Summary
Short description
Link the artistry of Florence and a private-beach stay with luxury hotels and a scenic drive through the Tuscan countryside
Highlights
- Showcase Florence’s Renaissance grandeur with a private tour
- Stop off at Tuscany’s vineyard-ringed medieval towns
- Stay in two of Italy’s finest hotels, a palace and designer seafront hideaway
- Drive coastal routes and Tuscany’s quiet country roads
- Indulge with a private beach
In pictures
About
Recommended for:
Beach | City | Food & wine | History & culture | Relaxation | Self-drive
This twin-centre getaway combines the delights of the Tuscan seaside with the Renaissance grandeur of Florence. Starting with a stay in one of Italy’s most iconic properties, a seafront luxury jewel complete with private beach, you’ll link the two with the use of a hire car, giving you the flexibility to explore the vineyards and medieval towns of the pretty Tuscan coast and countryside. Then, a private guided tour and a stay in a century-old gem will showcase the storied beauty of Florence.
Day by day itinerary
Day
1
Arrive in Punta Ala
Begin your holiday with complimentary airport lounge access and your flight to Pisa. You’ll pick up your hire car at the airport, perhaps pausing to take in the city's famous leaning icon and fading merchants’ houses before driving along the pretty Tuscan coastline to reach Punta Ala and the superb Cala del Porto Resort – a Leading Hotel of the World. Settle in to gorgeous views over the town's well-heeled marina from the swimming pool sun terrace, enjoying fine dining and cocktails as the sun sets.
Stay: Cala Beach Resort Tuscan Coast (Deluxe)
Days
2-4
Punta Ala
You'll have three days get into the Tuscan swing of things, exploring, with the use of your hire car, the pristine landscapes and white sands of Punta Ala's gorgeous surrounds. Prime among them is your hotel's very own private beach, complete with bar service and intimate pagoda cabins. You'll also have time to discover some of Italy's finest vineyards; wander the streets of Massa Marittima, a charmingly medieval city; and walk the grasslands and forests of the Cornate and Fosini Nature Reserve to reach its historic castle. Or, simply unwind at your hotel's luxurious spa.
Stay: Cala Beach Resort Tuscan Coast (Deluxe)
Meals: B
Day
5
Punta Ala to Florence
Driving back up the coast, you’ll dip inland through the rolling Tuscan countryside to make the journey to Florence, stopping off at a collection of the region’s medieval towns. There’s Volterra’s cobbled streets and rampart-framed Roman amphitheatre along with San Gimignano’s sky-piercing brick towers among the highlights. The latter are particularly impressive, the grand follies of aristocratic families. You’ll then arrive at Florence to drop off your car and make your way to the luxurious Relais Santa Croce, a hotel brimming with 18th-century elegance, right in the heart of the city.
Stay: Palazzo Firenze by Baglioni Hotels, Florence (Deluxe)
Meals: B
Days
6-7
Florence
Situated right among Florence’s historic centre – opposite the world’s largest Franciscan church where Michelangelo is buried – you’ll be perfectly poised to explore. To help, we’ve included a private walking tour. Highlights include stops at the Duomo and its stunningly polychromatic façade along with the Ponte Vecchio, a multi-storey bridge that remembers all of the city’s medieval bustle. You’ll also have plenty of time to yourself, perhaps to indulge with a famous Florentine steak and a glass of Tuscan red in a back-street trattoria. Lastly, don’t miss out on the Uffizi Gallery, home to a collection of the Renaissance masters.
Stay: Palazzo Firenze by Baglioni Hotels, Florence (Deluxe)
Meals: B
Day
8
Departure
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast before a scenic private transfer will bring you back – through that rural Tuscan beauty – to Pisa’s airport and your flight home.
Meals: B
Map
Pricing
Any element of this itinerary can be adjusted to suit your needs. Just contact us to find out more.
Accommodation rating:
8-day tailor-made self-drive
from £2,435 pp incl. flights
Deluxe
15 - 30 Sep 2024
from £2,435 pp. incl. flights
31 May - 04 Jul / 25 Aug - 14 Sep 2024
from £2,780 pp. incl. flights
05 Jul - 11 Aug / 18 - 24 Aug 2024
from £2,810 pp. incl. flights
12 - 17 Aug 2024
from £3,165 pp. incl. flights
Includes:
- Complimentary UK airport departure lounge access
- Return flights from UK to Pisa
- 5 days car hire (dropoff in Florence on Day 5)
- 4 nights at the beautiful Cala Beach Resort in Punta Ala on a B&B basis
- 3 nights at the historic Relais Santa Croce Hotel in Florence on a B&B basis
- Florence walking tour Half Day with private guide visiting Piazza del Duomo, the architectural gem of Florence with the Cathedral (Santa Maria in Fiore) , Giotto’s Bell Tower and the Baptistery , Piazza della Signoria with the impressive Palazzo Vecchio , Ponte Vecchio on the River Arno full of small shops
- Private transfer back to Pisa
Terms & Conditions
Prices are per person based on two people sharing a twin/double room; prices are subject to availability and possible change; normal booking conditions apply.
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