Author's tour of ITALY: TUSCANY and LIGURIA

Tour start date(s):	21-05-2025
Duration:	9 Days / 8 Nights
Location:	Rome (arrival, 1 night) - Arezzo - Siena - San Gimignano - Montecatini Terme (4 nights) - Florence - La Spezia (1 night) - Cinque Terre - Santa Margherita Ligure - Portofino - Genoa - Milan (departure, 2 nights)
Price (including tax):	SNGL 2450 USD; DBL 3310 USD / Without flights

In this tour, we will do a lot of walking to explore small Tuscan towns as well as the centers of Milan, Rome, and Florence. Therefore, the tour is recommended for people in good physical condition. Bring comfortable shoes with a low sole.
During our stay in Italy, we will cross the country from south to north, from Rome to Milan, visiting the amazing Tuscany and Liguria. This is a vibrant and beautiful tour through the most picturesque places in sunny Italy! Walks through Tuscan towns to savor the dolce vita in local restaurants and wine cellars, two swims in Liguria, visits to Rome and Milan...
This tour is for lovers of Italian atmosphere, culture, and gastronomy.

In this tour:

• You will travel in a small group,
• Transfers for any flight arriving between 08:00 and 14:00 are included,
• The tour includes 12 excursions and visits,
• We will stroll through Rome, followed by a welcome dinner near the Colosseum,
• Enjoy views of Tuscany in Arezzo,
• Explore the medieval Manhattan of San Gimignano,
• Visit the pearl of Tuscany, Siena,
• Dedicate two full days to the queen of the Renaissance, Florence,
• Stay in the Tuscan thermal town of Montecatini Terme,
• Take a boat trip through the Cinque Terre UNESCO World Heritage Park,
• Stroll through Portofino, Genoa, and Milan,
• And enjoy delicious Tuscan cuisine, excellent wines, and Italian gelato…

Day 1: Welcome to the Eternal City
Arrival in Rome. Our driver will meet you at the airport for any flight arriving between 8:00 and 14:00. Transfer to the hotel in Rome (28 km) and check-in. After some rest, meet your tour leader in the hotel lobby at 4:00 pm, and we will depart for an evening excursion around Rome. We will visit the Colosseum, Piazza del Popolo, Piazza Navona, and the Trevi Fountain. Welcome dinner in Rome near the Colosseum.
Overnight at the hotel in Rome.

Day 2: Tuscan Wines and Montecatini - Giuseppe Verdi's Town
Breakfast at the hotel, check-out, and transfer to Arezzo (200 km). This picturesque Tuscan town, located on the hilly plains of the upper Arno River, is one of the oldest cities in Italy. As you walk through this amazing place, you will immerse yourself in the medieval architecture and atmosphere that seem to have been preserved through the centuries.
After visiting the town, there will be free time for lunch, followed by a tasting of the finest Tuscan wines and cheeses in an ancient wine cellar.
Transfer to Montecatini (130 km), check-in at the hotel, and after a short rest, we will explore this beautiful Tuscan town with our guide. Montecatini Terme is a unique thermal resort town located in the picturesque "Valley of Mists" (Valdinovole), so named by the ancient Romans due to the vapors from the numerous hot springs.
In medieval times, knights came to Montecatini Terme to heal battle wounds. In the 18th century, as regular trips to the thermal waters became popular, famous composers and writers, including Giuseppe Verdi and Luigi Pirandello, started visiting. After World War II, movie stars such as Grace Kelly and Marcello Mastroianni loved the town.
Overnight in Montecatini Terme.

Day 3: The Treasures of Siena and San Gimignano - Medieval Manhattan
Breakfast at the hotel, and departure for Siena (125 km). Our tour in Siena begins at the heart of the city, Piazza del Campo, which has an unusual fan-shaped design. We will visit the magnificent Gothic Cathedral, which houses Donatello’s 15th-century statue of St. John the Baptist, and learn about the stunning mosaic floor of the Cathedral.
Lunch (extra charge) in a beautiful Tuscan restaurant and wine factory, where we will enjoy sparkling wine, Tuscan wines, and local delicacies.
Transfer to San Gimignano (55 km).
San Gimignano is a fairy-tale medieval town. Narrow winding streets between stone houses and towers create an atmosphere full of mystery and intrigue.
In the evening, return to the hotel.
Overnight in Montecatini Terme.

Day 4: Florence - Cradle of the Renaissance
Breakfast at the hotel, and we will take a direct train to Florence (50 minutes). We will meet the guide at the station and begin our exploration of the most beautiful city in Italy. We will see the Palazzo Strozzi, the great rivals of the Medici family, and the Palazzo Antinori, home to Italy's most famous winemakers. We will also stop by a traditional Florentine wine window.
Next, we visit the Piazza and Church of Santa Maria Novella, the wealthiest Dominican district of Florence, where carnivals and horse races were held during the Medici era. We will explore the oldest pharmacy in Europe, established by Dominican monks, and learn about the secrets of perfumes created for Catherine de Medici.
We will see the Church of All Saints, where Sandro Botticelli is buried, as well as his famous muse, Caroline Bonaparte, Murat, and Amerigo Vespucci.
Next, we will admire the cross painted by Giotto.
We will then visit the religious complex in Florence, including the Cathedral Square, Baptistery, Cathedral, and Bell Tower. You will be impressed by the unique dome created by Brunelleschi, which symbolizes both Florence and the entire Renaissance era.
We will walk through the squares seen in the Medici series and Inferno with Tom Hanks. Afterward, we will visit the house and church of the great Dante Alighieri, the creator of the Italian language and author of the Divine Comedy.
Return to the hotel in Montecatini Terme by train.

Day 5: A Full Day in Beautiful Florence
Breakfast at the hotel, and we take a direct train to Florence (50 minutes). Those wishing to stay in Montecatini can visit the thermal springs.
In Florence, you will have time to shop in boutiques, visit the leather market, enjoy a leisurely lunch with views of Renaissance palaces, have an aperitif, and feel part of the Italian dolce vita.
In the evening, return to the hotel in Montecatini Terme.

Day 6: Visit to the Cinque Terre UNESCO World Heritage Park
Breakfast at the hotel, check-out, and transfer by bus to the port of Porto Venere (115 km). After leaving our luggage on the bus, we will take a boat trip through the Cinque Terre Park, known for its stunning seaside landscapes, picturesque villages, and cultural heritage.
We will dock in Riomaggiore and Monterosso. Afterward, we return to the port by train and transfer to the hotel. If the weather is bad, the Cinque Terre park visit will be by train.
Overnight on the Ligurian coast.

Day 7: Santa Margherita and Swim in Portofino
Breakfast at the hotel, check-out, and departure for the resort town of Santa Margherita, a charming Mediterranean town among palm trees, mountains, and turquoise seas.
Next, we will take a boat ride to Portofino, which was known as the "Port of Dolphins" in ancient Rome. Today, Portofino is a harbor for luxury yachts and home to the most upscale boutiques.
We continue our journey to Genoa (35 km), where we will learn why Genoa is called the "Proud" city. Genoa became an independent maritime republic in the 10th century and played an important role in the Crusades and medieval trade.
Afterward, we travel by bus to Milan (145 km), check-in at the hotel.
Overnight in Milan.

Day 8: Milan
Breakfast at the hotel. Guided tour of Milan, where we will see the beautiful Gothic Cathedral made from Candolese marble, the Royal Palace, the Monument to Victor Emmanuel II, a medieval marketplace, and other significant sights.
Free time to explore Milan on your own.
Overnight at the hotel in Milan.

Day 9: Departure from Italy
Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to Milan Airport for any flight departing between 08:00 and 14:00 (extra charge for night flights) and departure from Italy.

Hotels along the route:
Rome- Hotel Pacific or similar
Montecatini Terme- Hotel Grand Hotel Plaza & Locanda Maggiore or similar
Santa Margherita- Hotel Regina Elena or similar
Milan- Hotel Antares Concorde or similar

Additional Nights (upon request, check availability):
ROME- ½ DBL-BB $120.00 Single supplement $220.00
MILAN- ½ DBL-BB $120.00 Single supplement $220.00

Tour Inclusions:
Accommodation with breakfast,
Visits and excursions as specified,
Russian-speaking guide throughout the tour,
Transfers for flights arriving in Rome and departing from Milan,
Headsets for the entire tour,
Cinque Terre Park visit (by boat or train in case of bad weather),
Entrance to Siena Cathedral,
Welcome dinner in Rome,
Wine and cheese tasting in Tuscany.

Tour Exclusions:
Meals,
Tourist insurance,
All not specified under "Tour Inclusions,"
Airfare,
Transfers for night flights from 20:00 to 8:00,
Tips for the guide and driver,
City taxes at hotels, payable upon check-in.