MAY 3: Depart today from the Central Valley for your transportation to Rome, Italy. Enjoy our charter bus to San Francisco and connect with our air service to Rome.
Truly the best of Italy is included on this 10 day extensive tour featuring Rome, Florence, & Venice. But you will also enjoy a glimpse of the beautiful countryside & villages throughout the regions of Umbria, Tuscany, Lombardy, & Piemonte.
MAY 4: Upon arrival at the Rome airport, you will be transferred to a beautiful hotel located in the heart of Rome. This afternoon you are at your leisure to enjoy the hotel and walk the streets of Rome. Trevi Fountain, the Coliseum, The Spanish Steps, and much more. Your Italian adventure officially begins with a special welcome dinner tonight.
dinner included
MAY 5: This morning we start with a trip to the Vatican where you will enjoy a tour of St. Peter's Basilica & the Vatican Museums. This afternoon enjoy a locally guided panoramic tour of Rome featuring the Piazza Venezia, Circus Maximus, The Colosseum, Arch of Constantine, and the famous Trevi Fountain. On your own this evening as you enjoy a second night in beautiful Roma.
breakfast included
MAY 6: Today your Tour Manager will help you discover the history of the Italian language along with key words and phrases that will help you communicate with the locals. Travel to Assisi, birthplace of St. Francis. Take a guided walking tour of the old city, including the Basilica of St. Francis. Then you are off to medieval Perugia, the historic capital of Umbria. Behold one of the grandest squares in Italy, the Piazza IV Novembre, and delight in the medieval palaces and ornate cathedrals. Accommodations tonight in either Perugia or Assisi.
breakfast & dinner included
MAY 7: A scenic journey through Tuscany's graceful low-lying hills brings you to the mystical city of Siena. You will be delighted by its narrow Gothic streets, magnificient palaces and historic Piazza del Campo. After a walking tour with a local expert, take some time to explore the medieval corners of Siena with its great shops and outdoor cafes. En route to Florence, visit a family-owned leather shop and learn the traditional Italian techniques of leather making. Accommodations for the next 2 nights in the heart of Florence.
breakfast & dinner included
MAY 8: Today in Florence, the "Cradle of Italian Renaissance", visit the world-famous Academy Gallery to see Michelangelo's incredible Stature of David. During your cultural tour of Florence you'll also view the Cathedral of Santa Maria Del Fiore, the Palazzo Vecchio, and the Church of Santa Croce, burial place of Michelangelo, Galileo, and Machiavelli. Enjoy the afternoon and evening to enjoy Florence on your own. A sunset view of the Ponte Vecchia is memorable and a great place to take that special picture.
breakfast included
MAY 9: We leave Florence this morning headed for Venice, but there is much to see on the way. We'll start with a stop at a historic winery in the heart of the Chianti region with its very own 12th century castle. Learn about Tuscany's famous wines and enjoy a lunch filled with local specialties. This afternoon, journey through central Italy, crossing over the wooded Apennine Mountains towards the Valley of the Po. Enchanting Venice awaits with 117 tiny islands and its latticework of 150 canals and 400 bridges. Accommodations for the next 2 nights in the heart of Venice near the Grand Canal.
breakfast & lunch included
MAY 10: Your day begins with a boat trip to Murano Island for an up-close glass making demonstration. Next return to Venice and visit charming St. Mark's Square, the lively hub of the city's activity and events. A local expert will guide you on a walking tour of the area fraturing St. Mark's Basilica, The Doge's Palace, The Bridge of Sighs, and the Clock Tower with its famous Moors. Take a little time this afternoon to wander around this amazing city from bridge to bridge connecting an endless array of canals. Find your way to the bustlling Rialto Bridge and don't forget to have a gelato!
breakfast & dinner included
MAY 11: Our journey from Venice to Milan today will take us through the picturesque Italian Lake district. Cross into Switzerland and the lakeside resort of Lugano to enjoy beautiful views of Lake Lugano and excellent shopping opportunities. Returning to Italy, spend time in the elegant town of Como. Lake Como's charm is tied to its beautiful villas, lush gardens and spectacular views. Continue to Milan's Malpensa International Airport where we will stay at a nearby hotel. Don't miss our special farewell dinner celebrating the end of an unforgettable trip.
breakfast & dinner included
MAY 12: After breakfast this morning you will be transferred to the Malpensa International airport for your transportation home with memories of Italy to last a lifetime. We'll fly from Milan to San Francisco and connect to our waiting charter bus to return home to the Central Valley.
breakfast included
--- INCLUDES ---
Transportation from the Central Valley Round-trip
Charter bus to SF - Air SF to Rome & Milan to SF
Hotel transfers
10 day escorted tour program
Nightly hotel accommodations
14 meals: 8 breakfasts, 1 lunch & 5 dinners
Centrally located quality hotels in Rome, Florence, & Venice
Special welcome & farewell dinners
Guided tour of the Vatican Museums & St. Peter's Basilica
Guided tours of Rome, Florence, & Venice
Guided tour of Assisi, Perugia, & Siena
Entry into the Galleria Academia to view Michelangelo's Statue of David
Winery tour in the Chianti region
Murano glass making demonstration on Murano Island
Tour of the Italian Lake District including Lake Lugano & Lake Como
