Bella Italia 2024

13 Days Tour Start in Rome – End in Rome

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Main cities: Rome, Vatican City, Tivoli Gardens, Siena, San Gimignano, Volterra, Florence, Venice, Burano Island, Gubbio, Sorrento, Amalfi Coast, Capri Island (opt), Pompeii, Roman Castles

25 Meals to include – 12 buffet breakfast, 3 lunches, 10 dinners

Designed for customers who come in Italy for the first time. Bella Italia is a 13-day-tour perfectly paced with a three-night stay in Rome, three-night-stay in Tuscany, one-night-stay in Venice, one-night on the hilltop of Gubbio, three-night-stay in the Amalfi Coast, and one-night stay in the Roman Castles hills. Get the opportunity to experience the must-see sights along with the free time to enjoy these amazing cities. During this marvelous vacation through Italy, you will visit not only the most important cities, ROME, VENICE, FLORENCE and SORRENTO, but you will also have the opportunity to enjoy many picturesque towns of scenic beauty as BURANO island, TIVOLI Garden, SIENA, VOLTERRA, SAN GIMIGNANO, GUBBIO, AMALFI COAST, CAPRI ISLAND (opt) and POMPEII. Most of these cities are part of the cultural and natural heritage which the World Heritage Committee considers as having outstanding universal value (whc.unesco.org). Italy is an amazing country filled with beautiful art, magnificent architecture, an extensive history, delectable cuisines, fine wines, and friendly people. Known for its relaxed lifestyle, you will explore Italy in the same fashion.

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ITINERARY

Day 1 – Welcome to Italy!

Arrive at Rome’s Fiumicino Leonardo Da Vinci Airport, meet our tour guide & tour driver, head to your hotel via transfer minibus at 9:30 am, 12:00 pm, or 2:30 pm. In the afternoon, your local guide will show you around the grandeur of the city while you walk through Rome’s city-center to see the Spanish Steps, Pantheon, Piazza Navona, and the beautiful Trevi Fountain before ending your evening with a delicious Italian dinner.

Hotel: Massimo D’Azeglio, Aurelia Antica or similar (3 nights)

Day 2 – Rome

Visit the Colosseum, the Roman Forum and the Roman Catacombs with our local guide. In the afternoon enjoy Rome on your own strolling around, shopping, or enjoying a quaint café among the locals. Later, meet up for dinner in one of our specially selected local restaurants.

Day 3 – Rome – Vatican City – Tivoli Gardens

Discover the independent Vatican State for a sightseeing visit to the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel where you’ll find Michelangelo’s famous ceiling paintings and The Last Judgment. Then head over to the monumental St. Peter’s Square and Basilica. In the late afternoon enjoy an excursion to Tivoli Gardens followed by dinner at local restaurant.

Day 4 – Winery – Siena – Tuscany

Follow the Tiber River north to a typical cantina (winery) to taste their wine specialties of Montepulciano & Brunello di Montalcino prior to sampling authentic Tuscan cuisine. After, we continue to Siena where you can enjoy the area on your own. Visit the city center, admire the Gothic Cathedral, Town Hall, Piazza Del Campo (site of the spectacular Medieval style horse race), or enjoy a coffee and shopping. Dinner tonight will be served in the hotel.

Hotel: Nil, Vespucci or similar (3 nights)

Day 5 – Florence

Our local guide will take you to the Academy Museum to admire Michelangelo’s Statue of David. Visit the marble Cathedral and Baptistery where Ghiberti’s Gates of Paradise were recreated, then, to Signoria Square, the political heart of the city and today remains as an open air gallery of Renaissance masterpieces. Visit the church of Santa Croce where the tombs of Galileo & Michelangelo are kept and stop at Piazzale Michelangelo for a scenic picture overlooking Florence. Lastly enjoy some free time at your own pleasure for shopping and learning the secrets of traditional Florentine leather-work before dining in an authentic Florence restaurant.

Day 6 – San Gimignano – Volterra – Tuscany countryside

We will ride through the unforgettable landscapes of gently rolling vine-clad hills before taking a walk in the most picturesque of Italy’s perfectly preserved medieval towns of San Gimigniano and Volterra. Enjoy lunch at an Osteria or dinner at an Agriturismo (farm to table) with Tuscany’s regional specialties.

Day 7 – Venice – Burano Island – Glass factory

Enjoy a morning ride through the wooded Apennine Mountains to Venice’s scenic Brenta Canal, driving past the summer mansions of Venetian nobility. Stop for a Venetian lagoon cruise and enter a glittering maze of islands, canals, and bridges to Burano Island where you can view traditional fishing boats, still used by the island’s inhabitants. You will enjoy lunch on the island before returning to Venice; and a walking tour to see the famous St. Marks’ Square, Byzantine Basilica, Doge’s Palace, Bridge of Sighs, and the Glass Museum.

Hotel: The Quid, Voco or similar (1 night)

Day 8 – Venice – Gubbio

This morning you are free to enjoy Venice at your own pace, enjoying the shops or taking a gondola ride. In the afternoon, we say “ciao” to Venice and enjoy a scenic drive through the wild Apennines Mountains to the stone built hill-town of Gubbio. Dinner will be served in your hotel.

Hotel: Relais Ducale or similar (1 night)

Day 9 – Gubbio – Amalfi Coast

Visit the lovely town of Gubbio with our tour leader followed by some free time. After, we’ll drive south enjoying the Highway of the Sun, passing the hilltop monastery of Cassino, before arriving at the beautiful Amalfi Coast. Tonight, enjoy an authentic taste of the fine regional cuisine at a local family owned restaurant.

Hotel: Due Torri, La Lucertola or similar (3 nights)

Day 10 – Amalfi Coast – Sorrento

Today, enjoy panoramic views of the enchanting towns along the Amalfi Coast, including the distinctive Moorish homes of Positano: a UNESCO World Heritage Site. After, lunch in a local restaurant, visit and enjoy the afternoon at your own pleasure in Sorrento.

Day 11 – Relax or enjoy Capri Island

Today you can relax and enjoy the day at your own pleasure, relax in the hotel, enjoy the beaches, shopping, do some trekking or visit Capri Island with your tour guide (ferry to/from Capri and the blue grotto not included). Tonight enjoy delicious included dinner all together.

Day 12 – Pompeii – Castelli Romani

Today we visit Pompeii, buried in 79 AD by an eruption of Mt. Vesuvius. With our local guide, visit the ruins of this well preserved Roman city including the Temples of Apollo and Jupiter, as well as the Forum. Then, we drive north towards the hilltops of Castelli Romani area for dinner to celebrate the success of your vacation.

Hotel: Castel Vecchio, Benito al Bosco or similar (1 night)

Day 13 – Leaving for home

Arrivederci Bella Italia! The departure transfer will arrive at Rome’s Fiumicino Airport (FCO) at 7:00 am and 9:00 am.

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WHAT IS INCLUDED

Transportation:

Private airport transfer on arrival & departure in Rome (See the Itinerary)
Luxury air-conditioned private coach
Lagoon cruise to/from Burano Island

Accommodations:

First Class Hotels 4**** & 5***** (Stars Hotel)
Includes all taxes (tax, city night tax)
Baggage handling included (ask your driver)
All standard gratuities for hotel personnel

25 Meals:

12 breakfast buffets.
3 lunches to include:

1 wine and olive oil tasting with fine local Tuscan cuisine

2 lunches – two main courses, dessert, local fine wine (1/4)

10 dinners to include:

2 dinners at the hotel – two main courses, dessert, local fine wine (1/4)

8 dinners at a restaurant/agriturismo (farm to the table) – two main courses, dessert, local fine wine (1/4)

All standard gratuities for restaurant personnel.

Tour Guide & Tour Driver:

Your tour will be conducted by our tour guide and/or tour driver. They will keep you the worry out of foreign travel as they manage the intricate details of your tour, keeping you entertained with anecdotes & stories to make sure your vacation is educational, entertaining, fun and safe!
Any gratuities are at your pleasure for your tour guide & tour driver

Licensed Local Guides:

Local expert guides in Rome, Vatican City, Florence, Venice and Pompeii
Our local experts guides are native citizens of the cities. They offer a fascinating insight into local history, customs, and traditions while entertaining you with stories only a local would know!

Equipment:

Wireless headsets to hear our guides clearly and distinctly in public places, allowing you to roam & explore sites (within 60 feet) without missing any insight information (group of 9 or more)
Travel documents (PDF) included
One umbrella per person in case of rain

View, Visit, Walking tour, Museums, and Gallery: (WLG) = With local guide and wireless headsets

Rome:

Visit the Basilica and Catacombs of Early Christian Rome (WLG)
Visit St. Peter’s Basilica (WLG)
Visit the superb Vatican Museums & admire Michelangelo’s ceiling in the Sistine Chapel (WLG)
Visit the wonders of ancient Rome as you visit the Colosseum and Roman Forum (WLG)
Roman Passeggiata: Walk with your guide through the city center. See the Spanish Steps, Via Condotti, Navona Square, Trevi Fountain, and the best preserved Roman temple still standing today: the Pantheon (WLG)
Visit the Tivoli Gardens

Siena:

Explore the city center and admire the elaborately carved Gothic Cathedral, Town Hall, and Piazza del Campo

Florence:

Guided visit to Florence’s Academy Gallery to see Michelangelo’s original “Statue of David” (WLG)
Walking tour through Florence’s “Il Duomo” Cathedral, Bell tower, Gates of Paradise, Signoria Square and Santa Croce (WLG)
View from Piazzale Michelangelo

San Gimignano – Volterra:

Visit the beautiful villages at your own pleasure

Venice:

Lagoon cruise and lunch in Burano Island
See a demonstration of traditional glass-blowing
Walking tour to see St. Mark’s Square and Basilica, Doges’ Palace, and the Bridge of Sighs (WLG)

Gubbio:

Visit the amazing city center Umbria’s most evocative medieval town

Amalfi Coast – Sorrento:

View of the villages and its coast with some free time in Sorrento

Pompeii:

Visit the ruins of the best preserved Roman city, including the Temples of Apollo and Jupiter, and the Forum (WLG)

Suggested attire:

Comfortable shoes are important for walking on the uneven surfaces
Attire for Italian Churches: NO shorts skirts, tank tops, or bare shoulders for men or women are permitted. Bermuda shorts are permitted

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