Walk & Discover: Florence & Tuscany

8 days - Escorted Tours

Tuscany embodies the very essence of Italy – centuries of heritage, art and architecture plus much more. Florence, and gems such as Lucca and San Gimignano, offer perfectly preserved architecture and artistic treasures. Arguably the finest city of the Renaissance, Florence owes its great riches to the commercial boom that emerged after the Dark Ages. Architects, artists and sculptors flocked to the city and gradually grand residences, churches and palaces were filled to bursting point with magnificent works of art. You’ll also experience San Gimignano, a preserved enclave famous for its immense stone towers and dramatic skyline. Siena is another wonderful Tuscan city, guarded behind impressive walls. Then there’s Lucca, one of Italy’s most graceful towns, with a historic quarter nestling inside outstandingly preserved Renaissance walls. To the south of Lucca is Pisa, a city famed around the world for a tower that seems to defy gravity, yet it has so much more to offer. The Tuscan countryside really is picture-postcard Italy and a rambler’s dream. Embodying the excitement and romance of Italy, Tuscany is stylish, justifiably proud of its heritage, vibrant, expressive… and absolutely unforgettable.

Highlights

Discover a less-visited ‘other side’ of Florence on an urban trek with a local guide.
Explore the breathtaking Tuscan countryside on a guided walk through the renowned wine region of Chianti.
Savour the spectacular scenery around the hilltop village of San Gimignano on a guided walk.
See Pisa’s incredible Leaning Tower and explore the medieval walled city of Lucca.
Marvel at the medieval splendour of Siena on a tour led by a local guide.

Inclusions

The price of this European multi center holiday is per person based on two people sharing a room. Single rooms are available at the relevant supplement. The price includes:
Seven nights’ accommodation
Daily breakfast and four dinners
All tours as mentioned
Airport departure taxes
Return flights
All transfers and coach travel as mentioned
The services of a Riviera Travel tour manager
An expert local walking guide

1

Arrival in Florence - Arrive at the airport for your flight to Pisa. On arrival we transfer by coach to Florence, where we stay for three nights, with breakfast, at the four-star Grand Hotel Mediterraneo.

2

Walk: Florence - Today we discover Oltrarno, a charming and less-explored side of Florence south of the Arno River. We cross the Ponte Vecchio, the landmark bridge over the river, and walk through the medieval quarter of San Niccolò. We are mere minutes away from the old town centre, but San Niccolò’s remarkably preserved 13th-century walls, narrow cobbled lanes and charming yellow-hued buildings are reminiscent of a small Tuscan village. It’s a conducive environment for creative souls, evidenced by the many galleries, artists’ workshops and taverns. Duration: 3 hours Distance: 4.1 miles Altitude gain: 349 feet Terrain: Urban Elevation: Please see FAQ section There is plenty to see and do, such as visit the magnificent Pitti Palace and resplendent Boboli Gardens. Or you could return to the old town centre to visit the Uffizi gallery, once a private collection belonging to the Medici family. Botticelli’s Birth of Venus is just one of the countless masterpieces on display. We recommend that you purchase tickets in advance – for details, visit the official Uffizi website.

3

Discover: Lucca & Pisa - After breakfast we leave for the delightful city of Lucca, birthplace of composer Puccini. Be sure to visit the ancient cathedral and its venerated wooden crucifix, known as the Holy Face of Lucca. You may wish to wander under your own steam along the city’s medieval ramparts. Forming a perfect ring around Lucca, the thick walls have been transformed into a tree-lined park, which offers stunning views of the city’s towers and churches on one side and the Apuan Alps on the horizon. It’s an easy walk that’s just 2.5 miles long. Then we take the short drive to Pisa, whose most famous gems are on display in the Piazza dei Miracoli – the ‘Square of Miracles’. The Leaning Tower, one of the world’s most recognisable silhouettes, is your introduction to the rest. The decoration in the cathedral is breathtakingly detailed and its nave is where Galileo is said to have formulated his pendulum theory. Then there’s the baptistry, a fascinating blend of Romanesque and Gothic architectural styles. We end the day back at our hotel. Relax or discover more of Florence’s lively restaurants and street cafés, it has an ambience you’ll love any time of the year.

4

Walk: Chianti - After breakfast we explore the rural Tuscany made famous by Renaissance paintings, literature, films and travel posters – a truly memorable landscape of undulating hillsides, vineyards, ochre-coloured valleys, terracotta-tiled farmhouses and pencil pines. The Chianti region is renowned as the symbol of Tuscany and one of the best ways to get a taste of it is on a walk. Today you have a choice between a Green or a Blue walk. Duration: 2 hours Distance: 3.1 miles Altitude gain: 472 feet Terrain: Country roads Elevation: Please see FAQ section Duration: 3 hours Distance: 5 miles Altitude gain: 820 feet Terrain: Country roads Elevation: Please see FAQ section Later we drive to the four-star Hotel Il Piccolo Castello, where we stay for the next four nights, with breakfast and dinner. Situated in its own grounds close to the walled hilltop town of Monteriggioni, the hotel provides a relaxing base from which to explore. It has a spacious lounge, bar and restaurant serving authentic Tuscan food.

5

Discover: Siena - After breakfast we take the short drive to glorious Siena for an enriching guided tour of its treasures. Not only was it the capital of the Republic of Siena during the 12th and 13th centuries, but it was also one of the richest cities in the world. It’s a jewel of Italian Gothic and medieval architecture that’s been preserved to a remarkable degree and is justifiably a UNESCO World Heritage site. The city centres on the main square, the Piazza del Campo, an architectural work of art. Formed in a half-moon shape, it’s lined by tall, striking buildings whose gracious and varied facades have a unique charm. With its abundance of pavement cafés, it’s the perfect place to sit and enjoy a glass of wine or a coffee and reflect on the city’s sheer beauty. Siena is equally famous for the Duomo, one of Italy’s most intricate and fascinating cathedrals. The exterior is built from black and white marble, and the west facade offers a particularly fine example of workmanship. The interior is even more breathtaking, with splendid stained-glass windows and paintings and sculptures by leading artists, including the young Michelangelo. Impressive as it is today, in the 14th century the Duomo was set to become the largest church in Christendom had plans for an additional nave gone ahead. The Black Death put paid to its construction, though, as two-thirds of the population perished, and the city fell into rapid decline. Little was built thereafter but even less was demolished, leaving a wonderfully preserved city for us to appreciate today. The afternoon is then yours to shop, people-watch or further explore before returning to your hotel for dinner.

6

Walk: San Gimignano - During today’s walks, you’ll discover the enchanting area around picturesque San Gimignano. You have a choice of a Green or a Blue walk. Duration: 2 hours Distance: 3.1 miles Altitude gain: 847 feet Terrain: Country paths Elevation: Please see FAQ section Duration: 3 hours Distance: 5.5 miles Altitude gain: 620 feet Terrain: Country paths Elevation: Please see FAQ section The longer walk takes us around San Gimignano, with the impressive skyline of its towers in front of us. We hug the ridges of the gentle Tuscan hills, pausing to admire the spectacular views. The colours you’ve seen in countless oil paintings come alive in the golden fields of barley, oat and ancient wheat, and in the green of the woods, olive groves and vineyards. We reconvene in San Gimignano, where you may wish to stop by the award-winning Dondoli gelateria to reward yourself with a scoop or two of its mouth-watering flavours.

7

Free day - Today you have a free day to do as you please. Just a few miles away are two utterly charming hilltop settlements, Monteriggioni and Colle Val d'Elsa. Lovers of literature may recall Monteriggioni in the Divine Comedy, the chef-d'œuvre of Tuscan poet, Dante Alighieri, who compared the ring of giants surrounding the abyss to the town’s monumental towers. There are plenty of boutiques to browse, as well as a 13th-century church that wouldn’t look out of place in a film set in the Middle Ages! The sleepy village of Colle Val d’Elsa is best-known as the birthplace of sculptor and architect, Arnolfo di Cambio, whose tremendous works of art include the Palazzo Vecchio and the old basilica of the Duomo in Florence, and funerary monuments for several popes and cardinals. Both hilltop gems can be reached by local bus, but if you’re feeling energetic, you can wander along pleasant walking paths from the hotel. Should you prefer to stay in, why not catch up on some reading by the hotel pool or take a stroll through its enchanting Italian garden.