Gondolas will take group tours to their hotels.
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Experience the attractions galore in Italy. As you arrive in Venice, you will be greeted by your tour escort. Then, a traditional method of transportation - on gondolas - will take you to your hotel. The next day you will visit Murano Island, which house Saint Mark's Square with its beautiful architecture. Pisa's Leaning Tower, Florence Cathedral, Academy of Fine Arts, Rome's Sistine Chapel & St. Peter's Square and more await on the subsequent days. These are the Italian treasures indeed.
Day 1 - Sat: Depart U.S. for Italy
Depart your North American gateway city and travel through the night to Venice. Land only tour starts on day 2.
Day 2 - Sun: Arrival in Venice
Land at Venice's Marco Polo Airport, collect your luggage and pass through customs inspection. Your tour escort will meet you at the exit from customs and accompany you to a water taxi for a group transfer across the lagoon to your hotel. This is a wonderful introduction to a city built on water! If you emerge customs later than 12:00 noon, you must transfer to the hotel at your own expense. After checking in to your hotel you are free for the remainder of the day. In the evening get together with your tour director and fellow travelers to discuss your vacation and then enjoy a welcome dinner. (D)
Day 3 - Mon: Murano & Saint Mark's Square
This morning start with a boat ride to the world-famous Murano Island, known for its fine glasswork industry. Travel along the Grand Canal to the Piazza San Marco, the hub of the city, where your walking tour of Venice begins. View the Basilica San Marco, consecrated in 1094 and decorated to reflect the Venetian Republic's maritime and commercial power. Visit the elaborate Doges' Palace, a rare example of civil Venetian Gothic architecture. See impressive state rooms with paintings by Titian, Veronese and Tintoretto. Cross the bridge at Sighs, linking the Palace with the Piombi Prisons. The balance of the day is free to explore Venice on your own. You may like to take an independent gondola or a vaporetto ride through enchanting canals. (BB)
Day 4 - Tue: Pisa's Leaning Tower & Cathedral
Travel by motor coach through the Emilia Romagna region, which is renowned for its delicious food-stuffs, and through the rolling hills of the Tuscan countryside to Pisa. Stop in the Piazza dei Miracoli Baptistery, the Cathedral and the Monumental Churchyard. Building on the Tower started in 1174 but was stopped when it started sinking into the ground and completed a century later. The magnificent Romanesque cathedral, started in 1063 and finished in the 13th century, reflects the great wealth of the merchants of Pisa. Stop at a Tuscan farm for lunch with local specialties and wine. Arrive in Florence, an imposing city of old stone located on the River Arno. After checking in to your hotel, the evening will be free. (BB, L)
Day 5 - Wed: Florence Cathedral & "David"
Take a half-day sightseeing walking tour of Florence, a city of artistic wealth and beauty where there are countless treasures to discover. Begin your visit in the town center at the Academy of Fine Arts, which was founded in 1563. Here see Michaelangelo's superb "David" and many of the master's unfinished works. Then walk to the majestic Piazza Del Duomo to see the delicately patterned green, white and pink cathedral crowned by Brunelleschi's dome. See the Campanile, Giotto's Bell Tower dating from 1359. The 11th century Baptistry is one of the oldest buildings in Florence and famous for its exquisite bronze doors by Ghiberti. Continue to explore the open air art museum of Signoria Square and finish your tour at the Ponte Vecchio, the old bridge with tiny shops spanning the River Arno. The afternoon are free for independent sightseeing, shopping and dining. (BB)
Day 6 - Thu: Leisure Time in Florence
Today you have a complete day to explore this exciting city on your own. Florence, often called the "Cradle of the Renaissance" has a wealth of churches and museums, with the Uffizi Museum being the most famous. Walk around the compact city and see the many fine merchants' mansions dating from the time when Florence was a wealthy trading center. You may like to relax in some of the many open air cafes and restaurants. (BB)
Day 7 - Fri: Assisi & Rome
Leave Florence via the "Sun Route" through the beautiful countryside of Tuscany and Umbria to Assisi, a lovely town located on the slopes of Mount Subasio. Assisi is the birthplace of St. Francis and you will visit the Basilica built between 1228 and 1230 especially to hold his remains. See Giotto's famous frescos of many Biblican scenes and see some of the houses, built from the local honey-colored stone. Continue your journey south into the metropolitan region of Rome to your hotel. Check in to your hotel and dine with your group this evening. (BB, D)
Day 8 - Sat: Rome's Sistine Chapel & St. Peter's Square
This morning experience a guided tour around the Vatican, the world's smallest independent state, beginning at the Corte Della Pigna with an overview of the history of the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel. See the Hall of Tapestries and the Maps Gallery but the highlight of the tour will be the Sistine Chapel, where the ceiling is covered with Michaelangelo's famous paintings of the "Creation" and "Last Judgement." Walk across St. Peter's Square to enter St. Peter's Basilica, the largest church in Christendom, to see the famed "Pieta" by Michaelangelo and many other treasures including the golden mosaics of the apse. This afternoon and evening are at leisure for further sightseeing in this majestic city and independent dining. (BB)
Day 9 - Sun: Tour Ancient Rome
Take a morning excursion throught the ancient part of Rome. Walk through the Roman Forum and all its ancient monuments and buildings, including the triumphal Arch of Constantine and the Arch of Titus. Visit the imposing Colosseum to admire the huge walls of this iconic monument, built by Emperor Vespasian and opened in 80 AD. It was designed to hold 70,000 spectators with four floors, completely covered in travertine slabs and decorated with huge statues; today we see a mere shell as blocks were removed for other buildings during the Middle Ages. The afternoon is at leisure for independent sightseeing or shopping. In the evening dine in a typical Roman restaurant with wine and music, followed by a tour of the illuminated city. (BB, D)
Day 10 - Mon: Depart Rome
This morning it's time to say 'arrivederci!' to Rome and Italy. Transfer to the airport in good time to check in for your flight back to the United States. (BB)
(D) - Dinner Included
(BB) - Buffet Breakfast Included
(L) - Lunch Included
Trip Highlights: - Pisa's Leaning Tower
- Academy of Fine Arts, which houses Michaelangelo's "David"
- Sistine Chapel
- St. Peter's Square
- Roman Forum
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