10 Days / 8 Nights - Venice, Florence, Rome

Tour Departs Every Sunday

DAY 1, SUNDAY :: DEPART USA

Evening departure. Meals and refreshments served on board.

DAY 2, MONDAY :: VENICE

Morning arrival into Venice’s Marco Polo Airport. Here you’ll be met and transferred to your hotel in Venice.
The balance of the day is at leisure. This evening enjoy a welcome dinner at a popular restaurant.

DAY 3, TUESDAY :: VENICE

Your morning tour of Venice is on foot and will highlight the Basilica of St. Mark and the Doge’s Palace, with its splendid rooms decorated by 16th century artists such as Titian, Tintoretto, and Veronese. Also view the Bridge of Sighs and Piombi Prison. Afternoon is at leisure with enough time for more sightseeing, shopping or relaxation. In the evening the tour director will assist you in locating restaurants where you will enjoy savoring the pleasures of Venetian cuisine.

DAY 4, WEDNESDAY :: VENICE / PADUA / MODENA / FLORENCE

This morning depart Venice and stop in Padua to visit the Basilica of St. Anthony and its art, including the large bronze works of Donatello. Continue your scenic drive to Modena, famous for balsamic vinegar (Maranello is nearby, where Ferrari sportscars are manufactured). In Modena you’ll be treated to a special balsamic vinegar-tasting session plus lunch, featuring local specialities and Lambrusco wine. After lunch continue to Florence, home of Michelangelo. Tuscan cooking is a true gastronomic feast. The tour director will suggest restaurants according to your preference.

DAY 5, THURSDAY :: FLORENCE

Morning tour takes you to Michelangelo Square for a panoramic view of the city, the Academia to see Michelangelo’s original David statue, Giotto’s Bell Tower, the Baptistry with its “Gates of Paradise” doors, Signoria Square and Santa Croce Church. Afternoon is free. Tonight, enjoy a festive dinner with wine and music at a charming villa located on a beautiful Tuscan hillside outside Florence.

DAY 6, FRIDAY :: FLORENCE (PISA EXCURSION)

This morning is free for last minute shopping, or join us for an optional tour to Siena famous for “II Palio” the bareback horse race. During this optional excursion you will travel through the heart and hills of Tuscany to explore breathtaking landscapes with Chianti vineyards, cypress trees, olive groves, and medieval villages. In the afternoon enjoy an included excursion to one of the world’s best-known sights - the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Late afternoon return to Florence and dinner on your own. The tour director will suggest Florentine restaurants you will certainly enjoy.

DAY 7, SATURDAY :: FLORENCE / PERUGIA / ASSISI / TORGIANO / ROME

Morning departure for Rome. Drive through the serene Tuscan and Umbria countryside, passing by the shores of Lake Trasimeno, past the medieval city of Perugia and on to Assisi. Here you will stop at the Basilica of St. Francis, the burial site of St. Francis. Continue south to Torgiano, known for the production of fine red wine, where you will enjoy a rustic lunch and a wine tasting at the Lungarotti wine cellar. Resume your journey to Rome. Tonight, experience a taste of the Roman dining scene on your own, then explore the exciting Roman Dolce Vita and nightlife.

DAY 8, SUNDAY :: ROME

Rome is filled with monuments, fountains, antiquities and other sites worth exploring. Use this free day to discover the ancient and modern aspects of cosmopolitan Rome for yourself. You might also choose to take an optional tour to Ostia Antica, the Castelli Romani, or attend a Papal Blessing. There’s only one Rome, so make sure you bring home enough memories to last a lifetime. In the evening, again, discover on your own why Roman trattorias are famous for their fine food and wine.

DAY 9, MONDAY :: ROME

This morning experience a very special privately guided tour of the priceless collection of art and treasures in the Sistine Chapel and Vatican Museum. You will be amazed by the beautiful wall frescoes created by Michelangelo, Perugino and Botticelli. The unique ceiling of the Sistine Chapel is surely one of Michelangelo’s greatest achievements. Continue to St. Peter’s Basilica, the largest church in the Christian world, built over the tomb of St. Peter. Then proceed to the Piazza Venezia and Roman Forum, with a stop at the Colosseum - a testament to the greatness of Rome’s past. Continue your full day tour by viewing the Arch of Constantine, Circus Maximus, the Synagogue, Isola Tiberina and Castel Sant' Angelo. Tonight bid arrivederci to Rome at a special dinner with wine in a lovely Roman restaurant.