The Essence of Tuscany – A Classic Touring Holiday

Today we’ll take the train to Tuscany’s beautiful capital city: Florence. Known as the ‘cradle of the Renaissance’, its streets are filled with incredible architecture, from the green and white marble façade of the Duomo (and the spectacular dome that crowns it) to the Romanesque grandeur of the Palazzo Vecchio. A guided walking tour will lead us to some of the highlights, including the cathedral, the imposing Basilica di Santa Croce, and the Piazza della Signoria - the historical heart of Florence’s social and political scene. The afternoon is at leisure for you to discover more of this wonderful city. Perhaps admire the vast collection of artworks in the Uffizi or Accademia galleries, or cross the Arno to visit the treasure-filled Pitti Palace, once the home of the powerful Medici family.

Excursions & visits:

Walking tour of Florence (morning)

Nestled in the countryside midway between Pisa and Florence is the lovely little city of Lucca. Its pretty piazzas (especially the oval-shaped Piazza dell’Anfiteatro) and cobbled, café-lined streets are perfect for exploring on foot. If you’re feeling energetic, climb the 230 stone steps to the top of Torre Guinigi, where you’ll find a shady hanging garden of holm oaks and views across the terracotta rooftops and out to the Apuan Alps and Apennines. For something flatter, walk along the Renaissance walls that wrap around the city - they stretch for four kilometres. After a morning in Lucca, we'll head to Pisa, where we'll stop off to have a look at the famous Leaning Tower. Then, we’ll head to the lakeside town of Torre del Lago, where we’ll pay a visit to the Villa Puccini Museum. This art nouveau villa was once home to Giacomo Puccini, and its serene setting inspired some of his most famous operas, including La Bohème, Tosca and Madame Butterfly.

Excursions & visits:

Walking tour of Lucca (morning) Visit to Pisa with mini-train (morning) Entry to Villa Puccini Museum (afternoon)

UNESCO-listed San Gimignano is a classic Tuscan town: a jumble of honey-hued stone buildings clustered on a hilltop, surrounded by vineyards and groves of olive and cypress trees. But look up and you’ll see the sky punctuated by 14 medieval towers. These ancient ‘skyscrapers’ were built by wealthy families to flaunt their power - once upon a time there were more than 70 of them soaring above the town. As we make our way towards Siena, our base for the rest of our Tuscany tour, we’ll pause for a stroll around the medieval walled town of Monteriggioni.

Excursions & visits:

Visit to San Gimignano (morning) Visit to Monteriggioni (afternoon)

We’ll spend this morning uncovering Siena’s layers of history, from its Etruscan roots through its medieval ‘golden age’ to the 17th century, when the city’s world-famous horse race - il Palio - first took place. We’ll stand in the Piazza del Campo, one of Europe’s greatest medieval squares (and the setting for the twice-yearly Palio), and tour the grand cathedral, a masterpiece of Gothic and Romanesque architecture. After our guided Siena tour, the rest of the day is at leisure. Perhaps visit the Palazzo Pubblico and climb Torre del Mangia for views across the city, before rewarding your efforts with a scoop of gelato in one of the cafes skirting the Piazza del Campo. If you’re an art lover, you’ll want to stop by the Pinoteca Nazionale, with its fine collection of Renaissance paintings.

Excursions & visits:

Walking tour of Siena, including cathedral and Piccolomini Library (morning)

We’ll head into the heart of ‘wine country’ today, as we discover the delights of Chianti. We’ll slowly wind our way through the hills, stopping for a delicious Italian lunch at a lovely village restaurant. We’ll round off our tour of Chianti with a tasting at a winery.

Excursions & visits:

Excursion to Chianti with wine tasting (all day)

Today is free for you to relax or explore as you wish.

We transfer to the airport for your return flight to Bengaluru. Upon arrival, your vehicle will be waiting for the journey home.