Come and discover why the Italian Riviera and Tuscany are two of Italy’s perennial favourites with visitors to Italy – including Canadians!
We begin this leisurely tour in Milan, where we will see both the modern and historic sites. From Milan we travel to the Riviera di Levante (known as “The Italian Riviera”) - a rugged coastline with many small bays and inlets. This area is incredibly picturesque, with hills sloping dramatically down to the sea. We will stay 4 nights in this region touring the major highlights. Nearby are the Cinque Terre (“chin-quay terra”) villages that date from the 12th century, each village different and all have the same spectacular coastal scenery.
The Tuscany region is home to some of the world’s most famous Renaissance art and architecture, breathtaking scenery of medieval hilltop villages, olive groves, sloping vineyards and dramatic mountain ranges. We will base our stay for 8 nights in Montecatini, located in the heart of Tuscany. This elegant and historic spa town is set amid green Tuscan hills and olive groves. It features Liberty style buildings (an Italian equivalent to Art Deco), welcoming parks and beautiful gardens. Its many spas provide a range of treatments that utilize the local therapeutic mineral waters, while the town offers many shops, restaurants and a weekly market to enjoy at your leisure. Local trains and buses operate a regular service to the surrounding towns and villages. Sightseeing in this region will include Florence, the famous Tuscan hilltop towns, elegant villas, farms and medieval towns like Lucca.
* Those joining any of our tours to Europe must be able to walk fairly long distances and climb stairs easily.