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Italy, Southern Europe & Mediterranean

Tuscany: Florence San Gimignano & Pisa

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8 days From $1,695 per person
4.5 stars(14 reviews)
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Experience the unique essence of Tuscany’s celebrated medieval towns and Renaissance cities from the historic spa town of Montecatini Terme

Travel among a group of like-minded travelers led by a professional tour manager

Mobility Rating 2

2025 Tour code: TUS25

About the tour

Savor the glorious colors, aromas and flavors of Tuscany on a holiday that highlights the true beauty of the region. Discover the great Renaissance city of Florence, visit the Renaissance-era Il Borgo Machiavelli for a historical cellar visit followed by dinner, and explore the iconic monuments of Pisa.

On this sumptuous Tuscan escape we also explore the stunning sights of Siena, the ancient hill town of San Gimignano with its distinctive towers, and have the chance to circle beautiful Lucca on a gentle bike ride along its ancient walls - experiencing fabulous views across the terracotta rooftops.

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Unforgettable Experiences

Discover the many wonders of glorious Florence
Discover the many wonders of glorious Florence
Known as the jewel of the Renaissance, Florence is a feast for the senses, bursting with great art, fabulous food markets, palazzo gardens, and glowing with the soft light of the serene Arno river.
Explore the beautiful medieval city of Lucca
Explore the beautiful medieval city of Lucca
Take a gentle bike ride along the ancient ramparts of this amazing city, above the terracotta rooftops, or wander the delightful streets on foot, discovering ancient piazzas and exquisite churches, before lunch in a historic restaurant.
Visit the famous landmarks of Pisa
Visit the famous landmarks of Pisa
On a guided tour of one of Italy’s most well-known cities, we see the iconic Leaning Tower and ornate Romanesque Cathedral, in the Field of Miracles, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Step back in time to unspoilt San Gimignano and Siena
Step back in time to unspoilt San Gimignano and Siena
Perfectly preserved, each of these renowned cities has a unique character. San Gimignano has an astonishing 14 towers rising up from a golden cluster of ancient buildings, while Siena is known for its exciting festival of bareback horseracing.

What’s included

Itinerary

Day 1 - Meeting up in the spa town of Montecatini Terme

Our vacation begins when we meet our Tour Manager at our traditional hotel in the Tuscan resort town of Montecatini Terme, our delightful base for the next seven nights. This picturesque spa town is set in glorious Tuscan countryside and is split into two parts.

Our elegant spa hotel is in the lower part of Montecatini Terme, close to the famous hot springs. On the hill above us is the Old Town of Montecatini Alto. After some free time to settle in and look around the neighborhood, we gather for dinner at our hotel with a chance to meet the rest of our group of co-travellers. Our elegant hotel is built in the Liberty style and is renowned for its friendly family-run service and excellent facilities, including an outdoor swimming pool and sun terrace for warmer days.

Includes
  • Dinner
Day 2 - Exploring Montecatini Terme at leisure

There's nothing like the feeling of waking up in new and lovely surroundings, and today you are free to see more of Montecatini Terme independently. Our beautiful family-run hotel has been offering guests a warm welcome for many generations.

The spa town is world-renowned for its thermal springs, and you may wish to visit the 18th-century Terme Tettuccio, not only to experience the healing waters but also to admire its lavish Liberty architecture, marble-lined pools and fountains and Art Nouveau tiles.

Each year from April to October, the town hosts the Montecatini Opera Festival in various venues, including the spa complex. The historic quarter above us, Montecatini Alto, is an enchanting place to explore, and can be reached by a funicular railway, which runs late into the evening and offers wonderful views over the valley. Here are many delightful piazzas, pretty pavement cafés and two charming Romanesque churches - the Pieve di San Pietro and the Pieve del Carmine. Montecatini Alto offers an excellent choice of eating places, from relaxed osterias to traditional ristorantes.

Includes
  • Breakfast
Day 3 - A day in glorious Florence, the ‘Jewel of the Renaissance’

Today is a highlight of our vacation, as we travel by rail to the beautiful Renaissance city of Florence. We enjoy a guided tour of the city's treasures, including the iconic red-tiled Duomo, the Santa Maria Novella Church and the Ponte Vecchio, the legendary 14th-century bridge.

The afternoon is yours to enjoy at your own pace. Apart from breathtaking buildings and pretty piazzas, the city is the world capital of Renaissance art, which you can find in its many galleries, churches and Medici palaces. Please note, if you're planning to visit the Uffizi gallery or the Accademia, it is important to book ahead.

Another wonderful way to experience Florence is to make your way to a rooftop terrace for lunch or stroll across the river to the Boboli gardens, a peaceful green space with fantastic city views. Mercato di San Lorenzo is the city's largest market with fresh products, leather and local crafts, an indoor and outdoor dining area, and a Chianti wine booth. A place to warm up or cool down, depending on the season!

We make our return journey by train then walk the short distance back to our hotel where we dine together this evening.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
Day 4 - Discovering Lucca from its city walls, visiting Pisa’s Field of Miracles

This morning we travel by rail to the lovely walled-city of Lucca, where you are free to explore for two hours. Bicycle hire is included, with a choice of single, tandem, or four-seater bikes, and a gentle ride along the ancient ramparts is a delightful way to see the city.

Lucca is also a pleasure to explore on foot, but do pick up a map at the Tourist Office where our day starts. The maze-like center has an impressive Duomo, some unique churches, outdoor sculptures, and striking piazzas - a 'must see' is the Piazza Anfiteatro, which was once a Roman amphitheatre. The city also has a botanical garden and a tranquil ornamental garden at Palazzo Pfanner, both inside the city walls. We regroup for a leisurely 3-course lunch in a local trattoria.

This afternoon we continue by rail to Pisa, where we tour the famous Field of Miracles. Here, we see Pisa's iconic Leaning Tower, and the striking Romanesque Duomo - a cathedral which glows with white marble. We return to Montecatini Terme by train at the end of the afternoon, where you are free to dine independently.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch
Day 5 - San Gimignano, to Il Borgo Machiavelli for a tour and dinner

Today starts with a coach excursion into the gorgeous Tuscan countryside, among ochre-coloured hills, dotted with cypresses and secluded farmhouses, to San Gimignano - an extraordinary medieval hill town. This perfectly-preserved town is known for its thirteen towers, one of which - Torre Grossa - can be climbed. The number of towers in San Gimignano has dwindled from around 65 in the middle ages, but the skyline is so unique that it has been dubbed 'the Medieval Manhattan'. We have free time over lunch and into the afternoon to explore this absolute gem of a Tuscan town.

Later this afternoon, we visit the gorgeous Renaissance-era Il Borgo Machiavelli, once home to the famous political philosopher, Niccolò Machiavelli and now a 'home museum'. We look around the museum and the fascinating cellar of this historical home before indulging in drinks and dinner in a glorious alfresco setting.

Please Note - For departures  May 12th, June 9th & 16th,  August  25th and  September  1st Days 6 and 7 have been swapped around.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
Day 6 - A free day to explore Montecatini Terme, or beyond

Today is another chance to get to know Montecatini Terme at your own pace. If you haven't already discovered it, you could visit Montecatini Alto, the medieval old town. Here, you can admire views across the Tuscan hills and wander among the ancient townhouses, churches and medieval walls before choosing a café in which to enjoy lunch. Typical Tuscan cuisine is humble yet mouth-watering, even simple dishes are prepared with pride and great care. Try crostini di fegato, warm bread topped with chicken liver pate, or pasta drizzled with olive oil and shaved truffles, foraged from the surrounding hillsides.

Another appealing option is to make the most of the frequent rail service to visit the coastal resort of Viareggio (50 minutes), the buzzing city of Bologna (two hours), or possibly to revisit Florence or Lucca. Of course you may be content to simply relax in this celebrated spa town, enjoy the facilities of our hotel or the Terme di Montecatini. For dinner this evening you are spoilt for choice, in both Montecatini Alto or the town centre. Among the restaurants nearby is the highly-rated Bistrò Del Corso, run by a mother and daughter duo.

Includes
  • Breakfast
Day 7 - Discovering charismatic Siena

Another highlight of our vacation awaits today as we drive to medieval Siena, a charismatic Tuscan city where a labyrinth of narrow streets opens out onto sun-kissed piazzas. Starting at the Santa Barbara Fortress, a guided tour takes us past the Duomo, one of Italy's most magnificent, with statues by Donatello and Michelangelo and an elaborate mosaic floor. Our tour ends at the city's most famous sight, the incredible Piazza del Campo - a grand, shell-shaped piazza that's regarded as one of the continent's most beautiful medieval squares. This is the site of the world-famous Palio horse races, an extraordinary event which the city has celebrated since the 17th century, now held twice a year in July and August.

After our tour, there's time to wander Siena's ancient streets independently, and you may like to try some of the cured meats and cheeses that are popular here. Maybe opt for Siena's best-loved cheese, Pecorino, or finocchiona, a delicious local salami made with fennel. We return to our hotel at the end of the afternoon and this evening we gather for a special farewell dinner, to mark our last night in wonderful Tuscany.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
Day 8 - Homeward bound

After a leisurely breakfast this morning it is time to check out of the hotel and continue your travels in Italy, or make your way home. After saying goodbye, there's time to savor the new memories we've created on our Tuscan adventure.

From the marvellous spa town of Montecatini Terme to the wondrous art and architecture of Florence and Lucca, the unique hilltop town of San Gimignano and stupendous Siena, to the glowing French Riviera, this Italian vacation is certain to have warmed our spirits.

Includes
  • Breakfast

Additional information

Please Note

Transfers can be arranged to/from Montecatini.  Please contact a rail agent for details. 

Departure times

Departure times vary based on selected rail vacation. This information will be provided in your final documents. For more information please speak with your rail specialist.

Mobility information

Due to the nature of our tours they are generally unsuitable for those with restricted mobility. If you’d like to discuss any particular vacation with us in this respect, then please don’t hesitate to call us.

Hotel

Grand Hotel Francia e Quirinale, Montecatini Terme

Grand Hotel Francia e Quirinale, Montecatini Terme

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Reviews

4.5 stars4.5 / 5 · 14 reviews

  1. 5 stars
    (9)
  2. 4 stars
    (3)
  3. 3 stars
    (2)
  4. 2 stars
    (0)
  5. 1 star
    (0)

Todd Peterson

5 stars

Submitted 20/Apr

Overall the tour was fantastic. The food at the main hotel was not what I would consider true Italian cuisine which is what we were hoping for. I can get fish anyway of the week as I live in Florida. The itinerary was what we had hoped for, all of the places had there own uniqueness to them. Suggestion would be to supply name tags lanyards for tour guests so we would not have to keep asking for names to be repeated. Lastly Qilly Albrow was the perfect tour guide for this group of travelers. She was very engaging and her thoughts and suggestions were always well received.

from Vacations By Rail
Hi Todd - Thank you for leaving this review - we greatly appreciate this kind of honest, direct feedback. We're glad to know you enjoyed the tour and will pass along your kind words to Tour Manager Gilly. Ciao!
1 comment

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Todd Peterson
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Cheryl Sherburne

5 stars

Submitted 21 Sep 2024

Everything was well organized and our guide David was awesome! I loved the fact we stayed in the same hotel and made daily trips to visit several beautiful cities. It was wonderful.

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Cheryl Sherburne
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Evelyn Cruzpino

5 stars

Submitted 03 Jun 2024

My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed the tour for itinerary, keeping the same hotel for each night of journey, and good balance of arranged guided tours to personal venture time. Tour manager Joanne Long was EXCELLENT! She made the entire trip most enjoyable with her friendliness, regional knowledge and accessibility by way of excellent communication before, during and after travel time together. Her high energy and professionalism kept a pleasant and cohesive atmosphere for the whole group to feel comfortable and at ease. Highly recommend this tour.

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Lynda Fontana

5 stars

Submitted 01 Jun 2024

The tour was phenomenal along with tour manager. Food, accommodations were exceptional. Only rough thing for us older generation was getting to and from train stations.

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Lynda Fontana
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Mary Maki-Rich

5 stars

Submitted 11 Oct 2023

Loved the leader, Gilly. Loved the amount of free time and planned time as well. Perfecto. Loved the food at Ercolini and Savi. Loved that it wasn’t based in Florence. Loved the size of the group.

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Mary Maki-Rich
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Kate

5 stars

Submitted 18 Jul 2023

It was perfect. The pace and places we visited were exactly as we'd hoped.

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Kate
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