Day 1 - Depart USA
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 convivial Welcome Dinner with wine. (Welcome Dinner) 

Hotel: Cicerone (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 see the Forum and walk along the Via Sacra to see the Colosseum. Finally, on to 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. (Buffet Breakfast)

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 Mount Subasio. We’ll enjoy a guided visit (with audio system) 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. Leaving this peaceful haven behind we continue north past tobacco fields, vineyards and olive groves into Tuscany where we arrive in Renaissance Florence and our hotel where we have dinner tonight. (Buffet Breakfast / Dinner)

Hotel: Fenice Palace (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 (Audio system included). 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, most particularly Michelangelo. Finally we will enjoy a guided visit of the Academy of Fine Arts where Michelangelo’s statue of 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 this morning 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 contain 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. Dinner is in our hotel. (Buffet Breakfast / Dinner)

Day 8 - Florence – Bologna – Venice (Island) (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 orientation tour with our Tour Director. 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: Continental (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 Custom House, the start of the 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 / Dinner)

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, as we follow the maze of pathways to the famous Rialto Bridge which spans the Grand Canal. We cross the Rialto and visit the staggering 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. Later, why not join your fellow travelling companions and celebrate the last night of our tour with a delicious meal in a characteristic trattoria? (Buffet Breakfast)

Day 11 - Depart Venice
This morning wish Italy ‘arrivederci’ as we transfer you to the airport for your return flight home. (Buffet Breakfast)

Christmas & New Year's Eve Highlights
Tour departure 21 Dec will be accommodated in Florence over Christmas and tour departure 28 Dec will be accommodated in Florence for the New Year celebrations.