9 Day Best of Italy Tour

Itinerary

DAY 1 Sat. USA / ROME:  Overnight flight to Rome, Italy.  Airfare not included.   

Day 2 Sun. ROME: Upon arrival to Rome, you will be transferred to your hotel. Rest of day at leisure. This evening you depart for a two-hour Rome by Night tour. Overnight stay in Rome.

Day 3 Mon. ROME / Assisi / Siena / FLORENCE: Explore Assisi, at your own leisure, this tiny town surrounded by walls, built in the Middle Ages. Take your time to visit the basilica of St. Francis, where you will admire Giotto's and Cimabue's works. Free time for lunch (meal not included). Continue to Siena, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, world-known for the Paleo, the historical horse race around the shell-shaped town square: Piazza del Campo. After couple hours of sightseeing Siena, we reach Florence. You will check in at your hotel before enjoying dinner and a well-earned night of rest. (B, D)

Day 4 Tues. FLORENCE:  After breakfast, spend the day exploring the sites of Florence. Lunch in a typical Tuscan restaurant in Piazza Santa Croce. Spend the afternoon strolling the cobblestone streets of Florence on your own or take a short trip to Pisa (optional), one of the four main historical Marine Republics of Italy. There, you will tour the Piazza dei Miracoli with the Duomo, Pisa's symbol "the Leaning Tower" and the Baptistery. Overnight stay in Florence. (B, L) 

Day 5 Wed. FLORENCE / Bologna / Padua / VENICE: Today we continue north to Bologna. You will discover the elegant city center. From Piazza Malpighi, walk to Piazza del Nettuno and Piazza Maggiore (Neptune square and Major square), then King Renzo's Palace; Palazzo Podestà and the basilica of San Petronio. In the afternoon we visit Padua. Visit Sant' Antonio Basilica, the quiet river running below the bridges, its unique historical center and Prato della Valle. Late afternoon we arrive in Venice. Check in at your hotel for dinner and overnight stay. (B, D)

Day 6 Thurs. Venice: After breakfast, enjoy your private water-taxi transfer to Piazza San Marco, with "Skip the Line" tickets to visit the splendid St. Mark's Basilica and, after this, check out the most iconic places of the "Floating City": The Palazzo dei Dogi, symbol of Venice's glorious past, the legendary "Bridge of Sighs". Spend the afternoon roaming along Venice's canals at your leisure and then return to the hotel and overnight. (B)  

Day 7 Fri. VENICE / Tuscany Wine Region (Montepulciano) / ROME: After breakfast, we depart from Piazzale Roma, Venice heading to Tuscany, world-known for its landscapes, its churches and castles and its delicious wines. Montepulciano You will proceed to Val di Chiana with a stop in Montepulciano, a medieval town rich in history and art. Known for its “Nobile” wine, on purchase in local wine houses, Montepulciano also hosts an annual Jazz and Wine Festival every July. Lunch in a typical restaurant included and free time before departing for Rome. Arrive and check in at the hotel in Rome. (B, L) 

Day 8 Sat. ROME: This morning we take an included tour of the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica with our exclusive “Skip the Line” access! Upon arrival, your guide will lead you into the museums where you will visit one of the most important art collections of the world. Walk along the beautiful Galleries of Tapestries and Geographical Maps before admiring Raphael’s Rooms and the amazing Sistine Chapel. After this incredible experience, you will be led by a privileged door into St. Peter’s Basilica: the biggest church in the world! The tour will end in St. Peter’s Square, and you will be able to enjoy the rest of the day to explore the city at leisure or maybe choose any of our selected tours for the afternoon or at night. (B) 

Day 9 Sun. ROME: This morning we say Arrivederci Roma.  After breakfast you will be transferred to the airport for your flight home. (B)

 Package Includes:

§ Air-conditioned vehicle

§ Onboard Wi-Fi

§ Professional guide

§Seven nights of First-Class hotel accommodations

§ 11 Meals: 7 breakfast, 2 Lunch, 2 Dinners

§ Transfer from Rome Airport to Rome hotel and vice-versa

§ Sightseeing, entrance fees per itinerary

§ English speaking local guides included per itinerary.

§ 1 25-inch piece of luggage per person

§ Porterage and service charges included.

§ All hotel taxes and service charges except Hotel Local City Tax.

Please note: Rates do not include city taxes. City tax will be paid directly at the reception hotel desk at the arrival or at the checkout according to the local city board procedure. City tax will change according to hotel category (3 - 6 euros/ per day)

Hotels are subject to availability at time of booking. In the rare event that the mentioned hotel is unavailable, you will be accommodated in another centrally located hotel of the same star rating.

Extend your stay with a Pre or Post accommodations. Please call us directly at 1.800.385.3650.

TRANSFERS: Airport transfers are included per itinerary only when airfare is purchased from Classic Holidays. Taxi service or private ground transfers are available for those purchasing their airfare elsewhere at additional cost.

Price Excludes: Airfare & airport taxes (except those which are specified), passports & visas, laundry, telephone calls, drinks, food not indicated in the itinerary, expenses of a personal nature, excess luggage and transfer of the same, optional excursions & excursions during the cruise, gratuities of any kind, Personal expenses, Customary tips to your drivers, guides and escorts