Hills of Lucca & Wine Tasting

Revel in a sublime tour through the rolling hills and beautiful valleys of the Tuscan countryside to wonderful Lucca, capped with a tour and tasting at a local wine cellar. During your drive to Lucca, you’ll pass quaint medieval villages, golden vineyards, silvery green olives waiting to be harvested and elegant dark green cypress trees, a landscape that has long been praised by poets and artists for its pastoral allure. Enjoy ample time on your own in Lucca, perhaps strolling along the terrifically preserved Renaissance-era medieval walls.

You might admire the Pisan Romanesque Duomo di San Martino and the Church of San Michele in Foro, whose exquisite colonnaded façades rival that of Pisa’s own cathedral. Pass the fabulous, tree-topped Guinigi Tower, and roam Piazza Amfiteatro, once the Roman amphitheater and today a charming elliptical square surrounded by sand-colored houses. Transfer by coach to an inviting wine cellar, where you’ll take a guided tour that includes a fascinating presentation on the process of winemaking and the traditional bottling methods still in practice today. Conclude your fabulous day with a generous tasting of both white and red wines, accompanied by light refreshments of local salami, olives and bread.

• Wear casual, weather-appropriate clothing and comfortable walking shoes.
• Dress appropriately if you wish to visit a religious venue; shoulders and knees must be covered.
• Bring a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen.