Spotlight on Tuscany

Rolling landscapes, savory wines, delicious food and stunning architecture – find all of this and more in Tuscany. Unpack once on this journey among Italy's most charming towns.
Hotel Name: Hotel Ercolini and Savi

Your tour opens in the famous spa resort town of Montecatini Terme, nestled in the heart of the rolling hills of Tuscany. This evening, get to know your fellow travelers during a welcome dinner where regional foods and Italian wines kick off your adventure.
Dinner Included

Visit Area: Montecatini Terme
Montecatini Terme is a small resort town in the northern part of the Italian region of Tuscany. The town is famous for their thermal spas and many hotels. The first spas were constructed in the late 1700's. Today the town is investing in upgraded facilities and enjoy a renewed interest as a tourist destination. The city center is full of boutiques, cafes, and restaurants. Locals and tourists alike flock to the streets for an evening stroll.

Enjoy a guided tour of Lucca, Tuscany’s best-kept secret. Discover Renaissance walls, Romanesque churches, and medieval streets flanked by towers. Explore on your own before setting off for Borgo a Mozzano. See the Ponte del Diavolo (Devil’s Bridge) and the nearby remains of the Gothic Line – the Germans’ last defense during WWII. Visit the Museum of Liberation and see authentic fortifications and bunkers. Make your way to a Tuscan winery and learn about the art of winemaking as you taste local varieties.

Breakfast Included

Visit Area: Lucca
Lucca is a small town in the northwest of Tuscany. The town is famous for its intact city walls that surround the charming pedestrianized city center. The former wealth of the town can be seen in the elegant palaces and large number of churches that can be found throughout the city. Lucca’s Roman heritage is also visible at sites like Piazza dell’Anfiteatro - a series of apartments built on the old Roman arena. Today visitors are also drawn to the number of high quality shops and cafes.

An early morning takes you to Florence, the beautiful “Cradle of the Renaissance.” Join a local Florentine guide on an extensive walking tour and make your way through the city on foot. At the Piazza del Duomo, take in the sight of the impressive Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore with its towering, octagonal terracotta-tiled dome, the Baptistery of St. John, and Giotto’s Bell Tower. Take in views of the Piazza della Signoria and Santa Croce Square before enjoying the remainder of your time in Florence to explore as you wish. Use the Ghiberti Pass available to you this afternoon to visit your pick of Florence’s iconic Duomo sights, including entry to the interior of the Baptistery, access to the excavations of the ancient basilica of Santa Reparata under the cathedral, and admission to the Opera del Duomo Museum, which houses the Baptistery’s original gilded bronze doors by Ghiberti, known as the Gates of Paradise, along with sculptures by Michelangelo and Donatello, and a terrace offering grand views of Brunelleschi’s Dome.

Breakfast Included
Dinner Included

Visit Area: Gothic Line
In the waning days of World War II (and after the fall of Rome), German forces made preparations to defend northern Italy. Along the Apennine Mountains, they created a formidable line of defense in an effort to hold back Allied forces. The site of some of the hardest fighting of the Italian campaign, the battles along the Gothic Line helped tie down two German armies. Join us and see the array of bunkers and fortifications along the line and visit the Museum of Liberation. Learn of the heroic deed of Allied forces and Italian partisans. Come away with a new appreciation for those who gave so much in the name of freedom.

Today, it’s your choice! Learn more about Montecatini’s history during a half-day guided walking tour and visit to the historic Tettuccio Spa,* known for the health benefits in its mineral waters -OR- journey to Siena on a full day excursion and embark on a walking tour through its narrow Gothic streets, getting to know the local lifestyle in a contrada (neighborhood) whose community is centered around the colorful Palio horse race.

Breakfast Included

Admittance: Winery Tour
Make your way to a Tuscan winery and learn about the art of winemaking as you taste local varieties. Tuscany is one of the most renowned wine-making regions in Italy, and its picturesque hills are lined with countless vineyards. Popular wines from Tuscany include Chianti and Brunello.

Explore historic sites in the ancient maritime Republic of Pisa, including the Piazza dei Miracoli, or “Field of Miracles” (UNESCO). Keep your camera handy at the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa. Visit the Baptistery, the largest in Italy. This evening, travel to the quiet countryside to learn the secrets of traditional Tuscan cuisine. Partake in a cooking class, using local ingredients and culinary techniques that have been passed down for generations. Enjoy your freshly-prepared meal for dinner.

Breakfast Included
Dinner Included

Visit Area: Florence
Florence is the regional capital of Tuscany and home to countless Renaissance masterpieces. The city developed great wealth during the late Middle Ages and was the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance that produced great artists like Michelangelo, Raphael, Brunelleschi and many others. Today it is a UNESCO World Heritage site filled with numerous museums, stunning architecture and charming piazzas. The city offers something for everyone from culture, to great food and excellent shopping (like their famous gold or leather).

The day is yours to relax and experience the local flavor. Take this opportunity to shop at the local boutiques and dine at one of Montecatini’s fine local restaurants. Or, perhaps you will choose an optional full day excursion to Cinque Terre with its rugged coastline dotted with terraced vineyards. Explore this string of fishing villages nestled between the mountains and the Mediterranean.

Breakfast Included

Admittance: Choice on Tour: Montecatini Walking Tour or Siena
Your first option is to learn more about Montecatini’s curative waters during a guided walking tour of the city. Discover the town’s elegant Art Nouveau architecture and visit the historic Tettuccio Spa,* known for the health benefits in its mineral waters. Your second choice is to journey to Siena and embark on a walking tour through its narrow Gothic streets. Take in stunning palaces, mansions and the historic Piazza del Campo along the way. Then, get to know local life in a contrada (neighborhood) who’s community life is centered around the colorful Palio horse race. *The interior of Tettuccio Spa is closed to visits during the months of November and December. NEO DAY #4 - Montecatini Walking Tour Activity Level: 2 Travelers will meet the local guide in the hotel's lobby at the time appointed by the Tour Manager. The local guide will escort them on a walking tour of Montecatini Terme, the spa town where they are spending 7 nights. Travelers should expect to walk about 1.5 miles over paved, flat terrain. Montecatini is a prime example of elegant Art Nouveau architecture. As part of the walking tour, travelers will visit Tettuccio which is one of the city's most important examples of Art Nouveau architecture. NEO DAY #4 - Siena Walking Tour Activity Level: 3 Siena is Italy's best preserved Gothic city. It is located about 2 hours drive from Montecatini (total bussing time on this day is 4 hours). Once in Siena, travelers must expect to walk about 2.5 miles over hilly terrain with lots of steep inclines. There is a 30-minute walk from the bus drop-off point to the start of the guided tour. The guided tour itself lasts about 75-90 minutes. Travelers should expect another 30 minutes uphill walk to get back to the bus before transferring back to Montecatini.

At a nearby cheese farm, learn how the famous pecorino cheese is made before sampling it for yourself. Soak in breathtaking views as you travel to the hilltop village of San Gimignano, one of Tuscany’s most picturesque places. Explore this enchanting medieval town, from its famous 14 towers to its magnificent vistas overlooking vineyards. Enjoy free time and perhaps indulge in some gelato. Later, attend a Tuscan feast of traditional cuisine and wines set in the countryside.

Breakfast Included
Dinner Included

Visit Area: Pisa
Pisa is home to one of the most recognizable architectural icons of Italy - the Leaning Tower. The city historically was a naval power and rival of Florence. Today the city is focused on tourism, its acclaimed university and light manufacturing. The highlight of the town is the Leaning Tower is one of four monuments built in Pisa’s “Field of Miracles”. The other monuments include Italy’s largest baptistry, a cemetery for Pisan Nobility, and the Cathedral. Visitors can admire the beauty of the Pisan Romanesque architecture and align a photo of themselves holding up the tower.

Your journey comes to a close today. Depart with many fond memories of Tuscany.

Breakfast Included

Admittance: Cooking Class
A cooking class reveals the secrets of traditional Tuscan cuisine. Learn culinary techniques that have been passed down through generations of wonderful cooks, while using the freshest of local ingredients. Later, you’ll get to enjoy your delicious creation for dinner.