This 9-day 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 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 a special welcome dinner in a lively Roman restaurant, and stops in Pisa to admire the Leaning Tower, and in Verona to see Juliet’s balcony. 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. In Venice a private boat ride and a glassblowers’ demonstration are included.
Day 1: Board your overnight transatlantic flight.
Day 2: Arrive in Rome, Italy.
Time to rest or start exploring the “Eternal City.” At 6 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 3: Rome.
Sightseeing with your Local Guide starts with a visit to the VATICAN MUSEUMS and SISTINE CHAPEL (arranged next morning if closed today), 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. Then, time for independent activities and exciting optional excursion possibilities. (B)
Day 4: Rome–Pisa–Florence.
Follow the Aurelian Way along the Tyrrhenian coast to Pisa. Here, take your pictures of the amazing Leaning Tower, 180 feet high and no less than 12 feet out of the perpendicular. Then, on to Florence, the splendid capital of Tuscany. You may wish to join an optional dinner outing to a fine Tuscan restaurant. (B)
Day 5: Florence.
Follow your Local Guide to the ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS with Michelangelo’s celebrated David and the magnificent CATHEDRAL. Admire 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,D)
Day 6: Florence–Verona–Venice.
North to Verona, medieval setting of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. See Juliet’s Balcony and the well-preserved Arena. Stroll around the picturesque market square. Tonight, you are in Venice, a powerful magnet for romantics and art lovers from around the globe. (B)
Day 7: Venice.
Start the day in style by PRIVATE BOAT to 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. Tonight is your chance to sample the city’s fine restaurants. (B)
Day 8: Venice–Rome.
A scenic drive today through the lush plains of the mighty River Po, across the wooded Apennine mountain range, and past the vine- and olive-clad Tuscan Hills, home of the popular Chianti wines. An optional festive dinner may be just the way to celebrate the success of your Italian vacation. (B)
Day 9: Your homebound flight arrives the same day. (B)
Sat, Mar 20, 2010 Sun, Mar 28, 2010 Price US $1,599 Per person
Sat, Apr 03, 2010 Sun, Apr 11, 2010 Price US $1,899 Per person
Sat, Apr 10, 2010 Sun, Apr 18, 2010 Price US $1,899 Per person
Sat, Apr 17, 2010 Sun, Apr 25, 2010 Price US $1,899 Per person
Wed, Apr 21, 2010 Thu, Apr 29, 2010 Price US $1,899 Per person
Sat, Apr 24, 2010 Sun, May 02, 2010 Price US $1,899 Per person
Wed, Apr 28, 2010 Thu, May 06, 2010 Price US $1,899 Per person
Mon, May 03, 2010 Tue, May 11, 2010 Price US $1,899 Per person
Wed, May 05, 2010 Thu, May 13, 2010 Price US $1,899 Per person
Sat, May 08, 2010 Sun, May 16, 2010 Price US $1,899 Per person
Mon, May 10, 2010 Tue, May 18, 2010 Price US $1,899 Per person
Wed, May 12, 2010 Thu, May 20, 2010 Price US $1,899 Per person
Sat, May 15, 2010 Sun, May 23, 2010 Price US $1,899 Per person
Mon, May 17, 2010 Tue, May 25, 2010 Price US $1,899 Per person
Wed, May 19, 2010 Thu, May 27, 2010 Price US $1,899 Per person
Sat, May 22, 2010 Sun, May 30, 2010 Price US $1,899 Per person
Mon, May 24, 2010 Tue, Jun 01, 2010 Price US $1,899 Per person
Wed, May 26, 2010 Thu, Jun 03, 2010 Price US $1,899 Per person
Sat, May 29, 2010 Sun, Jun 06, 2010 Price US $1,899 Per person
Mon, May 31, 2010 Tue, Jun 08, 2010 Price US $1,919 Per person
Wed, Jun 02, 2010 Thu, Jun 10, 2010 Price US $1,919 Per person
Sat, Jun 05, 2010 Sun, Jun 13, 2010 Price US $1,919 Per person
Mon, Jun 07, 2010 Tue, Jun 15, 2010 Price US $1,919 Per person
Sat, Jun 12, 2010 Sun, Jun 20, 2010 Price US $1,919 Per person
Wed, Jun 16, 2010 Thu, Jun 24, 2010 Price US $1,919 Per person
Sat, Jun 19, 2010 Sun, Jun 27, 2010 Price US $1,919 Per person
Mon, Jun 21, 2010 Tue, Jun 29, 2010 Price US $1,919 Per person
Wed, Jun 23, 2010 Thu, Jul 01, 2010 Price US $1,919 Per person
Mon, Jun 28, 2010 Tue, Jul 06, 2010 Price US $1,919 Per person
Wed, Jun 30, 2010 Thu, Jul 08, 2010 Price US $1,899 Per person
Sat, Jul 03, 2010 Sun, Jul 11, 2010 Price US $1,899 Per person
Mon, Jul 05, 2010 Tue, Jul 13, 2010 Price US $1,899 Per person
Wed, Jul 07, 2010 Thu, Jul 15, 2010 Price US $1,899 Per person
Sat, Jul 10, 2010 Sun, Jul 18, 2010 Price US $1,899 Per person
Mon, Jul 12, 2010 Tue, Jul 20, 2010 Price US $1,899 Per person
Wed, Jul 14, 2010 Thu, Jul 22, 2010 Price US $1,899 Per person
Sat, Jul 17, 2010 Sun, Jul 25, 2010 Price US $1,899 Per person
Mon, Jul 19, 2010 Tue, Jul 27, 2010 Price US $1,879 Per person
Wed, Jul 21, 2010 Thu, Jul 29, 2010 Price US $1,879 Per person
Sat, Jul 24, 2010 Sun, Aug 01, 2010 Price US $1,879 Per person
Mon, Jul 26, 2010 Tue, Aug 03, 2010 Price US $1,879 Per person
Wed, Jul 28, 2010 Thu, Aug 05, 2010 Price US $1,879 Per person
Sat, Jul 31, 2010 Sun, Aug 08, 2010 Price US $1,879 Per person
Mon, Aug 02, 2010 Tue, Aug 10, 2010 Price US $1,879 Per person
Wed, Aug 04, 2010 Thu, Aug 12, 2010 Price US $1,879 Per person
Sat, Aug 07, 2010 Sun, Aug 15, 2010 Price US $1,879 Per person
Mon, Aug 09, 2010 Tue, Aug 17, 2010 Price US $1,879 Per person
Wed, Aug 11, 2010 Thu, Aug 19, 2010 Price US $1,879 Per person
Sat, Aug 14, 2010 Sun, Aug 22, 2010 Price US $1,879 Per person
Mon, Aug 16, 2010 Tue, Aug 24, 2010 Price US $1,899 Per person
Wed, Aug 18, 2010 Thu, Aug 26, 2010 Price US $1,899 Per person
Sat, Aug 21, 2010 Sun, Aug 29, 2010 Price US $1,899 Per person
Mon, Aug 23, 2010 Tue, Aug 31, 2010 Price US $1,899 Per person
Wed, Aug 25, 2010 Thu, Sep 02, 2010 Price US $1,899 Per person
Sat, Aug 28, 2010 Sun, Sep 05, 2010 Price US $1,919 Per person
Mon, Aug 30, 2010 Tue, Sep 07, 2010 Price US $1,919 Per person
Wed, Sep 01, 2010 Thu, Sep 09, 2010 Price US $1,919 Per person
Sat, Sep 04, 2010 Sun, Sep 12, 2010 Price US $1,919 Per person
Mon, Sep 06, 2010 Tue, Sep 14, 2010 Price US $1,919 Per person
Wed, Sep 08, 2010 Thu, Sep 16, 2010 Price US $1,919 Per person
Sat, Sep 11, 2010 Sun, Sep 19, 2010 Price US $1,919 Per person
Mon, Sep 13, 2010 Tue, Sep 21, 2010 Price US $1,919 Per person
Wed, Sep 15, 2010 Thu, Sep 23, 2010 Price US $1,919 Per person
Sat, Sep 18, 2010 Sun, Sep 26, 2010 Price US $1,919 Per person
Mon, Sep 20, 2010 Tue, Sep 28, 2010 Price US $1,899 Per person
Wed, Sep 22, 2010 Thu, Sep 30, 2010 Price US $1,899 Per person
Sat, Sep 25, 2010 Sun, Oct 03, 2010 Price US $1,899 Per person
Wed, Sep 29, 2010 Thu, Oct 07, 2010 Price US $1,899 Per person
Sat, Oct 02, 2010 Sun, Oct 10, 2010 Price US $1,899 Per person
Wed, Oct 06, 2010 Thu, Oct 14, 2010 Price US $1,899 Per person
Sat, Oct 09, 2010 Sun, Oct 17, 2010 Price US $1,899 Per person
Wed, Oct 13, 2010 Thu, Oct 21, 2010 Price US $1,899 Per person
Wed, Oct 20, 2010 Thu, Oct 28, 2010 Price US $1,949 Per person
Prices Include
Headsets throughout the tour
Rome:
Welcome dinner 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:
Take pictures of the Leaning Tower
Florence:
Guided walking tour, visit Michelangelo’s David, the cathedral, and Signoria Square
Verona:
Walking tour including Juliet’s Balcony and the Arena
Venice:
Private boat ride; guided walking tour, visit St. Mark’s Square and Basilica, Doges’ Palace and the Bridge of Sighs; glassblowers’ demonstration
MEALS
Full buffet breakfast (B); 2 three-course dinners (D), including a special welcome dinner with wine in Rome.
Hotels
Rome Cicerone (SF), Florence Kraft (F), Venice Carlton & Grand Canal (F), Rome Villa Pamphili (F) or Albani (F)
Single room supplement:
$237 (Mar 20th & Mar 19th, 2011 departures), $309 (Mar 27th-Oct 20th & Mar 26th-Apr 11th, 2011 departures)
Triple room reduction per person:
$34
Extra nights per person in Rome:
in single room $228, in twin room $165, in triple room $135
Tags: apennine mountain range, Aurelian Way, B, Burano, D, David, Day, dinner, doges palace, Eternal City, Florence, Giotto, Italy, Juliet, Mark, May, Per, PETER, Pisa, Price, Rome, Romeo, S SQUARE, St, St. Peter, Tuscan Hills, US, Vatican, venice, Verona
