Grand Tour of Italy 08 Days HB56482N0702

Overview: Rome is famous for its rich history as the center of an ancient empire, its status as the headquarters of the Catholic Church, and its stunning art, architecture, and landmarks like the Colosseum, the Vatican, and the Trevi Fountain. The city, known as the "Eternal City," has a dense concentration of monuments and cultural sites and is a major global center for tourism and culture
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After breakfast, departure to visit the Vatican city. Guided excursion to visit Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica without queue. Upon arrival your guide will lead you into the museums where you’ll visit one of the most important art collection of the world. Admire the beautiful spiral stairway the gallery of tapestries and geographical maps, before arriving at the famous Sistine Chapel and the unforgettable Basilica! Afternoon, free time at leisure. Overnight in Rome. (B)

The Vatican Museums are the public museums of the Vatican City. They display works from the immense collection amassed by the Catholic Church and the papacy throughout centuries, including several of the best-known Roman sculptures and most important masterpieces of Renaissance art in the world.

The Sistine Chapel is a chapel in Vatican City, famous for its frescoes by Renaissance artists, especially Michelangelo's ceiling and The Last Judgment. It is located in the Apostolic Palace and serves as a place for papal ceremonies and the site of the Papal conclave, where cardinals elect a new pope.

The Papal Basilica of Saint Peter in the Vatican, or simply St. Peter's Basilica, is a church of the Italian High Renaissance located in Vatican City, an independent microstate enclaved within the city of Rome, Italy.

Breakfast at hotel. Morning is free at leisure. In the afternoon departure from hotel to the Archaeological Area, to have a complete guided tour of the Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill. Access the Palatine hill with no line and discover the hill where Rome was founded at the beginning. Then reach the Colosseum and be amazed by this monument that is the symbol of Rome in the world. The Amphitheatre created to entertain ancient Roman citizens with bloody shows of gladiators, animals and cruel games, is now one of the most fascinating landmark of the City. Then, walk on the original path of ancient Rome along the Via Sacra and see the Temples of Vesta, Antonino and Faustina, the ancient Basilica Julia and Aemilia and dream about the glorious past of the Roman Empire. Overnight in Rome.

The Palatine Hill, which relative to the seven hills of Rome is the centermost, is one of the most ancient parts of the city; it has been called "the first nucleus of the Roman Empire

The Colosseum in Rome is famous for its history as a massive amphitheater for public spectacles like gladiatorial contests, animal hunts, and mock sea battles. Today, it is renowned as a major tourist attraction and a symbol of the architectural and engineering prowess of ancient Rome, holding an estimated 50,000 to 80,000 spectators

The Roman Forum is famous for being the bustling, multi-purpose center of ancient Roman public life, which included its use as a marketplace, venue for political elections and public speeches, and a site for criminal trials, gladiatorial matches, and religious ceremonies. Today, it is famous for its well-preserved ruins that provide insight into the grandeur of the Roman Empire, housing the remains of significant temples, basilicas, and arches. 

After breakfast, transfer from hotel to Termini railway station and transfer by train (2nd class ticket, high speed) to Florence. Upon arrival, transfer from Santa Maria Novella railway station to the hotel.

Overview: Florence, capital of Italy’s Tuscany region, is home to many masterpieces of Renaissance art and architecture. One of its most iconic sights is the Duomo, a cathedral with a terracotta-tiled dome engineered by Brunelleschi and a bell tower by Giotto. The Galleria dell'Accademia displays Michelangelo’s “David” sculpture. The Uffizi Gallery exhibits Botticelli’s “The Birth of Venus” and da Vinci’s “Annunciation
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In the afternoon Florence guided city tour. Crossing the beautiful  and green hills of Florence we reach the picturesque Etruscan-Roman village of Fiesole that towers above Florence and the Arno Valley. Heading back to the city by bus, we will ride through the famous Lungarno (way along the Arno River) you will reach the Basilica di Santa Croce. Your walking tour will continue to Piazza Signoria, heart of the city social life. Here you will admire the architecture of Palazzo Vecchio and the famous statues of Loggia de’ Lanzi. Your guide will finish the tour inside the Uffizi Gallery, where you will admire without queuing the impressive and magnificent paintings of Leonardo, Giotto, Michelangelo, Botticelli and Raffaello. Overnight in Florence. (B)

The Basilica di Santa Croce is a minor basilica and the principal Franciscan church of Florence, Italy. It is situated on the Piazza di Santa Croce, about 800 metres southeast of the Duomo, on what was once marshland beyond the city walls. 

Piazza Signoria is famous for being the political and social heart of Florence, its rich collection of Renaissance art and sculpture in an open-air museum setting, and the historic Palazzo Vecchio. It is home to iconic artworks such as a replica of Michelangelo's David, the Fountain of Neptune, and sculptures like Cellini's "Perseus" in the Loggia dei Lanzi

The Palazzo Vecchio is the town hall of Florence, Italy. It overlooks the Piazza della Signoria, which holds a copy of Michelangelo's David statue, and the gallery of statues in the adjacent Loggia dei Lanzi.

After breakfast, transfer from hotel to Santa Maria Novella Station and transfer by train (2nd class ticket, high speed) to Venice. Upon arrival, transfer to the hotel.

Overview: Venice is known for its canals which crisscross the city. None, however, is more famous than the Grand Canal, one of the most romantic places in Italy. The canal snakes through the center in an S shape, connecting San Marco with the Santa Chiara church.
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In the afternoon excursion to discover the Murano island, to watch the antique art of making glasses. Then proceeds to the characteristic Island of Burano renowned for lace making and Torcello with its old Cathedral and its atmosphere of remote Venetian past. Return to St Mark’s Square. Overnight in Venice.(B)

The island of Murano is renowned for its long tradition of glass-making. Ferry-loads of visitors come to explore the Museo del Vetro, which tells the story of glass through the centuries, and to shop for locally crafted souvenirs. Built in the Romanesque style, the Church of Santa Maria and San Donato has a colorful mosaic floor and supposedly houses the bones of a slain dragon

Burano is an island in the Venetian Lagoon, northern Italy, near Torcello at the northern end of the lagoon, known for its lace work and brightly coloured homes. The primary economy is tourism.

Torcello is famous for its historical significance as the cradle of Venetian civilization and its well-preserved ancient buildings, particularly the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta and the Church of Santa Fosca. 

After breakfast, walking tour of Venice and Doge’s Palace. Have a walk outdoors (no entries) through the most characteristic and important places for the history of Venice. A qualified and experienced guide will escort you through the millennium of life of the Serenissima Republic, recalling the past full of charm of this unique city. At the end of the walking tour, visit of the Doge’s Palace. Palazzo Ducale represented for centuries the seat of the Venetian political power. In his splendid rooms, plastered and immersed in hundreds of masterpieces of painting, the Duke and his Council controlled the fate of a thousand-year history republic. Overnight in Venice.(B)

The Doge's Palace is a palace built in Venetian Gothic style, and one of the main landmarks of the city of Venice in northern Italy. The palace included government offices, a jail, and the residence of the Doge of Venice, the elected authority of the former Republic of Venice.

After breakfast, transfer from hotel to Venice railway station and transfer by train (2nd class ticket, high speed) to Milan. Upon arrival, transfer from Milan railway station to the hotel.

Overview: Milan, a metropolis in Italy's northern Lombardy region, is a global capital of fashion and design. Home to the national stock exchange, it’s a financial hub also known for its high-end restaurants and shops. The Gothic Duomo di Milano cathedral and the Santa Maria delle Grazie convent, housing Leonardo da Vinci’s mural “The Last Supper,” testify to centuries of art and culture. 
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Hop-on hop-off tours in Milan offer a convenient way to see major sights like the Duomo Cathedral, Castello Sforzesco, and La Scala opera house from an open-top bus, with different routes focusing on modern areas or the San Siro Stadium and canals. At the end of the excursion, back to the hotel and overnight in Milan. (B)