Discover Tuscany

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Day 1: Overnight Flight
Your adventure begins with an overnight flight to Italy. Rolling landscapes, savory wines, delicious food, and stunning architecture… this can only be Tuscany. On this special journey you will enjoy walking tours in Italy’s most charming towns, visit magnificent historic monuments and sample mouth-watering cuisine and wines.

Day 2: Arrive Rome, Italy - Tour Begins
Your tour begins in Rome. Upon arrival, you may wish to sign up for an optional tour of Classical Rome or enjoy free time to explore on your own. This evening, get acquainted with your fellow travelers during a festive welcome dinner at a local restaurant where regional foods, traditional opera music and fine Italian wines kick off your Tuscan adventure.

Day 3: Rome - Assisi - Montecatini Terme
LANGUAGE DISCOVERY: Today, your Tour Manager will help you discover the origin and history of the language(s) you will experience on your tour along with key words and phrases that will help you communicate with the locals. Travel north from Rome to the medieval walled city of Assisi, the birthplace of the patron saint of Italy, St. Francis. A local expert guides you on a tour of the magnificent Basilica of St. Francis and the historic old city. Continue on through beautiful Tuscany, ending in the famous spa resort town of Montecatini Terme, your home for the next six nights.

Day 4: Siena
Begin the day learning the traditional Italian techniques of leather making during a visit to the family-owned Pierotucci Leather Shop. Continue your journey through Tuscany’s low-lying hills and olive groves to Siena, one of Italy’s most beautiful cities. Embark on a lovely walking tour through Siena's narrow, Gothic streets and behold stunning palaces, mansions and the historic Piazza del Campo. Enjoy free time to soak up Siena’s captivating ambiance and perhaps have lunch in one of the city's cafes. Or, you may climb to the top of the Torre Del Mangia for a breathtaking view of Siena and the Tuscan countryside.

Day 5: San Gimignano
Discover the hilltop village of San Gimignano, one of the most picturesque places in Tuscany. Explore this enchanting medieval town, from its famous 14 towers to its magnificent vistas overlooking the vineyards of Tuscany. Enjoy free time for lunch and perhaps some famous Italian gelato before hitting some of the town’s great shops. Your day continues with a special visit to a Tuscan winery for the opportunity to sample a selection of the local wines that have made Tuscany so well-known. During your visit, learn about the art of winemaking and the process of making Italian olive oil.

Day 6: Florence
A cultural tour in the “Cradle of the Italian Renaissance” showcases the beautiful city of Florence. A local Florentine guide highlights many of the city’s priceless treasures, including the Academy Gallery* which houses Michelangelo’s monumental statue of David. At the Piazza del Duomo, which is the center of religious life in medieval Florence, you will see the impressive Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore. You will also view the Church of Santa Croce and the burial places of Michelangelo, Galileo and Machiavelli. The remainder of your day is at leisure to explore this unparalleled city. A delightful experience awaits you this evening when you attend a Tuscan feast featuring traditional cuisine and savory wines while overlooking the magical Tuscan countryside.

Day 7: Montecatini Terme
Enjoy a day of leisure to relax and experience the local flavor. Take this opportunity to shop at the local boutiques and dine at one of the many fine local restaurants. Or perhaps you will choose an optional excursion to Pisa and Lucca. The ancient maritime Republic of Pisa is where you will find the Piazza dei Miracoli, the Cathedral or "Duomo," its historic Baptistery and the world-famous Leaning Tower of Pisa! Together they make up your Italian piazza. Your option continues with a journey to historic Lucca, one of the most charming old towns in Tuscany, to explore its gothic palaces, quaint shops, and bustling streets.

Day 8: Florence
Today you return to Florence and enjoy a guided tour* of the amazing Pitti Palace. See master works by artists such as Raphael, Rubens and Caravaggio in this impressive collection and also tour the staterooms of this former royal palace. The remainder of the day is at leisure for you to independently explore the many treasures of this great city. Return to Montecatini for an evening at leisure.

Day 9: Montecatini - Rome
Depart Montecatini this morning for the cosmopolitan capital of Italy, Rome! Upon arrival you will have an opportunity to enjoy an optional tour to Vatican City to visit the collections of the Vatican Museums and St. Peter’s Basilica. This evening, join your fellow travelers and friends for a farewell dinner celebrating the end of a memorable trip to the unforgettable and ever-beautiful region of Tuscany.

Day 10: Rome - Tour Ends
Your tour ends today.

Don't miss our current specials: FREE Door to Door Service Now Vacations Start at HOME! Don't worry about getting to the airport... because a vacation should be worry-free. With Collette Vacations, enjoy free round trip sedan service that takes you from your home to the airport when you purchase an air-inclusive Collette tour.* This personalized service - including gratuities - is available on new air-inclusive bookings to the South Pacific, Canada, and Europe; and on ALL Smithsonian Journeys Travel Adventures and Explorations by Collette tours. On departures May 2010 and beyond, Door to Door transfers are included with air-inclusive bookings to all destinations Great Savings • Added Comfort • More Convenience
Touring Date	Land Only	Land + Air	Single (Land Only)	Single (Land + Air)
9/2/2010 - 9/11/2010	$1,699
9/16/2010 - 9/25/2010	$1,699
9/30/2010 - 10/9/2010	$1,599
10/5/2010 - 10/14/2010	$1,599
10/7/2010 - 10/16/2010	$1,599
10/14/2010 - 10/23/2010	$1,599
10/19/2010 - 10/28/2010	$1,599
10/21/2010 - 10/30/2010	$1,599
11/2/2010 - 11/11/2010	$1,499
11/2/2010 - 11/11/2010	$1,549
11/4/2010 - 11/13/2010	$1,549
11/9/2010 - 11/18/2010	$1,499
11/9/2010 - 11/18/2010	$1,549
11/11/2010 - 11/20/2010	$1,499
1/27/2011 - 2/5/2011	$1,449
2/10/2011 - 2/19/2011	$1,449
2/24/2011 - 3/5/2011	$1,499
3/3/2011 - 3/12/2011	$1,499
3/17/2011 - 3/26/2011	$1,499
3/22/2011 - 3/31/2011	$1,549
3/24/2011 - 4/2/2011	$1,549
4/5/2011 - 4/14/2011	$1,549
4/7/2011 - 4/16/2011	$1,549
4/12/2011 - 4/21/2011	$1,549
Airfare Disclaimer A NOTE ABOUT AIRFARE: We encourage you to buy your airfare from the tour operator, because if your tour cancels then your airlines tickets will be covered. Purchasing flights separately at a lesser rate and incorporating it with a Non-Guaranteed Departure Date can result in loss of total cost of your flight investment. Depending on the fare rules, flights may be Non-Refundable and/or Non-Transferable. Neither the tour operator and/or Atlas Cruises & Tours will be held responsible for loss if a tour is cancelled for Lack of Participation. If you would like to check for discounted fares on Guaranteed Departures or for competitive pricing on air and hotel packages, we invite you to follow this link. Documents TRAVEL DOCUMENTS: Necessary Travel Documents such as Passports and Visas is the responsibility of the traveler. Passports must be valid six months from your return travel date.

FREE Door to Door Service

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J Rabalais rated this tour a 5 on 5/10/2010 2:53:08 PM and says:

"I only wish I could paint a picture in words describing the awesome the beauty I witnessed during my recent trip to Italy. This was my first Collette Tour. It most definitely won't be my last if all Collette tours are handled the way my tour was. My Tour Director was a wonderful, young man with a great sense of humor, uncanny knowledge of history, art, Italian custom and cuisine and a patient, kind, willingness to listen to his clients and advise and answer any question we might have. His name was Paul Munzer. He was outstanding!! I wish I could have put him in my pocket and brought him home so I could learn more. I can only hope that with future trips I plan with Collette, the Tour Directors are as knowledgeable, professional and fun as Paul. Enzo was at the wheel of our big bus. Traffic in places such as Rome might have been scary if "Amazing Enzo" would not have been our driver. He could maneuver in the trickiest spots and get out of the most impossible places! This trip was magnificent. I never dreamed I would see so much and learn so much in just a few day, but see and learn I did. Little did I know how much I would appreciate these three men when I first decided to travel to Italy months ago. These three men succeeded in giving a group of people wonderful memories that will last a lifetime. Thanks to Paul, Enzo, J. R. Snider and Collette Tours for such a fantastic trip! Sincerely, June Rabalais "Discover Tuscany" April 22, 2010 - May 01, 2010."

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