Renaissance Journey

12 Days /11 Nights
1 night Transatlantic Flight,

2 nights Rome, 2 nights Siena, 2 nights Montecatini,

2 nights Florence, 2 nights Venice

10 Breakfasts, 10 Dinners

Day 1: DEPARTURE CITY - ROME

Overnight flight to Rome.

Day 2: ROME

After your Hotel Transfer and check in, enjoy a walking tour of Rome. See: Piazza Navona, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, Pinzio Hill and the Spanish Steps. Dinner and Overnight at the Hotel.
 

Day 3: ROME

After breakfast we will continue to explore Rome from a Renaissance prospective. We will visit the Vatican Museums and the Vatican Galleries. We will then stop to admire the Sistine Chapel, seat of the Conclave, with the famous frescoes of Michelangelo. We will continue with a visit of the Basilica of Saint Peter, commonly called Saint Peter's Basilica. After some free time we will visit Doria Pamphilj Gallery, with it's collection of great masters including Tintoretto, Caravaggio, Tiziano, Raffaello, Bernini, Brueghel, and Velasquez. Dinner and Overnight at the Hotel.

Day 4: ROME - PIENZA - SIENA

After breakfast we will head towards the Val d’Orcia, renown for it fantastic landscape featuring the unique soft rolling hills typical of Tuscany and home of Pienza, the village which was rebuilt during the 1400's by Pope Pius II, a great humanist and poet, who contracted one of the best Renaissance architects to make his dream come true: building an "Ideal Renaissance City". Enjoy a guided tour of the interiors of the Papal Palace and get exposed to its jewels. We then continue to Siena to check in at the Hotel and a late afternoon free time. Dinner and Overnight at the Hotel.
 

Day 5: SIENA

Breakfast. Today we explore Siena the city that many visitors like even more than Florence, where walking along the XIII century streets and seeing its palaces, churches and squares you will feel the warmth expressed by Siena's old Latin motto "Cor magis tibi Sena pandit" -Siena opens her big heart to you-. During the middle-ages this was one of the most powerful banking city in the world and it was an example of great civilization, it features some of the most important works of art in Italy going back to that period. Dinner and Overnight at the Hotel.
 

Day 6: SIENA - SAN GIMIGNANO - VINCI - MONTECATINI

Day 7: MONTECATINI - PISA - LUCCA - MONTECATINI

Breakfast. A splendid excursion through the fertile and picturesque Tuscan countryside to the historic university city of Pisa. Upon arrival in Pisa, guided walking tour of Piazza dei Miracoli, with the celebrated Leaning Tower, the Baptistery and other important monuments. This is followed by a visit to the interior of the Cathedral, an unrivalled masterpiece of Romanesque art constructed between the 11th and 12th centuries. Free time at your disposal. We then continue to Lucca, Italy's finest mediaeval treasure, the centre is relatively unspoilt and is sprinkled with palazzi, towers and almost countless splendid churches. Late afternoon return to Montecatini Terme. Dinner and Overnight at the Hotel.

Day 8: MONTECATINI - FLORENCE

After breakfast we depart for Florence. Once in Florence we drive along the romantic Viale dei Colli up to Piazzale Michelangelo: a stop to admire the wonderful panorama of the city, one of the most beautiful in the world. The tour will proceed by coach through the old city centre. Then walking guided visit of the outdoor Duomo complex: the Baptistery with its bronze doors including the famous Porta del Paradiso and the visit of the Cathedral with the magnificent Cupola del Brunelleschi and Giotto’s bell tower. A short walk through the historic streets of the heart of Florence brings us to the renowned Galleria dell’Accademia where we can admire the famous David by Michelangelo and other works by the great artist. Later we visit San Lorenzo Market, an amazing street market with all kinds of shops that sell leather goods. Dinner and Overnight at the Hotel.

Day 9: FLORENCE

After breakfast we start the day with a guided tour of the Uffizi Museum, one of the most famous museums of paintings and sculpture in the world. Its collection of Primitive and Renaissance paintings comprises several universally acclaimed masterpieces of all time, including works by Giotto, Simone Martini, Piero della Francesca, Fra Angelico, Filippo Lippi, Botticelli, Mantegna, Correggio, Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Michelangelo and Caravaggio. Afternoon at leisure. Dinner and Overnight at the Hotel.

Day 10: FLORENCE - BOLOGNA - PADUA - VENICE

Breakfast. In the morning departure to Bologna. The cityscape is further enriched by elegant and extensive arcades (or porticos), which the city is famous for. In total, there are about 38 kilometres of arcades in the city historical center for its 40 km of high system of fortifications and defensive towers. From the Via dell’Indipendenza, we will proceed to Piazza del Nettuno and Piazza Maggiore in the heart of the city. The central streets of Bologna today are largely pedestrian zones. Here we’ll be fascinated by the Piazza del Nettuno, King Renzo’s Palace, the Podestà Palace and the Basilica of San Petronio, one of the biggest in the world (during its construction it was intended to be bigger than St. Peter's in Rome. In the afternoon we will continue towards Padova, with its original Sant’ Antonio Basilica. In the evening, arrival in Venice, world-famous for its gondola (classic venetian boat) and for its elegant and refined art. Dinner and Overnight at the Hotel.

DAY 11: VENICE

Breakfast. Transfer by vaporetto to St Mark Square. Visit St. Mark's square, the Basilica and its Byzantine heritage and the Doge's Palace. Then we leave the square and crowds behind to discover the "real Venice ", enter a labyrinth of narrow passageways. Afternoon at leisure. Dinner and Overnight at the Hotel.

Day 12: DEPARTURE

After breakfast we transfer to Rome airport for the return flight.