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From
$2689.00
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Included
Features |
MEALS:
•
9
buffet breakfasts
•
1
lunch with wine tasting in Verrazzano
Castle
•
3
dinners including a special welcome
dinner with wine in Rome and a farewell
dinner with wine in Venice
QUALITY
HOTELS:
•
ROME
Starhotels Metropole
•
TUSCANY
Grand Hotel & La Pace
•
VENICE
Residence Palazzo Selvadego
Vacation
Highlights:
•
ROME:
Welcome dinner; guided sightseeing including headsets;
visit the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel, St.
Peter’s Square and Basilica, and the Colosseum and
Roman Forum
• VERRAZZANO
CASTLE:
Wine tasting and lunch
• FLORENCE:
Guided sightseeing including headsets; visit Michelangelo’s
David, the cathedral, and Signoria Square
• LUCCA:
Orientation
•
PISA: Orientation and picture stop at the Leaning
Tower
• PADUA:
Visit St. Anthony's Basilica
• VENICE:
Private boat ride; guided sightseeing including
headsets; visit St. Mark’s Square and Basilica,
Doges’ Palace, and the Bridge of Sighs; glassblowers’
demonstration; farewell dinner
Inside
visits and special features are shown in UPPERCASE
in the tour description, including admission charges
when applicable |
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This 11-day
vacation includes three nights each in Rome, Tuscany, and Venice.
In Rome enjoy sightseeing with a Local Guide including St. Peter’s
Square and Basilica, the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel, and
the Colosseum and Roman Forum. Enjoy the wines and a special lunch
in Verrazzano Castle in Chianti before arriving in Tuscany where
you will stay in the famous spa Montecatini. Of course you will
visit the Academy of Fine Arts in Florence to admire Michelangelo’s
David, the cathedral, and Signoria Square with a Local Guide. Visit
charming Lucca and take pictures of the 180-foot-high Leaning Tower
of Pisa. On your way to Venice stop in St. Anthony’s Padua and in
Venice, visit St. Mark’s Square and Basilica, Doges’ Palace with
the Bridge of Sighs, enjoy a private boat-ride, and watch a glassblowers’
demonstration. Enjoy an included farewell dinner on your last night
in Venice.
Itinerary:
Day 1: Board your overnight transatlantic flight.
Day
2 Arrival in Rome, Italy: Time to rest or start exploring
the Eternal City. This evening meet your Tour Director and traveling
companions for a special welcome dinner with wine in one of Rome’s
lively restaurants. (D)
Day
3 Rome: Sightseeing with your Local Guide starts with
a visit to the VATICAN MUSEUMS and SISTINE CHAPEL, 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. This afternoon time to explore the city on
your own, relax, or join your Local Guide for an optional walk
that takes you to the magnificent marbled Trevi fountain, Navona
Square, the well-preserved Roman Pantheon, the Spanish Steps,
and finishes with a Roman dinner party. (BB)
Day
4 At Leisure in Rome: Savor la dolce vita and enjoy independent
activities. Take a stroll along beautiful Via Condotti, discover
Rome’s hidden treasures at your own pace, or just sit on a terrace
and watch people go by. Tonight, why not join an optional dinner
with local specialties at one of Rome’s famous restaurants? (BB)
Day
5 Rome-Verrazzano Castle-Tuscany: Travel north into Tuscany
through the lush Apennine Mountains. Leave the highway and enter
the Chianti wine area; visit VERRAZZANO CASTLE, where you will
hear about the fine art of blending four types of grapes to obtain
the famous Chianti Classico; here enjoy WINE TASTING and lunch,
before you reach your hotel in Montecatini. (BB,L)
Day
6 Tuscany. Excursion to Florence: All day is dedicated
to florence, cradle of the Renaissance. follow your Local Guide
to the ACADEMY Of FINE ARTS with Michelangelo’s celebrated David
and the magnificent CATHEDRAL. Admire Giotto’s Bell Tower, the
Baptistry’s heavy bronze “Gate of Paradise,” and sculpture-studded
SIGNORIA SQUARE. Time for independent sightseeing and browsing
through the shops. florentine leather goods and gold jewelry sold
by the ounce are attractive buys. (BB,D)
Day
7 Tuscany. Excursion to Lucca and Pisa: This morning
visit first charming Lucca, a beautifully preserved medieval town.
Next continue to nearby Pisa to take your pictures of the amazing
Leaning Tower, 180 feet high and no less than 12 feet out of the
perpendicular, and balance of the day at leisure to relax at your
hotel. (BB)
Day
8 Tuscany-Padua-Venice: A scenic drive through the Apennine
Mountains and the fertile Po area to Padua, city of St. Anthony,
for a visit to the majestic six-domed BASILICA. In the afternoon
a scenic drive following the Brenta canal brings you to Venice.
Enter in style by PRIVATE BOAT. You may want to join an optional
dinner tonight. (BB)
Day
9 Venice: Highlights of your walking tour with a Local
Guide are ST. MARK’S SQUARE and the BYZANTINE BASILICA, lavish
DOGES’ PALACE, and the BRIDGE Of SIGHS. Also watch skilled GLASSBLOWERS
fashion their delicate objects in an age-old traditional manner.
Remainder of the morning and the afternoon to spend as you wish.
(BB)
Day
10 At Leisure in Venice: A full day to enjoy Venice at
your own pace. This city has attracted and inspired photographers
from all over the world because of its setting and translucent
light. You may also wish to take an optional cruise through the
lagoon, and have lunch on one of the islands. This evening an
included farewell dinner celebrates the success of your Italian
vacation. (BB,D)
Day
11:Your homebound flight arrives the same day. (BB)
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Leisurely
Italy