Italy Family Discovery

br />The magic of Italy comes to life as your family visits Venice, Florence and Rome. Experience the legendary Colosseum then step into the past at the Roman Gladiator School. Become an honorary gladiator! Learn the art of making authentic pizza and taste Italy’s sweetest treasure – gelato! In the Tuscan hills visit a monastery, indulge in a Tuscan feast and explore a winery for a tasting or a pasta making class! Snap a photo in front of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Journey from Venice to Florence aboard the Eurostar Train. Stroll lively St. Mark’s Square with a local expert. Watch how Murano glass is made and enjoy a scavenger hunt on Venice’s narrow streets. Fall in love with Italy together.

Day 1: Overnight Flight
Join Collette Vacations for an unforgettable family adventure through Italy‘s most magical cities – Venice, Florence and Rome. Explore Italy by foot, train and boat - making your way through ancient and scenic landscapes. Filled with history and culture, these cities come to life before your eyes. Your vacation begins with an overnight flight.

Day 2: Venice, Italy - Tour Begins
Your tour begins in Venice – the city of gondolas, canals and hundreds of islands connected by bridges. Tonight, join your new friends for a special welcome dinner featuring some famous Italian specialties and fine Italian wines.

Day 3: Venice
Today, explore Venice’s enchanting spots. Take a boat trip* this morning to Murano Island for an up-close demonstration on how Murano glass is made. Next, return to Venice and visit charming St. Mark’s Square, the lively hub of the city's activity and events for more than a millennium. A local expert will guide you on a walking tour of the area featuring St. Mark’s Basilica, the Doge’s Palace, the Bridge of Sighs, and the Clock Tower with its famous Moors. This afternoon, lead your family on a discovery of Venice, scavenger hunt style - we provide the map and clues, you provide the sense of adventure! You may choose to see the city by gondola - there is no better way to experience the magic of Venice than on a serenaded gondola ride through its canals!

Day 4: Venice - Florence
Climb aboard the trendy Eurostar train this morning and head to Florence, the spectacular capital of Tuscany. After a short lesson on the local language, discover the great city of Florence with the help of a local expert! Enjoy a leisurely-paced walking tour featuring the Piazza Del Duomo, the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore and the Baptistry. View the Palazzo Vecchio and the Church of Santa Croce, where Michelangelo and Galileo are buried. Then, taste one of Italy's sweetest treasures - gelato, a frozen treat for the whole family. This evening, set off on a scenic drive to nearby Galluzzo, a historic town on the hills overlooking Florence. Prior to dinner, enjoy an after-hours visit to the 14th century monastery – La Certosa. Revel in the beauty that lurks inside and experience the monastery’s magnificence as you learn about monastic daily life. Then, your evening of fun continues at one of the area’s most popular dining establishments. Experience an authentic and traditional Tuscan feast – served family-style! Savor local wines, Tuscan food and enjoy the entertainment.

Day 5: Florence - Pisa - Florence
Be sure to have your camera handy for your visit to the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa so you, too, can take a picture that makes it appear as if you are holding this iconic building up! Explore the many historic sites in the ancient maritime Republic of Pisa, including the Piazza dei Miracoli (“Field of Miracles”) – a UNESCO World Heritage site. Then, no visit to Tuscany would be complete without a visit to a winery in the scenic Tuscan hills. Learn about Italian wines and olive oil production or learn the art of pasta making! Afterwards, enjoy a traditional lunch of local wines and specialties at the winery before returning to Florence.

Day 6: Florence - Rome
Say goodbye to Florence as you make your way through Italy’s gorgeous low-lying hills towards the “Eternal City” of Rome. Walk along the Spanish Steps. Toss a coin into the Trevi Fountain for good luck…and make a wish! Tonight, your family joins in a fun-filled cooking class! Roll up your sleeves and learn to make an Italian favorite – pizza! Discover the art of tossing the dough as you work to create your own pizza. Then sit down together to enjoy the results.

Day 7: Rome
Step back in time to the days when all roads led to Rome on a locally-guided city tour. View the Piazza Venezia, the Circus Maximus and the Arch of Constantine. A visit to Rome’s most renowned structure – the Colosseum – teaches about its dramatic history when gladiators were pitted against the lions. This afternoon, explore the splendors of Vatican City, the Vatican Museums and St. Peter's Basilica on a guided tour.

Day 8: Rome
This morning, walk in the footsteps of gladiators as you learn how to act like these legendary warriors! Visit the Roman Gladiator School and the museum where you can try on the official gear of the gladiators. Bring this amazing era to life as you practice different gladiator formations and combat exercises! Return to Rome’s city center and enjoy a free afternoon to do as you please. Join your fellow travelers this evening for a farewell dinner at a local restaurant.

Day 9: Rome - Tour Ends
Your tour ends in Rome this morning.

Touring Date	Land Only	Land + Air	Single (Land Only)	Single (Land + Air)
6/18/2012 - 6/26/2012	$2,399
6/25/2012 - 7/3/2012	$2,299
8/4/2012 - 8/12/2012	$2,299
2/16/2013 - 2/24/2013	$2,099
4/13/2013 - 4/21/2013	$2,399
Note: Departures appearing above in green are guaranteed to operate by the tour operator.
Airfare Disclaimer A NOTE ABOUT AIRFARE: We encourage you to buy your airfare from the tour operator, because if your tour cancels then your airlines tickets will be covered. Purchasing flights separately at a lesser rate and incorporating it with a Non-Guaranteed Departure Date can result in loss of total cost of your flight investment. Depending on the fare rules, flights may be Non-Refundable and/or Non-Transferable. Neither the tour operator and/or Atlas Cruises & Tours will be held responsible for loss if a tour is cancelled for Lack of Participation. If you would like to check for discounted fares on Guaranteed Departures or for competitive pricing on air and hotel packages, we invite you to follow this link. Documents TRAVEL DOCUMENTS: Necessary Travel Documents such as Passports and Visas is the responsibility of the traveler. Passports must be valid six months from your return travel date.

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