Day 1 – Mon 7 April (Lunch, overnight in ARGENTARIO)
Pick-up from Fiumicino Airport to transfer to Tarquinia for a guided visit of the town as well as the ancient Etruscan tombs for which this town was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2004. The Etruscans were an ancient and very mysterious civilisation that gave rise to the modern name of Tuscany, and Tarquinia make for the perfect place to start the tour. We then transfer over to a boutique hotel in the Argentario after lunch, following which is an afternoon of leisure to relax before our excursion the next day.
Day 2 - Tue 8 April (Lunch, overnight in ARGENTARIO)
This day is dedicated to the exploration of the promontory that is crowned by Monte Argentario. Often overlooked by tourists in favour of far more famous Tuscan destinations, this hidden gem offers rugged cliffs overlooking pristine beaches, and picturesque coastal towns like Porto Santo Stefano and Porto Ercole. Here you discover a Tuscany you never knew existed!
Day 3 - Wed 9 April (Dinner, overnight in SOVANA)
We head into the hinterland this morning into the rugged area called the Maremma to visit our first hill town, the very famous Pitigliano, known not only for its distinctive location perched dramatically on a cliff, but also for its architectural heritage that features Medieval, Renaissance, and Jewish traditions. We then visit the nearby Sovana, another delightful village on a hill but far smaller and more intimate, where we shall be spending the next two nights
Day 4 - Thu 10 April (Lunch, overnight in SOVANA)
Today we explore the area around Monte Amiata, Tuscany’s highest mountain which at 1738m is where many locals go skiing in winter. Known for its lush forests, the mountain was once a sacred site in ancient times, and its volcanic origins have left a geological legacy that shapes the landscape even today, where we shall spend time enjoying nature and visiting the medieval villages.
Day 5 - Fri 11 April (Lunch, overnight in VAL D’ORCIA)
We make our way into the spectacular Val d’Orcia countryside today, an area so iconic that it was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2004 for its unique combination of art and nature, a masterpiece of land management from the Renaissance ideals. Of the many places are tiny hill villages, one of which with a thermal spring pool right in the centre instead of the usual square, as well as an isolated church and monastery in Romanesque style standing alone in the countryside
Day 6 - Sat 12 April (Lunch, overnight in VAL D’ORCIA)
We begin the morning with a visit to the town of Pienza, considered to be the perfect embodiment of the ideal Renaissance town, for which it was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site way back in 1996. We then head farther north after lunch to another area of countryside called the Crete Senesi, an exquisite landscape which stands in stark contrast with Val d’Orcia with its dramatic, almost lunar, features and the absence of vineyards
Day 7 - Sun 13 April (Lunch, overnight in POPPI)
We leave the Val d’Orcia this morning and head towards a whole other section of Tuscany called the Casentino, a rural valley little visited by the average tourist yet famous among the locals for its national park with dense woodlands, waterfalls, and abundant wildlife. Within all this is the lovely medieval village of Poppi, another hidden gem where we shall be staying for the next 2 nights.
Day 8 - Mon 14 April (Dinner, overnight in POPPI)
Also within the Casentino Valley is the historically significant Franciscan Sanctuary of La Verna, where St. Francis of Assisi was said to have received the stigmata in 1224. We shall dedicate the day here, perched on Mount Penna, and surrounded by dense forests which imbues the site with a serene and contemplative atmosphere that has drawn pilgrims for centuries.
Day 9 - Tue 15 April (Lunch, overnight in FIESOLE)
We head for Fiesole today where we shall spend the final two nights of this tour, driving through the Consuma Pass offering breathtaking views of the surrounding valleys and mountains. Along the way we shall stop to visit the ruins of the ancient Romena Castle and the small but still active medieval church nearby.
Day 10 - Wed 16 April (Dinner, overnight in FIESOLE)
A relaxing day today with the morning spent visiting ancient Fiesole which has existed many centuries before even Florence was founded by the ancient Romans. Fiesole became a retreat for wealthy Floren-tines during the Renaissance due to its cooler climate and stunning views over Florence, and today offers a tranquil foil to the hustle and bustle of latter with its picturesque landscapes and historical sites.
Day 11 - Thu 17 April
Tour ends after breakfast this morning. Transfer is provided to Florence Santa Maria Novella railway station as well as to the next hotel for those intending to extend their stay in Florence.
Download a copy of this tour programme here.
