Day 1: ROME
Airport transfer upon arrival. Car pick up at your hotel in Rome. Walking tour of Vatican City to discover the Papal Galleries Art Collection, the Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel, and the art treasures of St. Peter’s Basilica. . Overnight in Rome. Hotel 4 star.
DAY 2: ROME
Full day tour of Rome with an authorized licensed driver guide& transport at your disposition for 7 hours. the Trevi fountain, Spanish Steps, Via Veneto, Pantheon and the Coliseum.Sightseeing-tour through the main archeological sites of the Eternal City, symbols of splendor and historical memories of ancient Rome. Hotel 4 star.
DAY 3: ROME to FLORENCE
transfer to the tiny hill town of San Gimignano,
free visit of the village,where you’ll view the famous medieval towers,
wander the charming streets and shopthe Tuscan treasures.We’ll then drive to Monteriggioni,
that many consider Italy’s smallest walled fortification.It’s setting and cuisine is unrivaled in Tuscany especially in a place like this, where lunch break is a masterpiece.
Arrival in Florence & check into your castle hotel
DAY4: FLORENCE
Full day tour in Florence, chauffeured car driven tour and 3 hours museum tour UFFIZI including museum transfer to Piazza Santa Croce, the most interesting gothic church in our country. It was conceived in 1295 on designs by Arnolfo di Cambio, and completed
in the second half of the 14th century.
We’ll drive to Santa Maria del Fiore, masterpiece of Flilippo Brunelleschi who designed and completed it between 1420 and 1434. The original project of the Cathedral was the work ofArnolfo di Cambio who began its construction in 1296.
Piazza della Signoria will be a short ridefrom the church. It is to medieval town-planners that we owe the historic city centre of Florence.Palazzo della Signoria, also known as Palazzo Vecchio situated on a corner of the Piazza itself, was initially built as the seat of the Priori delle Arti (heads of guilds), Palazzo Vecchio was subsequently commandeered by CosimoIas seat of the Medici government.
We’ll then reach Ponte Vecchio, one of the most famous bridges
In the world and the most ancient in Florence.Your guide-driver will not miss Palazzo Pitti,the largest and most monumental of the palaces in Florence by Filippo Brunelleschi.We’ll then reach Accademy Gallery*Palace fouded by Grand-Duke Pietro Leopoldo in 1784. The Accademia Palace was enlarged and reorganized in the last century. Lunch time in a typical florentine restaurant.
Afternoon, private walking tour of the UFFIZI Museum - This tour expands to include many masters, and masterpieces of the Renaissance(Boticelli, Da Vinci, Caravaggio, Raphael, Titian
and of course, Michelangelo, to name a few). Hotel 4 star in Florence
DAY 5: SIENA , CHIANTI VALLEY TOUR & WINE TASTING
Car pick up at the hotel in Florence,transfer to Siena, this is an hypnotic hill town steeped in history and culture and the monuments, churches and palazzos boasts to prove it.
The points of major attraction are Piazza del Campo,where the great horserace “Palio” has been held since medieval time, and the charming Dome.We’ll then drive to the “Greve in Chianti” region with its great climate, the finest wines, olive oils plus glorious panoramas.local wine tastings, typical local restaurant and back to Florence. 4 star hotel in Florence.
DAY 6: PISA & LUCCA
Car pick-up at the hotel, transfer to Pisa and Lucca,The Leaning Tower of Pisa is Italy’s most recognized monument (after the coliseum)and never ceases to impress those who visit it.Your Lecture-Guide-Driver lays this magicalcity before you.Piazza dei Miracoli and the Dome are just as impressive.We’ll then drive to Lucca where we'll have lunchin a typical local restaurant in town.*The recipes of "Lucchese cuisine"in this part of Tuscany are always well apprecieted. Lucca is an urban area of very ancient origin, populated by gardens,medieval towers,a large number of churches surrounded by its ancient fortification.We'll drive you back to Florence in the afternoon. HOTEL 4 STAR in FLORENCE
DAY 7: FLORENCE-ROME
morning museum tour to the Palatine gallery & the PITTI Palace. The left bank of the Arno maintains the working class enviroments that made it a haven for artisans since the middle ages.You walk with your guide over the Ponte Vecchio and into this time-capsule world where tradesman, shopkeepers and manufacturers ply their wares.You' ll visit the Palatine Gallery*and the Royal Apartments* of the Pitti Palace* where you view the collection of the Medici Grand Dukes including masterpieces of Botticelli, Titian,Raphael and Rubens. Afternoon transfer back to ROME. Hotel 4 star in Rome.
DAY 8:
Transfer back to the airport.
HOTEL ACCOMODATIONS: We will be happy to provide you a quote including or excluding your hotel accomodations, depending on your budget.
Our hotel's suggestions for Florence are:
The VILLA ANTEA*****
Located only a few meters away from Piazza della Vittoria in Florence, in a high florentine patrician environment dated between late '800 and early '900, Villa Antea represents the finest florentine hospitality.
Villa Villoresi: To live and feel at home in a Florentine villa while keeping intact the charm of old times. A XII century fortress transformed into a country house in the Renaissance, the villa is a National Monument and boasts the longest terrace in Tuscany that opens on the Italian garden with a swimming pool.
Some of the most beautiful apartments, with frescoes and antiques, overlook this terrace. At the restaurant: classic and ancient recipes of the Florentine cuisine. Special programs on various aspects of Renaissance in Florence and Tuscany are organized here. COOKING CLASSES AVAILABLE. 5 miles from Florence.
For hotels in Rome please email us. Your hotel will be included in your package , category of your choice, meals of your guide & hotels are included, all visits are included. Lunches & dinners are not included .
