Day 1: Arrive Milan and on to Lake Lugano
A transfer is included from Milan’s Malpensa or Linate Airport to Hotel Splendide Royal Lugano. Your hotel is located along the enchanting shores of Lake Ceresio in Lugano. This Italian-style city boasts a waterfront promenade, stylish boutiques and outdoor cafés set along the lake; enjoy time at leisure to explore on your own. We invite you to join us this evening for a welcome cocktail reception and à la carte dinner at your hotel.
Overnight: Hotel Splendide Royal Lugano, Lugano, Switzerland
Meals Included: Dinner

Day 2: Lake Como / Bellagio
A favorite celebrity retreat, Lake Como is often considered the most alluring of the Italian lakes with the Alps as its dramatic backdrop. Begin a full day’s discovery of the region’s waterfront gems with a visit to lovely Villa Carlotta in Tremezzo; dating back to the late 17th century, it is known for its colorful landscaped gardens and works of sculpture. A private boat cruise takes you across Lake Como to Bellagio; its picturesque setting has made it a locale that has been sought after by visitors for centuries. After time to explore at your leisure, enjoy a ferry cruise past a parade of elegant lakeside villas to Como. Drive back to pedestrian-friendly Lugano, where the evening is free.
Overnight: Hotel Splendide Royal Lugano, Lugano, Switzerland
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 3: Beautiful and Unique... Venice
More waterfront delights await in Venice, among the world’s most famous cities; witness its unique design, along an intricate system of canals. Join our local guide for a walking tour of the city’s highlights. Discover the treasures of Piazza San Marco (St. Mark’s Square). Visit dramatic St. Mark’s Basilica, with its exquisite mosaics and detailed carvings; it is a blend of Eastern and Western inspirations. You will also visit the Doge’s Palace, official residence of the rulers of Venice in the Middle Ages. Be serenaded on a gondola ride along the canals this evening, prior to dining at a popular local restaurant.
Overnight: Hotel Danieli, Venice, Italy
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 4: Venice as you please
Spend the entire day exploring Venice at leisure – your Tauck Director can offer recommendations. Possibilities include Galleria dell’Accademia, boasting one of the world’s largest collections of Venetian art, and the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, which features an amazing collection of modern art housed in Guggenheim’s former home, the 18th-century Palazzo Venier dei Leoni on the Grand Canal. You may also wish to visit some of the islands of the Venetian Lagoon; each is uniquely different and great fun to explore.
Overnight: Hotel Danieli, Venice, Italy
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 5: Art treasures of Florence
A rail journey across the plains of the Po River aboard a high-speed train leads to Florence. Tuscany’s city of art is set in the pastoral Italian countryside and is renowned as the “birthplace of the Renaissance” for the architecture and art that flourished here between the 13th and 16th centuries. Start your discoveries with a lecture by an art historian who shares insights about the landmark sites you will see during your stay, including the bronze doors of the octagonal-shaped Baptistry. Visit one of the world’s most acclaimed art museums, the Galleria dell’Accademia, home to Michelangelo’s David, and join us for a walking tour through the historical center of Florence, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Dine tonight at your leisure in the hotel.
Overnight: The Westin Excelsior, Florence, Italy
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 6: Reservations at the Uffizi then...
Tauck has made reservations for you today at the Uffizi Gallery to view its works of art with a local guide; works collected by the Medicis were first displayed here in the 1580s, making the Uffizi the oldest art gallery in the world. Your afternoon is free to sightsee as you wish; you may want to see Michelangelo’s marble creations in the Medici Chapel, stroll across the Ponte Vecchio, or visit the beautiful Boboli Gardens; many sights are located close to each other.
Overnight: The Westin Excelsior, Florence, Italy
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 7: Antiquities in Siena, then on to Rome
Journey to Siena through Chianti country, known for red wine, timeless art and classic architecture, as well as landscapes rich in vineyards, olive groves, and cypresses. Explorations of medieval Siena include a walk to the shell-shaped Piazza del Campo, where the Palio, Siena’s world-famous traditional bareback horse race, has been run twice a year for centuries. Wander through the narrow streets to visit the black-and-white Duomo, then continue on your travels through the green countryside of Tuscany, Umbria and Lazio to Rome, where you’ll spend three nights at one of Europe’s premier hotels. Enjoy a taste of daily life in this ancient city during an à la carte dinner at an authentic restaurant known for its regional cuisine and Italian specialties. Buon appetito!
Overnight: The St. Regis Grand Hotel, Rome, Italy
Meals Included: Breakfast, dinner

Day 8: After-Hours Vatican Museums Visit
An after-hours tour of the Vatican Museums (subject to availability and day of the tour may vary) gives you privileged access to the treasures of the Vatican, without the day’s crowds. See the Candelabra Gallery, Map Gallery and the Tapestries, home to a vast collection of art treasures. Enter the Sistine Chapel to view Michelangelo’s famous ceiling; these frescoes were refurbished several years ago, displaying once again their original fresh colors. Be sure to look down as you discover the beautiful flooring!
Overnight: The St. Regis Grand Hotel, Rome, Italy
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 9: All about Imperial Rome
Experience Rome’s rich history through the eyes of a local guide who shows you the most important sights of this ancient city; avoid long lines with Tauck’s pre-arranged reservations on a visit to the Colosseum. Explore St. Peter’s Basilica and St. Peter’s Square before spending the afternoon as you please (day may vary). Join us this evening for a cocktail reception and farewell dinner.
Overnight: The St. Regis Grand Hotel, Rome, Italy
Meals Included: Breakfast, dinner

Day 10: Journey Home
Tour ends: Rome. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from St. Regis Grand Hotel, Rome to Leonardo da Vinci Airport in Fiumicino; allow 3 hours for check-in.
Overnight:
Meals Included: Breakfast