Day 1, Venice
Arrive in Venice and transfer on your own to your hotel. Day at leisure to explore the city once known as the “Drawing room of Europe”. This evening, you can take part in a “Venetian evening with Music”. Enjoy this simpatico evening at a typical 18th Century Venetian Tavern. After dinner, we suggest a walk to Piazza San Marco and enjoy the music and a nightcap at “Florian’s Café”. Overnight
Day 2, Venice
Today take an included walking tour of this gem of a city, visiting Piazza San Marco, the Doge’s Palace, with the option of a free tour to Murano. Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure (shopping) or perhaps taking in other optional tours. Overnight
Day 3, Venice-Florence
This morning depart by comfortable, high speed train to Florence. Check into your hotel and enjoy a leisurely day discovering some of the beautiful art works of this city, known as the “Cradle of the Renaissance”. Overnight
Day 4, Florence
This morning embark on an included guided tour of the city. Our tour starts discovering the city from one of the most romantic panoramic point of view in the World: Piazzale Michelangelo. From here we will enjoy a breathtaking view on the city and on the green landscape around it. The tour will resume going down into the heart of Florence to the Accademia Gallery, where it will be possible to admire the original version of David by Michelangelo, the unfinished “Prigioni”, “San Matteo”, “Pietà di Palestrina” and other masterpieces. The tour will continue through the historical streets of Florence, and will lead us in front of the Duomo where the guide will explain from the outside Giotto’s bell tower, the Baptistery with its golden bronze doors including the famous Porta del Paradiso and, lastly, the Cathedral, with its inner mosaics. Overnight.
Day 5, Cinque Terre
This morning pick up your car rental and drive West, to the Ligurian coast (about 1&1/2 hour drive). You will reach the charming village of Lerici, just outside the Cinque Terre, a world famous “corner of paradise”. These five fishing villages are a wonderful addition to your itinerary. Just south of the Italian Riviera these villages make up the Cinque Terre (Five Lands). In the afternoon we suggest a leisurely visit of the villages of Lerici and Tellaro. Overnight
Day 6, Cinque Terre
Buffet breakfast. Today you will be visiting the Cinque Terre independently. We recommend a visit to Portovenere, a beautiful fishing village with its wonderful church of San Pietro, built in the 6th century. After visiting Portovenere, you can depart by ferry to Riomaggiore, from where you can proceed on foot on the famous “Via dell’Amore”, the lover’s path. Depart by boat from Manarola to Vernazza. Visit this tiny village and stop for lunch (not included). In the afternoon proceed to Monterosso al Mare, time at leisure. Return to Lerici. (Overnight in Lerici).
Day 7, Tuscany
Today drive South to the country-side of Tuscany. You could stop in Pisa to take pictures of the amazing Leaning Tower, 180 feet high and 16 feet out of the perpendicular. Proceed to the Chianti area, where you will spend the next 3 nights. This will be your base for your independent exploration of this beautiful Region. You can visit the village of San Gimignano, one of the most picturesque and perfectly preserved medieval towns of Italy. Enjoy the unforgettable view of the Tuscan landscape of gently rolling and wine-clad hills. Return to your hotel for dinner (included). Overnight in Tuscany.
Day 8, Tuscany
Today we recommend a visit of Siena, where
you can park your car just outside the historical center and take a 30-minute walk through the narrow and medieval lanes of this ancient city to the famous Piazza del Campo, where the traditional Palio horse races are held in the Summer and early Fall. You will have time for an independent lunch and some shopping, before heading for one of the many wine cellars in the countryside, where you can enjoy a wine tasting of some of the best Italian wines. Return to your hotel for dinner (included). Overnight in Tuscany.
you can park your car just outside the historical center and take a 30-minute walk through the narrow and medieval lanes of this ancient city to the famous Piazza del Campo, where the traditional Palio horse races are held in the Summer and early Fall. You will have time for an independent lunch and some shopping, before heading for one of the many wine cellars in the countryside, where you can enjoy a wine tasting of some of the best Italian wines. Return to your hotel for dinner (included). Overnight in Tuscany.
Day 9, Tuscany
Today you may want to drive to the hilltop town of Cortona where long stretches of the old Etruscan walls are still visible and the streets, paved in sandstone are quite steep. Proceed to Assisi, the city of St. Francis, for a visit of the Basilica and time for an independent lunch at one of many local typical restaurants. You can then proceed to Montefalco, an important example of medieval architecture, where an independent walking tour of this fascinating town will reveal its historical importance. Return to your hotel for dinner (included). Overnight in Tuscany
Day 10, Tuscany-Rome
Say goodbye to Tuscany as you will drive South toward Rome, where you will drop off your car rental and check in at your centrally located hotel. Overnight in Rome.
Day 11, Departure
Breakfast. End of tour.
