Tuscany with Cinque Terre

Day 1

DAY 1 – CHICAGO~INTERMEDIATE CITY~FLORENCE/PISA: Depart Chicago’s O’Hare National Airport on our transatlantic flight to Florence/Pisa (via intermediate city) with meal and beverage service available while in flight.

Day 2

DAY 2 – FLORENCE/PISA~MONTECATINI: Upon arrival in Italy, we will be met by our Tour Host and transfer to our 4-star hotel, Hotel Adua (or similar) in the beautiful Tuscan spa town of Montecatini. Following check-in, we will have a brief orientation meeting and dinner this evening. Overnight. (D) Hotel website: www.hoteladua.it

Day 3

DAY 3 – FLORENCE: After breakfast, there will be a morning sightseeing tour of Florence. We will visit the beautiful Piazza Del Duomo to see the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, Giotto's Beli Tower, and the Romanesque Baptistery of St. John. Later we will visit the Academia Museum to view Michelangelo's most famous sculpture, "David." The afternoon is at leisure for individual sightseeing and shopping. We will return to our hotel in Montecatini for dinner and overnight. (B, D)

Day 4

DAY 4 – LUCCA~PISA: After breakfast, we will take a short ride to Lucca, home of the great composer, Giacomo Puccini, and one of the wealthiest towns in Tuscany. We’ll enjoy a pleasant tour and then have some leisure time in this graceful city. Lucca is an enjoyable, tourist-friendly city and is remarkably relaxing and quiet, due to an unusually high number of residents who ride bicycles instead of driving cars. We’ll then enjoy lunch, including a wine tasting, at Fattoria il Poggio, located in Montecarlo “on the hill of Lucca.” This afternoon, we are off to Pisa. Upon arrival, we will explore the Square of Miracles with the famous Leaning Tower and view Pisa's Duomo, Baptistery, and Camposanto Monumente. In late afternoon, we will return to our hotel for dinner and overnight. (B, L, D)

Day 5

DAY 5 – TENUTA TORCIANO WINERY/SAN GIMIGNANO: After breakfast, we will visit the Tenuta Torciano Winery in San Gimignano for a pizza cooking class and wine tasting. We will enjoy a cooking class with the chefs: from dough preparation to the finished pizza and enjoy lunch with multiple types of pizza prepared together. We’ll prepare three types of pizza according to season and specific dietary requirements. Dessert will be pizza with Nutella or jam or mascarpone with dessert wine. In the afternoon we will visit we will visit San Gimignano, often described as "The most famous small town in ltaly." This charming, medieval hilltop town is noted for its many towers and its breathtaking views of the Tuscan landscape. Later, we will return to our hotel for dinner and overnight. (B, L, D)

Day 6

DAY 6 – CINQUE TERRE: After breakfast, we will depart for an excursion to Cinque Terre! We will depart by train from La Spezia to visit Manarola. Then we will depart by local train to visit Vernazza. After we will continue by train to visit Monterosso where we will stop for lunch and a wine tasting. In the afternoon we will depart by locaI train from Monterosso to La Spezia. We’ll return to the hotel for dinner and overnight. (B, L, D)

Day 7

DAY 7 – SIENA~ CHIANTI: After breakfast, we will drive southwest through the heart of Italian wine country, over the rolling hills of Chianti to Siena. Once in Siena, our escort will lead us to Piazza del Campo, through the narrow streets, past Medieval towers and walls. One of the notable highlights of Siena is San Domenico, which holds relics of St. Catherine. Lunch on your own. Early afternoon, we will enjoy a tour and wine tasting at the Castello di Brolio Winery, one of the oldest wine producers in the world, situated in the heart of the Chianti Classico region of Italy. Chianti wine, like other Tuscan wines, has been produced since Etruscan times. Chianti wine experienced a major decline at the end of the 18th century but enjoyed a resurgence due largely to the effort of Bettino Ricasoli. The Brolio Vintage 1841 became the standard for today's best Chianti and the “Brolio Ricasoli” label is one of the most prestigious. Return to Montecatini for dinner and overnight. (B, D)

Day 8

DAY 8 – MONTECATINI: After a relaxing breakfast, we’ll enjoy a full day at leisure where we can explore Montecatini, do some individual sightseeing, enjoy lunch on our own and relax. Montecatini also has many cultural offerings, a golf course, parks, and its own train stop, with easy access to Florence and other locales. Or take a tram ride to Montecatini Alto, located high above Montecatini itself. Dinner and overnight at the hotel. (B, D)

Day 9

DAY 9 – FLORENCE/PISA~CHICAGO: After breakfast and hotel check-out, we’ll transfer to the local airport for our return flight to Chicago’s O’Hare National Airport (via intermediate city). Meal and beverage service available while in flight. Transfer to local hotel for overnight stay. (B)

Day 10

DAY 10 – CHICAGO: After breakfast, check-out and depart by motorcoach to return home today. (B)