Day 1 - Arrive Rome
Welcome to Rome! You are met at the airport by your driver and transferred to your hotel (Transfer included!). This evening you will be picked up at the hotel for your tour, beginning at Via del Teatro Marcello. Our local expert guide will lead you to discover the wonders of the Eternal City, charming by day - absolutely romantic at sunset. Cross the characteristic area of the Jewish Ghetto, one of Rome’s most beautiful neighborhoods, filled with history and a true Roman atmosphere. Some of Rome’s typical landmarks are its fountains, and one of the prettiest is the Turtle Fountain (Fontana delle Tartarughe) in Piazza Mattei. Walk into Piazza Della Rotonda and enjoy the lit view of the Pantheon, the only ancient Roman temple that remained untouched through the centuries.Your walk continues towards Piazza di Spagna, one of the city’s most popular squares, set at the bottom of the Spanish Steps. Walk up these steps to enjoy a lovely view from the top! After this intense and gratifying walk, relax and enjoy a creamy and tasty gelato - it’s on us! The tour ends in the Spanish Steps area. Enjoy time on your own, before returning to the hotel on your own for your overnight stay. (San Martin or similar)
Day 2 - Rome/Assisi/Siena/Florence
Departing from your hotel early this morning by a deluxe coach. Arrive in Assisi, ready to explore at your own leisure, this tiny medieval town surrounded by walls. Take time to visit the basilica of St. Francis, where you will see masterpieces by Giotto and Cimabue and, then, have free time for lunch (not included). Board the bus to reach Siena, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, renownedfor the Palio, the historical horse race around the shell-shaped town square: Piazza del Campo. Continue on to Florence, where you check in at your hotel before enjoying dinner and a well-earned night of rest. (Raffaello or similar) (B/D)
Day 3 - Florence
After breakfast, spend the day venturing around Florence, where, with the help of Michelangelo, Italian art reached its pinnacle. Based on Etruscan-Roman origins, the city flourished in the Middle Ages and was further refined during the Renaissance. Among the innumerable monuments, churches and buildings, Santa Maria del Fiore, more commonly referred to as the Duomo, stands out in the Florentine skyline. Cross a small piazza to see the Campanile (bell tower), partly designed by Giotto, and the Baptistery, with its bronze doors where Michelangelo imagined the “Gates of Paradise.” In the heart of the city, see Piazza della Signoria, Palazzo della Signoria, and the Basilica of Santa Croce. Lunch in a typical Tuscan restaurant in Piazza Santa Croce. Spend the afternoon strolling the cobblestone streets of Florence on your own or take a short trip to Pisa (optional), one of the four main historical Marine Republics of Italy. There, you will tour the Piazza dei Miracoli with the Duomo, Pisa’s symbol “the Leaning Tower” and the Baptistery. Dinner at your leisure and overnight stay in Florence. (B/L)
Day 4 - Florence/Bologna/Padua/Venice
After breakfast in Florence, begin the day with your departure to Bologna. There, you will discover the elegant city center with its “porticos,” it’s shopping streets and so on. From Piazza Malpighi, walk to Piazza del Nettuno and Piazza Maggiore in the heart of the city. See King Renzo’s Palace, Palazzo Podestà and the basilica of San Petronio. Bologna is a real gourmet’s heaven - don’t miss a tasty meal at your own leisure! In the afternoon, continue toward Padova, where the Basilica of Saint Anthony of Padus is one of the most visited churches by pilgrims of the Catholic world. Later in the afternoon, arrive in Venice (Mestre). Check in at your hotel for your overnight stay. (Delfino or similar) (B)
Day 5 - Venice
After breakfast, enjoy your transfer to Piazza San Marco and visit the most iconic places of the “Floating City”: the Palazzo dei Dogi, symbol of Venice’s glorious past, the legendary “Bridge of Sighs.” After the walking tour, allow us to treat you to a spritz or a prosecco, as a delightful conclusion to your visit to the highlights of Venice, in the company of your tour leader. While you sit comfortably and savor your drink, you will also have the opportunity to enjoy a taste of the famous cicchetti" a Venetian variation of tapas (light lunch). Spend the afternoon roaming along Venice’s canals at your leisure and then return to the hotel for your overnight stay. (B/L)
Day 6 - Venice/Tuscany Wine Region (Montepulciano)/Rome
After breakfast, depart from Piazzale Roma heading to Tuscany, world-renowned for its landscapes, churches and castles, and its delicious wines. Proceed to Val di Chiana with a stop in Montepulciano, a medieval town rich in history and art. Known for its Nobile wine, on purchase in local wine houses, Montepulciano also hosts an annual Jazz and Wine Festival every July. After lunch (included) in a typical restaurant, you have a quick stop to spend some free time. In the evening, arrive in Rome and check into your hotel. (San Martin or similar) (B/L)
Day 7 - Rome
Early this morning, after breakfast, depart from the hotel for the included tour of the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Square with our exclusive “Skip the Line” access! No stress to reach the area: upon arrival, your guide leads you into the museums, where you’ll visit one of the most important art collections of the world. Walk along the beautiful Galleries of Tapestries and Geographical Maps before admiring Raphael’s Rooms and, then, the amazing Sistine Chapel. After this incredible masterpiece, the tour ends in St. Peter’s Square, where you can admire the incredible masterpiece, St. Peter’s Basilica - the biggest church in the world! Enjoy the rest of the day, exploring the city at your own leisure. Overnight stay in Rome. (B)
Day 8 - Depart Rome
After breakfast, transfer to the airport. (B)
