Tuscany, the Cinque Terre & the Riviera of Flowers

We take the Eurostar service from London to Paris, where we change trains and join the TGV to Turin in northern Italy.

After a leisurely breakfast we take the train to Pisa, on a route that offers tantalizing 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.

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 hill 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.

Today we 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 then 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.

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, so the best way to explore is by walking through the cobbled streets, freely admiring 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.

Lucca is arguably one of Tuscany’s best-kept secrets, hidden by ancient ramparts and gardens that surround the old city. Explore Anfiteatro Square; climb the Guinigi Tower which has an ancient oak tree growing on top; wander along the typical antique dealers’ street; and remember to try the local Bucellato; sweet bread filled with raisins and aniseed. In the afternoon we return to Pisa and take the train to Genoa and a coach transfers us to Diano Marina for a relaxing four-night stay in our seafront hotel.

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. We also offer an optional excursion to San Remo and Dolceacqua. San Remo is Italy’s answer to the French resort of Monte Carlo, where you can explore the atmospheric old town and the ports filled with luxurious yachts. The hilltop village of Dolceacqua enjoys a picture perfect setting, with the Nervia River running through its heart and the spectacular medieval bridge described by Claude Monet as “a jewel of lightness”.

After checking out of our hotel we are taken by coach to Nice and join the TGV to Lille for our Eurostar connection to London.