Day 1: Arrive Venice
A transfer is included from Marco Polo Airport in Venice to the Luna Hotel Baglioni, set right in the heart of the city. Your palatial five-star hotel, a member of The Leading Hotels of the World, has its own private jetty and is only steps away from Piazza San Marco. Join us for a welcome cocktail reception and dinner at a local Venetian restaurant.
Overnight: Luna Hotel Baglioni, Venice, Italy
Meals Included: Dinner

Day 2: St. Mark’s Basilica and the Doges’ Palace
Feel the energy and synergy of St. Mark’s Basilica on a guided tour, with its sunburst of Byzantine domes and spires, and gilded walls of mosaics and relics. A guided tour also takes you to the marble arcades of the Doge’s Palace, a seat of power for centuries, now a museum housing art treasures. Embark on a serenaded gondola ride through the city’s maze of water-lanes. For the remainder of the day, explore on your own.
Overnight: Luna Hotel Baglioni, Venice, Italy
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 3: Florence and Michelangelo’s "David"
Travel first class today by high-speed rail to Florence. Your historic hotel is set in the center of the city; once the haunt of some of Italy’s most famous 19th-century literati, it is close to the most exclusive shopping area. After lunch, a walking tour of this birthplace of the Renaissance, accompanied by a local guide, includes a must-see visit to Galleria dell’Accademia, which houses Michelangelo’s "David," one of the world’s most famous sculptures.
Overnight: Hotel Helvetia & Bristol, Florence, Italy
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch

Day 4: The Uffizi, Culture & Couture
The day begins with an art history lecture at the hotel, followed by a guided visit to the Uffizi, a massive 16th-century museum displaying over 4,800 works of painting and sculpture dating back to the 13th century. Take time this afternoon to explore the local contemporary culture (besides Michelangelo and Botticelli, Florence is also home to modern “artists” such as Gucci and Ferragamo), then dine à la carte this evening.
Overnight: Hotel Helvetia & Bristol, Florence, Italy
Meals Included: Breakfast, dinner

Day 5: Cellar Tour & Wine-Pairing Lunch
Journey outside the city to Badia di Passignano – a monastery in the Chianti Classico region, where the monks are known for their love of learning (Galileo taught here in 1587) and winemaking – for a Tauck Exclusive. After touring the wine cellar with a sommelier, you’ll lunch at the osteria... a celebration of Tuscan cuisine, paired with locally produced wines... and do a little olive oil tasting with the chef. Return to Florence where the evening is free.
Overnight: Hotel Helvetia & Bristol, Florence, Italy
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch

Day 6: The Eternal City... Rome
A high-speed train spirits you from Florence; you’ll get a good view of the Tuscan and Umbrian countryside en route to Rome, where ancient monumental art provides a backdrop for everyday life. Following lunch at a charming local restaurant, take a guided sightseeing tour to view many of the iconic sights of the Eternal City, including the Roman Forum, plus a visit to the Colosseum. Our special visit to the Vatican is scheduled for tomorrow night – which means our farewell cocktail reception and dinner is this evening at Regina Hotel Baglioni – set on one of Rome’s most popular streets, the famed Via Veneto.
Overnight: Regina Hotel Baglioni, Rome, Italy
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 7: St. Peter’s Basilica / Vatican Treasures
Stand in awe of Saint Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City; set on a vast piazza surrounded by colonnades, the basilica was designed by some of Italy’s greatest architects. The great dome, designed by Michelangelo, houses an ornate cathedral, the tombs of popes, and galleries of ancient masterpieces, including the Pieta. An afternoon as you please in Rome is followed by a return to Vatican City, when the crowds are gone, for an after-hours guided tour of the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel – without the crowds, you’ll have an amazing view of the unparalleled collections of archaeological treasures, relics, paintings, sculptures, and tapestries (subject to availability and day of the tour may vary).
Overnight: Regina Hotel Baglioni, Rome, Italy
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 8: Journey Home
Tour ends: Rome. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from the Regina Hotel Baglioni to Leonardo da Vinci Airport in Fiumicino. You should allow 3 hours for check-in.
Overnight:
Meals Included: Breakfast