EUROPE – ITALY
08 Nights & 09 Days
CHECK INTO YOUR HOTEL. THE REST OF THE DAY IS FREE FOR YOU TO EXPLORE THIS ANCIENT CAPITAL. TONIGHT MEET YOUR TOUR DIRECTOR AND FELLOW TRAVELERS.
DAY 02 : ROME
INCLUDED SIGHTSEEING WITH LOCAL GUIDE STARTS IN ST. PETER’S SQUARE, FOLLOWED BY A VISIT TO THE ROMAN FORUM AND THE MIGHTY COLOSSEUM. (B)
DAY 03 : ROME-SIENA.
JOURNEY NORTHWEST TO THE CHARMINGLY LOCATED CITY OF VITERBO, AT ONE TIME KNOWN FOR ITS BEAUTIFUL WOMEN AND ELEGANT FOUNTAINS. NEXT MAKE A STOP IN ORVIETO IN THE PROVINCE OF UMBRIA TO VISIT ITS BLACK BASALT AND YELLOW LIMESTONE CATHEDRAL, AN EXCELLENT EXAMPLE OF ITALIAN GOTHIC ARCHITECTURE. BY EARLY EVENING YOU’LL BE IN SIENA WITH TIME TO VISIT THIS JEWEL OF TUSCANY. SIT IN ONE OF THE CAFÉS SURROUNDING THE “CAMPO” AND ADMIRE ONE OF ITALY’S MOST UNIQUE SQUARES, FAMED THE WORLD OVER FOR ITS HORSE-RACING PALIO. (B)
DAY 04 : SIENA-FLORENCE AREA.
DRIVE THIS MORNING TO SAN GIMIGNANO, ONE OF TUSCANY’S GREATEST ATTRACTIONS. ITS MEDIEVAL SQUARES, TOWN WALLS, STREETS, ALLEYWAYS, AND ITS 14 TOWERS MAKE IT UNIQUE.
NEXT INTO THE VERY HEART OF THE CHIANTI VINEYARDS; WATCH OUT FOR NAMES SUCH AS CASTELLINA IN CHIANTI, BADIA, GAIOLE, AND BROLIO WHERE CLASSICAL CHIANTI WINES ARE PRODUCED.
STOP IN GREVE FOR SOME WINE TASTING AT A LOCAL WINE PRODUCER. ARRIVE IN THE FLORENCE AREA IN TIME TO JOIN THE OUTING FOR AN OPTIONAL TUSCAN DINNER. (B)
DAY 05 : FLORENCE.
THIS RENAISSANCE GEM AND CITY OF THE MEDICIS WILL KEEP YOU ENTHRALLED FOR A WHOLE DAY. TRAFFIC IS BANNED IN PART OF THE HISTORIC CENTER SO VISITORS CAN WANDER AT LEISURE AND ADMIRE THE CITY’S TIMELESS BEAUTY IN RELATIVE PEACE AND QUIET.
DON’T MISS OUT ON THE INCLUDED WALKING TOUR WITH A LOCAL GUIDE WHICH FEATURES MOST OF THE CITY HIGHLIGHTS.
YOU WILL SEE THE PIAZZA SANTA CROCE AND THE INSIDE OF THE CHURCH; THE BEAUTIFUL PIAZZA SIGNORIA; THE PALAZZO VECCHIO AND ITS COURTYARD; THE LOGGIA DEI LANZI; AND, TO TOP IT ALL, THE PIAZZA DEL DUOMO AND ITS CATHEDRAL WITH THE GIOTTO CAMPANILE, AND THE MAGNIFICENT EAST DOOR OF THE BAPTISTRY KNOWN AS THE “GATE TO PARADISE.” (B,D)
DAY 06 : FLORENCE AREA-EXCURSION TO PISA-VENICE AREA.
THIS MORNING DRIVE TO PISA FOR A VISIT TO ITS SQUARE OF MIRACLES AND THE AMAZING LEANING TOWER, 180 FEET HIGH AND NO LESS THAN 16 FEET OUT OF THE PERPENDICULAR.
LATER HEAD ACROSS THE WOODED APENNINE HILLS INTO THE FARMLANDS OF THE PO VALLEY FOR OVERNIGHT IN THE VENICE AREA.(B,D)
DAY 07 : VENICE
IT’S REALLY MORE LIKE A MARVELOUS FILM SET THAN A REAL LIVE CITY, WITH ITS CRISS-CROSSING CANALS, GONDOLAS AND WATER BUSES, ARCHED BRIDGES, PALACES, AND LITTLE QUIET PIAZZAS. THE INCLUDED TOUR STARTS WITH A BOAT RIDE AND IS FOLLOWED BY A VISIT TO ST. MARK’S BASILICA AND A CHANCE TO WATCH VENETIAN GLASS BLOWERS FASHION THEIR DELICATE OBJECTS AS THEY DID CENTURIES AGO. DON’T MISS OUT ON THE OPTIONAL GONDOLA TRIP, GLIDING ALONG THE PICTURESQUE CANALS WITH A LOCAL TROUBADOUR TO SERENADE YOU.(B)
DAY 08 : VENICE AREA-ASSISI-ROME.
A LONG BUT INTERESTING DRIVE SOUTHWARD, CUTTING ACROSS THE PO DELTA, THEN JOINING THE EXPRESSWAY WHICH SKIRTS THE ADRIATIC COAST. AFTER CROSSING THE APPENNINES, STOP IN ASSISI, WHERE ST. FRANCIS WAS BORN IN 1182. VISIT THE BASILICA, THEN HEAD FOR ROME.(B)
DAY 09 : DEPARTURE FLIGHT