Experience Italy 8 Day 4 Star Tour

ON DAY ONE:  Rome – Welcome to Italy! THE ADVENTURE BEGINS

Your optional airport transfer will be waiting for you outside baggage claim at Rome's airport to take you in style to your hotel in Rome. Check into your hotel and relax. The first day in Europe is what we call the “Jetlag Day” where all you are to do is unpack and relax.

Today is your day to arrive, get over the long flight and just enjoy the fact that you have just begun your well needed vacation to Italy. Stroll the streets around your hotel for a cocktail, find a local artist studio to look over the latest Roman art or just find a piazza and people watch; the choice is yours!

ON DAY TWO – Umbria to Tuscany

Fuel your full day of sightseeing with pastries, juice, authentic italian espresso and more at your hotel’s included continental breakfast. Then board your deluxe motor coach for the scenic drive to Assisi, with time at leisure to explore this medieval city. It is the birthplace of St. Francis and is still surrounded by its ancient walls.

We suggest you visit the Basilica of Saint Francis with its early Renaissance masterpieces by Giotto and Cimabue. Lunch is at your leisure. You will then proceed to Siena to take in views of the town square, Piazza del Campo, where the world-famous horse race, the Palio, takes place every year.

Also see the elegant Palace and the Cathedral. Reach your hotel in glorious Florence, the capital of Tuscany, in time for an included, multi-course dinner featuring Italian specialties—an ideal time to get to know your fellow travelers.

ON DAY THREE – The City of Art – Florence!

Today’s sightseeing tour is dedicated to exploring Florence, the cradle of the Renaissance.

Visit the beautiful Piazza del Duomo, the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, Giotto’s Bell Tower, the Baptistery of St. John, Campanile Tower, and Santa Croce, the 13th-century Franciscan church with Cimabue’s famous crucifix just to name a few.

Lunch is on your own; perhaps sit at an outdoor café for a typical Italian mid-day meal. Be sure to save room for some exquisite gelato! With your afternoon at leisure, you may want to check out the many shops and stalls at the Ponte Vecchio, where you can browse for Italian leather goods and other souvenirs.

Your afternoon is free or you may join an optional tour to see Pisa. Meet back at your conveniently located hotel for an included dinner tonight.

ON DAY FOUR – Tuscany, Heartland and Venice

Enjoy your breakfast and prepare for a full day of exploring. It’s on to Bologna for a visit to the city.

Visit the city’s historical center, Neptune Square and Major Square, King Renzo’s Palace , Podesta Palace and The Basilica of San Petronio to name a few. Lunch is at your leisure and the afternoon is yours to explore.

Later we will continue Padova for a visit to the Basilica of Saint Antonio and then on to the city of bridges; Venice, with its romantic canals, in time for dinner at your hotel. This tour includes a hotel inside the historic center of Venice;  so you can walk around the city with ease and within easy reach of your hotel. 

Day 5 – The City of Bridges – Venice!

Good morning! As you rise and shine in Venice, the smell of fresh espresso and pastries fill the air.

Today you get to learn about glorious Venice, with its 177 islands, 150 canals and 400 bridges. Venice is your playground this morning; sightseeing includes the famous St. Mark’s Square (watch out for pigeons!) and the ornate Doge’s Palace (outside), once home to the aristocrats of Venice, Bridge of Sighs and more! Also stop at a glass factory where authentic, hand-blown Murano glass is made. Centuries ago, the glassmakers who lived on the small island of Murano were known the world over for their art, even rising to Venice’s upper-class because of their extraordinary talents.

With the afternoon at leisure, you may want to linger over lunch at a sidewalk café—be sure to try some gelato! Or perhaps take a ride in a traditional, hand-built gondola—after all; an authentic gondola ride on Venice’s canals just may be a once-in-a-lifetime experience! Don’t forget dinner is included tonight as well.

ON DAY SIX – The Wines of Tuscany, The Chianti  Region and more 

Enjoy your breakfast and prepare for your departure to the heart of Tuscany’s wine country. First stop of the day is the Chianti region. Chianti is world known for its landscape and wine.

Located between Siena and Florence, Chianti is synonymous to fine Tuscan wines. The town we choose to visit in Chianti is Montepulciano which is widely known for its famous Brunello red. You will have plenty of time to visit the local wine shops for tastings, photos of the wine barrels and rolling Tuscan countryside. Later in the afternoon we continue to the capitol of Italy; Rome!

This tour includes a free TRIP PAK with maps, local sightseeing, great dinner ideas and local guides. The TripPak shows you lots of things to do during leisure time when you reach Roma!

Day 7 – All Roads Lead to Rome!

Sip your espresso, take another bit of the fresh fruit and enjoy your breakfast because today you will walk the capital city and learn firsthand the history of Rome. A walking tour of the city will introduce you to Piazza di Spagna, Fontana di Trevi, Pantheon , Piazza Navona and end in San Pietro Basilica. Now that you have a basic understanding of the layout of the historical center, the remainder of the day and evening are yours to explore, relax and soak it all in.

Ask your Travel Expert about some of the great optional tours you can experience while in Rome such as renting a Vespa scooter or wine tasting at the International Academy of Wine. Italy4Real has dozens of great things to do!

Day 8 – Rome to Home

After breakfast, bid arrivederci to your fellow travelers and transfer to the airport for your flight home, or continue your European vacation on your own. No matter what your travel plans, the experts at Italy 4 Real can help you with the arrangements.

Departure Dates 2011-2012:

• 2011
• October 2011 09 14 16 21 23 28 30
• November 2011 06 20
• December 2011 11 25
• 2012
• January 08 22
• February 05 26
• March 11 25
• April 01 08 15 22
• May 04 06 11 13 18 20 25 27
• June 01 03 08 10 15 17 22 24 29
• July 01 06 08 13 15 20 22 27 29
• August 03 05 10 12 17 19 24 26 31
• September 02, 04, 09, 11, 16, 18, 23, 25, 30
• October 05 07 12 14 19 21 26 28

The price of the tour includes:

• 4 Star hotels for 7 nights with private bath
• Transport by modern European coaches
• All breakfasts are included
• 4 multi course dinners
• All taxes included! 
• Private Airport Transfers on pick up and departure
• Tour host for duration of tour
• Private Guided Sightseeing Tours
• Porterage Service: just 1 piece of luggage per person
• Hotels: Rome: Hotel Corona or similar, Florence: Hotel Raffaello or similar, Venice: Hotel in Mestre(suburb of Venice): Hotel Delfino or similar
• Group Size: Med-Lg.
• Minimum: 2 Average: 25
• 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

More Questions?

• FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) - This page will answer many common quesiotns about booking, planning and more! 
• Live Chat - Ask us a quesiton now
• Email: info@italy4real.com