Day 1 : 22nd Oct Malta – Pisa – La Spezia.

Flight Malta Pisa RyanAir FR 9993  dep Malta 2035 arr Pisa 2225 private transfers from airport to hotel in La Spezia , overnight

Day 2 : 23rd Oct – Le Cinque Terre

After breakfast . Excursion by train to the National Park of the Five Lands. A trip by train, boat or on foot from Monterosso to Riomaggiore in the magnificent and intact scenery of The Five Lands is a truly special experience; it is an authentic immersion in the magic of historic and colorful villages positioned towards the sea, with steep reliefs and land sown with vineyards. Enjoy the excellent wines of this land as the famous Sciacchetrà sweet wine is usually paired with dessert and cheeses .and do not miss the opportunity to try the exquisite “focaccia” (bread) with cheese. In the afternoon enjoy a pesto making lesson in Levanto with delicious tastings

Day 3 : 24th Oct – The Marble Caves

After breakfast transfer by private minivan/minibus to the Carrara Marble Caves. The marble quarries are enormous white wounds that open themselves along wild and abrupt slopes, where small men handle gigantic stone blocks. This is the place from where Michelangelo took the marble for his masterpieces. The world of marble is not just the excavation or processing of a stone, but the history of a territory and its population that have been synonyms of marble itself for ages. You can visit the cave and take a panoramic tour on board 4×4 vehicles to enjoy unique views. The tour includes tasting of the Lardo di Colonnata, a type of charcuterie, made by curing strips of fatback with rosemary and other herbs and spices. It is included in the Ark of Taste catalogue of heritage foods.  The ageing process takes place in marble basins: hollowed out blocks of white marble. The lard placed inside it together with salt and various spices produces a brine that preserves and maintains it for years. The ageing process lasts 6-10 months. The natural humidity of the grottos and the porosity of the marble walls of the basin create natural conditions for the ageing process. after the excursion private Transfer from Viareggio to your hotel in Florence.

Day 4 : 25th Oct – The Chianti wine region & San Gimignano

After breakfast, visit  just a 45 minute drive from bustling Florence. A sweet and quiet area of Chianti is the backdrop to a beautiful Benedictine Abbey dating back to the year 395, the Badia a Passignano, home of San Giovanni Gualberto (The Hero of Forgiveness), founder of the Vallombrosian order of Monks who still reside at the abbey and who have been promoting scientific research (Galileo Galilei was a teacher here in 1587) and the conservation of the local countryside, especially through vine growing on the land surrounding the abbey.  A visit to a nearby winery is a must-do, to taste one of the most famous wines in the world: the Chianti. Its story must be told by those who have a passion for wine, for whom every vintage is a new beginning, having their roots in the past but looking towards the future. Head to San Gimignano where you will enjoy some free time to explore the village. In 1200 the towers of San Gimignano were 70 now only 16 remain, but its charm has not changed. In Piazza della Cisterna there is Palazzo Cortesi with the Devil’s Tower and the palace and the Ardinghelli tower. The towers of its most staunch rivals, known as twin towers, are located in Piazza Duomo where there is the Cathedral and the municipal building that houses civic museums with works by Filippino Lippi and Pinturicchio. Very impressive is the courtyard with a fresco of Sodoma and the Big Tower, the tallest of them all.

Day 5 : 26th Oct – Florence gourmet Art & Food

After breakfast (optional)  Tour for food lovers! Florence wine and food culture is as important and fascinating as its history and artistic background are. Discover how the eno-gastronomic aspect of the cradle of Renaissance is intrinsic to Florentines everyday life and heritage through the eyes of a passionate local guide.

ITINERARY:

Piazza Santa Maria Novella-San Lorenzo Market-San Lorenzo Church-Duomo-Piazza Repbblica – OR SanMichele

– Ponte Vecchio -back at the hotel  for private transfers to Pisa airport for flight FR9992 Ryan Air dep 1755 arrival malta 1940.