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Read More Mediterranean Magic
France & Italy
Tuscany and the Italian Riviera, and the French Riviera
It is with good reason that Tuscany, the Italian Riviera and
French Riviera are so popular: mild weather; historic sites
and romantic scenic beauty. Attractions include villages
made from ancient golden stone, grand castles, chateaux
and hillside vineyards and farms. The aroma of citrus trees
and lavender fill the air. The museums, galleries, cobblestone streets and colourful local markets add their appeal.
Tuscany - Picture-postcard hills covered by vineyards, olive
groves and stone farmhouses, and the great renaissance
cities of Florence and Pisa. We stay in the resort town of
Viareggio graced with a lovely coastline of sandy beaches
and parks. The Hotel President is located right on the
seafront esplanade across from the beach. We will visit:
• Siena - medieval home to the famous Palio horse race
• Chianti - vineyards, olive groves, stone farmhouses
• Florence – Cradle of the Renaissance
• Pisa – world famous leaning tower
The Italian Riviera is known for its many picturesque and
historic towns and villages, dramatic scenery of spectacular
cliffs, rugged coastline and small bays. We stay 2 nights in
the Grand Hotel Villa Balbi (or similar) in Sestri Levante - a
quaint seaside village. We will visit:
• Portofino - beautiful coastal village on its own peninsula
• Santa Margherita - picture-perfect seaside promenade
• Cinque Terre - 5 villages with dramatic coastal scenery
The French Riviera - Beautiful sunsets, sidewalk cafes,
flower markets and vineyards. Our 6-night stay in Nice (on a
dreamy stretch of the French Riviera known as the Cote
d’Azur) is at the boutique styled Best Western Plus Brice
Garden - located within a five-minute walk of the beach, old
town and flower market. Highlights of our visit here include:
• Nice - seaside old-world opulence and vibrant street life
• St. Tropez - sizzling jet-set favourite
• Port Grimaud - little Venice of Provence
• Grasse - perfumery of Provence
• Tourrettes-sur Loup - medieval city of artists
• Saint-Paul - favourite haunt of Picasso and Roger Moore
• Eze - a jewel in the Riviera's crown
• Monaco / Monte Carlo - playground of the rich & famous
* Those joining any of our tours to Europe must be able to
walk fairly long distances and climb stairs easily.
Itinerary / Excursions
We depart for Florence via Amsterdam.
Upon arrival in Florence we transfer to
the beautiful seaside Tuscan town of Viareggio for a 4-
night stay. An orientation walking tour of the area will be
followed by our Welcome Reception and dinner this evening.
We take the local train to Florence for a
full day in the "Cradle of the Renaissance". Our first stop
will be the Piazzale Michelangelo for the best view over the
city. We will continue with a half day guided walking tour of
the historic centre to see the multi-coloured marble
Cathedral, Signoria Square, the Baptistery and a visit to
the Basilica of Santa Croce. Enjoy some free time for lunch
and time to explore before returning to Viareggio.
A full day tour to the wine
country. The medieval city of Siena is famous for its annual
Palio horse race but it also happens to be a beautiful city
brimming with history. We will visit the Cathedral and see
the Piazza del Campo, considered one of the most beautiful
squares in the world. After a morning of history it’s time to
unwind, so we proceed to Chianti for a tasting of the wellknown wines of this region.
This morning we visit
Pisa by train, and yes, the tower is still leaning. The beauty
of the Campo Di Miracoli will amaze you. It includes the
Leaning Tower, the Duomo and the Baptistry. After some
free time in Pisa we return to Viareggio for a free afternoon.
We travel by coach
and train to Cinque Terre - five villages that cling
dramatically to the cliffs along the rocky coastline. We first
stop in Monterosso - one of the most impressive of the
villages. Then we take a short cruise to Vernazza - the
truest "fishing village" on the Italian Riviera. After some
free time we head for Manarola - a romantic village built on
a rock 70 metres above sea level. Later we continue to the
delightful seaside town of Sestri Levante for a 2-night stay.
The town is stunningly situated on a narrow peninsula
flanked by beaches.
We board the local
train for a half day tour to Portofino – a small but perfectly
coiffured coastal village adorned with pastel-coloured
houses, high-end boutiques and seafood restaurants that
fringe its Piazzetta (the small cobbled square overlooking
the harbour, lined with super-yachts). A path leads from the Piazzetta to Castello Brown - a 16th-century fortress and
museum with art exhibitions and panoramic views of the
town and the Ligurian Sea. This afternoon we enjoy a boat
ride to Santa Margherita, known for its breezy beach
promenade adorned with old aristocratic architecture.
We travel to the
French Riviera and stop in the “Billionaire’s Playground” of
Monaco. Our guided walking tour will take in the city
highlights as well as the beautiful harbour of Monte Carlo.
Then we continue to Nice for a 6-night stay.
Our guided tour of Nice includes the
Promenade des Anglais, the Port, and a walking tour in
Nice's old town with its flower market and lively pedestrian
streets lined with shops and cafes.
We
travel to St. Tropez to explore the village’s narrow streets,
Provencal squares and charming old port, and also to taste
the local wine. We continue with a boat ride in Port
Grimaud, known as “Venice Provencal”, followed by a drive
along the coast on “la Corniche d’Or” cut into the red rocks
of the Esterel Mountains. The rocky inlets form a beautiful
rugged landscape.
Today’s excursion begins in
Grasse, France’s perfume capital, where we will visit a
perfumery museum and factory. Then we continue to the
medieval village of Tourrettes-sur-Loup, which offers
splendid vistas over the hills and sea. We travel through
the Gorges of the Loup River for more spectacular views en
route to Saint-Paul, a quaint 13th century fortified village
full of galleries, boutiques and sidewalk cafes. Our walking
tour through the winding streets will show us carved
fountains, statues and architectural treasures.
Our tour begins in the
medieval town of Eze, which offers a beautiful panorama of
the French Rivera. Then we travel along the Mediterranean
coast to Cap Ferrat, with its luxurious estates and pine
groves. Here we visit the sumptuous Ephrussi-deRothschild Villa and Gardens. We finish the day in the lovely
resort town of Ville Franche-sur-mer.
Your Tour Manager will be on
hand with suggestions. This evening is our Farewell Dinner.
We fly home via Amsterdam.
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