INCOMING ITALY LUXURY TOUR

Arrival at Venice Marco Polo Airport and water taxi transfer towards your accommodation in Venice. Check in at your accommodation in Hotel. Optional: Private gondola ride! You will embark on a gondola for a 30 minutes ride on the Grand Canal (S. Maria della Salute area) and other minor canals (Fenice area). The tour will end at the Station Vallaresso (Dogana). Gondola experience to be booked on the spot. Late afternoon at leisure to discover the lively part of the city and do some shopping!

Breakfast and morning private guided walking tour of Venice to discover the major monuments of the city. You will discover the impressive San Marco Square with Doge’s Palace, the halls and golden staircase, the famous Bridge of Sighs, crossed by prisoners before their execution. Finally, visit one of the most majestic Cathedrals in the world – the Golden Basilica. The local guide will also show you the lively part of the city, taking you to explore markets and artisan laboratories of gold, mosaic, glass and Carnival masks!
Afternoon: Join a group tour to the Islands of Venice. This tour will give you the opportunity to visit the beautiful islands of Murano, Burano and Torcello. Murano – originally known as “AMURANIUM”, became prosperous and reached its zenith in the 16th century. Since 1291 it became world famous for its glass. Burano is known for its lace and its colorful houses. The ancient tradition of the “Lace” dates back to the 16th century. Its products have reached all the major courts and European collections. Torcello is famous for being the first settlement in Venice. The island’s name seems to derive from “Turricellum” (the little tower erected in memory of the lost homeland).

Breakfast and check out from your hotel in Venice. Private transfer from Venice to Florence. Check in at your Accommodation in Hotel. Late afternoon Half Day private guided visit of Florence with local guide (2 hours and 30 min). You will be taken through the most famous squares and streets of Florence with the chance to enter some very unusual locations which only locals know… The known: – Signoria Square – Ponte Vecchio – Duomo Santa Maria del Fiore – Santa Croce – Uffizi – Accademia The unexpected: Florence’s oldest pharmacy. Founded in 1866 is located in Santa Maria Novella Convent. Many of the Officina’s preparations have made history and have marked an epoch: the essences, as well as the famous and much requested perfumes, are still prepared here following the formulas studied in 1500 for Caterina de’ Medici. Here they created the well-known Acqua di Colonia: it seems that it was the essence that Caterina de’ Medici, Queen of France, took with her to Paris, where it acquired the name of Eaude la Reine. Later on, the Italian alchemist Giovanni Paolo Feminis, who moved to Cologne in 1725, changed its name to Acqua di Colonia, as a tribute to the city where it was produced. It boasts a great collection of antique pharmacy jars. You will have the chance to visit the little medieval frescoed chapel which is normally closed to public.

And: The oldest cellar in central Florence, wine and chocolate!
In the heart of the historic centre of Florence, just a few steps away from the Duomo, Enoteca is situated in a medieval street. It’s an elegant wine vault where clever structures of wood and terracotta are used to display the most valuable wines. The entrance to the wine tasting area is through vaults and ancient wooden beams where surrounded by glass cabinets of grappas, whiskies and cognac made by the most famous distilleries world-wide, you can sit down and chat while enjoying an excellent glass of wine in front of a marvelous counter. Downstairs in the cellar is a large room of about 300 sq. m. where the temperature and level of humidity are perfect for wine storage and where the clever distribution of lights allows you to admire over 2500 different types of wine.
With your guide, you will visit the famous Accademia Gallery in order not to miss out one of the most famous and eclectic artists in the world: Michelangelo. Your personal guide will reveal the secrets of the Accademia Gallery and the creation of Michelangelo’s world renowned masterpieces, such as

the original version of David, I Prigioni and San Matteo (ticket included). At the end of the guided tour you will have the possibility to stay in the museum as long as you like.

Breakfast and Full Day Tour – Cinque Terre Discovery – Group Excursion from your Hotel in Florence. Take the day to visit the beautiful Cinque Terre. Enjoy the most astonishing views from land and sea, as you stroll along the national park by boat, train, and walking/hiking on the fabulous trails on the cliff (including famous via dell’Amore) in a perfect mix for a real memorable experience. The tour will include a roundtrip minivan transfer, ferry tickets, a guided tour of Le Cinque Terre, English-speaking guide and driver. Hotel pickup and drop off.

Breakfast and private transfer from the hotel in Florence to Rome. Check in at your accommodation in the Hotel in Rome
Afternoon private guided tour of Classic and Baroque Rome. Private half day walking tour with your guide: you will live the most famous places of the Dolce Vita, where art, cinema and taste are mixed (Via Vittorio Veneto, Piazza Barberini, Piazza del Quirinale, Fontana di Trevi, Pantheon, Piazza Navona with the Fountain of the Four Rivers, Via Condotti, Trinità dei Monti). These are the places of Fellini, the “maestro” that changed the way of making movies “realizing the inexpressible”. This is the upper middle class neighborhood, where you will find all the intellectuals and celebrities’ meeting places. You will also understand the Eternal City’s people essence from antiquarians to food markets and ateliers, passing through inside squares and hidden outdoor movie sets.

Breakfast and optional morning devoted to the Papal Audience (only on Wednesday).
Afternoon group tour of the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and Basilica of St. Peter. A fascinating itinerary with a private professional guide to the discovery of art, history and religion of the Vatican City, the smallest state in the world. Late afternoon at leisure to explore Rome on your own and relax!

Breakfast and full day private tour to Pompeii (you will have your private English speaking driver during all the tour); private guide in Pompeii (the tour will last 2 hours).

Pompeii is the most compelling archaeological site in Europe, and its appeal goes beyond tourism. Much of its value lies in the fact that it wasn’t simply blown away by Vesuvius: rather it was buried under a layer of lapilli (burning pumice stone), as Pliny the Younger describes in his celebrated account of the eruption.

The drive from Rome to Pompeii lasts about 3 hours.

Breakfast and morning half day mini group visit of the Catacombs under San Peter (1 hour 30 min). This is a special visit to the necropolis underneath the Basilica, where the tomb of St. Peter is located, only possible following special permission granted from time to time by the “Fabbrica di San Pietro”. In order to preserve this exceptional historical and archaeological site and due to the limited premises around the venerated tomb of the Apostle Peter, only around 250 visitors per day are permitted to enter. Groups are composed of approximately 12 people and according to language. Each group is accompanied by a Vatican guide, and the guided visit lasts about one hour and a half. Kindly notice that environmental conditions will be different underground, with possible increase of temperature and humidity. Those who suffer specific and serious physical problems that could be effected by these conditions, including claustrophobia, should not visit them. Afternoon Half day group tour of Ancient Rome. You will explore the most important sites of Ancient Rome, skipping the long lines on this guided half-day tour covering the Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill. The tour will be conducted by an experienced informative guide specialized in archaeology.

Breakfast and private transfer towards Rome airport.