Itinerary

Day 1
Overnight Flight
From the beginnings of the ancient Roman Empire through the artistic flowering of the Renaissance, Italy has been home to some of the world''s greatest masters of art and architecture. Explore Italy''s rich history and artistic legacy as you journey from Rome to Florence and Perugia, and other hill towns of Tuscany and Umbria. Enjoy intriguing excursions and special presentations on the art and architecture of the region. Discover breathtaking landscapes and the dramatic settings of ancient villages, fine regional cuisine and wines, and time to relax and follow your personal interests.

Day 2
Rome, Italy
Gather this evening for a welcome reception followed by dinner featuring local delicacies, wine and captivating Italian music.

Day 3
Rome - Vatican City
The Vatican is renowned for its impressive artistic masterpieces and architecture. During a guided tour, marvel at the Vatican’s collections of painting and sculpture, the Sistine Chapel frescoes, and the Basilica’s art and architecture. An afternoon panoramic coach tour of classical Rome highlights the Roman Forum, the Circus Maximus, the Colosseum, and the Arch of Constantine.

Day 4
Rome - Siena - Florence
Travel to the rose-hued medieval city of Siena, once a rival to Florence. Join a local expert for a walking tour that begins in the shell-shaped Campo, set in the heart of the city and home to the annual Palio horse race. Conclude with a tour of the richly decorated cathedral, with its distinctively striated campanile and fine sculpture by Pisano. Your day ends in Florence, the capital of the Italian Renaissance.

Day 5
Florence
Experience a day devoted to the magnificent city of Florence. A special walking tour features the cathedral, capped by Brunelleschi’s dome and the symbol of Florence, and the bronze doors designed by Ghiberti at the adjacent Baptistery. Continue past the Piazza della Signoria to the Church of Santa Croce, which houses frescoes by Giotto and the tombs of Michelangelo, Galileo, and Machiavelli. This afternoon view paintings by Leonardo, Botticelli, Raphael, and others at the world-famous Uffizi Gallery.

Day 6
Florence at Leisure or Lucca Excursion
Enjoy a day to further explore the cultural riches of Florence independently or indulge in the Italian joy of dolce far niente (the sweetness of doing nothing). A half-day optional excursion features the small medieval town of Lucca, known for its well-preserved Renaissance walls, Roman street plan, and piazza full of ambiance. This evening enjoy a special cooking demonstration of Tuscan specialties before dinner at a popular Florentine restaurant.

Day 7
Florence - Perugia
Travel through the rolling countryside of Tuscany and Umbria to Perugia. During a leisurely, guided walking tour, explore Perugia’s massive Etruscan walls and the Piazza IV Novembre, one of the grandest squares in Italy, surrounded by medieval palaces and cathedrals.

Day 8
Perugia - Assisi - Perugia
Learn about the art of fresco painting prior to visiting nearby Assisi, the famous hill town known for its magnificent Basilica of St. Francis. Tour the restored basilica and admire the delicate colors and forms of Giotto’s and Cimabue’s frescoes. Upon returning to Perugia, the afternoon is unscheduled so that you may relax in a pleasant piazza, discover historic neighborhoods, or visit a museum housing paintings by Umbrian masters.

Day 9
Perugia - Montepulciano - Perugia
Today, explore one of Tuscany''s most enchanting hill towns. Montepulciano, a pearl of the Renaissance, offers breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape. A guided walking tour features the old town with its fortified gateway and magnificent Renaissance-style palazzi. Outside of town, stop at the exquisite honey-colored church of Madonna di San Biagio, a Renaissance gem and the final masterpiece of Sangallo. Enjoy a tasting of Montepulciano''s famous Vino Nobile at a nearby wine cellar.

Day 10
Perugia - Orvieto - Rome
Depart Perugia and stop at the Etruscan hill town of Orvieto, known for its white wine and one of the finest Gothic cathedrals in Italy, housing a stunning fresco cycle by Signorelli. There will be ample time for a leisurely lunch or exploring this town on your own. Later today, arrive at a hotel near the Rome airport and enjoy a festive farewell dinner.

Day 11
Rome - Tour Concludes
Your tour ends today in the city of Rome.

Dates & Prices

Educational Highlights in Italy

To travel in Italy is to savor art and architecture, food and wine. Our resident experts will enhance your experience with a series of exclusive talks.

Learn about the art and architecture of the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel as art historian Paul Tegmeyer offers insight into the artistic achievements of Michelangelo, Bernini, Bramante, and Raphael.

Immerse yourself in the glories of Florence during a lecture featuring Renaissance artists represented in the Uffizi Gallery. Lecture held in an International School of Art in Florence.

Join a chef in Florence for a delightful session preparing traditional Tuscan cuisine.

Meet an expert in fresco painting who discusses the history and techniques of this important Italian painting style and explains the amazing restoration process on the frescoes at the Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi.
 

Itinerary

Day 1:
Board your overnight transatlantic flight.

Day 2:
Arrival in Rome, Italy. Time to rest or start exploring the Eternal City on your own. At 6 p.m. meet your Tour Director and traveling companions and leave the hotel for a special welcome dinner with wine at one of Rome’s lively restaurants. (D)

Day 3:
Rome. Sightseeing with your Local Guide starts with a visit to the VATICAN MUSEUMS and SISTINE CHAPEL, world famous for Michelangelo’s ceiling paintings and The Last Judgement. Continue to monumental ST. PETER’S SQUARE and BASILICA. Cross the Tiber and visit the COLOSSEUM and the ROMAN FORUM, where Roman Legions marched in triumph. Time for independent activities and exciting optional excursion possibilities. (BB)

Day 4:
Rome–Pisa–Lucca. This morning, head north along the Tyrrhenian coastline through an area where many a town was founded at the very beginning of recorded history by the mysterious, highly civilized Etruscans. Stop in Pisa for lunch and to take pictures of its Leaning Tower, 180- feet-high and no less than 12 feet out of the perpendicular. Then continue to Lucca, and enjoy an orientation walk and time to explore this pretty town on your own. (BB,D)

Day 5:
Lucca–San Gimignano–Siena–Florence. A scenic day in Tuscany. Morning visit to hilltop San Gimignano, the most picturesque of Italy’s perfectly preserved medieval towns. On to Siena for a leisurely lunchtime break and a walk through ancient narrow lanes to beautiful PIAZZA DEL CAMPO, theater of the biannual Palio, Siena’s spectacular medieval-style horse race. In the afternoon, drive along the Chianti Road leading from Siena due north to Florence. On the way, call at splendid VERRAZZANO CASTLE to hear about the fine art of blending four types of grapes to obtain the famous Chianti Classico. Enjoy WINE TASTING, accompanied by local specialties. (BB,D)

Day 6:
Florence. Follow your Local Guide to the ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS with Michelangelo’s celebrated David and the magnificent CATHEDRAL. Admire Giotto’s Bell Tower, the Baptistry’s heavy bronze “Gate of Paradise,” and sculpture-studded SIGNORIA SQUARE. Afternoon free for independent sightseeing and browsing through the shops. Leather goods and gold jewelry sold by the ounce are attractive buys. Why not try the culinary delights of a fine Florentine restaurant tonight? (BB)

Day 7:
Florence–Verona–Venice. Stop in Verona, setting of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet to see Juliet’s Balcony and the Arena, an incredibly wellpreserved pink marble Roman amphitheater. Built in the 1st century A.D., it is now the magical venue for world famous opera performances. Tonight you are in Venice, a powerful magnet for romantics and art lovers from around the globe. Enter in style by PRIVATE BOAT. (BB)

Day 8:
Venice. Morning sightseeing with your Local Guide features ST. MARK’S SQUARE and the byzantine BASILICA, lavish DOGES’ PALACE and the BRIDGE OF SIGHS. Also watch skilled GLASSBLOWERS fashion their delicate objects in an age-old traditional manner. Then enjoy Venice at your own pace or join an optional gondola ride. Tonight is your chance to sample the city’s fine restaurants. (BB)

Day 9:
Venice–Ravenna–Assisi. Along the coastline of the Adriatic Sea to Ravenna. Here see the famous mosaics in the 6th-century Basilica of ST. APOLLINARIS IN CLASSE. In the afternoon arrive in Assisi. From St. Clare’s Church enjoy a pleasant walk with your Local Guide via pretty Piazza del Comune down to ST. FRANCIS’ BASILICA, the hub of a religious order devoted to the ideals of humility, forgiveness, simplicity, and love for all God’s creatures. Hear about monastic life and view the priceless frescoes adorning the walls of the church. (BB,D)

Day 10:
Assisi–Orvieto–Rome. Following the Tiber Valley, reach Orvieto, perched high atop a volcanic rock. Access, denied to many a would-be conqueror through the ages, is easy for you. Ride a modern FUNICULAR right through the forbidding ramparts. Time for lunch, browsing through tempting shops in the lanes off Piazza del Duomo, and finding the right angle for a picture of the fabulous gothic façade of ORVIETO CATHEDRAL. In the late afternoon return to Rome. Why not join an optional festive dinner at one of Rome’s fine restaurants to bid farewell to the companions of a memorable Italian vacation? (BB)

Day 11:
Your homebound flight arrives the same day. (BB)

Dates & Prices

ROME
Welcome dinner at a local restaurant; guided sightseeing including headsets, visit the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel, St. Peter’s Square and Basilica, the Colosseum and Roman Forum

PISA
Picture stop at the Leaning Tower

LUCCA
Orientation

SAN GIMIGNANO
Orientation

SIENA
Orientation including Piazza del Campo

VERRAZZANO CASTLE
Wine tasting

FLORENCE
Guided sightseeing including headsets, visit Michelangelo’s David, the cathedral, and Signoria Square

VERONA
Orientation including Juliet’s Balcony and the Arena

VENICE
Private boat ride; guided sightseeing including headsets, visit St. Mark’s Square and Basilica, Doges’ Palace and the Bridge of Sighs; glassblowers’ demonstration

RAVENNA
Visit St. Apollinaris in Classe

ASSISI
Guided sightseeing, visit St. Francis’ Basilica

ORVIETO
Ride a funicular through the ramparts to the cathedral
 

Itinerary

Day 1:
Board your overnight transatlantic flight.

Day 2:
Arrival in Rome, Italy. Time to rest or start exploring the Eternal City. At 6 p.m. meet your Tour Director and traveling companions and leave the hotel for a special welcome dinner with wine at one of Rome’s lively restaurants. (D)

Day 3:
Rome. Sightseeing with your Local Guide starts with a visit to the VATICAN MUSEUMS and SISTINE CHAPEL, world famous for Michelangelo’s ceiling paintings and The Last Judgement. Continue to monumental ST. PETER’S SQUARE and BASILICA. Afterwards, relax or explore the city on your own. Later, you may wish to join an optional walk to Trevi Fountain, Navona Square, the Roman Pantheon, and the Spanish Steps, and finish with a Roman dinner party. (BB)

Day 4:
Rome. This morning follow your Local Guide and visit the COLOSSEUM and the ROMAN FORUM, where Roman Legions marched in triumph. Then time to savor la dolce vita and enjoy independent activities. An optional excursion to Ostia Antica is available. (BB)

Day 5:
Rome–Siena–San Gimignano–Florence. First stop this morning is in Siena. Walk through ancient, narrow lanes to PIAZZA DEL CAMPO, site of the biannual Palio, Sienna’s spectacular medieval-style horse race. Then continue through unforgettable landscapes of gently rolling, vine-clad hills for a stop in hilltop San Gimignano, the most picturesque of Italy’s perfectly preserved medieval towns. Afterwards, on to Florence, the splendid capital of Tuscany and birthplace of the Renaissance. (BB,D)

Day 6:
Florence. Follow your Local Guide to the ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS with Michelangelo’s celebrated David and the magnificent CATHEDRAL, Giotto’s Bell Tower, the Baptistry’s heavy bronze “Gate of Paradise,” and sculpture-studded SIGNORIA SQUARE. Afternoon for independent sightseeing and browsing through the shops. Florentine leather goods and gold jewelry sold by the ounce are attractive buys. Tonight, why not try the culinary delights of a fine Florentine restaurant? (Wednesday departures will have the program of days 6 and 7 reversed, as the Academy is closed on Mondays.) (BB)

Day 7:
Florence. Excursion to Pisa and Verrazzano Castle. A fast journey will bring you to Pisa. Here take your pictures of the amazing Leaning Tower, 180 feet high and no less than 12 feet out of the perpendicular. Today’s highlight: hear about the fine art of blending four types of grapes to obtain the famous Chianti at VERRAZZANO CASTLE; enjoy WINE TASTING and lunch before returning to Florence. (BB,L)

Day 8:
Florence–Venice. Morning drive through the wooded Apennine Mountains to Venice, a powerful magnet for romantics and art lovers from around the globe. Enter its glittering maze of islands, canals, and bridges in style by PRIVATE BOAT to meet your Local Guide. Highlights of your walking tour are ST. MARK’S SQUARE and the byzantine BASILICA, lavish DOGES’ PALACE and the BRIDGE OF SIGHS. Then enjoy Venice at your own pace or join an optional gondola ride. (BB)

Day 9:
Venice. Murano and Burano Islands Excursion. Start your day with an unforgettable Venetian LAGOON CRUISE to the islands of Murano and Burano. Glide past the islands of San Giorgio and Sant’Elena, and along the banks of the famous Lido. In Murano watch skilled GLASSBLOWERS fashion their delicate objects in an age-old traditional manner. Then continue on to the picturesque fishing village of Burano, renowned for its bright pastel-colored houses and for its lace-making. Take pictures of traditional fishing boats, still used by the island inhabitants, and enjoy an included lunch. Return to Venice in the early afternoon. (BB,L)

Day 10:
Venice–Verona–Milan. Stop in Verona, medieval setting of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. See Juliet’s Balcony and stroll around the lovely market square. Don’t miss the Arena, an incredibly well-preserved pink marble Roman amphitheater. Built in the 1st century A.D., it is now the magical venue for world-famous opera performances. Then on to the dynamic city of Milan, hub of Italy’s economic miracle with its famous Scala Opera House, glass-domed GALLERIA, and magnificent GOTHIC DUOMO. An optional farewell dinner may be the perfect way to celebrate the success of your Italian vacation. (BB)

Day 11:
Your homebound flight arrives the same day. (BB)

Dates & Prices