Tuscany Photo Tour Itinerary - September 12th to 26th, 2023

Welcoming fully vaccinated guests on all our tours.

Day One: Tuesday, September 12th, 2023  Afternoon coach departure offered from London to Toronto pick-ups along the 401 corridor. Toronto and area guests will meet at Pearson International. Flying via Air Canada departs at 9:30 p.m. to Rome.  

Day Two: Wednesday, September 13th, 2023  Arrive early morning at Leonardo da Vinci airport in Rome. We will be met by our motor coach then travel to our hotel. Check-in, a chance to freshen up and lunch. We will then head out for our first walking photo tour of Rome. Welcome Dinner this evening. Rome for our first three nights. Dei Borgia Hotel. (D)

Day Three: Thursday, September 14th, 2023  Breakfast, meet in our hotel lobby and depart for our photo shoot at the Roman Forum and Colosseum. This area is steeped with historic landmarks. We will have plenty of time to explore and photograph this ancient part of Rome. A few other highlights this morning will be Palatine Hill, the Arch of Constantine, Basillica of Maxentius, and Piazza Venezia. We will beak for lunch and continue to photograph this part of the city into the afternoon. After dinner we will visit the Trevi Fountain for night photography. This part of Rome offers up some beautiful night opportunities including a view of the Vatican. Overnight Dei Borgia Hotel. (B)

Day Four: Friday, September 15th, 2023  Breakfast. Our day begins with a walking tour of Vatican City, where the photo opportunities are endless. This tour will include a visit to St. Peter’s Basilica. In the afternoon we will follow the Tiber River crossing at the Ponte Cavour Bridge making our way through the narrow streets to visit and photograph the Spanish Steps. We will continue our walk photographing and visiting many locations, including the Pantheon and the Temple of Adrian. Dinner on your own account and optional city at night photo shoot. Overnight Dei Borgia Hotel. (B)

Day Five: Saturday, September 16th, 2023  Breakfast at the hotel, check-out and begin our journey through the beautiful italian countryside as we travel to our next destination, the walled city of Lucca. We will be stopping for photo opportunities enroute including a visit to Orvieto. Arriving in Lucca mid afternoon. We’ll check into our hotel, allowing time to freshen up and perhaps a short walk to check out the city. This evening’s dinner is at our hotel. We will be in Lucca for four nights. Overnight Hotel Universo Lucca. (B) (D)

Day Six: Sunday, September 17th, 2023 Breakfast meet in the hotel lobby then head out for a morning of exploring and photographing the streets of Lucca. We will follow the walled city streets into the city Piazza Anfiteatro. You will see as we wander the narrow streetscapes you could spend the whole day photographing the beautiful window displays created by the shops and bakeries. We will visit the Piazza San Michele and the Torre Guinigi (this tower actually has trees growing out of the top). Lunch today will be at one of the many street cafes as we explore Lucca. Dinner tonight at our hotel.  Sunset and night photo shoot opportunities. Overnight Hotel Universo. Lucca. (B) (D)

Day Seven: Monday, September 18th, 2023  Breakfast then board our motor coach and travel to the five seaside villages that make up Cinque Terre. Cinque Terre is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Today we will photograph this colourful collection of villages capturing some of the beautiful coastline and inlets, complete with many colourful fishing boats anchored in the bay. We will have many panoramic views as we walk along the beautiful pathways and trails. Connecting the villages we will travel by train, each connection takes about 4 to 5 minutes. depending on the weather boat connections may be possible. This evening returning to Lucca for dinner. Overnight Hotel Universo Lucca. (B) (D)

Day Eight: Tuesday, September 19th, 2023  Breakfast, meet in the lobby and depart for our first destination of the day, Viareggio. This is another beautiful seaside village with a mountain backdrop. The hills are famous for the Carrara Marble they produce. You will think you have arrived in the South of France with the beautiful palm trees and boardwalks. Viareggio is a village of a thousand photos. This could be a great place to sample the pizza at one of the many cafes at lunch today. This afternoon we will visit Pisa. Our goal is to time our visit as to capture the Leaning Tower of Pisa lit by the warm evening sun. Returning to Lucca for dinner. Overnight Hotel Universo Lucca. (B) (D)

Day Nine: Wednesday, September 20th, 2023  Breakfast, check-out and depart on our journey to Florence. Enroute we will visit Montecatini Alto where we will take the Vernacular rail car to the summit to photograph the surrounding countryside. Lunch then continue our drive to Florence. Check-in to our hotel the Arizona, then spend the remainder of the day at leisure to explore and photograph the local markets. Evening photo opportunities. Three nights Arizona Hotel (B)

Day Ten: Thursday, September 21st, 2023  Breakfast. This morning we visit the Ponte Vecchio, Florences oldest and most famous bridge built in 1345. It was the only bridge spared by the Germans in their retreat in 1944 at the end of the second world war. There is gold in them there hills! The streets are a jewelers paradise, they offer up great photo ops, combined with some of the most beautiful churches in Italy.  As we follow the river, the many bridges become great vantage points to photograph the landscape of the city.  As we explore the streets of Florence one of the stops with be to capture a few images of a replica of the statue of David. The interesting point about this statue is the oversized hands and feet which offer the perfect perspective when photographed from the right angle. In this region we will also capture images of the Great Piazza Fountain and the arches of Loggia della Signoria which come together to form a beautiful open-air gallery. Later in the afternoon returning to our hotel for time to relax before dinner. Overnight Arizona Hotel (B)

Day Eleven: Friday, September 22nd, 2023  Sunrise photo shoot at Ponte Vecchio Bridge, great lighting opportunities and very few people in the streets. Return to our hotel for breakfast. We will continue our Florence experience today by holding photo shoots at Piazza del Duomo, Piazza S. Lorenzo and some of the interesting Bell Towers located within the city. Back to our hotel for time to relax before dinner. This evening an photo walk. Overnight  Arizona Hotel (B)

Day Twelve: Saturday, September 23rd, 2023  Breakfast. Check-out and depart for our journey to Venice. Our drive today will be approximately three hours. We will be making several photo stops as we travel. Once we arrive at Piazzo Roma we will board the water taxi for transfer to our hotel.  After check-in and time to freshen up we will set out to photograph the canals close to our hotel. The activities on the waterways, colourful buildings and reflections are an experience you’ll never forget. While visiting Venice we will supply our guests with an Alilaguna pass, allowing unlimited water taxis during of our visit. Next three nights we will be staying at the Hotel Belle Arti in Venice. (B)

Day Thirteen: Sunday, September 24th, 2023  Breakfast, then morning photo shoot at the Rialto Bridge. The famous Rialto bridge unites the two banks of the grand canal. On one side the fish market ancient, yet every day more modern, together with the colour of fruit and vegetable stalls. They share the banks with small shops and cafes. A perfect first location of our Venetian experience. Next stop San Marco square, the Basilica with vaults and byzantine mosaics is a timeless master piece bathed in gold and the Bridge of Sighs. Also a visit to Marco Polo’s home which is now a hotel. Beautiful shops and cafes are the perfect halfway point for today. Doges Palace and several churches close by will offer up other photo opportunities during our afternoon. Returning to our hotel in the late afternoon for time to relax prior to dinner and more Venice at night. Overnight Hotel Belle Arti in Venice. (B)

Day Fourteen: Monday, September 25th, 2023  Breakfast then an early morning departure via water taxi to Burano. Burano is known for it’s brightly coloured fisherman’s cottages.  The morning light will be in our favour as we spend time photographing the interesting landscapes that make up this Venetian island. This afternoon we will continue to explore and photograph some of the smaller canals within the city. Late afternoon we will return to our hotel and prepare for our farewell dinner. Overnight Hotel Belle Arti In Venice. (B) (D)

Day Fifteen: Tuesday, September 26th, 2023 Breakfast, check-out and transfer via water taxi to Marco Polo Airport, Venice. Our direct flight to Toronto arrives at 5:30 p.m. After clearing customs we say good bye to GTA and transfering guest and board our return motor coach with drop offs enrouse to London. We will arrivie into the London at approx. 8:30 p.m.

Tuscany region temperatures this time of year average 22C to 26C in the day and 15C at night. Tuscany has a timeless familiarity with its iconic Florentine cathedral dome, gently rolling hills dipped in soft morning mist and sculptural cypress alleys. The culture, ancient architecture, historic sites, food, wine and beautiful landscapes await.

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Tuscany Registration  Contact Us  Terms & Conditions  Privacy Policy

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The cost of our Tuscany Photo Tour Departing from Toronto is $4,850.00 per person plus air taxes of $614.00 CAD and $17.50 HST, this is based on double occupancy, single supplement is an additional $1,250.00. (O3C Member savings $400)

A non-refundable deposit of $100.00 is due at the time of booking, with a second deposit of $450.00 due January 02, 2023. The balance is due 60 days prior to our departure. We recommend the purchase of travel and health insurance as this tour takes us out of the country.

You may also choose to pay over 12 monthy payments through our Uplift finance program estimate -  $471 per month. You select 12 month payment option under the payment section during registration.

Photo Tour Trekkers and Tourcan Vacations recommends the purchase of travel and health insurance as tour takes us out of the country. Health insurance is highly recommended. Please note your passport expiry date must be valid for 6 months past our return date of September 26th, 2023.

Tuscany Tour Includes:

• Round trip motor coach departing from London, pick-ups available enroute along the 401corridor
• Round Trip Airfare via Air Canada - Toronto / Rome / Venice / Toronto
• Accommodations while in Italy
• Luxury air conditioned motor coach
• 3 Nights Rome, 4 Nights Lucca, 3 Nights Florence, 3 Nights Venice
• Breakfast included each day of the tour, Welcome dinner, dinner days 5,6,7,9, & Farewell dinner
• Wine tasting and local wine and cheese tasting at San Donato
• Colosseum and Roman Forum entrance fees Rome
• Venacular railway in Montecatini Alto
• Alilaguna water taxi pass in Venice good for the entire time of our visit
• All airport and hotel transfers
• Any local admissions as mentioned in itinerary
• Tour hosted and escorted by photographer James Cowie

** Schedule may vary according to weather and travel conditions.

** Guests must have a valid passport, passports must be valid for a min of 6 months from return date September 26th, 2023.

Tour Exclusions: Any item not listed on the itinerary, gratuities to Italian coach driver, personal insurance coverage, alcoholic beverages, and laundry.

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