Cinque Terre & Tuscan Gourmet Tour

 

Overview:

 

A tour to explore a region of sprawling vineyards, rolling hills, charming old cities, masterpieces of Art and Gourmandize. Visit the magnificent Florence, the “Cradle of the Renaissance”; Siena, famous for the Palio horse race; San Gimignano with its tall towers; Lucca, a walled city that was the birthplace of Puccini; Pisa with its extraordinary 
Leaning Tower and discover the stunning Cinque Terre. Unlock the secret of Tuscan cuisine with wine and typical products tastings and an exclusive cookery class.

 

​

HIGHLIGHTS OF INTEREST:    ART, HISTORY, CULTURE & NATURE

During the tour the participants will not only discover delightful food and wines but also the most interesting monuments, works of art, churches and natural landscapes of the region:

​

• Florence, the cradle of the Italian Renaissance, with the masterpieces of the Uffizi Gallery, the Santa Croce church, the Baptistery, the Duomo and Giotto’s bell tower, the Piazza della Signoria and the Ponte Vecchio bridge.

• Siena, where the famous Palio race is taken place in the ancient Piazza del Palio square.

• San Gimignano, a UNESCO World Heritage site, with its wonderful medieval towers and the San Gimignano 1300 Museum.

• Montecatini village with its medieval origins, situated on the top of the hill is famous for its thermal waters and can be considered one of the biggest “spa towns” in Italy.

• Lucca, a walled city birthplace of composer Puccini.

• Pisa, which is home not only to the leaning tower, but also to some magnificent cathedrals and  baroque buildings. 

 

 

 

Itinerary ( B = breakfast, L = lunch, LL = light lunch, D = dinner, T = tasting, C = cooking lesson )

 

 

DAY 1: ROME (D)   

Arrival at your hotel in Montecatini. Time to settle in, meet your Tour Escort and welcome dinner.  During the evening, there will be a welcome introduction to the tour. Overnight stay.  
 
DAY 2: FLORENCE (BB, T )   
Morning departure to Florence. Walking tour through the historical center of this amazing city and admire the religious buildings (the Baptistry, the Duomo and Giotto’s bell tower) and the houses of power in the old city (the Piazza della Signoria) end of visit at the famous Mercato Centrale which is a large covered marketplace where authenticity, spontaneity and tradition play a leading role.  Each stall is an ideal place for shopping and where one can find real, honest food at the right price, the very best which Tuscany and Italy have to offer.  Sample some delicacies.  
Enjoy free time in the afternoon. Transfer to the Hotel and overnight stay.
 
DAY 3: MONTECATINI (BB, C, L ) 
Visit to an Artisan Coffee Blender to discover the secrets of coffee roasting.  Continue the morning for a special encounter with a renowned Tuscan Chef and learn some of the Arts of Traditional Italian cooking.  Prepare your own lunch and simple savor and enjoy it!  Free time in the afternoon. Overnight stay.  
 
DAY 4: LUCCA and PISA  (BB,  LL ) 
Travel to Lucca, one of Tuscany’s best-kept secrets. Cooking Show with lunch served on the ancient walls. Proceed to Pisa, whose extraordinary Leading Tower has withstood the force of gravity for almost 600 years.  Return to the hotel and overnight stay.  
 
 DAY 5: Free day - optional excursion to Cinque Terre (BB) 
We suggest you the excursion to the Cinque Terre. You will travel to the Italian Riviera, which includes the five captivating villages that make up the Cinque Terre. Return to the hotel and overnight stay. BB 
 
DAY 6: FSAN GIMIGNANO, SIENA (BB, T, T, D ) 
Morning departure for San Gimignano, famous for its medieval architecture and its Towers. At the height of its glory, San Gimignano's patrician families had built around 72 tower-houses as symbols of their wealth and power. Although only 14 have survived, San Gimignano still retains its feudal atmosphere and appearance.  Stop is made at a famous Artisan ice cream maker to sample their specialties.  Leave San Gimignano behind and head towards Siena driving along the ancient Via francigena route to experience some local wine tasting.  Admire the most important and most beautiful architecture in Siena and some free time for shopping before returning to the hotel. Dinner and overnight stay.

​

DAY 7: DEPARTURE (B)

After breakfast, free time. End of tour with option to visit another region in Italy or elsewhere.

 

 

​

​

​

 

DON'T FORGET:

Please allow three hours for check-in to your international flights and two hours for domestic.

 

OUR TIPS:

1. How much would it cost to fly from an airport not listed as part of this deal?
Please contact us for additional pricing options from any departure airport not listed.

2. Can we extend our trip before or after the promotional dates for the deal?
Yes, you can arrange for that by contacting us either by phone or email.

3. How do I find out if the dates I want to travel are available?
Check the dates listed above to see if there is availability for the specific date you are interested in. If there are multiple dates listed feel free to contact us for the most up-to-date availability.