Art and Nature - the essence of Italy
9 NIGHTS- 10 DAYS
Day 1 - Arrival in Rome
Arrival in Rome, meeting with your Tour Escort and transfer to your hotel for our two night stay. Welcome drink. The rest of your day is free to perhaps relax or maybe explore on your own before a warm welcome from your Tour Escort and a chance to meet your fellow travellers. Afterwards, maybe enjoy an evening Illuminations tour of the Eternal City or join the evening throng in cosmopolitan Piazza Navona with its centrepiece of Bernini`s magnificent fountain. Dinner and night.
Day 2- Ancient Rome & the Vatican
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. Dinner and night.
Day 3 - Ravenna/Venice
Departure to Ravenna, the capital of Byzantine style with its 8 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Ravenna was the capital city of the Western Roman Empire from 402 till 476. guided Half-Day City Tour of its principal monuments like Neonian Baptistery (c. 430) Mausoleum of Galla Placidia (c. 430) Arian Baptistry (c. 500) Basilica of Sant`Apollinare Nuovo (c. 500) Mausoleum of Theodoric (520) Basilica of San Vitale (548). Then continue to Venice. Arrival, accommodation in Hotel for our two night stay.
Day 4 - Venice
Transfer 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. Afterward cruise to the charming islands of Burano, with skilled GLASSBLOWERS fashion their delicate objects in an age old traditional manner, then Murano and Torcello. Transfer back to the hotel. Dinner and night
Day 5 - Venice/Verona/Milan/Lake Como
Breakfast. Departure to Verona, the city of Romeo and Juliet, to visit with a local guide the famous Arena, symbol of the City. Then continue to Milan to visit the gothic Duomo with your Tour Escort and take a walk along the elegant streets of the center. Then on to the lake district and arrival at the famous lake Como. Accommodation and overnight in the area.
Day 6 - Lake Como/Bellagio/Lugano
After breakfast beautiful trip by ferry crossing the magnificent Lake, reaching Bellagio, situated on the southern coast of the lake, famous for its elegant villas and their colourful gardens. In the afternoon excursion to Lugano, situated in the Italian-speaking region of Switzerland. Arrival and walk along the blue lake and stroll in the beautiful parks and gardens with our Tour Escort. Then return to the Hotel.
Day 7 - Lake Como/Pisa/Florence
Breakfast. Departure to the Tuscan region. Arrival first at Pisa. Here take your pictures of the amazing Leaning Tower, 180 feet high and no less than 12 feet out of the perpendicular (outside view only). Then on to Florence. Arrival, accommodation in Hotel and overnight.
Day 8 - Florence
Breakfast. Half-Day City Tour with local guide to visit the Cathedral, the Baptistery, the Signoria Square, Santa Croce Basilica. In the afternoon free time to discover the artistic wonders in the museums or shop for leather or gold. Return to the Hotel.
Day 9 - Florence/Siena/Rome
Breakfast. Departure to Siena to visit the architectural wonders of this beautiful town with our Tour Escort. In the late afternoon depart to Rome. Arrival, accommodation in Hotel and overnight.
Day 10 - Rome
Breakfast and transfer to Rome airport for the return flight home.