Flavors of Tuscany & The Enchanting Cinque Terre
Trip Itinerary
Day 1
ROMA - MONTEPULCIANO - PIENZA - SIENA
8.00 am meeting point at our sightseeing offce or pickup at the hotel from 7.15am to 7.45am. Meet your multilingual tour leader and start a delightful trip through the rolling hills of the Chianti Region. Will reach the hilltop town of MONTEPULCIANO, an ancient village rich of medieval and Renaissance buildings, famous for producing one of the oldest wines of Italy, the “Nobile di Montepulciano”. You will stop for a visit to a wine cellar and experience a tasting of wines and local products like ham, cheese, and salami. Proceed to PIENZA, the Renaissance town built under Pope Pius II and alsowell-known for its pecorino cheese. The tour will proceed to SIENA, where you will enjoy a visit of the old city centre. You will be walking along the medieval streets admiring splendid palaces. The sightseeing tour will end in the Piazza del Campo. This is one of the most beautiful squares in the world and site of the famous 600 years old horse-race, called “Il Palio”. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 2
SIENA - SAN GIMIGNANO - SAN DONATO IN POGGIO - PISA - LA SPEZIA
After breakfast at the hotel, departure to SAN GIMIGNANO, a tiny city that has remained intact through the centuries; situated on a hilltop and famous for its numerous towers, frescoes and other art treasures. You will then proceed to S. DONATO IN POGGIO located within the CHIANTI CLASSICO “Gallo Nero” region, where we will make a stop at the farmhouse Montecchio to enjoy an excellent wine tasting with snacks. The tour continues onto PISA, where you will have free time. Early afternoon our expert tour leader will take you for a pleasant walk into the enchanting historical centre, Piazza dei Miracoli, with its famous Leaning Tower (exterior visit), The Baptistery (exterior visit) and other beautiful monuments. Proceed to LA SPEZIA. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 3
LA SPEZIA - PORTOVENERE - GOLFO DEI POETI - CINQUE TERRE - LA SPEZIA
After breakfast, departure by boat for an unforgettable day dedicated to the discovery of one of the most amazing and enchanting landscape in the World. The five villages, “CINQUE TERRE” is an area suspended between sea and land, hanging from sheer clis surrounded by hills and vineyards. You will enter into a little piece of heaven. By touring the coast line by boat, you will have the possibility to admire this amazing landscape from the seaside*, like in a postcard. (*In the event of rough sea, the visit will be done partly by coach and partly by train). During the tour, the boat will reach Portovenere and the most important villages. You will be able to stop at PORTOVENERE, VERNAZZA, MONTEROSSO and visit them at leisure:
PORTOVENERE: Portovenere, on the Gulf of Poets, is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Its picturesque harbor is lined with brightly colored houses, while narrow medieval streets lined with shops lead up the hill from the ancient city gate to the castle.
VERNAZZA: The small fishing village Vernazza is probably the most characteristic of the Cinque Terre and is classified as one of the most beautiful villages in Italy. The village is surrounded by very steeply-terraced olive groves which are said to produce among the finest olive oil in the country.
MONTEROSSO: It is the largest of the five coastal villages. Its amazing beaches, its beautiful reefs and the sea’s crystal clear waters, make this small village one of the most hospitable of the Ligurian Riviera.
Board the train from Monterosso and arrive in La Spezia.
Day 4
LA SPEZIA - CARRARA MARBLE CAVES - MONTECARLO DI LUCCA - ROME
After breakfast at the hotel, the tour will take you to CARRARA for a visit of the impressive marble quarries carved deep into the mountain. This is where Michelangelo took the raw material to create his superb masterpieces. Continue to MONTECARLO DI LUCCA, a lovely town located on the hills around Lucca. This territory is ideal for the production of top quality wine and extra virgin olive oil. We will stop and visit a farmhouse where the owners will have you taste delicious Tuscan food specialities, from olive oil to cheese, from bread to wine and of course pasta, which you will taste with different wines. Proceed to Rome and arrival in the evening (drop-off in: Termini Station - Barberini Square - Sightseeing Office), end of our services.
Prices, Dates, Hotels & Conditions
CHANGE CURRENCY
€ £ $ A$ ¥ C$The final price you will pay for this tour is that displayed in EUR. Prices converted in other
currencies are for guidance purposes only and are approximate.
DEPARTURES 2018 | PRICE FROM |
---|---|
APR 8, 15, 22, 29 | 673 |
MAY 6, 13, 20, 27 | 673 |
JUNE 3, 10, 17, 24 | 673 |
JULY 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 | 673 |
AUG 5, 12, 19, 26 | 673 |
SEP 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 | 673 |
OCT 7, 14, 21 | 673 |
YOUR ESCORTED MOTORCOACH TOUR INCLUDES
- Services of a professional Tour Manager throughout
- Deluxe air-conditioned motorcoach
- Hotel accommodations as specified or similar
- Sightseeing as specified
- Taxes and service charges (city tax not included)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT INCLUSIONS
- Boat trip along the enchanting Cinque Terre coast line
DINING HIGHLIGHTS
- Daily breakfast
- 3 dinners (drinks not included)
- 3 wine tastings with local products
HOTEL ACCOMMODATION
- SIENA Hotel Montaperti 4* or similar
- LA SPEZIA Hotel NH La Spezia 4* or similar
EXTRA NIGHTS
Possibility to add extra nights at the beginning and/or at the end of the tour; rates are on request.
OPTIONAL EXCURSIONS
There are additional excursions available while on tour. Tour director will have a list of available excursions and pricing.