6 minute read
Portofino, Florence & Tuscany
Portofino, Italy
Experience one of the Mediterranean’s most exclusive corners, the beautiful Tuscan countryside and the stunning Cradle of the Renaissance.
Lucca, Italy Pisa, Italy
Available May to Oct 2022 Fly direct from these airports. Prices from
• Bournemouth £1,119 • Bristol £1,005 • East Midlands £1,049 • Gatwick £975 • Glasgow £1,049 • Humberside £1,175 • Luton £995 • Manchester £1,015 • Newquay £1,119 • Norwich £1,159 • Stansted £955 • Teesside £1,235 Personalise your holiday
• Volterra & San Gimgnano (full day) – from £62 Room for Sole Use from £280
Please note: Since some attractions visited offer free admission to visitors at certain times of year, we do not include entrance fees. These will be payable locally where applicable. Bergamo
Florence, Italy
Portofino Italy
Santa Margherita
Lucca Montecatini
Pisa
Florence Volterra
• 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 • Enjoy Pisa and Lucca, two of Tuscany’s most impressive gems • Spend a day in breathtaking,
Renaissance Florence, home to treasures including Michelangelo’s David and Botticelli’s Birth of Venus • 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
Step into places that are the living embodiment of la dolce vita, as from your elegant spa base, you journey to the famous Ligurian coastal resorts of Santa Margherita and ultra-chic Portofino, long-time exclusive hideaway. On a captivating tour exuding Italian charm, colour and warmth, you’ll also take in 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.
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 worldrenowned jet-setter 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. First up, 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. 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 Volterra 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 Volterra, Certaldo and UNESCO-listed medieval gem San Gimignano. Set high above the Cecina and Dell’Era valleys, Etruscan Volterra 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.
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.
Close to the baths, this hotel offers comfort in abundance, with 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.
