Ideal Classic Tour & Flavours of Tuscany & Cingue Terre

10 days, 9 nights – Monday Arrival

Day 1 – Monday
ROME-ASSISI-SIENA-FLORENCE
Pickup at the hotel from 6.45am to 7.15am and departure by coach to ASSISI. You will visit the mystic town of Saint Francis still surrounded by ancient walls. Visit the Basilica of Saint Francis with its early Renaissance masterpieces by Giotto and Cimabue. At the end of the visit, continue towards SIENA, the beautiful medieval city renown for the Palio horse race. Proceed to FLORENCE. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Day 2 – Tuesday
FLORENCE
American buffet breakfast at the hotel. Guided sightseeing tour of the city, also known to be the cradle of the Renaissance. Visit the beautiful Piazza del Duomo, the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, Giotto’s Bell Tower, the Baptistery of St. John, and Santa Croce, the 13th century Franciscan Church with Cimabue’s famous crucifix. The balance of the day is at leisure for optional sightseeing (we suggest the PISA half day tour) or for shopping. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Day 3 – Wednesday
FLORENCE-PADUA-VENICE
American buffet breakfast at the hotel and departure to VENICE by coach. Along the way you will stop in PADUA, where you will visit the famous Cathedral of St. Anthony, guarded by Donatello’s “Gattamelata”. Continue towards VENICE, and upon ar- rival enjoy a panoramic guided walking tour of this unique city. You will see the St. Mark’s square, the Basilica of St. Mark, the Doge’s Palace, the Bridge of Sighs and the Prisons. Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Venice island.

Day 4 – Thursday
VENICE
American buffet breakfast at the hotel. Morning tour by boat. You will cross the lagoon with a view of the islands and reach the island of Murano where you will assist to a demonstration of glass blowing (some time will be allowed for shopping). Afternoon at leisure. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Day 5 – Friday
VENICE-VERONA- SIRMIONE (Garda Lake)- COMO LAKE- MILAN
American buffet breakfast at the hotel. Morning departure by motor coach to VERONA. Visit of the town of Romeo and Juliet. Continue to SIRMIONE. Free time for lunch and tour of the town. In the afternoon, proceed to Lake Como for a panoramic tour by bus. In the evening arrival in Milan. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Day 6 – Saturday
MILAN – ROME
American buffet breakfast at the hotel. Morning panoramic tour of the city including the shopping gallery Vittorio Emanuele II, the Sforza castle, and the Splendid Duomo, one of the world’s largest, most striking Gothic cathedrals. Travel back to Rome by bus and arrival at about 7.30pm. Overnight at the hotel. Dinner is not included.

Day 7 – Sunday
ROME
American breakfast and day at leisure to explore the city on your own. Overnight at the hotel. Dinner not included.

Day 8 – Monday
ROMA-MONTEPULCIANO-PIENZA-SIENA
American buffet breakfast. Pickup at 7.00am at the hotel. Meet your multilingual tour leader and start a delightful trip through the rolling hills of the Chianti Region. Will reach the hilltop town of Montepulciano, an ancient village rich of medieval and Renaissance buildings, famous for producing one of the oldest wines of Italy, the “Nobile di Mon- tepulciano”. You will stop for a visit to a wine cellar and experience a tasting of wines and local products like ham, cheese, and salami. Proceed to PIENZA, the Renaissance town built under Pope Pius II and alsowell-known for its pecorino cheese. The tour will proceed to SIENA, where you will enjoy a visit of the old city centre. You will be walking along the medieval streets admiring splendid palaces. The sightseeing tour will end in the Piazza del Campo with its spectacular Cathedral. This is one of the most beautiful squares in the world and site of the famous 600 years old horse-race, called “Il Palio”. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Day 9 – Tuesday
SIENA-SAN GIMIGNANO-TAVERNELLE-CHIANTI AREA- LUCCA- PISA-LA SPEZIA
After breakfast at the hotel, departure to SAN GIMIGNANO, a tiny city that has remained intact through the centuries; situated on a hilltop and famous for its numerous towers, frescoes and other art treasures. You will then proceed to Tavernelle Val di Pesa located within the CHIANTI CLASSICO “Gallo Nero” region, where we will make a stop at the farmhouse LA TANCIA to enjoy an excellent wine tasting with light lunch. The tour continues onto LUCCA, where you will have free time for lunch. Our expert tour leader will also take you for a pleasant walk into the enchanting historical centre, where you will admire the Anfiteatro Square, the Guinigi Tower, the San Martino Dome and the typical antique shops. In the early afternoon, you will then proceed to PISA, Upon arrival you will have a walking tour of the Piazza dei Miracoli, with its famous Leaning Tower (exterior visit), The Baptistery (exterior visit) and other beautiful monuments. Proceed to LA SPEZIA. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Day 10 – Wednesday
LA SPEZIA-PORTOVENERE-GOLFO DEI POETI-CINQUE TERRE- LA SPEZIA
After breakfast, departure by boat for an unforgettable day dedicated to the discovery of one of the most amazing and enchanting landscape in the World. The five villages, Cinque Terre, is an area suspended between sea and land, hanging from sheer cliffs surrounded by hills and vineyards. You will enter into a little piece of heaven. By touring the coast line by boat, you will have the possibility to admire this amazing landscape from the seaside *, like in a postcard. (*In the event of rough sea, the visit will be done parthly by coach and parthly by train.) During the tour, the boat will reach Portovenere and the most important villages. You will be able to stop at PORTO VENERE, VERNAZZA, MONTEROSSO and visit them at leisure. PORTOVENERE: Portovenere, on the Gulf of Poets, is a Unesco World Heritage site. Its picturesque harbor is lined with brightly colored houses, while narrow medieval streets lined with shops lead up the hill from the ancient city gate to the castle. RIOMAGGIORE: Caught between two steep terraced hills descending in steep cliffs to the sea, the ancient village of Riomaggiore strikes visitors with its delightfully colored houses built vertically. MANAROLA: Built on a high rock 70 metres above sea level, is one of the most charming and romantic villages. The tiny harbor features a boat ramp, picturesque multicoloured houses facing the sea, a tiny piazza with seafood restaurants. CORNIGLIA: is an ancient Roman village that has a long and rich agricultural tradition. The village is surrounded on three sides by vineyards and terraces. Its architecture is closer to that of a rural inland village than that of a coastal village. VERNAZZA: The small fishing village Vernazza is probably the most characteristic of the Cinque Terre and is classified as one of the most beautiful villages in Italy. The village is surrounded by very steeply-terraced olive groves which are said to produce among the finest olive oil in the country. MONTEROSSO: It is the largest of the five coastal villages. Its amazing beaches, its beautiful reefs and the sea?s crystal clear waters, make this small village one of the most hospitable of the Ligurian Riviera. Board the train from Monterosso and arrive in La Spezia. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Day 11 – Thursday
LA SPEZIA-CARRARA MARBLE CAVES-MONTECARLO DI LUCCA-ROME
After breakfast at the hotel, the tour will take you to CARRARA for a visit of the impressi- ve marble quarries carved deep into the mountain. This is where Michelangelo took the raw material to create his superb masterpieces. By visiting the quarry museum you will admire ancient tools, some sculptures and the quarryman’s house. Continue to Mon- tecarlo di Lucca, a lovely town located on the hills around Lucca. This territory is ideal for the production of top quality wine and extra virgin olive oil. We will stop and visit a farmhouse where the owners will have you taste delicious Tuscan food specialities, from olive oil to cheese, from bread to wine and of course pasta, which you will taste with different wines. Proceed to Rome and arrival in the evening. End of the tour.

Tour Highlights