INCLUDED FEATURES...

SIGHTSEEING HIGHLIGHTS

• ROME: Sightseeing tour with special audio system includes views of the Forum and Colosseum plus visits St. Peter's Basilica and the Circus Maximus
  
• SAN GIMIGNANO: Visit this medieval town with its ancient towers
  
• SIENA: Visit the medieval Tuscan city, home of the Palio horse race
  
• CHIANTI HILLS: Enjoy a magnificent scenic drive
  
• FLORENCE: Sightseeing tour with audio system includes Signoria Square, the Duomo and visits the Santa Croce Basilica
  
• PISA: Visit the Square of Miracles and view the Cathedral, Leaning Tower and Baptistery
  
• TUSCAN COUNTRYSIDE: Visit an olive mill including tastings of various varieties
  
• TORRE DEL LAGO PUCCINI: See the home of this great composer
  
• FORTE DEI MARMI: Visit this seaside resort
  
• ASSISI: Sightseeing includes St. Francis' Basilica
  
• SCENIC DRIVES through the Umbrian and Tuscan Hills, through the Chianti Hills, along the Italian Riviera and along the Arno Valley

DINING HIGHLIGHTS

• A Welcome Dinner and drink with your Tour Director in Rome
• 8 Buffet breakfasts
• 2 lunches of local specialities in Florence and the Tuscan countryside
• 2 three-course dinners in hotels
• 1 local speciality restaurant dinner in Montecatini
• 14 meals in total (see day-by-day itinerary)

FIRST CLASS TRAVEL HIGHLIGHTS

• The services of one of Trafalgar's top professional multi-lingual Tour Directors on tour
• A qualified local city guide in Rome, Florence and Assisi
• Chauffeur driven on Trafalgar's luxury air-conditioned motorcoaches with reclining seats and washroom
• Rome Fiumicino Airport Transfers are provided on Days 2 and 10
• 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 travel bag and wallet containing tour documents and helpful information

Double Click on Map to Enlarge

Day 1: DEPART USA. Overnight flight to Rome.

Day 2: ARRIVE IN ROME. On arrival you're met at Fiumicino Airport and transferred to your hotel. After check-in there's time to relax before a Welcome Dinner of pasta and wine in a local trattoria. (Welcome Dinner)

Hotel: Jolly Leonardo da Vinci

Day 3: ROME SIGHTSEEING - TUSCAN HILLS (MONTECATINI) (6 nights). Our morning sightseeing with a local guide, whose commentary will be crystal clear with the use of our audio system, includes a visit to St. Peter's in the Vatican and a walking tour in ancient Rome to see the Forum and the Colosseum. Finally, we see the Circus Maximus - famous for its 'Ben Hur' style chariot races in Roman times! Afterwards, a scenic drive takes us into the Tuscan Hills for our arrival at the spa resort of Montecatini. (Buffet Breakfast/Dinner)

Hotel: Grand Hotel Croce di Malta (6 nights)

Day 4: SIENA & SAN GIMIGNANO EXCURSION. This morning we drive to San Gimignano - a 'medieval Manahattan' - where there's time to explore this many-towered town with its squares and winding streets. Then on to Siena where our Tour Director takes us to the famous Piazza del Campo, scene of the celebrated Palio horse race. We may also visit the stunning marble Cathedral before travelling through the Chianti Hills back to Montecatini. (Buffet Breakfast)

Day 5: MONTECATINI AT LEISURE. After breakfast enjoy a full-day at leisure to do as you please. This evening, dinner is at a local restaurant. (Buffet Breakfast/Highlight Dinner)

Day 6: FLORENCE EXCURSION. It's a short drive to Renaissance Florence,where a walking tour with a local guide, using our audio system, shows us the Duomo, Piazza Signoria and visits the Santa Croce Basilica. After lunch in a local restaurant perhaps take an excursion to explore the museums, Uffizzi galleries or Pitti Palace. (Buffet Breakfast/Highlight Lunch)

Day 7: PISA - TORRE DEL LAGO PUCCINI & FORTE DEI MARMI EXCURSION. This morning we're off to Pisa to see the famous Leaning Tower in the Square of Miracles. We also admire the finely sculpted marble Cathedral, and see the ornate Baptistry. Then into the Tuscan countryside stopping in a pleasant olive grove to visit an olive mill. Here we will be told about olive oil production and also enjoy a tasting of the various varieties followed by a delicious lunch. Next we're off to the splendid Italian Riviera via Torre del Lago Puccini to see where the great 19th century composer wrote 'La Boheme' and 'Madame Butterfly'. Finally, we stop in the fashionable seaside resort of Forte dei Marmi with time to lie on the beach, swim, or stroll along the promenade before returning to Montecatini for the night. (Buffet Breakfast/Highlight Lunch)

Day 8: MONTECATINI AT LEISURE. A full-day to relax by the pool or do more sightseeing. (Buffet Breakfast/Dinner)

Day 9: TUSCAN HILLS (MONTECATINI) - ASSISI - ROME. We drive into Umbria and on to St. Francis' Assisi. Here there's time to visit the Basilica with its Giotto frescoes on our walking tour with a local guide using our effective audio system, and enjoy the views from its medieval ramparts. Finally back to the 'Eternal City'. This evening, why not celebrate your final night with your fellow travelling companions in a Roman trattoria? (Buffet Breakfast)

Hotel: Sheraton Golf

Day 10: ROME - USA. 'Arrivedeci Roma' as we transfer you to Fiumicino Airport for your return flight to America. (Buffet Breakfast)