ROME – City tour of Rome

TODAYS HIGHLIGHT: City tour of Rome. Night transfer to Trastevere area. We will enjoy a panoramic tour to give you an introduction to the Eternal City, finishing at St Peter’s in the Vatican, where you will be able to visit the Basilica and museums. In the evening, we transfer to the Trastevere, the busy city district well known for its typical restaurants. Return to hotel.

ROME – Free day

Free day. You can enjoy the charm of this city. Free time to explore and discover memorable places.

ROME – FLORENCE

We travel to the capital of Tuscany – FLORENCE.

Upon arrival, we will make a stop to take a photo at the Michelangelo viewpoint, where we can have one of the most beautiful views over the city. After that, we include a sightseeing tour with a local guide of the capital of Tuscany, one of the most visited cities in the country, considered the cradle of the Renaissance, and a few of the most influential artists and thinkers in history, such as Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Botticelli or Raphael. Highlights include the Gothic cathedral (duomo), the ancient Stone Bridge (Ponte Vecchio) with its goldsmith shops, and the Signoria square – the political heart of the city with the town hall in a medieval building.

FLORENCE – PISA – CINQUE TERRE – GENOA

Today we continue our journey towards PISA. On a little tourist train, we will travel to the Piazza Dei Miracoli (Square of Miracles), where there will be time to admire the well-known Leaning Tower of Pisa. Next, we head to the Ligurian Coast, with some of the prettiest coastlines in Europe. We will visit the CINQUE TERRE, which has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It comprises of five villages, almost isolated by road, which live on fishing and tourism. We arrive by train, ticket included, to one of its charming towns (normally VERNAZZA, but on busy tourist dates it could be Manarola or Corniglia, very similar towns that are somewhat less crowded). After lunch, we travel by train to LEVANTO, where we take the bus to continue to GENOA. Note: The train to Cinque Terre is a regular local railway service, not a tourist service. Sometimes the trains are full (it is not possible to book places on these trains) so it might be necessary, on occasion, to travel standing and not seated. In these cases, we suggest walking to the monumental site (approximately 900 meters).

GENOA – PORTOFINO – MILAN

We will continue our journey to the nearby city of SANTA MARGHERITA LIGURE, where we will embark on PORTOFINO, one of the most exclusive places in Europe. Enjoy a stroll by the sea and time at leisure. After lunch, we continued to MILAN, the busy northern city in which we recommend a visit to the cathedral. Note: Due to weather conditions in winter, sometimes the boat to Portofino does not operate, in which case access will be by urban microbus (poor quality service, sometimes long waiting times).

MILAN – LAKES REGION – VERONA

Today we see one of the most beautiful scenic areas of Europe, the region of the Italian lakes. First we will travel to LAKE ORTA in ORTA DE SAN GIULIO, a well-preserved medieval city. We take a train ride to reach the center of the medieval town, and then a boat to the ISLAND OF SAN GIULIO, a little island on the lake with a monastery. After this we go on to LAKE MAGGIORE, making a stop in STRESA, where we have the option to visit the Borromean Islands, and especially ISOLA BELLA with its gardens and palace (closed in the winter). Time for lunch. After lunch we go on to VERONA. Note: during the winter months the Orta train does not operate. In that case you will access the medieval town by walking approximately 800 meters from the bus parking lot.

VERONA – VENICE

We will have time to see Verona, the city of Romeo and Juliet before leaving for VENICE, where we arrive at about 13.00 hrs. We include a boat trip to the area of St. Marks Square, with a local guide we take a stroll around the City of Canals. There will also be a chance to admire the glasswork of Murano. Afterwards enjoy some leisure time, maybe a trip in a gondola? Accommodation in the Mestre district.

VENICE

After breakfast, end of our services.