Essence Of Tuscany

Itineray -

Thursday
Depart Leyland at 14.00hrs for our journey to Hull to board the evening P&O crossing to Rotterdam. Enjoy an evening meal before retiring to your cabin ready to wake up refreshed in Rotterdam.
N.B (We suggest taking an overnight bag with essentials and medication that you will need to your crossing and overnight hotels, access to the coach during the crossing is strictly prohibited).

Friday
Enjoy breakfast on-board the ferry, disembark and re-join the coach as we continue our journey through Belgium and Luxembourg to our 4-star overnight hotel in France with a lunch stop in the picturesque fairytale city of Dinant, Belgium en-route with time to explore and obtain lunch. Continue our journey to the Novotel Metz Amneville, arrive to a warm welcome with a drink of juice while your case is taken to your room. Relax before dinner or perhaps take a dip in the pool (open until 21.00hrs).

Saturday
Check out of our overnight hotel following breakfast to continue our journey travelling through France and Switzerland into Italy to the banks of the River Adda, the southeastern branch of Lake Como and our overnight hotel the 4-star Pontevecchio Hotel in Lecco with a backdrop of the scenic Orobian Pre-Alps. As we are right on the river perhaps take a pleasant stroll, there's a riverside pedestrian path which loops all the way to Lecco's promenade, one of the longest along Lake Como, so you can walk without needing to leave the water's edge or head into the historic centre of Lecco just a 5-minute walk away before or after our evening meal.

Sunday
Check out of our overnight hotel following a leisurely breakfast to continue our journey to Montecatini Terme with a stop in the cathedral city of Parma, the capital of the food valley. Parma is a rare gem with a prestigious history and many cultural points of interest and is also the UNESCO Creative City for Gastronomy, home to Parma ham and Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, to name but a few. Following our visit journey towards the coast via Massa to the family run Ercolini e Savi, our home for the next 5-nights. Enjoy a warm Tuscan welcome with a glass of Prosecco (Spumante) on arrival while your case is taken to your room.

Monday
Following breakfast today's excursion takes us to the train station to board a train to Lucca, one of the oldest cities in Tuscany where we meet our guide for a walking tour to introduce you to the highlights of this picturesque compact city, famous for its medieval city walls encircling most of the historic old town. Lucca served as an important meeting place for Julius Caesar and Crassus. Enjoy a walk along the city walls, explore its cobbled streets and perfect plazas, soak up the amazing culture with time for lunch and free time afterwards to explore, returning to the hotel mid-afternoon for free time.

Tuesday
Today we have a wonderful Tuscan experience, a chance to eat like the Italians, great food, wine and company. Experience the beautiful Tuscan surroundings and ambience of Frattoria il Poggio, a wonderful hidden gem, an organic farm and vineyard nestled in the breathtaking hills of Montecarlo, Italy where the essence of Tuscany comes alive. The warm and inviting atmosphere reflects the genuine hospitality that the region is famous for. After a delightful meal, stroll through the vineyard, take in the picturesque landscape, and participate in a wine tasting session. There will be a chance to purchase some of the vineyards beautiful wines, olive oil and produce too.

Itinerary:

Wednesday
Following breakfast, we head to the railway station to board the train to Florence, the magical city filled with museums, palaces and churches, housing some of the World's greatest artistic treasures with the bold terracotta Duomo defining its iconic skyline. Wander some of the oldest streets in the city leading to the Arno River, cross the Ponte Vecchio and experience the 'newest' area of Florence, the Oltrarno, hip, trendy and less crowded with wonderful cafes, bars and local shops. Today we include a 2-hr guided walking tour to enhance your visit with time in the afternoon to explore independently and obtain lunch before re-joining the train for our return to Montecatini Terme late afternoon.

Thursday
Today is our driver day off, this is a free day with time at leisure in the resort to enjoy what Montecatini Terme has to offer. Today is market day located on Via di Maratona and Via Mazzini, both less than a 15mins stroll from the hotel. Enjoy the bright array of local produce grown by the sellers themselves. Buy anything from Italian designer labels, high end clothing and shoes to Tuscan olive oil, cheeses, fresh fruit and much, much more, so leave room in your suitcase and pick up some goodies for your journey to the overnight hotel tomorrow Perhaps take a journey on the heritage Montecatini Terme Funicular that takes you through scenic olive groves heavenwards to the beautiful hilltop Medieval village of Montecatini Alto, a wonderful place to spend a couple of hours admiring the views, maybe sit in the pretty square enjoying a typical Tuscan lunch as you watch the world go by, highly recommended and well worth a visit, this can be done at night too with the last funicular back down to Montecatini Terme around midnight. Why not stroll through a park to admire the fountains, visit the frescoed and Art Nouveau Thermal Baths, famous since Roman times. If you have a sweet tooth visit Pasticceria Pellegrini open since 1933, one of the best coffee bars in Montecatini Terme, a perfect blend of grandeur with a modern touch, where polished glass cabinets are filled to the brim with pastries, cakes, and sweet treats, all freshly baked on site.

Friday
Check out of our hotel following breakfast to bid farewell to Tuscany and our hosts. Before retracing our steps to our overnight hotel near Lake Como we spend the morning in Pisa. There are many noteworthy sights to soak up in this beautiful city with time to explore and obtain lunch. Perhaps visit the Square of Miracles, a breathtaking UNESCO World Heritage Site, home to the iconic Leaning Tower of Pisa, and stunning Pisa Cathedral. Beyond this area discover hidden squares and cobbled streets or take a stroll along the Arno River to discover the city's authentic charm. Depart Pisa at 13.30hrs to continue our journey to our overnight hotel in Lecco.

Saturday
Check out of our overnight hotel following breakfast to continue our return journey to Novotel Amneville via Italy, Switzerland and France with a suitable lunch stop en-route. Arrive at the hotel to a warm welcome with a drink of juice while your case is taken to your room. Perhaps take a stroll in the park or relax and take a dip in the pool (open until 21.00hrs) before our evening meal.

Sunday
Check out of our overnight hotel following a leisurely breakfast as we start to head towards the port in Rotterdam with a lunch stop in Mechelen, Belgium en-route, enjoy time to explore the picturesque town with time for lunch before continuing our journey to the port to board the evening overnight ferry back to Hull in the UK, enjoy an evening meal onboard before retiring to your cabin.
N.B don't forget your overnight bag with essentials and medication for the crossing as access to the coach once boarded is strictly prohibited.

Monday
Following breakfast onboard, disembark and re-join the coach as we continue our journey from Hull to home.