Italian Treasures

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS: Arrival. Transfer to the hotel.
Welcome to Europe!!!.  On arrival at the airport we shall be waiting to transfer you to the hotel.  You can enjoy free time until your tour starts, information about the meeting place and start time can be found on the information boards in the hotel reception area. 

IMPORTANT - IF YOU REQUESTED ADDITIONAL NIGHTS on arrival at the hotel you will have your booking made but the guide of your trip will normally not arrive until the start of the included activities. YOUR TIME BEFORE THIS MOMENT IS THEREFORE FREE. At your hotel they can help you with all the information you need.  

In the morning, we have a 2 hrs  scenic tour of the city, which will be a great introduction to “The Eternal city”. In the panoramic you will know the ancient Rome called Imperial Rome: Colosseum, Arch of Constantine, Piazza di Venezia with its monument to Italian unification, Quirinal Hill with the Palace of the President of the Republic, Marcelo Theater, Capitol Hill, Roman Forums , Circus Maximus, Church of Santa Maria in Cosmedin with the mouth of truth, Republican Temple, Termas de Caracalla, Aureliana Wall, Basilica di Santa María Maggiore and  Archbasilica of St. Johm Lateran, Church of Santa María in Dominica (Navicella), Cestia Pyramid , San Paolo Gate, Lungo Tevere avenue with the Jewish synagogue of Babylonian style, Tiberina Island in front of the Castel St. Angelo. This tour ends at St. Peter´s Square in the Vatican. The Vatican Museums are closed on Sundays, so, if you are interested,  we recommend you to do it at this time.  Free afternoon. 

18.30 hrs.- In the evening we provide transport to the Trastevere area, where you will find restaurants serving Italian, Indian, Chinese and interna­tional food. Return to hotel.

Scenery: Apennine Mountains and Tuscan vineyards. 

Note: We recommend you wear comfortable shoes as the tour of Florence involves walking.   

08:00h Rome – Departure, passing through the Tiber Valley. 

12:30h Florence – Our first contact with the Renaissance city is Piazzale Michelangelo, a viewpoint with marvellous views of the city. Don’t forget to take your camera! Walking tour with local guide, lasting two and a half hours. We visit the Duomo, Piazza della Signoria, Ponte Vechio, Straw Market,  Piazza Republica, Palacio Vecchio. Free afternoon to explore and visit the city’s historical markets and museums. The city has many restaurants that offer a wide variety of local and international food, where you can dine. Return to hotel about 22 hrs.

Countryside: Today is a day by the sea. The Ligurian coastline presents one of the prettiest sceneries and maritime corners of Europe.    

07:30 hrs - Florence -departure.   

09:15 hrs - Pisa –Arrival-. We are obliged to leave you in the car park for tourist coaches. From here, we include the tourist train to take you to the monumental complex. Time to visit the impressive monumental complex of Pisa with its leaning tower, Baptistery and Cathedral.  

11.00 hrs - Pisa –Departure-. We continue travelling along the Mediterranean coast. The mountains where Carrara marble is produced look snow-covered.   

12:45 hrs- Levanto –Arrival-. In this town we take a train (expected to leave at 1:05 PM, possible changes) which through long tunnels by the sea takes us into the region of Cinqueterre, which cannot be reached by coaches due to its difficult geography of mountains that fall directly into the sea. The area has remained isolated and has preserved its traditions, and is now a UNESCO World Heritage site. In just 10 minutes on the train, we reach Vernazza.     

13:30 hrs - Vernazza- Arrival by train. Arrival in one of the 5 villages of the Cinqueterre region, which maintains its maritime appearance. Its church of St Mary stands out, built in 1318 on the seashore. Time for lunch.      

15:44 hrs  Vernazza -Approximate departure of our train from Vernazza (timetables may change). We continue by train to Levanto, where our coach awaits us to continue on our way along the coast towards Genoa.  

(The councils of Cinqueterre have announced that they will establish measures to limit the maximum number of tourists arriving each day; to date there have been no limitations on our groups but given this new measure, we might be affected at the peak of tourist times. If this should happen, an alternative visit will be offered).    

17:45 hrs -Genoa –Arrival-. The city where Christopher Columbus was born, time to see its monumental centre.  

NB: By boat, we reach the enclave of Portofino. It is recommendable to have some warm clothes to hand to be able to enjoy the trip on deck.  

08:30 hrs - Genoa –Departure-. We travel along the Italian Riviera. 

09.00 hrs - Rapallo –Arrival-.. 

10:15 hrs - We board a ship for a 20-minute crossing to PORTOFINO, one of the most exclusive places in Europe. Time in Portofino, a beautiful town. 

12.00 hrs -After this, we return to Rapallo, a very pleasant coastal town. Time to have a stroll and for lunch.    

14.00hrs - Rapallo –Departure-. 

16:30 hrs - Milan -Arrival. - Free time until 19:30 hrs. We recommend a stroll around its historic centre full of commercial life, and where its Gothic cathedral is not to be missed. 

Countryside: We will see the beautiful region of the Italian lakes; the mountain scenery with snow peaked summits and large Alpine lakes surrounded by beautiful villages are unforgettable.   

NB: Have some warm clothes to hand, you may need them to enjoy the boat trips included.  

NB: On days of bad weather, the stop in Stressa may be shorter.   

07:30 hrs - Milan -departure. We take the motorway to the great lakes. We first of all travel to Lake ORTA; its rather more isolated position and its smaller size give it a special charm. 

09.00 hrs - Orta de San Giulio -Arrival. A beautiful intact mediaeval town by the lake. In the centre of the lake, we will immediately see the ISLAND OF SAN GIULIO with its monastery. On a small tourist train we reach the town where we have hired launches to sail across the lake to the island. Time to see the town and its island.    

11.00 hrs - Orta de San Giulio -departure. We travel to LAGO MAGGIORE. 

11:45 hrs - Stressa. - Arrival in this tourist town by Lake Maggiore. Time to have a stroll and for lunch. If you want, there is time to take a boat trip to the Borronean Islands which face the town.    

15:45 hrs . Stressa –Departure-. We will leave the mountains and travel through the industrious areas of the Poo Valley. 

19:30 hrs - Verona –Arrival-

Countryside: A pretty entrance to Verona over its large bridge.     

Verona - Time to stroll in the city of Romeo and Juliet. 

11:30 hrs - Verona –Departure-.  

NB: depending on the time of year, the sunlight and the traffic on the way, sometimes we will see Verona on arrival from the lakes. In these cases, there will be an earlier start for Venice.  

13.00 hrs - Venice –Arrival-. We include a boat transfer to Saint Mark’s Square, the place where, after time for lunch, a local guide will take us around Saint Mark’s Square, the Basilica, the Campanile, etc.; we will also see a popular Murano glass factory, where we can admire the technique of working with glass. Free time. Do you fancy a ride on a gondola?   Transfer to the hotel at the end of the afternoon (normally in the area of Mestre / well connected to the historic centre by public transport).

Countryside: The arrival in San Marino stands out, with its fortress on top of the mountain. Pretty scenery crossing the Apennines.   

07:30 hrs - Venice -departure.  

08:15 hrs - Padua –Arrival- We are in the city of San Antonio, a beautiful mediaeval basilica which receives pilgrims, bustling streets in the centre. Time to visit the basilica.    

09:30 hrs - Padua –Departure-. -We travel to the Adriatic coast and to San Marino, a tiny independent country surrounded by Italy. 

13:30 hrs - San Marino -Arrival. Free time at the top of the heavily fortified mountain. Time to stroll, have lunch and do some shopping.   

16.00 hrs - San Marino –Departure-. Beautiful countryside crossing the Pennines. 

18:15 hrs - Gubbio. -Arrival- A small, marvellously preserved city, where the Palace of Consuls and the twelfth-century cathedral stand out. Time to stroll.   

19:30 hrs - Gubbio –Departure-. 

20:30 hrs - Perugia –Arrival and accommodation-.

Countryside: Pleasant scenery of Umbria. 

NB: In the basilica of St Francis of Assisi, discreet dress is required; make sure you remember this for this stage.    

In the Umbría region, Perugia is a surprising mediaeval historic city. With a local guide, we include a tour of the city (normally leaving the hotel at 08.00hrs), and on escalators we cross the rocky outcrop and see the surprising historic centre of the city of chocolate!   

10:15 hrs - Perugia –Departure-.  

11.00 hrs -  Assisi -Arrival. Time for lunch and to see this artistic jewel of Umbría. Free time to see the basilicas.   

13:30 hrs - Assisi - Departure. 

16:30 hrs  - Rome -Arrival.