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Details Italy's Great Cities
This eight-day trip will show you the highlight cities of Italy, covering it all from St. Peter's,
the Sistine Chapel, the Colosseum and the Forum in Rome to Michelangelo's David in Florence,
and St. Mark's Basilica and Doges' Palace with the Bridge of Sighs in Venice. Local Guides
in these cities will answer all your questions. Also included are stops in Pisa to admire the
Leaning Tower and in Verona to see Juliet's Balcony. Scenic drives will show you the Tyrrhenian
Coast, the Lombardian Planes, the flat Po area, the wooded Etruscan Apennine mountain range and
Tuscany's Chianti wine country. In Venice a private boat ride and a glass blowers' demonstration
are included.
Day 1
Arrival in Rome, Italy
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| Time to rest or start exploring the Eternal City. At 6 p.m. meet your Tour Director
and traveling companions and leave the hotel for a special welcome dinner with wine in one of Rome's
lively restaurants. (D)
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Day 2
Rome
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| Sightseeing with your Local Guide starts with a visit to the VATICAN MUSEUMS and
SISTINE CHAPEL (arranged next morning if closed today), world famous for Michelangelo's
ceiling paintings and The Last Judgement. Continue to monumental ST. PETER'S SQUARE
and BASILICA. Cross the Tiber and visit the COLOSSEUM and the ROMAN FORUM, where
Roman Legions marched in triumph. Then time for independent activities and exciting
optional excursion possibilities. (BB)
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Day 3
Rome-Pisa-Florence
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| Follow the Aurelian Way along the Tyrrhenian coast to Pisa. Here take your pictures
of the amazing Leaning Tower, 180 feet high and no less than 12 feet out of the
perpendicular. Then on to Florence, the splendid capital of Tuscany. (BB,D)
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Day 4
Florence
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| Follow your Local Guide to the magnificent CATHEDRAL, Giotto's Bell Tower, the
Baptistry's heavy bronze "Gate of Paradise," and sculpture-studded SIGNORIA SQUARE.
To top it off, admire Michelangelo's celebrated David in the ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS.
The afternoon is free. Florentine leather goods and gold jewelry sold by the ounce
are attractive buys. You may wish to join an optional dinner outing to a fine Tuscan
restaurant. (BB)
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Day 5
Florence-Verona-Venice
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| North to Verona, medieval setting of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. See Juliet's
Balcony and the well-preserved Arena. Stroll around the picturesque market square.
Tonight you are in Venice, a powerful magnet for romantics and art lovers from around
the globe. (BB)
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Day 6
Venice
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| Start the day in style by PRIVATE BOAT to meet your Local Guide. Highlights of your
walking tour are ST. MARK'S SQUARE and the BYZANTINE BASILICA, lavish DOGES' PALACE and
the BRIDGE OF SIGHS. Also watch skilled GLASS BLOWERS fashion their delicate objects in
an age-old traditional manner. Afterwards enjoy Venice at your own pace or join an
optional cruise to the charming island of Burano. Tonight is your chance to sample the
city's fine restaurants. (BB)
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Day 7
Venice-Rome
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| A scenic drive today through the lush plains of the mighty River Po and across
the wooded Apennine mountain range. An exciting detour then takes you off the highway
into the vine- and olive-clad Tuscan Hills which are the home of the popular Chianti
wines. Then speed south along the Highway of the Sun. An optional festive dinner may be
just the way to celebrate the success of your Italian vacation. (BB)
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Day 8
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| Tour ends. (BB)
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Additional Information
Meals
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- 7 buffet breakfasts (BB); 2 three-course dinners (D),
including a
special welcome dinner with wine in Rome
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City Highlights
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- ROME Welcome dinner; guided sightseeing including
headsets; visit St. Peter's Square and Basilica, Vatican Museums and Sistine
Chapel, Colosseum, and Roman Forum PISA Picture stop at the Leaning Tower
FLORENCE Guided sightseeing including headsets; visit the cathedral,
Michelangelo's David, and Signoria Square VERONA Orientation including Juliet's
Balcony and the Arena VENICE Private boat ride; guided sightseeing including
headsets; visit St. Marks Square and Basilica, Doges' Palace, and the Bridge of
Sighs; glass blowers' demonstration CHIANTI COUNTRY Panoramic drive
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- Please note surcharges may apply due to special events on in the different cities -
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