Join the first of your holiday's included excursion and head to the beautiful Ligurian coast. Here, some of Italy’s most famous resorts are dotted along the shoreline, backed by wooded hills. A mecca for visitors from around the world, elegant Santa Margherita Ligure overlooks a stunning bay, and lies at the eastern end of the Portofino headland. Spend some time exploring the resort, then board a boat for a trip along the coast to discover its ultra-chic neighbour, the world-renowned, jet-set watering-hole of Portofino. Despite the crowds, this glamorous pastel-painted village remains one of the Mediterranean’s most idyllic settings.

Our second included tour takes you to two true Italian gems. First of these is the wonderful city of Pisa, where, in the company of your guide, you'll have an opportunity to explore this mesmerising medieval treasure trove on the banks of the River Arno. Here, the broad green swathe of the Campo dei Miracoli (Field of Miracles) is home not only to the startling Leaning Tower but also the huge circular Baptistery, the great marbled Duomo and the colonnaded Campo Santo cemetery. After a fascinating visit, you’ll reboard the coach and journey to the elegant walled city of Lucca. This simply delightful Renaissance jewel was the birthplace of the composer Puccini, and the city’s most famous son is celebrated with a museum at his home. Elsewhere, the ancient cathedral, the Torre della Ore clocktower and the exquisite Piazza Anfiteatro (built around the Roman amphitheatre) are among the must-sees of this charming city.

Enjoy another day of gentle exploration in Montecatini, as you soak up the charming atmosphere of the spa-town.

Today will be one of the real highlights of your holiday, as you join our included tour of Florence. For many, this simply stunning place is Italy’s most beautiful city, and today you'll have the chance to see the magnificent Florentine skyline, dominated by the dome of Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, for yourself. Explore the splendour of Santa Croce and the medieval Ponte Vecchio bridge, spared by the retreating Nazis because of its timeless beauty. Florence is also the city of both the Accademia, which houses Michelangelo’s fabled statue of David, and the Uffizi, where Botticelli’s famous Birth of Venus can be admired. You'll have the chance to visit the galleries (payable locally), and will no doubt want to stop for a bite in one of the city’s cafes and restaurants.

Relax in the resort, today or join an optional excursion that heads into the Tuscan countryside to explore the exquisite hill towns of Volterra, Certaldo and UNESCO-listed medieval gem San Gimignano. Set high above the Cecina and Dell’Era valleys, Etruscan Volterra is beautifully preserved, its ancient walls surrounding a medieval core at the heart of which is a stunning Romanesque cathedral and the ornate Piazza del Priori, lined with beautiful palazzi. You’ll also take in the Roman amphitheatre, uncovered in 1951. No less fascinating is the charming twin-town of Certaldo, where the newer lower town nestles beneath the upper, fortified, Certaldo alto and its ancient gates and defensive walls. Saving the best till last, San Gimignano, with its fairy-tale towers rising from the hill-top village, is one of the finest sights in all Italy, and a fitting finale to your wonderful holiday.

Bid farewell to your Tuscan hosts, today, and journey back to the airport to check in for your flight home.