Italia Bella – Tour IT236

The Italia Bella is a guided tour from Rome visiting Assisi and then onto the beautiful Tuscan towns of Siena and Florence. This tour will explore as far North as Bologna & Venice. Then back through the heart of the Tuscan wine region, Montepulciano where you can sample Italian’s finest.    

Visit:

Rome, Assisi, Siena, Florence, Bologna, Padua, Venice, Montepulciano, Rome

Length:

8 days/ 7 nights

Guaranteed departures:

Fridays and Sunday (see price table)

Day 1 Rome

Welcome to Rome! After a meet & greet at the airport, you will be transferred to your hotel. Overnight Rome.  

Day 2 Rome – Assisi – Siena – Florence

Departing at 7:15 am from your hotel by deluxe coach, you will arrive in Assisi, ready to explore, at your own leisure, this tiny town surrounded by walls, built in the Middle Ages. Take your time to visit the Basilica of St. Francis, where you will see masterpieces by Giotto and Cimabue and, then, have free time for lunch (not included). Board the bus to reach Siena, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, world known for the Palio, the historical horse race around the shell-shaped town square: Piazza del Campo. Next, you will continue to Florence, where you will check in at your hotel before enjoying dinner. Overnight Florence.

Day 3 Florence

Breakfast. You will spend today venturing around beautiful Florence, the “Cradle of Renaissance”, where, with the help of Michelangelo, Italian art reached its pinnacle. Based on etruscan-roman origins, the city flourished in the Middle Ages and was further refined during the Renaissance. You will be fascinated by the uncountable monuments, churches and buildings such as the Santa Maria del Fiore, more commonly referred to as the Duomo. On your visit, you will be amazed by its magnificent dome built by Filippo Brunelleschi. Cross a small piazza to see the “Campanile” tower (partly designed by Giotto) and the Baptistery, with its bronze doors where Michelangelo imagined the “Gates of Paradise”. In the heart of the city, you will see Piazza della Signoria, Palazzo della Signoria (also known as Palazzo Vecchio), and the Basilica of Santa Croce. Lunch is included today in a typical Tuscan restaurant in Piazza Santa Croce. Spend the afternoon strolling the cobblestone streets of Florence on your own or take a short trip to Pisa (optional), one of the four main historical Marine Republics of Italy. There, you will tour the Piazza dei Miracoli with the Duomo, Pisa’s symbol “the Leaning Tower” and the Baptistery. Dinner at leisure, overnight in Florence.

Day 4 Florence – Bologna – Padua – Venice

After breakfast in Florence, departure to Bologna. There, you will discover the elegant city center with its “porticos”, shopping streets. From Piazza Malpighi you will walk to Piazza del Nettuno and Piazza Maggiore (Neptune square and Major square) in the heart of the city, then King Renzo’s Palace; Palazzo Podestà and the basilica of San Petronio, one of the biggest in the world. Bologna it’s a real gourmet’s heaven…don’t miss a tasty meal at your own leisure. In the afternoon, we continue toward Padua, with Sant’Antonio Basilica: one of the most visited churches by pilgrims of the catholic world. Later in the afternoon we will arrive in Venice: the City of Love. Venice is one of the world’s most romantic cities, and undoubtedly the most beautiful city in our opinion. Check in at your hotel for dinner and overnight in Venice.

Day 5 Venice

After breakfast, enjoy your private water-taxi transfer to Piazza San Marco, with “Skip the Line” tickets to visit the splendid St. Mark’s Basilica and, after this, check out the most iconic places of the “Floating City”. This includes the Palazzo dei Dogi, symbol of Venice’s glorious past, the legendary “Bridge of Sighs”. Spend the afternoon roaming along Venice’s canals at your leisure and then return to the hotel for dinner and overnight in Venice.

Day 6 Venice – Montepulciano (Tuscan wine region) – Rome

After breakfast, depart Venice heading to Tuscany. This region is known for its landscapes, its churches, castles and its delicious wines. You will proceed to Val di Chiana with a stop in Montepulciano, a medieval town rich in history and art. Known for its “Nobile” wine, available to purchase in local wine houses, Montepulciano also hosts an annual jazz and wine festival every July. Spend the afternoon discovering Montepulciano at your own pace, enjoying free wine tastings in many wine shops and free time for shopping. In the evening, you will arrive in Rome and check into your hotel. Overnight Rome.

Day 7 Rome

Between 7:45 – 8:00 am, after breakfast, departure from the hotel for the included tour of the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and St. Peters’s Basilica with our exclusive “Skip the Line” access. No stress to reach the area: upon arrival, your guide will lead you into the museums where you’ll visit one of the most important art collections of the world. Walk along the beautiful Galleries of Tapestries and Geographical Maps before admiring Raphael’s Rooms and, then, the amazing Sistine Chapel. After this incredible masterpiece, you will be taken by a privileged door to St. Peters’s Basilica: the biggest church in the world. The tour ends in St. Peter’s Square: enjoy the rest of the day to explore the city at your own leisure or join one of our optional Rome sightseeing tours for the afternoon or evening. Overnight Rome.  

Day 8  Rome

After breakfast, transfer to the airport. End of tour services.

Price Per Person in € :

 

           2020 Prices  by Departure Date

(New prices available on request)

 Superior Class First Class Venice Island
Double/ Triple Single Double/ Triple Single
Jan 13, 26 Feb 10, 24 Mar 10, 17 836

 1,186  

 1,146 1,550
Mar 24, 31 Apr 7, 14, 21, 28 1,067 1,523 1,496 1,987
May 3, 5, 10, 12, 17, 19, 24, 26, 31
Jun 2, 7, 9, 14, 16, 21, 23, 28, 30
Jul 5, 7, 12, 14, 19, 21, 26, 28
Aug 2, 4, 9, 11, 16, 18, 23, 25 1,010 1,441 1,425  1,906
Aug 30, Sep 1, 6, 8, 13, 15, 20, 22, 27, 29 1,067 1,523 1,496 1,987
Oct 4, 6, 11, 13, 18, 20, 25, 27

$ rate fluctuates based on exchange rate of the payment date

Includes:

  • 7 night’s accommodation – 3 nights in Rome, 2 nights in Florence and 2 nights in Venice
  • Visit Assisi, Bologna, Siena, Florence, Padua, Venice, Montepulciano (Tuscan wine region), Rome
  • Visit the Basilica of St. Mark’s in Venice with no line
  • Visit the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter (exclusive entrance without queue)
  • Daily breakfast, dinner in Florence, lunch in Florence, 2 dinners in Venice,  (drinks not included).

Excludes:

  • Flights
  • City taxes collected by the hotel. Euro 2-4 per night per guest
  • Other meals & drinks

Hotels:

CITY Superior Class 1st Class Venice Island
 Florence  Mediterraneo 4*  Raffaello 4* or Ricasoli 4*
 Venice  Delfino Mestre 4*  Carlton Grand Canal 4*
 Rome           Santa Costanza 4* or Roma Garden 3*  Roma Bettoja Hotel 4*

Rome Optional day tours and descriptions