Welcome to Rome!

Upon airport arrival, we shall be waiting to transport you to your hotel. You will receive information for the start of your circuit in the afternoon or this will be on the informative signs in the hotel reception.

NOTE: IF YOU REQUESTED ADDITIONAL NIGHTS on arrival at the hotel you will have your booking made but the guide of your trip will normally not arrive until the start of the included activities. YOUR TIME BEFORE THIS MOMENT IS THEREFORE FREE AT OWN LEISURE. At your hotel they can help you with all the information you need. | The schedules you will find in this itinerary are approximate. The guide, depending on the situation and in order to improve the development of the circuit, may adjust the schedules.

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT: City tour of Rome and Vatican City. Night transfer to Trastevere area.

In the morning, we have a 2 hrs  scenic tour of the city, which will be a great introduction to “The Eternal city”. In the panoramic you will know the ancient Rome called Imperial Rome: Colosseum, Arch of Constantine, Piazza di Venezia with its monument to Italian unification, Quirinal Hill with the Palace of the President of the Republic, Marcelo Theater, Capitol Hill, Roman Forums , Circus Maximus, Church of Santa Maria in Cosmedin with the mouth of truth, Republican Temple, Termas de Caracalla, Aureliana Wall, Basilica di Santa María Maggiore and  Archbasilica of St. Johm Lateran, Church of Santa María in Dominica (Navicella), Cestia Pyramid , San Paolo Gate, Lungo Tevere avenue with the Jewish synagogue of Babylonian style, Tiberina Island in front of the Castel St. Angelo. This tour ends at St. Peter´s Square in the Vatican. The Vatican Museums are closed on Sundays, so, if you are interested, we recommend you to do it at this time. Afternoon at own leisure. 

1830PM In the evening we provide transport to the Trastevere area, where you will find restaurants serving Italian, Indian, Chinese and interna­tional food. Return to hotel.

The day at leisure to rest and relax or explore the city of Rome further.

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT: Tuscany region with hills and very picturesque villages. City tour off Orvieto.

0730AM We leave Rome northbound for Umbria to discover the beautiful region of Tuscany.

We will visit Orvieto, the medieval city on top a mountain. Before entering the city, we will enjoy the impressive view from its viewpoint. Following this, with a local guide and on the system of escalators and ramps, we enter the promontory to see the facade of its cathedral. After the tour enjoy some free time.

We travel on to Castiglione del lago, on the banks of Lake Trasimeno, where we have time for a stroll and lunch.

After lunch we go on to Siena. Arrival in this magnificent artistic city that bears witness to mediaeval times. Free time in the centre to enjoy its narrow streets, its towers and palaces, its famous Piazza del Campo and its Cathedral before going to the hotel.

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT: San Gimignano.

0830AM  We leave Siena and make a stop to see Monteriggione, a magical medieval little village with cobbled streets, walls, and little shops.

After this we continue to San Gimignano - A charming small town with its high mediaeval towers and its magnificent perfectly preserved mediaeval centre. Time to have a stroll and for lunch.

After lunch, we travel to Florence. We stop to take a photo from the Michelangelo viewpoint, where we get one of the most beautiful views of the city.

NOTE: We suggest that people more interested in art should (today) visit the Uffizi Gallery (one of the most important museums in Italy) or the Galería de la Academia (with the original David masterpiece of Michelangelo), magnificent museums that closes on Mondays.

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT: City tour of Florence

0900AM We include a visit with a local guide to Florence, one of the most famous cities of art and history in the world, and make a walking tour of the historic centre. Approximate duration two hours.    

You will have a lot of free time today, in which we suggest you stroll through the artistic centre of the city visiting the Ponte Veccio with its commercial galleries, its elegant squares, etc.

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT: Wonderful Ligurian coast. Pisa. Train to Cinque Terre.

0730AM Depart Florence and continue our journey towards PISA. On a little tourist train we will travel to the Piazza Dei Miracoli (Square of Miracles), where there will be time to admire one, the well known Leaning Tower of Pisa.

After this we head to the Ligurian Coast, with some of the prettiest coastlines in Europe. We will visit the Cinque Terre which has been declared UNESCO World Heritage Site. It comprises of five villages, almost isolated by road, which live on fishing and tourism. Given the difficult access by road, we go by train, with a ticket to Vernazza, which maintains its appearance of a citadel, with its outstanding Church of Santa Margarita built in 1318, overlooking the sea. Time to take some lunch.

Afterwards we travel by train to Levanto, where we re-join the coach to continue to Genoa – The city where Christopher Columbus was born, time to see its monumental centre.  

NOTE: The train to Cinqueterre is a regular local railway service and not a tourist service. Places cannot be booked and sometimes the trains are full and passengers have to travel standing.(The councils of Cinqueterre have announced that they will establish measures to limit the maximum number of tourists arriving each day; to date there have been no limitations on our groups but given this new measure, we might be affected at the peak of tourist times. If this should happen, an alternative visit will be offered). 

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT: Boat trip to Portofino.

0830AM Depart Genoa, we will continue our journey to the nearby city of Santa Margarita Ligure. We on board for a 20-minute crossing to Portofino, one of the most exclusive places in Europe. Time in Portofino, a beautiful town. 

We return to Rapallo, a very pleasant coastal town. Time to have a stroll and for lunch. 

After lunch, we continue to Milan, the busy northern city in which we recommend a visit to the cathedral.

NOTE: Due to weather conditions in winter, sometimes the boat to Portofino does not operate, in which case access will be by urban microbus (poor quality service, sometimes long waits.)

After breakfast, end of our services. Hotel standard check out time 11am.

Self arrangement to airport or may add in additional service (optional) for hotel-airport transfer.

Remark/Note: You can take for tour option 3 - Tour continue to Verona on Day 9, overnight and tour end at Venice on Day 11. Check with us for the programs itinerary and tour price for Tour Code: 26699_The Essential of Italy.