INCLUDED FEATURES...

• Rome: Sightseeing tour includes views of the Forum and the Circus Maximus and guided visits of the Colosseum, Sistine Chapel, Vatican Museums and St. Peters Basilica.
• Florence: Walking tour of the city of Florence. Visit the Basilica of Santa Croce and the tombs of Italy’s great men. Guided visit of the Academy of Fine Arts in Florence including Michelangelo’s David. (This visit will take place on Day 6 for the Winter departures, November to April.)
• Pisa: See the Leaning Tower.
• 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.
• Scenic drives Tiber Valley, Umbrian hills, Tuscany, Apennine hills, Venetian Plain.
• Where Trafalgar considers that our excellent audio system will enhance the commentary made by our local guides, making your tour of a city clearer and more entertaining, it will be included.

Dining Highlights

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

First Class Travel Highlights

• The services of one of Trafalgar's top professional multi-lingual Tour Directors.
• A qualified local city guide in Rome, Florence and Venice.
• Chauffeur driven on Trafalgar's luxury air-conditioned motorcoaches with reclining seats and washroom.
• Rome Fiumicino Airport Transfer is provided on Day 2 and Venice Airport Transfer is provided on Day 11.
• Express ‘Pendolino’ train from Rome to Florence
• Express train from Florence to Venice.
• You'll stay in twin-bedded rooms with private facilities.
• All hotel service charges and tips, baggage handling fees and local taxes included.
• A stylish wallet, tour documents and map book journal.

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 will overlook the Forum and the Circus Maximus where chariot races took place and then we will visit the mighty Colosseum. Later we have 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. This evening we will enjoy dinner at the 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)

Hotel: Palazzo Ognissanti (4 nights)

Day 5 - Rome – High-speed train – Florence (3 nights)

We are transferred to Rome’s mainline station to board the high-speed ‘pendolino’ train to Florence. After a comfortable journey (2 hours 29 minutes) through pretty countryside – seeing hilltop villages and towns, we arrive in this perfect Renaissance city. On arrival, our Florentine guide will welcome us to the city so loved by Dante, Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci! We’ll enjoy astounding views from Piazzale Michelangelo, and afterwards, we will go on a walking tour of the medieval and Renaissance quarters, highlighting the Holy Cross Basilica with the tombs of almost all of the greatest men Italy has produced. We’ll visit the Fine Arts Academy where we will see perhaps the most famous work of the Renaissance – Michelangelo’s ‘David’ and of course we’ll visit the Piazza Signoria with its wonderful sculptures. Our Tour Director will also disclose the location of one of the city’s Hidden Treasures to us and tonight we will enjoy a dinner of local cuisine in a trattoria. (Buffet Breakfast / Highlight Dinner)

Hotel: Lorenzo Il Magnifico (3 nights)

Day 6 - Florence – Excursion to Pisa
A short drive by coach 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. Why not 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 7 - Florence at leisure
Enjoy a full day at leisure to take advantage of this historically rich and attractive city. Apart from the obvious museums, there are beautiful gardens – such as the Boboli , - and wonderful Palaces to visit such as the Pitti. And a little way outside of the city – in the heart of Chianti – there are many villages with fine wines and wonderful markets. Florence is also a centre for fashion so even if you do not actually shop – it’s wonderful to wander the elegant shopping streets and admire the goods in the sophisticated boutiques. This evening, you should take advantage of Trafalgar’s great excursion programme and perhaps partake in a trip into the Chianti hills for dinner! (Buffet Breakfast)

Day 8 - Florence – Express Train – Venice (3 nights)
All aboard the express for Venice! A wonderful morning of scenery as the train passes through the Apennine hills and down to the Veneto plain. Soon we reach the city of Venice, its ornate gothic and Renaissance palaces beautifully reflected in the Venetian Lagoon. This evening, what would be better as an introduction to this enchanting place than a Gondola ride along the picturesque canals? Tonight we’ll enjoy dinner 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, the 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 one of the 200 or so islands of the Lagoon 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. 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)