Tuscany, The Cinque Terre & The Riviera Of Flowers By Rail

Itinerary

10 Day Itinerary

• Day 1

  Make your own way to London St. Pancras International where you will meet your friendly Tour Manager and board the Eurostar to Paris. We then change trains and join the high speed connecting train to Turin in northern Italy for a one-night stay.

• Day 2 - Pisa

  After a leisurely breakfast, we take the train to Pisa on a route that offers tantalising views of the Mediterranean Sea while passing through lovely resorts scattered along the coast. Our coach takes us from the station into the historic centre of Pisa, known as the ‘Piazza dei Miracoli’ which translates to ‘Square of Miracles’, where you will find the Baptistery of St. John, the cathedral and the famous Leaning Tower. After some free time to admire the surroundings, we travel by coach to Montecatini Terme for our four-night stay.

  Meals - Breakfast, Dinner

• Day 3 - Free Time

  Enjoy a day at leisure in Montecatini Terme – Italy’s most famous spa town, tucked away in the heart of Tuscany. It has a wonderful air of the Belle Époque period about it, with stunning architecture and a central park. The historic funicular railway takes you up to the hilltop town of Montecatini Alto for panoramic views of the area. There’s also a small castle, three churches and a large square with plenty of cafés.

  Meals - Breakfast, Dinner

• Day 4 - The Cinque Terre

  Today, we board our coach and explore one of Italy’s most enchanting coastal regions, the Cinque Terre. These five villages perch on sheer cliffs which overlook the sea and are surrounded by hills and vineyards – we explore two of the villages. From La Spezia, we are taken by boat to the ancient fishing village of Monterosso, considered the pearl of the Cinque Terre. You can take a dip in the azure sea and enjoy a delicious Liguarian lunch (not included) in one of the restaurants, before we continue to Vernazza to explore the narrow lanes and steep stairways known as ‘Carruggi’.

  We return by rail along the coast to La Spezia, before returning by coach to our hotel.

  Meals - Breakfast, Dinner

• Day 5 - Florence

  The capital of Tuscany, Florence, is our destination by rail today. Regarded as one of the most beautiful cities in Italy, Florence is like an open-air museum and the best way to explore is by walking through the cobbled streets, taking in the piazzas and palazzos which were designed by illustrious artists such as Brunelleschi and Michelangelo. You can join our guided tour to get your bearings and see some of the main sights, before spending the afternoon at leisure.

  Meals - Breakfast, Dinner

• Day 6 - Lucca & the Italian Coast

  Today, we travel by coach to Lucca. Arguably one of Tuscany’s best-kept secrets, the city is hidden by ancient ramparts and gardens. Explore Anfiteatro Square; climb the Guinigi Tower which has an ancient oak tree growing on top; wander along street lined with antique dealers; and remember to try the local Bucellato, a sweet bread filled with raisins and aniseed.

  In the afternoon, we return to Pisa and take the train to Genoa, where a coach transfers us to Diano Marina for a relaxing four-night stay in our seafront hotel.

  Meals - Breakfast, Dinner

• Day 7 to 9 - The Italian Riviera of Flowers

  For the next three days you can relax and soak up the sun in Diano Marina. Enjoy miles of sandy beach, coastal walks and the old town. You can even visit the nearby medieval village of Cervo – with its combination of cobbled alleys, terraces, arches and rooftops, it’s a delightful place to explore.

  Meals - Breakfast, Dinner

• Day 10

  After checking out of our hotel, we are taken by coach to Nice and join the TGV to Paris for our Eurostar connection to London St. Pancras International. After arriving in London, you will make your own way home.

  Meals - Breakfast

Accommodation

You will stay for four nights at the Hotel Giglio, Montecatini Terme, or similar and four nights at the B&B Hotel Diano Marina Palace.   Your overnight stay in northern Italy on the outbound journey will be in a good quality 3-star hotel.