Fly and drive in Tuscany: a journey between Culture, Nature and Taste

Welcome to Tuscany
Leaving is an exciting time for many travellers. It marks the beginning of an adventure. Today you will start to be part of a community, which will give you a rewarding travel experience. You will have the opportunity to transform a simple trip into an opportunity for personal growth, cultural enrichment, Globest welcomes you to PISA. After picking up your rental car, head to Montecatini Terme, a popular spa town nestled in the picturesque Tuscan countryside. This first day is dedicated to relaxation after the trip: you can walk through the thermal gardens, sip an aperitif in one of the elegant cafés, or perhaps treat yourself to a regenerating treatment at the spa. The evening ends with a delicious dinner based on Tuscan specialties, preparing you for the emotions of the days to come. Hotel accommodation and overnight stay.

Between Art and Timeless Beauty
Breakfast at the hotel. This day will be entirely dedicated to Florence, the cradle of the Renaissance.
Once you arrive, you will be free to get lost among its wonders. You cannot miss a visit to the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore with Brunelleschi’s majestic Dome, the Baptistery and Giotto’s Bell Tower (entrances not included). Cross Ponte Vecchio, admire the artisan workshops and then head towards Piazza della Signoria and the Uffizi Gallery (we strongly recommend booking tickets in advance!). Have lunch in a typical trattoria and taste the famous “Florentine steak”. The afternoon could be dedicated to visiting the Accademia Gallery to admire Michelangelo’s David, or to a relaxing walk in the Boboli Gardens. Return to Montecatini Terme in the evening.

The Eternal Splendor of Carrara and the Magic of Pisa
Breakfast at the hotel. The third day will take you towards the Tyrrhenian coast to discover two more Tuscan gems. The first stop is Pisa, famous throughout the world for its Leaning Tower, located in Piazza dei Miracoli. Next to the tower are the Cathedral, the Baptistery and the Monumental Cemetery (entrances not included). Don’t forget to take a fun photo with the tower, as per tradition! Free lunch. In the afternoon you will continue towards Carrara, at the foot of the Apuan Alps, famous for its white marble quarries. You will have the opportunity to visit one of the quarries (OPTIONAL EXCURSION), admiring the marble extraction process that has given life to countless masterpieces. It will be an evocative experience that will make you discover where Michelangelo drew the marble for his sculptures. Once the visit is over, you can take an OPTIONAL EXCURSION to a lardery for tasting «Colonnata lard», a delicious Tuscan cured meat made with pure pork fat that is very reminiscent of bacon Return to the hotel in Montecatini and overnight stay.

Medieval Wonders and Authentic Taste
Breakfast at the hotel. The fourth day will take you to the heart of the most authentic and fascinating Tuscany, that of the sinuous hills and fortified villages. Starting from Montecatini, your first stop will be San Gimignano, the “Manhattan of the Middle Ages”, with its imposing towers that stand out on the horizon. The journey of about an hour and a half will be a pleasure for the eyes. In San Gimignano, leave your car outside the walls and immerse yourself in the medieval atmosphere by walking through its cobbled streets, visit the Collegiate Church of Santa Maria Assunta with its frescoes and climb the Torre Grossa for an unforgettable panoramic view. Don’t forget to taste the ice cream from the award-winning Gelateria Dondoli, a real delight! Free lunch. In the early afternoon, take the road back to Siena, about an hour away. This city, with its shell-shaped Piazza del Campo and the Palio that makes it famous throughout the world, is another Tuscan jewel. Stroll through the streets of the historic center, visit the Duomo with its external facade decorated in white and dark green marble and the wonderful floor (dome entrance not included) and the Basilica of San Domenico, among the most beautiful masterpieces of Gothic art in Italy. Savor a panforte or a ricciarello, typical Sienese desserts. For dinner, choose a restaurant overlooking the square or in one of the narrow streets of the centre, enjoying the strong flavors of Sienese cuisine. In the evening, you will return to Montecatini Terme, your convenient starting and finishing point for day trips. Overnight stay in the hotel.

Between Ancient Walls and Regenerating Waters
Breakfast at the hotel. The morning of the fifth day of your tour is dedicated to visiting Lucca, one of the most famous cities in Tuscany. Lucca will welcome you with its imposing Renaissance walls, completely intact and transformed into a suggestive pedestrian and cycle path. Rent a bicycle and walk the entire circumference of the walls to admire the city from a privileged perspective. Next, get lost in the cobbled streets of the historic center. Discover the singular Piazza dell’Anfiteatro, with its elliptical shape that follows the ancient Roman amphitheatre, the Guinigi Tower with its trees at the top, and the magnificent Cathedral of San Martino. Free lunch. In the afternoon return to Montecatini. Here you can stroll through the thermal gardens, make a delicious stop in a pastry shop to visit a workshop and taste the “Montecatini Waffles”, tasty and light biscuits made up of two crumbly sheets which contain an almond and sugar filling inside (OPTIONAL EXCURSION), or perhaps treat yourself to a regenerating treatment at the spa. Return to the hotel and overnight stay.

The Soul of Tuscan Wine
Breakfast at the hotel. The sixth day is dedicated to discovering the Chianti region, a land of picturesque villages, postcard landscapes and fine wines. Starting from Siena, immerse yourself in the panoramic roads that wind through vineyards, olive groves and rolling hills. You can follow the Via Chiantigiana (SR 222), which passes through some of the most characteristic villages in the region. Stop in Greve in Chianti, with its triangular square and the Saturday Market, ideal for purchasing typical products. Continue towards Castellina in Chianti and Radda in Chianti, fascinating villages where time seems to have stopped. The heart of this day will be a visit to a castle with its vineyards and historic cellars and the tasting of their famous Chianti Classico (OPTIONAL EXCURSION). It is the perfect opportunity to learn the secrets of Tuscan wine production and delight in the flavors of the area, perhaps accompanied by a platter of local cured meats and cheeses. Enjoy the peace and beauty of these landscapes, a real panacea for the spirit. Dinner at a typical tavern will complement the sensory experience. This is the day in which Tuscan “slow living” is fully experienced, a rhythm of life that invites contemplation and pleasure of the senses. Return to the hotel and overnight stay.

Goodbye to Pisa!
Your incredible tour in Tuscany comes to an end. After a relaxing breakfast in Montecatini Terme, you will have time for one last walk or to buy the last souvenirs. Head to Pisa airport for car return and boarding formalities. On this day of return, nostalgia for the places visited and enthusiasm for returning home mix. Today a chapter closes and a new one opens, you are part of our Community, you will bring with you the promise of new, even more extraordinary future adventures. Happy homecoming.