Itinerary
DAY 1 Arrive in Rome, Italy
Time to rest or start exploring the “Eternal City.” At 6 pm, meet your Tour Director and traveling companions and leave the hotel for a special welcome dinner with wine at one of Rome’s lively restaurants. (Dinner)
DAY 2 Rome
Sightseeing with your Local Guide starts with a visit to the VATICAN MUSEUMS and SISTINE CHAPEL (arranged next morning if closed today), world famous for Michelangelo’s ceiling paintings and The Last Judgement. Continue to monumental ST. PETER’S SQUARE and BASILICA. Cross the Tiber and visit the COLOSSEUM and the ROMAN FORUM, where Roman legions marched in triumph. Then, time for independent activities and exciting optional excursion possibilities. (Breakfast)
DAY 3 Rome–Pisa–Florence
Follow the Aurelian Way along the Tyrrhenian coast to Pisa. Here, take your pictures of the amazing Leaning Tower, 180 feet high and no less than 12 feet out of the perpendicular. Then, on to Florence, the splendid capital of Tuscany. You may wish to join an optional dinner outing to a fine Tuscan restaurant. (Breakfast)
DAY 4 Florence
Follow your Local Guide to the ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS with Michelangelo’s celebrated David and the magnificent CATHEDRAL. Admire Giotto’s Bell Tower, the Baptistry’s heavy bronze “Gate of Paradise,” and sculpture-studded SIGNORIA SQUARE. The afternoon is free. Florentine leather goods and gold jewelry sold by the ounce are attractive buys. (Breakfast)
DAY 5 Florence–Verona–Venice
North to Verona, medieval setting of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. See Juliet’s Balcony and the well-preserved Arena. Stroll around the picturesque market square. Tonight, you are in Venice, a powerful magnet for romantics and art lovers from around the globe. (Breakfast)
DAY 6 Venice
Start the day in style by PRIVATE BOAT to meet your Local Guide. Highlights of your walking tour are ST. MARK’S SQUARE and the byzantine BASILICA, lavish DOGES’ PALACE and the BRIDGE OF SIGHS. Also watch skilled GLASSBLOWERS fashion their delicate objects in an age-old traditional manner. Afterwards, enjoy Venice at your own pace or join an optional cruise to the charming island of Burano. Tonight is your chance to sample the city’s fine restaurants. (Breakfast)
DAY 7 Venice–Ferrara–Rome
A scenic drive today through the lush plains of the mighty River Po to Ferrara. Stroll past the imposing Este Castle to the marble cathedral before continuing to Rome across the wooded Apennine mountain range, and past the vine- and olive-clad Tuscan Hills, home of the popular Chianti wines. This evening, enjoy a farewell dinner with wine at a local restaurant to celebrate the success of your vacation. (Breakfast, Dinner)
DAY 8 Rome
Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (Breakfast)
Vacation Overview
What do you want from your Italian vacation—amazing architecture, sumptuous food, delicious wine, breathtaking art, historical treasures, or scenic beauty? Whatever it is, this Italy vacation offers it to you! You’ve seen photos of the Vatican and St. Peter’s Square—now’s your chance to stand in this square, where people gather to hear the pope. You’ve heard about gladiator contests in ancient Rome—now’s your chance to see the Colosseum, where the contests took place. You know the story of Romeo & Juliet—now’s your chance to see Juliet’s Balcony in Verona. You’ve seen photos of Venice’s gondolas—now’s your chance to experience a romantic ride in one of them. You’ve seen photos of the Leaning Tower of Pisa—now’s your chance to see it. Did you know the tower was constructed in three stages over the course of 177 years, starting in 1173? In 1178, it was already obvious the tower leaned, but construction continued. These are just a few of the many highlights offered on this tour through Italy’s great cities. You’ll also have leisure time to enjoy Italy’s most popular cities—Rome, Florence, and Venice—at your own pace. It’s the trip of a lifetime!No one brings the world’s stories to life like we do. What story will you discover next?
INCLUDED FEATURES
Headsets throughout the tour Rome: Welcome and farewell dinners at a local restaurant; guided sightseeing, visit the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel, St. Peter’s Square and Basilica, the Colosseum and Roman Forum
Pisa: Take pictures of the Leaning Tower
Florence: Guided walking tour, visit Michelangelo’s David, the cathedral, and Signoria SquareVerona: Walking tour including Juliet’s Balcony and the Arena
Venice: Private boat ride; guided walking tour, visit St. Mark’s Square and Basilica, Doges’ Palace and the Bridge of Sighs; glassblowers’ demonstrationFerrara: Walk along Este Castle to the cathedral
INSIDE VISITS
Inside visits and special features are shown in the description, including admission charges when applicable.
SUPERIOR HOTELS - (D) Deluxe (SF) Superior First-Class (F) First-Class
Rome Cicerone (SF), Florence Kraft (F), Venice Carlton & Grand Canal (F), Rome Villa Pamphili (F) or Albani (F)
MEALS
Full buffet breakfast; 2 three-course dinners : special welcome and farewell dinners with wine in Rome.
ITALY’S GREAT CITIES – 9 DAYS - G.
Dates and Prices
Prices below do not include airfare. We will be glad to help you find the least
expensive airfare,
or you can use mileage if desired. When you Book Online
please enter your departure city
on the "SPECIAL REQUESTS" field and we will
get back to you immediately with an air quote.
If you book your air with us, airport transfers at destination will be included.
Otherwise we can provide them for you at a fee of $50 per person round-trip,
as long as you let us know your flights in advance. Thank you.
| Depart Date |
Vacation Start Date |
Return Date |
Price Without Air |
| 1/21/12 |
1/22/12 |
1/29/12 |
$1,889.00 |
| 2/18/12 |
2/19/12 |
2/26/12 |
$1,899.00 |
| 3/17/12 |
3/18/12 |
3/25/12 |
$1,899.00 |
| 3/17/12 |
3/18/12 |
3/25/12 |
$1,899.00 |
| 3/24/12 |
3/25/12 |
4/1/12 |
$1,899.00 |
| 3/24/12 |
3/25/12 |
4/1/12 |
$1,899.00 |
| 3/26/12 |
3/27/12 |
4/3/12 |
$1,899.00 |
| 3/31/12 |
4/1/12 |
4/8/12 |
$2,289.00 |
| 4/2/12 |
4/3/12 |
4/10/12 |
$2,289.00 |
| 4/7/12 |
4/8/12 |
4/15/12 |
$2,289.00 |
| 4/9/12 |
4/10/12 |
4/17/12 |
$2,289.00 |
| 4/14/12 |
4/15/12 |
4/22/12 |
$2,289.00 |
| 4/16/12 |
4/17/12 |
4/24/12 |
$2,289.00 |
| 4/18/12 |
4/19/12 |
4/26/12 |
$2,289.00 |
| 4/21/12 |
4/22/12 |
4/29/12 |
$2,289.00 |
| 4/23/12 |
4/24/12 |
5/1/12 |
$2,289.00 |
| 4/25/12 |
4/26/12 |
5/3/12 |
$2,289.00 |
| 4/28/12 |
4/29/12 |
5/6/12 |
$2,289.00 |
| 4/30/12 |
5/1/12 |
5/8/12 |
$2,289.00 |
| 5/2/12 |
5/3/12 |
5/10/12 |
$2,289.00 |
| 5/5/12 |
5/6/12 |
5/13/12 |
$2,289.00 |
| 5/7/12 |
5/8/12 |
5/15/12 |
$2,289.00 |
| 5/9/12 |
5/10/12 |
5/17/12 |
$2,289.00 |
| 5/12/12 |
5/13/12 |
5/20/12 |
$2,289.00 |
| 5/14/12 |
5/15/12 |
5/22/12 |
$2,289.00 |
| 5/16/12 |
5/17/12 |
5/24/12 |
$2,289.00 |
| 5/19/12 |
5/20/12 |
5/27/12 |
$2,289.00 |
| 5/21/12 |
5/22/12 |
5/29/12 |
$2,289.00 |
| 5/23/12 |
5/24/12 |
5/31/12 |
$2,289.00 |
| 5/26/12 |
5/27/12 |
6/3/12 |
$2,289.00 |
| 5/28/12 |
5/29/12 |
6/5/12 |
$2,289.00 |
| 5/30/12 |
5/31/12 |
6/7/12 |
$2,289.00 |
| 6/2/12 |
6/3/12 |
6/10/12 |
$2,289.00 |
| 6/4/12 |
6/5/12 |
6/12/12 |
$2,289.00 |
| 6/6/12 |
6/7/12 |
6/14/12 |
$2,289.00 |
| 6/9/12 |
6/10/12 |
6/17/12 |
$2,289.00 |
| 6/11/12 |
6/12/12 |
6/19/12 |
$2,289.00 |
| 6/13/12 |
6/14/12 |
6/21/12 |
$2,289.00 |
| 6/16/12 |
6/17/12 |
6/24/12 |
$2,289.00 |
| 6/18/12 |
6/19/12 |
6/26/12 |
$2,289.00 |
| 6/20/12 |
6/21/12 |
6/28/12 |
$2,289.00 |
| 6/23/12 |
6/24/12 |
7/1/12 |
$2,289.00 |
| 6/25/12 |
6/26/12 |
7/3/12 |
$2,289.00 |
| 6/27/12 |
6/28/12 |
7/5/12 |
$2,289.00 |
| 6/30/12 |
7/1/12 |
7/8/12 |
$2,289.00 |
| 7/2/12 |
7/3/12 |
7/10/12 |
$2,289.00 |
| 7/4/12 |
7/5/12 |
7/12/12 |
$2,289.00 |
| 7/7/12 |
7/8/12 |
7/15/12 |
$2,289.00 |
| 7/9/12 |
7/10/12 |
7/17/12 |
$2,289.00 |
| 7/11/12 |
7/12/12 |
7/19/12 |
$2,289.00 |
| 7/14/12 |
7/15/12 |
7/22/12 |
$2,289.00 |
| 7/16/12 |
7/17/12 |
7/24/12 |
$2,289.00 |
| 7/18/12 |
7/19/12 |
7/26/12 |
$2,289.00 |
| 7/21/12 |
7/22/12 |
7/29/12 |
$2,239.00 |
| 7/23/12 |
7/24/12 |
7/31/12 |
$2,239.00 |
| 7/25/12 |
7/26/12 |
8/2/12 |
$2,239.00 |
| 7/28/12 |
7/29/12 |
8/5/12 |
$2,239.00 |
| 7/30/12 |
7/31/12 |
8/7/12 |
$2,239.00 |
| 8/1/12 |
8/2/12 |
8/9/12 |
$2,239.00 |
| 8/4/12 |
8/5/12 |
8/12/12 |
$2,239.00 |
| 8/6/12 |
8/7/12 |
8/14/12 |
$2,239.00 |
| 8/8/12 |
8/9/12 |
8/16/12 |
$2,239.00 |
| 8/11/12 |
8/12/12 |
8/19/12 |
$2,239.00 |
| 8/13/12 |
8/14/12 |
8/21/12 |
$2,239.00 |
| 8/15/12 |
8/16/12 |
8/23/12 |
$2,239.00 |
| 8/18/12 |
8/19/12 |
8/26/12 |
$2,239.00 |
| 8/20/12 |
8/21/12 |
8/28/12 |
$2,239.00 |
| 8/22/12 |
8/23/12 |
8/30/12 |
$2,239.00 |
| 8/25/12 |
8/26/12 |
9/2/12 |
$2,239.00 |
| 8/27/12 |
8/28/12 |
9/4/12 |
$2,239.00 |
| 8/29/12 |
8/30/12 |
9/6/12 |
$2,439.00 |
| 9/1/12 |
9/2/12 |
9/9/12 |
$2,439.00 |
| 9/3/12 |
9/4/12 |
9/11/12 |
$2,439.00 |
| 9/5/12 |
9/6/12 |
9/13/12 |
$2,439.00 |
| 9/8/12 |
9/9/12 |
9/16/12 |
$2,439.00 |
| 9/10/12 |
9/11/12 |
9/18/12 |
$2,439.00 |
| 9/12/12 |
9/13/12 |
9/20/12 |
$2,439.00 |
| 9/15/12 |
9/16/12 |
9/23/12 |
$2,439.00 |
| 9/17/12 |
9/18/12 |
9/25/12 |
$2,439.00 |
| 9/19/12 |
9/20/12 |
9/27/12 |
$2,439.00 |
| 9/22/12 |
9/23/12 |
9/30/12 |
$2,439.00 |
| 9/26/12 |
9/27/12 |
10/4/12 |
$2,439.00 |
| 9/29/12 |
9/30/12 |
10/7/12 |
$2,439.00 |
| 10/3/12 |
10/4/12 |
10/11/12 |
$2,439.00 |
| 10/6/12 |
10/7/12 |
10/14/12 |
$2,439.00 |
| 10/10/12 |
10/11/12 |
10/18/12 |
$2,289.00 |
| 10/17/12 |
10/18/12 |
10/25/12 |
$2,289.00 |
| 11/3/12 |
11/4/12 |
11/11/12 |
$2,099.00 |
| 12/1/12 |
12/2/12 |
12/9/12 |
$2,099.00 |
| 1/19/13 |
1/20/13 |
1/27/13 |
$1,919.00 |
| 2/16/13 |
2/17/13 |
2/24/13 |
$1,919.00 |
| 3/16/13 |
3/17/13 |
3/24/13 |
$1,919.00 |
| 3/23/13 |
3/24/13 |
3/31/13 |
$1,919.00 |
| 3/25/13 |
3/26/13 |
4/2/13 |
$1,919.00 |
| 3/30/13 |
3/31/13 |
4/7/13 |
$2,289.00 |
| 4/1/13 |
4/2/13 |
4/9/13 |
$2,289.00 |
| 4/6/13 |
4/7/13 |
4/14/13 |
$2,289.00 |
| 4/8/13 |
4/9/13 |
4/16/13 |
$2,289.00 |
|
|
|
|
| Prices based on double room occupancy. |
|
| Single room supplement: |
|
|
| $280, $350 (March 31-October 17 & March 30-April 8, 2013) |
| Triple room reduction per person: $55 |
|
| Extra nights per person in Rome: |
|
|
| in single room $226, in twin room $165, in triple room $138 |
| 2013 departures are subject to itinerary and price modification. Details will be available in Sept. 2012. |
