Full Steam Ahead

Arrive in Pisa airport, with private coach transfers to your hotel.  Enjoy dinner at the hotel.

A full day guided tour of both Cortona and Arezzo. Cortona is a historic, very picturesque hilltop town in Tuscany, known for its Etruscan roots and stunning views over the Chiana Valley.  Arezzo, again, a city with an ancient history, one of the most important cities of Etruria and a strategic point in Roman times, reached its maximum splendour between the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. 

After breakfast, you'll embark on a full day guided tour of Montepulciano and Pienza. Montepulciano is most famous for Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, a prestigious red wine produced in the region. It's also known for its well-preserved medieval and Renaissance buildings, and gorgeous countryside views. Visit to a wine cellar and tasting. Pienza is another beautiful town to visit. It is also considered a UNESCO World Heritage Site of great universal value not only because it represents the earliest example of humanistic urban planning of the time, but also because its dimension as an "ideal Renaissance city" has served as an example for other cities in Italy and abroad.  

After breakfast, we head to Siena for the 08:35 train, arriving in Asciano at 09:25. From there, we continue to Chiusi, arriving around 10:50, and pass through extraordinary rock formations. A shuttle will take us into the city centre. Meander through the streets of the historic centre, savouring the magical atmosphere in the alleyways and piazzas.   We can then dive into the history of the civilisation that made Chiusi one of the wealthiest and most important cities of ancient times, the Etruscans.    The National Etruscan Museum is one of the most important in Italy for understanding the civilisation and its development. Guided visit is included.   The Cathedral Museum showcases valuable materials fro the Paleochristian, medieval and modern eras. It is famous for its collection of illuminated Benedictine manuscripts from the 15th century.   The Civic Museum - The Underground City features the world's largest Etruscan epigraphic collection, including approx. 300 urns and 200 tomb tiles. Return to the railway station to catch the 16:45 historic steam train to Siena. The programme may undergo slight changes.

Departure - Transfer to your departure airport, where you will return to the UK.