Included in the holiday cost:

·       Return flights from Dublin to Pisa/Bologna

·       Private transfers from airport to hotel and v.v.

·       20Kgs checked + small piece cabin luggage

·       9 Days / 8 Nights 4* hotels

·       Half-board basis

·       Excursion programme as per itinerary

·       Escorted throughout by Alan Couser

·       Full ATOL financial protection

·       All gratuities aboard ship

Not included:

Travel insurance, meals not included in itinerary, drinks, some gratuities (see below), items of personal expenditure, optional excursions.

Flight Details (Provisional)

(Please note: flight times not released as of 02May26)

Baggage Allowance per person 10Kgs Checked luggage plus one small piece of cabin luggage to fit under seat.

NOTES:

1.     Resort taxes in Florence and Lucca.

We have included these taxes, which are now quite expensive. Nothing further to pay.

2.     Gratuities

We have covered gratuities for guides and for waiting staff. We have not included tips for porterage or to your room attendant. You should maybe allow €2 per person, per day.

3.     Itinerary

The itinerary is quite fixed already (as of 03May26) but we still need to add flight details. There may be a few minor changes, which we will advise you of.

4.     Luggage

You will have 20kgs luggage allowance but it will be up to you to move this entirely on your own. This includes at railway stations, getting on and off trains, between stations and hotels. So, please consider how much you wish to carry. The complete itinerary will be “casual attire”.

5.     Museum Pass Florence

If you are keen on seeing as many of the museums in Florence, as possible, you should consider the 5-Day “All-Museum” Pass, which also includes the secretive Vasari Corridor, which is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The cost is currently £58 but may increase slightly before our tour.

OUTLINE ITINERARY

We will be updating this itinerary in the next few days (by 08May26) with more information

Day 1. 02 May 2027– Florence

Day of arrival

We are still working on the flight schedule. It may not be available until late autumn 2026.

Transfer to Hotel Atlantic Palace, Florence.

The hotel is a former palazzo, once converted to use as a convent and now a charming, heritage-style hotel. Here you will feel welcomed into the historic culture and not just another tourist is a high-rise hotel. The location is excellent, close to the main railway station and the city, yet just far enough out to be a little less hectic.

Evening meal at hotel.

Day 2. 03 May 2027 – Florence

Day at leisure.  

Morning walking tour with your local guide.

Afternoon free to explore on your own or visit museums, galleries, etc. (See Note.5 below regarding entry to museums) May we suggest the Uffizi or the Academia (just 600 metres away) for art lovers. Or, maybe a visit to the grand Basilica de Santa Maria Novella (just 400 metres away). There’s also the Mercato Centrale, just a few steps from the hotel, featuring a gourmet food hall on the top floor.

Evening meal at hotel.

Day 3. 04May 2027 - Siena and San Gimignano

We’ll set off by coach after an early breakfast for an excursion with wine tasting Today you will discover Siena and San Gimignano. Experience how Siena’s charming streets through its quaint quarters pull you into its heart: the Piazza del Campo. The contrade neighbourhoods you pass through are the font of beauty and pride that fuel the Palio horse race held in the seashell shaped square twice each year. Siena’s charming streets lure you in through their quaint quarters…until you arrive at its heart: the seashell-shaped square, the Piazza del Campo. Discover also “The Manhattan of the Middle Ages.” San Gimignano, the town of towers, offers those who stroll its streets the opportunity to enjoy the art and architectural treasures of its historic facades. The masterpieces born of family feuds were meant as ostentatious demonstrations of importance and ascendancy. Proceed then with a terrific wine tasting of one of the most famous wine in Italy: Chianti. With its iconic round bottle, Chianti is more than a fabulous wine, but a marvellous Tuscan region. Visit the vineyards sprinkled throughout the hillside, enjoying the winding, country roads lined with cypresses as you do.

Back to the hotel for evening meal.

Day 4. 05 May 2027 – Florence

Day at leisure.

Visit of the Palazzo Pitti and the beautiful Boboli Gardens. (Extra cost - £25pp)

Afternoon free to relax. Check out the local markets or pay a visit to the magnificent Duomo. Or, just relax and watch the world go by!

Evening meal at hotel.

Day 5. 06 May 2027 – Florence to Lucca

After breakfast we’ll catch a mid-morning train to the walled city of Lucca, where we have accommodation at the 4* Hotel Ilaria for four nights.

The hotel is only 500 metres from the station but we will arrange taxis. We would appreciate your patience whilst we sort out the taxis, as we cannot pre-book them.

Nestled within Lucca's ancient walls, in the heart of the historic centre, Hotel Ilaria is a coveted sanctuary of tranquillity and comfort. Housed in a historic building and equipped with modern amenities, the hotel seamlessly blends the charm of the past with contemporary comfort. We think you will like this place!

Afternoon walking tour of Lucca with Alan and then some free time to enjoy the city at leisure.

Evening meal at hotel.

Day 6. 07 May 2027 – Pisa

After breakfast we’ll take the short train journey to Pisa, where we’ll start at the Garden of Miracles. Here you’ll find the famous Leaning Tower, the superb cathedra and baptistry and the adjoining monastery. Normally, this is the only part of Pisa that toursist visit but we’ll take a trip to the city centre, where we’ll have time to wander and have a bite of lunch.

Back to the hotel for evening meal.

Day 7. 08 May 2027 – Cinque Terre

(Pronunced Chin – kway – terr – ay)

This is one of our favourite parts of this whole tour. We’ll set off after an early breakfast to try to beat the crowds. Nestled into coastal cliffs are five small villages, connected by a railway tunnel running through the cliffs or by coastal hiking trails. These little villages are mesmerising and stunning, and they offer a host of places to stop for lunch. We’ll also offer a boat trip today, as part of the tour.

We travel to and from Cinque Terre by train, with an approximate journey time of two hours each way.

We may actually have our evening meal here, or back at the hotel. To be finalised

Day 8. 09 May 2027 - Lucca

Day at leisure.



Why not consider a day-trip to the resort town of Viareggio. Stroll along the elegant promenade, check out some of the designer shops, lunch at one of the many beach-side restaurants. Brave the sea for a swim! Transport for the day should cost you around €10 per person.

Back to the hotel for dinner.

Day 9. 10 May 2027 – Home

Today we fly home. We are still working on the flights.