Three nights in Rome include a special welcome dinner at a local restaurant and guided sightseeing featuring St. Peter’s, the Sistine Chapel, the Colosseum, and the Roman Forum. A special visit has been included to the Scala Sancta (Holy Stairs) at St. John Lateran Basilica. On the way to Florence, visit the Piazza del Campo in Siena and picturesque San Gimignano. The three nights in Florence highlight guided sightseeing and a visit to the Academy of Fine Arts to admire Michelangelo’s David, Signoria Square, and Santa Croce Basilica with Michelangelo’s tomb, but also allow visits to the Leaning Tower of Pisa and splendid Verrazzano Castle, where you will join a Chianti wine tasting and enjoy lunch. Two nights in Venice include visits to St. Mark’s and Doges’ Palace with the Bridge of Sighs, and an unforgettable Venetian lagoon cruise to the islands of Murano and Burano with lunch. Stop in Verona to see Juliet’s Balcony and the arena. End in Milan, where your walking tour features the Galleria and gothic Duomo as well as a walk along the Via Montenapoleone and Via della Spiga, Milan’s famous fashion district, and a special dinner at one of Milan’s elegant restaurants. Finally, transfer to Lake Maggiore, where you’ll spend three relaxing overnights and will enjoy free time and a boat ride to visit the opulent palace and gardens of Isola Bella.
Itinerary:
Day #1 Arrive in Rome, Italy. Welcome to Rome! At 5 pm, meet your Tour Director and traveling companions, and leave the hotel for a special welcome dinner with wine at one of Rome’s lively restaurants. (D)
Day #2 Rome. Your guided tour focuses on religious Rome: visit the fascinating 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. To make the most of your stay, join our optional Roman Highlights excursion, and see the sites and squares of medieval Rome made famous in the movie Angels and Demons. (B)
Day #3 Rome. This morning, your Local Guide will take you first to antique Rome: visit the magnificent COLOSSEUM and the ROMAN FORUM, where Roman legions marched in triumph. Next, a very special feature: drive to St. John Lateran Basilica to visit the [LF] HOLY STAIRS, Scala Sancta, which were brought from Jerusalem to Rome around 326 AD by St. Helena, mother of Constantine the Great. As a favorite of pilgrims everywhere, these 28 marble steps may officially only be ascended on the knees. Then, time to savor la dolce vita and enjoy independent activities. (B)
Day #4 Rome–Siena–San Gimignano–Florence. In Siena, enter the impressive medieval walls and walk through ancient, narrow lanes to PIAZZA DEL CAMPO, site of the biannual Palio, Siena’s spectacular medieval-style horse race. Then, continue through unforgettable landscapes of gently rolling, vine-clad hills to hilltop San Gimignano, and walk through the most picturesque of Italy’s perfectly preserved medieval towns. Next is Florence, the splendid capital of Tuscany and birthplace of the Renaissance. (B)
Day #5 Florence. During your walking tour with a Local Guide, visit the ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS to see Michelangelo’s celebrated David. Admire the magnificent cathedral, Giotto’s Bell Tower, the Baptistry’s heavy bronze “Gate of Paradise,” sculpture-studded SIGNORIA SQUARE, and visit SANTA CROCE BASILICA with the tomb of Michelangelo. The afternoon is free to shop for Florentine leather goods and gold jewelry sold by the ounce, which are attractive buys, or to join an optional excursion to the magnificent Uffizi Gallery. And tonight is your chance to try out the culinary delights of a fine Tuscan restaurant. (B)
Day #6 Florence. Excursion to Pisa & Verranzzano Castle. A fast journey will bring you to Pisa. Here, take the traditional picture pushing back the amazing Leaning Tower, 180 feet high and no less than 12 feet out of the perpendicular. Then, the highlight of today: hear about the fine art of blending four types of grapes to obtain the famous Chianti at VERRAZZANO CASTLE; enjoy a WINE TASTING and lunch before returning to Florence. (B,L)
Day #7 Florence–Venice Island. A spectacular drive through the wooded Apennine Mountains brings you to Venice, a powerful magnet for romantics and art lovers from around the globe. Enter its glittering maze of islands, canals, and bridges in style by PRIVATE BOAT to meet your Local Guide. Highlights of your walking tour are ST. MARK’S SQUARE and the Byzantine BASILICA, lavish DOGES’ PALACE and the BRIDGE OF SIGHS. Then, enjoy Venice at your own pace or join an optional gondola ride. (B)
Day #8 Venice Island. Murano & Burano Islands Excursion. Join an unforgettable [LF] Venetian LAGOON CRUISE to the islands of Murano and Burano. Glide past the islands of San Giorgio and Sant’Elena, and along the banks of the famous Lido. In Murano, watch skilled GLASSBLOWERS fashion their delicate objects in an age-old traditional manner. Then, continue on to the picturesque fishing village of Burano, renowned for its bright pastel-colored houses and for its lace making. Take pictures of traditional fishing boats, still used by the island inhabitants, and enjoy an included lunch with wine. Return to Venice in the early afternoon. (B,L)
Day #9 Venice Island–Verona–Milan. In Verona, the medieval setting of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, take pictures of Juliet’s balcony and rub the shining breast on her statue for good luck. Next, admire the Arena, an incredibly well-preserved pink marble Roman amphitheater, where gladiators used to fight. Built in the 1st century AD, it is now the magical venue for world-famous opera performances. Then, on to the dynamic city of Milan, hub of Italy’s economic miracle with its famous La Scala Opera House, the magnificent gothic Duomo, and the glass-domed GALLERIA. Of course, you will also enjoy a [LF] walk through Via Montenapoleone and Via della Spiga, Milan’s famous fashion district. A special farewell dinner with wine at one of Milan’s elegant restaurants has been prepared as a proper way to say, “Arrivederci, Italia!” (B,D)
Day #10 Milan–Lake Maggiore. You will be transferred to your hotel in Stresa at Lake Maggiore. The remainder of the day is at leisure. (B)
Day #11 Lake Maggiore. Morning guided sightseeing includes a BOAT ride to ISOLA BELLA for a visit to its opulent PALACE and GARDENS. (B)
Day #12 Lake Maggiore. Full day at leisure. Ask your local host for suggestions. (B)
Day #13 Lake Maggiore. Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning (the nearest airport is Milan Malpensa). (B)
Hotels:
ROME Mediterraneo (F)
FLORENCE Starhotels Michelangelo (SF)
VENICE ISLAND Carneval Palace (F)
MILAN Starhotels Ritz (F)
LAKE MAGGIORE Grand Hotel Bristol (F) at Stresa. Rooms include lake view