Tour Plan
Day 1 – Venice: Arrival and PM Murano Tour
Upon arrival at Venice airport you will be met by your private English speaking Assistant that will escort you to your water taxi for a direct transfer you to your hotel in Venice: Hotel Ruzzini Palace 4****. We will book 1 royal suite.
In the afternoon you will meet your guide for a beautiful tour of Murano and the Grand Canal. The best way to know and experience Venice is certainly by getting on a private boat and travelling around the Grand Canal that is quite rightly defined as “the most beautiful avenue in the world.” Our crew will lead you through the most beautiful parts of the city and recall all the legends and history; point out the monuments, architectural masterpieces, art and introduce you to the lives of those who created it and endowed in it – artists, noblemen, courtesans and other inhabitants of the lagoon. To get a better insight of the Venetian culture you will be invited to visit Murano island that is known worldwide for its glass production – watch the masters blowing and shaping the glass that has a history as old as the city itself. Finally, through some smaller and secret canals, where you can see some of the most popular and lively neighborhoods, you will reach the pinnacle of the tour - San Marco’s Square. Rest of the day at leisure.
Ruzzini Palace Hotel is set in Campo Santa Maria Formosa, one of Venice's largest and oldest squares. This enchanting 18th century historic building has beautiful décor and is a 10 minute walk from Rialto. The Hotel has been completely renovated and conserves the fascinating spirit of the Venice of times gone by and offers all the modern services of the most elegant 4-star hotels, pleasing common areas and splendid suites with typical Venetian décor, flat-screen satellite TV and minibars. The staff is friendly and professional.
Day 2 – Venice: Walking tour with Private Gondola Ride with Cicchetti tasting
After breakfast at your hotel, meet your private English speaking guide for 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 with an explanation of both the square and its main monuments: Basilica (inside), Doge’s Palace (from outside), Bridge of Sighs, Clock Tower, Bell Tower. After this historical tour, your guide will accompany you to the meeting point with your gondolier: we will book a unique Gondola Ride with a food experience. The tour will start in Rio di San Polo and from here, you will explore the jewels of these undiscovered corners, with its numerous Palazzi and aristocratic homes built in diverse architectural styles. During this pleasant ride, you will have a quick stop in front of a typical “Bacaro” and your waiter will give you a bottle of Prosecco with some Venetian Cicchetti (classic Venetian appetizers) made with the best ingredients found in the city accompanied by well-known wines. . You will taste them while sailing the hidden canals of Venice, glide along the canals with their magical views and perspectives which only a gondola ride can give you. After the tour, you will have the rest of the day at leisure.
Breakfast and check out from the hotel, meet your private English speaking driver and water taxi for a transfer to the railway station. Here, you will take a fast train to Florence. Upon arrival, your will meet your private English speaking driver and transfer to your hotel: Antica Torre di Via Tornabuoni 4****. We will book 1 panoramic suite.
In the afternoon you will meet your English speaking guide who will bring you to a special place where you will learn to make your own gelato, it’s always time for a Gelato! The chef will tell you why gelato remains Italy’s favorite dessert while giving an insight to the ‘gelato culture’ that continues to grow. You will get to know the basic raw ingredients, how to select the best products available according to specific principles, and you will have a presentation and tasting of some of the flavors used in gelato making. You will learn about the development and application of natural colors, the heating and freezing techniques and how they have different effects on ingredients. It is always a great fun day discovering about the world's most loved dessert and taste it!
The Antica Torre di Via Tornabuoni 1 is 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 on fine Richard Ginori porcelain 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 4 – Florence: Day and Bike Tour in Pisa
After breakfast you will meet your private driver for a direct transfer to Pisa where your guide will be waiting for you to let you discover one of the most wonderful Italian cities with its amazing square: Pisa. You will have four bikes at your disposal so that you can move around this small but fascinating town as you like. The tour starts from the central Piazza Dei Miracoli, famous for its Leaning Tower and for the many other beautiful buildings that believe it or not, they lean too! From here you will have time to explore this small town on your own, you will discover the many aspects of Pisa, named after a Greek city, from which it is believed originated its first inhabitants. A town, who thanks to its Bell Tower, has become a symbol in Italy and in all over the world. It has also fascinated many film directors who have chosen it as a location for their film sets. It is so evocative and characteristic, that it has been proposed as one of the seven modern wonders of the world. After your tour, happy with this unique experience, you will be driven back to Florence with a private luxury minivan.
Day 5 – Florence: Walking Tour & Accademia Gallery
Breakfast at your hotel and meet your private English speaking guide in the hotel lobby for your walking tour of Florence. You will have the opportunity to observe from close up the priceless Duomo with its unique dome built by Brunelleschi, the largest brick dome in the world, stretching protectively over the Florentine Cathedral since the 1400’s. You will also see its splendid bell tower: the famous Campanile of Giotto. Next stop will be the political center of the city that will open its doors to us, offering you the chance to visit the Palazzo della Signoria, seat of the secularists' power and home to the Medici ruling family, later known as Palazzo Vecchio, today seat of the municipality, as well as the oldest "piazza" (square) in Florence, Piazza della Repubblica, built on top of the Ancient Roman Forum, today surrounded by historic cultural cafès, where young intellectual Florentines like to gather. After this experience, you will discover the Accademia Gallery Museum where the most symbolic work of Michelangelo is housed: Il David, an expression of beauty and physical perfection. It also has other sculptures by Michelangelo and a collection of Renaissance paintings: you will admire also the original plaster cast of “Il Ratto delle Sabine” by Giambologna (The Rape of the Sabine Women) and discover why all artists made a plaster cast but not Michelangelo. Amongst the masterpieces you will find “La Madonna ed il Bambino” (Madonna and Child) and “la Madonna del Mare” (Madonna of the Sea) by Botticelli. End of the tour and free afternoon at leisure.
Day 6 – From Florence to Cinque Terre
After breakfast and check out from your hotel, you will meet your private English speaking driver who will drive you to Camogli, directly to your hotel: Hotel Cenobio dei Dogi 4****. We will book 1 quadruple classic room with sea view. Check in and rest of the day to relax.
History, tradition and elegance combine to create an exclusive atmosphere throughout the hotel, nestled cosily among the century-old pine trees and pretty flower gardens. Yet the true protagonist here is the sea It casts a spell on guests, whisking them away from the troubles of everyday life, transporting them to another dimension where they are mesmerized by the sound of waves.
Day 7 – Camogli: Cinque Terre full day guided tour
After breakfast meet your personal English speaking driver for an enchanting tour of the Cinque Terre. He will escort you on a full day to discover the beauty of this area. The Ligurian Coast is a masterpiece of nature that offers its visitors unique and breathtaking views; here you will find five little “jewels” or hills - the Cinque Terre - the true “jewels” of the Mediterranean sitting along a rugged portion of the coast on the Italian Riviera. On today’s tour you will be chauffeured by a luxury car with your private driver to La Spezia where you will meet your guide and start your day tour from Riomaggiore. This southern-most village offers a very high concentration of houses in a very small area, a distinctive feature giving the impression of a "tree" with its buildings as the branches. Here, you will start your walking tour through the vineyards and along the ‘Love track’ to Manarola, a region characterized by its colorful houses facing the sea, and its small intertwining streets connected by a network of stairways that lead to the little village. Next, perched on top of a rocky cliff , 90 meters tall, you will visit the only hill of the Cinque Terre that is not directly on the sea: Corniglia. Here, you will pause to enjoy your lunch in a winery, where you will enjoy the traditional food and local wines with an incredible panoramic view beyond the terraced vineyards. Take time to explore, before continuing your journey to Vernazza, nestled in a breathtaking inlet whose shoreline features classic cultivated terraced grapevines. Finally reach the idyllic village of Monterosso which is the farthest to the west and the most populated of the five Cinque Terre villages, it is situated in the center of this small natural bay. End of the tour and return to your hotel.
Day 8 – Camogli: Departure
After breakfast and check out from your hotel, meet your private English speaking driver with minivan who will accompany you to Genoa Airport for your flight back home.
2 nights at the Hotel Ruzzini Palace 4**** (or similar) in Venice: 1 royal suite
City tax at all the hotels to be paid on the spot upon departure
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
Jacob A