Itinerary:
1st day, Tuesday - arrival - VenicePrivate transfer from apt to your Venetian hotel, located by the Grand Canal. Time at leisure to explore the narrow, winding streets of Venice, and its atmospheric canals before a welcome dinner (drinks included) at the hotel or restaurant nearby. Overnight in hotel. (BB/D)
2nd day, Wednesday – Venice After breakfast, we spend all day in Venice, exploring the Queen of the Adriatic. We begin our tour with an unusual itinerary of the centre and visit a Mask manufacturing shop, then continue with our walking tour with our own official guide of all the major sights of Venice including: the Basilica of S. Marco, Palazzo Ducale, the Bridge of Sighs and surroundings. Following the tour you have free time to explore Venice with your cumulative ticket to the Civic Museum of Venice. Balance of the day at leisure. (BB)
3rd day, Thursday – Venice and Florence We depart after breakfast for a tour of the unique Venetian lagoon islands of Murano (crystal and glass making), Burano(fishing and lace) and Torcello (Santa Maria Assunta cathedral founded in the 7th century). In the afternoon we leave the canals of Venice and head towards the beauty and splendour of Frienze (Florence) – home of Machiavelli, Michelangleo and the Medici. We travel by unescorted transfer by Eurostar train with a private transfer to our central hotel in Florence and finish the day with a typical Tuscan dinner in traditional “trattoria”. Overnight at hotel. (BB/D)
4th day, Friday - Florence After breakfast we explore the city centre of Florence with our guided tour strolling through Firenze’s medieval heart, stopping to visit the Battistero di San Giovanni – one of the oldest buildings in the city. We then have a wine tasting in a typical “Osteria” in the city and after our lunch we enjoy the best in Italian with a visit to the world famous Ferragamo Collection, the best Italian shoe designer. The rest of the day and evening are free to explore stroll through the streets with their magnificent churches and Medici palaces with a famous museum at every turn, such as the Uffizi, Accademia and Pitti. Overnight at hotel.(BB/ l)
5th day, Saturday – Siena - RomeAfter breakfast we leave Florence and head south east reaching the enchanting Tuscan town of Siena. We enjoy a guided city sightseeing of this captivating historic town, walking through its winding street alleys, surrounding the 12th century Piazza del Campo, around which the city developed as well as Palzzo Pubblico, the Torre del Mangia. In the afternoon we depart for Rome, travelling through the southern Tuscan landscape into the Lazio region, and towards Rome – the political and religious centre of Italy, Rome. Brief city sightseeing of Rome on way to hotel, passing the iconic sights including Colosseum, The Vatican, the Trevi Fountain, St Peter's Square, Spanish Steps. Dinner and overnight at hotel. (BB/D)
6th day, Sunday - RomeAfter breakfast transfer to airport and return home and depending on your departure time it may be possible to visit The Vatican for the Pope’s Sunday Mass before heading to the airport and your flight home.
Your special accommodation:
- Venice: 3 * Hotel Continental or similar - comfortable traditional Venetian hotel located by the Canal Grande in the Cannaregio area of Venice.
- Firenze: 3* Hotel Grifone or similar - relaxing and recently renovated hotel, 15 mins walking from the Uffizi Gallery.
- Rome: 4* NH Villa Carpegna or similar - a modern building, very close to St Peter's Square and Villa Pamphili, with many amenties including a swimming pool.