The Big 3 - 8 Day 4 Star Tour

This tour starts on Friday and ends on a Friday per date schedule below. If you are departing from North America you will need to depart on the Thursday before the tour begins.

Day 1: ROME - Friday - Arrival

Welcome to Italy, You have arrived!

Rome is your arrival location for this great tour. You will make your way through baggage claim and customs. You have the choice of making your own way to the host hotel in Rome or taking the optional private airport transfer which includes a driver waiting for you and taking you and your luggage directly to the hotel from the airport. Upon arrival to your 4 star hotel you will check in and relax. Today is the arrival day and a day to just get your feet on the ground in Rome. This evening you will meet your tour host for a simple orientation about the upcoming tour days. Dinner on your own and overnight in Rome.

Day 2: ROME - Saturday St. Peters, Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel [breakfast, dinner]

Today you will be taken to the most famous church in the world and a completely separate country; Vatican City.  You will be taken for a guided visit of the Vatican Museums and you will see the highlights of this amazing world class museum. You will then go inside the Sistine Chapel and explore St. Peters Basilica before returning to the hotel in the early afternoon. The remainder of the day is yours to explore but don’t forget tonight you will have a lovely dinner in a local restaurant in the heart of the city. You will get your first tastes of what it truly means to eat Italian!  With a full belly, you can take a long relaxing evening walk or just hit the sack.. You are on vacation; do as you wish.

Day 3: Sunday - ROME Roaming in Rome [breakfast, dinner]

At Italy 4 Real we believe that free time is the time to get to know the area like a local. Today is your free day in Rome but don’t worry we will give you a ton of material on what to do. Each Italy 4 Real trip comes with free guidebooks, maps and information written by professional guides and locals who live in Rome. Italy 4 Real is one of the few companies that still provide free travel guides with their tours. Don’t forget tonight you will have another great dinner in Rome a traditional Roman trattoria far from the crowds of tourists, just like we like it! Dinner and overnight in Rome.

Day 4: Monday - SIENA, SAN GIMIGNANO, TUSCANY & FLORENCE - [breakfast, lunch]

Wake up, smell the Italian espresso and enjoy your breakfast this morning. After we will check out and load up for the scenic drive to Tuscany and Florence. The drive itself is quite nice as you will pass hills covered with vineyards and Cyprus trees. We will arrive first to the town of Siena which is the home of the Palio horse race and Italy’s only church made of white and black marble. You will meet your local guide for a walking tour of the historic center of Siena. You will learn about the towns proud history.  Plenty of free time for lunch or shopping. We then continue to the UNSECO World Heritage Site of San Gimignano. Known as the Manhattan of Italy because of its towers, San Gimignano is a medieval down frozen in time. Isolated by the war between Siena and Florence in the Battle of Montaperti which was fought on September 4, 1260 and all the regions trade went to San Gimignano making it one of the most powerful small towns of the area.  You will have free time in the town to explore its shops, climb the outer defensive walls for an amazing photo of the countryside or visit the church which has some of the most interesting and shocking murals in Italy.  In the late afternoon we will take the short drive to Florence, where we will check into our 4 star hotel. The evening is yours to relax and explore. Overnight in Florence.

Day 5: Tuesday FLORENCE on Florence [breakfast, Dinner]

The city of art, where the Renaissance began is yours for the taking. Enjoy your breakfast at leisure and in the mid morning you will enjoy a walking tour of Florence with our local guide.

Florence is a city full of amazing history and art. Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo and Botticelli are just a few of the historic figures that called Florence home.

You will see Piazza della Signoria, Florence’s main church; the Duomo, Plazzo Vecchio and Giotto’s bell tower just to name a few. You are free for the remainder of the day until dinner tonight at a local Florence restaurant featuring the best in Tuscan dishes.. sit back and enjoy. Dinner and overnight in Florence.

Day 6: Wednesday Venice Welcomes You [breakfast, Dinner]

After breakfast you will check out and transfer to the Florence station for your high speed trip to Venice. When you arrive you will be taken to your hotel in the historic are of Venice. Once you have relaxed, checked in, you will enjoy a orientation walking tour of the main sights of Venice. You will learn about the Doges Palace, St. Marks Square and the Bridge of Sighs just to name a few. After you have worked up a good appetite; you will be taken to a small local restaurant to dine on a grand Venice menu of local specialties. After dinner we will take a short night walk to introduce you to Venice’s more mysterious side. Overnight in Venice.   

Day 7: Thursday Venice is yours!  [breakfast, Dinner]

Today is your day to get up and out on your own to discover Venice. Even if you have been before our free local guidebooks will give you lots to see and do. You can visit one of Venice’s famous galleries like The Peggy Guggenheim Collection or see Venice's largest collection of 18th century art at the Ca'Rezzonico museum. Tonight you will enjoy a special farewell dinner. Overnight and diner in Venice.

Day 8: Friday – Ciao Italia! Departure [breakfast]

Departing is such sweet sorrow, but you can take your time sipping that last espresso before you check out and are taken to the airport or railway station. End of services.  Don’t forget, Italy 4 Real can arrange pre and post tour activities, hotels, villas and rental cars to start before or after this tour. We also handle France and Greece which are two great extension destinations to this tour. 

Departure Dates 2012

• 2012
• January 13
• February 10
• March 23
• April 20 
• May 04 11 18 25 
• June 01 08 15 22 29
• July 13 
• August No Scheduled Departures
• September 07  14  21  28
• October 05  12  19  26
• November  02  09

The price of the tour includes:

• Tour Escort/Host*
• Welcome cocktail
• 3 nights in Roma
• 2 nights in Florence
• 2 nights in Venice
• 1 lunch, wine included
• 5 dinners, wine included
• Visit of Vatican, entrance fee included
• Walking tour of the Colosseum & Ancient Rome
• Visit of Siena and free time in San Gimignano
• Walking tour of Florence
• Walking tour of Venice
• Transfer from hotel in Florence to Florence Railway station
• High speed train from Florence to Venice
• Transfer from Venice Railway station to hotel in Venice
• Luggage handling at hotel

• Porterage Service: just 1 piece of luggage per person
• Hotels: Rome: Hotel Ponte Sisto, Empire or similar, Florence: Hotel Berchielli, Brunelleschi or similar, Venice: Hotel Ca De Conti or similar
• Group Size: Small under 17.
• Minimum: 2 Max: 16
• The tour does not include: airfare, tips
• Tour price is based on the EURO Dollar and subject to change.

• Single supplement Euro 415.00
• Tour guarenteed in English. Other languages may be offered. 

Only from Italy 4 Real!

• Local assistance where available
• TripPak -  Free travel maps, guide books and information
• CRS System - 24 Hr Travel Support Hotline During Your Trip

All tours are governed by the Terms & Conditions. * If the number of participants on a specific departure will be less than 7, the tour will be operated as an INDEPENDENT TRAVELLER DEPARTURE but the price will be guaranteed not to change. the tour will feature: • Some sightseeing within a “Small Group” departure therefore may not operate as exclusive but participants will join a regular group departure with an English speaking guide (participants may be more than 16).• The Tour Host will welcome the participants but will not follow the group on the road while an English-speaking driver will take care of the group. • Our commitment is to guarantee any departures even with 2 participants. In case the number of people travelling will be less or equal to 6, the tour will not be operated with a our host. The tour host will welcome the passengers upon their arrival at the Hotel and will escort the guest to the restaurants when the dinner is included. The tour host is available 24hrs by phone.

More Questions?

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• Email: info@italy4real.com