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Itinerary
Day 1
We meet at our designated pick up points and transfer by private coach to Bristol Airport for our direct scheduled Easyjet flight to Rome. On arrival in Italy we are met by our tour manager who will accompany us throughout our tour. We continue by coach to the spa town of Chianciano Terme in Tuscany and check in at the Hotel Villa Ricci for a six night stay. A welcome dinner is included in our hotel this evening.
Day 2
This morning we visit the Abbey of Monte Olivieto Maggiore to see the magnificent 41 frescoes of the Life of St Benedict. We continue on to the charming small town of Pienza where parts of the ‘English Patient’ were filmed. Take the time to walk the walls to enjoy the wonderful views and relax in the central square where the cathedral and the town hall are located. Dinner is served in our hotel this evening.
Day 3
Heading into Umbria, we visit the Basilica of St Francis of Assisi where an included guided tour introduces us to wonderful frescoes by Giotto, Simone Martini and Lorenzetti. On arrival at the medieval town of Perugia this afternoon, we enjoy a guided tour at the Galleria Nazionale dell’ Umbria, the centre for Umbrian art. Dinner is included in our hotel this evening.
Day 4
Today we visit Florence, the Renaissance art capital of the world. The morning is at leisure to take in sights such as the Ponte Vecchio, the magnificent Duomo, Santa Croce Church, Pitti Palace and Boboli Gardens. This afternoon we enjoy a guided tour at the Uffizi Gallery, one of the world’s finest art galleries housing Renaissance art from the 14th to 18th century and originally established by the Medici family. For persons who don’t want to visit Florence, the day is at leisure at the spa town of Chianciano Terme. Dinner is served in our hotel this evening.
Day 5
We travel to Siena and an included guided tour on arrival takes in the Campo where the Palio horse race is run. During our tour, we visit the Cathedral, built between 1136 and 1382 and one of Italy’s greatest cathedrals, and the Piccolomini Library. The rest of the day is at leisure in Siena.
Day 6
This morning we visit the Church of Madonna Di San Biagio at Montepulciano, dating back to 1518 and one of the most important church buildings of the Renaissance period. We then enjoy a guided tour at the Gardens of Villa La Foce. When Antonio and Iris Origo bought the estate of La Foce, they engaged the English architect Cecil Pinsent to restructure the main buildings and create a large garden. The house is surrounded by a formal Italian garden, which is divided into geometrical ‘rooms’ by box hedges with lemon trees in terracotta pots. Travertine stairs lead to the rose garden and a winding wisteria-covered pergola bordered by lavender hedge. Gentle informal terraces climb up the hill, where cherry trees, pines and cypresses grow among wild broom, thyme and rosemary, and a long cypress avenue leads to a 17th-century stone statue. Through the wood, a path joins the garden and the family cemetery, considered one of Pinsent's best creations. After our guided tour, we enjoy an included lunch at a carefully selected local restaurant. We then return to Chianciano Terme were the rest of the day is at leisure. A farewell dinner is included in our hotel this evening.
Day 7
En route to the airport, we spend some time at the charming Etruscan town of Orvieto. Gaining access into the town by cable car, time is at leisure and you may choose to visit the stunning Duomo dating from the 13th century with its huge façade adorned with frescoes by Lorenzo Maitani. We continue to Rome Airport for our direct scheduled Easyjet flight to Bristol, and onwards private coach travel back to our original pick up points.
NB: Please note we reserve the right to alter the above itinerary if required for operational reasons. Given the historic nature of the places visited, a certain degree of walking will be involved, and this holiday may not be suitable for those with mobility problems. Flight details may be subject to change. Price based on twin share. Minimum numbers required. Normal booking conditions apply. This holiday and the flights are ATOL protected by the Civil Aviation Authority. Tailored Travel's ATOL number is 5605.
Featuring
Five dinners & one lunch included
All excursions, entrance fees & guided tours included
Return UK airport coach transfers included
Direct scheduled flights from Bristol to Rome
Tour manager in Italy
Executive coach with air conditioning in Italy
Audio headsets included on Days 2 to 6
Abbey of Monte Olivieto Maggiore
Pienza
Basilica of St Francis of Assisi – guided tour
Galleria Nazionale dell’ Umbria at Perugia – guided tour
Florence
Uffizi Gallery – guided tour
Siena – guided tour
Siena Cathedral & Piccolomini Library
Church of Madonna Di San Biagio
Gardens of Villa La Foce – guided tour
Orvieto
Hotel
We stay six nights at the delightful family run Hotel Villa Ricci (www.hotelvillaricci.it/en/) in the spa town of Chianciano Terme, in the heart of Tuscany. The hotel has a bar, restaurant and indoor pool and spa (€15 to €20 per person per stay to use the leisure facilities). All rooms are en suite and feature a television, mini bar and an in room safe. The hotel has a lift. Dinner is included in our hotel on five evenings, and the 5th day is on a bed and breakfast basis.
Extras
Insurance (including Covid cover) £79
Single room supplement £99
Gratuities
Local accommodation tax to be paid directly to the hotel (approximately €2 per person per night)
Optional Excursions
All excursions, entrance fees & guided tours included
