HIP Trustees, Mary Fennimore and Nigel Clay, and their partners, made their first visit to Harrogate’s twin town in Northern Tuscany in early May. Despite some knowledge of the town and area, all four were blown away by the beauty of the town and the surrounding countryside.

The similarities to Harrogate with the 19th century spas, and the open parklands in the centre of the towns, were matched by the range of activities and places to visit nearby.

The convenience of getting their, with direct flights from Leeds/Bradford to Pisa, and with the rail link from the airport to Montecatini also providing easy access to the local delights of Florence, Sienna and Lucca.

Montecatini’s long history can be experienced  by a funicular railway journey up to the ancient settlement of Montecatini Alta, overlooking the town and providing panoramic views of the rolling Tuscan hills.

As well as exploring the medieval castle and church, and taking in the surrounding landscapes, the compact square is filled with shops and restaurants.

Casa Gala proved to be an excellent choice for lunch and Maître d’, Valentina, is looking forward to welcoming more guests from Harrogate in the near future!