9-Day Tuscany Tour of Rome, Florence, Pisa and Siena

Day 1: Welcome to Rome

Ciao Roma! Italy opens its doors for an unforgettable jaunt through Rome, Tuscany, and two millennia of culture, history and fiery Italian verve. Spend the afternoon exploring the city before meeting your Travel Director and fellow travelers for dinner. Embark on an orientation drive past some of Rome’s icons and unexpected highlights, including the Circus Maximus, once the site of exhilarating chariot races which attracted thousands of enthusiastic spectators.

Arrival Transfer: Depart Leonardo da Vinci airport (FCO) at 09:30, 12:30, 15:00
Welcome: Meet your Travel Director at 17:00
Accommodation: Midas Palace Hotel
Included Meals: Dinner

Day 2: Journey to the Tuscan Hills

Your journey through Rome begins when you join a Local Specialist on an included sightseeing tour. See St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican City. Cross the Tiber into Ancient Rome and see the Colosseum and Circus Maximus, imagining the great chariot races and thunderous applause. This afternoon, enjoy a leisurely drive through the scenic Tuscan hills to Montecatini, the largest and most famous spa town in Italy and your home for the next six nights. Consider joining an Optional Experience at a delightful regional restaurant set among the pines and cypress trees, where a feast of gastronomic specialties awaits, accompanied by song and music.

Accommodation: Columbia Wellness and Spa Montecatini Terme
Included Meals: Breakfast

Day 3: Explore Renaissance Florence

Your Local Specialist will reveal the history of Renaissance Florence during your walking tour. View the magnificent Duomo and visit Piazza della Signoria. In your free time, perhaps take a walk across the beautiful Ponte Vecchio. Dating back to the 16th century, a decree mandated that the only businesses allowed to ply their trade on this bridge were goldsmiths and jewellers, and to this day, some of the city’s most prestigious jewelery shops can be found here. Or, enjoy an Optional Experience that provides insight into the world of Michelangelo and his masterpiece, David, by visiting the Academy of Fine Arts and its Michelangelo collection. Here, you’ll learn all about the life and works of this immortal Renaissance genius through the expert commentary of your Local Specialist..

Accommodation: Columbia Wellness and Spa Montecatini Terme
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 4: Montecatini Your Way

Relax in the spa atmosphere of Montecatini on your day at leisure or join an optional experience to Cinque Terre, whose quaint pastel-hued villages cling to the rugged Ligurian cliffs.

Accommodation: Columbia Wellness and Spa Montecatini Terme
Included Meals: Breakfast

Optional: Today, with our Local Specialist, we’ll visit the Bay of Poets and the beautiful Porto Venere, gateway to the UNESCO-protected Cinque Terre. To this day, the villages have retained their charm and reputation for producing some of Italy’s most exclusive wines.

Pricing Info: Adults €71.00
How to Book? Optional Experiences are enhancements to your tour and can be booked through your Travel Director while on tour.

Day 5: Discover Pisa and Vinci

Journey to Pisa, where you’ll join a Local Specialist to view the famous Leaning Tower, the finely sculpted marble Cathedral and the ornate Baptistery, said to be the largest in Italy. Continue through Tuscany, arriving in Vinci where you’ll join a Local Specialist at the Museo Leonardiano to gain a deeper understanding of the life of this talented master. Admire Leonardo da Vinci’s machines and models, sketches, and handwritten notes, as well as interactive exhibits during your visit. Tonight, enjoy a Be My Guest experience at the Agriturismo Borgo Vigna Vecchia surrounded by vineyards and olive groves.

Accommodation: Columbia Wellness and Spa Montecatini Terme
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 6: Off to Siena and San Gimignano

Saunter through the beautifully preserved medieval city of Siena to see the 13th-century marble cathedral and the shell-shaped Piazza del Campo, home to the biannual Palio horse race. Then venture to the walled medieval town of San Gimignano, renowned for its towers. Enjoy some free time strolling through its narrow lanes and discover the artistry of the local, handmade ceramic on a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience where you will see Tuscan pottery created by an artisan, before shopping for locally-produced delicacies—the alluring aromas of pecorino cheese and cured meats tempting you at every turn.

Accommodation: Columbia Wellness and Spa Montecatini Terme
Included Meals: Breakfast

Day 7: Tuscan Lifestyle Experience

Feast your eyes on the vibrant colors and busy stalls heaving with fresh produce at a local food market where you’ll join a Local Specialist professional chef for a tasty introduction to Tuscan cuisine. Learn how to cook like only an Italian mamma can, selecting your fresh produce from the market and preparing lunch which you will enjoy with a delicious glass of local wine. The tastes of Tuscany still lingering after an unforgettable lunch, we return to our hotel in the Tuscan hills for the night.

Accommodation: Columbia Wellness and Spa Montecatini Terme
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 8: Onwards to Rome and the Vatican City

Departing Tuscany, travel south to Rome. This evening, Roman flavors take center stage as you toast your travels over a selection of signature Roman dishes handed down over four generations.

Accommodation: Midas Palace Hotel
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 9: Journey Home

Bid a fond farewell to your newfound friends and an epic experience as you depart from Rome.

Departure Transfer: Arrive at Leonardo da Vinci airport (FCO) at 07:00, 09:30
Included Meals: Breakfast