Treasure & Treats Of Tuscany

Itinerary

Friday
Depart Leyland at 14.00hrs for our journey to Hull to board the evening P&O crossing to Rotterdam. Enjoy and evening meal before retiring to your cabin for the evening 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 hotel in Saarbrucken, access to the coach during the crossing is strictly prohibited).

Saturday
Enjoy breakfast en-board the ferry, disembark and re-join the coach as we continue our journey to our overnight hotel on the French border, with a suitable lunch stop en-route. Arrive in time to use the outdoor pool should you wish and relax before our set evening meal.

Sunday
Check out of our overnight hotel following breakfast, travel through Switzerland to arrive in Montecatini Terme, our Tuscan home for the next 5-nights to a warm Italian welcome with Prosecco while your bags are taken to your room. Join us for a 4-course & antipasti dinner this evening.

Monday
Following breakfast today's excursion takes us to Lucca, one of the oldest cities in Tuscany where we meet our guide for a 90mins 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. In the afternoon we head to Pisa to see the outstanding leaning tower, the famous architectural project that went terribly wrong! There are many noteworthy sights to soak up in this beautiful city.

Tuesday
Following breakfast, we head to Montecatini 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 its bold terracotta Duomo defining its iconic skyline. Wander some of the oldest streets in the city leading to the Arno River, cross the Ponte Veccio and experience the 'newest' area of Florence, the Oltrarno. Today we include a 2-hr guided walking tour to enhance your visit, you will have time in the afternoon to explore independently and obtain lunch before re-joining the train for our return to Montecatini Terme.

Wednesday
Following breakfast today is free time at leisure at the resort. Perhaps take a journey on the 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. 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.

Thursday
This morning, we enjoy time at leisure in Montecatini Terme, 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. This morning will allow time to explore, join the coach at 13.30hrs, this afternoon's excursion takes us to the coast to the 'Pearl of the Tyrrhenian Sea', experience alluring and sophisticated Viareggio where you can enjoy views of the Apuan Alps from beautiful, sandy beaches. Stroll through the centre's narrow streets, eat fish in one of the seaside trattorias, visit the Carnival Museum, head to the beach or marina.

Friday
Check out of our hotel following breakfast to commence our journey home, bid a fond farewell to our Italian hosts and the beautiful Tuscan sunshine as we work our way back to our overnight hotel, with a suitable lunch stop en-route. Arrive at our hotel in time for check-in with a welcome glass of fruit juice on arrival before we have our set evening meal.
N.B We suggest taking an overnight bag with essentials and medication that you will need at your overnight hotel in Saarbrucken, and the ferry crossing as access to the coach during the crossing is strictly prohibited).

Saturday
Check out of our overnight hotel following a leisurely breakfast, travel to the ferry port in Rotterdam 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.

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