6D/5N - 2020 Wonders of Italy

day 1 Rome- Assisi-Siena-Florence

In the morning, depart at 7:15 am from the Hotel Massimo D'Azeglio by a deluxe coach, you will arrive in Assisi, where you can explore this tiny town, surrounded by walls built in the middle ages, at your own leisure. Make time to visit the Basilica of St Francis, where you will see masterpieces by Giotto and Cimabue, and to have lunch (not included). Board the bus for Siena, a medieval town surrounded by ancient walls that is known for the Palio, an annual summertime horse race around the shell-shaped town square, Piazza del Campo. Next, you will continue on to Florence, where you will check in to your hotel before enjoying dinner and a well-earned night of rest

day 2 Florence

After breakfast, you will spend the day venturing around beautiful Florence, the “Cradle of Renaissance, where, with the help of Michelangelo, Italian art reached its pinnacle. Based on etruscan-roman origins, the city flourished in the Middle Ages as a free “Comune” and was further refined during the Renaissance. You will be fascinated by the uncountable monuments, churches and buildings as Santa Maria del Fiore, more commonly referred to as the Duomo. On your visit, you will be amazed by its magnificent dome built by Filippo Brunelleschi. Cross a small piazza to see the “Campanile” tower (partly designed by Giotto) and the Baptistery, with its bronze doors where Michelangelo imagined the “Gates of Paradise.” In the heart of the city, you will see Piazza della Signoria, Palazzo della Signoria (also known as Palazzo Vecchio), and the Basilica of Santa Croce. Lunch will be served in a typical Tuscan restaurant in Piazza Santa Croce. Spend the afternoon at leisure strolling the cobblestone streets of Florence or take a short trip to Pisa (optional), one of the four main historical Marine Republics of Italy. There, you will tour the Piazza dei Miracoli with the Duomo, Pisa’s symbol “the Leaning Tower” and the Baptistery. Dinner is at leisure in the evening.

day 3 Florence-Bologna-Padua-Venice

After breakfast in Florence, depart to Bologna. There, you will discover the elegant city centre with its “porticos”, its shopping streets and so on. From Piazza Malpighi you will walk to Piazza del Nettuno and Piazza Maggiore (Neptune square and Major square) in the heart of the city, then King Renzo’s Palace; Palazzo Podestà and the basilica of San Petronio, one of the biggest in the world. Bologna it’s a real gourmet’s heaven so don’t miss a tasty meal at your own leisure! In the afternoon, continue toward Padova, with Sant’Antonio Basilica: one of the most visited churches by pilgrims of the catholic world. Later in the afternoon, arrival in Venice: the City of Love, one of the most romantic cities of the whole world and, undoubtedly the most beautiful city built by man! Check in at your hotel for dinner and overnight stay.

day 4 Venice

After breakfast, enjoy your private water-taxi transfer to Piazza San Marco, with “Skip the Line” tickets to visit the splendid St Mark’s Basilica and check out the most iconic places of the “Floating City”: the Palazzo dei Dogi, symbol of Venice’s glorious past, the legendary “Bridge of Sighs”. Spend the afternoon roaming along Venice’s canals at your leisure and then return to the hotel for dinner and overnight.

day 5 Venice-Verona-Sirmione-Como

After breakfast, we head to the famous city of Verona: the town of Romeo and Juliet. A walk through its narrow streets will allow you to get in touch with Verona's varied and fascinating past: traces of its splendid roman origins, as the world-famous Arena and its medieval structures, its magnificent renaissance palaces, as well as the impressive fortifications protecting the city. The combination of art and history will fascinate you. You will head to Sirmione, where you will see the Lake Garda, the largest lake in Italy. Enjoy the area, rich in vegetation including lemon trees, oleanders and magnolias. You will see the Sirmione cape, the castle and the ruins. In the afternoon, we will arrive in Como and enjoy the picturesque view of Lake Como. Enjoy some free time to visit Como, one of the most beautiful cities in Italy. After the visit, you will check-in at the hotel for dinner and overnight.

day 6 Como-Milan

Breakfast and depart to Milan where your tour will come to an end at the central railway station.

Inclusions: twin share in 4 star hotels, breakfast daily, 1 lunch, 3 dinners, deluxe coach, English-speaking tour escort, local guides, sightseeing as per itinerary, local tour guide, service charges and taxes.

Exclusions: meals not mentioned above, drinks, gratuities and city tax.

Hotels: Florence- 4* Raffaello, Venice- 4* Santa Chiara, Como- 4* Hotel Como (or similar)