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What you can expect

Stunning Tuscan Scenery

Visit Florence and Lucca

Italian cookery demonstration

About the trip

Join us to discover some of the finest scenery and landscapes Italy has to offer. With four included walks we can seek out the breath-taking Tuscan landscape overlooking fascinating renaissance towns and monasteries – all in all a magical experience. We will see the “home of the Renaissance” and have the chance to sample the delicious food and  for which the region is renowned – a truly gastronomic delight.

Grade: Easy to Medium

Activity Level:

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What's included?

  • Return flights & transfers
  • Airport taxes & charges
  • Twin room for sole use
  • Half Board
  • Welcome drink & Information Meeting
  • 1 Full Day & 3 Half Day Guided Walks
  • Guided tour of Florence
  • Cookery demonstration with Lunch
  • Accompanying Solos Tour Leader
  • Fully financially protected

Itinerary

  • Arrival Day
  • Hiking with Leonardo da Vinci
  • Monsummano Alto
  • Cooking demonstration and trekking among villages and castles
  • Florence
  • Montecatini Alto
  • Lucca
  • “Arrivederci”

Extras

  • Insurance see here
  • Tourist Tax €1.40 per night (payable locally)

What you'll be doing

DAY 1

Arrival Day

We arrive in to Pisa and transfer to our hotel in Montecatini where we can meet each other and enjoy a welcome drink.

  • Dinner Included
DAY 2

Hiking with Leonardo da Vinci

After breakfast we meet with Joey, our local walking guide, and departure to Vinci, the birthplace of the great Leonardo da Vinci, by bus. The beginning of our walking tour is through vineyards and olive trees to reach a country house where an excellent wine is produced, here we will have a tour of the vineyards and visit of the wine cellar tasting of some wines  accompanied by Tuscan snacks such as local cold cuts and cheeses .

We then move on to Vinci where we visit the old village and museum and can admire the prototypes of Leonardo’s most important inventions. After the visit to the museum of the Genius we will go by bus to Anchiano where we will visit the house where Leonardo lived his childhood

 

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DAY 3

Monsummano Alto

We depart to Monsummano Terme by bus where we meet with our local guide who takes us to the quarries of the spa Grotta Giusti on foot. Afterwards we will walk to the small village of Monsummano Alto, where you can admire the Rocca, a pentagonal fort which, together with a part of the walls and a gate, represents the last remains of an ancient Castle made to be built in the XI century. The medieval Church, too, which is located at the top of the hill, is a sight to be seen. Afterwards we head back to the Grotta Giusti Spa where we can have a spot of lunch and can relax in the spa swimming pool with underwater hydromassages of the “Terme” Grotta Giusti or enjoy other treatments at pleasure and at own cost.

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DAY 4

Cooking demonstration and trekking among villages and castles

We have breakfast this morning and then around 08.30 we will meet the guide and depart by bus to reach the most beautiful hills and villages of the Valdinievole: Buggiano, Colle di Buggiano, Buggiano Castle, here time seems having stopped, you will walk among the paths travelled by the knights of the past to reach fairy-tale castles, enjoying an incredible panorama and treating yourself a memorable experience. Take time to pause and smell the scents of wild herbs and our olive trees.

Late morning we arrive on foot to the place where we will have a cooking demonstration of typical Tuscan food, this is a special place, an ancient stable for animals that now houses this restaurant. The visit will begin with an English explanation of the place and after this, they will begin the cooking for us. At the end of the course we will have lunch with the freshly prepared meals. After, we will transfer by bus back to the hotel.

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DAY 5

Florence

After breakfast we depart by train to Florence, the city of the Renaissance, followed by a guided walking tour in which we will learn the artistic peculiarities of this unique city from Piazza della Signoria to Ponte Vecchio, from Santa Maria del Fiore (the Cathedral) to the Piazza della Repubblica and so on . We then visit the covered Florentine Central Market, which dates back to the period in which Florence was Italy’s capital (XIX century). We return back by train and dinner will be served in the hotel restaurant.

 

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DAY 6

Montecatini Alto

After breakfast we will meet our guide and walk to the volta of Montecatini Alto, the old part of Montecatini, which is a medieval village perched on the hill that overlooks the thermal city. The walk will take place on an old paved road through olive trees and forests. Thanks to the circumna­vigation of the hilltop village of Mon­tecatini Alto, we will be able to enjoy the view of the thermal city and nearby areas of the provinces of Lucca and Pistoia. Montecatini Alto was a castel of Roman origins at 299 meters (981 ft.) of altitude and was the seat of the municipality until 1905. This antique castle gave life to the Montecatini we know today. In the heart of this village lies the splendid small square that offers its visitors a view of the past and also a place to stop at a typical Tuscan restaurant for lunch.

We will then have time here to spend as we wish before heading back to the city on the cable railway, a small train with old wooden benches dating back to 1898 which connects the antique village to the modern thermal city.

  • Walking distance 3km (there will be parts that will be uphill)
  • Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner included
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DAY 7

Lucca

Today we depart towards Lucca, birth location of the great Giacomo Puccini and considered one of the most beautiful artistic cities in Tuscany. Lucca preserves 4 km (2.49 mi) of intact city walls that sur­round the city and enclose an immense artistic and architectural patrimony.  We will walk through the striking Via Fil­lungo, the center’s main axis, accom­panied alongside by antique houses and towers. Tangent to Via Fillungo, in the area of the roman amphitheatre, the Piazza del Mercato was opened in 1830: it is a series of medieval con­structions that overlap the theatre clo­sing the piazza in a ring and creating a striking architectural frame. The visit ends on Lucca’s city walls, a splendid pedestrian area, immersed in the green secular plants.

  • Breakfast & Dinner Included
DAY 8

“Arrivederci”

Today we check out of our hotel and say goodbye before transferring back to the Airport for our flight home.

  • Breakfast Included

Accommodation

Hotel Michelangelo

Situated in a prime location under the Tuscan hills, the hotel is a 20 minute walk from the centre of Montecatini Terme, and with the most beautiful Tuscan cities such as Florence, Pisa and Lucca just an hour or less away via driving or public transport. The Hotel is able to guarantee a pleasant and relaxing stay in Tuscany. It offers a traditional restaurant and bedrooms with free Wi-Fi.

Facilities Include

The hotel has a pool (weather dependent), a lift and air conditioning throughout. There is a bar, Spa, gym and free Wifi.

Room Includes

All the hotel’s comfortable rooms are equipped with an en-suite bathroom, complimentary toiletries, hairdryer, television, air-conditioning and Wi-Fi.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Average Temperatures

Month(s) Highest temperature Lowest temperature
January 11 °C 2 °C
February 2 °C 3 °C
March 16 °C 5 °C
April 19 °C 8 °C
May 24 °C 12 °C
June 29 °C 16 °C
July - August 32 °C 18 °C
September 27 °C 15 °C
October 21 °C 11 °C
November 15 °C 6 °C
December 11 °C 3 °C

Our Reviews

“I’m sure you will enjoy it, I have been on three solos holidays to date and the people I’ve met have been great.”

“I’ve been travelling with Solos for nearly 20 years, on and off. The reason is for exactly what you want – you meet like minded people… and have loads of fun!”

“I’ve been on loads of trips with Solos over the years and can honestly say you will not regret booking your 1st one!”

“The feeling you have once you go away on your own is worth all the nerves before! I was so very anxious the first time but now having done it 4 times, I love it!”

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