There is no better time to experience the magic of Italy. You’ll enjoy magnificent art, architecture and history as you explore Rome and Florence. Your first full day in Rome features an exciting "Dinner with the Tenors," where regional delicacies and fine Italian wines combine with a delightful live performance of opera classics. Visit the well-known sites of Classical Rome featuring the Circus Maximus and the Colosseum, take a guided tour of the Vatican Museum featuring an amazing collection of art housed in the former palaces of the popes, and enjoy free time to shop Rome’s bustling outdoor markets and designer shops. In Assisi, a guided tour highlights the magnificent Basilica before continuing on to the capital of Tuscany, Florence. Here, you’ll discover one of the finest art collections in the world at the stunning Uffizi Museum, and have time to stroll among the decorated piazzas for traditional Florentine crafts such as goldware, leather and porcelain. This wonderful vacation to Italy ends with a delightful Tuscan feast featuring traditional Italian cuisine, local wines and music. |
Itinerary:
Day #1 Overnight Flight - Join us for a fabulous week in Italy, exploring the magic of Florence and Rome. These cities are filled with history, culture, art and romance, waiting to be discovered. Your vacation begins with an overnight flight.
Day #2 Arrive Florence - Tour Begins - Your tour begins in Florence, the spectacular capital of Tuscany. This evening, join your fellow travelers for a festive welcome dinner featuring a typical Tuscan menu.
Day #3 Florence - Begin the day learning the traditional Italian techniques of leather-making during a visit to the family-owned Pierotucci Leather Shop. Then, begin your in-depth exploration of the great city of Florence! A cultural treasure-trove, Florence is filled with artistic and architectural gems. A local expert provides a leisurely-paced walking tour featuring the Piazza Del Duomo, the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore and the Baptistry. You also view the Palazzo Vecchio and the Church of Santa Croce, burial place of Michelangelo and Galileo. Enjoy a few hours to explore Florence on your own: shop for traditional Florentine crafts such as goldware, leatherware and porcelain or stroll among the piazzas and see some of the city's magnificent museums.
Day #4 Florence - Today you may continue independently exploring the city’s cultural riches. Perhaps you would like to take an optional tour to see the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa, followed by a visit to a Tuscan winery complete with a regional lunch.
Day #5 Florence - Siena - Rome - LANGUAGE DISCOVERY:Today, your Tour Manager will help you discover the origin and history of the language(s) you will experience on your tour along with key words and phrases that will help you communicate with the locals. Depart Florence this morning for a scenic journey through Italy’s graceful low-lying hills to the medieval city of Siena, in the heart of Tuscany. You will be delighted by Siena’s narrow Gothic streets, magnificent palaces and historic Piazza del Campo. After a walking tour with a local expert, take some time to independently explore the historic corners of the city with its great shops and outdoor cafes. Continue on to Rome, “the Eternal City.” This evening, learn how to make Italian specialties as you partake in a cooking demonstration before dinner, then sample the delicious results!
Day #6 Rome - This morning you are free to explore Rome on your own. This afternoon, enjoy a tour of Classical Rome visiting the Piazza Venezia, the Roman Forum, the Circus Maximus, the Colosseum and the Arch of Constantine. Contemporary highlights are also featured, including the legendary Spanish Steps and the beautiful Trevi Fountain.
Day #7 Rome - Enjoy a full day at leisure to pursue your own pleasures in Rome. Perhaps you will take an optional excursion devoted to the splendors of Vatican City and the Vatican Museums and St. Peter's Basilica. Or, perhaps you would like to shop on your own. Rome is a shopper’s mecca; from bustling outdoor markets and craftsman’s workshops to designer fashions, there is something for everyone! This evening, bid farewell to your fellow travelers at a “Dinner with the Tenors.” Enjoy a menu of regional delicacies and fine Italian wines during a delightful live performance of opera classics.
Day #8 Rome - Tour Ends - Your tour ends today in the city of Rome.