Northern Italy: Venice to Rome (Small Group)

Welcome to Venice! Upon your arrival at the airport, you'll be transferred to your hotel. At 19:00, join your Tour Director and fellow travelers for a welcome meeting at the hotel's reception desk. The rest of the day is yours to relax and settle in. Overnight stay in Venice.

After a hearty buffet breakfast at your hotel, embark on a walking tour of Venice. Discover the iconic Piazza San Marco, stroll across the Rialto Bridge, and browse the lively Rialto Fish Market. In the afternoon, you have the option to take a boat cruise to the islands of Murano and Burano, known for their glassmaking and lacework respectively. Overnight stay in Venice.

After breakfast, we head south to Bologna, a city renowned for its towers, churches, and lengthy porticoes. Here, we'll tour the city and visit the Archiginnasio, a significant historical building that once served as the main building of the University of Bologna. We then continue our journey to Florence, the capital of Tuscany and the city of Renaissance. Overnight stay in Florence.

Start your day with a full buffet breakfast before exploring the wonders of Florence on a walking city tour. Visit the Piazza Signoria, Duomo, Battistero, Campanile Giotto, and the Ponte Vecchio. Florence, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was a center of medieval European trade and finance. The afternoon is free for you to explore this city of arts at your own pace. Overnight stay in Florence.

After breakfast, enjoy a free day in Florence or opt for a full-day excursion to Pisa and Lucca. Pisa is famous for its leaning tower, but it also boasts more than twenty other historic churches, several medieval palaces, and bridges across the Arno. Continue to Lucca, a city renowned for its intact Renaissance-era city walls and well-preserved historic center. Overnight stay in Florence.

After breakfast, we depart for 'The Road of Chianti', a region in central Tuscany known for its Sangiovese-dominant wine. Enjoy a wine tasting at one of the area's top vineyards and cellars. We then continue to Siena, a significant city in medieval Europe, where we'll explore its UNESCO World Heritage-listed historic center. After a light lunch at Piazza del Campo, we head towards Perugia. Overnight stay in Perugia.

After breakfast, we depart for Assisi, the birthplace of St. Francis, who founded the Franciscan religious order in 1208. The Franciscan structures of Assisi were collectively designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000. We then return to Perugia, a city known for its universities and rich history dating back to the Etruscan period. Overnight stay in Perugia.

After breakfast, we set out for Rome, one of the most historical cities in the world. Our city tour concludes at Saint Peter's Square, located directly in front of St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City. We then visit the famous Sistine Chapel, renowned for its frescoes, including Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel ceiling and The Last Judgment. Overnight stay in Rome.

After breakfast, you have the option to join an excursion to discover the art of Rome, visiting Major Basilica Santa Maria Maggiore, San Giovanni in Laterano, and Michelangelo's Moses in San Pietro in Vincoli. In the early evening, join your fellow travelers for a Farewell Dinner at a local restaurant in the Trastevere quarter, known for its narrow-cobbled streets lined by ancient houses. Overnight stay in Rome.

After a final buffet breakfast at your hotel, you'll be transferred to the airport according to your flight schedule. This marks the end of our services. We hope you've enjoyed your journey through Italy and look forward to welcoming you back soon!