Day 1 ~ Walk back in time to ancient Rome
Tour begins: 3:00 PM at The Westin Excelsior, Rome. Welcome to Rome, where your Italy tour to the ancient world begins; a transfer is included from Leonardo da Vinci Airport in Fiumicino to The Westin Excelsior, Rome. Your adventure starts with a guided visit to St. Peter's Square and the Basilica, a must see stop on any Italy tour. Join your fellow family travelers tonight for a welcome reception and dinner at a local restaurant that whets your appetite for a fun-filled Italy tour. Meals: Dinner Lodging: The Westin Excelsior, Rome, Italy Day 2 ~ An after-hours visit with Michelangelo at the Vatican Museums Drive through the heart of the city to see real-life relics of Imperial Rome, once capital of the ancient world. Walk through one of the Colosseum's 80 entrances, imagining what it was like for ancient gladiators and the Roman crowds who piled into this famous arena to see them, and pose for pictures with Roman Centurions. See the temples and basilicas of the Roman Forum, nerve center of the ancient empire. This evening, join us for a very special after-hours visit to the Vatican Museums, full of fascinating history and artistic masterpieces. View Michelangelo's famous ceiling in the Sistine Chapel – which the artist originally resisted doing because he considered himself a sculptor, not a painter – without the usual crowds! (Subject to availability and day of visit may vary.) Meals: Breakfast Lodging: The Westin Excelsior, Rome, Italy Day 3 ~ Through Orvieto's tunnels and Tuscany's hills to Florence Discoveries abound on your Italy tour adventure today as your family sets off through rural Umbria and Tuscany. The first stop on your travels is walled Orvieto, perched on a volcanic plateau; a guided tour takes you under its cobblestone streets to explore the town's honeycombed medieval tunnels, and caves dating back to the time of the ancient Etruscans. Then it's on to Florence, birthplace of the Renaissance, where you'll check out Michelangelo's famed statue of David and other great works at the Galleria dell'Accademia, the oldest art school in the world. Arrive at your hotel, a former 18th-century palace overlooking the River Arno, for a memorable three-night stay. Meals: Breakfast, dinner Lodging: Grand Hotel Florence, A Luxury Collection Hotel, Florence, Italy Day 4 ~ Discover why the Leaning Tower leans An excursion from Florence takes you to Pisa for a look at this maritime city's great medieval buildings – including a glimpse of the remarkable Leaning Tower and more of Pisa's "field of miracles," such as the Duomo and the Baptistry. Return to Florence for an evening spent as you please, and have dinner on your own in one of this grand Renaissance city's many restaurants. Meals: Breakfast, lunch Lodging: Grand Hotel Florence, A Luxury Collection Hotel, Florence, Italy Day 5 ~ Florentine treasures at the Uffizi Gallery More great Renaissance art awaits in Florence today. A local art historian shares insights about the Renaissance and prepares you for a visit to the Uffizi Gallery. Join a local guide for your tour of the world's oldest art gallery, where you'll see masterpieces galore – including Michelangelo's painting of The Holy Family and Botticelli's The Birth of Venus. Tonight, join us for dinner and a pizza-making demonstration at a popular local restaurant. Meals: Breakfast, dinner Lodging: Grand Hotel Florence, A Luxury Collection Hotel, Florence, Italy Day 6 ~ Travel to Venice aboard the high-speed Eurostar A first-class rail journey aboard the high-speed Eurostar train takes your family to Venice, a city of islands where the roads are paved with water, and a treasured memory of any Italy tour. Ride a private boat to your hotel and have lunch along the Grand Canal, followed by a guided walking tour of massive St. Mark's Square, and a visit to the Doges' Palace. Later, a musician serenades your family as you ride in a gondola, traveling through the canals as the Venetians have done for centuries! Meals: Breakfast, lunch Lodging: The Westin Europa & Regina, Venice, Italy Day 7 ~ Mask-making and more in beautiful Venice Venetians are mad about their masks... and the making of these exquisite decorations is a centuries-old tradition here. You're in for a real treat as you meet skilled local artisans who will turn papier-maché into colorful, fanciful Venetian masks before your very eyes! And if there is any city in Europe that is perfect for just wandering, seeing and experiencing, it is Venice – and you'll have the chance to do just that for the rest of the day. Follow the small, cobbled streets and alleyways to see where they lead, visit a museum or sample some gelato (served warmer and creamier than traditional ice cream). Tonight, we'll all meet again for a farewell party, as your family's memorable Italy tour adventure draws to a spectacular close. Meals: Breakfast, dinner Lodging: The Westin Europa & Regina, Venice, Italy Day 8 ~ Homeward bound Tour ends: Venice. Arrivederci! Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from The Westin Europa & Regina to Venice's Marco Polo Airport; allow a minimum of 3 hours for flight check-in. Notes: Prices are based on double occupancy land only 
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