italy reg of cont 10

ITALY REGIONS OF CONTRAST

Day 01:

Departure via scheduled airline

Day 02 - Rome:

Arrive in Rome and be greeted by awaiting guide and coach that will take you to your hotel. After check-in and relaxation time, begin your orientation tour of the Eternal City. Return to your hotel for dinner and overnight.

Day 03 - Rome:

Today’s guided tour begins at the Colosseum. Next, see the Forum, the civic center of Imperial Rome. After a lunch break in Trastevere, it’s on to the Pantheon and Piazza Navona. After dinner, visit the Spanish Steps

and Trevi Fountain.

Day 04 - Rome/Ostia Antica:

A full day of sightseeing is planned beginning at the Vatican Museum to see some of the greatest art in Western Europe. The Raphael rooms and Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel highlight this visit, followed by the splendor of St. Peters Basilica. After a lunch break, sightseeing is your choice. Free time can be used to explore St. Peter in Chains to view Michelangelo’s Moses, Santa Maria Maggiore, or San Clemente’s multilayer church. An excursion by metro can take you to Ostia Antica to see the excavations of a classical Roman city.

Day 05 - Florence:

After breakfast board your morning train to Florence. Following your hotel check-in and a lunch break, stroll to the Duomo, Giotto’s Bell Tower and the Baptistery. Finish today with a visit to Santa Croce Basilica.

Day 06 - Florence:

Begin the day with one of these options: to the Uffizi, the Bargello, climb the Duomo’s Cupola or Giotto’s Tower. After lunch, visit the Academy and see Michelangelo’s David. Balance of day free.

Day 07 - Florence/Siena/San Gimignano:

Today’s group activities begin with a late morning departure for nearby Siena. There you will see one of Europe’s preserved Medieval cities. Visit the famous Duomo (built 1150-1376) and the Piazza del Campo, scene of Il Palio. Next stop is the towered Medieval city of San Gimignano (a UNESCO world cultural heritage site). After a short walking tour, enjoy a dinner in one of San Gimignano’s charming eateries.

Day 08 - Florence to Venice:

Travel by rail this morning to Venice. After hotel check-in, see Piazza San Marco, Basilica of San Marco, the Doges Palace, and Bridge of Sighs. After a break for independent activities, travel via water bus across the Grand Canal to San Giorgio Maggiore and visit the bell tower to take the very best photographs of Venice.

Day 09 - Venice:

Free option day. Today plan to go to the beach at the Lido or an optional guided visit to the lagoon islands of Murano, Burano, and Torcello. An evening stroll and historical presentation to the famous Ghetto (Europe’s first Jewish ghetto) completes this Venetian day.

Day 10: Venice:

Return flight to the USA

10 Days

Rome: touring includes: