A Taste of Italy
8 days incl air, or 7 days Rome/Venice
                                                                                               Return to First Class Italy Vacations

This perfect 8-day Italian vacation covers Rome, Florence, and Venice with enough time to do your own explorations. Sightseeing with a Local Guide in all cities covers the must-see sights as St. Peter’s Square and Basilica, the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel, the Colosseum and Roman Forum, Michelangelo’s celebrated David statue, the cathedral, and sculpture-studded Signoria Square in Florence, as well as St. Mark’s Square and Basilica, and the Doges’ Palace and the Bridge of Sighs in Venice. The full day at leisure in Venice gives you the opportunity to join an optional excursion the island of Burano, and of course a special welcome dinner in Rome and a private boat-ride in Venice are included.

ROME  Welcome dinner; guided sightseeing including headsets; visit the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel, St. Peter’s Square and Basilica, the Colosseum and Roman Forum

FLORENCE  Guided sightseeing including headsets, visit Michelangelo’s David, the cathedral, and Signoria Square

VENICE  Private boat ride, guided sightseeing including headsets, visit St. Mark’s Square and Basilica, Doges’ Palace, and the Bridge of Sighs; glassblowers' demonstration

-MEALS:  6 buffet breakfasts (BB); 1 special welcome dinner (D) with wine in Rome

-AIRPORT TRANSFERS Airport transfers may be included when you make your flight arrangements with the tour company

-INSIDE VISITS are shown in UPPERCASE in the tour description, including admission charges when applicable

-Hotel Accommodations Twin-bedded rooms with private bath or shower, hotel taxes, service charges, and tips for baggage handling
Quality Hotels: ROME Grand Hotel Beverly Hills (F), FLORENCE Grand Hotel Mediterraneo (F), VENICE Boscolo Bellini (F)

-Professional Tour Director while touring, cruise director on River cruises, host services on Independent Vacations, and 50 hosts in London alone to assist you at airports and hotels

-Private deluxe motorcoach with air-conditioning, extra leg room, and emergency washroom while touring

-Travel bag and travel documents

Day 1  Depart from your home city
(Fri.) Board your overnight transatlantic flight.

Day 2  Arrival in Rome, Italy.
(Sat.) Time to rest or start exploring the Eternal City. At 6 p.m. meet your Tour Director and traveling companions and leave the hotel for a special welcome dinner with wine in one of Rome’s lively restaurants. (D)

Day 3  Rome
(Sun.) Sightseeing with your Local Guide this morning concentrates on ancient Rome: visit the COLOSSEUM and the ROMAN FORUM, where Roman Legions marched in triumph. Then time for independent activities and exciting optional excursion possibilities. (BB)

Day 4  Rome-Florence.
(Mon.) Start with a guided visit to the VATICAN MUSEUMS and SISTINE CHAPEL world famous for Michelangelo’s ceiling paintings and The Last Judgement. Next, visit monumental ST. PETER’S SQUARE and BASILICA. In the early afternoon drive along the Highway of the Sun north into Tuscany and its hill-clad vineyards which house the famous Chianti wine, to Florence, cradle of the Renaissance. (BB)

Day 5  Florence.
(Tue.) Follow your Local Guide to the ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS with Michelangelo’s celebrated David and the magnificent CATHEDRAL. Admire Giotto’s Bell Tower, the Baptistry’s heavy bronze “Gate of Paradise,” and sculpture-studded Signoria Square. The afternoon is free. Florentine leather goods and gold jewelry sold by the ounce are attractive buys. You may wish to join an optional dinner outing to a fine Tuscan restaurant and try out the Chianti wines. (BB)

Day 6  Florence-Venice.
(Wed.) Through the wooded Apennine Hills and the lush plains of the River Po, the largest river in Italy, to Venice, a powerful magnet for romantics and art lovers from around the globe. Enter in style by PRIVATE BOAT to meet your Local Guide. Highlights of your walking tour are ST. MARK’S SQUARE and the byzantine BASILICA, lavish DOGES’ PALACE and the Bridge of Sighs. Also watch skilled GLASSBLOWERS fashion their delicate objects in an age-old traditional manner. (BB)

Day 7  At Leisure in Venice.
(Thu.) A whole day to explore Venice on your own, join the locals, have a cappuccino at a sidewalk café, or wander through the narrow streets and discover Rialto Bridge. To top it all, why not join an optional cruise to the charming island of Burano, followed by dinner with local specialties to celebrate the success of your Italian vacation? (BB)

Day 8  
(Fri.) Your homebound flight arrives the same day. (BB)