A unique itinerary that combines lauded landscapes and delightful towns and villages with history, wine, art and culture on 16-fabulous days of discovery. Beginning in Florence we move southeast to the village in the sky – Montepulciano and its maze of boutiques and wine tasting cellars. Under Tuscan skies we wander across postcard perfect meadows and olive groves dotted with pastel coloured farmhouses in the Val d’Orcia. Siena a city of refinement and class is our next stop before continuing to the hilltop village of Volterra famed for its Roman and Etruscan ruins. Next glamorous coastal scenery awaits our exploration from our base in charming Santa Margherita. Sure to be a highlight for many will be our stunning walks to Portofino and the Cinque Terre.
The Côte d’Azur has attracted the well healed for centuries - drawn to its sparkling blue Mediterranean waters and seemingly permanent sunshine. We are based for three nights in the tiny hamlet of Villefranche sur Mer from where we will walk around the famed St-Jean-Cap-Ferrat. We explore the gardens and spectacular views from the peaceful hillside villages of St Agnès and Gorbio. After a tour of Nice's old town we board the TGV enroute to splendid Aix-en-Provence. Here we follow the story of two of the worlds greatest impressionists - Cézanne and Van Gogh. We stay in the towns they called home and walk in the countryside they so loved and captured on canvas in the 'Pays d'Aix'.
Itinerary
| Day 1 |
(Fri) Arrive in Florence. |
| Day 2 |
Morning tour of Florence and transfer to Arezzo for lunch at the setting of 'La Vita e Bella'. Travel to Montepulciano. |
| Day 3 |
Walk from 16th-century Chiesa di San Biagio to Montichiello (3.5 hours). Afternoon free.Wine tasting of the local 'vino nobile'. |
| Day 4 |
Morning tour of Pienza. Walk the Val d'Orcia to Bagno Vignoni (3.5 hours). |
| Day 5 |
Morning tour of Siena; afternoon free in this enchanting city. |
| Day 6 |
Visit Monteriggioni en route to fascinating Volterra, with its Etruscan, Roman and medieval history. |
| Day 7 |
Travel to Pisa, then the Cinque Terre to walk La Via dell'Amore (Lover's Walk) (4 hours). |
| Day 8 |
Walk from Santa Margherita to glamorous Portofino (1.5 hours). Optional boat to San Fruttuoso monastery. |
| Day 9 |
Walk along the Portofino Peninsula. Visit the fishing village of Camogli. |
| Day 10 |
Train along the spectacular Italian Riviera coast into France. Travel on to Villefranche sur Mer. |
| Day 11 |
Visit Beaulieu sur Mer and St-Jean-Cap-Ferrat. Easy afternoon walk; scenic picnic; visit Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild (3 hours). |
| Day 12 |
Travel to Gorbio and walk to St Agnès. Visit the town of Menton (2.5 hours). |
| Day 13 |
Morning walking tour of old Nice. Travel to Aix-en-Provence. |
| Day 14 |
Aix morning market. Afternoon strolling the landscapes immortalised by Cézanne (2.5 hours). |
| Day 15 |
Visit Les Baux de Provence – a village hewn from sheer cliffs. Optional visit to La Cathedrale d'images in Les Baux. Travel to Arles (2.5 hours). |
| Day 16 |
Trip ends after breakfast in Arles (Sat). |