12-Nights Mediterranean Highlights

12 nights from: $4,725

Mediterranean Highlights
Ease into the local love of life and good food. Sun-kissed days and sizzling nights guide you along this Mediterranean trip through coastal Spain, France and Italy. Enjoy lunch with sisters Sandra and Antonella on their Tuscan agriturismo near Vinci.


Dining Summary

• 5 Dinner (D)
• 12 Breakfast (B)
• 1 Lunch (L)

• Florence: Meet Sandra and Antonella on their historic family farm for an exclusive Be My Guest lunch at the Agriturismo Borgo Vigna Vecchia in the Tuscan hills.

• Aix-en-Provence: Explore the Provencal town of Aix-en-Provence which contains produce and treasures from local regions.

• Madrid: Drive through central Madrid and see some of the city's famous features during an orientation with your Travel Director.
• Madrid: See the highlights of the city with your Local Specialist. Visit the Old Town, traveling along the elegant Paseo de la Castellana, past the Cibeles fountain, Cervantes Monument and Royal Palace.
• Zaragoza: See the impressive historic landmarks of this thriving Spanish metropolis.
• Barcelona: With your Local Specialist, see Las Ramblas and the elegant Passeig de Grcia to take in some of the city's finest Modernist architecture. Journey past the beautiful façades of the Eixample district to see the exterior of Gaudi's extraordinary masterpiece, the mesmerizing Sagrada Família
• Arles: Hear more about the city that is famed for being the inspiration behind the Van Gogh paintings during a city orientation.
• Avignon: View the Pont d'Avignon and walk the medieval narrow streets of the Old Town to the Palais des Papes.
• Pont du Gard: See the ancient Roman bridges of Pont du Gard that cross the Gardon River.
• Monaco City: See the cathedral where Prince Rainier and Princess Grace were married.
• Cinque Terre: Led by your Local Specialist, visit this unique UNESCO World Heritage Site, tucked away on the mountainous Italian Riviera coastline. Admire the charming fishing villages and perhaps snap some memorable pictures.
• Pisa: During an orientation, your Travel Director will show you the baptistery, cathedral and the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa.
• Florence: Join a Local Specialist to view the multi-colored marble cathedral, bell tower and baptistery, adorned by Ghiberti's Gates of Paradise. Visit the political heart of the city, Signoria Square.
• Tuscany: View the stunning landscape of Tuscany on your drive today.
• Vatican: In the Vatican City visit St. Peter's Basilica with a Local Specialist. Witness the early genius of Michelangelo as you take in the Piet.

• Explore Madrid, Barcelona, Cinque Terre, Florence and Rome
• Discover Arles, Avignon, Aix-en-Provence, Monaco and Pisa
• Visit Pont du Gard in Avignon, the French Riviera, Piazza della Signoria in Florence and St. Peter's Basilica in Rome
• View La Sagrada Família in Barcelona, the Papal Palace in Avignon, the Palace and Cathedral in Monaco, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the Duomo and Ponte Vecchio in Florence and the Colosseum in Rome
• See Madrid's Royal Palace and Cibeles Fountain, Las Ramblas in Barcelona and the towns of Orvieto and Orte

• An expert Travel Director and professional Driver
• Cherry-picked hotels, all tried and trusted
• All porterage and restaurant gratuities
• All hotel tips, charges and local taxes
• Breakfast daily and up to half of your evening meals
• Must-see sightseeing and surprise extras
• Audio headsets for flexible sightseeing
• Luxury air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi in most countries or alternative transportation (such as rail journeys)
• Optional Experiences and free time
• On occasion, hotels of similar standard and location may be utilized.

The Leaning Tower is, of course, Pisa's main attraction. Even before three of its eight stories were constructed (building began in 1173 and continued until 1350), it had begun to lean. In 1990, the instability of the tower made it necessary to close it to visitors. Fortunately, an extensive program to rebalance the tower was successful in slowly righting the structure to its original degree of "lean." Now, thanks to modern engineering, the tower and its 294 stairs are once again open for climbing.

Pisa Travel Travel Agents

Olivia Mann

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Cindy Owen

San Antonio Travel Agent

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Kaylee Klinger

Independent Travel Agent

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Jetsetter Extraordinaire: Crafting Dream Getaways, One Adventure at a Time!

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Your Vacay is my vacay!

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Ashley Watson

Bookings By Ashley

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The tower is on the Campo dei Miracoli, a large, grassy square that's a pleasant place to relax. While you're there, visit the Baptistry, which contains a beautiful baptismal font and pulpit by Nicola Pisano; the Romanesque Cathedral di San Zeno, with its silver altar and figures by Brunelleschi; and the Camposanto Cemetery. All in white, the medieval buildings and the wall of the cemetery form a beautiful thematic whole. Stop at the 16th-century church and Palazzo dei Cavalieri, the piazza and the National Museum of San Matteo (excellent collection of 12th- through 15th-century art). And if you have time, visit Pisa's other leaning tower at the Church of San Michele degli Scalzi: Completed in the 13th century, this seldom-visited tower is worth a look, too.

It's also fun just to walk around Pisa. The city is very compact, with many narrow streets and a great ambience. We suggest seeing it on a day trip from Florence, perhaps in combination with Lucca, just 13 mi/20 km northeast. Another possible stop is Pistoia, which has a cathedral and baptistery in the Pisan-Romanesque style and the Ceppo Hospital (L'Ospedale de Ceppo), which has a brightly painted and enameled terra-cotta frieze by Giovanni della Robbia. If you want to see Pisa and another town all in one day, get up very early.