9 days Great Italian Cities
Tread up the stone steps and down the grand boulevards of Italy's capitals - the pavement café culture, enchanting Renaissance frescoes and incredible feats of classic architecture all must-see highlights of this leisurely jaunt through the cities of Rome, Florence and Venice. Explore the centuries-old Rialto food market and admire the embrace of Bologna's Kissing Towers.
| Day | Location | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ARRIVE ROME (3 NIGHTS) (Flight not included) | You're in for a bellissimo journey through the spectacular capitals of Italy, which kicks off in the Eternal City of Rome. Spend the day on a leisurely exploration of Capital of the World before joining your travel companions and Travel Director for a memorable Welcome Reception. Your introduction to la dolce vita begins with an orientation drive to view the magnificent St. Peter's Basilica. Meal(s) Welcome Reception Hotel Victoria |
| 2 | ROME SIGHTSEEING AND AT LEISURE | We embark today on an included sightseeing tour with a Local Specialist at the Vatican Museums, enjoying a Cultural Insight into the great men whose astonishing works were said to have been inspired by the divine. See Bramante's smooth and step-less spiral staircase, the magnificent frescoed ceiling painted by Michelangelo in the serene Sistine Chapel and his sorrowful Pietà during our visit to St. Peter's Basilica. We tread in the footsteps of gladiators, slaves, merchants and royalty, crossing the Tiber River into Imperial Rome to visit the ancient Colosseum, the largest amphitheatre in the Roman Empire. Imagine crowds of enthusiastic onlookers cheering their chariot racers to victory at the Circus Maximus before the rest of the afternoon spent at leisure discovering more of the city or relaxing at a pavement café and watching the frenetic pace of Rome. Meal(s) Buffet Breakfast |
| 3 | ROME AT LEISURE | The cobblestone streets and charming piazze of Rome are yours to explore today. Ask your Travel Director for tips on what to see and do, or consider an Optional Experience to the fascinating excavations at the tragic city of Pompeii, near the Bay of Naples. Meal(s) Buffet Breakfast |
| 4 | ROME – ASSISI – FLORENCE (3 NIGHTS) | Today we meander north to the birthplace of St. Francis of Assisi on the slopes of Mount Subasio. Join your Local Specialist for a visit to the Basilica, the final resting place of this famous saint. Our final stop in Assisi is Giotto's enchanting frescoes before continuing our journey through the scenic Tuscan countryside to the picturesque Renaissance city of Florence. Meal(s) Buffet Breakfast Hotel Ambasciatori |
| 5 | FLORENCE SIGHTSEEING AND AT LEISURE | Enjoy a leisurely encounter with the artistic and architectural marvels of Florence during your sightseeing tour with a Local Specialist. Visit the striking Piazza della Signoria with its impressive sculptures and palazzi. Amble through the charming cobblestone lanes to the multi-coloured marble Duomo and Baptistery, before admiring the scenic view of the Ponte Vecchio straddling the Arno River. Spend the rest of the afternoon sauntering through the historic centre of Florence, shopping for high-quality leather for which the city is famous, or admiring the artistic contribution of the de' Medicis at every turn. Meal(s) Buffet Breakfast |
| 6 | FLORENCE – EXCURSION TO PISA | After free time in Florence cross the fertile Arno Valley to Pisa and join a Local Specialist to visit the Square of Miracles, home to the incredible Leaning Tower and beautifully sculpted marble Cathedral. See the ornate Baptistery and the Camposanto, built on sacred soil brought back from the Holy Land during the Crusades. Our unforgettable encounter with Tuscany continues this evening during a special Be My Guest dinner at a Tuscan organic olive oil estate. Meal(s) Buffet Breakfast Be My Guest Dining |
| 7 | FLORENCE – BOLOGNA – VENICE (3 NIGHTS) | Travelling north, through the Apennines, we arrive in the medieval city of Bologna, perhaps best known for the delicious spaghetti sauce that bears its name. Your sightseeing tour with a Local Specialist includes views of the Kissing Towers which lean towards each other, seemingly poised to embrace. Then it's off to the romantic island city of Venice with its rich cultural and artistic heritage which you will have an opportunity to explore on your own terms this evening. Glide along its enchanting canals in a gondola or wander through the city's labyrinthine lanes, over bridges and into quiet campi before dining tonight at your hotel. Meal(s) Buffet Breakfast Dinner with wine Hotel Boscolo Bellini |
| 8 | VENICE – CANAL CRUISE AND ORIENTATION | Savour the unforgettable sights of Venice as you cruise by private launch to St. Mark's Square to admire the Bridge of Sighs, Palladian Churches, Customs House, St. Mark's Basilica and the ornate Doge's Palace. Encounter the delicate Venetian art of glassblowing during a Cultural Insight on Giudecca Island before spending the rest of the afternoon at leisure. Visit the Fine Arts Academy, relax at a café on St. Mark's Square or consider a boat trip to the colourful fishing island of Burano for a delicious meal. Meal(s) Buffet Breakfast |
| 9 | SECRET VENICE WALKING TOUR AND VISIT TO THE RIALTO FOOD MARKET | Sites made famous in poetry, song and prose are explored today during a leisurely stroll from our hotel along the canals to the famous Rialto Bridge where we will join a guided Small Group Sightseeing walking tour, which will bring all the flavours of Italy to life at a centuries-old food market. Ambling through the narrow calle of Venice, we admire the beautiful architecture, including walking over the Rialto Bridge before spending the rest of the day to visit the sights of your choice. Our love affair with Italy's capitals comes to an end this evening as we enjoy a Farewell Dinner in a local restaurant. Meal(s) Buffet Breakfast Farewell Dinner |
| 10 | DEPART VENICE | For now it's time to say a fond arrivederci to Italy and newfound friends who have shared in the memorable sights, sounds and flavours. Transfers are available. Conditions apply. Meal(s) Buffet Breakfast |