Day 1: Welcome to Rome
Transfer: Rome Fiumicino Aptto Rome - Navona
Hotel: Hotel Ponte Sisto (4 Star Rating)
The hotel is located in a quiet street in the centre of Rome, conveniently situated for the Trastevere district, the Roman Ghetto, the fascinating Piazza Navona and all of the city's other main attractions like the Campo de' Fiori, the Trevi Fountain, the Spanish Stairs and Via Giulia. There are links to the public transport network nearby. The airports of Leonardo da Vinci International (Fiumicino) and Ciampino are about 28 km and 35 km away, respectively.
Peaceful and quiet, the hotel is located in a completely renovated historic building, enveloped in a relaxing atmosphere with a splendid garden filled with luxuriant palm trees and flowers from all over the world. The city hotel consists of a total of 103 rooms and suites. Guests are welcomed into a lobby with 24-hour reception and check-out services. Facilities at the air-conditioned establishment include a hotel safe, currency exchange facility, cloakroom, lift access, room and laundry services and a garage (for a fee). Guests can wine and dine in the bar and restaurant. Business travellers will also appreciate the conference facilities.
All the rooms come with DSL Internet access, air conditioning and satellite TV. Some provide a wonderful view of Rome (Belvedere room) or of the internal cloister. Some also have private balconies (Suite) with tables and parasols. Each is en suite with a shower and hairdryer. Further in-room amenities include a double bed, direct dial telephone, safe, minibar and central heating.
The hotel serves a breakfast buffet, while the restaurant only serves an à la carte dinner.
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Day 2: Golf Cart Tour & Exploring the VaticanExperience Rome in comfort and style with a Private Golf Cart Tour, an innovative and eco-friendly way to explore the Eternal City. Instead of tiring yourself out on foot, relax in a cushioned golf cart as your expert guide drives you through Rome's vibrant streets, sharing stories and history along the way. In just three hours, you'll see more than 20 landmarks across six neighborhoods, including the Colosseum, Pantheon, Spanish Steps, Circus Maximus, Piazza della Repubblica, Aventine Hill, and the Jewish Ghetto. You'll also discover hidden gems such as the Aventine Keyhole and Largo Argentina, the site where Julius Caesar is said to have been killed. Tour seats groups up to six, keeping the experience intimate while supporting sustainable tourism with eco-friendly carts. This tour is perfect for those who want a comprehensive yet relaxed way to see Rome, saving your feet, beating the heat, and uncovering the city's timeless beauty.Discover the Vatican Museums on a half-day small-group tour, limited to 12 guests, with skip-the-line access. Explore the vast galleries and admire masterpieces from the Vatican's renowned art collection, including Raphael's Rooms, before reaching the breathtaking Sistine Chapel. Marvel at Michelangelo's celebrated frescoes in this sacred setting, where papal conclaves take place. Continue directly into St. Peter's Basilica to see Michelangelo's extraordinary La Pieta, created when he was just a teenager. Admire the grandeur of the world's largest church, renowned for its magnificent architecture, mosaics, statues, columns, and impressive dome.
Day 3: Exploring Ancient Rome with Evening Food TourThis half day walking tour begins at the Colosseum, originally known as the Flavian Amphitheater, built between 72 and 80 AD by the Flavian emperors. Once seating up to 70,000 spectators, it hosted spectacular battles of gladiators and wild beasts, scenes famously revived in the film Gladiator. The nickname Colosseum comes from the nearby 35-meter statue of Emperor Nero, known as the Colossus.
The walk continues to the Roman Forum, once the vibrant political, commercial, and religious heart of Rome. Stroll along the original cobblestones of the Via Sacra, leading to Capitoline Hill, and admire ancient basilicas, arches, and columns. The tour concludes at Piazza Venezia, where the grand Vittoriano Monument, dedicated to Italy's first king, Victor Emmanuel II, dominates the square.This tour is the only Rome food tour designed by chefs.
Venture off the beaten path to experience the real flavors of Rome in the vibrant neighborhoods of Trastevere and Campo de'Fiori. Along the way, you'll be shared with insider tips on Italian cuisine and introduce you to local food specialties, immersing you in Rome's rich culinary traditions. In between each delicious tasting, you'll get a glimpse into the history, culture, and architecture that define the Eternal City.
You'll finish with wine and fresh pasta prepared just for you at one of the spectacular locations in the heart of the city.
This is a leisurely-paced walking tour over uneven surfaces, but by the end you will have enjoyed a complete meal, so gear up your appetite.
Day 4: Rome to Florence by railTransfer: Rome - Navona to Roma Termini Railway Station
Transfer: Roma Termini Railway Station to Firenze Santa Maria Novella Train Station
Transfer: Firenze Santa Maria Novella Train Station to Florence - City Centre
Hotel: Hotel Berchielli (4 Star Rating)
Located on the banks of the River Arno and just a stone's throw from the Ponte Vecchio, the elegant Hotel Berchielli enjoys an ideal situation in the old town of Florence. It dates back to the 19th century and is decorated in a classic style with stained glass windows and marble floors. The hotel is surrounded by excellent restaurants; the world-famous Uffizi Gallery is just 250 meters away. Other attractions such as Piazza della Signoria or the impressive Dome are within a short stroll. This hotel is a perfect place to discover this wonderful city.
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Day 5: Walk in Florence + Meet DavidDiscover the artistic and cultural treasures of Florence on a guided journey through the city’s historic centre and the renowned Accademia Gallery. Learn about Florence’s fascinating evolution, from its Roman origins through the Middle Ages and Renaissance to the vibrant city it is today. Inside the Accademia, explore the Museum of Musical Instruments and Sala del Colosso, featuring masterpieces by Giambologna, Filippo Lippi, Perugino, Botticelli and Pontormo. Admire Michelangelo’s iconic David, the ultimate symbol of Renaissance genius, alongside his unfinished Prisoners, offering insight into his creative process. Your English-speaking guide brings Florence’s remarkable history to life.
Day 6: Exploring Siena, San Gimignano and Dinner in ChiantiEnjoy this tour which will let you discover the beauties of Siena, San Gimignano and the Chianti countryside before admiring the sunset on the Tuscan hills and tasting a typical dinner in a fascinating location.
In the ancient times, there was only one city in Tuscany that competed against Florence for power, wealth and artistic beauties: Siena.
Starting from Florence, you will be taken to Siena by a comfortable air-conditioned minivan/minibus by an English-speaking driver and tour leader. Here, you will enjoy a guided walking tour of this compact city that will let you discover also Piazza del Campo, the main central square where the famous Palio horse race takes place every year, as well as exploring quieter backstreets and learning everything about the Contrade, the 17 medieval city districts that compete against each other in the Palio.
Tuscany is also known for its gastronomic traditions and you cannot leave Siena without a surprise tasting.
The journey continues to San Gimignano, famed for its medieval skyscrapers, high walls and narrow streets that typify most peoples image of a Tuscan hill town. It is unique in the preservation of about a dozen of its tower houses, which, with its hilltop setting and encircling walls, form an unforgettable skyline.
After some free time in San Gimignano, gaze in awe at a marvellous sunset on the Tuscan hills and then enjoy a wine tasting and a typical Tuscan dinner in the Chianti countryside, then visit their ancient cellars and learn about wine production.
A wonderful and complete experience that leaves you the free morning but lets you discover all the main aspects of the Tuscan countryside, including the gems of Siena and San Gimignano and food and wine Tuscan delicacies.
Day 7: Venice to Florence by railDiscover the secrets of authentic Italian cuisine in a small-group cooking class at a traditional Tuscan trattoria. Begin with an optional visit to Florence's Sant'Ambrogio Market to select fresh local ingredients with your chef. Back in the kitchen, prepare homemade tagliatelle, ricotta-filled ravioli, classic ragu and tomato sauces, and the iconic tiramisu from scratch. Learn traditional techniques, hear stories of Tuscan culinary heritage, and enjoy local appetizers along the way. End your experience by savoring the delicious meal you've created, paired with a glass of house wine, for an unforgettable taste of Florence. Buon appetito!
Transfer: Florence - City Centre to Firenze Santa Maria Novella Train Station
Transfer: Firenze Santa Maria Novella Train Station to Santa Lucia Station
Transfer: Santa Lucia Station to Venice-Difficult Canal
Hotel: Palazzo Paruta (4 Star Rating)
The hotel is situated in a quiet corner of Campo Sant'Angelo, with restaurants, bars and shops within 2 minutes' walk and links to the public transport network just a 5-minute walk away. Fenice Theatre is 300 metres away and the Accademia fine arts gallery is 400 metres from the hotel. Piazza San Marco, the Rialto Bridge, Peggy Guggenheim Collection and Harry's Bar are all a 10-minute walk away, while Lido Island is roughly 5 km from the hotel.
This city hotel is housed in a building dating from 1300 and it is a place where guests can experience bewitching emotions in an atmosphere of grace, elegance and serenity. It is luxurious and classically furnished, and air-conditioned throughout. Guests are welcomed in a lobby with 24-hour reception and check-out service, and there is lift access to the upper floors. Breakfast is served in the breakfast room, and wireless Internet access is available throughout the hotel free of charge. A beautiful internal courtyard features an outdoor stairwell leading directly to the halls of the main floor.
The junior suites and double rooms feature the extraordinary beauty of antique Venetian-style furnishings, precious fabrics, and romantically evocative views of the canals or the wonderful internal courtyard. Each of the charming rooms of the hotel offers wonderful en suite bathrooms featuring a shower, hairdryer and Carrara marble, superior comforts and the most modern amenities, including a flat-screen satellite TV, free wireless Internet access, and individually regulated air conditioning and heating. A direct dial telephone, radio, safe and terrace also feature in all rooms as standard.
A breakfast buffet is served each morning.
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Day 8: Venice Walking Tour & Gondola RideThe not-to-miss walking tour in the heart of Venice: see St. Mark's Square, the heart of political and religious power of the Venetian Republic for centuries, and learn the history that lies behind the walls of its most famous landmarks; the Basilica and its Byzantine heritage, the Doge's Palace and the Prisons, that retain the true secrets to comprehend how a city built on swamps became one of the most enlightened cities in the western world, the Bridge of Sighs and it’s romantic traditions. You'll see Marco Polo's House, a Merchants’ Warehouse, explore the lively Campo Santa Maria Formosa, the Church of San Giovanni e Paolo (the Pantheon of Venice) the walk ends at the evocative Rialto Bridge overlooking the Grand Canal and the Rialto Market.Today, sit back, relax and admire the views during an exciting, traditional Venetian Gondola ride. After boarding your gondola, your fully licensed Gondolier will navigate your vessel through the narrow canals and beneath the many stone bridges of Venice during a serene, half-hour gondola ride. Gently guide on this traditional means of aquatic travel along the Venetian Grand Canal, passing the many landmarks and sites that have made Venice a global tourist hub. A quintessential Venetian experience!
Day 9: Depart VeniceTransfer: Venice-Difficult Canal to Venice Marco Polo Apt
1760 Powers Ferry Rd. - Suite 100
Marietta, GA 30067
USA