Dates & Prices

To book a tour, call and speak to one of our live, experienced travel consultants, Call us now at 1-800-942-3301.
Touring Date	Land Only	Land + Air	Single (Land Only)	Single (Land + Air)
5/1/2010 - 5/9/2010	$3,490
5/8/2010 - 5/16/2010	$3,490
9/4/2010 - 9/12/2010	$3,490
10/16/2010 - 10/24/2010	$3,490

What's Included

Your Tour Itinerary Includes

Day 1: Reliving the Renaissance in Florence
Arrive in Florence; a transfer is included from Peretola Airport to Gallery Hotel Art. A twisted maze of narrow alleyways...and Tuscany travel days begin. Florence’s Renaissance heart makes yours beat a little faster as you ramble through it with your Florentine guide. Walk along the Arno and check out Santa Maria del Fiore, the Duomo. See, touch and feel the mark of Michelangelo and Brunelleschi in stately palazzi, beautiful basilicas, and even arrogant monuments built by the Medicis to themselves. Cocktails and canapés offer a warm and tasty Culturious welcome tonight. Cross the Arno, across the Ponte Vecchio, to a riverside restaurant for a true Tuscan welcome, maybe peeking into one of the bridge’s ancient shops, where jewelers have plied their trade for half a millennium … diamonds are forever! The restaurant is lively, the views wonderful, the conversation... you have arrived in Italy.
Overnight:
Meals Included: Dinner

Day 2: Inside a City of Secrets
Michelangelo's shadow looms large in Firenze. But how... why... where? A Florentine art history scholar tells all. The Uffizi – founded by the Medicis to display their countless treasures – reveals a few secrets of its own. Getting up close and personal with Botticelli’s Birth of Venus or Michelangelo’s Doni Tondo – in a frame designed by the Master himself – can’t help but touch your soul… and the artist lurking within. We've all got passionate interests, and you'll have time to explore yours in Florence today. Next up is a visit to the Galleria dell'Accademia, home of Michelangelo's famed David. By midday you'll understand how art and history are inextricably intertwined in Florence. Continue a chat about art… and the Renaissance... and all things Florentine with phrases picked up in today's basic Italiano lesson… bellisimo!
Overnight:
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 3: Living the Florentine Life
In the Tuscan hills overlooking Florence, take a walk that begins in the village of Fiesole. Wind over hilltops past ancient stone quarries to Maiano and a cappuccino… ah, Tuscany travel memories. With a local guide, stroll through Florence’s Mercato Central, where you might try sampling traditional Florentine street food – lampredotto sandwiches… fresh fruit... porchetta… gelato… Take a walk along the cobbled streets of the Oltrarno, its Renaissance palaces harboring salacious scandals and murky intrigues… You’re in the thick of Florentine life in the old San Niccolo district’s bustling squares and artisans’ workshops. Restoration specialist Bettina Schindler-Pratesi shares the secrets of her work… giving new life to old ivory, bone and mother-of-pearl. Dine as you please on your own this evening, perhaps a taste of vino and local cheeses at an enoteca… now that's amore...
Overnight:
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 4: The Way to Cinque Terre
The road winds and twists and turns as you travel toward the Gulf of Genoa. Take a winding road deep into a mountain to see where celebrated Carrara marble, considered the finest on earth, has been quarried since Roman times. In a hidden gem along the way – the old Toscana village of Colonnata – live like a local and try a lardo at a trattoria. Reaching Portovenere on the Gulf of Poets, you’ll instantly get why this stunning Roman-Byzantine town was named for the goddess Venus. Colorful houses cascade along a hillside against the azure sea… the black-and-white-striped Gothic church of San Pietro perched above... images captured as you cruise from Portovenere to the Cinque Terre village of Monterosso – and not soon forgotten...
Overnight:
Meals Included: Breakfast, dinner

Day 5: Discovering “The Five Lands”
Gazing over the sea from your hotel perched above Monterosso al Mare, life is beautiful. Perhaps a dip in the sea from the private beach of Porto Roca? Dotted with lemon trees and calla lilies, Monterosso is one of five remote fishing villages strung like jewels along the coast – Cinque Terre, “the five lands.” They’re now linked to the outside world by rail, but for centuries were accessible only by sea… or on foot, the best way to appreciate life in what is truly a world of its own. If you wish, take one of the world’s most spectacular coastal hikes, through terraced vineyards overlooking the sea from Monterosso to Vernazza – the “pearl of Cinque Terre.” If not, you'll travel by train, which is an experience unto itself. Fall in love with village life… indelible seascape memories… and lunch in a sidewalk café, alive with the flavors of local wines, citrus, olives, and the catch of the day. The remainder of the day is free to do as you please, find your own pursuits... and what could be better than that.
Overnight:
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 6: Tasting Tuscany
A jog, or a swim, is an excellent way to start the day before a drive through the Tuscan Hills to Lucca. If you’re wondering if Tuscany is all about the food, a hands-on lesson with experts in the art of making fresh pasta at Fattoria Colle Verde, one of the region’s foremost wineries and olive oil producers, may shed some light. After a little testing and a little cooking, cap your pasta-making debut with a little virgin olive oil tasting… a little Tuscan wine tasting… and more than a little pasta tasting at lunch. You can take a walk through olive groves and across rolling hills for a taste of life in the Royal Villa of Marlia – picture Napoleon’s sister strolling the grounds (she lived here), or artist John Singer Sargent (a frequent guest) painting in the garden... or head straight to the walled city of Lucca, your home for the next two nights.
Overnight:
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch

Day 7: A Feast for the Senses in Lucca
Medieval Lucca’s redbrick walls shut out traffic and the modern world… leaving a peaceful community that still revolves around its original Roman street plan. And because it’s topographically flat – unlike most Tuscan towns – Lucca is a cyclist’s dream. One of the best ways to explore this colorful, elegant, historically powerful and culturally rich city is by bike – zipping down its narrow lanes… across its ancient piazzas… even along the top of its massive walls! And if you're not interested in bicycling, there's so much to see and do in town. Delighting all the senses is a hallmark of the Tuscan Hills… so a local winery just outside of town is the perfect venue for tasting local wine, sipping prosecco, sampling a canapé... perfect for reflections on a week well spent. And to finish it off, a memorable dinner of Tuscan specialties in an absolutely magical spot… under the setting Tuscan sun.
Overnight:
Meals Included: Breakfast, dinner

Day 8: Arrivederci, Tuscany
Tour ends: Florence. Fly home anytime. A transfer will be provided from Hotel Ilaria to Peretola Airport in Florence. As you return to Florence through those magical hills for your journey home, the rich flavors of Tuscany travel, Culturious-style, linger in your memory. And there they’ll stay… warm and inviting… till your next visit.
Overnight:
Meals Included: Breakfast

Sightseeing Highlights

Laughing at the enoteca while debating the merits of the olive oil flavors you’ve just tasted… triumphantly ordering gelato using the new Italian phrases you’ve just mastered… feeling the breeze while bicycling on the city walls of Lucca… savoring the delectable prosciutto and Florentine cheeses you’ve just chosen from a local market for lunch – or the fruit of the vineyards you’ve just walked through. This is Culturious… and this is Tuscany… now, your Tuscany. 2010 pricing starts at US $3490 per person double. Maximum group size is 16. 1. Reliving the Renaissance in Florence Tour begins: Florence. Arrive in Florence; a transfer is included from Peretola Airport to Gallery Hotel Art. A twisted maze of narrow alleyways...and Tuscany travel days begin. Florence’s Renaissance heart makes yours beat a little faster as you ramble through it with your Florentine guide. Walk along the Arno and check out Santa Maria del Fiore, the Duomo. See, touch and feel the mark of Michelangelo and Brunelleschi in stately palazzi, beautiful basilicas, and even arrogant monuments built by the Medicis to themselves. Cocktails and canapés offer a warm and tasty Culturious welcome tonight. Cross the Arno, across the Ponte Vecchio, to a riverside restaurant for a true Tuscan welcome, maybe peeking into one of the bridge’s ancient shops, where jewelers have plied their trade for half a millennium … diamonds are forever! The restaurant is lively, the views wonderful, the conversation... you have arrived in Italy. Meals D   2. Inside a City of Secrets Michelangelo's shadow looms large in Firenze. But how... why... where? A Florentine art history scholar tells all. The Uffizi – founded by the Medicis to display their countless treasures – reveals a few secrets of its own. Getting up close and personal with Botticelli’s Birth of Venus or Michelangelo’s Doni Tondo – in a frame designed by the Master himself – can’t help but touch your soul… and the artist lurking within. We've all got passionate interests, and you'll have time to explore yours in Florence today. Next up is a visit to the Galleria dell'Accademia, home of Michelangelo's famed David. By midday you'll understand how art and history are inextricably intertwined in Florence. Continue a chat about art… and the Renaissance... and all things Florentine with phrases picked up in today's basic Italiano lesson… bellisimo! Meals B 3. Living the Florentine Life In the Tuscan hills overlooking Florence, take a walk that begins in the village of Fiesole. Wind over hilltops past ancient stone quarries to Maiano and a cappuccino… ah, Tuscany travel memories. With a local guide, stroll through Florence’s Mercato Central, where you might try sampling traditional Florentine street food – lampredotto sandwiches… fresh fruit... porchetta… gelato… Take a walk along the cobbled streets of the Oltrarno, its Renaissance palaces harboring salacious scandals and murky intrigues… You’re in the thick of Florentine life in the old San Niccolo district’s bustling squares and artisans’ workshops. Restoration specialist Bettina Schindler-Pratesi shares the secrets of her work… giving new life to old ivory, bone and mother-of-pearl. Dine as you please on your own this evening, perhaps a taste of vino and local cheeses at an enoteca… now that's amore... Meals B 4. The Way to Cinque Terre The road winds and twists and turns as you travel toward the Gulf of Genoa. Take a winding road deep into a mountain to see where celebrated Carrara marble, considered the finest on earth, has been quarried since Roman times. In a hidden gem along the way – the old Toscana village of Colonnata – live like a local and try a lardo at a trattoria. Reaching Portovenere on the Gulf of Poets, you’ll instantly get why this stunning Roman-Byzantine town was named for the goddess Venus. Colorful houses cascade along a hillside against the azure sea… the black-and-white-striped Gothic church of San Pietro perched above... images captured as you cruise from Portovenere to the Cinque Terre village of Monterosso – and not soon forgotten... Meals BD 5. Discovering “The Five Lands” Gazing over the sea from your hotel perched above Monterosso al Mare, life is beautiful. Perhaps a dip in the sea from the private beach of Porto Roca? Dotted with lemon trees and calla lilies, Monterosso is one of five remote fishing villages strung like jewels along the coast – Cinque Terre, “the five lands.” They’re now linked to the outside world by rail, but for centuries were accessible only by sea… or on foot, the best way to appreciate life in what is truly a world of its own. If you wish, take one of the world’s most spectacular coastal hikes, through terraced vineyards overlooking the sea from Monterosso to Vernazza – the “pearl of Cinque Terre.” If not, you'll travel by train, which is an experience unto itself. Fall in love with village life… indelible seascape memories… and lunch in a sidewalk café, alive with the flavors of local wines, citrus, olives, and the catch of the day. The remainder of the day is free to do as you please, find your own pursuits... and what could be better than that. Meals B 6. Tasting Tuscany A jog, or a swim, is an excellent way to start the day before a drive through the Tuscan Hills to Lucca. If you’re wondering if Tuscany is all about the food, a hands-on lesson with experts in the art of making fresh pasta at Fattoria Colle Verde, one of the region’s foremost wineries and olive oil producers, may shed some light. After a little testing and a little cooking, cap your pasta-making debut with a little virgin olive oil tasting… a little Tuscan wine tasting… and more than a little pasta tasting at lunch. You can take a walk through olive groves and across rolling hills for a taste of life in the Royal Villa of Marlia – picture Napoleon’s sister strolling the grounds (she lived here), or artist John Singer Sargent (a frequent guest) painting in the garden... or head straight to the walled city of Lucca, your home for the next two nights. Meals BL 7. A Feast for the Senses in Lucca Medieval Lucca’s redbrick walls shut out traffic and the modern world… leaving a peaceful community that still revolves around its original Roman street plan. And because it’s topographically flat – unlike most Tuscan towns – Lucca is a cyclist’s dream. One of the best ways to explore this colorful, elegant, historically powerful and culturally rich city is by bike – zipping down its narrow lanes… across its ancient piazzas… even along the top of its massive walls! And if you're not interested in bicycling, there's so much to see and do in town. Delighting all the senses is a hallmark of the Tuscan Hills… so a local winery just outside of town is the perfect venue for tasting local wine, sipping prosecco, sampling a canapé... perfect for reflections on a week well spent. And to finish it off, a memorable dinner of Tuscan specialties in an absolutely magical spot… under the setting Tuscan sun. Meals BD 8. Arrivederci, Tuscany Tour ends: Florence. Fly home anytime. A transfer will be provided from Hotel Ilaria to Peretola Airport in Florence. As you return to Florence through those magical hills for your journey home, the rich flavors of Tuscany travel, Culturious-style, linger in your memory. And there they’ll stay… warm and inviting… till your next visit. Meals B

Ratings & Reviews:

This tour has no reviews yet. Have you experienced this tour? Write a review.

Details & Specials

NULL

SPECIALS

Special Air Savings - Learn More

Hurry! Air Savings End March 26!

Special International Air Savings – Europe

Book and deposit summertime departures of the following Tauck journeys to Europe by March 26, 2010 and save $2,000 per couple off Business Class Air ($1,000 off per person) from select U.S. cities.

Savings are valid for travel between June 29 and September 5, 2010, subject to availability:

•Treasures of the Aegean – 14 days with a 7-night cruise aboard Wind Star / Wind Spirit

•Sicily, the Amalfi Coast & Rome – 11 days with a 7-night cruise aboard Le Ponant

•Switzerland – 11 days featuring travel along Tauck’s scenic Yellow Roads

•Italian Lakes, Venice, Florence & Rome – 10 days in Italy with all multiple-night stays

•Paradors of Northern Spain – 14 days exploring culturally rich Iberia

•The Best of Ireland – 13 days featuring iconic cultural treasures of the Emerald Isle

•A Week In… Ireland – 8 days with a 2-night stay at Dromoland Castle

•A Week In… Spain – 8 days from Barcelona to Andalucía, Seville and Madrid

•A Week In… Scotland – 8 days with 2- and 3-night stays in Loch Lomond, Inverness & Edinburgh

•Spain and Portugal – 14 days of Iberian pleasures and culinary treasures

•Normandy, Brittany, Paris & the Loire Valley – 13 days showcasing joie de vivre

•A Week In… London & Paris – 4 nights at a grand hotel in London and 3 nights in Paree

•Castles & Kings: London to Paris – An 8-day family vacation alive with royal traditions

Deposit must be paid at time of booking and certain restrictions apply. Valid on new bookings only and not combinable with other promotions; ask for details.

Tauck Tour Deals

Traveling with a group of friends or family can add to the joy of any journey.

Book a group of 10 on any Tauck land journey or cruise and the 11th guest travels FREE.

Book a group of 8 on any Tauck Bridges family adventure and the 9th guest travels FREE

Tauck Single Specials

For those seeking singles tours, we are pleased to offer special values on select departures to our guests who choose to travel solo. You can travel with peace of mind, knowing that you are among like-minded travelers and will have all the day-to-day details handled for you! While everyone is welcome, on these select dates we offer special arrangements to those traveling solo at a reduced cost.

Tauck Single Specials in North America

Best of the Canadian Rockies

Michigan's Lakes & Mackinac Island

Charleston/Savannah

Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia

San Fransisco, Sonoma & Napa Valleys

Tauck Single Specials in Europe

A Week in Ireland

A Week in Spain

Mediterranean Discovery

Istanbul and the Black Sea

Treasure of the Mediterranean

Cruising Mediterranean Shores

The Blue Danube

Holland Belgium in Spring

Strasbourg to Prague Serenade

The Rhine and Moselle

Budapest to Amsterdam by Riverboat

Budapest to the Black Sea

Classic Italy

Bellissima Northern Italy

Italian Lakes, Venice, Florence and Rome

A Week in Paris and Provence

Tauck Singles Specials in Latin America

Panama Canal & Costa Rica