Tour Tuscany, Tuscany and the Elba island

Tuscany is a wonderful Italian destination! Tuscany is a charmed land, equally blessed by the genius of man and nature, and often by the combined efforts of both. Every inch of land has been sculpted, first by the elements and then by generations of inhabitants whose goals were always twofold: make the land produce as much as possible, make the land as beautiful as possible. Tuscany enchants us today because it holds together as a region, from the tiniest hamlet to Florence the Magnificent. Florence contains an exceptional artistic patrimony, glorious testimony to its secular civilization. Cimabue, Giotto, Brunelleschi, Donatello, Botticelli the universal geniuses Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo and Galileo lived here. Elba Island : the sea, the beaches, the green of the countryside, the small fortress towns, archaeological treasures, chestnut woods and more, continue to exist for what seems like an eternity. Elba gives the sensation of so much in so little as in the small spaces of the island we travel over tourist attractions and natural landscapes of such contrast; areas dried out by sun and wind, others green with life, sandy or pebble stone beaches, rocky coastlines and cliffs. Napoleone would have had to consider him fortunate to have been exiled in such an attractive place!

ITINERARY

1 Day:
Half day guided visit of Montecatini, famous for its thermal baths. The Thermal Center is located in a pleasant and green area at the foot of the hill, where the historical medieval village of Montecatini Alto rises, a few hundred metres above the "new" town. It is connected with the city through a funicolar. The views here are splendid, and the delightful Piazza Giusti is home to some good bars and restaurants.

2 Day:
The entire day is dedicated to the visit of Florence, rich with artistic monuments from the Medieval and Renaissance periods. Guided visit of the city in the morning. Afternoon: time at leisure, for visits to Museums or shopping.

3 Day:
Breakfast. Full day guided excursion to the Elba Island, one of the most beautiful islands of the Tuscan archipelago. Ferry transfer from Piombino to Portoferraio. Return to the mainland in the late afternoon.

4 Day:
Full day excursion to Siena, a typical medieval town with its famous Piazza del Campo and the Dome. Continue towards S. Gimignanofor a short visit. On your way back to Montecatini, stop in a cellar in the Chianti region for some wine sampling.

5 Day:
Full day excursion to Pisa and Carrara. Pisa: thanks to its Leaning Tower is well known from everybody. Carrara: for the mountains here have been a principal source of marble since the ancient Romans; everyone from Michelangelo to Henry Moore has trampet up here in search of the perfect block. Carrara ist still the world's largest producer and exporter of marble. The visit includes the marble quarries and a local craftsman's workshop where the various techniques will be explained.

6 Day:
At disposal for optional excursions and departure.

OPTIONAL VISITS / EXCURSIONS

Lucca
It is a delightful place simply to wander at random, with much of the centre free from traffic.It set inside a ring of Renaissance walls fronted by gardens and huge bastions.

Cinque Terre
The stupendous folder coastline of the Cinque Terre (Five Lands) streches berween the pleasant beach resort of Levanto and the major port of La Spezia. The area is named for fine tiny villages - Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore - wedged into a series of coves between sheer cliffs, their comparative remoteness and the dramatic nature of their position on a stunning coastline, make them the principal scenic highlight of this part of the Riviera. A must is the twenty-minute walk on the Via dell'Amore (Lovers' Path) above the waves past lemon trees in every backyards.

Vinci & Torre del Lago
Occupying the picturesque vine-and olive-planted southern slopes of Montalbano, Vinci is inextricably associated with Leonardo da Vinci, who was born here on 1452. The main sight is the thirteenth-century castle, now home of the Museum, packed with models reconstructed from Leonardo'n notebook drawings - his celebrated bicycle, helicopter and multi-barrelled machine-gun are all on display.

Florence: Museums & Galleries
The National Museum of Bargello has Italy's most comprehensive collection of Tuscan Renaissance sculptures (of Michelangelo and Donatello too).
The Uffizi Gallery holds Italy's greatest art collection. In the 45 rooms thare are so many masterpieces that you need minimum 3-4 hours to visit it. It contains works of Cimabue, Giotto, Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, to name just a few of them.