Italy's Great Cities

2013 Season
Departs From: Rome

From $1,539

Length:  8 days from Rome to Rome

Overview

This trip will show you the highlight cities of Italy, covering all the notable features, from St. Peter’s, the Sistine Chapel, the Colosseum and the Forum in Rome to Michelangelo’s David and the cathedral in Florence and St. Mark’s Basilica and Doges’ Palace with the Bridge of Sighs in Venice. Local Guides in these cities will answer all your questions. Also included are: special welcome and farewell dinners with wine at lively Roman restaurants, a stop in Pisa to admire the Leaning Tower, and a stop in Romeo & Juliet’s Verona to see Juliet’s balcony and the arena, and to savor a tortellini lunch in one of its attractive restaurants. In Venice, a gondola serenade has been included as a special introduction to this romantic city, as well as a private boat ride and a glassblower’s demonstration. Scenic rides will show you the Tyrrhenian coast, the Lombardian plains, the flat Po area, the wooded Etruscan Apennine mountain range, and Tuscany’s Chianti wine country.

Duration:  8 Days

Schedule:

Start Date	End Date
26 June, 2013	03 July, 2013
30 June, 2013	07 July, 2013
03 July, 2013	10 July, 2013
07 July, 2013	14 July, 2013
10 July, 2013	17 July, 2013
14 July, 2013	21 July, 2013
17 July, 2013	24 July, 2013
21 July, 2013	28 July, 2013
24 July, 2013	31 July, 2013
28 July, 2013	04 August, 2013
04 August, 2013	11 August, 2013
07 August, 2013	14 August, 2013
18 August, 2013	25 August, 2013
25 August, 2013	01 September, 2013
01 September, 2013	08 September, 2013
08 September, 2013	15 September, 2013
15 September, 2013	22 September, 2013
22 September, 2013	29 September, 2013
29 September, 2013	06 October, 2013
06 October, 2013	13 October, 2013
09 October, 2013	16 October, 2013
16 October, 2013	23 October, 2013

City Highlights

ROME
Welcome and farewell dinners with wine at a local restaurant; guided sightseeing, visit the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel, St. Peter’s Square and Basilica, the Colosseum and Roman Forum

PISA
Marvel at the legendary Leaning Tower

FLORENCE
Guided walking tour, visit Michelangelo’s David and Signoria Square

VERONA
Walking tour including Juliet’s balcony and the Arena; a [LF] special pasta lunch

VENICE
[LF] Gondola serenade; private boat ride; guided walking tour, visit St. Mark’s Square and Basilica, Doges’ Palace and the Bridge of Sighs; glassblower demonstration

FERRARA
Walk along Este Castle to the cathedral

Headsets throughout the tour

Day 1   Arrive in Rome, Italy. Welcome to Rome! At 5 pm, meet your Tour Director and traveling companions, and leave the hotel for a special welcome dinner with wine at one of Rome’s lively restaurants. (D)

Day 2   Rome. Sightseeing with your Local Guide starts with a visit to the fascinating VATICAN MUSEUMS and SISTINE CHAPEL, world famous for Michelangelo’s ceiling paintings and The Last Judgement. Continue to monumental ST. PETER’S SQUARE and BASILICA. Cross the Tiber and visit the COLOSSEUM and the ROMAN FORUM, where Roman legions marched in triumph. To make the most of your stay, join our optional Roman Highlights excursion, and see the sites and squares of medieval Rome made famous in the movie Angels and Demons. (B)

Day 3   Rome–Pisa–Florence. Follow the Aurelian Way along the Tyrrhenian coast and enter Tuscany. In Pisa, take the traditional picture pushing back the amazing Leaning Tower, then continue to Florence, “Cradle of the Renaissance.” Tonight is your chance to try out local specialties on an optional dinner outing to a fine Tuscan restaurant. (B)

Day 4   Florence. Guided sightseeing features a visit to the ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS to see Michelangelo’s celebrated David. Admire the magnificent marble cathedral, Giotto’s Bell Tower, the Baptistry’s heavy bronze “Gate of Paradise,” and sculpture-studded SIGNORIA SQUARE. The afternoon is free. Florentine leather goods and gold jewelry sold by the ounce are attractive buys. (B)

Day 5   Florence–Verona–Venice Island. A special visit to Verona, medieval setting of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Take pictures of Juliet’s balcony and rub the shining breast on her statue for good luck. Next, admire the Arena, an incredibly well-preserved pink marble Roman amphitheater, where gladiators used to fight. Built in the 1st century AD, it is now the magical venue for world-famous opera performances. A highlight is a [LF] tortelllini lunch in one of the attractive restaurants, with a chance to try out typical local candy, like baci di Giulietta or Nadalin, and top it off with a glass of the local grappa or prosecco. Arrive in Venice, a powerful magnet for romantics and art lovers from around the globe. A romantic [LF] GONDOLA SERENADE has been arranged for you as a proper welcome to this fascinating city. (B,L)

Day 6   Venice Island. Start the day in style by PRIVATE BOAT and meet your Local Guide. Highlights of your walking tour are ST. MARK’S SQUARE and the Byzantine BASILICA, lavish DOGES’ PALACE and the BRIDGE OF SIGHS. Also watch skilled GLASSBLOWERS fashion their delicate objects in an age-old traditional manner. Afterwards, enjoy Venice at your own pace or join an optional cruise to the charming island of Burano. (B)

Day 7   Venice Island–Ferrara–Rome. A scenic drive today through the lush plains of the mighty River Po to Ferrara. Stroll past imposing Este Castle to the marble cathedral before continuing to Rome across the wooded Apennine mountain range, past the vine- and olive-clad Tuscan Hills, home of the popular Chianti wine. This evening, a special farewell dinner with wine awaits you as a proper “Arrivederci, Roma!” (B,D)

Day 8   Rome. Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B)

Meals:  Full buffet breakfast daily (B); 1 special lunch (L) in Verona; 2 three-course dinners (D): special welcome and farewell dinners with wine in Rome

Hotel Information:  ROME Cicerone (SF) or NH Villa Carpegna (F)
FLORENCE Kraft (F) or Ambasciatori (F) or Starhotels Tuscany (SF)
VENICE ISLAND Carlton on the Grand Canal (F)
ROME Villa Pamphili (SF)

Transportation

Motorcoach with free Wi-Fi; boat ride in Venice


Terms and Conditions

Note: Flights are NOT included with the Tour and unless otherwise stated above transfers are also NOT included.

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