SMALL GROUP TOUR: Journey from Rome to La Spezia on this 9-day escorted tour through Tuscany and Liguria. Enjoy an included tour of Vatican City and wine tasting in Montalcino. Visit UNESCO-listed San Gimignano and explore the charming walled towns of Siena and Lucca. Spend an afternoon in the Renaissance capital of Florence, admire the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa and spend three nights in the port city of La Spezia. Take a day trip to Cinque Terre, see the medieval castle in Rapallo and take a memorable boat ride to the exclusive town of Portofino.
Trip Highlights
Included
Not Included
Itinerary
The Vatican
Today we explore Vatican City, home to the Pope and technically an independent country - another one you can tick off your list!
Departing the hotel after breakfast, we'll enjoy a guided tour of the Vatican's museums and galleries with 'skip the line' tickets. Take in the Gallery of Tapestries, the beautifully decorated frescoes of Raphael's Rooms, and of course, the Sistine Chapel. We can also admire the stunning St Peter's Basilica from the outside. This iconic landmark dominates the Vatican and is one of the largest Christian churches in the world, as well as being the pinnacle of Renaissance architecture. It is allegedly where Saint Peter was buried and titans of Italian design including Donato Bramante and Michelangelo had a hand in its creation. The rest of today is at leisure in Rome.
Overnight: Rome | Breakfast
Montepulciano, Pienza & Montalcino wine tasting
Rome - Montepulciano - Pienza - Montalcino - Siena. We depart Rome early this morning, travelling through the tranquil regions of Lazio, Umbria and Tuscany. We reach medieval Montepulciano, known for its wine and historic architecture. There is free time to explore the town and find an authentic local restaurant for lunch.
We continue to Pienza, jewel of the Val d'Orcia region. This town was the birthplace of Pope Pius II and it was here that Renaissance-era town planning was first put into place by the Pope in 1459. There's free time to explore before we arrive in Montalcino with time to wander the walls of the town's hilltop fortress. Then we enjoy an included wine tasting at Enoteca la Fortezza, one of Montalcino's most established wine bars. Regional wines will be paired with light bites and pecorino cheese. After this authentic experience, we proceed to Siena for the evening.
Overnight: Siena | Breakfast
Wine tasting & San Gimignano
Siena - Greve - Poggio al Sole - San Gimignano - Siena. After breakfast we head out for a full day of exploration in the Chianti Hills. We stop first in Greve to admire the triangular-shaped plaza, and there is free time for you to take a stroll.
Moving on to Poggio al Sole, we enjoy wine tasting and a light lunch of Tuscan specialties at a local winery. You will also enjoy a guided tour of the wine cellar and learn about the production process, from grape to bottle!
Our final stop of the day is the famous UNESCO-listed town of San Gimignano. Admire the medieval buildings and the famous fortified wall, plus spend your free time enjoying local delicacies such as medieval ricciarelli (almond biscuits). We return to Siena for a second evening at leisure.
Overnight: Siena | Breakfast, Lunch
Siena sightseeing, Florence & Lucca
Siena - Florence - Lucca. We can't leave Siena without first exploring this medieval walled town. During our short walking tour we see the magnificent Piazza del Campo, which hosts the bi-annual "Il Palio" horse race featured in the James Bond movie 'Quantum of Solace'.
Leaving Siena, we make our way to the 'Cradle of the Renaissance', Florence. This beautiful city is home to some of Italy's finest architecture, including the beautiful Duomo, the majestic Basilica of Santa Croce and Palazzo Vecchio. You can also see the iconic replica of Michelangelo's David. We have free time to explore the centre of the city before we make our way to Lucca. Dinner is included at the hotel.
Overnight: Lucca | Breakfast, Dinner
Lucca sightseeing, Pisa & La Spezia
Lucca - Pisa - La Spezia. This morning we enjoy a 2-hour guided walking tour in Lucca. Passing through the city's iconic fortified walls, we take in highlights including the Piazza di San Michele, the Cathedral of San Martino and the grand Basilica of San Frediano.
Departing Lucca, our next stop is Pisa, home to the famed Leaning Tower. You will have plenty of time to admire the tower from the outside with free time in the Piazza dei Miracoli. You may choose to pay to go inside the tower, if time allows. After our visit in Pisa, we complete our drive north along the coast to La Spezia, where we spend the night.
Overnight: La Spezia | Breakfast
Captivating Cinque Terre
La Spezia - Cinque Terre - La Spezia. Today we discover one of Italy's most famous destinations - Cinque Terre. A cluster of colourful villages perched on clifftops and offering some of the clearest water and lushest scenery in the Mediterranean. Our trip begins with a bus ride to Levanto and we make use of the local train network to explore some of the villages which make up Cinque Terre, each offering something unique. There's free time to wander down winding paths, admire pretty terraced vineyards and gaze out to sea from one of the many vantage points. You will also be able to find a charming restaurant in which to enjoy lunch. After several hours of exploration, we make our return to La Spezia for the evening.
Overnight: La Spezia | Breakfast
Boat ride to Portofino
La Spezia - Rapallo - Portofino - Sestri Lavante - La Spezia. Today we travel to Rapallo for an enjoyable harbourside walk, flanked by a historic medieval castle. We can also delve into some of the town's rich Roman heritage with a stroll down narrow grid-aligned streets. We then enjoy a scenic boat ride first to Santa Margherita Ligure and then onwards to glamorous Portofino.
In Santa Margherita Ligure we can admire the port and the surrounding mountains. In Portofino, we have free time to explore the colourful streets and admire the coastal views. Known for exclusive beaches, luxury boutique shopping and fine dining, it's one of Liguria's top destinations.
Returning to Rapallo, we then drive to Sestri Lavante for wine and food tasting. Then it's back to La Spezia for the night.
Overnight: La Spezia | Breakfast, Dinner
La Spezia
Our tour arrangements come to an end today after a final breakfast in the hotel.
Breakfast
Prices & Dates
Departure dates are guaranteed with a minimum of 2 persons. 'Twin/Double' prices are per person when there are 2 people on the same booking sharing a room. 'Single' prices are applicable to solo travellers and anyone wanting the privacy of their own room. Room sharing is not available on this tour.
Hotels
The hotels listed below are ones which we frequently use on this tour. We reserve the right to substitute these hotels to ones of a similar standard.
Hotel St Martin, Rome
With a great central location by the Piazza della Repubblica and opposite the metro, the Hotel St Martin is a perfect base for those exploring the Italian capital. Rooms in this modern 4-star hotel are bright and spacious, with ensuite bathrooms, air-conditioning, satellite TV and a kettle. There is complimentary high speed Wi-Fi connection throughout the property. A continental buffet breakfast is served daily and there is also a bar. For those not wishing to head into the city to eat, fresh Mediterranean food is also served at the onsite Restaurant Sidera.
Hotel Diana Roof Garden , Rome
In the heart of the city, a short distance from the Termini station, the welcoming family-run Hotel Diana is situated in a prime location within a 10-minute walk of Teatro dell ‘Opera di Roma and Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore. The Trevi Fountain and Roman Forum are also within 1 mile (2 km). Enjoy the spectacular views overlooking the rooftops of this amazing city whilst enjoying a delicious dinner or glass of fine Italian wine whilst watching the sun set from the panoramic gardens. The charming air-conditioned rooms feature a minibar, free wi-fi and satellite TV, as well as private bathrooms.
Hotel Garden Siena, Siena
Named after the peaceful green space in which it is located, Hotel Garden offers a welcome escape from the bustle of Siena whilst still being located just a 15-minute walk from the city's ancient gate. Being housed an old building, rooms at Hotel Garden are large and spacious, located either within the old villa or a more modern annex. Period furniture is used throughout but modern amenities including TV, Wi-Fi and minibar bring this hotel firmly into the modern age. Dining on the hotel terrace offers views of Siena, there is an outdoor pool, and the onsite restaurant La Limonaia specializes in regional Tuscan dishes. A buffet breakfast is served daily.
Best Western Grand Hotel Guinigi, Lucca
Located within walking distance of Lucca's iconic walls, the Best Western Grand Hotel Guinigi offers a wealth of amenities including a fitness centre, TV lounge, complimentary Wi-Fi, bar and onsite restaurant serving a range of Tuscan and international dishes. Rooms are air-conditioned, with ensuite bathrooms and TV. Breakfast is served daily at the onsite restaurant, in buffet style.
CDH Hotel La Spezia, La Spezia
Located in the enchanting town of La Spezia, Italy, CDH Hotel La Spezia offers a perfect blend of comfort and accessibility. Situated near the stunning Cinque Terre, guests can easily explore these iconic coastal villages. The hotel's rooms are tastefully designed, providing a cosy and modern retreat, while some offer captivating views of the Ligurian Sea. Amenities include a restaurant serving delectable Italian cuisine and a bar for unwinding with a drink. CDH Hotel La Spezia is an excellent choice for travellers seeking to immerse themselves in the beauty of Cinque Terre while enjoying a comfortable and convenient stay.
Reviews
Travellers have rated this tour as 4.33 out of 5 based on 3 recent reviews
This tour was absolutely brilliant! Leader was fantastic.
The hotel in Rome where we had been given was not the one where the other tour members were.
In the advertising we understood transfers were included but were not. ”
The tour met our expectations and was a memorable one. Giovanni was a great tour guide. Lucky us to get him.”
Overall very pleased with the tour. Welcome letter was not at reception on day one checkin. Had to phone OTG twice. Giovanni was a good guide, helpful, quite funny. Would have been nice for him to get everyone to introduce themselves when we first grouped together. To 'break the ice' with our fellow travellers. Several of us thought he could have given more information about the sights we were seeing as we travelled along. And given us more information of things to do/see when we had free time in a town. Information in the brochure was at times vague, i.e. no departure times were listed for days 4-8 and Giovanni only tell us if we ask. Having an iWe were expecting to be given a tourist/sightseeing maps of the towns we were going to. This would have been very helpful to utilise our free time more effectively. Air conditioning at Best Western, Grand Hotel Guinigi in Lucca did not work. We tried calling reception but they did not answer. We had to sleep with window open and little sleep due to rubbish trucks, traffic, sirens all night.
Overall good tour. ”
At a Glance
This tour was absolutely brilliant! Leader was fantastic.
The hotel in Rome where we had been given was not the one where the other tour members were.
In the advertising we understood transfers were included but were not. ”
