Highlights of Tuscany: Florence, Pisa, Lucca & Siena

On arrival, transfer to your hotel where you’ll stay for three nights and begin to make yourself at home in this beautiful city.

Today is all about beauty. We’ll split into smaller groups, meet with our knowledgeable local guide and start our guided walking tour of the city referred to as the ‘Pearl of the Renaissance’. The iconic sights you’ll see include Florence Cathedral – or the Duomo di Firenze, as you’ll be calling it once you’ve slipped into life as a local – which can house a congregation of thousands, and the Baptistry, one of the oldest buildings in the city.

Visit the Ponte Vecchio (which translates to Old Bridge) spanning the Arvo river – it's an enclosed bridge with multiple ‘hanging’ buildings. Originally, the unusual shops on this ancient bridge were butchers’ shops, but now you’ll find goldsmiths and jewellers selling their wares. It’s hailed as one of the most romantic spots in Florence, and many do attach padlocks to the bridge with the initials of their love.

This afternoon, skip the queues on your visit to the Uffizi. The building itself is a work of art, but the art collection inside is a treasure in the truest sense of the world. Some of the best-known and –loved pieces on display include Botticelli’s Primavera and The Birth of Venus, as well as works from Caravaggio, Leonardo da Vinci, Michaelangelo and more. It will be a highlight for any art lover, but even those with a passing interest will be in awe at the skill and artistry on display from some of Europe’s most famous artists. This impressive collection was originally private, belonging to the all-powerful Medici family, but was subsequently bequeathed to the people of Florence.

This evening, join with new friends and savour the flavours of some of Tuscany's most delicious dishes with freshly sourced local ingredients in a traditional restaurant located near Florence.

Today you’ll also have the chance to visit the Pitti Palace and surrounding Boboli Gardens, originally designed for the Medici family, a powerful family who ruled over Florence and later wider Tuscany from the 15th to 18th centuries.

The vast Renaissance palace is home to important collections of paintings (including pieces by Raphael) and sculptures, as well as porcelain and silver, all held within lavishly decorated rooms.

Outside, you’ll find the adjoining gardens. Often referred to as an outdoors museum, there are countless sculptures, interesting buildings and fountains, as well as peaceful green areas. This is one of the first, and certainly one of the most important, Italian gardens.

The medieval city of Florence is then yours to explore as you wish this afternoon. It’s a compact city so it’s easily walkable, with amazing architecture, art and experience around every corner.  

You might want to visit the oldest art school in the world – the Academia - which houses Michelangelo’s David, a Renaissance masterpiece. There’s also the Archaeological Museum which houses exhibits from ancient Greece, Rome and Egypt, and the Science Museum where you can find astronomer and physicist Galileo’s telescopes – you can just imagine him pondering the laws of the universe that we accept as truth today.

 One landmark that is absolutely worth a visit is the cathedral. It truly dominates the skyline with its impressive terracotta-coloured dome, but there is beauty in the detail too – the cathedral is built from white, green and pink marble, making it glow when it catches the sun. The inside is equally impressive, with frescoes aplenty, including the astounding The Last Judgement that covers the inside of the dome, and an amazingly intricate marble pavement. 

Enjoy breakfast at your hotel before we head to Lucca. This charming destination is one of Italy’s best-preserved medieval towns, and as such is perfect for exploring on foot. Delve into its narrow, cobbled streets and watch the locals go about their day in the pretty piazzas, stop to appreciate of the intricate carvings on St Martin's Cathedral and visit its shops and restaurants.

Our next stop is Pisa. Although you may have seen the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa in photographs, it still comes as quite a shock to see it in person. It has been a popular tourist destination since it was built – the tower started leaning during construction in the 12th century and only worsened through the centuries! You’ll have some free time to spend in Pisa – our experienced Tour Managers can give you tips on what to see and do if you need.

The day ends with a drive to one of our carefully selected hotels, where you’ll be staying for the next four nights on a half board basis.

After breakfast at your hotel, we’ll head out to start exploring rural Tuscany. These landscapes will be familiar to you, as they’ve been the backdrop for everything from Renaissance paintings to film posters. Imagine undulating hills draped in vineyards, ochre-coloured valleys, terracotta-tiled farmhouses and tall, slim cypress trees that seem to reach for the heavens.

We’ll have a quick stop in Volterra, an imposing town with immense stone ramparts. The town’s small historic centre is a maze of narrow cobbled streets that emanate from the main Piazza dei Priori.  

There is, like many Italian destinations, a lot of history to discover here – the town was founded by the Etruscans round 800 BC but grew prosperous in the Middle Ages thanks to mining and carving alabaster. During our short stop we’ll visit a local alabaster for a demonstration.  

Lunch is a treat today as we travel to a family-owned farmhouse in a medieval village set amongst the hills. You’ll be able to taste the local flavours as you tuck into dishes based on traditional Tuscan recipes.

Our final journey for the day is a scenic one, as we make our way through the countryside to San Gimignano. Often hailed as one of Italy’s most beautiful villages – no small feat considering some of the delights this country has to offer – San Gimignano is most famous for its skyline with 14 medieval towers. There were originally 72 towers, all built by rival noble families during the 13th century as symbols of power and prestige. No other village in Tuscany captures the spirit of the age in quite the same way.

It’s lovely to just wander through its cobbled streets and squares, taking in the views and simply absorbing its delightfully rural atmosphere.

After breakfast we take the short drive to Siena. During the 12th and 13th centuries, Siena was one the country’s richest cities and enjoyed rapid expansion, with many new palaces, grand townhouses and sprawling piazzas built. The historic city centre has been designated as an UNESCO World Heritage Site, so you know this will be a brilliant morning of discovery in your small groups.

The main piazza - the Piazza del Campo - is widely acknowledged as one of the world’s finest city squares. The half-moon space is surrounded by a patchwork of historic buildings and cafés. It’s the perfect spot to grab a cappuccino, although if you want to order like a local, only order a cappuccino before 10am – Italian’s consider coffee with milk to be for breakfast only; the rest of the day is for espressos!

We’d absolutely recommend a visit to Siena Cathedral, or Opera Duomo Siena. By now, you’ve had the chance to see a lot of cathedrals, but Siena is really special. Built from black and white marble it has beautifully intricate carvings, some of which are by the great master himself, Michelangelo. The floor is laid with countless interlocking stones, creating a unique inlaid surface. No matter how many beautiful carvings and impressive details you’ve seen before, the artistry here is sensational.

After your guided tour, we’ll take a well-earnt break from our sightseeing to sit back and relax over a delicious local aperitivo while absorbing the most mesmerising views of Siena, its unique medieval architecture and magnificent Gothic treasures from a different perspective. You’ll also have some free time to spend as you wish - that might mean stopping in at some more historic landmarks, doing a bit of shopping at the boutiques, or simply sitting with a glass of wine and watching the world go by.

Your last full day in Tuscany is yours to spend as you see fit. Maybe you’ll choose to explore the local area or simply indulge in a day of rest at the hotel with a dip in the pool – the choice is yours.