7-Night Tantalizing Tuscany

Day 2

Accommodation

Historic Lucca Hotel - Lucca, Tuscany Region

Check in policies:

Check-in time is after 2.00pm on your day of arrival. Check-out time is before 11.00am

Daily Itinerary

Walking tour of Florence & Lovely Lucca

Our journey will begin with an in-depth walking tour of Florence. A local guide will bring the city alive as we stroll by the likes of the Duomo, Piazza della Repubblica and the Ponte Vecchio. After lunch, we’ll set a course for lovely Lucca – where cobbled streets, red-roofed buildings, fascinating history and fine architecture await us. This evening we’ll be free to explore Lucca at our leisure. Breakfast included.

Overnight Location

Lucca, Tuscany Region

On the Map: Lucca is a historical city on the Serchio river, just north of Florence in Italy’s Tuscany region. 

Lovely Lucca is a perfect day trip from Florence, but prepare to fall in love and stay there.  30-foot-high Renaissance walls circle thisRenaissance city and its cobblestone streets. Broad, tree-lined pathways along the top of these massive 16th- and 17th-century ramparts are popular for strolling and cycling. In the evening, jesters and dancers entertain from the walls. Casa di Puccini, where the great composer was born, is now a house museum. Get opera tickets and listen to selections of Puccini’s music. Far less busy than Florence, you'll find a slower pace here but no lack of highly fashionable boutiques, stunning marble churches, and outdoor cafes.

Day 3

Accommodation

Historic Lucca Hotel - Lucca, Tuscany Region

Check in policies:

Check-in time is after 2.00pm on your day of arrival. Check-out time is before 11.00am

Daily Itinerary

Cinque Terre - the Italian Riviera

A rocky coastline dotted with candy-coloured villages – today, we’ll turn our attention to the awe-inspiring Italian Riviera! After winding our way along this sublime stretch of shoreline, we’ll find ourselves in Cinque Terre: a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Having spent some time getting to know the area with our expert Tour Leader, we’ll return to Lucca for an evening spent at our leisure. Breakfast included.

Day 4

Accommodation

Quiet Tuscany Retreat - Volterra, Tuscany Region

Check in policies:

Check-in time is after 2.00pm on your day of arrival. Check-out time is before 11.00am

Daily Itinerary

The Famous Leaning Tower of Pisa

Infamous and impossible to miss, the Leaning Tower of Pisa makes for a staggering first port of call today. There will be plenty of time for photographing this iconic landmark as we explore the Campo dei Miracoli at our own pace. After a leisurely lunch, our attention will turn to the magnificent medieval ramparts of Volterra. We’ll spend some time exploring this mysterious town before concluding the day’s events at our hotel. Breakfast included.

Overnight Location

Volterra, Tuscany Region

On the Map: Volterra is a walled mountaintop town 50 miles southwest of Florence, in the Tuscany region of Italy.

One of Italy's most underrated hill towns, Volterra has rustic vitality and surprising depth. Its out-of-the-way location makes it a secret spot. Unlike other beloved Tuscan towns, Volterra feels authentic, vibrant, and almost oblivious to the allure of tourist dollars. In addition to its rich Etruscan heritage, medieval walls and archways, the town is famous for its alabaster processing. This craft has a long tradition in Volterra and thus it is nicknamed “The City of Alabaster.” Volterra is thoroughly enchanting.

Day 5

Accommodation

Exquisite Tuscany Hotel - Pienza, Tuscany Region

Check in policies:

Check-in time is after 3.00pm on your day of arrival. Check-out time is before 11.00am

Daily Itinerary

Medieval Towns & Wine Tasting

Today we’ll make tracks to San Gimignano: home to a magnificent piazza, meandering stepped streets and some beautifully preserved architecture. While we’re here, we’ll sample some exquisite creations of a local gelato maker – before we’re treated to an indulgent Tuscan wine tasting. Before the day concludes, we’ll pay a visit to medieval Siena – an open-air museum of Gothic architecture and home to the magnificent Duomo. After taking in the town’s historic sights on an orientation tour, we’ll journey onwards to Pienza – our home for the night. Breakfast included.

Overnight Location

Pienza, Tuscany Region

On the Map: Pienza is a small town in the province of Siena, Tuscany, in the historical region of Val d'Orcia, 75 miles south of Florence and 12 miles east of Montalcino.

This charming village is widely known as the "Ideal City of the Renaissance.” It is the creation of the great humanist, Enea Silvio Piccolomini, who later became Pope Pius II. Piccolomini had both the money and the influence to transform his birthplace, the humble Corsignano, into what he considered a utopian city should be. Pienza exemplifies the principles and philosophy of the great Italian Renaissance. The town was designed by the architect, Bernardo Rossellino. In only three years, a group of exquisitely harmonious buildings were completed: the Cathedral, the Papal or Piccolomini Palace, the Town Hall, and the lovely central square. Every elegant building faces this square. The town was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996. Breathtaking.

Day 6

Accommodation

Exquisite Tuscany Hotel - Pienza, Tuscany Region

Check in policies:

Check-in time is after 3.00pm on your day of arrival. Check-out time is before 11.00am

Daily Itinerary

Cheese & Wine at a Local Farm

Pienza’s timeless charm and enchanting rural backdrop makes for a serene spot to spend this morning exploring at our leisure. Later, we’ll sample some handcrafted cheese and world-class wines at a delightful local farm with sweeping views over the surrounding countryside. This evening is ours to spend as we wish. Breakfast included.

Day 7

Accommodation

Countryside Resort - Reggello, Tuscany Region

Check in policies:

Check-in time is after 3.00pm on your day of arrival. Check-out time is before 10.30am

Daily Itinerary

Chianti Cooking Class

After breakfast, it’s all aboard the mini-coach as we press on to the delightful Chianti region. We’ll wind our way through heavenly countryside before joining a regional cookery class. After learning some local recipes from our host, we’ll have the chance to tuck into our creations for lunch. Buon appetito! The afternoon will be ours to enjoy at our leisure before we reconvene for a final dinner together. Breakast and dinner included.

Overnight Location

Reggello, Tuscany Region

On the Map: Reggello is a comune in the Italian region of Tuscany, located 22 miles southeast of Florence, between the north-western side of Pratomagno and the Upper Valdarno.

Situated in the Florentine mountains, Regello is famous for extra virgin olive oil production. It is also home to the beautiful Vallombrosa Abbey and the sumptuous Sammezzano Castle. The castle is considered the most important example of Eastern architecture in Italy; all of the bricks, stucco, and tiles were laid out by specially trained workers at the building’s location. The area is dotted with small churches, villas, and farms. The Romanesque church of St. Donato in Fronzana, including the Canonica and Compagnia, were renovated in the 18th century, and they are well worth a visit. The church of St. Clemente a Sociana, with its 15th-century sculptural style, is also a treasure. Surrender to the splendor.

Day 8

Daily Itinerary

Olive Oil Tasting & Return to Florence

Before returning to enchanting Florence, we’ll stop off at a local oil mill for a guided tour, olive oil tasting and light lunch. All in all, it’s a fitting end to a tour celebrating the natural beauty and culinary traditions of Tuscany. Breakfast and lunch included. 

You'll be arriving late in the day to Florence so you will most likely want to add a post night in Florence, depending on your flight's departure time. Please ask your Authentic Expert for help facilitating this.