+ Included: Breakfast and dinner
For this program you must already be in Rome because this tour departs from Rome early in the morning for Assisi. Our Travel Experts (T.E.’s) can assist you with the pre tour accommodations in Rome. Board your deluxe motor coach for the scenic drive to Assisi. This medieval city is the birthplace of St. Francis and is still surrounded by its ancient walls. Here, visit the Basilica of Saint Francis with its early Renaissance masterpieces by Giotto and Cimabue. 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. 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 travellers.

+ Included: Breakfast and dinner
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, the Academy of Fine Arts Gallery housing Michelangelo’s David, and Santa Croce, the 13th-century Franciscan church with Cimabue’s famous crucifix. 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. Meet back at your conveniently located hotel for an included dinner tonight.

+ Included: Breakfast and dinner
En route to Venice today, make a stop in Padua to tour the famous Cathedral of St. Anthony, guarded by Donatello’s Gattamelata. Locals simply call this historic church, where St. Anthony’s remains are located, “Il Santo.” Then drive to romantic Venice, known the world over for its intricate network of canals (150 such waterways to be exact). Upon arrival, enjoy a guided walking tour to see St. Mark’s Square (watch out for pigeons!) and the nearby Basilica; ornate Doge’s Palace, once home to the city’s aristocrats; the 16th-century Bridge of Sighs and the Prisons. Venice is famous for its hand-blown glass, so your sightseeing tour includes a visit to a glass factory, where you can shop for treasures to bring back home.

+ Included: Breakfast and dinner
Spend the entire day at leisure in Venice. Perhaps linger over your included buffet breakfast and savour an additional cup of cappuccino while writing some postcards to friends and family. Visit more of Venice’s important churches, art galleries or historic sites. If shopping appeals, stroll the city center and browse the many shops for some souvenirs. Or you might like to take the morning optional excursion by motor launch to the islands of Murano, known for its hand-blown glass; Burano, famous for its lacework; and quiet Torcello, which once had a population of 10,000 (now it’s less than 100). Lunch is on your own today; meet back at your hotel for an included dinner tonight to reminisce with your fellow travellers about your tour of Italy’s important art capitals.

+ Included: Breakfast
After a buffet breakfast, bid arrivederci to the friends you made as your tour ends today. This tour ends in Venice; make your way to the airport in Venice - or back to Rome - for your homebound flight or continue your European vacation on your own. No matter what your travel plans, the experts at Italy 4 Real can help you with your arrangements.