The Essential of Italy

TODAY’S 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 Trastévere, the busy city district well known for its typical restaurants. Return to hotel.

The day at leisure to rest and relax or explore the city of Rome further.

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT: Tuscany region with hills and very picturesque villages. City tour off Orvieto. Today we will discover the beautiful region of Tuscany. We will visit ORVIETO, the medieval city on top a mountain. Before entering the city, we will enjoy the impressive view from its viewpoint. Following this, with a local guide and on the system of escalators and ramps, we enter the promontory to see the facade of its cathedral. After the tour enjoy some free time. We travel on to CASTIGLIONE DEL LAGO, on the banks of Lake Trasimeno, where we have time for a stroll and lunch. After lunch we go on to SIENA, with its famous Piazza del Campo and Duomo. Afternoon leisure time in Siena.

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT: San Gimignano. Pleasant landscapes, hills of olive groves and vineyards. We leave Siena and make a stop to see MONTERIGGIONI, a magical medieval little village with cobbled streets, walls, and little shops. After this we continue to SAN GIMIGNANO, a charming little city with its tall medieval towers. After lunch, we travel to FLORENCE, arriving in the early afternoon. We suggest an afternoon visit to the Academy Gallery (closed on Mondays).

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT: City tour of Florence.We will take a tour of Florence with a local guide. FLORENCE is one of the most famous cities of art and history in the world. Enjoy some leisure time.

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT: Wonderful Ligurian coast. Pisa. Train to Cinque Terre. 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 one, the well known Leaning Tower of Pisa. After this we head to the Ligurian Coast, with some of the prettiest coastlines in Europe. We will visit the CINQUE TERRE which has been declared UNESCO World Heritage Site. It comprises of five villages, almost isolated by road, which live on fishing and tourism. Given the difficult access by road, we go by train, with a ticket to VERNAZZA, which maintains its appearance of a citadel, with its outstanding Church of Santa Margarita built in 1318, overlooking the sea. Time to take some lunch. Afterwards we travel by train to LEVANTO, where we re-join the coach 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.

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT: Boat trip to Portofino. Milan. We will continue our journey to the nearby city of SANTA MARGARITA LIGURE, where we will embark for PORTOFINO, one of the most exclusive places in Europe. Enjoy a stroll by the sea and time at leisure. After lunch, we continue 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 waits.

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT: Lakes region. Mountain landscapes, alpine lakes, villages of great beauty. Today we see one of the most beautiful scenic areas of Europe, the region of the Italian lakes. Firstly, we will travel to LAKE ORTA in ORTA DE SAN GIULIO, a well-preserved medieval city. We take a train ride to reach the centre 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, stopping 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.

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT: Visit of Venice. Murano glass factory in 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. We include a boat trip to the area of St Mark’s 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.

After breakfast, end of our services.