Italy Highlights and Lakes

Enjoy a relaxing overnight flight to Rome.

Upon arrival transfer to your hotel. Tonight enjoy a special Welcome Dinner with music and wine included. (Your arrival transfer is included only if you arrive on the actual day the tour commences. For customers arriving earlier an individual transfer can be organized at an additional cost.) (D)

After breakfast, enjoy a unique guided sightseeing tour, including highlights of religious and ancient Rome: the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel with Michelangelo's ceiling paintings and The Last Judgment, monumental St. Peter's Square and the Basilica to admire Michelangelo's Pieta. Admire the amazing Coliseum (outside) and the Roman Forum (outside). To make the most of your stay, join an optional Roman Highlights excursion. (B)

After breakfast, depart by coach through the rolling hills of the Chianti Region. You will reach the hilltop town of Montepulciano, an ancient village full of medieval and Renaissance buildings, famous for one of the oldest wines of Italy "Nobile" di Montepulciano. Stop for a visit to a wine cellar for a tasting of wines and local products like ham, cheese, salami etc. Proceed to Pienza, the Renaissance town, built by Pope Pius II, well-known for its “Pecorino” cheese. The tour will proceed to Siena, where you will enjoy a visit of the old city center. You will be walking along the medieval streets admiring splendid palaces. The sightseeing tour will end in Piazza del Campo with its spectacular Cathedral (outside). This is one of the most beautiful squares in the world and the site of the famous 600 year-old bareback horse race, called Il Palio. Overnight at hotel. (B,L)

After breakfast, depart for a full-day tour across the beautiful hills of Chianti. You will first reach San Gimignano, a picturesque, fascinating medieval town declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and famous for its white wine, “Vernaccia”. Then the tour will move to the Chianti area with its impressive picture-postcard landscape and, at a famous wine estate, you will taste the best “Chianti” red wine together with a light lunch. In the afternoon proceed to Florence the “Cradle of the Renaissance”. Overnight in Florence. (B,L)

Today enjoy a guided tour of Florence including the Cathedral (outside), Giotto’s Bell Tower (outside), the doors of the Baptistery, Piazza della Signoria, the Church of Santa Croce, the sanctuary of many famous Italian artists. In the afternoon consider an optional tour to Pisa to admire the Leaning Tower (outside) and the marvelous Piazza dei Miracoli. Overnight in Florence. (B)

After breakfast, depart for the Liguria region. You will reach elegant Santa Margherita Ligure and proceed by local bus to the ultra-chic town of Portofino. Time at leisure for lunch on your own, then come back to Santa Margherita Ligure and continue to Stresa and Baveno, two quaint, picturesque towns on Lake Maggiore, where you will spend two nights. Lake Maggiore is one of most beautiful Italian lakes, known for its splendid climate and sightseeing. Dinner and overnight at your hotel. (B,D)

Join a full day excursion into the Alps and Switzerland. Skirting Maggiore Lake you will pass Pallanza, Intra and Ghiffa before reaching Lugano. You can enjoy leisure time shopping at the elegant boutiques of Via Nassa or walk to the magnificent Civic Park. Return to Stresa in Lake Maggiore later in the afternoon. (B,D)

After breakfast depart to Verona, one of Italy's most romantic cities, featuring a wide array of monuments and historic buildings, such as Juliet’s Balcony and the Roman Theatre (outside). Depart to Venice. Overnight at your hotel. (B)

After breakfast take a guided visit of St-Mark’s Square and neighboring sites. The afternoon is free for an optional visit to Murano and Burano, or to explore Venice on your own. (B)

After breakfast you will be transferred to the airport for your flight back home. (Your departure transfer is included only if you depart on the actual day the tour concludes. For customers departing later an individual transfer can be organized at an additional cost.) (B)