Portofino, Florence & Tuscany

Explore one of the Mediterranean’s most exclusive corners, the beautiful Tuscan countryside and the stunning Cradle of the Renaissance.

Step into a region that is the living embodiment of La dolce vita. From your elegant spa base in Tuscany, you'll journey to the famous Ligurian coastal resorts of Santa Margherita and ultra-chic Portofino. On a captivating tour filled with Italian charm, colour and warmth, you’ll also visit Florence – the exquisite Cradle of the Renaissance and one of Italy’s most stylish cities – as well as Pisa and Lucca, two more Tuscan gems.

What's Included:

• Seven nights' dinner, bed and breakfast accommodation at the hotel of your choice 

• Guided tours of Pisa and Lucca 

• Excursion to the Ligurian coast

• Guided tour of Florence 

• Boat trip around Portofino 

• Return flights to Italy
• Comfortable, air-conditioned coach travel and transfers 

• Fully escorted by a friendly, experienced tour manager, with specialist local guides where applicable

Highlights:

• Visit Portofino, one of the Mediterranean's most exclusive corners 

• Discover the wonderful cities of Pisa and Lucca 

• Experience an optional wine tasting at a local Chianti winery 

• Spend a day in breathtaking Florence 

• Discover Santa Margherita Ligure's scenic bay
• Enjoy a week's stay in one of Tuscany's most celebrated spa-resorts
• Travel to beautiful Cinque Terre on an optional excursion
• Choose to explore medieval Siena and charming San Gimignano

Day 1: Fly to Italy

Meet your tour manager as you arrive, and board the coach for the transfer through the Tuscan countryside to your hotel, in Montecatini.

Day 2: At leisure or optional excursion to a Chianti winery

Today, you're free to get to know the hotel and the many treasures of this historic spa resort, perhaps paying a first visit to Montecatini Alto for its stunning views, or enjoying a leisurely lunch.

Alternatively, you can take advantage of the optional excursion to a Chianti winery to sample some of the most famous wine of the region.

Day 3: Included excursion to the Ligurian coast and Portofino

Join the first of your holiday's included excursion and head to the beautiful Ligurian coast. Here, some of Italy’s most famous resorts are dotted along the shoreline, backed by wooded hills. A mecca for visitors from around the world, elegant Santa Margherita Ligure overlooks a stunning bay, and lies at the eastern end of the Portofino headland. Spend some time exploring the resort, then board a boat for a trip along the coast to discover its ultra-chic neighbour, the world-renowned, jet-set watering-hole of Portofino. Despite the crowds, this glamorous pastel-painted village remains one of the Mediterranean’s most idyllic settings.

Day 4: Included visit to Florence

Today will be one of the real highlights of your holiday, as you join our included tour of Florence. For many, this simply stunning place is Italy’s most beautiful city, and today you'll have the chance to see the magnificent Florentine skyline, dominated by the dome of Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, for yourself. Explore the splendour of Santa Croce and the medieval Ponte Vecchio bridge, spared by the retreating Nazis because of its timeless beauty. Florence is also the city of both the Accademia, which houses Michelangelo’s fabled statue of David, and the Uffizi, where Botticelli’s famous Birth of Venus can be admired. You'll have the chance to visit the galleries (payable locally), and will no doubt want to stop for a bite in one of the city’s cafes and restaurants.

Day 5: At leisure in Montecatini or optional excursion to Cinque Terre

Enjoy another day of gentle exploration in Montecatini, as you soak up the charming atmosphere of the spa-town. 

Today, you’re free to enjoy another day of gentle exploration in Montecatini under your own steam, or join the optional excursion to the stunning villages of Cinque Terre. Perched on the rugged coastline, Cinque Terre is a string of centuries-old seaside villages offering colourful houses clinging to steep terraces and harbours filled with fishing boats and trattorias.

Day 6: Day at leisure or optional excursion to Siena and San Gimignano

Relax today or join an optional excursion that heads first to Siena, well known for its medieval brick buildings and fan-shaped square, Piazza del Campo. See the Palazzo Pubblico, the Gothic town hall, and the tall 14th-century tower, Torre del Mangia. 

No less fascinating is the charming hill town, San Gimignano, with its fairy-tale towers rising from the hill-top village, one of the finest sights in all Italy.

Day 7: Included visits to Pisa and Lucca

Today, the tour takes you to two true Italian gems. First of these is the wonderful city of Pisa, where, in the company of your guide, you'll have an opportunity to explore this mesmerising medieval treasure trove on the banks of the River Arno. Here, the broad green swathe of the Campo dei Miracoli (Field of Miracles) is home not only to the startling Leaning Tower but also the huge circular Baptistery, the great marbled Duomo and the colonnaded Campo Santo cemetery.

After a fascinating visit, you’ll reboard the coach and journey to the elegant walled city of Lucca. This simply delightful Renaissance jewel was the birthplace of the composer Puccini, and the city’s most famous son is celebrated with a museum at his home. Elsewhere, the ancient cathedral, the Torre della Ore clocktower and the exquisite Piazza Anfiteatro (built around the Roman amphitheatre) are among the must-sees of this charming city. This excursion is a fitting finale to your wonderful holiday.

Day 8: Fly back to the UK

Bid farewell to your Tuscan hosts, today, and journey back to the airport to check in for your flight home.