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A Week In Tuscany
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A Tuscanys beautiful countryside and visits to Florence, Lucca, Pisa and the Cinque Terre |
Ref: EX-DIN
8 days
from £559 (minimum 4 passengers)
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Destination:
Italy
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Tuscanys beautiful countryside and visits to Florence, Lucca, Pisa and the Cinque Terre
The countryside of Tuscany stretches from the crisp, clear air of the Apennines to some of the most beautiful coastlines of Italy. Its cities are among the greatest cultural treasure-houses of Europe, from Florence, the home of the Renaissance movement, to the mediaeval splendours of Romanesque Lucca, and ancient hill-towns.
Parts of Tuscany are still quite remote, such as the Garfagnana, a beautiful rural enclave flanked by the Apennine and Alpi Apuane (the Marble Mountains). Chestnut, beech and oak woods proliferate and fortified villages perch on hills and ridges. The region has an extensive variety of flora and in late spring and early summer the upland meadows are an incredible carpet of flowers. The wildlife is also exceptional,there is a great variety of indigenous bird species, while the forests conceal deer and wild boar.
We base ourselves at La Pozza, a renovated farmhouse with sweeping views, a homely feel and an impressive swimming pool.
Extend your stay:
Extra nights accommodation can be booked at the Hotel Bologna in Pisa, single and twin rooms are available on a B&B basis and cost £81 and £98 respectively, plus a £5 booking fee.
Further Information
Special equipment required: walking boots or strong comfortable shoes are recommended, a small day pack, some waterproofs and warm clothes should be included. An umbrella and a torch may be useful.
Extra Expenses:
for the lunches and the two dinners that are not included, the leader will recommend local restaurants and cafés. About €125 is normally sufficient. Wine or beer with meals will cost extra. Prices of drinks are approximately: coffee €0.85 to €3, a small beer is €1.50, a bottle of wine €10, mineral water €0.75.
Meals Included:
7 breakfasts and 5 dinners.
Transport:
we use a private minibus for all transfers and most organised excursions, but a local train is be used on some day trips.
Joining locally:
the local joining point if you book land-only is La Pozza. It takes about 2 hours by train from Pisa airport to Castlenuevo di Garfagnana, the nearest town with a reliable taxi that you can take to La Pozza (approx. €30 taxi and train).
Group & Staff
Min. 4, max. 13, plus leader
Accommodation
We stay in La Pozza, a renovated Tuscan farmhouse located in the mountains 600m above the small town of Gallicano and reserved for exclusive use as Exodus lodge-style accommodation. There are seven twin/double guest rooms mostly arranged as part of a number of small apartments. There are no en suite bathrooms, but there is one for every two bedrooms. This slight inconvenience is a small price to pay for this idyllic, if a little isolated, setting, with its dramatic views from the pool edge across the Serchio valley to the mountains. The pool is normally in use during the warmer months of the year.
Food
All breakfasts are taken at La Pozza, they are continental in style sometimes with yoghurt and fruit. All lunches are taken at your own expense at the wide choice of cafes and restaurants in the towns we visit. Four dinners are taken in local restaurants a short drive away and consist of a three-course meal with antipasti, main course and a dessert. On one evening we stay at La Pozza for a meal at the house. You can sample a wide range of traditional Italian and Tuscan cooking. Wine is not included but all restaurants have a good selection from the local vineyards. Vegetarian choices are always available.
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Day 1 | Fly from London Gatwick to Pisa. Drive to La Pozza, (1 ½ hours). Those with land-only arrangements should join us in the early evening at La Pozza. | Day 2 | We drive to the beautiful town of Barga. The Duomo is a superb Romanesque Church of the 12th century with excellent sculptures and carvings. We have time to explore and to enjoy lunch before returning to the lodge for a leisurely afternoon. | Day 3 | An early start to travel to Riomaggiore and spend the day walking and sightseeing along the beautiful coastline of the Cinque Terre, made famous by Byron and Shelley. A network of footpaths, with panoramic views and a few steep rocky sections, link the villages and vineyards. The pace of life is slow in these old fishing villages and there are some excellent trattorias serving local dishes and the dry white and sciacchetra wines for which this area is famous. | Day 4 | Explore the Grotta del Vento, or ‘Wind Cave'. Inside are easy footpaths revealing the underground world of stalactites and stalagmites, waterfalls and deep emerald-green pools - a huge subterranean network of passages and caverns created over 20 million years ago. After our visit there is the opportunity for a scenic three-hour walk in the hills. | Day 5 | An early morning start to travel to Florence, where we have the day to absorb the atmosphere of one of the greatest Renaissance cities in Europe, with its enormous wealth of history. The Duomo, Campanile and the Ponte Vecchio are the best known but the Uffizi Gallery, Michelangelo’s David and much, much more will be vying for your time. | Day 6 | A free day with the option of a self-guided walk in the hills, a stroll into the nearby small towns of Sassi-Eglio or Molazzana or, if you prefer, relax by the pool. The leader does not organise a guided trip but it is possible to organise taxis for visits further afield. | Day 7 | A full day with an early start, visiting two historic cities. Pisa is home to the famous Leaning Tower and beautiful Duomo and Baptistry, then a twenty minute drive brings us to the graceful walled city of Lucca. This quiet provincial capital is the perfect place to take lunch before seeing the city sights. | Day 8 | Return to Pisa airport for the flight back to London. Those with land-only arrangements end the trip at La Pozza. |
Departures Between | Price from | 09 Oct 04 | *£559 | 16 Oct 04 | *£599 | 23 Oct 04 | *£579 | | *Prices subject to confirmation |
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FLIGHT INCLUSIVE PRICE
Local payment €135 (approx. £90)
Insurance £25
This holiday is operated by Exodus Travels Ltd. ATOL 2582.
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A Week In Tuscany
A Tuscanys beautiful countryside and visits to Florence, Lucca, Pisa and the Cinque Terre
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