b"DiscoveringelegantTuscanyGetting to know our customers is not only one of the pleasures of our jobs, it also offers a great chance to see what we do and learn where we can keep improving. Our Chief Commercial Officer, Rob Payne, recently joined a group in Tuscany. Continuing to the picturesque spa townOf course, no trip to Tuscany is of Montecatini Terme, we checked incomplete without visiting Pisa. I pre-to our Tuscan home. Famed for itsbooked a time at the iconic Leaning healing waters, it also boasts some ofTower and chose to walk up the 251 the regions best opera and we spentsteps to the top. Together with the a great summers evening listeningobligatory picture of me holding the to classics in the beautiful old spa oftower up, this made for a memorable Terme Tettuccio. It was great to meetexperience. our amazing customers and share incredible experiences with them. CULTURAL AND CULINARY SIENA HIGHLIGHTSTUSCANYS ICONIC LANDMARKS One of our groups favourite excursions This part of Italy is bursting withwas to Castello di Verrazzano in the My first Great Rail Journeys tourwonderful sights. Our tours takeChianti hills, as we enjoyed a wine-took me to an area of Italy Id nevercustomers to many of Tuscanystasting session with some of the finest previously been. Having watchedgreatest locations. We began inChianti Classico wines, followed by a Stanley Tuccis TV series Searching forFlorence, the jewel of Tuscany. Walkingtrue Tuscan specialitya sumptuous Italy before I travelled, I had a picture inthrough the UNESCO-listed centre onboar dinner.my mind of what to expect and I hopeda guided tour, we admired the Duomo, it lived up to expectations. Palazzo Vecchio and Ponte VecchioOur guided walk of Sienna was joyfully before enjoying the serenity of theinterrupted by a neighbourhood A FIRST TASTE OF ITALYBoboli Gardens. 'contrade' that parades in the Palio A smooth journey via Eurostar and TGVhorse race on the shell-shaped Piazza took our group to Turin for an overnightA coach journey through the rollingdel Campo. Dressed in full costume with stay. With a free morning, I visited thehills took us to San Gimignano, a smallsilk flags and drums, it was an amazing Lingotto Factory, the original homemedieval town perched on a hill. Knownsight to witness. However, my personal of the Fiat 500, for a walk around thefor its well-preserved towers, it has ahighlight was the triple-scoop ice cream rooftop test track that allowed me tostunning skyline that we admired on afrom il Masgalano Gelateria! Stanley relive some famous scenes from Thetour and with an award-winning gelatoTucci would surely have approved.Italian Job, albeit on foot. in the Piazza della Cisterna.It was a pleasure getting to know our customers and share in their holiday. I also want to thank Ian and Lucy, our brilliant Tour Managers, who made the trip very special. I've kept in contact with a number of my fellow travellers, and I hope to see them again on another tour.For more information on our Highlights of Tuscany holiday see page 28 or visitgreatrail.com/TUSSAN GIMIGNANOMEET THE TEAM 7"