CLASSIC ITALY PACKAGE (ROME/FLORENCE/VENICE)

 

FROM FEBRUARY 1st TO OCTOBER 31st 2015

8 days / 7 Nights

 

PROGRAM

 

1st DAY

ROME


Arrival at Rome’s Fiumicino Int'l airport and private transfer to your hotel. A complimentary Bottle of Italian Spumante will be waiting for you in your room to welcome you in the 'Eternal City'” Reminder of the day free to explore Rome

Optional Tours suggested:

Imperial Rome or Vatic an Museums & Sistine Chapel or Christian Rome or NEW*** I Love Eating with Fashion or TOUR ON BOARD THE LEGENDARY FIAT 500 Or Rome by Night.

 

2nd DAY

ROME

Suggested Optional Tours:

·       Imperial Rome

·       Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel

·       Christian Rome

·       NEW*** I Love Eating with Fashion

·       TOUR BY LEGENDARY FIAT 500

·       Rome by Night

 

Please note that the Trevi Fountain is undergoing renovation works and will be enclosed by a wire mesh and panels.

The fountain, however, is still visible walking on a footbridge over  the structure, where visitors will have the chance to throw  the  traditional lucky coin.

 

** LOW SEASON (01 November 2014 – 31 March 2015) **

Every TU - TH - SA – SU

 

** HIGH SEASON (01 April – 31 October 2015) **

Every Day

After breakfast, pick up from your hotel around 8:30 am to join the DISCOVERING ROME ELITE WALKING TOUR

As you will immediately note during your stay in Rome, the landscape of the city is punctuated by a never-ending series of picturesque squares and monuments. With this 3 hour walking tour you will see the most famous sites of the city. In a single morning you will move through centuries and discover Rome’s top attractions. This itinerary begins at Campo dei Fiori, certainly one of the most characteristic squares in Rome  with its  open-air market  and  the  statue  of  Giordano Bruno in  the c enter. Next to Campo de’ Fiori ad mire the magic al charm of Piazza Farnese, which takes its name from the imposing Palazzo Farnese.

A few steps from Palazzo Farnese stands Palazzo Spada; the building is worth a stop thanks to the brilliance of forced prospective introduced by the famous architect Borromini. The arc a de courtyard is an optic al illusion, in which diminishing rows of columns and a rising floor create the illusion of a gallery 37 meters long (it measures 8 meters in reality).

Proceed then to Piazza Navona, one of the most famous squares in the world. Its original shape recalls with extreme accuracy the perimeter of the ancient stadium of Domitian built in 89 A.D. . The symbol  of  the  square is  the Fountain  of  Four  Rivers”,  designed  by  Gian Lorenzo  Bernini and competing with Borromini’s famed church Santa Agnese in Agone. In a ten minute walk reach Piazza della Rotonda housing the unmistakable structure of the Pantheon (inside visit). The Pantheon, a building of ancient Rome, has been well preserved  and is  a  true  masterpiecof architecture. Once inside, our expert guide will be glad to give a short explanation about the history and the architectural secrets of the building. In the c enter  of  the  square  see  the  fountain  designed by Giacomo della Porta. From Piazza della Rotonda the distance is short to Piazza Colonna, thus named after the 2nd century marble column celebrating the victories of  the Emperor  Marcus Aurelius over the Germanic populations. At present the square is the c enter of Italian politic al life, which gravitates around Palazzo Chigi, the seat of the Prime Minister. Cross Via del Corso and in  just

5 minutes arrive at the Trevi Fountain, a true masterpiece and certainly the most famous and spectacular fountain in Rome. The last stop  of  your itinerary  will  be  Piazza  di  Spagna and  the Spanish Steps. Extremely original in shape, it has always been the meeting place for travelers coming from  all  over the  world. In  the  c enter of the square admire Fontana  della  Barcaccia, a fountain c onstructed by Pietro Bernini (father of the more famous Gian Lorenzo). This area is surely a paradise for the fashion-conscious shop per and you will find the most important and famous names of Italian style  on  Via  Condottienjoy  and  relax in  the  numerous shops  and  cafes in  the  area  after the c onclusion of your sightseeing tour.

Remainder of the day at leisure

3rd DAY

ROME

Free day to explore Rome or the surrounding areas Tod ay we suggest to join a full-day OptionalExcursion to the South (Na ples/ Pompeii orto Capri) Tonight enjoy a romantic 'candle light' dinner with a unique view of illuminatedRome.

 

4th DAY

ROME / FLORENCE


After breakfast, depart by train to FLORENCE, the cradle of the Italian Renaissance period. The rest of the d ay is free to explore Florence or the surroundings. Optional Tours: Afternoon Florence City Tour, Excursion  to Pisa, ChiantiWine  Tasting  or  just  enjoy typical 'aperitivo'  with  wine  tasting  & appetizers at Gustavino wine b ar in c entral Florence.

 

5th DAY

FLORENCE

 

** MINIMUM 2 pax during high season (01 April – 31 October 2015) and

MINIMUM 6 pax during low season (01 November 2014 – 31 March 2015) **

(*) Cannot be visited on National Holidays and for reasons beyond our control.

** Tour starts at 09.15 in Piazza Stazione (at corner with Piazza dell’ Unita ’) **

Every Day (Except 25 December  2014 and 01 January 2015)

** No pick-up at hotels. Clients have to reach meeting point 15 minutes prior

departure **

After breakfast, join our city tour “ MEDIEVAL & REINASSANCE FLORENCE WALKING TOUR”. This most complete and thrilling guided walking tour starts from the peculiar Central  market zone, characterized by its workshops and multicolored stalls, where the Medici Chapels, and Basilica di S. Lorenzo, the church of Medici’s Family, are located. In a short time you can reach Piazza del Duomo, where you can admire the Cathedral* (inside visit) and its dome by Brunelleschi, the bell tower  by  Giotto,  and  Saint John’s Baptistery  famous for its Gates of  Paradise”  doors. The tour continues by visiting the medieval quarters where Dante Alighieri and Beatrice lived. Further on find Palazzo Bargello. Not too far, arrive at Piazza della Signoria, a greatopen-air sculpture museum ”, in the shade of the imposing Palazzo Vecchio. Next to it the Uffizi Galleries, one of the most important museums in the world. Finally proceed to the picturesque Mercato della Paglia (Straw market), where the famous Piglet Fountain is located. Walk along the street that leads to Ponte Vecchio, thejewels bridge”. By crossing the bridge, reach the wonderful Pitti Pala c e where our tour ends.