Great Tuscany & Cinque Terre 2024

9 Days Tour Start in Rome – End in Rome.

Main cities: Rome, Florence, Montalcino, Siena, San Gimignano, Montepulciano, Lucca, Pienza, Orvieto, Cinque Terre and Roman Castles.

17 Meals to include – 8 buffet breakfast, 2 lunches, 7 dinners , Cooking Class, Winery

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Great Tuscany is an 9-day-tour, perfectly paced for you to enjoy the many pleasures thatTuscany region has to offer. Scheduled to depart on Saturday and returns on Sunday. Our tour begins in Rome and proceeds throughout the Tuscany region, a visit Cinque Terre, and ending in the Roman Castles (a summer residence to the Pope). With comfortable morning departures, one home-based location, in the Chianti region, to each of the other cities listed in the itinerary below.

During this marvelous tour you will enjoy ROME, “The eternal city”, FLORENCE, “The birthplace of the Renaissance” and many picturesque villages such as MOLTALCINO, SAN GIMIGNANO, LUCCA, SIENA, MONTEPULCIANO, PIENZA, CINQUE TERRE and the ROMAN CASTLES.

You will also enjoy many hand selected local restaurants with authentic regional dishes, some of the best wineries in the area as well as some special wines, experience a fun cooking class and of course some free time for shopping or enjoying the sights at your own pleasure.

Expect to be surprised by the many villages and enchanting landscapes of this area, that are always charming in its natural simplicity.

ITINERARY

Day 1 – Welcome to Rome, Italy

At your arrival in Rome’s Fiumicino Leonardo Da Vinci Airport, you will meet our tour director and tour driver. Airport transfers from the airport will leave at 9:30 am, 12:30 pm, or 3:00 pm to your hotel. In the afternoon, meet your travel companions before leaving for a comfortable sightseeing bus tour of Rome’s city center. Sights include views of the Colosseum, Roman Forum, St. Peter’s Square, the Circo Massimo, and Via Veneto followed by a special welcome dinner at one of Rome’s lively restaurants.

Hotel: Villa Carpegna, Massimo D’Azeglio, or similar (1 night)

Day 2 – Siena – Chianti Area

After breakfast, we make our way to Tuscany through the unforgettable landscapes of the gently rolling, vine-clad hills of Siena. Here follows our local guide for a walking tour through the city center to admire the elaborately carved Gothic Cathedral, Town Hall, and the famous Piazza Del Campo, site of the spectacular Medieval-style horse race. In the afternoon, enjoy a short ride to your hotel in the Chianti area. Tonight, dinner will be served at local restaurant/hotel.

Hotel: Tenuta di Ricavo, San Leonino or similar (6 nights)

Day 3 – Montalcino, Pienza, Montepulciano

Today we drive through the beautiful southern Tuscany where you will have the opportunity to enjoy some free time in the villages of Montalcino, Pienza and Montepulciano known worldwide for their high-quality red-wine production, and the famous cheese “Pecorino di Pienza”. Later enjoy a wine tasting with dinner. Return to your hotel in the evening.

Day 4 – Florence

Today, upon arrival in Florence, the splendid capital of Tuscany and birthplace of the Renaissance, follow our local guide to see the marble clad Cathedral and Baptistery where Ghiberti’s ‘Gates of Paradise’ have been recreated in all their glory. Next stop is Signoria Square, political heart of the city and still an open-air gallery of Renaissance masterpieces. The tour ends with a visit of the Santa Croce church where the tombs of Galileo and Michelangelo are kept. In the afternoon, free time to enjoy Florence at your leisure or learn the secrets of traditional Florentine leather-work. Dinner will then be served at one of the Florence’s amazing restaurants.

Day 5 – San Gimignano, Chianti Area

This morning, we drive to the hilltop of San Gimignano, the most picturesque of Italy’s perfectly preserved medieval towns. Visit the city center with free time to enjoy the town at your pleasure and do some true Italian shopping. In the late afternoon, we head through the earth of Tuscany overlooking the beautiful landscapes and the many medieval villages of the Chianti area followed by dinner in an authentic local restaurant.

Day 6 – Cooking Class, Lucca

Today experience a three-hour cooking class with a professional chef to learn how to make some of Tuscany’s most traditional dishes. In the afternoon, following our local guide for a light walking tour of Lucca city center.

Day 7 – Cinque Terre

This morning we travel to the Liguria region on the Tyrrhenian coast for a full day excursion through the famous Cinque Terre. Visit some of the colorful villages built on rugged, steep landscapes right up to the cliffs overlooking the sea. The unique landscapes have terraced vineyards sustained by dry walling, a perfect example of man-made countryside architecture in inaccessible surroundings. Weather permitting, you’ll travel between the villages by boat to admire Cinque Terre’s cliffs & sweeping coastal views (If rough sea prevails, you will be escorted by minibus through some villages). Tonight, dinner will be served in the hotel.

Day 8 – Orvieto, Roman Castles

Today we leave the region of Tuscany to reach the gorgeous hilltop town of Orvieto. Here, you have time to enjoy this beautiful city center as you desire. In the afternoon, we make our way toward our destination, the hilltop of the Castelli Romani area (a group of villages where the Pope spends his summers). Here is where we will enjoy a farewell dinner in the hotel’s restaurant to celebrate the success of your vacation.

Hotel: Castel Vecchio, Benito al Bosco, or similar (1 night)

Day 9 – Leaving for home

Arrivederci Roma! Our airport transfers arrive to Rome’s Fiumicino Leonardo Da Vinci Int. Airport (FCO) at 7:00 am and 9:30 am.

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WHAT IS INCLUDED

Transportation:

Private airport transfer at the arrival and departure in Rome. Should your flights not coincide with these arrival and departure transfer times, please let us know; we can arrange your transfer inexpensively to/from the airport by limousine
Luxury air-conditioned private minibus, extended leg room

Ferry ticket for the Cinque Terre (to/from La Spezia)

Hotels:

Supreme First-Class Hotel or Four Class Agriturismo
Taxes, city tax and breakfast buffets
All standard gratuities for hotel personnel

17 Meals:

8 American inspired breakfast buffets.
2 Lunches to include:

1 wine tasting with fine local cuisine and olive oil tasting

1 cooking class followed by lunch

7 Dinners to include:

dinners at local a restaurant/farm house with two main courses, dessert, mineral water, local wine (1/4)

All standard gratuities for restaurant personnel

Tour Guide & Tour Driver:

Your tour will be conducted by our tour guide and tour driver. They will take the worry out of foreign travel as they manage the intricate details of your tour, keeping you entertained with anecdotes and stories to make sure your vacation is educational, entertaining, fun and safe!
Any gratuities are at your pleasure for your tour director and tour driver

Licensed Local Guides:

Experts in Rome, Siena, Florence, Lucca and Winery
Our local expert guides are native citizens of the cities they represent offering a fascinating insight into local history, customs and tradition while entertain you with stories only a local would know!

Equipment:

Wireless headsets to hear our Guide clearly and distinctly in public places by utilizing our personal audio system for groups of 9+ allowing you to roam and explore sites (within 60 feet) without missing any insight from our tour guide or local guide.
One umbrella for each person in case of rain

View, Visit, Walking tour, Museums, and Gallery: (WLG) = With local guide and wireless headsets.

Rome:

Comfortable sightseeing minibus tour of Rome city center including the view of the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, St. Peter Square, the Circo Massimo and Via Veneto (WLG)

Siena:

Follow our local guide to through the city center, admire the Gothic Cathedral, Town Hall, Piazza Del Campo (site of the spectacular Medieval style horse race) (WLG)

Florence:

Walking tour through Florence’s Cathedral, Bell Tower, ‘Gates of Paradise’, visit Signoria Square, and the Church of Santa Croce (WLG)
View from Piazzale Michelangelo

Lucca:

Walking tour through the city center surrounded by the mighty walls (WLG)

Suggested attire:

Comfortable shoes are important for walking on the uneven surfaces
Attire for Italian Churches: No shorts, skirts, tank tops, or bare shoulders for men or women are permitted. Bermuda shorts are permitted

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