Tour Duration: 14 days
Tour
Pace
As the name suggests, this tour has been
designed
to showcase the historic cities of
northern and central Italy in a relaxed
& leisurely manner, with three day
stays in each fascinating city.
DAY 1 – DEPART
USA
Overnight flight to
Milan.
DAY 2 – ARRIVE
MILAN
Welcome to Italy!
On arrival at Malpensa
airport there are complimentary
transfers to the tour hotel at 09.00 and
12.30.
The rest of the day is at leisure.
Tonight, we enjoy a Welcome Drink.
Hotel: Starhotel
Ritz. (D)
DAY 3 – MILAN
SIGHTSEEING
Sightseeing
this morning includes the
Milan Cathedral, its marble facade
bristling with 135 pinnacles and over
2000 statues!
We see the massive Sforza Castle and La
Scala Theatre too, before free time to
explore.
(BB)
DAY 4 – MILAN AT
LEISURE
Today is at
leisure to relax or perhaps
continue sightseeing? Why not take an
optional excursion to the nearby, scenic
Italian
Lake District? (BB)
DAY 5 – MILAN –
VENICE
We head east to
pretty Verona, Roman
city and gateway to the Alps. We see the
Arena built over 1900 years ago and walk
through the old narrow streets to the
courtyard of the Capulet home to see
Juliet's
balcony. Then on to Venice, glorious
city of bridges, palaces and gondolas.
Hotel:
Continental. (BB,D)
DAY 6 – VENICE
SIGHTSEEING
We cruise to
St Mark's Square by private
launch to see the ornate Basilica. We
also admire the Doges’ Palace and
adjoining
Bridge of Sighs. Later we visit a glass
showroom to see a traditional craftsman
at work. Now the rest of the day is at
leisure. (BB)
DAY
7 – VENICE AT LEISURE
A day to drink in the unique
atmosphere of this
wonderful city! Maybe explore the
treasures of the Academy Museum, browse
through
the shops on the Rialto Bridge or sit a
while at a canal side café with a
glass
of local wine? (BB)
DAY 8
– VENICE – FLORENCE
Leaving Venice we follow the smooth
highway across
the valley of the river Po and into the
wild Apennines. We soon reach the
Renaissance
city of Florence. Our sightseeing with a
local guide shows us the statue of
‘David’
in the Academy Gallery. We continue to
see the Duomo, ‘Gates of
Paradise’ and Signoria Square,
political stage of the Florentines. Our
last stop is the Basilica
of Santa Croce which houses the tombs of
Michelangelo and Galileo. Now on to our
hotel.
Hotel: Croce di Malta.
(BB,D)
DAYS 9
& 10 – FLORENCE
AT LEISURE
Two whole
days to enjoy this beautiful
city! Maybe take an optional excursion
to see the Leaning Tower of Pisa or the
unique
and beautiful Cinqueterre region?
Perhaps visit San Gimignano to admire
the picturesque
Salucci Towers? Or why not dedicate a
day to shopping for leather and gold
products?
The choice is yours! (BB, BB)
DAY 11 – FLORENCE
– ROME
We travel
through the vineyards of
the Chianti region en route to Assisi. A
chance to visit the tomb of St Francis
and the frescoes of Giotto in the great
basilica, before continuing along the Tiber
valley towards the 'Eternal City', Rome.
Hotel: Ateneo Garden Palace. (BB)
DAY 12 – ROME
SIGHTSEEING
Sightseeing
with our local guide begins
with a visit to the Vatican Museums
where we see Michelangelo’s ceiling in
the Sistine Chapel. Next, we visit St.
Peter's Basilica and the Colosseum and see
the Roman Forum. This afternoon we are
free to shop or relax. (BB)
DAY 13 – ROME AT
LEISURE
A day to explore
Rome at our own pace.
Perhaps spend some time in the designer
stores of the Spanish Steps, visit the well
preserved Pantheon or sip a cappuccino
in the Piazza Navona – the 'Living Room of
Rome'. This evening, we toss a coin into
the illuminated Trevi Fountain before
enjoying
a typically Roman dinner in a local
restaurant. (BB,HD)
DAY 14 – RETURN TO
USA
Our tour ends today.
Transfers from
the hotel arrive at Rome’s
Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci Airport at
07.00 and 09.30
hrs. (BB)
