Heart of Italy

Arrival in Venice & Introductory Bacari Tour
Welcome to Venice - one of the most charming cities of Italy. Upon arrival, you have a private water-taxi transfer to the hotel for the check-in. The rest of the day is at your own leisure to relax after the trip. 

In the evening you meet your local guide for a Bacari tour*, when you are introduced to the authentic Venetian culture. Bacari is a type of bar where you have a glass of wine and enjoy "cicchetti" - delicious plates of traditional lagoon foods, including bread croutons or polenta with salt cod, marinated anchovies, fried fish and grilled cuttlefish, sardines in saor.  

While you visit three bars in Rialto Area you chat about your upcoming journey with your local guide and relish the anticipation of the adventure that is already beginning!

*Note: in case of late arrival the Bacari tour is rescheduled on the following day.

Venice Sightseeing Tour
After breakfast at your hotel, meet your private guide in the lobby and enjoy a wonderful walking city tour of all the must-see places.

Your sightseeing program starts with a visit to St. Mark's Basilica, where you can see the astonishing Pala D'Oro altar. Next you go up to Loggia dei Cavalli to enjoy the best panoramic views of St. Mark's Square.

Next on your list is the tour of the Doges Palace that includes crossing the Bridge of Sighs, visiting the old prisons and lushly decorated chambers of the Palace.

After the tour you return to your hotel or may go on an optional gondola ride.

Day at Leisure & Departure
After breakfast and check-out you can explore and enjoy Venice on your own. We suggest visiting the Peggy Guggenheim Collection or joining our carefully planned optional day trip to the islands of Murano & Burano.

In the afternoon you are met at your hotel by an assistant for a transfer by a private water-taxi.  

Arrival in Florence
Welcome to Florence! Upon arrival, your private driver transfers you to the hotel for check-in. The rest of the day is at your own leisure to relax after the trip. 

Florence Sightseeing 
After breakfast at your hotel, meet with your private guide and go on a comprehensive walking tour of Florence's highlights.

Today's program includes exploration of the Piazza del Duomo with a visit to the Baptistery dedicated to St. John the Baptist.

As you proceed to the main square of the city - Piazza della Signoria - you pass through the heart of the historical center with its landmark sites like Piazza della Repubblica and the Strozzi Palace. Stroll down via Tornabuoni, one of the most beautiful streets of the city, famous for its fine shops.

During the tour you also visit the Galleria dell'Accademia to see Michelangelo's famous colossal statue of David, a must-see in Florence.

After the tour return to your hotel and enjoy an evening at your own leisure.

Uffizi Gallery Tour & Evening Wine Tasting
After breakfast in your hotel, meet with your local guide and dedicate your morning to the exploration of the incredible Uffizi Gallery. Uffizi is home to an outstanding collection of art, including masterpieces by Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Raffaello, Botticelli. 

In the evening we have planned for you a wine tasting and in a local bar you enjoy a tasting of 3 different wines selected by the sommelier and paired with snacks.

Departure
Following breakfast in your hotel, you check out and meet your private driver for the transfer. 

Highlights of Rome 
An hour and a half later you arrive in Rome. Your driver meets you and takes you to your downtown hotel where you meet with your guide and embark on a tour to discover the famous ancient treasures of the Eternal City.
 

You see the Spanish Steps, the Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, Piazza Navona, the famous Fountain of the Four Rivers, as well as witness the masterpieces by Bernini, Borromini, and many others.



After the tour, your guide takes you back to the hotel and you have the evening at leisure.

Vatican Sightseeing 
In the morning after breakfast, you meet your guide and walk to a walled enclave and the world’s smallest independent state - Vatican*. When inside the Vatican, you visit private apartments of Julius II, Pinecone Courtyard, Gallery of the Maps, Gallery of the Tapestries and Gallery of Candelabra.


Next, you proceed to the Sistine Chapel, where you have enough time to admire Michelangelo's famous frescoes and learn about the intense relationship between Pope Julius II and Michelangelo that drove the artist to create the greatest work of art the world has ever known.


Then your tour continues in the vast open spaces of St. Peter’s Basilica, a masterpiece of Renaissance architecture and one of the most iconic landmarks in the world. As you step into the basilica, you'll be awestruck by the grandeur of its immense, ornately decorated interiors. 

The ending point of your tour is in St. Peter’s Square, where you can admire Michelangelo's Dome and the gorgeous colonnades designed by Bernini. 


Upon your return to the hotel, you have the rest of the day at leisure to enjoy the beauty of Rome on your own.

*Please note: the Vatican is a sacred religious site thus the dress code for visiting it is applied just as when you visit any church in Italy: no shorts – no uncovered knees and shoulders, no backpacks.  Due to religious services St. Peters Basilica may be spontaneously closed, thus entrance to St. Peters Basilica may not be guaranteed.

Homemade Pasta Cooking Class & Discovering Ancient Rome
After breakfast in your hotel, you discover the so-called Cucina Romana, that is known for some legendary pasta. During the class, you learn to excel at Roman pasta dishes, and in particular how to make fresh pasta and the sauces.

The class is concluded with an amazing pasta lunch with the prepared dishes. After lunch, you meet your guide to discover the famous ancient treasures of the Eternal City on a walking tour.

Your first stop today is the iconic Roman Forum, situated on low ground between the Palatine and Capitoline hills. Dating back to the 3rd century A.D., the landmark served as the key political and ritual center of ancient Rome.

Today you can see columns and remains of ancient temples, arches, and buildings, such as the Temple of Caesar and the Arch of Septimius Severus, as well as the adjacent Palatine Hill, which was the site of the city’s first settlements.

The next place you discover today is Rome's hallmark site - the Colosseum. Originally known by the name of Flavius amphitheater, it was the biggest and most imposing building of its kind in the Roman world, designed as an arena for the fights of Roman gladiators and could hold up to 70 thousand spectators.

After the tour, your guide takes you back to the hotel and you have the evening at leisure.

Departure 
This is the last day of your amazing tour to Italy! After breakfast, your driver meets you at the hotel lobby and takes you to the airport for your flight back home. We wish you a safe flight and hope to work on your future vacations!