Insight's First Class Services

• Escorted by a professional Tour Director
• Luxury air-conditioned 40 seat coach with onboard toilet
• Insight Hotels include all service charges, taxes and porterage
• Insight Traveler document wallet, map book journal and information pack
• Complimentary arrival transfer on Day 2 and departure transfer on Day 9

Quality Dining

• Highlight Dinner of local cuisine with entertainment in Rome (HD)
• 7 Buffet Breakfasts (BB) and 2 three-course table d’hôte Dinners,or Buffets, plus tea or coffee (D)

9 Days ~ Italy

Tour Pace
This is an evenly paced tour with two-night stays in Rome, Montecatini and Venice, allowing plenty of time for sightseeing and people-watching from the comfort of sidewalk cafés. The driving days are of a reasonable length with frequent stops for rest and photo opportunities.

DAY 1 – FRI – DEPART USA
Overnight flight to Rome.

DAY 2 – SAT – ROME AT LEISURE
Welcome to Italy! On arrival at Rome’s Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci Airport, there are complimentary transfers to your tour hotel. Then this beautiful and historic city is yours to discover at leisure: stroll down the Via Veneto or perhaps spend some time wandering through the vast parklands of the Villa Borghese. Tonight, join your Tour Director and fellow passengers for a Welcome Drink.
Hotel: Sheraton.

DAY 3 – SUN – ROME – TUSCANY
Drive northwards, following the valley of the Tiber, to Perugia, which in medieval times housed one of the great Italian schools of painting. Visit the Piazza 4 Novembre, one of the grandest squares in Italy, to see the Great Fountain, Gothic Cathedral and splendid Priors’ Palace before seeing the nearby Collegio del Cambio. Take a delightful drive through the Tuscan olive groves to Florence and explore the riches of the Renaissance. With a local guide, visit the Academy Museum to see Michelangelo’s original ‘Statue of David’. See the marble clad Cathedral and Baptistery too, where Ghiberti’s ‘Gates of Paradise’ have been recreated in all their glory. Next stop is Signoria Square, political heart of the city and still an open air gallery of Renaissance masterpieces. Finally, visit the church of Santa Croce to see the tombs of Galileo and Michelangelo. Afterwards, make your way to your hotel in Montecatini.
Hotel: Grand Hotel Nizza & Suisse. (BB,D)

DAY 4 – MON – FLORENCE EXCURSION
Drive back to Florence to enjoy a demonstration of traditional Florentine leatherwork. The rest of the day is yours to shop, explore or continue sightseeing at your own pace. Consider taking an optional excursion to the leaning tower of Pisa before sampling some fine Florentine cuisine and Chianti wine. (BB)

DAY 5 – TUE – TUSCANY – VENICE
Cross the Apennine Mountains, passing Bologna and the flood plains of the River Po for a scenic drive along the famous Brenta Riviera. See the magnificent classical villas that were once the summer residences of the Venetian nobility. The route takes you along the canal through Strà, Dolo and Mira to magical Venice, where the city seems to float on the lagoon. Stay on the Lido, one of the most fashionable resorts on the Adriatic.
Hotel: Le Boulevard. (BB,D)

DAY 6 – WED – VENICE SIGHTSEEING
Appreciate the splendor of Venice as you cruise by the Biennale Park and Palladio’s San Giorgio Maggiore to St Mark’s Square. Your Tour Director will explain the glorious history of ‘La Serenissima’, once one of the greatest trading centres of the world which imported goods from the Orient – this wealth and power is echoed by the riches of St Mark’s Basilica. See the Doges’ Palace and its adjoining Bridge of Sighs, then visit one of the glass showrooms for a demonstration of traditional craftsmanship, unchanged for centuries. Relax and enjoy the atmosphere as you cruise along the Venetian canals by gondola. There is time to explore or browse through the shops on the Rialto Bridge in the afternoon. Don’t miss the chance to try the delicious seafood, freshly caught in the lagoon. (BB)

DAY 7 – THU – VENICE – ROME
Take the spectacular highway over the wild Apennines, continuing southwards to reach the valley of the River Tiber, its course leading back to Rome. In the evening, why not dine to your favorite Italian songs from some of the best voices in Italy? 
Hotel: Cicerone. (BB)

DAY 8 – FRI – ROME SIGHTSEEING
A local guide introduces the grandeur of the city: drive to the independent Vatican State, the richest community in the world. Visit the superb Vatican Museums, treasure house of the Catholic faith with vast collections of ancient and Renaissance art gathered by Popes over the ages. Continue into the Sistine Chapel, a glorious masterpiece of Michelangelo’s fresco skills. Tour St Peter’s Basilica to see another of Michelangelo’s early works, the Pieta, as well as the splendid dome completed after his death. Hear tales of the glory of ancient Rome as you cross the River Tiber to visit the Colosseum and see the Forum. The afternoon is free to enjoy Rome at your own pace. In the evening, join your fellow travelers for a last night celebration Highlight Dinner of pasta, wine and music. (BB,HD)

DAY 9 – SAT – RETURN TO USA
Bid farewell to the glories of Italy as you are transferred to the airport for your onward flight. (BB)

Hotels
Both Roman hotels are modern with all comforts - the Cicerone being located near the Vatican. Montecatini’s Grand Hotel Nizza & Suisse is in traditional Tuscan spa-town style, while the Boulevard hotel on Venice Lido echoes traditional Venetian architecture from the 15th century.

Fellow Passengers
This tour attracts the first-time visitor to Italy but is also suitable for the returning traveler who wants to revisit three of the major Italian cities. It also appeals to passengers with limited vacation time and those with a passion for art, architecture and a love of Italian food and wine.

Highlights
Highlights are many: the Renaissance treasures of Florence (in particular Michelangelo’s original statue of David); the unique waterscape of the Venetian Lagoon; the awe-inspiring beauty of St Peter’s Basilica and the extraordinary ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.

Enjoy our Premium Highlights plus these extra tour features

Excursions & Sights

• Visit Piazza 4 Novembre in Perugia to see the Great Fountain, Cathedral & Priors’ Palace
• See the tombs of Michelangelo and Galileo inside Santa Croce Church in Florence
• See the ‘Gates of Paradise’ on the Baptistery and Cathedral in Florence
• Scenic drive along the Brenta Riviera to see the Venetian summer palaces
• Cruise to St Mark’s Square by private launch past San Giorgio Maggiore
• See St Mark’s Basilica, the Doges’ Palace and Bridge of Sighs in Venice
• Tour St Peter’s Basilica, mother church of the Catholic faith
• Florence leatherwork & Venetian glass-blowing demonstrations
• Scenic drives - Tuscany, Apennines

Guided City Tours

• In-depth sightseeing tours with audio headsets where appropriate in Rome & Florence Orientation tours in Perugia & Venice

Insight's First Class Services

• Escorted by a professional Tour Director
• Luxury air-conditioned 40 seat coach with onboard toilet
• Insight Hotels include all service charges, taxes and porterage
• Insight Traveler document wallet, map book journal and information pack
• Complimentary arrival transfer on Day 2 and departure transfer on Day 9

Quality Dining

• Highlight Dinner of local cuisine with entertainment in Rome (HD)
• 7 Buffet Breakfasts (BB) and 2 three-course table d’hôte Dinners,or Buffets, plus tea or coffee (D)