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Bella Italia with Tuscany

11 days4 cities
Italy1 country
Tour rating: 4.96 / 5, Based on 315 Reviews
Small group tour to Italy

Dive into the impeccable beauty of Italy's gorgeous capitals and the iconic region of Tuscany. Together with a petite group and professional guides, explore the top attractions, enjoy fun activities, including tastings, as well as stays at fine central properties.

11 days4 cities
Italy1 country
From
 $4,466 
Venice, Italy
3
days
Italy

Waterfront palazzos and palaces make drifting down the Grand Canal feel like cruising through a painting. Venice is the world's most romantic city.

Day by day
Hotel
Day-by-day program
1
day
Arrival in Venice

Welcome to Venice - one of the most charming cities of Italy. Upon arrival, you have a private water-taxi transfer to the hotel for the check-in.

The rest of the day is at your own leisure to relax after the trip.

No meals included.

  • Pre-tour extension available: we recommend to begin your journey with an exploration of Milan. Contact your travel specialist for details.
2
day
Sightseeing in Venice

After breakfast at the hotel, meet your guide in the lobby and enjoy a wonderful walking city tour of all the must-see places of Venice.

We’ve carefully chosen the stops on this tour to give you a real insight into the city. You see the Rialto Bridge (and Rialto fish market), walk past the quiet streets, peaceful canals and go beyond the areas that visitors usually see. This is where Venice is hiding its best architecture and secret stories – and that’s what we’re out to explore.

Among many sights you discover are the iconic St. Mark's Basilica, where you see the astonishing Pala D'Oro altar. You go up to Loggia dei Cavalli to enjoy the best panoramic views of St. Mark's Square.

After the tour return to your hotel and have the rest of the day at leisure or may go on an optional gondola ride.

  • Optional tour: Gondola Ride, Venice

Breakfast is included.

3
day
Day at Leisure in Venice & Train to Florence

After breakfast, you check out from the Venice hotel. The first half of the day is free for you to enjoy and explore Venice on your own. Alternatively, you can take one of the short optional day trips to nearby places.

  • Optional tour: Trip to Murano and Burano Islands
    Located in the Venetian lagoon, Burano Island is famous for its lace making production and Murano is well-known for its glass blowing traditions.

In the afternoon you are met at your hotel by an assistant for a water-taxi transfer to the rail station where you board a fast train to Florence. Upon arrival to Florence in about 2 hours you are taken to your downtown hotel for check-in. The rest of the evening is free.

Breakfast is included.

Your choice of hotels

We carefully select hotels to ensure your amazing stay. We will recommend the best available properties for your travel dates.

Al Theatro Palace, Venice
classic
$

Located in the heart of Venice, the stylish Al Theatro Palace provides amazing views over one of the most famous theatres in the world.

train
Venice
Florence
2 hrs

Modern Italian trains are among the fastest and most comfortable ways to get to Florence. Free WiFi, power sockets, comfortable seats with footrests, and extensive luggage space are at your service during the journey.

Florence, Italy
2
days
Italy

One of the brightest gems of the Tuscany region, Florence, is the treasure trove, birthplace and cradle of the Renaissance.

Day by day
Hotel
Day-by-day program
4
day
Florence Sightseeing

After breakfast in your hotel, meet with your guide and go on a comprehensive walking tour of Florence's highlights. Today's program includes exploration of the Piazza del Duomo with a visit to the Baptistery dedicated to St. John the Baptist.

  • Note: Your ticket to the Grande Museo del Duomo allows you to visit the other magnificent monuments of Piazza del Duomo in your free time within 72 hours: the Cathedral itself, the famous Dome, the Bell Tower, and the Cathedral Museum with works by Michelangelo and Donatello.

As you proceed to the main square of the city - Piazza della Signoria - you pass through the heart of the historical center with its landmark sites like Piazza della Repubblica and the Strozzi Palace. Stroll down via Tornabuoni, one of the most beautiful streets of the city, famous for its fine shops. 

We will also cross over the Arno River on the Ponte Vecchio to enter the Oltrarno district where you see numerous local craftsmen shops and the beautiful Santo Spirito Church and Convent, built for the Augustinians. In this very part of the city you can find an early work of Michelangelo dating back to when he was just 17 years old. 

During the tour, we also visit the Galleria dell'Accademia to see Michelangelo's famous colossal statue of David, a must-see in Florence. 

After the tour, return to your hotel and enjoy the evening at your own leisure.

Breakfast is included.

5
day
Day at Leisure & Evening Wine Tasting

Today is free for you to savor magnificent Florence on your own or join our carefully planned optional tour.

  • Optional tour: Day trip to Pisa
    Take the chance to visit the nearby Pisa and explore Piazza dei Miracoli, the Square of Miracles with its jewel - the Leaning Tower.

In the evening meet your fellow travelers for a wine tasting organized for your small group. Enjoy a tasting of 3 different wines selected by the sommelier and paired with snacks.

Breakfast and wine-tasting with snacks included.

Your choice of hotels

We carefully select hotels to ensure your amazing stay. We will recommend the best available properties for your travel dates.

Cerretani Firenze MGallery by Sofitel
premium
$$

Set in the heart of Florence, the Cerretani Firenze MGallery by Sofitel boasts comfortable rooms and is a perfect place to stay.

train
Florence
Rome
1 hr 30 min

Taking a train is one of the best options for traveling from Florence to Rome. Trains in Italy are well-equipped, fast, and conveniently connect these Italian cities from one center to the other.

Rome, Italy
3
days
Italy

The capital of Italy, Rome, obtains an unrivaled and unfathomable collection of historical treasures. This safe and welcoming region one of the most popular tourist destinations around the globe.

Day by day
Hotel
Day-by-day program
6
day
Highlights of Rome

Following breakfast in your Florence hotel, you check out and depart to the capital of Italy - Rome! Upon arrival about three hours later, your driver takes you directly to your downtown hotel where you meet with your guide and embark on a tour to discover the famous ancient treasures of the Eternal City.

You see the Spanish Steps, the Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, Piazza Navona, the famous Fountain of the Four Rivers, as well as witness the masterpieces by Bernini, Borromini, and many others.



After the tour, your guide takes you back to the hotel and you have the evening at leisure.

Breakfast is included.

7
day
Discovering Ancient Rome

In the morning after breakfast, you meet your guide to discover the famous ancient treasures of the Eternal City on a walking tour. Your first stop today is the iconic Roman Forum, situated on low ground between the Palatine and Capitoline hills. Dating back to the 3rd century A.D., the landmark served as the key political and ritual center of ancient Rome.

Today you can see columns and remains of ancient temples, arches, and buildings, such as the Temple of Caesar and the Arch of Septimius Severus, as well as the adjacent Palatine Hill, which was the site of the city’s first settlements.

The next place you discover today is Rome's hallmark site - the Colosseum. Originally known by the name of Flavius amphitheater, it was the biggest and most imposing building of its kind in the Roman world, designed as an arena for the fights of Roman gladiators and could hold up to 70 thousand spectators.

After the tour, your guide takes you back to the hotel and you have the evening at leisure.

Breakfast is included.

8
day
Vatican Sightseeing

In the morning after breakfast, you meet your guide and walk to a walled enclave and the world’s smallest independent state - Vatican*. When inside the Vatican, you visit private apartments of Julius II, Pinecone Courtyard, Gallery of the Maps, Gallery of the Tapestries and Gallery of Candelabra.


Next, you proceed to the Sistine Chapel, where you have enough time to admire Michelangelo's famous frescoes and learn about the intense relationship between Pope Julius II and Michelangelo that drove the artist to create the greatest work of art the world has ever known.


After a coffee break, your tour continues in the vast open spaces of St. Peter’s Basilica where you see a stunning Pieta - a world-famous work of Renaissance sculpture by Michelangelo, and Bernini's impressive Papal Canopy, a legacy left to the Basilica by the Barberini family.



The ending point of your tour is in St. Peter’s Square, where you can admire Michelangelo's Dome and the gorgeous colonnades designed by Bernini.

After the tour of the Vatican, you enjoy a leisurely walk to the hotel with your guide and have a photo stop at the legendary Castel Sant'Angelo, built originally as a mausoleum, and then used by the popes as a fortress, refuge and a prison.

Upon your return to the hotel, you have the rest of the day at leisure to enjoy the beauty of Rome on your own.

  • Please note: the Vatican is a sacred religious site thus the dress code for visiting it is applied just as when you visit any church in Italy: no shorts – no uncovered knees and shoulders, no backpacks. Due to religious services St. Peters Basilica may be spontaneously closed, thus entrance to St. Peters Basilica may not be guaranteed.

Breakfast is included.

Your choice of hotels

We carefully select hotels to ensure your amazing stay. We will recommend the best available properties for your travel dates.

Hotel Dei Mellini, Rome
classic
$

Set within a walking distance from Saint Peter’s Square, the beautiful hotel is housed in a 19th-century building.

car
Rome
Castiglione d'Orcia
2 hrs

Sit back, relax, and let yourself get mesmerized by wonderful Italian sceneries while one of our professional drivers takes you to the magical town of Castiglione d'Orcia.

Castiglione d'Orcia, Italy
3
days
Italy

Located in the region of Tuscany, Castiglione d'Orcia provides beautiful sceneries of the hilly Italian countryside, outstanding historic architecture, and opportunities for top-notch wine-tasting.

Day by day
Hotel
Day-by-day program
9
day
Departure to Tuscany

After breakfast, your driver meets you in the hotel lobby and takes you to incredible Tuscany. Upon arrival, you have a check-in in a charming hotel. The rest of the day is free so you can take a good rest or start exploring Castiglione d'Orcia on your own.

Breakfast is included.

10
day
Tour to Cheese Farm and Winery in Pienza & Montepulciano Sightseeing

In the morning after breakfast, you have another amazing experience as today you visit a Pecorino cheese farm. Your driver and guide take you to Pienza, the area known for the wonderful Pecorino di Pienza cheese, which gets its name from the word pecora, Italian for "sheep". This delicious "sheep" cheese is made exclusively in and around the town of Pienza from sheep's milk. In the beginning, you have a tour of the historical center of Pienza, included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. You enjoy the views of wonderful Renaissance Palazzo Piccolomini, the beautiful Cathedral of Pienza and Palazzo Comunale.

You are then driven to a gorgeous rustic organic cheese farm that sits on top of a hill overlooking the entire Val d'Orcia and even Pienza itself. Here the local cheese producer shows you how the pecorino sheep cheese is made and the many stages of aging from soft and fresh to hard and complex. Following the tour at the farm, you have a cheese tasting.

Later you carry on to Montepulciano, a small village of Etruscan origin and one of the most beautiful hill towns in Tuscany. After the guided tour of the Montepulciano historical center, you have time for lunch and visit a traditional winery. Here you enjoy tasting one of the most famous Italian wines: Vino Nobile di Montepulciano*. The Nobile wines of Montepulciano were the first to be given the ultimate quality level of DOCG certification.

After the tour you return to the hotel and have the rest of the evening at leisure.

Breakfast, cheese and wine-tasting included.

11
day
Departure from Rome

This is the last day of your amazing tour to Italy! After breakfast your driver meets you at the hotel lobby and takes you to the airport for your flight back home. We wish you a safe flight and hope to work on your future vacations!

Breakfast is included.

  • Recommended extension: If you would like to extend your Italian vacation, continue exploring its wonders with our extension to Naples or the Amalfi coast. Contact your specialist for details.
Your choice of hotels

We carefully select hotels to ensure your amazing stay. We will recommend the best available properties for your travel dates.

Hotel Osteria Dell'Orcia, Castiglione d'Orcia

Set right in the heart of Castiglione d'Orcia, the Hotel Osteria Dell'Orcia invites you to enjoy an authentic Tuscany lifestyle. Guests are welcome to take advantage of the cozy well-furnished rooms, an open swimming pool, and a fantastic in-house restaurant, offering a great choice of local dishes.

What's included

  • Accommodation at remarkable 4-star centrally located hotels in Venice, Florence, Rome and heritage house hotel in Castiglione d'Orcia;
  • Delicious breakfasts at your hotels;
  • Airport transfers and all transportation according to the itinerary;
  • 1st class train tickets Venice - Florence;
  • Sightseeing tours with professional English-speaking guides according to the itinerary;
  • Wine tasting in Florence and Tuscany wineries;
  • Tour to a cheese farm in Pienza with tasting;
  • Support line during the trip.

Note: we include 1 vehicle for your arrival and departure transfers. If multiple vehicles are required additional transfer costs will apply.

Not included: international flights, multiple arrival/departure transfers, other meals not mentioned in the program, optional tours and services, all personal expenses, all tourist fees & taxes.

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Tour Highlights

  • Intimate group size of up to only 8 travelers
  • Private arrival and departure transfers
  • Professional local guides
  • Guided visit to the oldest open-air Rialto market in Venice
  • Guided tour inside Florence Baptistery and Galleria dell'Accademia
  • Comprehensive city tour of Rome with guided tours inside Colosseum and Vatican City
  • Tastings of cheese and wine in Tuscany
  • Exploring the Duomo in Siena

What To Know

  • You can expect to find some shops and restaurants closed from 1-4 p.m. as it is "Riposo" time, Italy’s midday siesta. Most places will be also closed on Sundays
  • Tipping in restaurants is included in the bill, the cover charge is called ”coperto”. A charge from $1 to $3 will be noted on the menu
  • Make sure you have coins, in Italy you will be typically charged from 1 to 2 Euros to enter a public restroom