Tour Plan
Upon arrival at the Airport in Venice, you will be met by your private English speaking assistant who will greet you and accompany you to your private water taxi for a direct transfer to your centrally located hotel: Hotel Ca’ Dei Conti 4****. We will book 1 Quadruple Superior Room. Check in and the rest of the day will be at leisure. Close your eyes and imagine a romantic and elegant 4-star hotel in the heart of Venice, just around the corner from St. Mark’s Square. You’re in the eighteenth century, in the middle of one of Europe’s most sophisticated cities, at the height of the Venetian Republic’s cultural expression: you’re coming out of a charming alleyway and cross a private bridge to an elegant historical residence, the Hotel Ca’ dei Conti. In the romantic intimacy that only certain secret corners of Venice can create, you settle down on the terrace, sip a drink and dreamily stare over the canal which, leisurely flowing like your imagination, reflects the mood of your private moment.
Day 2 – Venice: Walking Tour & Private Gondola Ride
After breakfast at your hotel, you will be met by your private English-speaking guide and start the perfect tour for those who want to discover the history of Venice starting from the most important site of the city: Saint Mark’s Square. Together, you will explore a wealth of hidden sights not normally granted to visitors in this spectacular city. Allow yourselves to be soothed by the magical imperfection of the Venetian streets and cast under the spell of its evocative atmosphere. You will visit St. Mark's Basilica inside, its respective Piazza and its main monuments: Doge’s Palace (outside), Bridge of Sighs, Clock Tower and the Bell Tower. After this historical tour, your guide will accompany you to the meeting point with your gondolier: this will start at Bacino Orseolo just behind Saint Mark’s Square. Together with your gondolier, you will follow smaller but unbelievably beautiful secondary canals such as Rio dei Barcaioli, where Mozart had his home and Rio dell’Ovo, to then reach the Grand Canal. From here, you will enjoy the spectacular view of the Rialto Bridge from the water, the only bridge crossing Grand Canal up until the 1900’s, admire the imposing palaces, such as Ca’ Farsetti, seat of the municipal government, and Palazzo Grimani, the largest building overlooking the Grand Canal and which now hosts the Court of Appeal. The tour continues down to Rio San Luca where it passes Palazzo Manin, residence of the last doge of Venice, Ludovico Manin, and today the Bank of Italy’s Regional headquarters. Rest of the day will be at leisure.
Breakfast at your hotel and a free day to explore the Lagoon city on your own.
Day 4 – Venice to Florence
After breakfast and check out from your hotel, meet your private English speaking assistant and private water taxi to reach the railway station. Here, you will take your fast train to Florence. Upon arrival in Florence you will reach, by public taxi at your expenses, your hotel in Florence: Hotel De La Ville 4****. We will book 1 quadruple room. Check in at the hotel and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure. Thanks to its exclusive position, in the heart of the pedestrian area of Florence, the De La Ville hotel is the perfect venue to visit the city and to relax apart from the crowned streets. The large hall houses a cozy lounge with American bar, a reading room with library and a business area with free Wi-Fi zone. The 68 elegant and comfortable rooms, recently renovated, feature classic-style décor and exquisite finishing’s. A hearty buffet breakfast is served in the beautiful hall – guests can enjoy sweet and savory dishes. H24 concierge service and splendid equipped meeting area accommodating up to 60 guests. The hotel can be reach by car and offer a garage service.
Day 5 – Florence: Walking tour with Accademia Gallery
After breakfast at your hotel, you will meet your private English speaking guide and get ready for a pleasant walking tour of Florence. You will have the opportunity to observe close up the priceless Duomo with the famous dome done by Brunelleschi, the largest brick dome in the world, stretching protectively over the Florentine Cathedral. You will also see its splendid bell tower: the famous Campanile of Giotto. Make you way to the Accademia Gallery Museum where the most symbolic work of Michelangelo is housed: Il David, an expression of beauty and physical perfection. You will admire also other sculptures by Michelangelo and the original plaster cast of: “Il Ratto delle Sabine” by Giambologna (The Rape of the Sabine Women), discover why and how all artists made life size plaster casts before the actual sculpture, except for Michelangelo. Enjoy the incredible collection of Renaissance paintings , including “La Madonna ed il Bambino” (Madonna and Child) and “la Madonna del Mare” (Madonna of the Sea) by Botticelli.
Day 6 – Florence: Cooking Class in Florence with shopping at the market
After breakfast at your hotel, you will be ready for an exclusive experience. You will be met by your chef guide at the hotel and together you will reach the market, where you will enjoy a private guided tour amongst the stalls of the oldest food market in Florence. You will choose fresh and simple ingredients for your Tuscan menu. After your shopping, your teacher/chef will show you how to prepare a complete meal at her own home. After the cooking class, your lunch will be served, accompanied by delicious local wines.
Day 7 – Florence: Free Day
Breakfast at your hotel and free day to explore the town on your own.
Breakfast and check out from your hotel. Then you will reach with a public taxi at your expense the Florence Railway Station, where you will take your fast train to Rome. It takes just over 1 hour. Upon arrival, you will reach, by public taxi at your expense, your centrally located hotel: Hotel Trevi Collection 4****. We will book 1 Quadruple room. Check in and the rest of the day at your leisure. We are sure that elegance and hospitality are the true luxury, so we’ve thought to “Trevi Collection”. Next to ancient monuments and palaces, this magnificent structure rises at only 200 mt from Piazza di Spagna and Piazza Barberini. The modern and refined style gives character to the living environments, the play of lights and colors are its personality. Rooms 'design, furniture and well-advanced amenities, will make your stay unforgettable and unique.
Day 9 – Rome: Tour of the Major Highlights
After breakfast at your hotel, you will be met by your private English speaking driver and guide to discover the most important highlights of Rome. You will visit Piazza del Quirinale and the beautiful Fontana dei Dioscuri, followed by a visit to Rome’s most renowned fountain: Fontana di Trevi, famous all over the world and immortalized in various films. Here, you will be able to partake in the local legend: if you toss a coin in the water, right hand over your left shoulder, crossing your heart, then you are certain to come back to Rome. From here, you will head to the Spanish Steps and the Barcaccia fountain and then proceed to Piazza del Pantheon, also adorned with a magnificent fountain. Carry on to Piazza Navona, where you will be able to admire three very famous fountains: Fontana del Moro, Fontana del Nettuno and the Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi. There is a popular legend around this last fountain, composed of four allegories of rivers, made by Gian Lorenzo Bernini: the River- God representing the Rio della Plata appears to be covering his eyes with his arm raised and turning his head away, as if the sculpture was afraid the church in front of him, Sant’Agnese in Agone might collapse on top of him. The reason being that the church was built by Bernini's main rival: Francesco Borromini). So many stories and legends to be told! By the end of this tour, we are sure you will agree with the English poet, Percy B. Shelley, who wrote: “the fountains alone are enough to justify a journey to Rome”.
After the tour, the rest of the day will be at leisure.
Day 10 - Rome: Vatican Museums
Breakfast at your hotel. Meet your private English speaking guide at your hotel and together you will reach, with a public taxi at your own expense, the Vatican Museums.
Once there, your specialist guide will introduce you to the masterpieces of such great painters as Raphael, Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci. This is one of the greatest art collections ever, a collection gathered through the centuries by the Popes. You will see the wonderful Cortile della Pigna ("Pinecone Courtyard"), followed by one of the finest collections of antique Greek and Roman statues in the world. Be enchanted by the stunning vision of the Sistine Chapel and also direct access into Saint Peter's Basilica; a sacred place designed and executed by some of the greatest architects of the XVI century, from Bramante to Michelangelo and from Raphael to Bernini.
After the visit, the rest of the day will be at leisure.
Day 11- Rome: Ancient Rome
After breakfast, you will meet your private English speaking guide at the hotel and together you will reach, with a public taxi at your own expense, the Ancient part of the Eternal city: Colosseum and Roman Forum. With direct access to this remarkable landmark and no waiting in long lines, you will be awestruck even before entering. Once inside, your guide will bring to life the ancient world of the various emperors, noblemen, aristocrats, gladiators and wild beasts that once populated this building. You will then be accompanied to the nearby Roman Forum, known as the "heart" of Ancient Rome, the commercial, political and religious center. After this visit you will have the rest of the day at leisure.
After breakfast and check out from your hotel in Rome, meet your private English speaking driver for a direct transfer to Roma Fiumicino Airport for your flight back home.
3 nights at Hotel Ca’ Dei Conti 4**** (Venice) or similar in quadruple room
All meals not mentioned in the program
A perfect holiday in Italy! - From the time we arrived in Naples until the time we left Sorrento a week later, everything was perfect! The driver that we had was wonderful ( his name... read more 
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Betty M
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