Great Italian Cities
Experience Overview
Rome, Florence and Venice are the stars of the show on the most incredible of Italy trips. This unforgettable trio features exploring the calli, ancient Roman ruins and the artistry of great masters. But that’s not all, as you’ll also get to dine with an Italian family in their beautiful Tuscan villa.
Highlights
Dining Summary
- 3 Dinner (D)
- 9 Breakfast (B)
Be My Guest
- Florence: Join a member of the Miari Fulcis family for your Be My Guest experience on their working Tuscan estate, known for its organic olive oil and honey. Take a look around the medieval cloister and gardens before sitting down to dinner, surrounded by stories, local flavors and a setting made famous by classic films.
Dive into Culture
- Venice: Savor the vibrant atmosphere of Venice during a walk through its calli to a traditional food market in the shadow of the famous Rialto Bridge.
Iconic Experience
- Rome: During an orientation with your Travel Director see the medieval buildings, Renaissance palaces and Baroque churches scattered throughout the city.
- Rome: Be inspired by the magnificence of Michelangelo and da Vinci at the Vatican Museums.
- Rome: In the Vatican City visit St Peter's Basilica with a Local Specialist. Witness the early genius of Michelangelo as you take in the Pietà.
- Follow in the footsteps of gladiators for a deeper insight into life in ancient Rome when you enter the Colosseum.
- Assisi: With a Local Specialist, find out why the Basilica of St. Francis is considered to be one of the crowning artistic achievements of 13th-century Europe.
- Florence: Join a Local Specialist to view the multi-colored marble cathedral, bell tower and baptistery, adorned by Ghiberti's Gates of Paradise. Visit the political heart of the city, Signoria Square.
- Florence: See the area around Santa Croce Basilica, famous for the quality of its luxury goods, and witness a gold and leatherwork demonstration.
- Pisa: Visit Pisa's Square of Miracles with a Local Specialist. Learn about the history of the iconic Leaning Tower and see the ornate Bapistry and Cathedral.
- Bologna: Join a Local Specialist on an exploration of Bologna. See the medieval squares and red-bricked façades of this historic city.
- Venice: Discover the ancient skill of Venetian glassblowing and play a part in preserving this traditional craft.
MAKE TRAVEL MATTER®
- Venice: Meet the passionate team from Venice Lagoon Plastic Free for an eye-opening session on protecting Venice’s iconic lagoon. You’ll discover the dramatic impact of plastic pollution on wildlife and local life, learn practical ways to make a difference, and take home your very own tools for sustainable travel – including a reusable glass bottle. Together, you’ll help reduce plastic waste and become a part of the global movement for responsible tourism. Your visit directly supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 14: Life Below Water.
Must-see Highlights
- Fast Track Admission to the Vatican Museums
- Explore Rome, Assisi, Florence, Pisa, Bologna and Venice
- Visit Vatican museums and the Sistine Chapel, St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, the Basilica of St. Francis in Assisi and a glassblowing factory in Venice
- View the ancient sites in Rome, Santa Croce Basilica and the Duomo in Florence, the Leaning Tower of Pisa and St. Mark's Basilica in Venice
- Scenic Cruise by private launch to St. Mark's Square in Venice
Trip Details
Product Code: 28229
Tour Type: Group Tour
Accommodation: Luxury
Transport: Private
Guide Language: English
Travel Styles:
55+, Luxury
Tour Operator:
Trafalgar (CA)
Supplier Code: 97.415B
Starts: Rome, Italy
Finishes: Venice, Italy
Duration: 10 days
Departures: Guaranteed
Physical Rating:
Easy
Includes
Whats Included
- An expert Travel Director and professional Driver
- Cherry-picked hotels, all tried and trusted
- All porterage and restaurant gratuities
- All hotel tips, charges and local taxes
- Breakfast daily and up to half of your evening meals
- Must-see sightseeing
- Audio headsets for flexible sightseeing
- Luxury air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi in most countries or alternative transportation (such as rail journeys)
- Optional Experiences and free time
- On occasion, hotels of similar standard and location may be utilized
Price
Price per person: (Double Occupancy) CAD $4635 ($464 /day)
Itinerary
You're in for a bellissimo journey through the spectacular cities of Italy, which kicks off in the 'Eternal City' of Rome. Join your fellow travelers and Travel Director for a delightful dinner. Your introduction to la dolce vita begins with an orientation drive past Rome's most magnificent sights.
Accommodation: Grand Palatino
Meals: Dinner
This morning, join your Local Specialist for a very special experience in the smallest nation on earth - Vatican City. Explore the extraordinary collections of the Vatican Museums and stand beneath Michelangelo’s sublime ceiling in the Sistine Chapel. Admire the artistry of great masters and walk in the footsteps of popes who have found peace within the walls of this enclave for centuries. Visit the expansive St. Peter’s Basilica admiring the ethereal artistry of Michelangelo's Pietà. Cross the Tiber and venture into Ancient Rome to visit the Colosseum.
Accommodation: Grand Palatino
Meals: Breakfast
Enjoy a full free day to explore Rome your way, or consider an Optional Experience delving into the tragic history of Pompeii—the Roman city frozen in time by the devastating eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. Your Local Specialist will bring its ancient story to life before you return to Rome, passing by the Abbey of Monte Cassino, a site of fierce fighting during the Second World War.
Accommodation: Grand Palatino
Meals: Breakfast
Journey north through the rolling hills of Umbria to the birthplace of St. Francis of Assisi. Here, your Local Specialist will share the story of this revered figure during a visit to the Basilica of St. Francis, the final resting place of this famous saint and home to a wonderful series of frescoes by Giotto. Later, continue your journey through the scenic Tuscan countryside to Florence. Tonight, enjoy dinner at a Be My Guest experience, set against the backdrop of picture-perfect olive groves and vineyards.
Accommodation: FH55 Grand Hotel Mediterraneo
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Enjoy a leisurely encounter with the artistic and architectural marvels of Florence during your walking tour with a Local Specialist. Visit the striking Piazza della Signoria with its impressive sculptures and palazzi. Amble through the charming cobblestone lanes to the multi-colored marble Duomo and Baptistery, before admiring the scenic view of the Ponte Vecchio straddling the Arno River. Spend the rest of the afternoon sauntering through Florence's historic center, shopping for the high-quality leather the city is famous, or admiring the artistic contribution of the Medici at every turn.
Accommodation: FH55 Grand Hotel Mediterraneo
Meals: Breakfast
After a morning at leisure in Florence, cross the fertile Arno Valley to Pisa and join a Local Specialist to visit the Square of Miracles, home to the incredible Leaning Tower and the iconic marble cathedral. See the ornate Baptistery and the Camposanto, a monumental cemetery built on sacred soil brought back from the Holy Land during the Crusades.
Accommodation: FH55 Grand Hotel Mediterraneo
Meals: Breakfast
Travel north, through the Apennines, to the medieval city of Bologna, perhaps best known for the delicious pasta sauce that bears its name. Your sightseeing tour with a Local Specialist includes views of the Kissing Towers, which lean towards each other, seemingly poised to embrace. Then it's off to the romantic island city of Venice with its rich cultural and artistic heritage. Spend time at leisure gliding along its enchanting canals in a gondola or wander through the city's labyrinthine lanes, over bridges and into quiet campi.
Accommodation: Amadeus, Principe
Meals: Breakfast
Savor the iconic and unexpected highlights of Venice as you cruise by private launch to St. Mark's Square to admire the Bridge of Sighs, Palladian churches, Customs House, St. Mark's Basilica and the ornate Doge's Palace. This afternoon, enjoy a visit to one of the city’s last remaining studios where you’ll gain insights into the delicate Venetian art of glassblowing. Spend the rest of the afternoon at leisure admiring this city on water or consider an Optional Experience to the island of Burano where colorful fishermen’s homes line the canals.
Accommodation: Amadeus, Principe
Meals: Breakfast
Meet a passionate lagoon conservationist for an engaging discussion on safeguarding environmental conditions in Venice during a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience. Sites made famous in poetry, song and prose are explored today when you join a Local Specialist for a walking tour along the canals to the famous Rialto Bridge, where all the flavors of Italy come to life at a centuries-old food market. Amble through the narrow calli of Venice and admire the beautiful architecture. Walk over the Rialto Bridge before spending the rest of the day discovering the sights of your choice. Your love affair with Italy's great Italian cities comes to an end this evening as you enjoy dinner.
Accommodation: Amadeus, Principe
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
For now, it's time to say a fond arrivederci to Italy and newfound friends who have shared in the memorable sights, sounds and flavors.
Meals: Breakfast
Similar Tours
Tour Operator
Trafalgar (CA)
Family owned and run since 1920, The Travel Corporation (TTC) is the world leader in immersive travel experiences across an extensive range of travel categories. Each year TTC's 40 award winning hospitality and travel brands connect over 1 million happy travellers to the world. We give you access to the 12 DMC’s behind these brands, so you can build your business by capitalizing on the extensive experience, local expertise, and financial assurance of TTC. LOCAL EXPERTISE The world leaders in travel for over 100 years, we offer unparalleled local expertise with a global footprint. Our 12 DMCs, led by experienced in-destination teams, deliver experience rich travel solutions in more than 80 countries. Additionally, our market based teams are on hand to support across our 40 offices worldwide
In Business Since 1931
Reviews
Chantal Leblanc - Traveled, September 2024
Wished I had have more time in each city, as in more free time to explore. The Travel Director and Bus driver were excellent, as were all the Local Specialists. Same with the people at the airport looking after the transfer to the hotel in Rome. It was good, covering all three major cities, Rome, Florence and Venice, plus some spots in between, like Bologna, Pompeii (optional), Pisa, San Gemignani (optional), Burano (optional) and some more. I found Pisa was very commercial/touristy... Assisi looked like a pretty little medieval town, but much time was spent inside the church... Decided to skip Pompeii to spend more time in Rome, and would plan to arrive a day earlier on location if I was to do it again so that there is some time to recuperate from the long flight.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 09/30/2024
Trusted Customer - Traveled, September 2024
Our guide & bus driver were wonderful. Hotels were nice. It was hard to figure out how to use the electric. In the last hotel we only had one outlet. We had to unplug the TV to access it. It was exhausting! Some of us could not keep up the pace. The local guide would be way ahead & by the time we got there we didn’t know what she was talking about. Sometimes we couldn’t see where she went. The tour bus was brand new but the seats were so small. It was like being on an airplane. It was disappointing that we didn’t go to the Vatican or inside the Coliseum.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 09/25/2024
Trusted Customer - Traveled, September 2024
Itinerary was excellent. Went most major sites and optional offerings covered many more. In Rome, we went to St. Peters basilica including the Sistine chapel. Afternoon was to Trevi fountain and the Pantheon. Next full day in Pompeii! Then Assisi, 2 full days in Florence , country side dinner at Machiavelli’s house. Stop in Bologna before 3days in Venice. Because of rain missed the gondola ride when we arrived but our terrific guide, Chis, made arrangements for the following day so we didn’t miss anything gondola rides included. Everything was great! Beautiful trip.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 09/30/2024
Trusted Customer - Traveled, September 2024
Good trip, but missed a couple of key items. The level of service provided was better than average. With our tour director, Rodolfo providing what I considered exceptional service and sharing a lot of knowledge throughout the trip. Overall, the trip was good and I enjoyed my time with Trafalgar. That said, there were some items that were promised on the brochure and on the official travel itinerary that weren’t provided and as such, I felt that I missed out. One of those items in particular, was a visit to the Vatican museum and the 16 Chapel, which was one of the reasons why I booked the trip to begin with . Had there been any indication that this part of the trip would not be available, I probably would’ve booked with an another group. Also, as part of the trip, we were meant to stay in Florence, but somehow that accommodation fell through and we ended up staying about an hour outside of Florence, which cost us a fair amount of exploration time within Florence.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 09/29/2024
Anna Maria Kanauka - Traveled, September 2024
Go to Italy…do it!!! Trafalgar eliminated the hassle of planning, purchasing tickets, making reservations and carrying luggage. The ease of arriving at destinations was optimal and any issues outside of the norm were generally handled by our excellent tour director Heidi. I would skip the Pope vacation garden and add a colosseum experience and Spanish steps visit. The tour guide (Heidi) was excellent and the majority of the local specialists were great.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 09/26/2024
Trusted Customer - Traveled, September 2024
Italian Tour. Excellent. On Time. Very Organized and joyful. Trafalgar kept us on schedule for 10 days with some fun breaks all along. Our bus driver and tour Guy were very professional and well dressed through out the tour. The bus was spotless and comfortable. Learned a lot Of World History and Italian Culture. We love our Italian neighbors and new found friends.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 09/29/2024
Trusted Customer - Traveled, September 2024
Tour guide was exceptionally well-organized and made sure that everyone was comfortable with the activities we participated in. The tour was geared toward a true taste of Italy both city and urban life. Bus rides were not too long and comfort stops were made at appropriate times. A great value for the price and coupled with the quality of tour guides, we find ourselves looking to Trafalgar for all of our travels.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 09/28/2024
Trusted Customer - Traveled, September 2024
Great way to see Italy. Trafalgar did an excellent job with taking care of the logistics, and providing an extensive tour of the highlights of Italy. There is always more to see than you can fit in a week and we felt they did a superb job. The only feedback would be recommending smaller groups as it seemed we were a bit large. However our amazing tour guide, Alessia went above and beyond accommodating and taking care of so many people with diverse needs and expectations. This tour is best for older couples, retired or empty nesters. As a young 30 something couple we felt we wanted to see more than they offered but were able to independently arrange our own tours/reservations that were not offered within the tour. The itinerary was great for the limited time available. We appreciated the ability to see multiple cities without having to worry about transportation. The one feedback I would request is less walking tours and more opportunity to see or experience the sights and experiences we were passing by. For instance, in Venice we walked past many eateries but were not able to actually partake in any of the food or drink pointed out to us. An evening or afternoon walking tour that included food and drink pairing would have been preferred (these experiences are available on Viator, Tri Advisor etc.) The things the tour did very well was allowing for experiences off the beaten path one would not be able to experience visiting solo. We loved the evening dining and entertainment experiences especially the Castello del Trebbio and house of Machiavelli.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 09/27/2024
Gary Galyon - Traveled, September 2024
The tour guide was very knowledgeable. Overall very good but changes in itinerary caused by changes not in the control of Trafalgar did cause some confusion but we were compensated for the inconvenience by adding optional side trips at no extra cost .
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 09/26/2024
Trusted Customer - Traveled, August 2024
Good balance of activities and free time .
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 08/30/2024
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