| Day 1: Dublin-Bologna-Montecatini Terme
Your Topflight tour manager and luxury coach (Gran Turismo)
will greet you on your arrival at Bologna airport and explain the
programme during the journey by luxury coach to Montecatini
Terme. Check in at your hotel, the 3* Hotel Alba or similar in
the centre of Montecatini, a lively spa town approximately 50km
from Florence. Enjoy a welcome cocktail, dinner and your first
overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 2: Montecatini Terme-Florence
This afternoon we drive to Florence, the cradle of the
Renaissance and one of the most visited art cities in the world,
renowned for its beauty, history and artistic treasures. An
official guide will show you the most important monuments
during a walk through the city centre (approximately 3 hours),
including entrance to the marvellous Cathedral with its famous
Brunelleschi Cupola.
Before leaving this magnificient town the coach will lead you
up to the Piazzale Michelangelo square. Dominated by the
majestic bronze Statue of David by Michelangelo, it is one of
the most famous squares in Italy, with breathtaking panoramic
views of the city and surrounding hills. Return to Montecatini
by coach for dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 3: Montecatini Terme-Pisa
Breakfast at the hotel is followed by a coach trip to Pisa. The
Leaning Tower stands on Miracle Square together with the
other famous monuments. An expert guide will introduce you
to all these monuments - the Cathedral, Leaning Tower and
the Baptistry.
Afterwards a short drive takes us to the enchanting
medieval town of Lucca, another jewel of the region, still
protected by ancient city walls.
Accompanied by a local guide, our walking tour of the
historic centre (approximately 2 hours) takes us to its ancient
monuments, churches and palaces, and a variety of shops,
cafès and restaurants.
In the afternoon you have free time to do as you please before
we return to Montecatini Terme for dinner and overnight at the
hotel.
Day 4: Montecatini Terme-Chianciano Terme
After breakfast check out of our hotel and journey south to the
thermal spa town of Chianciano Terme, approximately half
way between Lucca and Rome.
This is a lovely, scenic drive, passing through vineyards,
olive groves, hilltop towns and delightful countryside. When we
reach our destination, we check in at 3* Hotel Alexander
Palme or similar where you will be greeted with a welcome
drink on arrival. Located between Lake Trasimeno and the
Chianti vineyards, Chianciano Terme is an unspoilt town with a
good selection of cafés, shops and spa centres where you can
relax and charge up your batteries for further sightseeing.
Dinner and overnight at our hotel.
Day 5: Chianciano Terme-Rome
They say that all roads lead to Rome and that’s exactly where
our road takes us today.
One visit to this epic, bustling city and you will understand
why it deserves the name, the Eternal City. We enjoy a guided
tour of the city (approximately 3 hours), taking in such worldrenowned
sights as The Trevi Fountain, Spanish Step, the
Colosseum and Circus Maximus, Roman Forum and Vatican
Square. It’s a fascinating city and while you won’t see all of
Rome in a day, you will come away with lots of great
memories to treasure!
You will have some free time to explore the city at your
leisure before we return to our hotel for dinner.
Day 6: Assisi-Perugia
Today we discover the beauty of Umbria and visit two of its
most fascinating cities - Assisi and Perugia.
Perugia has its origins in Etruscan times and today is a
vibrant university town. We enjoy a guided two-hour tour of the
city with its imposing Duomo or Cattedrale di San Lorenzo. As
the capital of the region, it is home to the National
Archaelogical Museum of Umbria and to the main Umbrian
art gallery, the Galleria Nazionale dell’Umbria.
There is free time for lunch, after which we proceed to the
hilltop town of Assisi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and
birthplace of St. Francis and of St. Chiara (St. Clare) who
founded the order known as the Poor Clares. Two of the
grandest cathedrals in Assisi are named in honour of its
renowned saints, the Basilica di San Francesco and the
Basilica di Santa Chiara (St. Clare’s). These are just two of the
many magnificent sights we will see on our two-hour guided
city tour. We return to our hotel for dinner and another
overnight stay.
Day 7: Montepulciano - Pienza-Montalcino
Today we will journey through Tuscany’s wonderful Orcia Valley
south of Siena, an extremely beautiful territory with gently
rolling hills, olive groves and vineyards.
Our first stop along this scenic route is Montepulciano,
renowned for its Renaissance palaces, beautiful architecture
and delicious wines. Then we journey on to Montalcino, a tiny
village set among vineyards producing one of the most
renowned Tuscan wines, the Brunello. Enjoy a pleasant stroll
through the lanes of the enchanting medieval centre.
In the afternoon we’ll reach Pienza, romantically set on a
hilltop and dominated by the bell tower of its ancient church.
This town is connected with Pope Piccolomini, a great
humanist who transformed his birthplace in an elegant and
architecturally perfect town with the help of architect
Rossellino. Sightseeing attractions include the
town’s palaces, main square and the Cathedral, but there is
also much to taste
and we will have an
opportunity to
sample the local
sheep’s cheese, the
renowned ‘Pecorino
di Pienza.’ Return for
dinner and overnight
at the hotel.
Day 8: Bologna
-Dublin
This morning, after
breakfast, it is time to
say ‘arrividerci’ to
Tuscany. Your tour
guide will accompany
you on your luxury
coach to Bologna
airport for your return
flight to Dublin. |