Reflections of Italy

Welcome to Italy, a land rich in history, culture, art and romance. Your journey begins with an overnight flight.
Hotel Name: Grand Hotel Palatino

Begin in Rome, the “Eternal City.” This evening, get to know your fellow travelers during a welcome dinner featuring regional specialties.
Dinner Included

Visit Area: Rome
Rome is the capital of modern Italy and the historical home of one of the great civilizations in history, the Roman Empire. The historical city was founded in 753 BC and has grown to a size of over 3 million inhabitants today. The city is home to major monuments like the Colosseum, Trevi Fountain and many more. The city was built on the seven ancient hills along the Tiber River. Today it is a collection of neighborhoods with vibrant shops, restaurants and museums just waiting to be explored.

On a guided tour of the Vatican Museums* explore the extensive Papal palace housing priceless artifacts from ancient Egypt, classical Greco-Roman statuary, and works by great Renaissance masters. In the Sistine Chapel, marvel at Michelangelo’s frescoed ceiling and brilliant Last Judgment. Next, wander through the towering columns of St. Peter’s Basilica, a daring feat of human artistry and engineering. Admire the baroque spirals of Bernini’s altar canopy and gaze up at Michelangelo’s dome – still the tallest in the world. Return to the hotel mid-afternoon. The evening is yours. Perhaps you’ll join an optional dinner in a popular restaurant, indulging in a hearty meal accompanied by wine and local entertainment.

Breakfast Included
Hotel Name: Sangallo Palace Hotel

Admittance: Vatican Museums
The Vatican City is the smallest independent state in the world. Inside the Vatican walls are the Papal Palace, St Peters Basilica, the curia of the Vatican state, extensive gardens and the Vatican Museums. The museums were founded in the early 16th century and house some of the most important masterpieces of the Renaissance. The collections are houses in a series of interconnected palaces that lead visitors through collections of ancient sculptures, frescoed maps, tapestries and ends in the highlight of any visit, the Sistine Chapel. The Sistine Chapel contains Michelangelo’s masterpieces, the painted ceiling and the The Last Judgement.

Travel to Assisi, birthplace of St. Francis. Take in the old-world atmosphere on a guided walking tour of the Basilica of St. Francis. Then you’re off to medieval Perugia, the historic capital of Umbria. With free time to explore, consider wandering along the Corso, Perugia’s main street, where gothic facades are lined with shops and restaurants.

Breakfast Included
Hotel Name: Hotel Albani

Admittance: Sistine Chapel

Head through Tuscany’s graceful low-lying hills to the Etruscan city of Cortona. Perched on the side of a hill, take in the ornate facades and gothic architecture. Peek at the adjacent Lake Trasimeno, situated off in the distance. You might recognize the city as the charming setting for the book and film Under the Tuscan Sun. End your day in Florence – the “Cradle of the Renaissance.”

Breakfast Included

Admittance: St. Peter’s Basilica
St. Peter's Basilica is an example of late Renaissance architecture and was designed by great architects like Raphael, Michelangelo and Gian Lorenzo Bernini. Completed over the course of 120 years, St. Peter's is one of the largest churches in the world, and an important holy site for Catholics. The church is built over the burial site of Saint Peter and contains the tombs of numerous popes. The church is known for its mosaic decorations and grand dome.

This morning, experience Florence’s cultural treasures on a walking tour, passing by the Duomo, the Baptistery, the Palazzo Vecchio, and the Piazza della Signoria. The rest of the day is yours to explore this veritable open-air museum. Perhaps you’ll join an after-hours tour of the 14th-century Certosa monastery, followed by dinner featuring local wines, Tuscan food, and live entertainment.

Breakfast Included
Hotel Name: Hotel Carlton on the Grand Canal

Visit Area: Assisi
Join us on a guided walking tour of the town of Assisi, birthplace of St. Francis. Here you'll discover a blend of Roman ruins, winding medieval streets and beautiful churches that make this a must-see destination. Once a pilgrimage site and historical treasure, Assisi offers you the chance to return to another time. With a history that stretches back to 1000 B.C. (predating the Roman Empire), the town rests among the gently rolling hills of Umbria. Marvel at the Basilica of San Francesco, find an out-of-the-way shop, look out at the stunning landscape, or sit and relax at a quiet café.

Start your day with a visit to a historic winery in the heart of the Chianti region. In the shadow of a 12th-century castle, learn about Tuscan wines and enjoy a chef-led cooking class. Next, sit back and savor regional delicacies during a delicious lunch. This afternoon, journey through central Italy, crossing the Apennine Mountains toward the Po River Valley. Enchanting Venice awaits with 117 tiny islands and its latticework of 150 canals and 400 bridges.

Breakfast Included
Lunch Included
Dinner Included

Visit Area: Perugia
Perugia is the regional capital of Umbria. The architecture of the city reflects its medieval history, but it also is home to one of the few remaining Etruscan arches dating back to its prominence as one of twelve original cities in the Etruria confederacy. Today its notoriety comes from the two universities and Italy’s most famous chocolate company, Perugina. Perched on a hill, the city offers panoramic views over the Umbrian countryside and a vibrant city center with many shops, cafes and pedestrian areas to explore.

See Venice from the water and take a boat** to Murano Island. At a glass-blowing demonstration, discover the secrets of this ancient art up-close and marvel at the one-of-a-kind designs. Make your way to the historic center of Venice and see the Castello district with a local expert. End in St. Mark’s Square, taking in the basilica and the opulent façade of the Doge’s Palace. The remainder of the day is yours. Consider an optional tour featuring Venice’s most famous pastime – a serenaded gondola ride.

Breakfast Included
Hotel Name: Hotel Barchetta Excelsior

Visit Area: Cortona
Cortona is an Etruscan city perched on the side of Tuscany’s low-lying hills. Take in the ornate facades and medieval architecture. Peek at the adjacent lake, situated off if in the distance. You might recognize the city as the charming setting for the book and film Under the Tuscan Sun.

This morning, you’ll be whisked across the plains of northern Italy to the shores of glamorous Lake Como. During a ferry ride*** to alluring Bellagio, admire the endless succession of historic villas, lush gardens, and colorful villages reflected in the lake’s blue waters. Enjoy some time at leisure to explore Bellagio’s charms before sailing back to Como where you check into your hotel in the late afternoon. This evening, celebrate the end of an unforgettable trip with a farewell dinner at your hotel.

Breakfast Included
Dinner Included

Visit Area: Florence
Florence is the regional capital of Tuscany and home to countless Renaissance masterpieces. The city developed great wealth during the late Middle Ages and was the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance that produced great artists like Michelangelo, Raphael, Brunelleschi and many others. Today it is a UNESCO World Heritage site filled with numerous museums, stunning architecture and charming piazzas. The city offers something for everyone from culture, to great food and excellent shopping (like their famous gold or leather).

Your journey comes to a close in Como this morning.

Breakfast Included

Admittance: Chianti Winery & Cooking Class
Tuscany is world-renowned for its rolling hills, country roads and of course, numerous vineyards. Tuscany's most famous export is unquestionably Chianti wine, and true Chianti can only be produced in a section of the country that stretches from Florence to Siena. On your visit to a historic winery in the heart of the Chianti region, you'll enjoy a chef-led cooking class. During the tour, guests will learn about the wine making process from vine to bottle. After you've been educated on the intricacies of thsi fine grape, you can sit back and savor regional delicacies during a delicious lunch.