Vacation Overview
Visit Italy’s most famous art cities on this popular vacation! Rome is first on the list and included sightseeing features visits of the Colosseum and the Roman Forum. On to charming Orvieto and its gothic cathedral, and Siena in the verdant, rolling hills of Tuscany, the medieval home to the Palio horse race. This is also the famous Chianti wine-producing region, with stops in San Gimignano and in Greve for wine tasting. Spend two nights in the spa town of Montecatini, and enjoy the day trip to Florence with a guided walking tour through the old town center. Among the highlights, see the Piazza Santa Croce, Palazzo Vecchio, and the Piazza del Duomo with the Giotto Campanile. Next on the agenda: Pisa’s famed Leaning Tower, then cross the Apennines to the unique floating city of Venice. Take a boat ride along one of its great canals, reach St. Mark’s Square, and soak in the magic of this enchanting city. Before your return to Rome, experience another hilltop village with a great history: Assisi. In the beautiful basilica dedicated to St. Francis, marvel at the delicate frescoes by Giotto and take in the peaceful atmosphere. Transfer to Sorrento for three overnights and plenty of free time to explore on your own. Return to Rome for a final night and the conclusion of your vacation.

Vacation Highlights
INCLUDED FEATURES:

MEALS
8 Buffet breakfasts & 2 dinners

VISITS to Orvieto, Siena, San Gimignano, Greve in the Chianti with wine tasting, Pisa, Venice, Assisi

SCENIC HIGHLIGHTS
The Chianti Valley

INSIDE VISITS
Inside visits and special features are shown in the description, including admission charges when applicable.

GUIDES
Local Guides for city sightseeing in Rome, Florence. Services of a professional Tour Director while touring

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Itinerary Classic Italy - 10 Days

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Day 1 USA - ROME, ITALY
Overnight flight to Rome.  Movie, Dinner & Breakfast on board.


Day 2 Arrive in Rome, Italy

Check into your hotel. The rest of the day is free for you to explore this ancient capital. This evening, meet your Tour Director and fellow travelers.

Day 3 Rome

The ˝Eternal City,“Rome is a city steeped in history, vibrantly alive and exciting, and absolutely unique! Included sightseeing with a Local Guide starts in St. Peter’s Square, followed by a visit to the Roman Forum and the mighty Colosseum. (B)

Day 4 Rome–Orvieto–Siena

Journey northwest to the charmingly located city of Orvieto in the Umbria region to visit its black basalt and yellow limestone cathedral, an excellent example of Italian Gothic architecture. By early evening you’ll be in Siena with time to visit this jewel of Tuscany. Sit in one of the cafés surrounding the Campo and admire one of Italy’s most unique squares, famed the world over for its Palio horse race. (B)

Day 5 Siena–San Gimignano–Greve–Montecatini

Drive this morning to San Gimignano, one of Tuscany’s greatest attractions. Its medieval squares, town walls, streets, alleyways, and 14 towers make it unique. Next, into the very heart of the Chianti vineyards; watch out for names such as Castellina in Chianti, Badia, Gaiole, and Brolio, where classical Chianti wines are produced. Stop in Greve for some wine tasting at a local wine producer. Arrive in Montecatini in time to join the outing for an optional Tuscan dinner. (B)

Day 6 Montecatini–Excursion to Florence

This Renaissance gem and city of the Medicis will keep you enthralled the entire day. Traffic is banned in part of the historic center so visitors can wander at leisure and admire the city’s timeless beauty in relative peace and quiet. Don’t miss out on the included walking tour with a Local Guide, which features most of the city highlights. You will see the Piazza Santa Croce; the beautiful Piazza Signoria; the Palazzo Vecchio and its courtyard; the Loggia dei Lanzi; and, to top it all, the Piazza del Duomo and its cathedral with the Giotto Campanile, and the magnificent East Door of the Baptistry, known as the “Gate of Paradise.” (B,D)

Day 7 Montecatini–Pisa–Venice Area

This morning, drive to Pisa for a visit to its Square of Miracles and the amazing Leaning Tower, 180 feet high and no less than 16 feet out of the perpendicular. Later, head across the wooded Apennine Hills into the farmlands of the Po Valley for two overnights in the Venice area. (B)

Day 8 Venice Area

Venice is more like a marvelous film set than a real live city, with its criss-crossing canals, gondolas and water buses, arched bridges, palaces, and little quiet piazzas. The included orientation starts with a boat ride and is followed by time at leisure and a chance to watch Venetian glassblowers fashion their delicate objects as they did centuries ago. Don’t miss out on the optional gondola trip, gliding along the picturesque canals with a local troubadour to serenade you. (B,D)

Day 9 Venice Area–Assisi–Rome

An interesting drive southward, cutting across the Po Delta, then crossing the Apennines. Stop in Assisi, where St. Francis was born in 1182. Visit the world-famous basilica with its beautiful frescoes by Giotto, then head for Rome. (B)

Day 10: ROME – USA
After breakfast, transfer to Rome airport for your return flight back home, arriving later today. (Breakfast)

HOTELS - (F) First-Class.