At 10 days in length, this adventure through Northern Italy may seem relatively short on paper, but it is so chock-full of highlights that it will feel considerably longer when it comes time to return home; our starting point, Rome, is itself is a showcase of some of humankind's greatest accomplishments, history's most notable events and the world's most famous attractions. We tour the historic centers of the ancient city, plazas designed by Michelangelo, Roman fora, temple ruins and the gargantuan Colosseum, the symbol of Rome, before making headway for Vatican City for exploration of the world's smallest independent nation. The Siena region, which is famous for its wines and Old World character, and Pisa, a city famous for its Leaning Tower, are our next destinations and we bring our tour to a climactic end in Florence, city of art and culture.
Tour Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrive in Rome
Today we arrive in Rome and transfer to our hotel. Few cities in the world are as beautiful as Rome, and few are as glamorous. The Eternal City's ancient monuments and spectacular galleries – over the centuries a major draw on the international tourism map - are looking more magnificent than ever after an extensive restoration program. Overnight in Rome. Dinner if required.
Day 2: Rome: City Tour
We begin our tour of Rome at the Campidoglio (Capitoline Hill), seat of the Roman Senate since the 12th century and the original citadel of the ancient city. This beautiful square was redesigned by Michelangelo in the 16th century. Next we take a guided tour of the Roman Forum and we will see the Curia, the Rostra, the Temple of Vesta, the Basilica of Constantine, and the Arch of Titus. We also have a guided tour of the 2,000 year old Colosseum, the symbol of Rome. Built to seat 55,000 spectators, this arena staged Rome's most brutal gladiatorial combats.
Our lunch break is spent at the nearby Piazza Navona, one of the most historic baroque squares in Rome, unspoiled by new buildings or traffic. Here, while eating in one of the outdoor cafes, we can admire three of Rome's many fountains. The most impressive is the Fountain of Four Rivers, with detailed figures representing the Nile, Ganges, Danube and Palata rivers. The balance of the day is free for independent exploration. Overnight in Rome. Breakfast and dinner.
Day 3: Rome: Vatican & Spanish Steps
This morning we visit the Vatican City, St Peter's Basilica and the Sistine Chapel. Michelangelo took over the St Peter's project in 1547 and was responsible for the design of the dome. The cavernous interior, which can hold up to 60,000 people, contains many treasures including Michelangelo's Pieta. The Vatican is a sovereign state with its own post office, broadcasting service and newspaper. We visit the elegantly symmetrical Piazza San Pietro. In the afternoon we continue with the walking tour which includes a visit to the famous Spanish Steps and the Trevi Fountain, designed by Nicola Salvi in 1732. Its water was supplied by one of Rome's earliest aqueducts. Throwing a coin into the fountain is supposed to ensure your safe return to Rome! Overnight in Rome. Breakfast and dinner.
Day 4: Rome - Assisi – Siena
This morning we drive from Rome to Siena, a region famous for its wines. Our first stop will be Assisi. Despite the millions of tourists and pilgrims it attracts every year, the home town of St Francis' remains a beautiful and tranquil refuge. St Francis was born here in 1182 and his spirit hovers over every aspect of the city's life. He renounced his father's wealth in his late teens to pursue a life of chastity and poverty, founding the order of mendicant friars known as the Order of Minors (the Franciscans after his death) which attracted a huge following in Europe. St Francis' Basilica is the city's, and possibly Umbria's, primary attraction.
Unfortunately, this peaceful town was hit by a strong earthquake on the morning of the September 26, 1997. During the initial shock, the Basilica of the Upper Church was damaged. An aftershock later that day brought the cupola down. The community of Assisi with assistance from individuals and organizations world-wide is now trying to save and restore as much of Assisi's priceless masterpieces as possible. We arrive in Siena later in the afternoon to spend the night in this queen of Tuscany's hill towns. Overnight in Siena. Breakfast and dinner.
Day 5: Siena - San Gimignano – Siena
Siena is best seen on foot. In fact, the city council was Europe's first to ban motor traffic from the city center. Siena today seems frozen in time. The town has traditionally been Florence's rival as the center of art and architecture in Tuscany. While Florence is known for its Renaissance art and buildings, Siena takes us straight back to the Middle Ages. Perhaps preserving its original character more than any other city in Italy, Siena is a showcase of the Italian Gothic style. The walled city of Siena occupies three hill tops and contains a rich artistic heritage. Included on our guided walking tour of Siena's charming medieval streets and squares is a visit to the Duomo. This huge cathedral, built in bands of black and white marble, dates from the 12th century.
Built in the Romanesque and Italian Gothic styles, it has a dramatically painted facade - partly designed by Giovanni Pisano - and a soaring black and white bell tower. The inlaid marble floor depicts different Biblical scenes and the cathedral contains a glass-enclosed box with an arm. Tradition maintains that the arm is that of John the Baptist and was used to baptise Christ. This afternoon we drive to San Gimignano, called the Manhattan of Tuscany. The medieval town preserves 13 of its noble brick towers, which give it a skyscraper skyline. Today its fortresslike severity is softened by the subtlety of its quiet, harmonious squares, and many of its places and churches are enhanced by Renaissance frescoes. Our drive this afternoon back to Siena takes us through the wine growing region of Chianti. Overnight in Siena. Breakfast and dinner.
Day 6: Siena - Volterra - Pisa – Lerici
This morning we drive to Volterra. Situated, like many Etruscan cities, on a high plateau, Volterra offers uninterrupted views over the surrounding hills. In many places the town's ancient Etruscan walls still stand. The exact origins of the Etruscans and when they arrived in Italy are unknown. Their civilization was centered in the area between present-day Rome and Florence, and had its Golden Age from the eighth until the sixth century BC. After this period the Etruscan empire was gradually superseded by the rising power of Rome, although, in the process, the Romans incorporated many aspects of Etruscan culture into their own society and beliefs.
Although the Etruscans had their own language and alphabet, nothing of their literature has survived. What we know of their civilization comes mainly from their highly decorated tombs which were stocked with everything the deceased would need in the afterlife - food, drink, clothes, weapons and furniture. We visit Volterra's famous Museo Guarnacci, which contains one of Italy's best collections of Etruscan artefacts. Pride of place in the museum goes to the collection of 600 Etruscan funerary urns, depicting many aspects of Etruscan customs and beliefs. We also visit the city walls and the Etruscan Gate with its basalt heads of Etruscan gods dating back to the sixth century BC. Before leaving Volterra we view the Roman amphitheater, dating to the first century BC.
This is one of the best preserved Roman theaters in Italy and enough of the original structure has survived to allow an almost complete reconstruction. Our next stop is Pisa, where we will spend most of our time concentrating on the town's principle monuments - the Duomo, the Baptistery, and the Campo Santo Cemetery, a jewel of early Gothic architecture, the grounds of which are said to be sewn with earth from the Holy Land. The most famous structure in Pisa is, of course, the gravity-defying "Leaning Tower" that Galileo carried out his experiments into the speeds of falling objects. We will take ample time to view and photograph the tower from the outside (to climb the tower requires advance reservations and a considerable amount of time to queue for entry; time contraints make this impractical for our tour). We continue to Lerici on the Ligurian coast. Overnight in Lerici. Breakfast and dinner.
Day 7: Lerici - Cinque Terre – Florence
Today we leave behind the bay of La Spezia and drive up the Ligurian coast to the village of Riomaggiore in the Cinque Terre. Here we begin our easy-paced walk between the rugged coastal villages. This spectacular section of the Italian Riviera is considered to rival the Amalfi Coast near Naples for stunning views and gorgeous sunsets. From Riomaggiore we take an easy half hour walk on the Via dell'Amore (Lovers' Walk) to Manarola. The next easy section of our walk takes us for one hour to Corniglia. Those not wishing to continue with the next two more difficult sections may walk up to the Corniglia centre to sample the delightful town with its wonderful panoramic views. It is also possible to take a local train to the nearby town of Vernazza to enjoy this jewel of a village.
For the rest of the group we start on a two hour hike from Corniglia to Vernazza. The hills of this rugged coast are covered in vineyards which grow the grapes for the local Morasca, Chiaretto del Faro and Sciacchetra wines. Delightful Vernazza nestles at the foot of the cliffs, its tiny harbor filled with yachts and fishing boats. A picnic lunch on the trail overlooking the turquoise sea is an unforgettable experience. From Vernazza to Morterosso al Mare we travel by small boat for 20 minutes to view this beautiful coastline from a different perspective. In inclement weather we will travel between the two towns by train. Monterosso is named after the red rocks of the area. Here we find a huge statue carved into the cliffs and a lovely beach. Tonight we arrive in Florence. Overnight in Florence. Breakfast and dinner.
Day 8: Florence: Walking Tour
Florence is a city steeped in history and art. Our walking tour today begins with a guided tour of the Accademia, which was Europe's first Academy of drawing and today houses a superb art collection, including Michelangelo's David, probably the most famous statue in the world. We then proceed to the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore (Duomo), complete with its magnificent red dome. Upon its completion in 1436, the dome was hailed as the greatest architectural achievement of its day, equaling, perhaps even surpassing the monuments of antiquity. The cupola's diameter is greater than that of St Peter's in Rome and the nave is the third largest in Christendom.
Even today its brilliant engineering is not fully understood. We continue along the pedestrian mall to the Ponte Vecchio, the oldest bridge in Florence and the only one in the city to survive World War II. The Ponte Vecchio was built in 1345 and used to be lined with butchers' shops which have now been replaced by rows of gold and silver shops on both sides. At the Piazza Santa Croce, we stop to admire the facade of the Franciscan church of the same name. Inside we see the tombs of Michelangelo and Galileo Galilei and chapels covered in frescoes by Giotto. Balance of the day at leisure. Overnight in Florence. Breakfast and dinner.
Day 9: Florence: Uffizi Gallery
This morning we visit the Uffizi Gallery, Giorgio Vasari's extraordinary administrative buildings which he designed for Cosimo I Medici in the mid-sixteenth century. The galleries here contain the greatest collection of Italian artworks, including hundreds of paintings by such great artists as Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, Raphæl, Michelangelo, Titian and Caravaggio. The galleries also contain one of the most famous paintings in the world - Botticelli's Birth of Venus. The afternoon is free to take in the atmosphere of this Tuscan town. Overnight in Florence. Breakfast and dinner.
Day 10: Departure from Florence. Breakfast. Buon Viaggio!
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Price Includes:
- Breakfast and dinner (mostly local restaurants) daily
- All sightseeing and entrance fees for sites noted as 'visited' in the detailed itinerary
- Gratuities for local guides, drivers, restaurant staff, porters
- Airport transfers for land / air customers arriving / departing on tour dates.
Price Excludes:
- Tour Leader gratuities, lunches, drinks, personal items (phone, laundry, etc), air taxes (if applicable), and excursions referenced as 'optional'
- Airport transfers for early / late arrivals / departures or Land Only customers
- Our post-reservation trip notes offer further guidance on optional meal costs and shopping.
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Europe
Italy
Cultural Journey
Archeology/History
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