13D12N Italian Cities Romance
Day 01 – ROME FIUMICINO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT – ROME
On arrival at Rome Fiumicino International Airport, your driver will meet you at the arrival hall and drive you to your hotel in Rome, the capital of Italy.
Day 02 – ROME: VATICAN CITY [B]
Birthplace of the Roman Empire and home to
Vatican City,
Rome is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Steeped in history with rich offerings of historical monuments, Roman architecture and works of art, Rome also has lots to offer in terms of food and fashion. No visit to Rome would be complete without visiting Vatican City, an independent city-state and HQ of the Roman Catholic Church. Within Vatican City is one of the world’s greatest museum complexes with a huge collection of highly-acclaimed Renaissance art. Not to be missed would be
Raphael’s Rooms and the
Sistine Chapel – home to Michelangelo’s “
The Last Judgement” fresco. Enjoy Vatican City (admission ticket included) at your own pace or join an optional guided tour.
Day 03 – ROME: CENTRO STORICO [B]
Spend your morning on a guided tour of Rome’s “
Centro Storico“, its
historical centre and an
UNESCO World Heritage Site. By coach and on foot, visit iconic sites like the
Piazza Navona,
Trevi Fountain,
Pantheon,
Colosseum and
Forum. Spend the rest of the day soaking in the charm and ambience of Rome with its ubiquitous Baroque churches, fountains and palazzos. And, don’t forget to eat a gelato .. or two!
Day 04 – ROME – FLORENCE [B]
Train from Rome on one of Italy’s high speed trains to
Florence, the capital city of Tuscany and often regarded as the most beautiful city in Italy. In fact, the beauty of Florence places it among the most beautiful cities in the world. Its rich heritage is attested to by its accreditation as an
UNESCO World Heritage Site. One of Florence’s most iconic sights is the
Duomo – Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral, a cathedral with a terracotta-tiled dome and a bell tower (“Campanile”) by
Giotto. The
Galleria dell’Accademia houses
Michelangelo’s “David” sculpture. The
Uffizi Gallery is one of the world’s top art museums exhibiting art by
Leonardo da Vinci,
Michelangelo,
Botticelli and many other celebrated artists. Explore Florence at your own leisure.
Day 05 – FLORENCE [B]
Continue with your exploration of Florence at your own leisure. In addition to sites mentioned earlier, other attractions include
Santa Croce,
San Marco,
Ponte Vecchio (Old Bridge) and
Piazzale Michelangelo.
Day 06 – FLORENCE: SAN GIMIGNANO/SIENA [B/L]
Spend the day enjoying Tuscany’s beautiful sights, famous cities, medieval villages, and its wines and local produce as you visit historic
San Gimignano and
Siena, both of which are
UNESCO World Heritage Sites. San Gimignano and Siena will certainly leave you with lasting memories of Tuscany.
Day 07 – FLORENCE: CINQUE TERRE [B]
Cinque Terre (“five lands”) consists of 5 uniquely and ingeniously constructed picturesque fishing villages that line the
Italian Riviera. Located at one of the most isolated and ruggedly beautiful stretch of the Italian coastline, it was declared an
UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997. The 5 towns from north to south are:
Monterosso al Mare,
Vernazza,
Corniglia,
Manarola and
Riomaggiore. These tiny villages are perched on jagged cliffs with sweeping views of the sparkling blue waters of the Mediterranean Sea, defying not just gravity but time!
Day 08 – FLORENCE – VENICE [B]
Train from Florence to
Venice on one of Italy’s high speed trains. An
UNESCO World Heritage Site, Venice is a city unlike any other – it is built on 118 small islands that are separated by canals and linked by bridges. Tops attractions include:
Grand Canal, St Mark’s Square, Doge’s Palace and
Bridge Of Sighs. Enjoy Venice at your own pace.
Day 09 – VENICE: ITALIAN ALPS [B]
Today, go on a guided tour that will take you to the Italian Alps (“
Dolomites“) and in particular to
Cortina d’Ampezzo (Cortina),
Tre Cime (the iconic “
3 Peaks” of the Dolomites),
Lake Misurina and
Lake Auronzo. An alpine town, Cortina ranks among the top destinations in Europe for hikers in summer and skiers in winter. The awesome beauty of the very unique Dolomites draws visitors from all over the world and it is no wonder therefore that it has been accorded
UNESCO World Heritage Site status. Cable cars (additional expense) at and around Cortina will bring you to elevations and mountain summits that will afford you breathtaking and top-of-the-world views of the Dolomites.
If this day trip is not available, you can join a guided boat trip to the famous and picturesque islands of Murano, Burano and Torcello renowned for their handicrafts and history. Resembling a mini-Venice, Murano was once a major glass-making centre in Europe and it continues to be popular for its blown glassware. Burano is a very stunning island, thanks to its brightly-coloured houses. Just as Murano is famous for its glass-blowing industry, Burano is famous for its lace-making industry. Torcello is very much about history being the oldest centre of civilization in the Venetian Lagoon and famous for its Byzantine mosaics in the seventh-century Cathedral of Santa Maria Dell’Assunta.
Day 10 – VENICE – MILAN [B]
Train from Venice to
Milan, and enjoy Milan at your own pace. Milan, a city of fashion, design and finance, is a bustling metropolitan city with a rich history of art and culture. Iconic attractions include: the Gothic
Duomo di Milano Cathedral; the
Castello Sforzesco (15th century defensive fortress with large courtyards and massive walls); the
Santa Maria delle Grazie convent (housing the “
The Last Supper” mural by Leonardo da Vinci); the
Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II (impressive building filled with shops); the
Quadrilatero della Moda (Milan’s exclusive shopping district); the
Navigli Canals (canal neighbourhood with loads of restaurants and bars); the
Teatro alla Scala (opera house); and the beautiful Romanesque
Basilica of Sant’Ambrogio.
Day 11 – MILAN [B]
Continue to explore
Milan at your own pace. Shopping aside, check out
Milan’s vibrant gastronomic scene. Savour excellent Italian cuisines, gelatos and coffees. It is said that you can never have a bad cup of coffee in Italy as they are always strong, fresh, and tasty. From Michelin-starred restaurants to rustic local trattorias, Milan’s food scene with focus on local produce and regional recipes is among one of the most exciting in Italy.
Day 12 – MILAN [B]
Continue to enjoy
Milan and all that it has to offer at your own pace.
Day 13 – MILAN – MILAN MALPENSA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT [B]
Transfer by private vehicle from your hotel to Milan Malpensa International Airport for your flight home.
Whether you prefer the above itinerary “as-is” or have it customised, if you will indicate the start/end dates of your intended travel and provide your contact details, we will get in touch with you to discuss the itinerary on a no-obligations basis on your part.
