Taste of Italy for 2

Today depart for Rome, Italy.

Please note:

• Due to flight scheduling and availability, some customers may be required to depart on day 2 and arrive on day 2.
• Flight times will be indicated on your final documentation, which you will receive 4 - 6 weeks prior to departure.

Meals included: In-Flight

Upon arrival, you will be met by your English-speaking tour leader and transferred to the hotel.

Overnight: Hotel Dei Congressi or similar, Rome

Meals included: None

Today, take part in a locally guided tour of imperial Rome (approximately 3 hours). See the Colosseum (entrance not included). In the same square, you can also admire the Arch of Constantine and the Arch of Titus. Continue to the Roman Forum (entrance not included), the biggest archaeological area in the world - in the heart of Rome. Arriving at the top of Capitole Hill, today the seat of City Hall, you can admire the beautiful square designed by Michelangelo Buonarroti that houses the Palazzo Conservatori and the Palazzo Nuovo.

Afterwards, continue down Capitole Hill and arrive directly at Venice Square, where you will be astonished by the Vittoriano, the biggest European monument. Enjoy some free time in the afternoon in the Eternal City of Rome. Today, you might like to visit the incredible Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel. Don't miss a chance to be awe-inspired by the murals & the immortal Works of Michelangelo. Guests who are interested in visiting the Vatican Museum and the magnificent Sistine Chapel are advised to book tickets online well in advance in order to secure their place.

Overnight: Hotel Dei Congressi or similar, Rome

Meals included: Breakfast

Take in the Roman sky as the rising sun colours the rooftops of the city. It is a vision that has inspired poets and great thinkers from all over the world for centuries.

Enjoy a free day in the amazing Eternal City of Rome. Take a chance to see famous sights such as the Trevi Fountain, which has become an iconic spot thanks to the movie ‘La Dolce Vita’, directed by Federico Fellini. Don’t miss the Pantheon, Palazzo Madama or the famous Colosseum.

Stroll through Trastevere, a funky, bohemian area that clings to its centuries-old, working-class roots. It's known for traditional and innovative trattorias, craft beer pubs and artisan shops.

Optional Activity: Colosseum & Imperial Fora
3-hour tour. Includes entrance fees, guided tour and earphones. (Please see current pricing in Important Information.)

Overnight: Hotel Dei Congressi or similar, Rome

Meals included: Breakfast

After breakfast, your Italian journey continues as you set off on a day tour covering approximately 180 kilometres to the beautiful Tuscan countryside and the tiny UNESCO-listed medieval villages of the beautiful Val d'Orcia. On the way, stop in Orvieto, which seems bathed in a mystical glow.

Set midway between Florence and Rome, Orvieto is Umbrian perfection, with luminous frescoes and enigmatic churches only serving to underline its lofty otherness. Looming on a sheer ledge of lava-stone, Orvieto is a brooding Etruscan presence hewn out of dark volcanic rock. In medieval times, this citadel, perched on its impregnable rock, controlled the road between Florence and Rome.

Afterwards, continue to Chianciano Terme, one of the most admired thermal bath destinations in the whole of Europe, surrounded by beautiful countryside. Chianciano enchants visitors both with its historic town centre and its spa area, rich in mineral healing waters.

Upon arrival, enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure.

Overnight: Hotel G.H. Admiral or similar, Chianciano Terme, Montepulciano Area

Meals included: Breakfast

Today, explore the famous part of the Tuscan countryside called Val D’orcia. Green Tuscan hills characterised by dense vegetation, dotted with vineyards, olive groves, cypresses, beech and chestnut groves, a backdrop of marvellous castles, medieval villages and rural houses.

Drive to Montalcino, a classic fairytale hilltop town set within a full circle of fortified walls and watched over by a mighty castle of medieval perfection. The town looks like a medieval painting. It is bathed in a russet glow at sunset but changes with the seasons. In spring, the surrounding countryside area is lime green, but yellow rape seed, poppies, sunflowers and grapes soon add different hues. It’s the prestigious Brunello de Montalcino wine that defines this tiny Tuscan outpost.

Continue your tour of the Tuscan countryside to the tiny UNESCO-listed medieval village of Pienza in the beautiful Val d'Orcia valley. Enjoy a walking tour of this charming village, the perfect mix of renaissance architecture, food & tradition built to represent a 'Utopian City'. Pienza enjoys a strategic position, standing high atop a hill, dominating all the Orcia Valley with extraordinary views.

Afterwards, head to the beautiful medieval city of Montepulciano. This is a reigning wine town and quintessential Tuscan vision with a medieval centre overlooking vineyards on its hilltop.

Today travel approximately 90 kilometres

Overnight: Hotel G.H. Admiral or similar, Chianciano Terme, Montepulciano Area

Meals included: Breakfast

This morning, continue your adventure to Cortona, the queen of Tuscany, making for the perfect Italian getaway. A place of outstanding beauty lies in its lofty setting, splendid views and medieval mood. Cortona is one of the most delightful hill towns in Tuscany. It was founded by the Etruscans, colonised by the Romans, and, after its sale to the Florentines in 1409. The approach road winds through terraced olive groves and vineyards, past villas, farms and monasteries. Enjoy an orientation walk with your Tour Leader.

Afterwards, continue to Castiglione del Lago, a large balcony overlooking the famous Lake Trasimeno: from its Castle, the view captures the entire lake with its islands, the surrounding hills and the profile of the towns that dominate the landscape. Built on a limestone headland, Castiglione was originally an island in the lake, later incorporated by the mainland. Today, it retains a beautiful historic centre, the first stop on any visit to Lake Trasimeno, a true natural paradise home to wild ducks, cormorants, kites and kingfishers. In the late afternoon, return back to your Hotel in Chianciano Terme.

Today, travel approximately 120 kilometres.

Overnight: Hotel G.H. Admiral or similar, Chianciano Terme, Montepulciano Area

Meals included: Breakfast

Today, head towards the beautiful medieval city of Siena in the heart of Tuscany, where you'll take part in a guided tour of this Italian town built around Piazza del Campo. Cathedral Square is dominated by the stunning Duomo, a masterpiece of Romanesque-Gothic architecture with breathtaking mosaic flooring. The beauty of Siena is best experienced by walking through its historic streets and relaxing at the outdoor cafes in the Piazza Del Campo. Enjoy an orientation tour with your Tour Leader.

Afterwards, travel to San Gimignano, a journey through the charm of the Middle Ages and the magic of Nature. A beautiful town nestled between the Tuscan hills surrounded by thirteenth-century walls and rich in still-intact medieval charm, it is a Tuscan pearl. Enjoy a wine tasting of the famous Montepulciano wines in a traditional cellar. In the late afternoon, head to your hotel in the heart of Tuscany between the art mecca of Florence and the walled city of Lucca, in Montecatini Terme – the largest and most famous spa town in Tuscany.

Today, travel is approximately 200 kilometres.

 

Overnight: Hotel Manzoni or similar, Montecatini, Florence Area

Meals included: Breakfast

After breakfast, depart for Florence, a city located in the heart of Tuscany. Upon arrival, enjoy a guided tour of this incredible city (approximately 3 hours). The tour will take you through some of the famous sights and attractions, including the Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral and Piazza del Duomo. Piazza del Duomo, together with Piazza San Giovanni, represent the heart of the city. The most important religious monuments of Florence are here, linked by their geometric design and characterised by the typical white, green and pink marble coating.
 
You will see the Baptistery (entrance not included) with its octagonal shape and three bronze doors; the Cathedral (entrance not included), built in Florentine Gothic style; and Giotto’s Bell Tower, regarded as one of the most beautiful towers in Gothic architecture (entrance not included). The tour will continue through Piazza Signoria to the Palazzo Vecchio (entrance not included), the town hall of Florence. Admire the impressive statues that surround the piazza before continuing to the Straw Market, where the tour will end.
 
Enjoy time at leisure for the rest of the day, or alternatively join one of the optional tours available.
 
Today, travel approximately 100 kilometres.
 
Optional Activity: Florence 3-Course Traditional Lunch
Please see current pricing in Important Information.

Overnight: Hotel Manzoni or similar, Montecatini, Florence Area

Meals included: Breakfast

Today, keep exploring the two architectural gems of Tuscany, Pisa and Lucca.

Pisa is a city renowned for its iconic landmarks, rich history, and vibrant culture. Once a thriving Roman port, sitting on the coast until the 15th century, Pisa now lies on the alluvial plain of the Arno River.

Enjoy a guided tour of this beautiful city.

Pisa is a popular tourist spot with the city's unique Piazza dei Miracoli (The Square of Miracles), a UNESCO World Heritage site, home to Pisa's iconic Leaning Tower. However, beyond the tower, you will discover the many treasures of this city with its unique character, rich cultural heritage and glimpses of an authentic Italian lifestyle.

Continue to Lucca, one of Tuscany's main towns, which is one of the most fascinating and best-preserved medieval cities in Italy. with great honour for its historical and cultural memory, which it carefully preserves, it captivates visitors with its picturesque alleys, squares and characteristic churches.

Symbolic of the city, the imposing 16th-century walls are one of the few examples of city walls that have remained completely intact in Italy. Fascinating to admire, they constitute an ideal excuse for a tour of the countryside while offering a vantage point to see the urban structure of the city, commissioned by the Romans, which is unique in its beauty and harmony to this day.
Enjoy an orientation tour with your Tour Leader.

Today, travel approximately 100 kilometres.

Overnight: Hotel Manzoni or similar, Montecatini, Florence Area

Meals included: Breakfast

After breakfast, depart to La Spezia to board a train to Cinque Terre. Cinque Terre is a string of centuries-old seaside villages on the rugged Italian Riviera coastline. Enjoy a full day to discover the beautiful villages of Monterosso, Vernazza, Rio Maggiore and more. Enjoy the unique atmosphere of this place, colourful houses and vineyards that cling to steep terraces, harbours that are filled with fishing boats and “trattorias” (typical restaurants) which turn out seafood specialties along with the Liguria region’s famous sauce, pesto.

An approximately 140-kilometre day.

Overnight: Hotel Manzoni or similar, Montecatini, Florence Area

Meals included: Breakfast

In the morning, depart to Bologna, the capital city of the Emilia-Romagna region and enjoy an orientation of the city centre with your Tour Leader.

Bologna is a city of two intriguing halves, One side is a modern city where suave opera-goers waltz out of regal theatres and into some of the nation's finest restaurants. The other half is an edgy city, home to one of the world's oldest universities and famous for its graffiti-embellished piazzas buzzing with student life. Admire the middle age historical porticoes listed by UNESCO, including the university and a skyline full of towers, including Asinelli Tower and the city’s main square, Piazza Maggiore.

Stroll around the Quadrilatero, a small area in downtown Bologna where walking streets connect some of the city’s best shopping spots. These include the glossy and upscale shopping mall, Galleria Cavour, which houses boutiques of luxury brands. Afterwards you may like to join an optional traditional lunch in a local restaurant to taste some of the famous specialties of Bologna.

Optional Activity: Bologna 3-Course Typical Lunch
(Please see current pricing in Important Information)

In the afternoon, arrive in Venice and enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure.

Today, travel is approximately 280 kilometres.

Overnight: Hotel Crown Plaza or similar, Venice Area

Meals included: Breakfast

Today, you will be transferred to the Tronchetto Pier in Venice, where you will be able to admire the beautiful buildings and canals of Venice by water bus (ferry). Upon arrival, be met by a local guide at the Piazza San Marco to start a guided tour of Venice (approximately 2 hours). The tour starts at the iconic St. Mark’s Square, one of the most beautiful squares in the world and the hub of Venetian life.

Around the square, you will see the famous St. Mark’s Basilica, the Doge’s Palace, and the Bell Tower. The church was built to house the body of St. Mark, transported from Alexandria in 828 AD. Inside the basilica, you can admire glittering Byzantine Mosaics (entrance not included). The tour will continue onwards to Rialto Bridge, one of the most beautiful bridges and an icon of the city. Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.

Overnight: Hotel Crown Plaza or similar, Venice Area

Meals included: Breakfast

Today enjoy a day at leisure in Venice. You may like to visit the beautiful islands of Burano and Murano in the Venetian lagoon world-renowned for its glassware. Or stroll the Venice alleyways tasting the local specialties and sipping some spritz, a typical Venetian cocktail.

Overnight: Hotel Crown Plaza or similar, Venice Area

Meals included: Breakfast

Today, at the appropriate time, you will be transferred to the airport for your return flight to Australia or New Zealand after your trip of a lifetime.

Meals included: Breakfast; In-Flight

Please note: Some flights may arrive +1 day later.

Meals included: None