Highlights of Italy Winter | 11 Days

DAY 1:                                  ROME

Benvenuti a Roma! After your arrival at the airport, make your own way to your hotel. Hop on hop off daily ticket at disposal. Visit Rome by riding one of the open-top Hop on Hop off Gray Line buses (I Love Rome City Tour) and spot your favourite city landmarks from a different point of view! Our open-top panoramic buses allow you to enjoy a spectacular view of the most iconic monuments of the Eternal City. All you have to do is jump on board and relax, listen to the audio commentary and get on and off at any of the eight stops available along the route. The bus ticket included in the deal will be valid for a day. The bus will make eight stops and will provide you with an on-board audio commentary in 12 languages. Enjoy on your own the rest of the night. Return to the hotel on your own and overnight stay.

DAY 2:                                   ROME – ASSISI – SIENA – FLORENCE

Departing at 7:15 am from your hotel by a deluxe coach, you will arrive in Assisi, ready to explore, at your own leisure, this tiny town surrounded by walls, built in the Middle Ages. Take your time to visit the basilica of St. Francis, where you will see masterpieces by Giotto and Cimabue and, then, have free time for lunch (not included). Board on the bus to reach Siena, a Unesco World Heritage Site, world-known for the Palio, the historical horse race around the shell-shaped town square: Piazza del Campo. Next, you will continue on to Florence, where you will check in at your hotel before enjoying dinner and a well-earned night of rest. (B, D)

DAY 3:                                   FLORENCE

After breakfast, you will spend the day venturing around beautiful Florence, the “Cradle of Renaissance”, where, with the help of Michelangelo, Italian art reached its pinnacle. Based on Etruscan-Roman origins, the city flourished in the Middle Ages as a free “Comune” and was further refined during the Renaissance. You will be fascinated by the uncountable monuments, churches and buildings as Santa Maria del Fiore, more commonly referred to as the Duomo. On your visit, you will be amazed by its magnificent dome built by Filippo Brunelleschi. Cross a small piazza to see the “Campanile” tower (partly designed by Giotto) and the Baptistery, with its bronze doors where Michelangelo imagined the “Gates of Paradise.” In the heart of the city, you will see Piazza della Signoria, Palazzo della Signoria (also known as Palazzo Vecchio), and the Basilica of Santa Croce. Lunch in a typical Tuscan restaurant in Piazza Santa Croce. Spend the afternoon strolling the cobblestone streets of Florence on your own or take a short trip to Pisa (optional), one of the four main historical Marine Republics of Italy. There, you will tour the Piazza dei Miracoli with the Duomo, Pisa’s symbol “the Leaning Tower” and the Baptistery. Dinner at leisure, overnight stay in Florence. (B, L)

DAY 4:                                   FLORENCE – BOLOGNA – PADUA – VENICE

After breakfast in Florence, departure to Bologna. There, you will discover the elegant city centre with its “porticos”, it’s shopping streets and so on. From Piazza Malpighi you will walk to Piazza del Nettuno and Piazza Maggiore (Neptune square and Major square) in the heart of the city, then King Renzo’s Palace; Palazzo Podestà and the basilica of San Petronio, one of the biggest in the world. Bologna it’s a real gourmet’s heaven… don’t miss a tasty meal at your own leisure! In the afternoon, continue toward Padova, with Sant’Antonio Basilica: one of the most visited churches by pilgrims of the catholic world. Later in the afternoon, arrival in Venice (Mestre). Check in at your hotel and overnight stay. (B)

DAY 5:                                   VENICE

After breakfast, enjoy your transfer to Piazza San Marco, and visit the most iconic places of the “Floating City”: the Palazzo dei Dogi, symbol of Venice’s glorious past, the legendary “Bridge of Sighs”. After the walking tour, allow us to treat you to a spritz or a prosecco, as a delightful conclusion to your visit to the highlights of Venice, in the company of your tour leader. While you sit comfortably and savour your drink, you will also have the opportunity to enjoy a taste of the famous “cicchetti,” a Venetian variation of tapas (light lunch). Spend the afternoon roaming along Venice’s canals at your leisure and then return to the hotel and overnight. (B, L)

Day 6:                                   VENICE – MONTEPULCIANO – ROME

After breakfast, departure from Piazzale Roma heading to Tuscany, world-known for its landscapes, its churches and castles and its delicious wines. You will proceed to Val di Chiana with a stop in Montepulciano, a medieval town rich in history and art. Known for its “Nobile” wine, on purchase in local wine houses, Montepulciano also offers stunning panoramic views and a rich cultural heritage. Lunch in a typical restaurant included!!! After lunch, quick stop to spend some free time. In the evening, you will arrive in Rome to check in into your hotel. (B, L)

DAY 7:                                  ROME

Between 7:45-8:00am, after breakfast, depart from the hotel for the included tour of the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Square with our exclusive “Skip the Line” access! No stress to reach the area: upon arrival, your guide will lead you into the museums where you’ll visit one of the most important art collections of the world. Walk along the beautiful Galleries of Tapestries and Geographical Maps before admiring Raphael’s Rooms and the amazing Sistine Chapel. After this incredible masterpiece, the tour ends in St. Peter’s Square where you can admire the incredible masterpiece St. Peter’s Basilica: the biggest church in the world! The tour ends in St. Peter’s Square. Enjoy the rest of the day to explore the city at your own leisure or get any one of our selected tours for the afternoon or at night. Overnight Rome. (B)

DAY 8: ROME – POMPEII – SORRENTO

After breakfast, pick up at your hotel at 7:00 am approximately. Departure by coach heading south crossing the regions of Lazio and Campania. Once you reach the town of Pompeii, you will have lunch with the real Neapolitan pizza! After lunch, you will enter one of the most important archaeological sites in the world: a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the ruins of Pompeii, with Skip the Line entrance and a guided tour. Visit the haunting ruins of Pompeii, travelling back in time to the tragic days in 79 AD when the silent Mount Vesuvius suddenly erupted, covering the prosperous Roman city in deadly volcanic ashes and poisonous gases, leaving this prosperous city crystallized until our days. You’ll learn how people lived at that time, visiting houses and “bars” of the time, admiring frescoes and mosaics to imagine how rich and prosperous was the city before the dreadful day. After the visit, you will drive along the Sorrentine Coast, arriving in Sorrento for dinner (dress code: jacket for men) and an overnight in your new hotel. (B, L, D)

DAY 9:                                  SORRENTO

Breakfast at the hotel and free time to discover Sorrento or, if you want, you may opt for a visit to the island of Capri (not included). Dinner at the hotel (dress code: jacket for men) and overnight stay. (B, D)

DAY 10:                                SORRENTO – ROME

Breakfast at your hotel. Time at your leisure going for shopping or tasting some nice Limoncello. As an option, you may go for a short excursion to the Amalfi coast (not included). In the afternoon, at around 4:00 pm, departure back to Rome. Check in at your hotel and overnight in Rome. (B)

DAY 11:                                ROME

After breakfast, end of our services. (B)

Accommodation (or similar):

ROME: San Martin Hotel, Diana Roof Garden Hotel

FLORENCE: Hotel Raffaello

VENICE (MESTRE): Delfino Hotel, or Indigo Sant’ Elena (on Venice island if supplement is purchased)

SORRENTO: TBA due to season availability and hotel closures

Includes:

–          Transportation by deluxe motorcoach

–          English speaking tour escort

–          Accommodation in 4 stars hotels (3* in Sorrento)

–          Meals as per itinerary

–          Entrance tickets to the archaeological site in Pompeii with “Skip the Line”

–          Entrance tickets to Vatican Museums & St. Peter’s Basilica with “Skip the Line”

–          Visit of Rome, Florence, Venice and Pompeii with local expert guide 

Not Included:

–          Tips

–          Porterage service

–          Drinks

–          Entrance fees to monuments or museums when not mentioned

–          City tax for overnight stays (according to each city council rules)

–          Everything that is not mentioned in “Includes”

Things to Note:

–          Accommodation is subject to change without notice. Every effort is made to avoid hotel changes but should a mid-tour hotel change become necessary after this list has been printed, contact details of the new hotel will be supplied to you by your Tour Director.

–          Hotel rooms may not be available for check-in before 2:00 p.m.

–          Hotel taxes, service charges and tips for baggage handling are not included in the tour price.

–          Tour can be a combination of regular tours, therefore coach changes may be required. The same people may not be travelling throughout the tour.

–          For operational reasons, order of itinerary and/or excursions is subject to change at any time. Optional excursions not specified in our itinerary will be suggested by the tour leader.

–          A government tourist tax may need to be paid locally upon arrival at your hotels.

–          Venice accommodation is in Mestre on the mainland. A supplement applies for accommodation on Venice island which is to be requested at the time of booking.

–          Due to the seasonal closure of many hotels in Sorrento, it may be necessary to stay in hotels located in neighbouring areas or 3* hotels. We will do our best to offer the
best solution to our customers.