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THE ESSENCE OF ITALY

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Visit Italy’s greatest gems in this journey showcasing history, culture, landscapes and wine. Start in the capital of Rome, exploring the ancient Roman heritage like the Colosseum and marveling at the world’s greatest masterpieces in the Vatican City. Get charmed by the seaside Cinque Terre, soaking in the harmony of colorful architecture, rugged nature and easy coastal living. Travel back in time, to the medieval era in San Gimignano, Pisa and Siena, and to the Renaissance in Lucca and Florence. Toast to your Italian travels with Tuscany’s favorite charm: the famed Chianti wines.

 

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

  • Delve into Rome’s incredible heritage with a private guide, visiting ancient Roman sites and the Vatican City highlights
  • Admire the scenic Cinque Terre from a boat and then explore each of its five seaside villages
  • Take in Italy’s landmark sites, like the Leaning Tower in Pisa, Duomo Cathedral in Florence and the skyline of San Gimignano

 

SUMMARY

Starting in Rome and finishing in Florence. Transportation by deluxe van (with an English-speaking driver) for the duration of the tour. Accommodation for 9 nights is provided in exceptional 4-star hotels or historical mansions, with full buffet breakfasts (3 nights in Rome, 2 in Cinque Terre, 2 in Chianti and 2 in Florence). The tour includes a welcome dinner in Rome; wine tasting and traditional lunch in Tuscany; guided tours with English-speaking guides and multiple day trips. Entrance fees to the main attractions listed in the itinerary, as well as to the Cinque Terre National Park, are included in the package. Professional assistance is provided throughout the trip.

Start your journey in Italy’s capital, with a welcome dinner in one of Rome’s liveliest neighborhoods. Take a private tour to delve right into the city’s rich culture: think of gladiators at the Colosseum and of Roman Emperors at the Imperial Fora, holding traces of the most important public spaces of ancient Rome. Visit the world’s smallest country, the Vatican City, and marvel at some of the planet’s greatest monuments and artworks at St. Peter’s Basilica, the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel. Feel the pulse of la dolce vita as you explore the Eternal City.

Spend a day exploring the five villages which comprise the UNESCO World Heritage Site and the National Park of Cinque Terre. Take a boat to admire the colorful settlements that perch dramatically on the rugged coastline. Admire the tall and narrow houses of Monterosso al Mare, the landlocked Corniglia and the fishing village of Vernazza. Then stroll along the seaside Pathway of Love, a paved footpath carved in the rocks, connecting the tiny Manarola village with the largest one, Riomaggiore.

Journey to Pisa, the city of the famous Leaning Tower that flanks its Cathedral square, also known as the Field of Miracles. Admire this showcase of Europe’s finest sacred architecture, with the Cathedral, the Baptistery and the monumental cemetery all within a glance. Continue to Puccini’s city, Lucca, known for its intact Renaissance walls and 101 churches. Take a day trip to explore the star towns of the Chianti wine region and its gallo nero (‘black rooster’) wine label: the medieval Greve, the idyllic Gaiole, the historic Radda and the fortified Castellina. Then head to a local winery to taste the region’s claim to fame: the Chianti Classico. Savor a lunch of regional delicacies served with a backdrop of bucolic Tuscan countryside.

Piazza Anfiteatro in Lucca

Discover the World Heritage Site of San Gimignano, a hilltop town with a praised skyline. Take in the medieval towers and townhouses that peek over the encircling walls, then get lost in the splendor of its Romanesque and Gothic architecture. Continue on to Siena and enjoy a guided tour of its renowned attractions: the marvelous Cathedral coated in white and black marble, the relics of Europe’s patron St. Catherine at the Basilica of San Domenico and the Piazza del Campo, an expansive square where bareback horse races still take place twice a year. Fall in love with Florence, crossing Ponte Vecchio over the Arno River, over Piazza della Signoria with the present-day town hall at Palazzo Vecchio to the stunning Duomo Cathedral with Brunelleschi’s dome and Giotto’s bell tower. Round off your visit with a face-to-face encounter with Michelangelo’s David at the Accademia Gallery.

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