T778 Tourcode :SGT_1 |
| Small Group Tour: Italy in a nutshell |
Rome - Florence - Pisa - Cinque Terre - Lake Como – Milan - Venice
11 days / 10 nights
Special Deluxe Tour for Small Groups on private basis |
| Enjoy gorgeous cities, towering mountains, beautiful coastal landscapes and ancient historical sites. Throw in some gelato and wine and you have the perfect ingredients for a memorable Italian holiday. |
| Day 1 | Rome
Arrive in Rome "the Eternal City” & transfer to your hotel. Evening is free to explore the city on your own. For dinner you can enjoy Italian cuisine. Overnight in Rome.
|
| Day 2 | Vatican Museums- The Sistine Chapel- St. Peter's Basilica - Colosseum - Roman Forum
After breakfast start your Rome City tour with a visit to the Vatican City, the world's smallest independent state. Get acquainted with the overview of the history of the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel. You will see the Hall of Tapestries and the Maps Gallery, but the highlight of your tour will be the Sistine Chapel, whose ceiling is covered with Michelangelo's famous paintings of the "Creation" and "Last Judgment." Exit into St. Peter's Basilica, the largest church in Christendom. See the many treasures including the golden mosaics of the apse, Bernini's bronze baldachin and the famed "Pieta" by Michelangelo. The last stop on your group's tour of Vatican City is St. Peter's Square to see the 4000-year-old Egyptian obelisk that stands in its center. Later continue your tour with a visit inside Rome's iconic Colosseum. In its heyday it was capable of seating up to 50,000 spectators. Afterwards walk over to explore the most interesting sites in the Roman Forum. Free time in the evening to explore the city on your own. Overnight in Rome. |
| Day 3 | Rome - Florence
Check-out & proceed to Florence. On arrival enjoy a 2 hour guided walking Tour of Florence, visit this Renaissance city’s most iconic piazzas, buildings. Evening free time to explore the city. For dinner you can feast in a Tuscan restaurant - taste the famous Florentine Steak! End the day with a delicious Gelato. Overnight in Florence.
|
| Day 4 | Florence - Pisa - Cinque Terre
Check–out. Proceed to Pisa to see the iconic Leaning Tower. Admire the Cathedral Square and the Pisa Baptistery as you follow an expert guide past the city’s main attractions. After posing with the UNESCO-listed Leaning Tower of Pisa, enjoy some time to explore the area independently. Transfer to La Spezia. Check-in. Meet the guide and proceed to explore the Cinque Terre area, visiting Manarola and Riomaggiore fishing villages - excursion by boat and by train. Please note that if the weather is bad, you will visit the Cinque Terre only by train. Return to La Spezia. Overnight in La Spezia.
|
| Day 5 | Cinque Terre Hiking Experience & Wine tasting
Today visit the villages of Monterosso and Vernazza with short hikes around villages. The morning will be dedicated to hiking with an expert official guide of the Cinque Terre natural park. The route and duration of the hiking experience will be defined according to the level of preparation of the participants. Walking along magnificent hiking trails you will see how farmers cultivate olive trees and vines on the steep slopes overlooking the sea. At the end of the hiking experience you can have a break in a local pizzeria or you can taste some delicious local fish specialties (at your charge). Then you will continue the visit of the villages with the guide - a wine tasting in the Cinque Terre is included. Return to La Spezia by train. Overnight.
|
| Day 6 | La Spezia - Lake Como
Check-out & drive to lovely Lake Como. This is one of the many lakes that fan out across Northern Italy – and a favourite haunt of the rich and famous. For some amazing views, ride the funicular high above the town of Como or, if time permits, take a ferry ride on the lake to one of several other charming villages. Overnight in Como.
|
| Day 7 | Lake Como - Hiking - Bellagio
This is a day to get outside and experience the beautiful surroundings of Italy's Northern landscape. Start your day with a local hiking trail for gorgeous views of mountains unfolding into low woodlands and sparkling lakeshore. After soaking up the natural beauty and fresh air, transfer to the town of Bellagio where you have time on your own to enjoy a well-deserved lunch at a local cafe. Many consider this the most beautiful part of the lake. After lunch spend the afternoon exploring Bellagio before returning back to Como. Overnight in Como.
|
| Day 8 | Lake Como - Milan - The Duomo
Check-out. Transfer to Milan - Europe's fashion capital, home to top designer flagship stores such as Armani, Versace, Prada and Gucci. This city is also extremely rich in history (particularly Medieval and Renaissance). On arrival, proceed for an orientation tour of Milan, visit inside the largest Cathedral in Italy, the "Duomo di Milano," which took almost 600 years to build. Afternoon free time to soak up Milanese culture. If you're an art fan – consider paying a visit to the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie. This UNESCO World Heritage Site houses Leonardo da Vinci's 15th-century mural "The Last Supper". Alternatively, you could visit the Pinacoteca di Brera, one of the finest art museums in all of Italy. Inside you can see medieval & renaissance masterpieces by Raphael, Caravaggio, Piero della Francesca. Overnight in Milan. |
| Day 9 | Milan - Venice
Check-out & drive to Venice - nicknamed the "City of Water", and the "City of Masks" over the ages, among other titles - where we will spend two nights. Upon arrival check-in and enjoy your evening in Venice. Overnight in Venice.
|
| Day 10 | Venice
After breakfast start your day with an exciting walking tour of Venice. See St. Mark's Square, the lively central square where the only traffic is that of humans (and pigeons!). Visit inside St. Mark's Basilica, one of the best examples of Byzantine architecture found anywhere in the world. See the famed Bell Tower and the Clock Tower, which displays not only the time of day, but also the dominant sign of the Zodiac and the current phase of the moon. Continue on to the Bridge of Sighs, which is made of white limestone; it passes over the Rio di Palazzo, connecting the old prisons with the interrogation rooms at the Doge's Palace. This afternoon is free. Perhaps you might enjoy a boat trip to the Lagoon Islands this afternoon – or a gondola experience this evening. Tonight, you are free to savour the seasonal flavours of this unique city's cuisine on your own. Overnight in Venice. |
| Day 11 | Venice
Check-out and transfer to the airport to board the flight for hometown.
|