ROMA - FIRENZE - VENEZIA

DAY 1

“Benvenuti in Italia” – Welcome to Italy. Our escort will be waiting to help you outside the customs area and will accompany us to our motorcoach for a transfer to our hotel. The balance of the day is at leisure to rest and relax prior to our welcoming dinner at the hotel.

DAY 2

After breakfast, we will visit the Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel. Raise your eyes to see Michelangelo’s”Creation”and the famous”Last Judgement”. Our visit will continue through the Sacred Museum and the Vatican Library. Lunch is on our own. This afternoon, we will be hosted on a panoramic sightseeing tour of the major attractions of Rome. Dinner at the hotel that evening.

DAY 3

Today is a full day of leisure in Rome for individual sightseeing, exploration and shopping, or sign up for an optional sightseeing tour that our tour escort will make available to us. Dinner at the hotel this evening.

DAY 4

Following breakfast, we will depart for Florence, with a stop in Assisi to view St. Franci’s Cathedral and have some free time to browse the city. Enjoy the beautiful countryside with lunch (on our own)en route to Florence. Upon arrival at our hotel, there will be time to rest, relax, shop, and freshen – up for dinner tonight at the hotel.

DAY 5

After breakfast, there will be a morning sightseeing tour of Florence. We will visit the beautiful Piazza Del Duomo to see the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, Giotto’s Bell Tower, and the Romanesque Baptistery of St. John. Later, we will visit the Accademia Museum to view Michelangelo’s most famous sculpture, ”The David”. The afternoon at leisure for individual sightseeing and shopping. Dinner this evening will be at a local restaurant preceded by a cooking demonstration!

DAY 6

Following breakfast, we head southwest for Siena, through the heart of Italian Wine Country and over the rolling hills of Chianti. Our escort will take us to Piazza del Campo, through the narrow streets and past the medieval towers and walls. Lunch (on our own)in Siena. A must stop is one of the cafes that serve the famous”Ricciarelli”cookies, a specialty of Siena. In the afternoon, we will depart for Pisa, where we will see the famous Leaning Tower in the Square of Miracles. (Group leaders may choose to substitute the Medieval city of San Gimignano for Pisa if you wish). Return to our hotel in Florence for dinner and overnight.

DAY 7

After breakfast, we will depart our hotel and head for Padua, where we will visit St. Anthony’s Basilica and have some free time on our own for lunch. We will then proceed to Mestre, just outside of Venice, where we will be transferred to our hotel, with time to freshen – up prior to dinner at the hotel tonight.

DAY 8

After breakfast, there will be a morning sightseeing tour of Venice. This walking tour will begin in Piazza San Marco where there are many galleries, shops, and charming cafes. We will also visit the Doge’s Palace and cross the Bridge of Sighs which connects to the Piombi Prisons. Lunch is on our own. The afternoon is at leisure for individual sightseeing and last minute shopping. Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Venice.