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Our hand-picked hotels
DAYS
We stay 3 nights in Florence and 4 nights in the Tuscan countryside, your hotels will depend on your UK departure date. Hotel Corona d’Italia, Florence HHH Superior Ideally located in the San Lorenzo area, ten minutes’ walk from the Cathedral, this hotel features a bar and breakfast room. Grand Hotel Mediterraneo HHHH This hotel is located on the banks of the River Arno, with easy access into the historical centre, and it offers a choice of restaurants, as well as a bar and lounge area. Hotel Il Piccolo Castello HHHH Located near the hilltop town of Monteriggioni, this hotel is built around a central garden and swimming pool area, it is decorated with traditional frescoes and offers a lovely relaxing base.
DAY 3 – Discover: Lucca & Pisa We leave for the delightful city of Lucca, birthplace of composer Puccini with a fine cathedral and impressive medieval ramparts. Forming a perfect ring, the thick walls have been transformed into a tree-lined park, which offers stunning views of the city 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. We end the day back at our hotel. (B) + Included Experience – Visit Lucca and Pisa DAY 4 – Walk: Chianti After breakfast we explore the rural Tuscany made famous by Renaissance paintings, literature, films and travel posters. Today you have a choice of walks. Green walk – Duration: 2 hours (3 miles) / Altitude gain: 490 feet / Terrain: country roads Blue walk – Duration: 3 hours (5 miles) / Altitude gain: 955 feet / Terrain: country roads We begin in medieval Greve, a jewel of Chianti and birthplace of explorer Giovanni da Verrazzano. The main square’s elegant palaces are reminders of the town’s illustrious past and today house restaurants, bars and food shops. Leaving Greve behind, we follow cypress-shaded country roads, which wind through vineyards and silvery olive groves set against undulating hills. Along the way we see Monte San Michele, the highest mountain in Chianti. The moderate walk follows a similar route but continues further through
CLASSIC TOUR FROM
Corona d'Italia
£1,449
PP
2024 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
Your tour includes Grand Hotel Mediterraneo
• Return flights from a selection of regional airports, plus hotel transfers • 7 nights in three-star superior to fourstar accommodation, inclusive of all local taxes • The services of our experienced and insightful Tour Manager throughout (B) Daily Breakfast, (L) 1 Lunch, (D) 4 Dinners
Hotel Il Piccolo Castello the Tuscan hills, giving us more time to enjoy the atmosphere and unforgettable views. Later we visit a local winery, for a tasting of some fine Chianti wines followed by a light traditional lunch. (B,L,D) + Included Experience – Guided walk in the Chianti region DAY 5 – Discover: Siena We take the short drive to Siena for an enriching guided tour of its treasures. Once 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 centred around the Piazza del Campo, an architectural work of art. Formed in a half-moon shape, it’s lined by tall, striking buildings and with its abundance of pavement cafés, it’s the perfect place to sit and enjoy a glass of wine. Siena is equally famous for its Duomo, one of Italy’s most intricate and fascinating cathedrals. The exterior is built from black and white marble, and the interior is even more breath-taking, with splendid stained-glass windows and works by leading artists, including the young Michelangelo. The afternoon is free to explore before returning to your hotel for dinner. (B,D) + Included Experience – Guided tour of Siena DAY 6 – Walk: San Gimignano You have a choice of walks through the picturesque area around San Gimignano. Green – Duration: 2 hours (3.5 miles) / Altitude gain: 847 feet / Terrain: country paths The green walk follows part of the ancient Via Francigena pilgrim route, which in medieval times connected Canterbury to Rome. The picturepostcard sights of sand-coloured stone buildings, vine-clad hills and vibrant flowers will delight as we ramble towards San Gimignano.
Find this tour at rivieratravel.co.uk/3ft
01283 893889
YOUR CLASSIC TOUR EXPERIENCES • 3 guided walks including Florence, Chianti and San Gimignano • 2 visits including Pisa and Lucca • Guided tour of Siena • Enjoy a wine tasting in the Chianti region
Blue – Duration: 3 hours (5.5 miles) / Altitude gain: 820 feet / Terrain: country paths The longer walk takes us around San Gimignano, with its impressive skyline on the horizon. We hug the ridges of the gentle Tuscan hills, pausing to admire the spectacular views and the colours you’ve seen in countless oil paintings. We reconvene in San Gimignano and perhaps enjoy a refreshing gelato. (B,D) + Included Experience – Guided walk around San Gimignano DAY 7 – Discover: Monteriggioni Today you have a free day. 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 and there are plenty of boutiques to browse, as well as a 13th-century church. The sleepy village of Colle Val d’Elsa is best-known as the birthplace of sculptor and architect, Arnolfo di Cambio, whose works of art include the Palazzo Vecchio and the old basilica of Florence’s Duomo. Both hilltop gems can be reached by local bus, or you can wander along pleasant paths from the hotel. (B,D) DAY 8 – Return home Transfer to the airport for your return flight. (B)
Please note: The use of air conditioning and outdoor pool opening is at the discretion of the hotel.
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