Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli returns to his hometown of Lajatico every summer to host an incredible outdoor concert at the Teatro del Silenzio. On this six-day tour, you'll have excellent seats for this unique performance, and enjoy a real immersion in La Dolce Vita of beautiful Tuscany.
You'll be based at the four-star Hotel Firenze Pitti Palace on the Ponte Vecchio in Florence. The hotel is ideally located within walking distance of many of Florence's top attractions, from the Uffizi Galleries to the Palazzo Vecchio, which you'll have plenty of free time to explore both on a guided tour and in your spare time.
Other highlights of this trip include a guided tour of Siena - with its shell-shaped Piazza del Campo, Gothic town hall, and the 14th-century Torre del Mangia - and a visit to a local winery where you'll taste wines in the atmospheric cellar over a typical Tuscan lunch.
Andrea Bocelli is classical music's biggest-selling living artist, having sold over 80 million records. Born in Tuscany, the singer lost his vision in a football accident at age 12 but went on to sell out stadiums the world over with his versatile mix of opera, classical, and pop.
Additional information
Flights
15-19 July 2024
Departing London Heathrow 08.25 arriving Pisa 11.35
Returning from Pisa 20.00 arriving London Heathrow 21.15
Alternative flights are available, please call for details. Supplements may apply.
Single supplement
£635
Accommodation
Hotel Firenze Pitti Palace
*This information is indicative and subject to change*
Today you'll arrive at Pisa Airport, where your Tour Leader will be waiting for you, ready to accompany you directly to your hotel, Firenze Pitti Palace on the Ponte Vecchio, your base for the next five nights.
You'll have some free time in the afternoon to explore this enchanting Italian city.
In the early evening, there'll be a welcome drinks reception on the hotel rooftop, where you can enjoy wonderful views of the city while getting to know your travel companions over a spritz or glass of wine.
After breakfast today, you'll embark on a fascinating walking tour of Florence with an expert guide.
Your tour guide will reveal interesting facts about the history of the city and its monuments as you walk. Admire the beauty of the Dome, the amazing Piazza Della Signoria, the Palazzo Vecchio, the celebrated Ponte Vecchio and much more.
After your tour, the rest of your day is free to enjoy Florence in your own way. Perhaps you'll choose to enter one of its many world-class museums, like the Uffizi Gallery, where you can see Sandro Botticelli's The Birth of Venus, and Michelangelo's David at the Galleria dell'Accademia.
You can also spend this free afternoon hunting for mouthwatering food, with a whole host of excellent restaurants to discover, as well as street food and small, local eateries.
After breakfast, you'll travel to Prato, a city just half an hour's drive from Florence with a fascinating mix of Etruscan and Medieval architecture. It's sometimes called the "Manchester of Tuscany" because of its textile and industrial growth in the 19th century.
You'll have free time to explore Prato at your own pace. Don't miss the Piazza del Comune and the Duomo, where the stunning frescoes by Filippo Lippi, Paolo Uccello and Agnolo Gaddi can be seen, or the remains of the Castle of the Emperor. You'll have time for lunch at one of the many fabulous local restaurants before catching your transfer back to your hotel to get ready for tonight's concert.
There'll be a pre-show buffet dinner and time to put your glad rags on before you head to the Teatro di Silenzio in Lajatico for an incredible night of music, where Andrea Bocelli will take to the stage along with other international music stars.
Today you'll have a relaxing day at leisure to discover some more of Florence. Perhaps wander down some of the narrow side streets and see the city's famous artisans at work, making everything from handcrafted jewellery to colourful ceramics.
This free day is another great opportunity to sample some more of Florence's finest local cuisine. Florence is famous for its steak, Bistecca alla Fiorentina, as well as Pappardelle al Cinghiale, a ribbon pasta served with wild boar. There's plenty for vegetarians to enjoy too, like Ribollita, a warming vegetable soup and Tagliatelle Funghi Porcini e Tartufo.
After breakfast, you'll be driven to Siena, one of the most-visited cities in Italy, where you'll enjoy a guided tour of the city centre, including the famous square of Piazza del Campo, where the city's annual medieval horse race, the Palio, is hosted.
After the tour, you'll travel into the San Gimignano countryside, to a lovely winery nestled in the Tuscan hills. You'll receive a warm welcome at the Winery from the friendly staff, who'll introduce you to their wine production and give you a short tour.
You'll then head down to the atmospheric wine cellars where you will taste some of their wines, served alongside tasty traditional Tuscan dishes prepared with local products and vegetables from the winery's gardens.
Following this food and wine experience, you'll visit nearby San Gimignano, the famous Medieval hilltop town informally nicknamed "the Medieval Manhattan" because of its many towers dominating its skyline.
At the end of a busy day, you'll be transferred back to Florence and dropped off at your hotel.
You'll enjoy a final breakfast at the hotel this morning before checking out and transferring back to Pisa, where you'll have some free time to explore before your flight home.
Hotel Firenze Pitti Palace on the Ponte Vecchio is an elegant four-star hotel conveniently located in Florence’s historic quarter, set in a renovated medieval building and offering easy access to Florence’s many historical landmarks museums, restaurants and galleries. Each of the 86 sunny guestrooms features an en-suite bathroom, air conditioning, a desk, a TV with satellite channels, and large windows. Start each day with a delicious complimentary breakfast with breathtaking views from the restaurant on the 5th-floor terrace.
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* From price is per person, based on two people sharing a room, subject to availability. Price and itinerary correct at time of print but may be subject to change. Single supplement £520. Deposit 30% plus flight cost. Local charges such as tourist tax may apply. Lunch and dinners include three courses, 1/4L wine, water and coffee per person. In the case of unforeseen circumstances, expert(s) may be substituted, and any expert-led events may be subject to change. Expert(s) will not join you for your full trip duration unless otherwise stated. In the unlikely event of Andrea Bocelli's performance on 17 July 2024 being cancelled due to weather, ill-health or any other reason, the concert will be postponed and take place on another date decided by the organisers. No refund of the concert ticket will be given. Due to the significant walk (approximately 1.5-2km) to the concert auditorium, this tour is not suitable for those with walking difficulties. Travel insurance is not included and should be taken out at time of booking. Images used may not reflect your actual tour experience. This holiday may be sold through other selected brands. Tour is operated by and subject to the booking conditions of TS Travel Ltd (ATOL bonded).