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Day 1 Arrive Rome (3 nights) |
Trafalgar welcomes you at Rome’s Fiumicino airport and
transfers you to your hotel. Then you have time to relax or
to take a walk around the Eternal City before meeting up
with our traveling companions and Tour Director tonight for
a Welcome Drink.
Hotel: Grand Hotel Palatino |
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Day 2 Rome
sightseeing |
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Michelangelo spent 11 years painting the ceiling of the
Sistine Chapel, but we will have a little less time to
admire it on our included visit of the chapel inside the
Vatican Museums! Our guided tour will continue with a visit
of St Peter’s Basilica before we cross the river Tiber to
Ancient Rome where we overlook the Forum and then have a
guided visit of the mighty Colosseum. Finally we see the
Circus Maximus where Ben Hur style chariot racing took place
before time at leisure to perhaps explore the city further
or to sit at a pavement café on the Via Veneto and watch the
world go by. Tonight we enjoy dinner together at our hotel.
(Buffet Breakfast / Dinner) |
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Day 3 Rome at
leisure |
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A full day to enjoy the many
attractions this beguiling city has to offer. You can take a
trip to visit the Catacombs on the outskirts of the city or
maybe venture into the Roman countryside to the perched town
of Tivoli to visit the house and gardens of the Villa d’Este.
This evening, why not throw a coin in the Trevi fountain to
ensure your return one day to the Eternal city. (Buffet
Breakfast) |
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Day 4 Rome -
Assisi - Florence (3 nights) |
This
morning we leave the city on the Seven hills to drive
northward and into the Apennine hills to the mystical town
of Assisi built on the slopes of Mount Subasio. We’ll enjoy
a guided visit of the town including St Francis’ Basilica,
with its enchanting Giotto frescoes, the narrow cobbled
streets of the town and the Church of Santa Maria degli
Angeli. Then we head north into Tuscany and Florence where
our Tour Director will show us one of the many Hidden
Treasures of this beautiful city. Tonight we will enjoy a
meal of local specialities in a characteristic restaurant.
(Buffet Breakfast / Highlight Dinner)
Hotel: Lorenzo II Magnifico |
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Day 5 Florence
sightseeing |
| The
medieval and Renaissance past of this culturally rich city
is revealed to us on our guided walking tour. We will see
the Piazza Signoria – the political centre of the 15th
century city – with its impressive sculptures and imposing
Palazzos, the multi-coloured marble Duomo and famous
Baptistery with the bronze doors designed by the Renaissance
artist Ghiberti. We’ll also visit the Basilica of the Holy
Cross where so many of the great men of Italy are buried.
Finally we will enjoy a guided visit of the Academy of Fine
Arts where Michelangelo’s statue of the David will be the
focus of our tour. This evening why not enjoy some delicious
Tuscan cuisine in one of the country restaurants just
outside the city? (Buffet Breakfast) |
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Day 6 Florence -
Excursion to Pisa |
| A short
drive along the Arno valley will bring us to the one-time
maritime city of Pisa. Although famous for its incredibly
Leaning Tower, Pisa has a lot more to offer. A beautifully
sculpted marble Cathedral, the delicate lacework of its
Baptistery as well as a cemetery, which is said to have
soil, brought from Calvary in the Holy Land. Time to explore
these sights in the aptly named Square of Miracles before
returning to Florence. Plenty of time to shop for bargains
in high quality leather goods and 18 carat gold jewellery
before perhaps trying out some fine Tuscan wines in one of
the city’s many wine bars this evening. (Buffet Breakfast) |
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Day 7 Florence -
Bologna - Venice (3 nights) |
We cross the Apennines and enter the gastronomic heart of
the country in Emilia Romagna, where we stop in the
provincial capital of Bologna. Famed for its various
sausages and salamis, Bologna is also home to one of the
oldest Universities in Europe. It is a charming city of
arcades and more leaning towers – two of which are known as
‘the kissing towers’ as they lean towards each other as if
in an embrace! These sights and more will be included on our
tour with the local guide. Then across the plains of the
Veneto, crossing the river Po to Venice – a city built in
flight from the Barbarians descending from the north – and
constructed on wooden piles in the Venetian Lagoon. There is
no other city like it – it is sure to put a spell on you!
This evening, what would be better as an introduction to
this enchanting place than a Gondola ride along the
picturesque canals? Dinner is included at our hotel. (Buffet
Breakfast / Dinner)
Hotel: Bellini |
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Day 8 Venice -
Canal Cruise and orientation |
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Savour the sights and sounds of this Byzantine city as we
cruise across to St. Mark’s Square by private launch. We’ll
see the Bridge of Sighs, Palladian Churches, Customs House,
Grand Canal, St Mark’s Basilica and Campanile as well as the
Doges’ Palace on our orientation of the city. A stroll
across St Mark’s square will bring us to one of the oldest
glass-blowing workshops on the islands to witness how this
ancient craft is performed. Then you are free to perhaps
visit the Fine Arts Academy, to spend some time at one of
the cafés on St Mark’s Square – the most elegant drawing
room in Europe – or to enjoy a Lagoon cruise to the island
of Burano for a delicious seafood lunch! (Buffet Breakfast) |
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Day 9 Secret
Venice walking tour & visit to the market |
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Today with our local guide we enjoy a guided commentary
using our effective audio system, which will bring the city
to life, as we cruise along the Grand Canal to the Rialto
Bridge. We cross the Rialto and visit the colourful fish
market, which has existed for centuries, and then enjoy a
walking tour through the 'calle' seeing sites such as the
house of Marco Polo and other curious as well as beautiful
architectural works of art. The balance of the day is at
leisure to perhaps take a trip to Burano and enjoy eating
some of the local seafood. This evening we get together with
our fellow travellers and celebrate the last night of our
touring experience at a Farewell Dinner in a local
restaurant? (Buffet Breakfast / Farewell Dinner) |
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Day 10 Depart
Venice |
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This morning wish Italy ‘arrivederci’ as we transfer you to
Marco Polo airport for your flight home. (Buffet Breakfast) |
