Italian Intermezzo - 8 Days

Italy’s three most famous and best loved cities reveal a treasure-trove of riches on this concise yet surprisingly diverse and delightful itinerary.

Included Premium Highlights

    * Discover the wonders of ancient Rome as you overlook the Forum & visit the Colosseum
    * Cruise the romantic canals of Venice in a traditional gondola
    * Admire Michelangelo's 'Statue of David' at the Academy Museum in Florence
    * Tour the Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel, a masterpiece of Michelangelo's fresco skills

Included Personal Insights

    * Enjoy a short tutorial about the world famous Chianti wines of Tuscany

Included Other Excursions & Sights

    * Tour St Peter's Basilica, mother church of the Catholic faith
    * Cruise to St Mark's Square by private launch past San Giorgio Maggiore
    * See St Mark's Basilica, Doges' Palace & the Bridge of Sighs in Venice
    * Enjoy a scenic drive along the Brenta Riviera to see the Venetian summer palaces
    * See the Cathedral,'Gates of Paradise' on the Baptistery & Signoria Square in Florence
    * Visit Santa Croce Church to see the tombs of Michelangelo & Galileo
    * Demonstrations of traditional Florence leather-work & Venetian glass-blowing

Included First Class Services

    * Escorted by a professional Tour Director
    * Headsets for all guided visits & walking tours
    * Luxury air-conditioned 40 seat coach with extended leg room & onboard restroom
    * Insight Hotels include all service charges, taxes & porterage
    * Insight Traveller document wallet, map book journal & information pack
    * Airport arrival & departure transfers at scheduled times on Day 1 & Day 8
    * Should your flights not coincide with these arrival & departure transfers, please make your own way to/from the airport

Included Quality Dining

    * Dine-Around evening at your own choice of restaurant from our selection in Florence (DA)
    * 7 Buffet Breakfasts (BB), 2 three-course table d'hôte Dinners, or Buffets, plus tea or coffee (D)
 

ITINERARY Insight Vacations - Italian Intermezzo

Tour Pace

Evenly paced tour with two night stays in all three centres – Rome, Montecatini & Venice – allowing plenty of time for sightseeing & people watching, from the comfort of a sidewalk café! The driving days are all of a reasonable length with frequent stops for rest and photo opportunities.

Day 1 - ROME AT LEISURE

Welcome to Italy! On arrival at Rome's Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci Airport, your airport transfers leave for the tour hotel at 09:30, 12:30 & 15:30. Then this historic city is yours to discover - stroll down the Via Veneto for a taste of 'la dolce vita'. Tonight, join your Tour Director for a Welcome Drink.

Hotel: Romanico Palace.

Day 2 - ROME SIGHTSEEING

A local guide introduces the Grandeur of the city! Start off in the independent Vatican State, the richest community in the world. Visit St Peter's Basilica housing one of Michelangelo's early works, the Pieta, & see the splendid dome completed after his death. Now relive the glory of ancient Rome as you cross the River Tiber to visit the mighty Colosseum. Finally, look out over the site of the Roman Forum, once the bustling centre of commerce, law & religion. The afternoon is entirely at leisure - enjoy Rome at your own pace or ask your Tour Director about some optional sightseeing. (BB,D)

Day 3 - ROME - VENICE

Depart the 'Eternal City' & follow the course of the River Tiber north. Traverse the wild Apennine Mountains & descend to the fertile Po Valley. Tonight, stay in the glorious city of Venice with its quaint bridges, ornate palaces & romantic gondolas.

Hotel: Sant'Elena (BB,D)

Day 4 - VENICE SIGHTSEEING

Appreciate the splendour of Venice as you cruise by Palladio's San Giorgio Maggiore to St Mark's Square. Your Tour Director will explain the glorious history of 'La Serenissima', once one of the greatest trading centres of the world - its wealth & power is echoed by the riches of St Mark's Basilica. See the Doges' Palace & its adjoining Bridge of Sighs, then visit one of the glass showrooms for a demonstration of traditional craftsmanship, unchanged for centuries. Relax & enjoy the atmosphere as you cruise along the Venetian canals by gondola. There is time to explore or browse through the shops on the Rialto Bridge in the afternoon. Don't miss the chance to try the delicious seafood, freshly caught in the lagoon. (BB)

Day 5 - VENICE - FLORENCE

Begin your day with a scenic drive along the Brenta Riviera, lined with magnificent classical villas of the Venetian nobility. Now follow the river Reno high into the Apennines. On arrival in the Renaissance city of Florence, visit the Academy Museum to see Michelangelo's original 'Statue of David'. Afterwards, walk with your guide to the marble clad Cathedraland Baptistery, where Ghiberti's 'Gates of Paradise' have been recreated in all their glory. Next stop is Signoria Square, political heart of the city & still an open air gallery of Renaissance masterpieces. Finally, visit the church of Santa Croce to see the tombs of Galileo & Michelangelo. Later, learn the secrets of traditional Florentine leather-work. Tonight, there is a wonderful selection of local restaurants to choose from on your Florentine Dine-around evening.

Hotel: Londra (BB,DA)

Day 6 - FLORENCE AT LEISURE

Maybe treat yourself to a late breakfast this morning because you have the whole DAY at leisure; shop, explore or continue sightseeing. Perhaps you might like to consider an optional excursion into the undulating hills of Tuscany & medieval San Gimignano before sampling some fine Florentine cuisine & Chianti wine? (BB)

Day 7 - FLORENCE - ROME

As you drive through the peaceful landscapes of Tuscany, there is an informative tutorial about the Chianti wines that make this region so famous: continue along the smooth autostrada back to Rome. Your Intermezzo reaches its crescendo at the Vatican Museums. Wonder at the collection of ancient & Renaissance art gathered by Popes over the ages, before entering the Sistine Chapel, where the Popes are elected. This is where your audio headset comes into its own, providing clear, expert commentary from your local guide. Gaze up now & truly appreciate the significance of Michelangelo's famous painted ceiling.

Hotel: Sheraton Rome (BB)

Day 8 - ROME

Bid farewell to the glories of Italy. Departure transfers arrive at Rome's Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci Airport at 07:00 & 09:30.(BB) 

Your Insight tour already includes a host of bonus highlights and comprehensive sightseeing. However, there is an exciting array of optional excursions which will turn an already amazing experience into the trip of a lifetime! These are entirely optional and can be booked through your Tour Director/Local Representative at the commencement of your tour. All prices are quoted in local currency. Payment can be made in cash or by Visa, Mastercard or American Express. To help your pre-tour budgeting we suggest you allow approximately EURO 45 per person per day for optional excursions.

ROM16 - PIAZZA & FOUNTAINS
This walking tour takes you to the Trevi Fountain and Piazza Navona with its pavement cafes, 17th century fountains and architecture. Perhaps have your portrait painted by one of the street artists! This tour is conducted by a local guide and you will utilise personal headsets. EURO 32

ROM19A - ROME OF THE ANCIENT CHRISTIANS
Outside the ancient Roman city walls we visit the early Christian Catacombs, underground cemetries carved out of soft Tufa Stone. Nearby we also visit one of the major basilicas of Rome, St Pauls Outside the Walls. The burial place of St Paul the Apostle, famous for its Byzantine Mosaics. On some departures the Christian Catacombs are offered with a visit to St Peter in Chains to view the magnificent 'Moses' sculpture by Michelangelo, (instead of St Pauls). EURO 34

ROM18 - ILLUMINATIONS DRIVE & PIZZA DINNER
Tonight we have a pizza dinner in a typical Roman restaurant before enjoying an illuminations drive which shows us Piazza Venezia, the Forum, the Colosseum and the Campidoglio. EURO 46

VCE06 - MAGICAL VENICE
This evening we board our private boats for a cruise down the famous "Grand Canal", past illuminated palazzi and twinkling chandeliers, to the romantic St Mark's Square. We have reservations in a famous cafè where we sit under the stars listening to the orchestra play some of Italy's best loved music (One drink is included). EURO 45

VCE09 - HIDDEN VENICE
An historical walk, with a local guide, through some of the lesser known quarters of Venice. Discover some of the secrets of other quarters of the Venetian labyrinth. Your experience will be enhanced by the use of individual headsets. EURO 26

VCE02 - BURANO EXCURSION & LUNCH
Explore the Venetian lagoon on our cruise around the islands including the colourful island of Burano - a photographer's paradise and famous for its lace. Then enjoy a superb lunch sampling the local specialities. An excursion not to be missed! Lunch may be replaced with a dinner. EURO 65

FLO09 - SAN GIMIGNANO EXCURSION
A delightful excursion to Tuscany's most famous hilltop town. San Gimignano is considered the medieval Manhattan of Italy due to its towers which dominate the skyline. There is time to enjoy the atmosphere of this unchanged ancient jewel which has remained intact since the 14th century, and today is a UNESCO World Heritage town. EURO 31

FLO03A - DINNER IN TUSCANY
A fabulous dinner of Tuscan specialties awaits you. We drive into the hills surrounding Florence for a fabulous meal and Chianti wine! A great evening of food, wine and fun! (On certain occasions a visit to the Monastery will be included before the dinner Euro 62). EURO 57