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TUSCAN TREATS & the CINQUE TERRE
8 days / 7 nights - Saturday to Saturday
 This is a country high on everybody's 'must see' list. Italy has been attracting tourists since at least the15th century (and we don't include the various conquering invaders!).
Savour the culture of this renowned region in true Italian tradition - slowly, like a glass of fine wine or an indulgent 6-course feast. This remarkable tour is flexible enough to allow a cappuccino stop or theatre visit when the whim takes you, but it is also cleverly crafted to reveal Tuscan treasures often overlooked by the typical tourist trail. Every meal is an adventure of fresh produce and divine wine and every accommodation stop is a showpiece of the region's rich culture and creativity. Bello!
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FLORENCE AS YOU PLEASE
We can arrange pre/post tour accommodation located in the very heart of Florence's historical centre. Our range includes optional sightseeing tours of all of Florence's highlights and surrounding regions. Wherever it is in Europe, the UK and Ireland - just tell us what you'd like to do and we'll arrange it.
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DEPARTURE DATES & PRICES YEAR 2009
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Tour Code
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Depart Florence
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Arrive Florence
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TT
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Saturday
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Friday
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TT01
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02 May
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08 May
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TT02
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16 May
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22 May
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TT03
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30 May
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05 Jun
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TT04
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13 Jun
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19 Jun
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TT04
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27 Jun
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03 Jul
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TT06
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11 Jul
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17 Jul
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TT07
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25 Jul
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31 Jul
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TT08
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08 Aug
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14 Aug
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TT09
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22 Aug
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28 Aug
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TT10
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05 Sep
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11 Sep
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TT11
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19 Sep
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25 Sep
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TT12
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10 Oct
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16 Oct
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TT13
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17 Oct
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23 Oct
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TT14
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31 Oct
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06 Nov
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Price per person in GBP Pounds Sterling
GBP £1190 Twin share / GBP £1550 Single room
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What your tour price includes
- Your accommodation for 7 nights, with 7 Continental breakfasts, and 6 dinners;
- Your price also includes all entrance fees to attractions, transportation, services of driver/guide-companion and all taxes and tips other than those you may wish to give your guide;
- We can arrange any pre/post touring accommodation and services in Italy, rest of Europe, Britain and Ireland.
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TENTATIVE ITINERARY
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NIGHTSTOP
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Special Note: please do note that there is considerable walking on this tour. Many of the historic Italian cities do not permit motorised vehicles in their centres, and many are sited on hilltops. This tour is not suitable for anyone with a mobility problem. Unfortunately, anybody joining with walking difficulties would often find themselves unable to join in group activities.
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DAY ONE - SATURDAY
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Arrive and make your way to our Hotel in Florence, the capital of the Tuscan region of Italy and our base for the next 3 nights. Tonight a welcome dinner with our travelling companions.
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Florence
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DAY TWO - SUNDAY
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After breakfast and our first Italian cappuccino, we’ll embark on a walking tour of Florence, Italy’s “outdoor museum”. A superb and beautiful city yet remarkably compact, the sights are legendary and the mystery surrounding them will be explained by our local tour guide. You will see the Ponte Vecchio, the beautiful bridge that spans the River Arno lined with goldsmiths – it is a symbol of the city itself. We will also visit the Uffizi Art Gallery where we view the amazing art collection of the Medici Family, bequeathed to the people of Florence. See masterpieces by some of the greatest artists who have ever lived Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo and Rembrandt to name a few. Tonight you are free to dine in one of Florence’s many fabulous restaurants.
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Florence
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DAY THREE - MONDAY
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This morning is free to further explore Florence – the shopping is great or enjoy a coffee in the Piazza del Duomo and view the Cathedral’s pink, white and green marble façade. This land mark of Florence was commenced in 1296.
After lunch we enjoy a short drive to Lucca, a charming base for our next 2 nights. Plenty of time for walking or try climbing the 207 steps of the Torre dell Ore, a 13th century clock tower and, if you are also feeling up to it, the 230 steps challenging steps to the Tower of the Palazzo Guinigi provide a further challenge or just take a leisurely stroll around the imposing renaissance walls.
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Florence
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DAY FOUR - TUESDAY
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The choice is yours today – you can have a relaxing day wandering the medieval streets of Lucca or join your Tour Leader on a drive to explore the steep coastline and the 5 villages that make up the Cinque Terre. These villages are some of the most charming in Italy and are a part of the UNESCO World Heritage sites. View the villages from the famous walking track which takes you through the National Park or visit the villages via boat or train. Whichever means you choose, this part of Italy will surely remain at the top of your list of favourite destinations.
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Lucca
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DAY FIVE - WEDNESDAY
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From Lucca it is a short drive to one of the world’s most famous buildings – the Leaning Tower of Pisa. This extraordinary structure leans 4.1 metres off the perpendicular. We then drive into the heart of the timeless Tuscan countryside to Volterra, perched high on a rocky plateau. This medieval town provides the perfect contrast to the Tuscan countryside rolling out beneath the town.
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Volterra
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DAY SIX - THURSDAY
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| A leisurely morning - maybe a cappuccino around the central Piazza dei Priori. Before lunch we head into the Tuscan countryside again and visit one of Italy’s most beautiful villages - San Gimignano - with its striking skyline of 13 towers built in the 13th century. It evokes images of medieval Tuscany perhaps better than anywhere else in the province. Plenty of time this afternoon to wander its cobbled streets. Tonight is free for you to dine at one of the restaurants before we return to Volterra. |
Volterra
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DAY SEVEN - FRIDAY
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Another short drive today brings us to Siena, surely one of Italy’s most enchanting cities. The medieval centre will take your breath away with its array of majestic buildings! There is plenty of time to explore the traffic free streets with its abundance of pavement cafes and great eateries. A visit to its famous Cathedral, one of Italy’s greatest, is also a must.
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Siena
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DAY EIGHT - SATURDAY
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On our last day we will visit Il Chianti, a region that produces some of the country’s best known wines including the famous Chianti Classico. Our views over the countryside during our drive once again include vistas of rolling hills, olive groves and of course the endless vineyards.
We return to Florence where our tour finishes mid afternoon.
If you are staying on in Florence or travelling elsewhere in Europe, Britain and Ireland, we can arrange transfers, accommodation, sightseeing and cruises as required.
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