This tour is a great choice for the first timer! It begins in Rome and then goes to "Bella Tuscany" with visits at Siena, San Gimignano, Volterra, Pisa, the tour goes then to Florence and ends up in Venice. Travel is by air conditioned professional motor-coach and the tour is guided throughout by a professional (bilingual) tour guide with lots of knowledge and experience.
Your Itinerary
Day 1 - Rome
Arrive Rome’s Leonardo da Vinci Airport and transfer independently by easy airport train or taxi to our lovely hotel near the train station. Then, later - at 1:30 PM, we'll meet our specialized local guide and board a private minibus to the start of our walking tour. We’ll see (among others) the Arch of Constantine, the Colosseum (entrance incl.), the Roman Forum, the Campidoglio with its architecture & piazza by Michelangelo, the monument (biggest in Rome) to king Vittorio Emanuele II, Piazza Venezia (from where Mussolini's delivered some of his most notorious speeches), Emperor Trajan's Column and much more. With our "whispersystem" (earphones for all) used throughout the tour, everyone will be able to understand clearly all the wonderful information delivered by the guide. A welcome-to-Rome dinner is included tonight, with local specialties. Includes: (D)
Day 2 - Rome
Transfer by private bus to the Vatican Museums (entrance incl.) for an extensive visit which includes Raphael’s rooms, Michelangelo’s frescoes in the Sistine Chapel & much, much more. Then an easy walk to St. Peter’s Basilica, the largest catholic church in the world. Here we’ll admire the Pietà, the Baldacchino (canopy) by Bernini & much more. The rest of the day is free. Includes: (B)
Day 3 – Bella Tuscany
Today, first the charming & spectacular town of Siena - "frozen" in the 14th century - which we will tour and where we'll have lunch (independently). Then an easy drive to Bella Tuscany to our spectacularly renovated 4-star hotel farmhouse where we'll be able to relax before dinner. This place is very comfortable. It has swimming pools, horses, game rooms, dancing facilities, workout room, tennis courts, and very good food. Abundant, hearty dinner tonight. Includes: (B) (D)
Day 4 – Bella Tuscany
Today we’ll go to San Gimignano the famous town of the “towers”. Once there were about 72 towers in this town which were used primarily for defensive purposes but later degenerated in a show of power among the most influential families. Today 15 towers remain in this splendidly preserved medieval town. You will have plenty of time to visit this medieval gem and have lunch (independently) there. We’ll return to our farmhouse hotel in mid-afternoon to rest and enjoy the facilities. Very good dinner tonight. Includes: (B) (D)
Day 5 – Bella Tuscany
This morning we'll drive to nearby Pisa for a very good visit. Here we'll enjoy admiring the Cathedral (entrance incl.), the Baptistery, the Museum by the Tower, and the Leaning Tower (all these other structures from outside - admission not included). We'll return to our "base" in early afternoon for more enjoyment of the facilities there. Excellent dinner tonight. Includes: (B) (D)
Day 6 – Bella Tuscany
This morning we’ll drive to nearby Volterra, an old Etruscan town, where we’ll be able to learn about those mysterious people and enjoy the medieval atmosphere of this city. We’ll have another good visit here and a good lunch (independently). We’ll return to our hotel for a brief break and then we’ll go and visit a very interesting winery and (weather permitting) a vineyard of about 2000 acres. Here they produce several DOC wines (red & white) using the famous Sangiovese grape. We’ll taste some of these wines while munching on local Pecorino cheese and excellent Tuscan bread with extra-virgin olive oil. Return in early evening and, later, another abundant, excellent, dinner. Includes: (B) (D)
Day 7 – Florence
This morning destination Firenze (Florence), the amazing center of the Renaissance, arriving at our select 3-star hotel by the Arno river with time for an excellent, orientation, walking tour: the Ponte Vecchio (the Old Bridge), the Duomo (Cathedral, the Giotto's Campanile (bell tower), the Baptistery with the "Gates of Paradise", and much more. Free evening. Includes: (B)
Day 8 – Florence
After breakfast, first another nice walking tour to get better acquainted with this awesome city. Then we’ll proceed to the Accademia to admire Michelangelo's David (timed entry incl.) and his unfinished “Prisoners”. (Because we'll have booked "timed-entrances" we won't have to stand in line for hours.) Rest of day is free. Later, some of you may decide to visit the beautiful 11th century Romanesque church of San Miniato al Monte, where you may also choose to enjoy mystic Gregorian chanting. Includes: (B)
Day 9 - Venice
A drive over the mountains, this morning, and check-in at our charming 3-star hotel. Then we'll meet our specialized local guide and begin our Venetian adventure by taking a spectacular vaporetto (waterbus) ride (72-hour pass included) on the Grand Canal, a walk around Piazza San Marco, the Basilica, Bridge of Sighs, the Campanile (bell tower). Then we'll continue walking and sightseeing until we get to a quiet "secret" neighborhood where we'll have a very nice welcome-to-Venice dinner with local specialties. Another vaporetto ride will take us back to our hotel later that evening. Includes: (B) (D)
Day 10 - Venice
Today, with our local guide, first we'll visit the very interesting and huge basilica of the Frari (entry incl.) to enjoy the architecture, the history, and some of the best masterpieces by Tiziano Vecellio (Titian), Tintoretto, Donatello, Bellini & others. Then, a very nice stroll to the Ponte di Rialto (the Rialto Bridge) where we'll take a good break to admire this beautiful construction and to enjoy the interesting "mixed" market around it. Then a short walk to San Marco where we’ll take a break for lunch. Later, we’ll take a trip to the fabled island of Murano for a good look at how they make beautiful glass. At this point the guided activities are over but you can take another trip to the island of Burano for the local lace, or to the secluded island of Torcello where Ernest Hemingway wrote one of his famous books while staying at the beautiful Locanda Cipriani and while enjoying several trips to the famous Harry's Bar also owned by the Cipriani family. Includes: (B)
Day 11 - Venice
Today is a free day to conclude your shopping and/or to enjoy to the fullest this incredible and amazing “floating” city. Farewell dinner tonight with Venetian specialties. Includes: (B) (D)
Day 12 - Your flight home
After breakfast we'll transfer by a public shuttle bus to Venice Marco Polo airport. Includes: (B)
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
The tour includes:
- 10 nights lodging, double occupancy;
- Private bath or shower, WC, in select 3- and 4- star hotels;
- All hotel taxes;
- 10 breakfasts 5 dinners (beverages not included);
- Tasting of several great Tuscany wines with Pecorino cheese and Bruschetta
- Chauffeured, air-conditioned, motor-coaches
- Transfer to Venice airport by shuttle bus 72/hour vaporetto (waterbus) pass in Venice
- 5 entrance fees to: Colosseum & Vatican Museums in Rome; the Accademia Museum (David) in Florence; Frari Basilica in Venice;
- "Basic" tips to waiters, porters, guides, driver;
- The services of a bilingual, knowledgeable, and experienced tour director/guide/story teller, an Italian native from Genova, Gianfranco Russu.
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