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Andrea Bocelli Under the Stars & the Tuscan Seaside Please inquire about dates

Highlights:

A live concert by Andrea Bocelli under the stars in the Teatro del Silenzio in his

hometown of Lajatico is the highlight of the week! You will have prime seats for this

magical evening and can dream in the romantic melodies of Andrea.

In Florence, we explore the Oltrarno of Florence where the artisans worked and all of

the guilds were positoned. We will visit their shops and studios and even sample local

specialties.

Enjoy an evening gondola ride along the Arno River where we see this Renaissance city

through a very unique perspective.

Visits to Pisa, Volterra and Lajatico, Bocelli’s hometown

Explore the Cinque Terre at your own pace and capture the mesmerizing views from

the Via Dell’Amore

Visit the San Fruttoso Abbey and Positano where poets such as Shelley came for

inspiration

Explore the Etruscan town of Volterra with its alabaster factories. We join a sommelier

with a journey through the area’s famous varietals

9 days/8 nights at: San Firenze Spa & Suites and the Plaza Lucchesi in Florence, Hotel

Cenobio Dei Dogi & Toscana Resort Castelfalfi

Day 1- Welcome to Florence, the Renaisance Capital Arrive Florence. A Luxury Italian Tours representative will meet you outside of baggage claim and provide your transfer to your hotel. This evening you will take a romantic gondola ride on a barchetto, one of four original boats remaining in Florence. Your driver will guide the boat with a “barcaiolo,” a true Florentine tradition holder that will guide you with his long-reaching sweeping-oar. Toast with a cool glass of Prosecco when we arrive on shore and dine at a local trattoria. Day 2 – The Artisans Florence This morning, you and your private guide will stroll around the “Oltrarno” area of the city, best known for its artisans. From bookbinders to sculptors to metalworkers and gold-gilders,

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the little maze of streets between the Ponte Vecchio and Santo Spirito are quietly off the beaten track. Along the way, you will stop to sample local specialties, making this tour a food, art and artisans tour! Our guide will leave you at the Boboli Gardens, located behind the Pitti Palace, home to the most formal 16th-century Italian gardens and a collection of sculptures dating from the 16th through the 18th centuries where you can explre at your leisure. You will have the rest of the afternoon on your own. Day 3 – Leisure in Florence You will have the morning free to explore Florence, roam the Uffizzi Museum, Accademia to view Michelangelo’s famous statue of David or shop. After lunch, we will depart Florence and head to the coast. We end our journey today in Camogli, known as the “city of a thousand white sails” because of its importance as a seaport during the Middle Ages. Today, it is a charming seaside resort dotted with pastel colored homes. Our accommodations are in Camogli and we will dine together. Day 3 - The 1,000 Year Old Abbey of San Fruttoso & Positano We will visit the Abbey of San Fruttoso, a 10th century abbey and its “newer” tower which dates from the 1500s. The abbey is nestled at the foot of the sloping mountains of the Portofino regional park that meet the crystal blue waters of the Ligurian Sea. We will explore it by boat and also see the Christ of the Abyss (Cristo degli Abissi) statue, submerged in the waters. We have lunch on the beach at and then onward to visit the glamourous town of Portofino. The evening is yours to enjoy.

Day 4 - –Walking the Cinque Terre Today you will explore Cinque Terre, or five towns that hug the steep, rugged cliffs. We begin our journey in Riomaggiore and walk to the Via D’Amore. You can stop at the café and have a limonata and enjoy the view at your leisure. You can return to the hotel by the local train and lounge on the beach. Otherwise, if you want to continue the walk further, your guide will continue as far as you would like to go. A whole day excursion to the discovery of the ligurian territory, with its colors and traditions; there will be a stop in Vernazza and Monterosso and the sightseeing from the sea of the other three villages of the Cinque Terre; together with Manarola, Corniglia and Riomaggiore are the Cinque Terre (literally translated: The Five Lands) and were declared in 1997 one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The Ligurian sea is also the natural habitat of the striped dolphins: it is not unusual to meet some of these beautiful cetaceans during this excursions! Day 5- Heading to the Tuscan Hills We depart the lovely seaside and make our way into the hills of Tuscany. On the way, we stop in Pisa to admire the Leaning Tower. You will have time to walk around and have lunch. We then arrive at our magnificent 800 year old villa, Toscana Resort Castelfalfi, that just completed a $350 million renovation. We will relax at our medieval estate that sits on 2,700 acres located in the Golden Triangle between Florence, Pisa and Siena. We will stay on the

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estate’s villa which used to be a tobacco factory, which was once grown in the area. We dine at the villa this evening. Day 6 – The Magical Melodies of Andrea Bocelli Under the Stars Today you will have a morning of leisure to enjoy the pool and sunshine. Tonight will be a highlight of the trip with a live concert by the legendary singer, Andrea Bocelli, in his home town of Lajatico. Andrea will perform under the stars in the Teatro del Silenzio, an outdoor park. You will have seats to this spectacular performance. Luxury Italian Tours will prepare a picnic dinner for you. Day 7- Volterra & Latijaco, Bocelli’s Hometown Today we explore Volterra is best known for having been one of the city-states for the Ancient Etruscans, but it is also a wonderful microcosm for the history and culture of the whole region. Its highlights include the Piazza dei Priori, the main square, and center of civic power since the 8th Century, the Porta all'Arco, the 4th Century B.C. Etruscan gate to the city walls, the 12th Century Cathedral, the Roman Theater from 40 B.C. and Roman Baths from the 3rd Century A.D. We will also visit an alabaster-carving studios. After lunch at a local trattoria, we will head back to Florence and spend the evening at leisure. Day 8- Ciao Italia! Luxury Italian Tours will provide your return transportation to the Florence airport for your flight back to the USA. Otherwise, you can be taken to the city of Florence where you can extend your stay.