INCLUDED FEATURES...

• Rome: Sightseeing tour includes an overview of the Roman Forum, a guided visit of the Colosseum, the Sistine Chapel, Vatican Museums and St. Peter's Basilica.
• Assisi: Guided visit of St. Francis’ Basilica. Visit the Church of St. Mary of the Angels.
• Florence: Walking tour of the city. Visit the Basilica of Santa Croce and the tombs of Italy’s great men. Guided visit of the Academy of Fine Arts including Michelangelo’s David.
• Pisa: See the Leaning Tower.
• Bologna: Guided tour including ‘ the kissing towers’.
• Venice: Canal cruise by private launch. Guided walking tour of ‘Secret Venice’ to the Rialto Bridge and famous fish market. See St. Mark's Square, the Byzantine Basilica, Doges' Palace and the Bridge of Sighs. Visit a Murano glass-blowing workshop.

Dining Highlights

• 1 Welcome drink with your Tour Director in Rome
• 9 Hot Buffet breakfasts
• 2 three-course dinners
• 1 Local speciality dinner in Florence
• Farewell Dinner with wine in Venice

First Class Travel Highlights

• Escorted by one of Trafalgar's top professional multi-lingual Tour Directors whilst touring.
• A qualified local city guide in Rome, Assisi, Florence, Bologna and Venice.
• Chauffeur driven on Trafalgar's luxury air-conditioned coaches with onboard washroom.
• Cruise to the Isle of Capri.
• Stay in twin-bedded rooms with private facilities.
• All hotel service charges, tips, baggage handling fees and local taxes included.
• A stylish wallet, tour documents and map book journal.

Airport Transfers
Airport Transfers Group transfers on arrival at Rome Fiumicino Airport will operate at 09.30, 12.30 and 15.30. Return transfers from the last hotel will arrive at Venice’s Marco Polo at 08.00.

Double click on Map to englarge

Day 1 - Departure
Overnight flight to Rome.

Day 2 - Arrive Rome (3 nights)
Trafalgar welcomes you at Rome’s Fiumicino airport and transfers you to your hotel. Then you have time to relax or to take a walk around the Eternal City before meeting up with our travelling companions and Tour Director tonight for a Welcome Drink.

Hotel: Palatino (3 nights)

Day 3 - Rome sightseeing
Michelangelo spent 11 years painting the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, but we will have a little less time to admire it on our included visit of the chapel inside the Vatican Museums! Our guided tour will continue with a visit of St Peter’s Basilica before we cross the river Tiber to Ancient Rome where we overlook the Forum and then have a guided visit of the mighty Colosseum. Finally we see the Circus Maximus where Ben Hur style chariot racing took place before time at leisure to perhaps explore the city further or to sit at a pavement café on the Via Veneto and watch the world go by. Tonight we enjoy dinner together at our hotel. (Buffet Breakfast / Dinner)

Day 4 - Rome at leisure
A full day to enjoy the many attractions this beguiling city has to offer. You can take a trip to visit the Catacombs on the outskirts of the city or maybe venture into the Roman countryside to the perched town of Tivoli to visit the house and gardens of the Villa d’Este. This evening, why not throw a coin in the Trevi fountain to ensure your return one day to the Eternal city. (Buffet Breakfast)

Day 5 - Rome – Assisi – Florence (3 nights)
This morning we leave the city on the Seven hills to drive northward and into the Apennine hills to the mystical town of Assisi built on the slopes of Mount Subasio. We’ll enjoy a guided visit of the town including St Francis’ Basilica, with its enchanting Giotto frescoes, the narrow cobbled streets of the town and the Church of Santa Maria degli Angeli. Then we head north into Tuscany and Florence where our Tour Director will show us one of the many Hidden Treasures of this beautiful city. Tonight we will enjoy a meal of local specialities in a characteristic restaurant. (Buffet Breakfast / Highlight Dinner)

Hotel: Lorenzo Il Magnifico (3 nights)

Day 6 - Florence sightseeing
The medieval and Renaissance past of this culturally rich city is revealed to us on our guided walking tour. We will see the Piazza Signoria – the political centre of the 15th century city – with its impressive sculptures and imposing Palazzos, the multi-coloured marble Duomo and famous Baptistery with the bronze doors designed by the Renaissance artist Ghiberti. We’ll also visit the Basilica of the Holy Cross where so many of the great men of Italy are buried. Finally we will enjoy a guided visit of the Academy of Fine Arts where Michelangelo’s statue of the David will be the focus of our tour. This evening why not enjoy some delicious Tuscan cuisine in one of the country restaurants just outside the city? (Buffet Breakfast)

Day 7 - Florence – Excursion to Pisa
A short drive along the Arno valley will bring us to the one-time maritime city of Pisa. Although famous for its incredibly Leaning Tower, Pisa has a lot more to offer. A beautifully sculpted marble Cathedral, the delicate lacework of its Baptistery as well as a cemetery, which is said to have soil, brought from Calvary in the Holy Land. Time to explore these sights in the aptly named Square of Miracles before returning to Florence. Plenty of time to shop for bargains in high quality leather goods and 18 carat gold jewellery before perhaps trying out some fine Tuscan wines in one of the city’s many wine bars this evening. (Buffet Breakfast)

Day 8 - Florence – Bologna – Venice (3 nights)
We cross the Apennines and enter the gastronomic heart of the country in Emilia Romagna, where we stop in the provincial capital of Bologna. Famed for its various sausages and salamis, Bologna is also home to one of the oldest Universities in Europe. It is a charming city of arcades and more leaning towers – two of which are known as ‘the kissing towers’ as they lean towards each other as if in an embrace! These sights and more will be included on our tour with the local guide. Then across the plains of the Veneto, crossing the river Po to Venice – a city built in flight from the Barbarians descending from the north – and constructed on wooden piles in the Venetian Lagoon. There is no other city like it – it is sure to put a spell on you! This evening, what would be better as an introduction to this enchanting place than a Gondola ride along the picturesque canals? Dinner is included at our hotel. (Buffet Breakfast / Dinner)

Hotel: Bellini (3 nights)

Day 9 - Venice – Canal Cruise and orientation
Savour the sights and sounds of this Byzantine city as we cruise across to St. Mark’s Square by private launch. We’ll see the Bridge of Sighs, Palladian Churches, Customs House, Grand Canal, St Mark’s Basilica and Campanile as well as the Doges’ Palace on our orientation of the city. A stroll across St Mark’s square will bring us to one of the oldest glass-blowing workshops on the islands to witness how this ancient craft is performed. Then you are free to perhaps visit the Fine Arts Academy, to spend some time at one of the cafés on St Mark’s Square – the most elegant drawing room in Europe – or to enjoy a Lagoon cruise to the island of Burano for a delicious seafood lunch! (Buffet Breakfast)

Day 10 - Secret Venice walking tour & visit to the market
Today with our local guide we enjoy a guided commentary using our effective audio system, which will bring the city to life, as we cruise along the Grand Canal to the Rialto Bridge. We cross the Rialto and visit the colourful fish market, which has existed for centuries, and then enjoy a walking tour through the 'calle' seeing sites such as the house of Marco Polo and other curious as well as beautiful architectural works of art. The balance of the day is at leisure to perhaps take a trip to Burano and enjoy eating some of the local seafood. This evening we get together with our fellow travellers and celebrate the last night of our touring experience at a Farewell Dinner in a local restaurant? (Buffet Breakfast / Farewell Dinner)

Day 11 - Venice – Departure
This morning wish Italy ‘arrivederci’ as we transfer you to Marco Polo airport for your flight home. (Buffet Breakfast)