the 230 stone steps to the top of Torre Guinigi, where you’ll find a shady hanging garden of holm oaks and views across the terracotta rooftops and out to the Apuan Alps and Apennines. For something flatter, walk along the Renaissance walls that wrap around the city - they stretch for four kilometres.
After a morning in Lucca, we'll head to Pisa, where we'll stop off to have a look at the famous Leaning Tower. Then, we’ll head to the lakeside town of Torre del Lago, where we’ll pay a visit to the Villa Puccini Museum. This art nouveau villa was once home to Giacomo Puccini, and its serene setting inspired some of his most famous operas, including La Bohème, Tosca and Madame Butterfly.
Day 4
UNESCO-listed San Gimignano is a classic Tuscan town: a jumble of honey-hued stone buildings clustered on a hilltop, surrounded by vineyards and groves of olive and cypress trees. But look up and you’ll see the sky punctuated by 14 medieval towers. These ancient ‘skyscrapers’ were built by wealthy families to flaunt their power - once upon a time there were more than 70 of them soaring above the town.
As we make our way towards Siena, our base for the rest of our Tuscany tour, we’ll pause for a stroll around the medieval walled town of Monteriggioni.
Day 5
We’ll spend this morning uncovering Siena’s layers of history, from its Etruscan roots through its medieval ‘golden age’ to the 17th century, when the city’s world-famous horse race - il Palio - first took place. We’ll stand in the Piazza del Campo, one of Europe’s greatest medieval squares (and the setting for the twice-yearly Palio), and tour the grand cathedral, a masterpiece of Gothic and Romanesque architecture.
After our guided Siena tour, the rest of the day is at leisure. Perhaps visit the Palazzo Pubblico and climb Torre del Mangia for views across the city, before rewarding your efforts with a scoop of gelato in one of the cafes skirting the Piazza del Campo. If you’re an art lover, you’ll want to stop by the Pinoteca Nazionale, with its fine collection of Renaissance paintings.
Day 6
We’ll head into the heart of ‘wine country’ today, as we discover the delights of Chianti. We’ll slowly wind our way through the hills, stopping for a delicious Italian lunch at a lovely village restaurant. We’ll round off our tour of Chianti with a tasting at a winery.
Day 7
Today is free for you to relax or explore as you wish. Our optional excursion takes you to the Val d’Orcia Terre Senesi, where you’ll visit a peaceful abbey and admire the lunar-like clay landscapes of the Crete Senesi. You’ll then continue to the Renaissance city of Pienza, where you’ll sample locally made pecorino cheese.
Day 8
Making our way towards the coast, our morning stop will be the medieval jewel of Volterra, a double-walled hilltop village with a renowned history of alabaster production. There’ll be time to wander amongst the craft shops before we continue on through Tuscany’s dramatic coastal hinterland to Bolgheri.
A village adored by the 19th-century poet Giosuè Carducci, it’s cypress tree-lined avenue was immortalised in his poem ‘Davanti San Guido’. Evolving around its medieval castle the lovely hilltop village is now surrounded by the vineyards that helped it become the birthplace of ‘super Tuscan’ wines, producing some of the most famous Tuscan reds and whites including Sassicaia. We’ll have time to explore or maybe sit and enjoy a glass under the castle’s gaze.
We’ll arrive later in the coastal city of Viareggio.
Day 9
We’ll begin with a guided walking tour to explore this glamorous art nouveau city, a favourite holiday destination for the elite in the early 20th century. Alongside their elaborately styled villas along the coast, Viareggio became ‘the pearl of Versilia’ with a 3km-long promenade ‘la Passeggiata’ playing host to all kinds of art nouveau buildings. Some of the best examples still remain, including the Gran Caffè Margherita, Caffè Concerto Eden and the Balena bath house.
The afternoon is free to explore at your own pace. Our hotel is on the promenade, so you’re perfectly situated for a wander.
Day 10
We head to La Spezia to board a boat for our day’s excursion along the coast to the world-famous Cinque Terre. Clinging to the rugged hillsides, these five colourful seaside villages have for centuries only been linked by walking trails and accessible by water or train. We’ll hop off our boat in three, to wander past bobbing fishing boats, small sandy beaches, traditional trattorias, seafood restaurants and rainbow-coloured buildings that ooze character. The exact villages visited will be decided on the day, but each is as wonderful as the other.
Day 11
This morning we’ll head a little way inland to Pietrasanta, a town that has welcomed artists and creatives for centuries, leading to its nickname the ‘Athens of Italy’. Situated between the coast and the Apuan Alps (where Michelangelo came to source the best white marble), it’s a delightful place to wander. As you amble towards to the Piazza Duomo, you’ll be tempted to browse in the workshops and craft shops or admire the many examples of ancient and modern art dotted around. There are a number of museums to while away your time or you could relax and people watch from a café on the square.
We’ll return to the hotel for the afternoon.
Day 12
Today is free to spend as you please. Maybe wander further along the promenade or into town to explore more. Or head onto the beach’s golden sands for a day of vitamin sea.
Day 13
We transfer to the airport for your return flight to the UK. Upon arrival, your Titan vehicle will be waiting for the journey home.
What's Included
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12 nights in hotels
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Titan tour manager
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International flights. Prices are based on return flights with British Airways from London Heathrow.
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21 meals: 12 breakfasts 1 lunch 8 dinnersundefined excursions and visits
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Walking tours of Florence, Lucca, Siena and Viareggio
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Entry to Villa Puccini Museum
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Visits to Pisa, San Gimignano, Monteriggioni, Volterra, Bolgheri and Pietrasanta
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Excursion to Chianti with wine tasting
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Excursion by boat to the Cinque TerrePlus
Check out our Q&As
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Do I have to pay a Single Supplement?
In most cases a single supplement will apply. If the price for a Single room for sole occupancy is not shown, please ask our team for details and we will be able to check the details for you.
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
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How long has the tour company been trading?
We've been taking our customers across the world on escorted tours for more than 40 years
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
Our commitment to sustainable travel is part of our ethos. We love exploring the world and hope that, alongside our customers, we can be part of a bigger change in respecting the people and wildlife on our planet and minimising the impact we have on our environment.
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What policies are in place for Covid-19?
With some COVID-19 rules and restrictions still in place there are a few details that you need to know. This information is subject to change. It’s your responsibility to monitor changes and ensure you fulfil all relevant criteria for travel. Rest assured that we’re on hand to help and answer any questions you might have.
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What documents will I receive before I travel?
You’ll receive your Final holiday documents via email approximately 14 days prior to your departure.
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Low Deposit
Barrhead Travel requires a minimum deposit of 200 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 98 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of barrhead travel charges.
Up to 98 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 97 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 74 days before tour starts: Forfeit 75% of booking price.
At 28 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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