Author's tour of ITALY: TUSCANY and LIGURIA

Tour start date(s):	25-05-2026, 06-10-2026
Duration:	8 Days / 7 Nights
Location:	Rome (arrival, 1 night) - Montepulciano - Siena - San Gimignano - Montecatini Terme (4 nights) - Florence - La Spezia (1 night) - Cinque Terre - Santa Margherita Ligure - Portofino - Genoa - Milan (departure, 2 nights)
Price (including tax):	SNGL 2450 USD; DBL 3310 USD / Without flights

In this tour, we will do a lot of walking to explore small Tuscan towns as well as the centers of Milan, Rome, and Florence. Therefore, the tour is recommended for people in good physical condition. Bring comfortable shoes with a low sole.
During our stay in Italy, we will cross the country from south to north, from Rome to Milan, visiting the amazing Tuscany and Liguria. This is a vibrant and beautiful tour through the most picturesque places in sunny Italy! Walks through Tuscan towns to savor the dolce vita in local restaurants and wine cellars, two swims in Liguria, visits to Rome and Milan...
This tour is for lovers of Italian atmosphere, culture, and gastronomy.

In this tour:

• You will travel in a small group,
• Transfers for any flight arriving between 08:00 and 14:00 are included,
• The tour includes 12 excursions and visits,
• We will stroll through Rome, followed by a welcome dinner near the Colosseum,
• Enjoy views of Tuscany in Arezzo,
• Explore the medieval Manhattan of San Gimignano,
• Visit the pearl of Tuscany, Siena,
• Dedicate two full days to the queen of the Renaissance, Florence,
• Stay in the Tuscan thermal town of Montecatini Terme,
• Take a boat trip through the Cinque Terre UNESCO World Heritage Park,
• Stroll through Portofino, Genoa, and Milan,
• And enjoy delicious Tuscan cuisine, excellent wines, and Italian gelato…

Day 1 – Welcome to the Eternal City

Arrival in Rome. Meet our driver at the airport from any flight arriving between 8:00 AM and 2:00 PM. Transfer to the hotel in Rome (28 km) and check-in. After some rest, meet the tour leader in the hotel lobby at 4:00 PM for an evening city tour. Together with our guide, we’ll visit the Colosseum, stroll through Piazza del Popolo, admire Piazza Navona, and toss a coin into the Trevi Fountain.

Overnight in Rome.

Day 2 – Montepulciano Wines & Montecatini, Giuseppe Verdi’s Town

After breakfast, we depart from the hotel with our luggage and transfer to Montepulciano (180 km). This picturesque town, seemingly grown into the beautiful Tuscan hills, is an open-air masterpiece. Walking to its top, you are immersed in medieval architecture and an atmosphere that feels preserved from centuries past.

Tour the town, enjoy free time for lunch, and indulge in a tasting of the finest Tuscan wines and cheeses in an ancient wine cellar.

Transfer to Montecatini (150 km) for hotel check-in. After a short rest, join our guide to explore this charming Tuscan town. Montecatini Terme is a unique thermal spa town nestled in the scenic “Valley of Fogs” (Valdinole), named by the ancient Romans for the mist rising from the numerous hot springs at the foot of Montepierre. The word terme comes from Latin, meaning “warmth” or “heat.”

In the Middle Ages, knights visited Montecatini Terme to heal battle wounds. In the 18th century, when spa visits became fashionable across Europe, the town attracted famous composers and writers like Giuseppe Verdi, Ruggero Leoncavallo, Luigi Pirandello, and more. After World War II, movie stars like Grace Kelly and Marcello Mastroianni fell in love with the spa. Federico Fellini captured the town’s photogenic charm and the languid “Dolce Vita” atmosphere in his film 8½, followed by Nikita Mikhalkov in Dark Eyes. The town also boasts excellent boutiques, from famous Italian brands to emerging designers like Sisley and Dixie, as well as the renowned Giovannini pastry shop on Corso G. Matteotti.

Overnight in Montecatini Terme.

Day 3 – Treasures of Siena & San Gimignano: The Medieval Manhattan

After breakfast, we set off with our guide to Siena (125 km). Our tour begins in the heart of the city at Piazza del Campo, a remarkable fan-shaped square. Visit the magnificent Gothic Cathedral, home to Donatello’s 15th-century statue of John the Baptist, and admire the cathedral’s incredible mosaic floor.

Lunch (extra) in a beautiful Tuscan restaurant and wine estate, sampling sparkling wine, Tuscan wines, and local delicacies.

Transfer to San Gimignano (55 km).

Exploring San Gimignano is like stepping into a fairytale of medieval Tuscany. Narrow, winding streets between stone houses and towers create a magical atmosphere full of mystery and charm.

Return to the hotel in the evening.

Overnight in Montecatini Terme.

Day 4 – Florence: The Cradle of the Renaissance

After breakfast, depart for Florence. Explore the exterior of the city’s religious complex, including Cathedral Square, the Baptistery, the Cathedral, and the Bell Tower. Marvel at Brunelleschi’s iconic dome, a symbol of both Florence and the Renaissance. Stroll through squares featured in Medici: Masters of Florence and the movie Inferno.

Visit the home and small church of Dante, creator of the Italian language and author of The Divine Comedy. See the tower of Florence’s first government, the Chapel of Saint Martin, an abbey, the Bargello prison, and the palace of the wealthy Gondi family, where Leonardo da Vinci studied and lived.

Next, head to Piazza della Signoria, discussing all its monuments, including Palazzo Vecchio. Don’t forget to rub the nose of the beloved Florentine boar for a guaranteed return to Florence!

Time for lunch. In the afternoon, enjoy free time or optionally visit the Uffizi Gallery (advance booking with names required at least 2 months before the tour).

Overnight in Montecatini Terme.

Day 5 – Cinque Terre: A UNESCO Treasure

After breakfast, check out and transfer by bus to La Spezia port (115 km), then board a boat to explore Cinque Terre, a stunning combination of sea views, picturesque villages, and cultural heritage. Seeing this paradise from the water offers a unique perspective on the cliffside villages, terraced vineyards, and crystal-clear waters, creating a sense of harmony and seclusion.

Disembark in Portovenere (or Vernazza) and Monterosso. Return to the port by train (included) and transfer by bus to the hotel. In case of bad weather, the visit is by train.

Overnight on the Ligurian coast.

Day 6 – Santa Margherita & Cruise to Portofino

After breakfast, visit the charming Mediterranean resort town of Santa Margherita, nestled among palms, hills, and turquoise waters. Then cruise to Portofino, known in ancient Rome as the Port of Dolphins. Today, it’s a luxury yacht harbor and home to high-end fashion boutiques.

Overnight on the Ligurian coast.

Day 7 – Proud Genoa & Milan

After breakfast, check out and transfer to Genoa (190 km). Meet the guide to explore why Genoa is called “The Proud City.” Once an independent maritime republic since the 10th century, Genoese ships participated in the Crusades, earning trade privileges. Genoa rivaled Venice and Pisa as a powerful queen of the seas, admired by Petrarch, Dickens, Flaubert, Wagner, and Gogol.

Transfer to Milan (145 km) for a guided city tour. See the stunning Gothic cathedral made from Candoglia marble, the Royal Palace, the Victor Emmanuel II monument, the medieval market square with Whispering Gallery, the bankrupts’ stone, Roman forum site, the church where Maurizio Gucci married, the house of the Lady with an Ermine, Giuseppe Garibaldi monument, the “Green Dragon” fountains, Sforza Castle, the “Festive Cake” fountain, and the creative Montmartre district. End the tour at La Scala Theatre and the Cathedral Square. All monuments viewed externally.

Transfer to the airport area and overnight near Milan airport.

Day 8 – Departure from Italy

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to Milan airport for your flight (extra charge for late-night flights). Departure from Italy.

Hotels along the route:
Rome- Hotel Pacific or similar
Montecatini Terme- Hotel Grand Hotel Plaza & Locanda Maggiore or similar
Santa Margherita- Hotel Regina Elena or similar
Milan- Hotel Ibis Milano Malpensa Aeroporto or similar

Tour Inclusions:

• Accommodation with breakfast,
• Visits and excursions as specified,
• Russian-speaking guide throughout the tour,
• Transfers for flights arriving in Rome and departing from Milan,
• Headsets for the entire tour,
• Cinque Terre Park visit (by boat or train in case of bad weather),
• Entrance to Siena Cathedral,
• Welcome dinner in Rome,
• Wine and cheese tasting in Tuscany.

Tour Exclusions:

• Meals,
• Tourist insurance,
• All not specified under "Tour Inclusions,"
• Airfare,
• Transfers for night flights from 20:00 to 8:00,
• Tips for the guide and driver,
• City taxes at hotels, payable upon check-in.