Jan
min : 2°C
max : 9°C
We Love —
- Head to Tuscany for a fabulous Fly Drive tour across stunning cities and iconic landscapes.
- Enjoy the beauty of Florence, the charm of Lucca and the magic of Siena as you take the wheel of your own holiday experience.
- Stay in a variety of beautiful hotels throughout and feast each morning on a complimentary breakfast!
Your Destinations —
Florence
Wander some of the oldest streets in the city until you reach the Arno River, cross the Ponte Vecchio, and experience the "newest" area of Florence, the Oltrarno. There are many excursions you can enjoy outside of Florence, such as Siena, Pisa, San Giminiano and the Chianti area.
Lucca
Siena
Your Itinerary In Brief —
Day 1: Arrival in Florence
Day 2: Florence
Day 3: Florence
Day 4: Florence - Pisa - Lucca/Montecatini Area
Day 5: Lucca/Montecatini Area - Cinque Terre
Day 6: Lucca - San Gimignano - Siena
Day 7: Siena - Pienza - Montepulciano - Arezzo - Siena
Day 8: Siena - Chianti - Florence - Departure
Your Itinerary —
During their tour, our members will follow the itinerary as seen below.
On arrival in Florence, please head to the rent-a-car desk where you will be provided with the keys and documentation, and then you can start your trip by visiting Florence. Once you reach the city, you can check-in at the hotel booked. Florence is a city that does not need any previous introduction. It’s the capital of Tuscany and a true wonder of the Renaissance period. You can’t miss the Piazza Duomo, with its fantastic views, and the impressive Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, the main church of Florence and also one of the biggest Christian churches in the world. This Cathedral is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, together with its Baptistery and the Giotto's Campanile, the highest bell tower of the city that determines its skyline. The exterior walls of the Cathedral are decorated in alternate vertical and horizontal bands with marble panels of various colors: white (from Carrara), green (from Prato) and red (from Siena). The dome, engineered by Brunelleschi, is one of the greatest architectural masterpieces of the Italian Renaissance epoch. The exterior frescoes representing The Last Judgment are considered Zuccari's greatest work. In the evening you can enjoy the atmosphere of the Florence streets, and taste the amazing pasta or pizza at the nearby restaurants or pizzerias, full of typical Italian charm that will whet your appetite with its delicious smell. Accommodation in the hotel in Florence.
Day 2: Florence
Today, we recommend you visit the place where you will enjoy the best panoramic views of Florence, the Piazzale Michelangelo, located on a hill of San Miniato, and dedicated to the Renaissance sculptor Michelangelo. If you are full of energy and have strong legs and feet, you can climb it by yourself. If not, do not worry, close to the piazzale you will find a large free parking place. The city views that capture the heart of Florence from Forte Belvedere to Santa Croce, are absolutely breathtaking. From the hill you can enjoy the best panoramic views of the city, its bridges and monuments, even the Synagogue of Florence and especially the Duomo and its enormous dome. We also suggest you strolling around the Piazza della Signoria with the Palazzo Vecchio and the Ponte Vecchio, one of the most spectacular and most photographed places of the city where you can buy the most famous Italian jewelry brands’ production. Visit the Gallery of the Academy, one of the most important museums in Florence dedicated to sculpture and painting. It’s the home of the Michelangelo’s sculpture David, previously located at Piazza della Signoria (replaced by a replica) and moved here in 1873. If you want to visit this museum, we recommend you to book your tickets with more than 30 days to spare. Accommodation in the hotel in Florence.
Florence breathes art and history everywhere, in all corners. Today you can enjoy your day strolling through the streets and squares of the old town that will be a real pleasure for all the senses. Today you will take a city tour in English group with a local guide to show you Florence highlights. We recommend you to visit the Piazza Santa Croce, one of the main squares located in the central neighborhood of Florence, and enter to the church, known as the Temple of the Italian Glories, where you will see the graves of great personalities in world history, such as Galileo Galilei, Machiavelli, Dante and Michelangelo, author and creator of his own tomb, among others. Another must see buildings is the Palazzo Vecchio, where the City Hall is now housed, and other places of interest such as Santa Maria Novella. And please don’t forget to have a rest enjoying a delicious Italian gelato in the beautiful gardens of the Pitti Palace. You can visit the world-famousUffizi Gallery, the most visited museum in Italy that houses one of the richest collections of painting, statues, jewelry, scientific instruments and even weapons, created by the most famed masters such as Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael and Titian. Accommodation in the hotel in Florence.
Day 4: Florence - Pisa - Lucca/Montecatini Area
After breakfast,you can head towards Pisa, known worldwide for its leaning tower (the bell tower of the city's cathedral). Among the main highlight of the city are distinguished: the spectacular Piazza dei Miracoli (the Square of Miracles), where, in addition to the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa, you can admire the Pisa Cathedral, built of marble and white stone in the X century and dedicated to Santa Maria Assunta and the Baptistery of San Giovanni, the biggest in Italy. You can make the most of this day enjoying the atmosphere of Pisa or go directly to the city of Lucca, where you will spend the next two nights. Lucca is one of those cities that will surprise and conquer you with its romanticism and quietly. The city has preserved its medieval splendor and since the Middle Ages keeps intact its defensive wall. Known as "the city of 100 towers and 100 churches" it has so much to offer the traveler. The Piazza del Anfiteatro founded on the ruins of an ancient Roman amphitheater is unique in the world for its oval shape and one of the most picturesque places in Lucca, where you can enjoy numerous restaurants and cafés. Via Fillungo, Lucca's main shopping street. The Tower of Hours , located in the heart of the Via Fillolungo. This the tallest tower in the city and from its summit you can see the whole city. The Napoleon Square and the Ducal Palace, the largest square in Lucca, used for numerous events and outdoor concerts. The Ducal Palace, built on the ruins of a 13th century fortress, is today the seat of the city government. Accommodation in the hotel in Lucca/Montecatini Area.
If you haven’t enjoyed enough of the city of Lucca, now you will have enough time to do it. For those who prefer keep on discovering Tuscany, we’d like to recommend to visit something completely different, the famous Cinque Terre, "The Five Lands" consisted of five villages:Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza,Corniglia,Manarola, and Riomaggiore, situated 80 km away from Lucca. The five villages, the coastline, and the hillsides that surround them are all part of the Cinque Terre National Park and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997. The first one of this five villages located in a beautiful colorful rock overlooking the sea is Monterosso al Mare, the most populous of the Cinque Terre. Here you can enjoy of the longest and the most beautiful beaches in the region. The second one is Vernazza, a small port that can berth small and medium vessels. The third one, Corniglia, is the smallest of the five villages, and is not directly adjacent to the sea. Overlooking the sea, it’s situated on a picturesque promontory surrounded on three sides by vineyards and terraces. The next one, Manarola is the oldest of the villages that form the Cinque Terre and the second smallest on size. Its houses are grouped side by side along the main road, theVia di Mezzo, which in turn follows the watercourse. The last one is Riomaggiore, stretching along a vertical axe, is extremely famous for its wine and its cute little houses that have one or two-floor towers in order to use at best the place at disposal. We recommend to leave your car inLa Spezia and visit the villages by train or by boat, as cars cannot reach them from the outside. Its location, lovely colorful houses and its lifestyle will make you fall in love with Cinque Terre! Accommodation in the hotel in Lucca/Montecatini Area.
Day 6: Lucca - San Gimignano - Siena
After breakfast, you can enjoy a last stroll through the city of Lucca before leaving it and heading toward Siena. On the way to Siena, it's more than recommended to make a stop and for some shopping in the famous town of San Gimignano, with its marvelous medieval spirit that will make you travel several centuries back in time, and surrounded by stunning landscape of green hills, where cypresses, olive trees and vineyards grow . This town, inscribed as aWorld Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1990, was also known as “The City of the thousand towers”, as it still preserves 14 of its medieval towers. This towers were a symbol of power for the old rich families, as they used to compete to have the highest tower. You can't leave the town without having an ice cream at Gelateria Dondoli, winner of the best ice cream award in the world several times. Siena is one of the most spectacular Italian places to visit. Its historic center, considered to be the embodiment of a medieval city, was inscribed as aUNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995. Walking by a charming network of its narrow medieval streets, you can admire the architecture of the Palazzo Comunale, the Torre del Mangia; the Piazza del Campo, considered one of the most beautiful squares in Europe and theDuomo(the Siena Cathedral). This Cathedral wasinitially designed to be the largest in West Europe, but this idea was never come true due to the terrible epidemic of plague that ravaged the city, killed a large part of its population and caused a serious economic damage to Siena. Inside the cathedral, you can find a myriad of artistic treasures, with pieces of Pisano, Donatello, Michelangelo and Bernini. It is also worth visiting the Baptistery, the Church of San Domenic, and the beautiful ornaments carved on the Fonte Gaia. Accommodation in the hotel in Siena.
Today we recommend you to do a pleasant walk by the Tuscany hills, admiring its natural beauty, and visiting the most beautiful little villages in all of Tuscany, where the most prestigious wines are produced. You can make a visit to the natural, artistic and cultural park of Val D'Orcia, added to the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites in 2004. This wonderful place located between the southern hills of Siena right upMonte Amiata offers many tourist attractions, such as the city ofPienza, overlooking the valley from the top of its walls. The Vald'Orcia, or Valdorcia, is also famous for its gastronomic highlights: oil, honey, and unique sheep's milk cheese called Pecorino di Pienza , sausages and saffron, cultivated in this valley since the Middle Ages. If you continue down the highway you will reach the Renaissance city ofMontepulciano, well known for its vino Nobile and pecorino cheese. Once you are inside its city gates, you can make an enjoyable walk by Montepulciano streets admiring its Renaissance palaces and churches. After that, we recommend you to visit the elegant city of Arezzo, that stands halfway between the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. This city owes big part of its fame to the frescoes created by Piero della Francesca, located in the Church of San Francesco. Arezzo houses numerous buildings of great tourist interest, and it is also well known for being the birthplace of many famous people such as Vasari and Petrarca. Accommodation in the hotel in Siena.
Day 8: Siena - Chianti - Florence - Departure
If your flight schedule allows it, we recommend you to make a stop in theChiantiarea situated on the way to Florence. There you will find a series of small historic villages, mountain views, and a plenty of olive trees and vineyards growing along the roadside. It will be a perfect moment to enjoy the landscapes and views offered by this area. And please don’t forget about its delicious cuisine and wine, the products of the rich soils of this region. On the way you will also discover some charming towns, such as Greve, Montefioralle,Panzano an Radda. Finally we will arrive at the Florence Airport. Please keep in mind: it is really important to return the vehicle (if possible) at the same time as that you picked it up. If you don’t, the rental company will charge you an extra day. Be careful with this detail to avoid paying an extra fee. Restitution of the car at the airport and return flight back home.
End of Services.
Your Tour Hotels —
Our members will stay at the following hotels in Standard Rooms on a Bed and Breakfast Board Basis.
Your Hotels
Lucca/Montecatini: Best Western Grand Hotel Guinigi 4*, Hotel Setterntrionale Esplanade 4* or Alla corte degli Angeli 4*
Siena: Montaperti Hotel 4* or Hotel Executive 4*
Sleeps up to
3 Adults
or
2 Adults
+ 1 Child
Please note: the bed for the 3rd guest sharing is likely to be a sofa bed or camp style bed. If any of these hotels are not available, hotels of a similar standard will be found.
Your Journey —
Flights: The flights included are with either a scheduled or no-frills airline and are subject to live availability and prices can change. You can choose your preferred departure times during the booking process. Please select your flight options carefully as departure and arrival airports may differ.
Transfers: Transfers are not available with this offer.
Car Hire: This offer includes 8-days worth of car hire with unlimited mileage and third party insurance.
