Trafalgar - Contrasts of Italy (04/2023 - 10/2023) (ITGVZN18)

10 Days From Rome to Venice
Tour Style: Cruise Rail and Combos
Trafalgar Brochure Price from $2,835.00
Brochures: Europe & Britain 2023 v2, Europe & Britain 2024 v1
Visits: Italy, Vatican City

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All aboard this exhilarating journey by high-speed train through Italy’s iconic cities of Rome, Florence and Venice. During your 10 days in Italy, conjure up gladiators and chariots in Rome, shop until you drop on Florence’s ancient Ponte Vecchio, strike a pose in Pisa before and discover the secrets of Venice on foot like a local.
Choice Highlights

Must-see Highlights

• : VIP Admission to the Vatican Museums
• : Explore Rome, Florence, Pisa and Venice with a Local Specialist
• : Visit St. Peter's Basilica, the Sistine Chapel and the Colosseum in Rome, the Academy of Fine Arts in Florence and a glassblowing factory in Venice
• : View the ancient sites in Rome, the Santa Croce Basilica and the Duomo in Florence, the Leaning Tower of Pisa and St. Mark's Basilica in Venice
• : Scenic Cruise by private launch to St. Mark's Square in Venice

Iconic Experience

• Rome: During an orientation with your Travel Director see the medieval buildings, Renaissance palaces and Baroque churches scattered throughout the city.
• Vatican: Visit Vatican City and tour St. Peter's Basilica with a Local Specialist. Witness the early genius of Michelangelo as you take in the Pietà.
• Rome: Visit the Colosseum, still echoing with the thronging crowds and ghostly cries of gladiatorial combat.
• Florence: Join a Local Specialist to view the multi-coloured marble cathedral, bell tower and baptistery, adorned by Ghiberti's Gates of Paradise. Visit the political heart of the city, Signoria Square.
• Florence: Admire the enchanting Tuscan landscape as you travel by high-speed train to Florence.
• Pisa: During an orientation, your Travel Director will show you the baptistery, cathedral and the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa.
• Venice: Journey by high-speed train past dramatic mountains and lush plains to ''La Serenissima''.

Dive Into Culture

• Rome: Enjoy a private visit inside the Vatican where you will tour the Museo Gregoriano Profano featuring Roman and Ancient Greek antiquities before an exclusive private dinner.
• Venice: Savour the vibrant atmosphere of Venice during a visit to a traditional food market in the shadow of the famous Rialto Bridge.

Be My Guest

• Florence: Enjoy an exclusive Be My Guest lunch at the Agriturismo Borgo Vigna Vecchia in the Tuscan hills.

MAKE TRAVEL MATTER®

• Venice: Learn about the history and ancient skill of Venetian glassblowing, playing your role in ensuring the survival of this traditional craft through your visit.

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Trafalgar Tour Itinerary

Day 1	Welcome to Rome
	Benvenuti a Roma where we begin our exciting journey through some of Italy's most beautiful cities. Spend time relaxing after your travels or take a walk along the ancient streets, tracing centuries of art, antiquities and culture before joining your travel companions and Travel Director for a Welcome Reception and orientation drive through Rome's intoxicating cityscape.
	Visits: Rome
	Meals: Welcome Reception
	Accommodation: Grand Palatino
Day 2	Explore Ancient Rome and the Vatican City Dive Into Culture
	We visit the centre of Christianity this morning, joining a Local Specialist for a sightseeing tour which includes a visit to the imposing St. Peter's Basilica to see the Pietà, Michelangelo's masterpiece carved from the most 'perfect' block of marble. Our next stop is in Ancient Rome where we’ll visit the Colosseum. Here gladiators and slaves met their end in a blaze of glory. See the Circus Maximus before returning to the Holy See this afternoon. Dive Into Culture and gain priority admission to the Vatican Museums where a Local Specialist will take us on a guided tour. Admire Michelangelo's magnificent frescoed ceiling in the Sistine Chapel when it is less crowded, followed by dinner in the midst of the treasures of the Vatican's Anima Mundi Museum.
	Visits: Rome, Vatican, Rome
	Meals: Breakfast, Regional Dinner
	Accommodation: Grand Palatino
Day 3	Rome Your Way
	Enjoy a full free day in Rome or consider spending some in beautiful Tivoli. Join an Optional Experience to see the exquisite house and gardens of the 16th-century Villa d'Este – a marvellous example of Renaissance landscape architecture. As the sun sets over the seven hills of Rome, people-watch in one of Rome’s beautiful squares or admire the Trevi Fountain, tossing a coin in to secure your return to Rome.
	Visits: Rome
	Meals: Breakfast
	Accommodation: Grand Palatino
Day 4	Journey By High-Speed Train to Florence
	Sit back on the high-speed train, bound for Florence, and watch the Tuscan landscape go by. Join a Local Specialist on a walking tour to gain insights into the city's Renaissance treasures. View the Ponte Vecchio, almost 700 years old and lined with goldsmiths, then visit the Fine Arts Academy to see one of Michelangelo's masterpieces, the statue of David. Our love affair with Florence continues as we stroll to the Piazza della Signoria, featuring Palazzo Vecchio and the Uffizi Gallery.
	Visits: Rome, Florence
	Meals: Breakfast
	Accommodation: Ambasciatori
Day 5	Admire Pisa Connect with Locals
	Cross the Arno River and see the enchanting skyline of Florence from Piazzale Michelangelo before driving to Pisa through the Arno Valley. Meet your Local Specialist to explore the Square of Miracles and see the famous Leaning Tower, the Cathedral, Baptistery and Camposanto, built on soil brought back from the Holy Land during the Crusades. Over lunch, Connect With Locals at the Agriturismo Borgo Vigna Vecchia where you’ll enjoy an exclusive Be My Guest experience surrounded by vineyards and olive groves. This evening, stroll along the Arno River in search of the perfect gelato, see the beautifully lit Duomo or visit a cosy enoteca for some wine tasting.
	Visits: Florence, Pisa, Florence
	Meals: Breakfast, Be My Guest
	Accommodation: Ambasciatori
Day 6	Discover Renaissance Florence
	Today is yours to discover the beauty and elegance of Florence – a city filled with exquisite galleries, lush gardens and opulent palaces. Consider a visit to the hilltop town of San Gimignano, the 'medieval Manhattan' of Tuscany. Venture outside the city to see Tuscan villages and taste rich panforte and tortas, or shop for the latest fashions in Florence's sophisticated boutiques. This evening, consider joining an Optional Experience in the Chianti region for a delicious Tuscan dinner.
	Visits: Florence
	Meals: Breakfast
	Accommodation: Ambasciatori
Day 7	Travel By High-Speed Train to Venice
	All aboard the express train for Venice. We cross the spectacular Apennines and fertile Veneto plain before arriving in this island city. Get lost this afternoon, wandering its narrow lanes in search of a cosy bacaro, people-watch in St. Mark's Square, the gateway to Venice, or take an unforgettable gondola ride along the city's enchanting canals.
	Visits: Florence, Venice
	Meals: Breakfast
	Accommodation: Principe
Day 8	Cruise the Canals of Venice Make Travel Matter
	This morning, breathe in the salty sea air as you board a private launch and cruise to St. Mark's Square to see the Bridge of Sighs, Palladian Churches, the Customs House, St. Mark's Basilica and Campanile, as well as the Doge's Palace. Later, we enjoy an unforgettable MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience, witnessing first-hand the centuries-old craft of glassblowing. You may be tempted to buy a souvenir or two after admiring the talent and skill of the master craftsmen, passed down from generation to generation. This afternoon, enjoy free time to explore the city on your own terms, perhaps finding a quiet campo and pavement café or take a cruise to colourful Burano for a delicious meal.
	Visits: Venice
	Meals: Breakfast
	Accommodation: Principe
Day 9	Experience Venice’s Food Market
	The sights and sounds of modern Venice come to life today as we join our Local Specialist for a walking tour and explore the vibrant Rialto Food Market, which has been feeding Venetians since the 11th century. We wander through the narrow calli - seeing the ornate façades of merchant houses that line the canals, before enjoying an afternoon at leisure for one last taste of Venice. Our adventure through Italy's charming cities is about to come to an end. We celebrate newfound friendships and an unforgettable experience at a Farewell Dinner.
	Visits: Venice
	Meals: Breakfast, Farewell Dinner
	Accommodation: Principe
Day 10	Farewell Venice
	Say arrivederci to Italy and your fellow travellers as your fascinating holiday comes to an end. Find out more about your free airport transfer at trafalgar.com/freetransfers.
	Visits: Venice
	Meals: Breakfast

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Available Room Types: Single, Triple, Twin
Child: ages 5 to 17