13D12N ITALY ~ Tuscany & Umbria UNESCO Gems
Departure: open date
D01 ARRIVE ROME
On arrival at Rome Airport, your driver will meet you at the arrival hall and drive you to your hotel in Rome, the capital of Italy.
D02 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 the Sistine Chapel – home to Michelangelo’s “The Last Judgement” fresco. Enjoy a guided tour of Vatican City and Sistine Chapel. (If the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel tour is not operating on your travel date, the tour will be replaced with a guided tour of the Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill.)
D03 ROME – ASSISI [B]
Enjoy your morning in Rome at your own leisure. Thereafter, depart Rome on one of Italy’s high speed trains and head to Assisi. The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Assisi old town is Umbria’s most celebrated gem and one of the best-preserved medieval towns in the world.
D04 ASSISI [B]
Enjoy a guided tour of Assisi including its most iconic attraction, the Basilica of St Francis of Assisi, which attracts visitors and pilgrims from all over the world.
D05 ASSISI – PERUGIA – MONTEPULCIANO [B]
Today, we head to Perugia, the capital city of the region of Umbria in central Italy renowned for its rolling greenery, medieval hilltop towns and no less its wines and cuisine. Within its old town, Perugia’s history from Etruscan, Medieval and Renaissance times are on display and given its elevation of about 450m above sea level, visitors are additionally treated to beautiful panoramic views of the surrounding region. Continue on into Tuscany and end the day in Montepulciano.
D06 MONTEPULCIANO [B]
The very picturesque walled Tuscan hilltop medieval town of Montepulciano is renowned not only for its setting in beautiful Tuscan landscape but also its “Vino Nobile di Montepulciano” wines. Its highly impressive historic centre, Piazza Grande, is at the top of the town and from that vantage point visitors can enjoy breathtaking views of Tuscany and beyond including Umbria. Enjoy a guided tour of Montepulciano town including one of its many wine cellars.
D07 MONTEPULCIANO – SIENA – FLORENCE [B]
Today, we head to Siena, probably Tuscany’s most beautiful medieval town whose historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its iconic shell-shaped main square, Piazza del Campo, is widely regarded as one of Europe’s most beautiful medieval squares. Twice a year, horse races are held at the square, a tradition that dates back to medieval times. Continue on and end the day in Florence.
D08 FLORENCE [B]
Florence, the capital city of Tuscany and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is widely regarded as the most beautiful city in all of Italy. One of Florence’s most iconic sights is the Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral, a cathedral with a terracotta-tiled dome and a bell tower (“Campanile”) designed by Giotto, Italy’s much-celebrated artist. The Uffizi Gallery in Florence is one of the world’s top art museums exhibiting art by Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Botticelli and many other celebrated artists. Enjoy a guided walking tour of Florence. (Visit to Uffizi Gallery is optional.)
D09 FLORENCE: CINQUE TERRE [B]
Enjoy a guided day trip to Cinque Terre – 5 uniquely and ingeniously constructed highly picturesque fishing villages lining the Italian Riviera – that has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997. Located at one of the most isolated and ruggedly beautiful stretch of the Italian coastline, the 5 villages of Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore are perched on jagged cliffs with sweeping views of the sparkling blue waters of the Mediterranean Sea, defying not just gravity but time!
D10 FLORENCE: SAN GIMIGNANO & VOLTERRA [B]
Today, enjoy a day trip to two quintessential and well-preserved Tuscan walled towns – San Gimignano and Volterra. San Gimignano, renowned for its towers, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and no-less-deserving Volterra is on the tentative list (of UNESCO World Heritage Sites). Volterra is particularly renowned for its Etruscan origins and for the many remains belonging to the Etruscan era – as recognized by UNESCO, “Volterra is remarkable because it has preserved the spatial organisation, structure, materials, and shapes typical of the [Etruscan] Communal age almost in full, in a rich chronological stratification.”. The beautiful landscapes of Tuscany are on full display as you travel between the towns!
D11 FLORENCE – MILAN [B]
Today, we head to Milan, a city of fashion, design and finance as well as a bustling metropolitan city with a rich history of art and culture. Enjoy Milan at your own leisure. Some suggested attractions you may wish to visit include 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 lots of restaurants and bars); the Teatro alla Scala (opera house); and the beautiful Romanesque Basilica of Sant’Ambrogio.
D12 MILAN [B]
Go on a discovery tour of the stunning Milan Cathedral – the Duomo of Milan – and its terraces. Standing proud in the main city square, this highly impressive cathedral with 5 naves is in fact the largest Gothic cathedral in the world. The rooftop terraces of the cathedral (included in the tour, with elevator access) offer stunning views of the city. Explore the archaeological area beneath the Duomo where among others the ruins of the 4th century Baptistery of San Giovanni alle Fonti (a baptismal font for full immersion) were found.
D13 DEPART MILAN [B]
Free time until your transfer to Milan Airport for your departure flight.
Price:
S$3,580 per person, for twin/triple sharing
Minimum 4pax to go
