2019 Taste of Italy - 7 Days/6 Nights/ 8 Meals
Day 1:
Meet your tour director at 4:00 PM, and take a one-hour orientation walk around the city known as the ‘Queen of the Adriatic’. Spend a couple of hours exploring on your own before gathering back at your hotel for a welcome reception, followed by a dinner with your fellow travelers. (D)
Day 2:
Take a guided walking tour of Venice, ‘La Serenissima,’ the most serene of cities, with a local guide. See its glorious architecture and its charming bridges and canals. Visit the magnificent Doge’s Palace, and the acclaimed Piazza and Basilica of San Marco. Journey along the canals for a view of the city from a gondola – truly, an unforgettable experience. Delight in an evening of exploring and dinner on your own. (B)
Day 3:
Take a private water taxi from your hotel to your coach and travel on to Florence. During your journey you’ll stop in the fabulous foodie region of Emilia-Romagna for time at leisure where you may choose to enjoy a lunch of local cuisine. Arrive at your hotel just outside Florence’s busy city center. After a chance to refresh, depart for your included dinner in this beautiful city, the capital of Tuscany and the birthplace of the Renaissance. You’ll marvel at the sights of the center such as the Palazzo Vecchio and Piazza della Signoria.
(B,D)
Day 4:
Spend the day discovering Florence. Visit the Accademia to see Michelangelo’s iconic sculpture of David. Next, enjoy a walking tour of the city with entrance included into the Uffizi Gallery, host to one of the largest and most important collections of Italian Renaissance art in the world. Savor a pizza lunch near the San Lorenzo Market – the sight of your pizza, handcrafted with locally-sourced tomatoes, in the oven as it cooks will whet your appetite. After lunch you’ll have the rest of the day to explore this magnificent city at your leisure.
(B,L)
Day 5:
This morning you’re off to the Eternal City with a special and delicious stop at a local producer in the fascinating Umbrian city of Orvieto. They say that all roads lead to Rome, and today yours will certainly do so as you are immersed in Italy’s natural beauty and surrounded by breathtaking vistas. Your hotel tonight is located in an exclusive area near the beautiful Villa Borghese gardens – and close to the legendary Harry’s Bar, featured in Fellini’s 1960 film, “La Dolce Vita” and famed as a center of Rome’s glamorous social scene. Take a walking tour to see the towering Trevi Fountain and the picturesque Spanish Steps, then spend the evening exploring and dining as you please.
(B)
Day 6:
Visit the historic Colosseum, the iconic structure of imperial Rome constructed between 72 and 80 A.D. This engineering marvel could hold between 50,000-80,000 spectators of public spectacles, gladiator battles, and classical dramas. Walk among the ghosts of the Caesars in the ruins of the Forum, the ancient heart of the Roman Empire. Enjoy some free time for lunch before an afternoon visit to the Vatican with Sistine Chapel. Finish the day with an included farewell dinner in a charming Roman neighborhood.
(B, D)
Day 7:
Your tour ends after breakfast. (B)
Insider tip: You can book pre-nights in Venice or post-nights in Rome if you want to extend your vacation! We’ve negotiated special rates with our hotels to make booking extra nights easy and affordable.
B: Breakfast; L: Lunch; D: Dinner
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