Tuscan Treats - Florence, Cinque Terre, Rural Tuscany & More

Welcome to the birthplace of the Renaissance and the romantic capital of Tuscany. After meeting the group at our hotel, well get to know each other over a delicious welcome meal.

Our journey will begin with an in-depth walking tour of Florence. A local guide will bring the city alive as we stroll by the likes of the Duomo, Piazza della Repubblica and the Ponte Vecchio. After lunch, well set a course for lovely Lucca where cobbled streets, red-roofed buildings, fascinating history and fine architecture await us. This evening well be free to explore Lucca at our leisure.

A rocky coastline dotted with candy-coloured villages today, well turn our attention to the awe-inspiring Italian Riviera! After winding our way along this sublime stretch of shoreline, well find ourselves in Cinque Terre: a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Having spent some time getting to know the area with our expert Tour Leader, well return to Lucca for an evening spent at our leisure.

Infamous and impossible to miss, the Leaning Tower of Pisa makes for a staggering first port of call today. There will be plenty of time for photographing this iconic landmark as we explore the Campo dei Miracoli at our own pace. After a leisurely lunch, our attention will turn to the magnificent medieval ramparts of Volterra. Well spend some time exploring this mysterious town before discussing the days events over an evening meal together.

Today well make tracks to San Gimignano: home to a magnificent piazza, meandering stepped streets and some beautifully preserved architecture. While were here, well sample some exquisite creations of a local gelato maker before were treated to an indulgent Tuscan wine tasting. Before the day concludes, well pay a visit to medieval Siena an open-air museum of Gothic architecture and home to the magnificent Duomo. After taking in the towns historic sights on a guided walking tour, well journey onwards to Pienza our home for the night.

Pienzas timeless charm and enchanting rural backdrop makes for a serene spot to spend this morning exploring at our leisure. Later, well sample some handcrafted cheese at a delightful local farm's shop with sweeping views over the surrounding countryside. This evening is ours to spend as we wish.

After breakfast, its all aboard the mini-coach as we wind our way through the delightful Chianti countryside on our way to a regional cookery class. After learning some local recipes from our host, well have the chance to tuck into our creations for lunch. Buon appetito! The afternoon will be ours to enjoy at our leisure before we reconvene for a final dinner together.

Before returning to enchanting Florence, well stop off at a local oil mill for a guided tour and olive oil tasting. All in all, its a fitting end to a tour celebrating the natural beauty and culinary traditions of Tuscany.