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Portofino, Florence and Tuscany – Escorted Tour of Italy
Discover the best of Tuscany and the Italian Riviera with this 8-day escorted tour through Portofino, Florence and Tuscany. Available with departures from various UK airports and dates from June 2025 to October 2026, this itinerary includes 6 guided excursions and 14 meals. Your base for the week is Montecatini, one of Italy’s most elegant spa towns, ideally located for exploring the region’s cultural gems and coastal splendour.
Stay in Spa-Town Montecatini
Spend seven nights in Montecatini, a resort town famed for its thermal waters and relaxed charm. From here, you’ll have time to enjoy its tree-lined boulevards, ride the funicular up to Montecatini Alto for hilltop views, or simply relax in one of the town’s traditional cafés. Your hotel offers dinner, bed and breakfast throughout your stay, providing comfort and convenience between daily excursions.
Visit Portofino and the Ligurian Coast
Begin your adventures with an included excursion to Santa Margherita Ligure and Portofino. After exploring the scenic bay of Santa Margherita, you’ll take a short boat trip to Portofino – an exclusive seaside village known for its pastel-coloured buildings, luxury boutiques, and spectacular coastal views.
Guided Tour of Florence
Next, experience the cradle of the Renaissance with a full-day visit to Florence. Discover the Duomo’s iconic red dome, walk across the Ponte Vecchio, and admire landmarks like Santa Croce and Piazza della Signoria. With optional visits to the Accademia or Uffizi galleries, and plenty of time to dine and explore, it’s a true highlight of this Portofino Florence and Tuscany tour.
Pisa and Lucca in One Day
Another included excursion takes you first to Pisa’s Campo dei Miracoli, home of the famous Leaning Tower and its neighbouring cathedral and baptistery. Then, continue to Lucca, a walled Renaissance city filled with elegant piazzas, charming cafés, and traces of its Roman past.
Optional Excursion to Cinque Terre
Spend a day at leisure in Montecatini or join an optional guided excursion to Cinque Terre. Cruise the Italian Riviera and visit Monterosso and Vernazza – two of the five colourful villages that cling to the cliffs above the sea. Expect breathtaking views, narrow alleyways, and unforgettable charm.
Optional Visit to Siena and San Gimignano
Another optional tour invites you to explore two iconic Tuscan towns. In Siena, see the shell-shaped Piazza del Campo and Gothic town hall. Then, head to San Gimignano, where medieval towers rise above the rooftops and offer views across the surrounding vineyards and hills.
This Portofino Florence and Tuscany escorted tour is perfect for travellers seeking a mix of culture, history and scenic beauty – all with the ease of a guided experience.
Based on 2 adults departing London Heathrow on 15th April 2026
Itinerary
Meet your tour manager as you arrive, and board the coach for the transfer through the Tuscan countryside to your hotel, in Montecatini.
Today, you're free to get to know the hotel and the many treasures of this historic spa resort, perhaps paying a first visit to Montecatini Alto for its stunning views, or enjoying a leisurely lunch.
Join the first of your holiday's included excursion and head to the beautiful Ligurian coast. Here, some of Italy’s most famous resorts are dotted along the shoreline, backed by wooded hills. A mecca for visitors from around the world, elegant Santa Margherita Ligure overlooks a stunning bay, and lies at the eastern end of the Portofino headland. Spend some time exploring the resort, then board a boat for a trip along the coast to discover its ultra-chic neighbour, the world-renowned, jet-set watering-hole of Portofino. Despite the crowds, this glamorous pastel-painted village remains one of the Mediterranean’s most idyllic settings.
Today will be one of the real highlights of your holiday, as you join our included tour of Florence. For many, this simply stunning place is Italy’s most beautiful city, and today you'll have the chance to see the magnificent Florentine skyline, dominated by the dome of Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, for yourself. Explore the splendour of Santa Croce and the medieval Ponte Vecchio bridge, spared by the retreating Nazis because of its timeless beauty. Florence is also the city of both the Accademia, which houses Michelangelo’s fabled statue of David, and the Uffizi, where Botticelli’s famous Birth of Venus can be admired. You'll have the chance to visit the galleries (payable locally), and will no doubt want to stop for a bite in one of the city’s cafes and restaurants.
Relax today or join an optional excursion that heads first to Siena, well known for its medieval brick buildings and fan-shaped square, Piazza del Campo. See the Palazzo Pubblico, the Gothic town hall, and the tall 14th-century tower, Torre del Mangia.
No less fascinating is the charming hill town, San Gimignano, with its fairy-tale towers rising from the hill-top village. This is one of the finest sights in all Italy, and a fitting finale to your wonderful holiday.
No less fascinating is the charming hill town, San Gimignano, with its fairy-tale towers rising from the hill-top village. This is one of the finest sights in all Italy, and a fitting finale to your wonderful holiday.
Today, you’re free to enjoy another day of gentle exploration in Montecatini under your own steam, or join an optional excursion sailing across the Italian Riviera to the stunning villages of Cinque Terre. Perched on the rugged coastline, Cinque Terre is a string of centuries-old seaside villages offering colourful houses clinging to steep terraces and harbours filled with fishing boats and trattorias.
Start the day with a scenic coach ride to La Spezia, where you'll meet your knowledgeable local guide, before boarding a boat for a two-hour cruise to Monterosso, the largest of the Cinque Terre villages. With its beautiful beaches and vibrant lemon trees, you'll then have ample time to wander through its old town, visit the historic convent, and perhaps sample some local seafood delicacies.
Later this afternoon, set sail again on your way to Vernazza, often considered the jewel of Cinque Terre with its narrow, winding streets, and Doria Castle offering panoramic views of the coastline. Upon arrival, you can enjoy a leisurely stroll, capture the essence of Italian coastal life, and soak in the village's unique charm.
In the late afternoon, you'll make the scenic return trip to La Spezia (via boat) and conclude your memorable day with a coach ride back to Montecatini.
Start the day with a scenic coach ride to La Spezia, where you'll meet your knowledgeable local guide, before boarding a boat for a two-hour cruise to Monterosso, the largest of the Cinque Terre villages. With its beautiful beaches and vibrant lemon trees, you'll then have ample time to wander through its old town, visit the historic convent, and perhaps sample some local seafood delicacies.
Later this afternoon, set sail again on your way to Vernazza, often considered the jewel of Cinque Terre with its narrow, winding streets, and Doria Castle offering panoramic views of the coastline. Upon arrival, you can enjoy a leisurely stroll, capture the essence of Italian coastal life, and soak in the village's unique charm.
In the late afternoon, you'll make the scenic return trip to La Spezia (via boat) and conclude your memorable day with a coach ride back to Montecatini.
Today, the tour takes you to two true Italian gems. First of these is the wonderful city of Pisa, where, in the company of your guide, you'll have an opportunity to explore this mesmerising medieval treasure trove on the banks of the River Arno. Here, the broad green swathe of the Campo dei Miracoli (Field of Miracles) is home not only to the startling Leaning Tower but also the huge circular Baptistery, the great marbled Duomo and the colonnaded Campo Santo cemetery.
After a fascinating visit, you’ll reboard the coach and journey to the elegant walled city of Lucca. This simply delightful Renaissance jewel was the birthplace of the composer Puccini, and the city’s most famous son is celebrated with a museum at his home. Elsewhere, the ancient cathedral, the Torre della Ore clocktower and the exquisite Piazza Anfiteatro (built around the Roman amphitheatre) are among the must-sees of this charming city.
After a fascinating visit, you’ll reboard the coach and journey to the elegant walled city of Lucca. This simply delightful Renaissance jewel was the birthplace of the composer Puccini, and the city’s most famous son is celebrated with a museum at his home. Elsewhere, the ancient cathedral, the Torre della Ore clocktower and the exquisite Piazza Anfiteatro (built around the Roman amphitheatre) are among the must-sees of this charming city.
Bid farewell to your Tuscan hosts, today, and journey back to the airport to check in for your flight home.
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