ROME ORIENTATION

During an orientation with your Travel Director see the medieval buildings, Renaissance palaces and Baroque churches scattered throughout the city.

Benvenuti a Roma! Open your heart to a whirlwind of fiery passion, antiquities and hearty flavors crafted by Italian mammas over centuries. Enjoy a leisurely first encounter with the 'Eternal City' before joining your travel companions and Travel Director for a Welcome Reception and orientation drive to see the bustling cityscape

Accommodation: Hotel Il Cantico Rome

Included Meals: Welcome Reception

Dive Into Culture on an included sightseeing tour with a Local Specialist at the Vatican Museums. Admire the works of great masters – the Bramante Staircase, magnificent frescoed ceiling in the Sistine Chapel and the sorrowful Pietà inside St. Peter's Basilica. In Ancient Rome, we pay tribute to the brave gladiators who fought for supremacy at the Colosseum during our included visit. We’ll see the Circus Maximus where chariots thundered to the applause of thousands before a free afternoon.

STUDY THE BRAMANTE STAIRCASE AND MASTERPIECES OF THE VATICAN MUSEUMS

Be inspired by the magnificence of Michelangelo and da Vinci at the Vatican Museums and enjoy an exclusive visit up the spiral staircase designed by the famous architect Donato Bramante in a part of the Vatican not open to the public.

ROME CITY TOUR

Experience Rome through the eyes of a local, as a passionate Roman guides you past the city's most iconic sites.

ROME COLOSSEUM VISIT

Visit the Colosseum, still echoing with the thronging crowds and ghostly cries of gladiatorial combat.

Accommodation: Hotel Il Cantico Rome

Included Meals: Breakfast

We travel north to Lucca for a sightseeing tour with a Local Specialist to admire the 14th-century San Martino Cathedral and Piazza dell'Anfiteatro, built on the site of an ancient Roman arena. Relax in Piazza San Michele or ascend one of the city's ancient towers for panoramic views in your free time.

LUCCA ORIENTATION

Your orientation with your Travel Director will show you the churches, squares and palaces within the medieval ramparts.

DINNER, WINE AND MUSIC IN THE TUSCAN HILLS (ADDITIONAL COST)

We drive through the Tuscan countryside to a charming family-run winery and olive oil farm, where regional favorites are served accompanied by a selection of local wines and music. A truly unforgettable experience, with an atmosphere that is the essence of all things Tuscan.

Accommodation: Best Western Grand Hotel Guinigi Lucca

Included Meals: Breakfast

A sea of pastel pinks, yellows and blues cling dramatically to the Ligurian cliffs in the Cinque Terre UNESCO World Heritage Site, which we will have an opportunity to explore today on our included excursion. Join a Local Specialist and delve into daily life in these picturesque fishing villages. Stop in Pisa and visit its UNESCO-listed Square of Miracles to view the architectural feat that is the Leaning Tower.

CINQUE TERRE VISIT

Led by your Local Specialist, visit this unique UNESCO World Heritage Site, tucked away on the mountainous Italian Riviera coastline. Admire the charming fishing villages and perhaps snap some memorable pictures.

SEE PISA'S LANDMARKS

During an orientation, your Travel Director will show you the baptistery, cathedral and the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa.

Accommodation: Best Western Grand Hotel Guinigi Lucca

Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

The gentle Tuscan landscape gives way to our next destination, the hilltop town of San Gimignano, famed for its stunning medieval architecture and historic towers, which stand today as a testament to the wealth and power of aristocratic families who lived here centuries ago. We Connect With Locals at a Be My Guest experience in a beautiful family-owned vineyard overlooking the rolling Chianti Hills. You will join the Lenzi family for lunch and wine and olive oil tasting on their farm located on the ancient road between Siena and Florence. Later arrive in Florence for an evening at leisure.

ENJOY LUNCH, AND A CHIANTI AND OLIVE OIL TASTING WITH THE LENZI FAMILY ON THEIR WINE FARM

The Lenzi family invites you to join them for a Be My Guest lunch and a Chianti and olive oil tasting on their Tuscan wine farm which is located on the ancient road between Siena and Florence.

VISIT SAN GIMIGNANO

Visit the medieval Manhattan of Italy as you explore the UNESCO-listed center of San Gimignano and admire the city's distinctive towers.

Accommodation: Grand Hotel Mediterraneo Florence

Discover Renaissance treasures, extraordinary art and exquisite architecture in one of the cultural capitals of the world. We join a Local Specialist who will bring the legacy of the influential Medici family to life. Walk along narrow lanes into expansive piazze, viewing the magnificent marble Duomo and a replica of the David statue in Piazza della Signoria. View the Ponte Vecchio, almost 700 years old, and admire spectacular panorama from Piazzale Michelangelo. You’ll also learn about the quality and workmanship of two of this city's historic industries at demonstrations of Florentine leathercraft and 18-carat gold. The rest of the day is yours to explore the 'Cradle of the Renaissance'. Visit the masterpieces of Michelangelo, wander through the architectural wonder of Palazzo Pitti or shop for high-quality leather and gold.

FLORENCE CITY TOUR

Join a Local Specialist to view the multi-colored marble cathedral, bell tower and baptistery, adorned by Ghiberti's Gates of Paradise. Visit the political heart of the city, Signoria Square.

MICHELANGELO'S 'DAVID' & ACCADEMIA (OPTIONAL)

Enjoy an insight into the world of Michelangelo and his masterpiece, David. We'll visit the Academy of Fine Arts and its Michelangelo collection, where you'll learn all about the life and works of this immortal Renaissance genius through the expert commentary of our Local Specialist.

DISCOVER PALAZZO VECCHIO (OPTIONAL)

Marvel at the legacy of the Medici as you visit Palazzo Vecchio, the symbol of Florence's political power for over seven centuries. With our Local Specialist we’ll visit the wonderful "Hall of the Five Hundred", dedicated to the Medici popes. We’ll also visit rooms decorated with masterpieces by famous artists of the Renaissance like Michelangelo and Donatello.

BARGELLO MUSEUM VISIT (OPTIONAL)

Join us today for a visit to the Bargello museum, housed in one of the oldest and most intriguing buildings of Florence. As you'll learn from your Local Specialist, there was rarely a dull moment in this former barracks and prison! Learn how the Bargello has witnessed crucial episodes of history including fires, sieges and political executions. This fascinating building is now home to the National Museum and boasts awe-inspiring works by Donatello, Brunelleschi and Michelangelo to name but a few.

TUSCAN DINNER AT VILLA MACHIAVELLI (OPTIONAL)

Through the Chianti hills, we'll drive past vineyards to a delightful hamlet. Our destination is the ancient stone house of Machiavelli, where the great political theorist wrote his immortal work, ‘The Prince'. After a welcome drink and a visit of the villa and its wine-cellars, we'll enjoy the best of Tuscan cuisine accompanied by great music and drinks, including of course, Chianti from the Villa's own vines.

Accommodation: Grand Hotel Mediterraneo Florence

Included Meals: Breakfast

Shakespeare's star-crossed lovers are remembered today during our jaunt to the romantic city of Verona where we will view Juliet's Balcony and the 1st-century Roman arena, still used today to host spectacular operatic performances. We venture to Venice next, spending the rest of the afternoon exploring the city's labyrinthine calli on our own in search of hidden treasures. Wander along the Grand Canal, watch the sun set over the Venetian lagoon Square or join an Optional Experience.

VERONA ORIENTATION

During an exploration of Verona, see Juliet's balcony in the courtyard of a Renaissance villa.

GONDOLAS & THE GRAND CANAL (OPTIONAL)

Join us for a breathtaking cruise by private water taxi along Venice's Grand Canal. You'll admire the magnificent palazzi, catching a glimpse of the Rialto Bridge and St. Mark's Square. Later on, you'll glide gracefully on a gondola along Venice's dreamy, narrow waterways.

Accommodation: Hotel Le Boulevard Lido

Included Meals: Breakfast

On this morning’s MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience, we’ll witness the centuries-old tradition of Venetian glassblowing that has been passed down from generation to generation. You may wish to buy a souvenir to remind you of the talent and skill of the master craftsmen who delight in sharing with visitors how they’re preserving this local craft. You’ll see St. Mark's Basilica, the ornate Doge's Palace and the Bridge of Sighs next, imagining how prisoners felt when they gazed over Venice for the very last time before being imprisoned. Cruise by private launch to see the city's most iconic attractions before enjoying free time to explore the city on your terms. Wander through alleys, over ornate bridges and into quiet campi as you indulge your inner explorer and get lost in this enchanting city on water.

LEARN ABOUT THE HISTORY AND ANCIENT SKILLS ON VENETIAN GLASSBLOWING

Learn about the history and ancient skill of Venetian glassblowing, playing your role in ensuring the survival of this traditional craft through your visit.

SECRET VENICE AND THE DOGE'S PALACE (OPTIONAL)

Explore the hidden maze of streets which make up this unique city as your Local Specialist gives you a fascinating insight into Venice’s past and present. We'll also visit the Doge's Palace and its elegant courtyards, which were home to the rulers of the Venetian Republic.

LAGOON CRUISE TO BURANO WITH FOOD AND DRINKS (OPTIONAL)

This afternoon, discover the Venetian Lagoon by private boat. You'll enjoy a delicious meal, with a selection of drinks, on the fisherman's island of Burano, famous for its multi-coloured houses - a photographer's paradise.

Accommodation: Hotel Le Boulevard Lido

Included Meals: Breakfast