Enchanting Northern Italy
Milan-Sirmione-Verona-Venice-Burano-Murano-Florence-Cinque Terre-Pisa-Sien-San Gimignano-Rome
9 days/8 nights, Milan/Rome
2019 depart Sun: Mar 10, 24. Apr 17, 14, 28. May 05, 12, 19, 26. June 02, 16, 23. July 07. Aug 25. Sep 01, 08, 15, 22, 29. Oct 06, 13, 20.
4 star accommodation on request
day 01 Milan
Arrive at Milan airport and independent transfer to your hotel where you will meet the rest of the participants over dinner.
day 02 Milan
Today we will enjoy a half day panoramic tour of the Economical Capital of Italy. The tour will continue to Piazza dei Mercanti, and you'll get to admire the medieval heart of the city, hidden away from the crowded streets. The Scala Theatre, built in 1776 and located in Piazza della Scala, is not only a monument, but a true temple of Music and Italian History and Culture. You will also enter the majestic Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, a treasure of XIXth century engineering, more than a building; it’s a real symbol of Italian excellence. And, last but not least, you’ll reach the Duomo, the third biggest Cathedral in Europe. You will have some free time for lunch. The afternoon is at leisure to discover the city before returning to the hotel in the evening for dinner.
day 03 Milan – Sirmione – Verona - Venice
Depart to the Lake Garda and in particular to Sirmione, an ancient town replete with quaint cobbled streets and historical landmarks. Time at leisure to visit the city or the beautiful Roman villa and the Grottoes of Catullus (Grotte di Catullo). Take also some time to enjoy the magnificent Scaliger Castle, a rare example of a medieval port fortification. Continue to Verona where we will enjoy a panoramic walking tour of the city, known for its famous Arena and for being the hometown of Romeo and Juliet. Departure to Venice for dinner and overnight.
day 04 Venice – Murano – Burano - Venice
Today we will first enjoy a walking tour of the Serenissima, one of the most beautiful cities in the World among Italian Heritage Sites by UNESCO. The Venice historic center is situated in the middle of a lagoon, with a total of 118 small islands separated by canals and connected by bridges for pedestrian use only. We will walk through beautiful monuments (exterior visits) as Palazzo Ducale, the famous Bridge of Sights, the tour will continue discovering the beauty of Venice, with the Basilica of San Marco (exterior visit). Lunch at leisure. In the afternoon, we will take an excursion to the Lagoon islands Murano, Burano and Torcello which are the traditional destination among the islands located in the northern part of the Venetian Lagoon. After sailing past the island of San Giorgio Maggiore, a 16th century Benedectine church designed by Andrea Palladio and built between 1566 and 1610, the public Gardens, the tip of Sant'Elena and the Lido (the famous beach resort), the boat arrives at Murano known throughout the world for its glass manufacturing industry. Here there is a stop to visit one of the factories. The second stop is on the picturesque island of Burano, famous not only for its lace but also for its fishermen's houses painted in bright colors. Then, after a short sail, you will reach the quiet and sparsely populated island of Torcello, the first centre of civilization in the estuary. Only the Cathedral of "Santa Maria Assunta" with its magnificent mosaics and the church of "Santa Fosca" remain the testimony of its former glory.
day 05 Venice – Florence
Depart to Florence and stop on the way for lunch. Once in the city, we will enjoy a half-day walking tour beginning at the Piazza San Firenze; home of the Bargello and the Tribunale Fiorentino, once a church and convent complex and now home to the Florence courts. You'll walk first to the Church of Santa Croce, home to many wellknown masterpieces and burial place of some of Italy's most important personages. Next you'll arrive at Piazza Signoria, the heart of the city of Florence since ancient times. It is famous for Neptune's Fountain, the Palazzo Vecchio, and the lovely Piazzale degli Uffizi as well as the famous Ponte Vecchio.
day 06 Florence – Cinque Terre – Pisa - Florence
Today enjoy a marvellous excursion to one of the most famous area in Italy: Cinque Terre. Weather conditions permitting, depart to Portovenere, in case of bad weather conditions, we will stop in La Spezia and do the visit to Cinque Terre by train. In Portovenere, we will embark on a regular ferry which will bring us to Monterosso, the largest town among the Cinque Terre. Your tour leader will guide you through the terraced vineyards, the ancient olive groves and the spectacular panoramic views. Then depart to the charming town of Vernazza, characterized by its narrow streets and small square looking out over the sea. Then we will head back to Portovenere to take the ferry back to Florence. We will stop in Pisa to admire (exterior visits) the famous Leaning Tower. Arrive in Florence for dinner and overnight.
day 07 Florence – Siena – San Gimignano - Florence
Depart to the medieval city of Siena. Walking tour of the city including (exterior visits) : the Cathedral, admiring the unique marble, the Piazza del Campo, the famed site of the Palio di Siena, the horse races held twice a year. Afterward, soak up some free time to continue exploring independently or to purchase lunch. In the afternoon, depart to the walled medieval city of San Gimignano. Resting on the top of a hill, explore the area’s impressive Romanesque and Gothic architecture.
day 08 Florence – Chianti area - Assisi – Rome
Depart to the famous Chianti area where apart admiring the famous Tuscany countryside, we will be able to do a wine tasting (not including). Continue to Assisi, famous pilgrimage site. Stroll the maze of medieval streets, and visit the Basilicas of Santa Chiara and St. Francis to see one of Italy’s largest collections of church art. Depart to Rome for dinner and overnight.
day 09 Rome
Your tour comes to an end after breakfast. Own arrangements for departure.
Inclusions: twin share in 3 star hotel, buffet breakfast and dinner daily, transportation from Venice central parking to the nearest point to your hotel roundtrip, half day excursion to Murano and Burano by ferry, cinque Terre ferry from Portovenere to Monterosso and Vernazza (weather conditions permitting, if not excursion will be done by train from La Spezia to Monterosso and Vernazza), deluxe motorcoach (sizes accordingly to the number of passengers), multilingual tour guide Spanish/ English from 7 participants, panoramic visits (no local guides) except for the visits in Milan, Venice and Florence where an English/Spanish local guides will do the visits.
Exclusions: flights, lunches, transfers in & out, beverages during meals, entrance fees except those indicated as per included, city tax to be paid locally, tips and personal extras, porterage
Hotels: Milan -3* Hotel Ibis Milano Centro, Venice- 3* Hotel Il Mercante di Venezia, Florence- 3* Hotel Meridiana, Rome-3* Hotel Fiamma/ 3*Hotel Rome Garden
Note: tour itinerary’s, for technical reasons, can be changed or inverted without notice. All previous visits, excursions and services are guaranteed. Dinners during the tour could be at hotel or at local restaurant according to the tour director’s decision. If the tour counts less than 7 participants, the trip could be done with an English/Spanish speaking driver/guide (no tour guide).
On request: private transfers from Milan or from Como