Gardens of Tuscany

Today, we meet our expert guide, Iain MacDonald, at Dublin Airport for our flight to Pisa. Upon arrival we will board our coach for the transfer to Montecatini—a picturesque hillside town celebrated for its geothermal spas and inviting outdoor cafés. 

This evening we’ll enjoy our evening meal together in our hotel.

After breakfast, we set off from our hotel to explore the remarkable gardens of the Medici Villa of Castello. While the villa itself is closed to the public, its surrounding grounds are among the earliest and finest examples of an Italian garden, featuring manicured hedges, precisely shaped box trees, and carefully designed geometric spaces. Highlights include the Fountain of Hercules and Antaeus, the Grotto of the Animals, a medicinal herb garden, and an outstanding collection of citrus trees.

Following an included lunch we will visit one of Italy’s most prestigious residences and a true green paradise – the Villa Reale in Marlia. One of the region’s oldest and most opulent villas, the 16-hectare estate boasts a wealth of refined gardens and botanical treasures. Highlights include the enchanting Water Theatre, the fragrant Lemon Garden, the romantic Spanish Garden, and the spectacular Camellia Walk, lined with more than 40 varieties of Camellia japonica.

This morning, we embark on a full-day excursion to Lucca – birthplace of the celebrated composer Puccini, and the only town in Italy completely enclosed by intact Renaissance walls. Our expert local guide will lead us through its charming streets, rich with Romanesque churches and elegant architecture. We’ll also visit the historic Baroque residence of Palazzo Pfanner, famous for its exquisite Italian-style gardens adorned with classical statues and fragrant lemon trees in terracotta pots.

The afternoon is free for you to enjoy lunch, explore the sights, or indulge in some shopping before we return to our hotel.

Today, there will be a full day to relax and enjoy the charms of Montecatini. Take a stroll around this welcoming spa town, treat yourself to a coffee in one of the many cafes, or take the funicular to hilltop Montecatini Alto.

This morning, our guide will take us on a walking tour through the fascinating Renaissance city of Florence. We’ll marvel at the famous Duomo, with its intricate green and pink marble façade, before continuing to the Piazza della Signoria – once the heart of the Florentine Republic and still the city’s political centre. Our walk then leads us to the Arno River, where we’ll see the Ponte Vecchio, the iconic medieval bridge lined with charming shops.

After free time for lunch (at own expense) , we visit the splendid Boboli Gardens, where the Medici family pioneered the Italian garden style that inspired many of Europe’s royal courts. This vast open-air museum is dotted with grottoes, grand fountains, and artificial caves – a perfect setting for a leisurely guided stroll.

Today we travel to Pisa to explore the Piazza dei Miracoli, home to the world-famous Leaning Tower. Its distinctive tilt, caused by unstable foundations, began even before construction was complete and was partially corrected in recent restoration work. Our guided tour also includes Pisa Cathedral and the other magnificent monuments that make up the Square of Miracles.

We will have free time this afternoon to explore Pisa, do some shopping or enjoy a relaxed lunch before returning to our hotel in Montecatini.

Enjoy a final day in Montecatini at your own pace. Pick up some last-minute souvenirs, or treat yourself in one of the nine thermal centres, where you can enjoy everything from massages to mud baths, saunas to beauty treatments.

Time to say 'arrivederci' to Tuscany! 

We'll check out of our hotel and depart by coach to the airport for our return flight.