6 minute read
Portofino, Florence & Tuscany
Experience one of the Mediterranean’s most exclusive corners, the beautiful Tuscan countryside and the stunning Cradle of the Renaissance.
Portofino, Italy
Florence, Italy Day One – Fly to Italy Upon arrival, meet your tour manager then board the coach for the scenic transfer through the Tuscan countryside to Montecatini. Sit back and soak in the views as you pass through the region’s undulating hills, carpeted with vineyards and lined with picturesque cypress trees. Day Two – At leisure in Montecatini Today is free for you to get to know the hotel and surroundings of this historic spa resort, perhaps paying a first visit to Montecatini Alto for its stunning views, and perhaps enjoying a leisurely lunch and exploring under your own steam.
Day Three – Included excursion to the
Ligurian coast and Portofino Join the first of your tour’s included excursions today as you head to the beautiful Ligurian coast, where some of Italy’s most famous resorts are dotted along the shoreline, backed by wooded hills. A mecca for visitors from the four corners of the globe, elegant Santa Margherita Ligure overlooks a stunning bay, and lies at the eastern end of the Portofino headland. Enjoy some time spent 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 itself, which despite the crowds, the glitz and the glamour, remains one of the Mediterranean’s most idyllic settings.
Day Four – Included visits to Pisa and
Lucca Your second day of touring takes you to two true Italian gems. Firstly, you’ll visit the wonderful city of Pisa, where, in the company of your expert guide, there will be an opportunity to explore this mesmerising medieval treasure trove, built on the banks of the River Arno, and where the broad green swathe of the Campo dei Miracoli (Field of Miracles) is home not only to the startling, eponymous Leaning Tower but also the huge circular Baptistery, the great marbled Duomo and the colonnaded Campo Santo cemetery.
Available May to Oct 2023
Fly direct from these airports. Prices from
• Bristol £1,059 • Gatwick £1,069 • Luton £1,045 • Manchester £1,079 • Stansted £1,045
Personalise your holiday
• Siena & San Gimignano (full day) – from £62 Room for Sole Use from £294
Please note: The transfer time from the airport to your hotel is approximately 45 minutes from Pisa.
Santa Margherita Portofino Italy
Lucca
Pisa Montecatini
Florence San Gimignano Siena
Best Selling
ESCORTED TOUR These hugely popular tours, enjoyed by countless happy customers over the years, have truly stood the test of time.
• Enjoy a week’s stay in one of Tuscany’s most celebrated spa town resorts, Montecatini • Discover elegant Santa Margherita Ligure on the Ligurian Coast, home to a stunning bay • Pay a visit to chic and trendy Portofino, one of the Mediterranean’s most exclusive corners • A scenic boat trip from Santa Margherita to
Portofino • Enjoy Pisa and Lucca, two of Tuscany’s most impressive gems • Spend a day in breathtaking, Renaissance
Florence • Seven nights’ carefully chosen four-star dinner, bed and breakfast accommodation at the Hotel Biondi, Montecatini Terme (upgrade hotels available for a supplement) • Return flights to Italy, with coach travel and transfers throughout • Fully escorted by a friendly, experienced tour manager, with specialist local guides where applicable
travel tips...
Experience the views from Michelangelo Square, better known in Italian as Piazzale Michelangelo, one of the highest points in the city of Florence.
Lucca, Italy Vespa Moped Pisa, Italy
Following a fascinating visit, you’ll reboard the coach for the journey to the elegant walled city of Lucca, a simply delightful Renaissance jewel that was the birthplace of the composer Puccini. The city’s most famous son is celebrated with a museum at his home. Elsewhere, the ancient cathedral, the Torre della Ore, and the exquisite Piazza Anfiteatro, built around the Roman amphitheatre, are amongst the ‘must-sees’ in this charming city. Return to Montecatini at the end of a wonderful day of touring to enjoy the night at leisure. Day Five – At leisure in Montecatini Today, you’re free to enjoy another day of gentle exploration in Montecatini under your own steam, savouring the unique atmosphere and scenery of this celebrated spa town, perhaps enjoy lunch in the town square. Day Six – Included visit to Florence Today will be one of the undoubted highlights of the holiday, as you enjoy our included tour of truly stunning Florence, known as the Cradle of the Renaissance, which is for many the country’s most beautiful city. Today there’s a chance to see for yourself the magnificent Florentine skyline, dominated by the dome of the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, and to explore the splendour of Santa Croce and the medieval Ponte Vecchio bridge, spared by the retreating Nazis because of its timeless beauty. Of course, Florence is 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, should you choose to visit the galleries (payable locally), and you will no doubt want to rest awhile in one of the city’s countless eateries.
Day Seven – At leisure, or optional excursion to
Siena and San Gimignano Relax in the resort, or join today’s optional excursion, which heads into the Tuscan countryside to explore the exquisite hill towns of Siena, Certaldo and UNESCO-listed medieval gem San Gimignano. Set high above the Cecina and Dell’Era valleys, Etruscan Siena is beautifully preserved, with its ancient walls surrounding a medieval core, at the heart of which is a stunning Romanesque cathedral and the ornate Piazza del Priori, lined with beautiful palazzi. The tour also takes in the stunning Roman amphitheatre, which was uncovered as recently as 1951. Saving the best until last, San Gimignano, with its fairy-tale towers rising from the medieval hill-top village, is one of the finest sights in all of Italy. Circled by towering 13th-century walls, the old town is clustered around Piazza della Cisterna, a triangular square lined with medieval houses. San Gimignano has a skyline of medieval towers, including the famous stone Torre Grossa. A guided tour of this wonderful town provides a fitting crowning glory to a wonderful holiday. Day Eight – Fly back to the UK Bid farewell to your Tuscan hosts this morning as you journey back to the airport via coach to catch your return flight, bringing a marvellous holiday in Tuscany to an end.
your hotel choices
Set in the centre of Montecatini Terme, just a few minutes’ walk from the Parco delle Terme, this charming hotel offers a garden with a terrace, an indoor swimming pool, and a Tuscan restaurant. Comfortable rooms feature classical décor, free Wi-Fi, a TV, and mini-bars.
Hotel Biondi Hotel Adua
Hotel Nizza et Suisse, Monecatini HHHH Half-Board from £1,069
Situated just a short walk away from the Montecatini Terme funicular in the centre of Tuscany, this wellequipped hotel is in front of the Excelsior Thermal Spa and the city’s park. The on-site restaurant offers a Tuscan-inspired menu complemented by local wines. An outdoor swimming pool is surrounded by a terrace, and there is a spa, which provides treatments that draw on ancient traditions. Hotel Adua, Montecatini Terme HHHH Half-Board from £1,181
This family-owned, centrally located hotel, a short walk from the resort’s amenities boasts a bar, lounge, outdoor pool, dining room and lift. A wellness centre offers a full programme of beauty treatments (payable locally). Stylish rooms have a hairdryer, telephone, satellite TV, air conditioning, mini-bar and safe. Balcony rooms are available for a supplement. Hotel Manzoni, Montecatini Terme HHHH Half-Board from £1,181
Offering an outdoor pool, superb wellness centre pools, whirlpool and sauna (some facilities payable locally) and gym. Elegant public rooms, free Wi-Fi, a beautiful restaurant and classically decorated rooms, with air conditioning, a TV and safe complete the offering. Balcony rooms are available for a supplement.
