DEPARTURES STARTS MAY 25, 2011

FLORENCE/SIENA/ASSISI/ROME - 6 Days/5 Nights (FULLY ESCORTED)

HOTELS
Accommodation in 4* hotels in Rome, Florence and Venice island.

PRICE PER PERSON:
DOUBLE ROOM $1184
TRIPLE ROOM $1184
SINGLE ROOM $1484

GUARANTEED DEPARTURES
MAY   25
JUNE  29
JULY  13 + 27
AUGUST  10 + 24 + 31
SEPTEMBER 14 + 28
OCTOBER 12

ITINERARY

1st Day: Florence
Arrival in Florence and transfer to the hotel.
Meeting at the hotel with our tour leader.
Dinner at the hotel or restaurant and overnight.

2nd Day: Florence
Breakfast and overnight at the hotel.
In the morning panoramic city tour with local guide: Our tour starts discovering the city from a panoramic point of view considered one of the most beautiful and romantic in the World: the Piazzale Michelangelo.
From here we can have a complete view of the city and of the green landscape around it. The tour will continue into the heart of Florence through the historical streets of Florence, and will lead us in front of the Duomo where the guide will explain from the outside Giotto’s bell tower, the Baptistery with its golden bronze doors including the famous Porta del Paradiso and, lastly, the Cathedral, with its inner mosaics. Our walking tour will continue to Piazza Signoria, heart of the city social life.
Lunch at a local restaurant.
Afternoon at leisure or possibility to book optional visits.

Optional suggested tour : The Uffizi Gallery
The Grand Duke Cosimo I of Medicis Family wanted the construction of Uffizi to host offices and government archives and commissioned his architect of trust, Vasari, the planning of an important building.
Works started in 1560 and were completed by Achitect Buontalenti. The successors of Cosimo I placed in the uffizi collections of rare and precious objects and the Uffizi became one of the most important museums of the world.
The Uffizi Gallery is a place of spirit and of creative art, where the Florentine and universal genius is exalted; we can admire the impressive and magnificent paintings of Leonardo, Giotto, Michelangelo, Botticelli and Raffaello.

3rd Day: Florence/Siena/Rome
Breakfast at the hotel.
Departure to Siena and visit of the city with local guide: Siena, the Medieval town with the suggestive Piazza del Campo famous for the Palio and for being one of the most splendid examples of Gothic civil architecture in the world. Here stands the magnificent Palazzo Pubblico with its tower Torre del Mangia.
We will continue on the direction of the Duomo, one of the most fascinating Italian churches in Gothic style. At the end of the visit departure to Assisi and free time to visit the city: the Church of Santa Chiara where St. Francis was born.
Walking through the narrow streets we reach Piazza del Comune with the Palazzo dei Priori, the Palazzo del Popolo and the Temple of Minerva. Continue to the Basilica of St. Francis with masterpieces by Giotto and Cimabue.
Continue to the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli, place where St. Francis lived and died, with visit to the Porziuncola Chapel.
At the end of the visit departure to Rome.
Dinner and overnight.

4th Day: Rome
Breakfast and overnight at the hotel.
In the morning visit of the Vatican Museum with local guide: During the visit of the Vatican Museums  you will admire: the Pio-Clementino halls, replenished with Roman masterpieces, like the Laocoon or the Torso and Apollo Belvedere, the Candelabra Gallery, the beautiful Tapestry Gallery, the interesting cartographic study in the Maps Gallery and, above all, the Sistine Chapel, where Popes are elected, with the famous Genesis, and Last Judgement by Michelangelo, recently restored.
Lunch at a local restaurant.
Afternoon at leisure or possibility to book optional visits.

Optional suggested tour : Ancient Rome
Quirinal Square, with the Presidential Palace - Piazza Venezia towered by the imposing “Vittoriano”.The Capitol square, a unique treasure of history and art, where Michelangelo’s noble architecture blends with Roman times masterpieces. The view from there overlooking the Roman Forum, the most fascinating archaeological area in the world, will leave you breathless.
The Coliseum (visit), the most famous monument ever built, symbol itself of Rome’s majesty and eternity. St. Paul’s-outside-the-walls (visit) built where the Apostle of the People is buried.

5th Day: Rome
Breakfast and overnight at the hotel. 
Day at leisure and possibility to book our visits and excursions (contact us for details).
In the evening enjoy a Rome by night tour: “Rediscover Rome in a magical atmosphere created by romantic lighting”.
Via Veneto, the Dolce Vita street, Piazza Barberini with the Triton Fountain by Bernini, Piazza Venezia with the “Vittoriano”, Via dei Fori Imperiali, the Coliseum, the Arch of Constantine, the Palatine, the Temple of Vesta, the Theatre of Marcello, the Capitol, Tiberine Island, the Synagogue, St. Angel’s Castle, St. Peter’s Square and Basilica.
During this panoramic tour of the city the guide will take you to visit the famous Trevi Fountain and piazza Navona, the baroque square, cosmopolitan meeting place After the tour enjoy your own pizza dinner, pizza that you will be taught to make on the premises. Dinner will be accompanied with music by one or more folkloric singers. Return to the hotel.

6th Day: Rome
Breakfast at the hotel. End of our services.

Note:
for arrivals in other airports outside Venice please ask our booking department for supplement

OPTIONAL SERVICES:
Package Post-tour in Pompei/Sorrento & Capri

Last day of the tour: ROME / NAPLES - POMPEII / SORRENTO
Breakfast at the hotel.
Leave Rome southwards. After a brief tour of Naples continue to Pompeii. Stop for a visit to an ancient cameos and coral Factory.
After Lunch visit the excavations of this Roman town buried under the ashes of nearby Vesuvius in 79 A.C. Proceed then to Sorrento for dinner and overnight.

2nd day: SORRENTO / CAPRI / ROME
After breakfast at the hotel, leave by steamer to the Island of Capri. On arrival, weather permitting, visit on a row boat, the Blue Grotto. Visit of the Augustus Gardens and a stop in the famous Piazzetta. Minibuses will take us up to Anacapri.
After lunch back to Marina Grande to board the return steamer to Naples, from where the journey back to Rome starts. Arrival in Rome, transfer to the hotel and overnight.

3rd day: ROME
Breakfast at the hotel.
End of our services

RATES INCLUDE:
- Arrival transfer in Florence airport to the hotel
- Transportation by deluxe coach as per itinerary
- Accommodation in the hotel in rooms  with private facilities
- Daily buffet breakfast
- Local guides in Florence, Siena and Rome as per itinerary
- 2 lunches and 3 dinners as per itinerary (drinks are not included)
- Multilingual tour escort as per itinerary
- Entrance fees as per itinerary