Tuscany, Umbria & the Isle of Elba – Premier

Itinerary

• Day 1
  Fly to Pisa - Start your Premier Collection escape with a flight to Tuscany, where you’ll be greeted by your friendly, local tour manager and transferred to your four-star hotel base for the week, the Relais della Rovere. This remarkable hotel was built on the site of a former Benedictine monastery, which was previously home to Pope Julius II.   Once you’ve checked in, you’ll be free to spend the rest of the day at leisure in the hotel’s grounds.
• Day 2
  Day at leisure or optional Siena excursion - It’s your first day in Tuscany, and you’ll be free to spend however you see fit. If you’d prefer to ease yourself into your holiday, a few hours soaking up the views from the hotel’s sun terrace or cooling off in its outdoor swimming pool is the ideal choice.   For a more structured day, you can also join an optional tour of nearby Siena. This enchanting hilltop town is renowned for its fan-shaped square, Piazza del Campo, and you’ll explore its centuries-old landmarks alongside an expert local guide. At the piazza’s southern end is a spectacular Gothic town hall, Palazzo Pubblico, which has served Siena for more than 800 years. Also of interest is the 14th-century Torre del Mangia, looking out over the surrounding countryside.   Later, explore the town and its winding cobbled streets at your own pace before heading back to the hotel for dinner. 
• Day 3
  Included Isle of Elba excursion - Have breakfast at the hotel this morning and head west to the port town of Piombino, ahead of a full-day excursion to the Isle of Elba, the Tyrrhenian outpost where Napoleon spent 10 months in exile in 1814.   After a short ferry crossing, you’ll disembark at the island’s largest town, Portoferraio. From here, visit San Martino, where you’ll tour the French Emperor’s summer residence. A particular highlight here is the Demidoff Gallery, which houses several portraits, etchings, and frescoes that tell the story of Napoleon’s exile. You’ll also see the Egyptian Room, with its papyrus plants and North African décor, and the Love Knot Room, which was designed as an ode to the Little Corporal’s love for his second wife, Maria Luisa.   After exploring Villa San Martino, you’ll be driven north along the island’s prettiest coastal roads. Stop to soak up the scenery at La Paolina, a beach named after Napoleon’s sister, with its turquoise waters and typical Mediterranean flora. You can then find lunch in the nearby town of Marina di Campo, on the island’s south coast, before continuing to two of Elba’s most picturesque bays, Golfo Stella and Porto Azzurro. This afternoon, visit Porto Azzurro’s charming seaside villages before heading back to Portoferraio for the ferry crossing.  Later on, you’ll be served dinner back at the hotel.
• Day 4
  Day at leisure - Today will be entirely at leisure, and once you’ve had breakfast, you’ll be free to spend the rest of the day as you see fit. If you’d prefer a more relaxing day, the hotel’s grounds offer ample room to unwind in the Tuscan sun, and you can cool off with a dip in the outdoor swimming pool.   If you’d rather continue exploring, the nearby Sentierelsa Trail takes you to spectacular woodlands, waterfalls and natural pools. Back in Colle di Val d’Elsa, you’ll find plenty of trattorias and cafés to try local delicacies
• Day 5
  Included tour to Lake Trasimeno and Orvieto - Venture into Umbria, the historic ‘Green Heart of Italy’, after breakfast this morning on today’s included tour. Your first stop will be Lake Trasimeno, the country’s fourth largest lake and an area of remarkable natural beauty. Perhaps best known as the site of Hannibal Barca’s resounding victory over the Roman army, the lake is now a popular travel hotspot for casual tourists and nature enthusiasts alike.  The first part of your tour will introduce three delightful hilltop towns, Castiglione del Lago, Magione and Città della Pieve. Your first stop, Castiglione, is centred on an ancient fortress, the Rocca del Leone, which promises spectacular views over vast Trasimeno and the Umbrian countryside around it. After some time to explore the town under your own steam, continue to picturesque Magione.   Here, you’ll see the majestic Castello dei Cavalieri di Malta, a fortress and abbey built by the legendary Knights Hospitaller in the 12th century, and a number of Baroque churches. Peruse the shopfronts, cafés and trattorias of this hilltown before heading on to the third and final lakeside town, Città della Pieve. Famed for its red-brick buildings, this artists’ haven is the perfect place to spend a few hours.   Later, continue to picturesque Orvieto for a tour of its most notable landmarks, including the 13th-century Palazzo del Capitano Popolo and the town’s clock tower, Torre del Moro Orvieto. The visit’s major highlight will be the Duomo di Orvieto, which was built to house a sacred Christian relic, the Corporal of Bolsena, in the 13th century and still displays it to this day. While here, you’ll also enjoy memorable views of the building’s intricate rose window and golden mosaic reliefs.   Dinner will be served back at the hotel this evening. 
• Day 6
  Included Florence excursion and Accademia visit - After breakfast, head out on an excursion to elegant Florence, the ‘Cradle of the Renaissance’. For many, this city is the most striking in Italy, and today you'll see the magnificent Florentine skyline, dominated by the dome of the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore.  Start your tour at the Basilica of Santa Croce, where Michelangelo, Galileo and Machiavelli were laid to rest, and the medieval Ponte Vecchio bridge, which was spared in WWII for its timeless beauty. You’ll also see the Uffizi, where Botticelli’s famous Birth of Venus can be admired, amongst the city’s Renaissance treasures ahead of some time to explore the world-famous Accademia.   Here, you can find Michelangelo’s fabled statue of David alongside the masterpieces of several other Florentine artists, with entry to the museum’s vast collection of artworks and exhibits. Learn more about the seminal works of the Renaissance as you observe the paintings of Giotto di Bondone, Botticelli and Paolo Uccello. Another highlight of the Accademia is the Gipsoteca, and you can enjoy an insight into the artistic movements of 19th-century Italy as you admire its magnificent plaster busts and statues.   Later this afternoon, you’ll have some time at leisure to make the most of Florence before heading back through the Tuscan countryside.  
• Day 7
  Optional morning tour to Volterra and included afternoon visit to San Gimignano - It’s your final full day, and you can spend the morning however you see fit once you’ve had breakfast. If you’d like, you can opt to travel west for an optional excursion to Volterra, one of the most celebrated hilltop towns in Tuscany and a treasure trove of traditional Etruscan architecture. Here, amongst the historic alabaster buildings, you’ll see traditional Etruscan architecture, and you’ll be shown around the town’s pretty landmarks on a guided tour. Look out for Volterra’s ancient Roman theatre and the Palazzo dei Priori, the oldest public building in Tuscany.  This afternoon, rejoin your fellow travellers as you travel to hilltop San Gimignano, the ‘City of Fine Towers’. Watched over by 14 medieval towers, the city’s UNESCO-listed old town is enclosed by 13th-century walls, and you can take in the sights under guidance. Starting at the town’s focal point, the Piazza della Cisterne, you’ll also see the impressive Duomo di San Gimignano, with its many frescoes and religious artworks.   This evening, head back to the hotel for dinner and make the most of a final night in Tuscany.
• Day 8
  Return to the UK - Enjoy your breakfast and board the coach to Pisa for your return flight home.