Thursday. 9.00 a.m. Leave for Florence. You will have pre-booked tickets for the Uffizi Gallery and have a guided tour there. Then on to some of the many splendours of Florence, possibly continuing after lunch. Alternatively some serious shopping, both before and after lunch! Dinner back at the Villa Michaela.

Friday. 9.30 a.m. Leave for the Villa Torrigiani at Camigliano, a fabulous 17th century frescoed rococo villa on the outskirts of Lucca with a famous garden attributed to Le Notre. Lunch in the Fattoria di Petrognano. In the afternoon, a visit to the Villa Mansi at Segromigno. Back to Villa Michaela for wine tasting, cooking demonstration and dinner.

Saturday. After breakfast visit the traditional market at Lucca also the antique market (if it is the third Saturday of the month). Lunch at Gli Orti Via Elisa, a favourite lunch spot for locals. After lunch return to the Villa Michaela for packing. Depart for Pisa. Stop off to see the Leaning Tower of Pisa in the Piazza dei Miracoli which also includes the Duomo, the Baptistry and the Campo Santo cemetery. Then to the airport for your flight home

A Tour of Tuscany and Florence
A Tour of Sicily
At Home at the Villa Michaela

Tour leader's biographies