Gems of Tuscany featuring Cinque Terre

You’re on your way to explore some of the beloved and lesser-known treasures of Tuscany, where a tapestry of culture, food, wine, and picture-perfect landscapes awaits.

Make your way to Viareggio along the Versilia Coast, where you’ll spend three nights discovering a different side of Tuscany. Here, you’ll find a coastal base for exploration, with Art Nouveau architecture, summertime beach clubs, and lakeside retreats that inspired some of Italy’s most celebrated opera. As arrival times vary, there’s no scheduled sightseeing today, so you can get to know this seaside town at your own pace. Wander the promenade, stop to sip an espresso, or simply settle into your hotel and breathe in the salty breeze. As evening falls, join your fellow travelers for a welcome drink to toast your upcoming journey.

This morning, leave the well-worn roads behind for the Carrara marble quarries, one of Tuscany's most extraordinary open-air workplaces. An off-road drive through the Apuan Alps follows paths carved by generations of quarrymen, revealing how this stone shaped Italian art and architecture, from ancient Rome to Michelangelo's David. Back in Viareggio, the afternoon is yours to soak up the sophisticated coastal atmosphere as you please. As the day winds down, a short drive brings you to Torre del Lago and the beloved home of opera composer Giacomo Puccini. Visit the maestro's residence-turned-museum – where La Bohème, Tosca, and Madama Butterfly were born – and settle in for a private performance on Puccini's own piano before dinner at a local restaurant.

On a full day outing,* the dramatic coastline of Cinque Terre stretches before you – terraced vineyards tumbling to the sea, and five fishing villages clinging to cliffs like they've been there forever (they have). Ferry among the rugged coastline, stopping to visit one of these legendary villages before deep, sapphire-blue waters carry you to Portovenere, a colorful harbor town the locals call "the other Cinque Terre." A bit less traveled than the fishing hamlets of Cinque Terre, Portovenere’s allure lies in its neighborhood charm and relaxed pace, making it easy to linger here. Later, head back to Viareggio for an evening at leisure.

This morning, follow quiet Tuscan backroads toward the Abbey of San Galgano, where legend lingers in stone. Visit a small chapel with a legendary past, then step into the abbey’s open-air ruins, its Gothic arches framing sky and wind-stirred grass. This afternoon, continue toward the Maremma Coast, a wilder stretch of Tuscany where pine forests meet the sea. Settle into your resort, a relaxed, seaside base on Scarlino’s Marina. Unwind at the resort, or head into nearby Castiglione for a livelier evening along the coast.

Board a ferry to Elba Island** and let the Mediterranean breeze guide you past umbrella pines. On a guided exploration, take in colorful villages shaped by Napoleon’s influence during his time in exile here. In Portoferraio, visit one of the emperor’s historic residences before sailing back to the mainland while scanning the horizon for distant glimpses of Capraia, or the islets of Palmaiola and Cerboli.

During an Impact Moment, visit a butteri farm – a tradition with roots that run deep in the Maremma, where the landscape itself shaped a culture of cattle herding across wide-open terrain. The region's "Italian cowboys" still work on horseback today, tending herds of cattle and horses that roam in a semi-wild state. Gain insight into this enduring way of life before sitting down to lunch on the farm. This afternoon, the Maremma falls behind as you journey toward Pienza. The open landscapes of the Orcia Valley unfold along the way – rolling hills, slender cypress trees, and skies that seem to go on forever.

Today, it's your choice! Circle the slopes of Mount Amiata, an extinct volcano with natural hot springs, to reach Saturnia,*** where limestone pools cascade down the hillside, inviting you to bathe in its warm mineral waters -OR- remain in Pienza, joining a local expert for a guided walk through the UNESCO-designated town, one of the first examples of Renaissance-style urban planning. Meander its harmonious streets, browse artisan shops, then lose yourself in the kind of view that made Tuscany famous – the Val d'Orcia rolling away beneath you, timeless and unhurried.

This morning, hike along one of Tuscany’s gravel-paved “white roads” where the iconic landscapes of the Orcia Valley open up around you, and open fields, scattered farmhouses, and distant hilltop villages stretch as far as the eye can see. The road leads to a local dairy known for its pecorino cheese, where regional traditions run as deep as the flavors themselves. Roll up your sleeves for a hands-on cheese making session, preparing fresh ricotta and primo sale alongside the cheesemaker, before sitting down to a simple lunch of your own creations, paired with a tasting of pecorino and local charcuterie. This afternoon, visit the hilltop town of Montepulciano, known for its production of Vino Nobile wine. Pause for a tasting at a local winery, before returning to Pienza in the late afternoon.

The road north winds through the Chianti region, where vine-covered hills and ancient olive groves set the tone for the day ahead. A stop at an award-winning frantoio (olive presser) brings you into the heart of a tradition that comes alive each November, when the harvest is pressed.**** Learn about the many varieties of trees and oil-making methods before joining a tasting of the extra virgin olive oil produced right at the mill. No journey through the Chianti countryside would be complete without time in Greve, considered by many the capital of Chianti, where the village feels lived-in and full of local character. This afternoon, Florence appears on the horizon, and you settle in for a 2-night stay in the "cradle of the Renaissance."

For your final day of la dolce vita, it’s your choice! Join a local expert for a walking tour through Florence’s storied squares and iconic landmarks -OR- visit the Cathedral Museum to observe masterpieces by Michelangelo, Donatello, Ghiberti, and Brunelleschi firsthand. Whatever you choose, you’ll find yourself surrounded by the splendor of the Renaissance as you explore. The afternoon is yours to explore the city in your own way, before gathering for a farewell dinner with your fellow travelers.

Bid arrivederci to the gems of Tuscany as your journey ends today.