Rome, Florence & Venice Signature

Meet your guide and driver at the hotel to head to the Vatican, the center of Christianity, for a 4 hour private tour. You’ll be fascinated by the Vatican Museum which houses one of the most impressive collections in the world. Admire the many works of art and visit the Sistine Chapel, dominated by the efforts of Michelangelo. The conception and execution of the ‘Creation of the World’ and ‘Last Judgment’ are positively titanic. You will also visit the magnificent St. Peter’s Basilica which took over 100 years to build and features Renaissance and Baroque styling. Resting on over the 800 pillars and adorned with 44 altars, St. Peter’s is by far the largest church in the world! Inside the Basilica it is not allowed to speak at high tone; for this reason your guide will whisper in a microphone and you will be provided with a radio headset to clearly hear the description of one of the biggest wonders of Christianity. Return to hotel. (Entrance fee included).

In the afternoon you will be picked up from your hotel by coach and guide for a three hour shared tour. Arrive at Piazza Venezia and then continue on foot to the famous Piazza Del Campidoglio designed by Michelangelo. Drive by the Circus Maximus and the Aventino Hill. Stop to admire the beautiful statue of Moses by Michelangelo located in the Church of St. Peter in Chains from where it will take you 5 minutes to reach the symbol of the eternal city: The Colosseum. Take a visit inside of The Colosseum. (Includes hotel pick up – since there will be various pick ups within the city centre, you will be given a pick up time range. Please be in the hotel lobby/reception for this time. At the end of the tour, there will be a city centre drop off. Includes entrances to churches mentioned). Please note that shared tours can have up to approx. 50 people (depending on the number of people that have signed up for the tour on the particular day, and are carried out in a number of languages). The group may be divided out into smaller groups so the tour is lead in one language or kept as one larger group (in which case the tour will be lead in various languages). Due to seasonal opening times the itinerary may be altered without notice.

Meet your driver for a private train station transfer.

Enjoy the train ride from Rome to Florence. Train duration is approximately 1 hour 30 mins.

Take a private train station transfer in Florence.

Travel back to the Renaissance period during this half day walking tour that explores the renowned Italian city of Florence.  This guided tour ensures that you visit some of the many landmarks and sites that have made Florence a global tourist hub, and one of Italy’s most beautiful cities.  This walking tour begins with a visit to the Uffizi Gallery, boasting some true masterpieces of art including Raphael’s “Madonna of the Goldfinch” and Leonardo Da Vinci’s “The Annunciation.”  The tour continues with a walk through the Signoria Square to marvel at the re-created duplicate of Michelangelo’s statue of “David.”  Next is a visit to the elegant Ponte Vecchio, which translates to “old-bridge,” dating back to 1345, this bridge was actually built to replace the once previous bridge structure that was unfortunately swept away during a vicious flood.  Along either end of the bridge, take this opportunity to view, and purchase if you’d like, some of the many items for sale including souvenirs, snacks and jewelry.  Your final visits on this tour include stops at the 14th century Cathedral Square to view the Duomo, the Baptistery and Giotto’s Bell Tower.

Florence is a great city for browsing and shopping. The street for antiques is Via Maggio: some of the furnishings and objects d'art here are from the 16th century. Florence's Fifth Avenue is Via dei Tornabuoni, the place to head for the best quality leather goods, for the best clothing boutiques, and for stylish but costly shoes. Here you'll find everyone from Armani, Gucci, Versace, Coveri, to Ferragamo. Besides shops, Florence is rich in open-air markets. The Market of San Lorenzo, situated in the center of the city, is worth checking out. The New Market, where one can acquire leather goods and souvenirs, is sheltered under the sixteenth-century Loggia del Porcellino. At the Flea Market, near Piazza Santa Croce, where you may able to make good deals on small antique items.

Would you like to see the best and most beautiful areas of Tuscany in one wonderful, memorable day? Come and spend a magical day, made all the more delightful by a traditional Tuscan lunch. The excursion begins with a visit to Pisa and its stunning Piazza dei Miracoli, where you will admire the Baptistery, the Cathedral and, of course, the famous Leaning Tower. The tour continues with lunch at a characteristic winery or restaurant, where you will enjoy tasting renowned local wines. After lunch, the wonders continue with a visit to San Gimignano, the splendid Medieval town declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Then, following the panoramic roads of the Chianti region, you will come to Siena, the city of the Palio. Here you will meet a local guide who will take you on a tour of the city, highlighting important monuments, palazzos and piazzas, including Piazza del Campo, where the Palio di Siena horse race is run, and Piazza del Duomo, where you will see both the exterior and the interior of the magnifcent Cathedral. After some free time in Siena, you will be driven back to Florence. At the end of the tour, you will receive a charming memento of Tuscany. Please note that shared tours can have up to approx. 50 people (depending on the number of people that have signed up for the tour on the particular day, and are carried out in a number of languages). The group may be divided out into smaller groups so the tour is lead in one language or kept as one larger group (in which case the tour will be lead in various languages). Included: GT coach or minivan with air conditioning, expert multilingual escorts, free time in Pisa and San Gimignano, lunch and wine tasting, guided tour of Siena, admission to the Siena Cathedral.

Take a private train station transfer in Florence.

Enjoy the (direct) fast speed train ride from Florence to Venice (approx 2 hours).

For your added comfort, we will have a Meet & Greet assistance for you upon your arrival who will be waiting for you at the beginning of the platform which your train arrives in on. If a private train station transfer has been arranged, this representative will help to co-ordinate meeting up with your private water taxi driver and accompany you to your accommodation.

Depart from the hotel with an English speaking escort on a private taxi boat to the Venetian Lagoon’s most enchanting islands, Murano and Burano. Visit a glass factory on Murano, known for hundreds of years of glass making tradition, and a unique style. A private guide will lead you on a tour of the factory, where you can see a glass blowing demonstration and later purchase items from the display room if you are so inclined. You will then depart and transfer to the island of Burano, featuring cheerful houses painted in bright colours. Known for lace making, you will visit a Burano lace factory for a demonstration of the craft before having some time to stroll the narrow streets and barter with vendors. Return to Venice.

This non-narrated gondola cruise (approx 30-35 mins) will have you traveling through narrow canals and beneath stone bridges.

Take a water taxi from your hotel to the airport. Your hotel concierge should be able to help you with the arrangements on site. The fare to the Venice Airport is dependent on the location of your hotel and how many people are traveling with you. Alternatively, if you would like to have a private transfer arranged for you in advance, please speak to your Sales Advisor.