Highlights of Italy Winter | Guided Group Tour | 11 Days

DAY 1:                                  ROME

Upon arrival at Rome airport, transfer to your tour hotel. Enjoy a 1-day Hop-on Hop-off ticket with the I Love Rome City Tour and discover the Eternal City aboard an open-top panoramic bus. Take in Rome’s iconic landmarks while listening to audio commentary available in 12 languages, with the freedom to hop on and off at eight convenient stops throughout the city. Spend the remainder of the day exploring at your own pace before making your own way back to the hotel. Overnight in Rome.

DAY 2:                                   ROME – ASSISI – SIENA – FLORENCE

Depart at approximately 7:30 am for Assisi, a picturesque medieval town enclosed by ancient walls. Visit the Basilica of St. Francis, renowned for its stunning frescoes by Giotto and Cimabue, before enjoying lunch in Assisi. Continue to the UNESCO-listed city of Siena, famous for its shell-shaped Piazza del Campo and historic Palio horse race. Later, journey through the scenic Tuscan countryside before arriving in Florence. Overnight in Florence. (B, L)

DAY 3:                                   FLORENCE

After breakfast, discover Florence, the birthplace of the Renaissance, on a guided tour featuring the Duomo, Brunelleschi’s Dome, Giotto’s Bell Tower and the Baptistery. Continue to Piazza della Signoria, Palazzo Vecchio and the Basilica of Santa Croce. Enjoy lunch at a traditional Tuscan restaurant. In the afternoon, spend free time exploring Florence at your own pace or join an optional excursion to Pisa. Overnight stay in Florence. (B, L)

DAY 4:                                   FLORENCE – BOLOGNA – VENICE

After breakfast, depart for Bologna, a city rich in culture and culinary excellence. Walk from Piazza Malpighi to Piazza Maggiore, admiring San Petronio Basilica and the Palazzo del Podestà. Delight in a light local lunch, savouring regional specialties. Stroll the medieval streets, arcades, and markets. In the afternoon, continue to Venice. Overnight in Venice. (B, L)

DAY 5:                                   VENICE

After breakfast, transfer to Piazza San Marco for a guided tour of Venice’s iconic highlights. Admire the Doge’s Palace from the outside and stroll across the famous Bridge of Sighs. Afterwards, enjoy a traditional Venetian aperitif with a glass of spritz or prosecco accompanied by cicchetti, local Venetian snacks. Spend the remainder of the afternoon at leisure exploring the city’s canals, boutique shops and hidden laneways at your own pace. Return to your hotel for an overnight stay in Venice. (B, L)

DAY 6:                                   VENICE – MONTEPULCIANO – ROME

After breakfast, depart Venice and journey through the picturesque Tuscan countryside to Montepulciano, a charming hilltop town renowned for its medieval character, panoramic views and famous “Vino Nobile” wine. Enjoy a traditional Tuscan lunch at a local restaurant, accompanied by a glass of regional wine. Afterwards, take some free time to explore the historic centre at your own pace before continuing to Rome. Overnight in Rome. (B, L)

DAY 7:                                  ROME

After breakfast, begin with an included “Skip the Line” guided tour of the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Square. Explore the Galleries of Tapestries and Maps, Raphael’s Rooms and admire Michelangelo’s iconic masterpiece inside the Sistine Chapel. The tour concludes in St. Peter’s Square, where you can take in the impressive exterior of St. Peter’s Basilica. The remainder of the day is at leisure, or you may choose to join an optional excursion. Overnight in Rome. (B)

DAY 8:                                  ROME – POMPEII – SORRENTO

After breakfast, depart the hotel at approximately 7:00am and travel through the scenic Italian countryside towards Pompeii, with a short stop along the way. On arrival, enjoy a guided tour of this remarkable UNESCO World Heritage Site, exploring the ancient streets, homes and temples preserved by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. Following the visit, continue to Sorrento, known for its stunning coastal scenery and Mediterranean charm. Dinner at the hotel is included this evening (smart-casual attire recommended), followed by an overnight stay in Sorrento. (B, 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 in Sorrento. (B, D)

DAY 10:                                SORRENTO – ROME

After breakfast, enjoy some free time to experience the charm of Sorrento at leisure. At approximately 1:30pm (departure time to be reconfirmed locally), transfer for the return journey to Rome by coach. Arrival in Rome is expected in the late afternoon, around 6:00pm, with the remainder of the day at leisure. Overnight in Rome. (B)

DAY 11:                                ROME

After breakfast, transfer to Rome airport. End of services. (B)

ACCOMMODATION (OR SIMILAR):

ROME: San Martin Hotel, or Diana Roof Garden Hotel

FLORENCE: Hotel Raffaello, or Hotel Una Vittoria

VENICE (TRONCHETTO): Hotel B&B Venezia Laguna

SORRENTO: Grand Hotel Vesuvio*

* Due to seasonal hotel closures in Sorrento, accommodation may occasionally be arranged in nearby areas or in selected 3-star hotels. Every effort will be made to provide the best available option.

INCLUDES:

• Transportation by air-conditioned vehicle
• Arrival and departure transfers on first and last day of tour
• Guided in English only*
• 7 nights’ accommodation in 4* hotels
• Meals as per itinerary
• Sightseeing tours of Florence, Venice, Pompeii and Capri
• Rome hop-on hop-off bus ticket
• Gastronomic experience in Bologna
• Spritz and Cicchetti experience in Venice
• Entrance tickets to Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, St. Peter’s Square and Pompeii

EXCLUDES:

• 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”
• Gratuities

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 pm.
• Hotel taxes, service charges and tips 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.