Tour Plan
Day 1 – Rome: Arrival – Christmas Eve
Arrival of your flight at Fiumicino airport. You will be met by your personal English speaking driver for a direct transfer to your centrally located hotel: Hotel Degli Artisti 4****. We will book 1 Double superior room & 1 family suite quadruple. Check in and rest of the day at leisure.
Degli Artisti Hotel is a cozy, elegant 4-star hotel in the heart of Rome, in the lovely neighborhood of the Ludovisi district on the Pincian Hill, a stone’s throw from the city’s main destinations. It has 35 large rooms and suites all featuring classic furnishing, exquisite fabrics and modern technologies. The Terrace Bar, on the rooftop, serves drinks, aperitifs, cocktails and delicious dinners in an exclusive location overlooking the beautiful garden of Saint Isidores College. Highly-qualified staff is always ready to assist with anything guests might need, including tickets and reservations for shows, events or restaurants.
Day 2 – Rome: Highlights tour – Christmas Day
After breakfast, you will be met by your private English speaking guide at your hotel, for a tour of the major highlights of Rome: 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 throw a coin into the water from over your shoulder, then you are certain to come back to Rome. From here, you will head to the Spanish Steps and its Barcaccia fountain and then head towards Piazza del Pantheon, also adorned with a magnificent fountain, Rome is also known as the city of fountains. Then, you will go to Piazza Navona, where you will be able to admire three very famous fountains: Fontana del Moro, Fontana del Nettuno and Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi in the centre of the square. This one has a popular legend about the fountain of 4 River Gods: the River- God representing the Rio della Plata appears to be covering his eyes, as if the sculpture was afraid that the church of Sant’Agnese in Agone in front of him might collapse on top of him because it was built by Bernini's rival, Borromini, you will discover the truth! By the end of this tour, you will agree totally with the English poet, Percy B. Shelley, who wrote: “the fountains alone are enough to justify a journey to Rome”. After the tour, lunch and rest of the afternoon at leisure.
Day 3 – Rome: Ancient Rome Tour
After breakfast, you will meet your private English speaking guide and driver at the hotel and together you will make your way to the Ancient part of the Eternal city: Colosseum and Imperial Forum. With direct access to this remarkable landmark and no waiting in long lines, you will be awestruck even before entering. Once inside, your personal 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, and 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, you will meet your private English speaking driver and transfer to the railway station, where you will take a fast train to Florence (about 1 hour and 30 minutes). Upon arrival in Florence, you will meet your private English speaking driver and transfer to your hotel : Antica Torre di Via Tornabuoni 1. We will book 1 Double classic room & 1 Suite Tower for 4 people. Check in a and rest of the day at leisure.
A historic residence located in the heart of Florence, a short distance from the city's famous attractions, the places of interest and the luxury shopping streets. The hotel is housed in a tower-house built in the mid-12th century. Thanks to attentive restoration, it is an exclusive location with 24 rooms, decorated in Renaissance or classic style with frescoes, exquisite fabrics and furniture, canopy beds, soft tones finishings as well as opulent bathrooms. Almost all the rooms enjoy an enchanting view of the Arno River. Breakfast is served at the Salotto Sonoro, a refined ambience featuring panelings. The hotel also features panoramic terraces where guests can sample select cocktails, good wines and culinary delights. You will enjoy this unique view of Florence: The dome of Santa Maria del Fiore, the hills of Fiesole and Settignano, the Arno River, the Santa Trinita Bridge and Via Maggio, the church of San Miniato a Monte, Forte Belvedere designed by Buontalenti, the hill of Bellosguardo, Palazzo Vecchio, the bell tower of Santa Trinita: wherever you turn, Florence will show you all its splendor.
Day 5 – Florence: Free day
After breakfast, free day at leisure to enjoy this incredible city where Renaissance was born.
Day 6 – Florence: Walking tour & Uffizi Gallery
After breakfast, you will meet your private English speaking guide at your hotel, for a leisurely walking tour of the city including a visit to the Uffizi Gallery. The Gallery houses a superb collection of priceless art, originating in great part from the Medici family private collection, enriched over the centuries by endowments, exchanges and donations, amongst which an important group of religious art work stands out, resulting from the suppression of the monasteries and convents between the XVIII and XIX centuries. Here, you will find the richest collection in the world of works of the Tuscan school, Florentine in particular, among which: Cimabue, Michelangelo, Giotto, Leonardo da Vinci and Raffaello. Without parallel you will see the amazing collection of works by Sandro Botticelli. After the tour, you will have the rest of the day at leisure.
Day 7 – Florence to Venice
After breakfast and check out from your hotel, you will meet your private English speaking driver and transfer to Florence station for departure to Venice which will take about 2 hours. At the train station in Venice, you will be greeted by your private English speaking assistant and water chauffeur for a transfer to your hotel by private water taxi: Liassidi Palace Hotel 4****. We will book 1 Double classic room & 1 Suite Canal view for 4 people. Check in and rest of the day at leisure.
The 4-star Liassidi Palace Hotel occupies a 15th century palazzo overlooking one of Venice’s finest old canals, the Rio di San Lorenzo ‘dei Greci’. A warm welcome awaits you from the staff, with a 24-hour “clef d’or” concierge service ready to respond to your every need. You will be captivated as soon as you step into the Zorzi-Liassidi Palazzo and experience the grand festival and concert hall on the upper floor, the magnificent internal courtyard and the sumptuous furnishings that hit the perfect balance between contemporary design and 18th century Venice; a fascinating blend that pervades the atmosphere throughout the hotel.
Day 8 – Venice: Walking Tour – New Year’s Eve
After breakfast, you will be met by your private English speaking guide at the hotel and go on the perfect tour for those who want to discover the history of Venice starting from the most important site in the city: Saint Mark’s Square. The tour consists of a visit of Saint Mark’s Square and the explanation of its main monuments: Basilica (outside), Doge’s Palace (outside), Bridge of Sighs, Clock Tower and the Bell Tower. After the tour, you will have the rest of the day at leisure.
Day 9 – Venice: Departure - New Year
After breakfast and check out, meet your private English speaking chauffeur with his water taxi for a direct transfer to the Airport for your flight back home.
3 nights at Hotel Degli Artisti 4**** or similar in Rome: 1 double superior room + 1 Family suite quadruple
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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Dennis D
Betty M
Jacob A