Itinerary

Day 4 Florence - Bologna - Padua - Venice (B/-/D)

• After a delicious breakfast, you will depart for your next destination, Bologna, known as the "cultured (la dotta), red (la rossa) and fat (la grossa) city" for being the headquarters of one of the oldest universities in Europe, because of the colour of the buildings and roofs and for its richly delicious gastronomy. It is one of the best-preserved historical cities and has the second largest medieval old town in Europe, after Venice. It is also a perfect example of coexistence between the past and its traditions (such as architecture and Italian gastronomy) and the modernity (such as prestigious cultural events and exhibitions). The tour will start at Piazza Malpighi to marvel at the famous arcades and porticoes until reaching Piazza de Neptuno and Piazza Maggiore, the epicentre of the old town. Around the squares there are the most representative buildings that have been preserved since medieval times: the 16th century Neptune Fountain (they say that if you go around it twice it will bring you luck), the Communal Palace, the Palace of King Enzo, the Palazzo di Podesta and the Basilica di San Petronio, the oldest church and it was going to be the largest in the world, but it remained in fifth place.
• Then you will continue your trip with a visit to the city of Padua, famous for its university and for having one of the most beautiful and beloved churches in Italy, the Basilica of Saint Anthony, known locally as "il Santo". Finally, you will travel to Venice, a magical city that amazes all who are fortunate to visit it.
• You will check in at your hotel and have dinner.

Day 5 Visiting Venice (B/-/-)

• After a tasty breakfast, you will climb on a private boat to head to Piazza San Marco to begin your city tour. You will visit: Mark's Square, which began to be built in the 9th century, acquiring its current form in the 12th century. You will visit the interior of St. Mark's Basilica, a finest blend of Byzantine, Gothic and Renaissance architecture and houses the mortals remains of St. Mark. The Doge's Palace, built in Venetian gothic style and pink Vernon marble is considered a coherent hodgepodge of Byzantine and Gothic architecture, along with traces of Late Renaissance architecture.  It was the historic seat of the La Serenissima, the Venetian Republic and sheathes secrets that have rarely left the walls of the Palace. The palace boasts ornate furnishings, Venetian art pieces, lavish rooms and houses paintings by Titian, Tintoretto and Bellini. It is a symbol of the glory and power of Venice and the Bridge of Sighs or Ponte dei Sospiri connected it with the prisons that were built across the canal. Legend has it that this famous bridge took its name because prisoners who crossed the bridge on the way to their prison cells or the execution chamber would sigh as they caught their last glimpses of Venice through the tiny windows.
• You will have the afternoon free to enjoy this wonderful city and an overnight stay at your hotel.

Day 6 Venice - Montepulciano - Rome (B/L/-)

• After a delicious breakfast, you will leave in our luxury bus to Montepulciano in the region of the Vallle di Chiana in Tuscany famous for its wonderful wines. You will pass through landscapes full of vineyards that will remain engraved on your retina. You will visit Montepulciano, a picturesque medieval town located on a hill in the center of Italian Tuscany protected by 16th century Etruscan walls, rich in medieval and Renaissance buildings, and famous for producing one of the oldest and best wines in Italy, the "Nobile di Montepulciano ". They stand out for their beauty the Plaza Grande, the heart of the town, located at the highest point of the city with its magnificent Duomo accompanying it, the Tarugi Palace, with its marble-covered facade and the Church of Santa María dei Servi, one of the symbols of Renaissance art.
• You will have lunch in a traditional restaurant and then have some free time to enjoy Montepulciano at your own pace.
• After the visit you will return back to your hotel in Rome.

Itinerary

Day 7 Visiting Rome (B/-/-)

• After a refreshing breakfast in the Italian capital, considered the highest expression of the historical, artistic and cultural wealth of the Western world and therefore a UNESCO World Heritage Site, you will leave between 45am and 8am to visit the Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica.
• Together with the guide and the exclusivity of skipping the lines, you will start with the Vatican Museums, one of the most important art collections in the world. You will see the fantastic Gallery of Geographical Maps, decorated by Gregorio XIII, the Gallery of Tapestries, a collection of different manufactures from the 16th and 17th centuries and the Raphael rooms. Then you will know the incredible Sistine Chapel, one of the most famous and visited monuments in the world, commissioned in the 15th century by Pope Sixtus IV. Thanks to the genius of Miguel Ángel, you will enjoy an unforgettable experience where the frescoes surround the entire space: The Creation of Adam and the incomparable Last Judgment stand out, located on the wall of the altar.
• Finally, it will be the turn of the monumental Peter's Basilica, whose works lasted no less than 160 years and in which first-rate artists such as Maderno, Michelangelo and Bernini worked. The tour will end in Plaza San Pedro.
• Then you will have the afternoon free, to continue enjoying the last day in the "Eternal City" at your own pace.

Day 8 From Rome to Naples - Pompeii - Sorrento (B/-/D)

• Early in the morning and after a tasty breakfast, you will travel in a luxury bus to southern Italy. Before arriving in Naples, you will pass through the regions of Lazio and Campania. Upon your arrival you will go on a panoramic tour of what was the Capital of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, starting from Vomerese Hill, one of the upscale neighbourhoods of Naples, overlooking greater Naples, Mount Vesuvius, the Bay of Naples, the Tyrrhenian Sea and the island of Capri, full of bars, restaurants and pizzerias. Here you will have free time to enjoy the expansive views and take some great photos. You will climb down to the port of Mergellina, passing along the promenade, where you will admire the Castel dell' Ovo, an imposing castle that rises out of the sea on a small island connected to the mainland by a footbridge, until you reach Santa Lucía, the old fishing district.
• Your next stop will be Pompeii, where you will taste the authentic and delicious "Neapolitan pizza". After lunch, you will enter the archaeological zone, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Buried under a layer of ash and lava by an unforeseen eruption of Vesuvius in AD 79, Pompeii came back to light after almost 1,700 years and the everyday life of an ordinary day in the first imperial era, as if by magic, was left captured in the gestures, in the secrets and in the panic of his last moments. Your guide will explain how people lived at that time until the tragic moment of the fateful eruption of Vesuvius. You will visit the houses that still preserve the frescoes and mosaics of the time.
• After the visit, you will travel by bus along the wonderful Sorrentine Coast until you reach the city of Sorrento, a picturesque town, built on a cliff, with the charm of a fishing village and the comforts of a tourist destination. Here you will have dinner (dress code: jacket for men) and rest at your hotel.

Day 9 From Sorrento to Capri - Sorrento (B/-/-)

• After a wonderful breakfast you will head to the port of Sorrento to board the ferry to the island of Capri. Since ancient times it was chosen as a vacation spot by the Roman upper class and still continues to be so today. It is one of the most beautiful places in southern Italy, where you can wander aimlessly through the narrow streets of its historic center.
• Upon arrival in Capri, you will be taken to the port of the Marina Grande, the island's main port, used since Roman times, to visit the Blue Grotto (if the weather conditions allow it), the most famous cave, known since Roman times, and with an intense blue colour that is reflected on its walls and ceiling. Then you will head back once more to Marina Grande, this time to go to Anacapri, in the northern part of the island of Capri and a welcome relief from the bustle of Capri town. Anacapri is a slice of the real local life of Capri and the perfect place to enjoy your lunch. You will have free time to explore the area on your own and then make it to the port to return to Sorrento for your overnight stay.

Day 10 From Sorrento to Rome (B/-/-)

• After a nutritious breakfast you will have the morning free in Sorrento to continue exploring this city, stroll through the streets of the historic center, buy handicrafts, sit down for a coffee or a gelato, enjoy the wonderful panoramic views from the cliff or even have a swim in the sea. In the afternoon and at the agreed time, you will leave for Rome.

Day 11 Goodbye Italy! (B/-/-)

• After breakfast and at the time indicated, you will be transferred to Rome airport to board your departure flight.
• After spending a few fantastic days with us, we hope to see you again for more amazing moments in Rome. And if you remembered to throw a coin with your back turned to the Trevi Fountain, according to tradition, then you will surely come back!
• "Buon Viaggio!"