Tour begins 6:00 PM, Hotel Splendide Royal Lugano. A transfer is included from Milan's Malpensa Airport to Hotel Splendide Royal Lugano in Lugano. As you travel Italy, you'll see the best of this ancient country, from great cities to countryside villages and towns that are off-the-beaten track! Begin by heading through the beautiful northern Italian countryside from Milan to Lugano, Switzerland – an Italian-style city set on the edge of a bejeweled lake with views of the not-too-distant Alps. Enjoy free time to explore the waterfront promenade, then meet fellow traveling companions at a welcome cocktail reception and dinner. Lodging Hotel Splendide Royal Lugano Day 2 Villa delights and a cruise on Lake Como Meals B Your travels take you to Tremezzo to visit Villa Carlotta, built in the late 17th century, and noted for garden landscaping and sculpture. Admire the dramatic views of the Alps silhouetting the famous villas along the shores of Lake Como as you cruise to Bellagio; enjoy free time to explore the picturesque town as you please. Cruise past some of Italy's most elegant lakeside villas to Como. Return to Lugano, where the evening is free to spend as you wish. Lodging Hotel Splendide Royal Lugano Day 3 Travel Italy from the fabulous lakes to Venice Meals B, L, D Journey to Venice, designed along an intricate system of canals within a lagoon. After lunch, head to St. Mark's Square, the heart of Venice, with a local guide. Visit Piazza San Marco (St. Mark's Square) and St. Mark's Basilica, one of the greatest buildings in Europe with its exquisite mosaics and detailed carvings. See the Doge's Palace, a pink marble Gothic masterpiece containing a precious art collection. A serenade aboard a gondola cruise through the canals, and dinner at a popular Venetian restaurant, are the perfect endings to a perfect day. Lodging Hotel Danieli Day 4 Explore Venice as you please Meals B Spend the whole day exploring the museums and sites that interest you most in remarkable Venice, a highlight as you travel Italy. Perhaps tour the Galleria dell'Accademia or the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, or take a boat ride to the many islands in the Venetian Lagoon. Lodging Hotel Danieli Day 5 By rail to the art treasures of Florence Meals B, L, D Travel Italy by high-speed Eurostar rail today from Venice to Florence, the birthplace of the Renaissance. Get an introduction to the city’s architectural landmarks and great artists from a local art historian; view Lorenzo Ghiberti's bronze doors with detailed panels at the Baptistry, part of the Duomo of Santa Maria del Fiori complex. Your art lecture is great prepartion for today's visit to Galleria dell'Accademia, home to many of the world's most beloved paintings and sculpture. Later, a walking tour explores the historical center of Florence, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Lodging The Westin Excelsior, Florence Day 6 Reservations at the Uffizi and then... Meals B Gaze at some of the world's greatest art masterpieces at the extraordinary Uffizi Gallery, Italy's largest art museum, on a guided tour with a local expert. Admire works by Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Michelangelo, Sandro Botticelli, and more. Following your tour, you can spend as much time as you like looking at the art. During your free afternoon you can explore as you please; perhaps you may want to visit the Pitti Palace, the Medici Chapels or stroll across the Ponte Vecchio to the lovely Boboli Gardens. Lodging The Westin Excelsior, Florence Day 7 Explore the antiquities of Siena and on to Rome Meals B, D Travel Italy through the verdant landscapes of Tuscany, Umbria and Lazio today, featuring olive groves, cypress trees, and vineyards, including the region that produces Chianti wine. Stop in the medieval hill town of Siena, and wander through its narrow centuries-old streets. See the Piazza del Campo where the Palio bareback horse race is held, and visit the Duomo, one of Italy's great cathedrals, with scenes inlaid in the marble floors and sculpture by Michelangelo. Continue through scenic Tuscany to your final destination – Rome, the Eternal City that was the center of the once-powerful Roman Empire, and is today the capital of modern Italy. Lodging St. Regis Grand Hotel, Rome Day 8 Discover the Vatican's treasures on an exclusive after-hours tour Meals B Your first full day in Rome begins with a visit to one of the world's most famous houses of worship, immense St. Peter's Basilica, and St. Peter's Square. The remainder of the day is free to explore Rome as you please before this evening's Exclusive! An after-hours guided visit to the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel (subject to availability; day of the visit may vary) gives you privileged access to the treasures of the Vatican, without the day's crowds. See the Candelabra Gallery, Map Gallery and the Tapestries; it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see some of the world's great masterpieces, including Michelangelo's famous Sistine Chapel ceiling frescoes, without the usual crowds. Up close and unhurried, you'll have a chance to see firsthand why the chapel's floor is as famous as its celebrated ceiling! Lodging St. Regis Grand Hotel, Rome Day 9 An extraordinary day in Imperial Rome Meals B, D Get an insider's view of Rome from a local guide on a city sightseeing tour – you'll see such can't-miss sights as the Roman Forum, Piazza Venezia, and the Circus Maximus – and you'll avoid long lines with pre-arranged reservations at the Colosseum. Opened in AD 80, the Colosseum once reigned supreme as an entertainment venue used by Roman emperors to maximize their popularity with the general public. Spend some additional free time in Rome this afternoon prior to this evening's farewell cocktail party and dinner - a special finale to special Italy travel days from the Italian Lakes to Rome. Lodging St. Regis Grand Hotel, Rome Day 10 Arrivederci Rome Meals B Your trip ends in Rome. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from St. Regis Grand Hotel, Rome to Leonardo da Vinci Airport in Fiumicino; allow 3 hours for check-in. Notes: Prices are based on double occupancy land only, prices vary on departure dates. 
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