Tuscany: Florence, San Gimignano & Pisa

Day 1  London to Turin, Italy        
Meet your fellow travellers and tour director at St Pancras to take the Eurostar to Paris. Change trains and continue to Turin in Northern Italy, home for the night.            

Day 2  Turin to Montecatini            
After breakfast, your morning is free to explore the nearby attractions of Turin. The city is one of bustling modern city but still showcases fantastic Baroque and Renaissance architecture. Fringed by the Italian Alps, Turin's wide boulevards and grand public squares are lined with enticing cafés and bars. Shortly after midday, we walk to the railway station for our First Class journey to Florence. On arrival, we are transferred by coach to Montecatini Terme, our delightful base for the next seven nights. This picturesque spa town is set in Tuscan countryside and split into two parts. The lower town is known as Montecatini Terme, while on the hill above us is the Old Town of Montecatini Alto.

Day 3  Montecatini          
There's nothing like the feeling of waking up in surroundings as beautiful as Tuscany, and today you are free to see more of Montecatini Terme independently. Among the facilities at our central hotel are an inviting outdoor swimming pool (usually open from May to October) and a sun terrace for warmer days.

Day 4  Florence            
Travel by rail to beautiful Florence, known as the Jewel of the Renaissance. On arrival enjoy a guided tour of the city's treasures, including the Duomo with its red-tiled dome and the Ponte Vecchio - an elegant 14th Century bridge. The afternoon is free to explore at your own pace.        

Day 5  Lucca and Pisa      
Travel by rail to the walled city of Lucca, packed with piazzas, art galleries and churches. A stroll along the top of the ancient ramparts is an excellent way to discover the true charm of the city. Enjoy lunch in a local restaurant before continuing to Pisa for a guided tour of the city and a chance to see the iconic Leaning Tower.              

Day 6  San Gimignano and Chianti              
This morning, take an excursion into the Tuscan countryside arriving in San Gimignano, a walled village known for its thirteen towers.  Later, enjoy a guided tour of the gardens and historic cellar before a tasting of the wines for which the area is famous. Afterwards, we sit down to a dinner made from delicious local produce.

Day 7  Florence to Montecatini                
Today you are free to explore. Perhaps ride the funicular railway to Montecatini Alto, the medieval old town atop a hill.

Day 8  Siena            
Travel to medieval Siena, home to a magnificent Duomo which is regarded as one of Italy’s great cathedrals as well as seeing its most famous sight the Piazza del Campo. Enjoy a guided tour before free time to stroll among the terracotta-roofed houses and hidden back streets.          

Day 9  Montecatini to Côte d'Azur, France              
Bidding farewell to Montecatini Terme after an early breakfast this morning, we transfer by coach to the coastal town of Viareggio. Our journey continues by First Class rail journey along the stunning Ligurian coastline, passing the pastel-coloured houses of the Cinque Terre and enjoying ever-changing scenery as we travel towards Ventimiglia, close to the French border. On arrival in the border town of Ventimiglia, we continue by coach into France, driving along the French Riviera to the stunning Côte d'Azur. We spend the night in the town of Saint-Raphaël, overlooked by the striking coastal mountain range known as the Esterel Massif.

Day 10  Côte d'Azur to London            
The many delights of Tuscany have been explored from our base in the elegant spa town of Montecatini Terme. On this holiday, we have uncovered the wondrous art and architecture of Florence and Lucca, the unique hilltop town of San Gimignano and magical Siena. After breakfast, we begin our journey home from the Côte d'Azur, travelling by First Class rail to Paris. In the French capital, we board the Eurostar in Plus class, enjoying a light meal at our seats before arriving back at London St Pancras, where your Tuscan holiday concludes.