DESTINATION

Tuscany is one of the most popular places to visit in a country that is itself one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. From the Etruscans to the Romans to the Renaissance, Tuscany is possibly the greatest repository of art in the world, home to remarkable paintings, sculptures, frescoes and ancient architectural masterpieces. Visitors to Tuscany come for many reasons: Many come in search of fine art, others to explore the extraordinary countryside: Gourmets and wine buffs descend on Tuscany to enjoy the simple yet wonderful cuisine and wine: Walkers enjoy the mountain paths and cyclists enjoy the rolling hills: Summer vacationers seek the sea coast and islands, while students of Italian culture come to learn the beautiful Italian language and experience its wondrous heritage. Whatever you choose, you will find that Tuscany has something for everyone. The more you come to know the region, the more you will discover Tuscany's extraordinary charms. 

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Main program includes:
Round trip airfare from JFK or IAD airport. Airline taxes and fuel surcharges are included. (Valid at present time)
•    First class hotel accommodations for 5 nights at a centrally located 4* hotel Ariston in Montecatini (5 nights) or similar including hotel tax and service charges.
•    Services of an English-speaking tour manager throughout the program.
•    Deluxe air-conditioned motor coach transportation for all transfers, tours and guided excursions.
•    Guided tours as per program: Florence, Siena
•    Entrance fees:  Siena cathedral
•    Wine tasting
•    Admission as mentioned in the itinerary.
•    Daily Breakfast, 3 dinners (mineral water and a glass of wine are included)
•    All VAT city and local Tax, baggage handling at hotels. (Based on one bag per person).
•    Headsets on guided tour

ITINERARY:

Day 1: Departure from the USA on your overnight flight to Italy

Day 2: Florence - Montecatini:  Upon arrival, proceed through customs and collect your luggage. A Jet Vacations professional guide will personally greet you. Departure and transfer by deluxe coach to your hotel centrally located in Montecatini.  Montecatini is an exclusive world-renowned spa resort, famed for its spring waters, thermal baths and numerous spa treatments for centuries. Beyond the array of fine spas featuring treatments old and new, today’s visitors come for the shopping, dining and sporting offerings, as well.  After check in and little time for rest, your tour guide will take you on an orientation tour of Montecatini while the rooms are getting ready. Rest of the day at leisure.  Tonight, enjoy aperitifs and a welcome diner with the other group members. Overnight in Montecatini. (Dinner)

Day 3: Montecatini / Siena & Chianti/ Montecatini: After breakfast at the hotel, depart for your excursion to Siena.  Set in the most beautiful Tuscan countryside of rolling hills, lush vines and gray-green olive trees, Siena offers much to see.  From the fine palaces that line the narrow-cobbled streets and the superb Duomo, to the celebrated Piazza del Campo where the famed Palio horserace is run yearly.  Enjoy a guided tour to visit the Dome, Piazza del Campo, Salimbeni Square and Chigi Palace.  Enjoy some free time before proceeding to explore the Chianti Region a perfect work of art, so beautiful as a whole that it is impossible to decide which part of the region is the most valuable: the gorgeous grapes shining in the sun, the forest green hills, the ancient villas decorating the landscape, the richness of typical products, great food, superb wine, cultural sites... On this day, we will have our traditional early dinner at a local winery with a chance to learn the secrets of the wine production and taste some great regional dishes.  Return to Montecatini in the evening. (Breakfast, Dinner)

Day 4: Montecatini / Optional Tour Cinque Terre / Montecatini: Breakfast at Hotel. Today, you may spend the day at leisure, or join us on optional full day tour to Cinque Terre, one of the most beautiful areas of the Liguria Region, on the Mediterranean Sea. These “five lands” are suspended between sea and earth and are nestled in the cliffs, overlooking the sea and green hills. Developed in isolation through the ages as they could only be reached by sea, the small medieval fishing ports remain architecturally intact. They represent one of the best-preserved natural areas of the Mediterranean, and are recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Today they are a National Park and Protected Marine Area with the aim of protecting, not only its environment safety, but also its great cultural heritage. We will proceed by motor coach and train with magnificent views of the coast.  We will stop at two of the five villages to absorb their everyday life and enjoy spectacular view of the blue sea.  Return to Montecatini for evening at leisure. (Breakfast)

Day 5: Montecatini / Florence / Montecatini: After breakfast at the hotel, we depart to discover Florence, the sublime birthplace of the Renaissance. It is full to bursting with elegant squares, imposing palaces, magnificent churches, and museums displaying riches conceived by some of the most famous names in the history of art and architecture enjoy a guided tour of Florence. See the Cathedral, whose gigantic “cupola” is the symbol of Florence’s artistic achievements, the Baptistery (from outside) with its fine bronze doors adorned with the famous gates of Paradise and the Piazza della Signoria. Time at leisure in the afternoon to explore on own, you may visit important museums, Uffizi Gallery or Accademia Gallery or simply stroll along the narrow picturesque streets of central Florence. Return to Montecatini, dinner at Hotel. (Breakfast, Dinner)

Day 6: Montecatini / Optional tour Pisa & Lucca/ Montecatini: Breakfast at the hotel. Enjoy the day at leisure to relax or indulge in a spa treatment in Montecatini. If you want to get what must be the most iconic photo in Italy, Pisa’s your place, join us to the optional tour to Pisa. Yes, the Leaning Tower is spectacular even more so in person than in pictures, but there’s much more to Pisa than that: the medieval city also boasts an 11th-century Duomo chock-full of gorgeous art, the elaborate Baptistery, and beautiful palaces. Enjoy a guided tour and some free time. Later we reach Lucca among the richest cities in the world for its architecture and history, offers up cobblestoned streets and elegant palaces, elaborate churches and a ring of Renaissance-era fortification walls that have been turned into biking and walking paths.  For music aficionados, it also happens to be where the composer Giacomo Puccini was born.  Our guided tour in Lucca will teach you the soul of the city with a pleasant stroll through the picturesque streets of the old town. Farewell Dinner at Hotel.  (Breakfast, Dinner)

Day 7: Florence / U.S.: After breakfast, transfer to Florence airport for your return flight back home. Arriverderci! (Breakfast)

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