Day 1: Arrive Montecatini Terme
Arrive at Florence Airport or station. Transfer to Montecatini Terme, Tuscany’s premier spa town — an art nouveau gem of thermal baths, elegant Liberty-style architecture, and tree-lined parks where Verdi, Puccini, and European royalty once promenaded. Check into your 4-star hotel. Welcome dinner at a local trattoria: pappa al pomodoro, bistecca alla Fiorentina, and vin santo with cantuccini. Overnight Montecatini Terme.
Day 2: Florence — Cradle of the Renaissance
Shared day excursion to Florence. Guided walking tour: Piazza della Signoria with Palazzo Vecchio and the open-air sculpture gallery, the Ponte Vecchio, and the Duomo with Brunelleschi’s magnificent dome. Free time to visit the Accademia (David), the Uffizi, or simply get lost in the medieval streets. Afternoon: climb to Piazzale Michelangelo for the iconic Florence skyline panorama. Return to Montecatini for the evening. Overnight Montecatini.
Day 3: Pisa — The Square of Miracles
Morning shared excursion to Pisa. The gleaming white marble ensemble of the Piazza dei Miracoli is one of the world’s great sights: the Leaning Tower (optional climb, book well ahead — only 40 people allowed at a time), the Romanesque Cathedral with its stunning pulpit by Giovanni Pisano, and the circular Baptistery, the largest in Italy. Afternoon return to Montecatini. Take the historic funicular up to Montecatini Alto — the medieval hilltop village with panoramic views, a Romanesque church, and aperitivo in the piazza. Overnight Montecatini.
Day 4: Siena & San Gimignano — Gothic Glory & Medieval Towers
Full-day shared excursion. Morning in Siena: the shell-shaped Piazza del Campo, the Palazzo Pubblico, and the magnificent Duomo — a Gothic masterpiece with its black and white striped marble, Piccolomini Library frescoes, and Pisano’s pulpit. Free time to explore the contrade neighborhoods. Afternoon: San Gimignano — walk among 14 surviving medieval towers, visit the Collegiata church with its frescoed walls, taste Vernaccia di San Gimignano at a local winery, and sample gelato at the world-champion Gelateria Dondoli. Return to Montecatini. Overnight Montecatini.
Day 5: Chianti Wine & Farm-to-Table Tuscany
Day excursion into the Chianti hills. Visit a traditional farm estate producing wine, olive oil, and pecorino cheese. Tour the vineyards, olive groves, and aging cellars. The highlight: a farm-to-table lunch on the terrace overlooking the vines — antipasti of bruschetta with estate olive oil, handmade pici pasta with wild boar ragu, pecorino with honey and walnuts, and Chianti Classico paired throughout. Afternoon: second winery for a contrasting tasting of Chianti Riserva and Super Tuscans. Return to Montecatini via winding cypress-lined roads. Overnight Montecatini.
Day 6: Montecatini Spa Day & Montecarlo Wine
Morning at leisure to enjoy Montecatini’s thermal heritage. The Tettuccio Terme, built in 1928, is a Liberty-style masterpiece — marble columns, frescoed ceilings, and natural mineral water fountains. Book a spa treatment, soak in the thermal pools, or simply stroll the Parco delle Terme. Afternoon: excursion to Montecarlo di Lucca, a tiny medieval village perched above vineyards. Visit a family-run winery producing Montecarlo DOC (a blend of Trebbiano, Semillon, and other varieties for white; Sangiovese, Canaiolo, Syrah for red). The tasting includes traditional cantuccini — the almond biscotti that Tuscany is famous for — dipped in Vin Santo. Return to Montecatini. Overnight Montecatini.
Day 7: Vinci — In the Footsteps of Leonardo
Morning excursion to Vinci, the hilltop village where Leonardo da Vinci was born in 1452. The Museo Leonardiano houses an extraordinary collection of models built from Leonardo’s drawings — flying machines, military engineering, hydraulic systems, and the precursor to the bicycle. The interactive exhibits bring his genius to life. Visit the house where Leonardo was born, a simple stone farmhouse in the olive groves of Anchiano, now a museum. Afternoon: free time in Montecatini — last spa visit, shopping for Tuscan leather goods, or relaxing in a piazza cafe. Farewell dinner celebrating a week of Tuscan love. Overnight Montecatini.
Day 8: Departure
Transfer to Florence Airport or station. Arrivederci Toscana — until we meet again.
