**The Basic and Full Land package prices will fluctuate with the exchange rate, currently pegged at $1.47 = 1 Euro. Also, prices shown here do not include airline tickets, which vary by season and by your domestic airport.

***Add $30 for Venice arrivals on Wednesday or Saturday and $60 for Venice arrivals on Thursday or Friday.

****If you are in Florence during a fair, your price may be increased by the amount shown in the "Fairs" column above.

• Meet, greet at Venice airport, shared water taxi transfer to hotel
• Private sedan transfers between train stations and hotels (in Florence and Rome) and to airport in Rome. Category 5: water taxi transfer to Venice train station.
• Rooms for 8 nights in first class, superior or deluxe hotels or villas
• Daily breakfast (continental or buffet depending upon hotel)
• Cooking class with dinner ,wine
• A 2-hour walking guided group tour: Venice Highlights (in English) or guided tour of Venice palaces. Gondola serenade add $60.
• First class high speed train : Venice to Florence and Florence to Rome
• 4-hour private sedan with driver to Chianti (all of your drivers and guides speak Italian and English)
• A 2-hour walking group tour of the medieval center of Florence
• Reserved admission to Uffizi and Accademia museums in Florence
• 3 hour guided walking tour of Vatican City (admission fees due at museums in Florence and Rome)
• 2-3 hour walking group tour of Ancient Rome
• 4-hour private sedan tour of "other" Rome (Appian Way, etc.)
• Trip pack with detailed itinerary, maps, guidebook, vouchers
• Trip coordinators in U.S. and Italy

• Additional full day or half-day guided tours of Venice, Florence, Rome are available.
• Private sedan with English speaking driver instead of train tickets or for excursions to other parts of Italy
• Tickets for Scavi tours of Vatican excavations: 6 months in advance. Most weeks: Papal Blessing or Papal audience
• Gondola ride (with serenade if you wish) in Venice
• Tickets for symphony, opera, or other events
• Festivals: Carnavale in Venice, harvest in Chianti and Palio in Siena are the most popular
• Wine tasting excursions in Tuscany/Chianti or Veneto
• Excursions to islands around Venice, Pompeii, Amalfi Coast, Capri , Cinque Terra, Riviera, Alps, Lake District, Verona, Vicenza, Padua, Pisa, Tuscany, Umbria, Lazio, Veneto
• Fly fishing, water sports, golf, tennis, horseback rides, biking, hiking or aerial pursuits including hot air balloon rides
• Dinner reservations at fabulous Italian restaurants
• Comprehensive insurance coverage for trip cancellation or interruption, baggage, illness and accident at special groups rates

U.S.A. - Venice
Day 1
Depart U.S.A. for Italy. Meals Aloft

Venice
Day 2
Arrive today in Venice , which we believe is the most uniquely beautiful city on earth.

Meet our rep when you emerge from baggage claim and we will transfer you by shared luxury water taxi to the dock closest to your hotel (most of our featured hotels have their own docks). If the captain can take the Grand Canal , have your camera ready for great scenery. Note the vaporetti (water bus) stations on the Grand Canal, because you can use the vaporetti system as your principle means of transportation and the views of Venice from the vaporetti are also magnificent.

If at all possible, stay active until mid-evening today so that your body can adjust to the Italy time zone. Ask the hotel for directions back to the water bus station and take the water bus to San Marco.

The cathedral (Basilica di San Marco) and the Doge’s Palace (Palazzo Ducale) both close at 5 P.M., so plan your afternoon accordingly. After five, it is a very short walk from San Marco to the Bridge of Sighs. Go to the Grand Canal side of Palazzo Ducale. Walking away from Piazza San Marco (Doge’s Palace is on your left), you will walk up onto a bridge and the Bridge of Sighs is on your left. Walk a couple of blocks further and the Hotel Daniele is on your left. Go inside and see the lobby and common areas, which are magnificent.

Piazza San Marco is perhaps the most famous square in Europe and, when the open-air orchestras begin playing early this evening, you should have coffee or wine at either Florian’s or Quadri and observe the vibrant Venice scene. Meals Aloft

Venice
Day 3

You will take a guided 2 hour walking tour of Venice this morning and you will get magnificent pictures and views that are missed by most tourists. For the balance of this day, you are faced with a seemingly endless selection of historic palazzi, churches, museums, architecture, and open markets. Select your favorites from the Eyewitness Travel Guide that we provide, and this will help you to better tailor your schedule.

Or, you may wish to explore on your own, as suggested below:

If you want to take a gondola ride, perhaps with a singing gondolier or accordianist (extra cost): go to Piazza San Marco, exit past the shops on the opposite side of the square from the cathedral (put the front door of the cathedral at your back, walk entirely across the piazza and exit Piazza San Marco, bearing left). Keep bearing left and shortly you will arrive at a side canal with a gathering of gondolas. Do not cross the Grand Canal to hire a gondola because those gondoliers will take you on the side canals winding through the wrong side of the Grand Canal. Hire your gondola near San Marco and tell the gondolier that you want to pass under the Bridge of Sighs.

If not, we suggest that you walk or take the water bus to Accademia Bridge and visit the Accademia, with a fabulous collection of Venetian paintings spanning 500 years. In that same area, the Peggy Guggenheim Museum features modern art and Basilica Santa Maria della Salute is one of the most imposing architectural features of Venice.

Cross the Accademia Bridge and walk straight ahead to Campo St. Stefano. This is a small square, with interesting shops and ristorantes. There is an Internet café on this square if you want to check e-mail, etc. The church Santo Stefano (right side of the square if the bridge is at your back) has a beautiful and unique interior. Leaving Campo S. Stefano (opposite direction from Accademia Bridge), continue straight and follow Calle dei Fratti to Campo S. Angelo for more shops, ristorantes and more Venetian architecture. From Campo S. Angelo it is ten minute walk to the Rialto Bridge or you can return to the Accademia Bridge and take the water bus to Rialto.

If you walk to Rialto Bridge, there are many turns because the streets are often blocked by buildings and canals. Keep in mind that many of the corner buildings have signs (about two feet above your head) directing you toward Rialto. You will pass near Corte Teatro, the location of La Fenice, the world famous Venetian Opera House. If you are not attending a performance of the symphony or opera, you may want to take a quick tour of the facility, which is magnificent.

When you reach Rialto, take pictures from the bridge and then explore the shops on the side of the bridge from whence you came. Campo San Bartolomio is a couple of blocks east of Realto Bridge and you will want to explore the maze of narrow streets, shops and canals in that area. A short walk northeast of Rilato will take you to Santa Maria dei Miracoli, an exquisite church built during the Renaissance and an extremely popular spot for Venetian weddings. Retrace your steps to Rialto to catch the water bus. B

Venice - Florence
Day 4

Check out of the hotel this morning. If you have used our suggested Category 3 or 4 hotel, the hotel is a very short walk to the train station and we can arrange for your luggage to be taken to the station via gondola (Category 4 only and you pay 10 Euros per bag). If you stayed at our suggested Category 5 star hotel, or if you made a special request, our water taxi will take you and your luggage to the train station. You have first class tickets for the high speed train to Florence that departs Venice mid-morning and arrives Florence early this afternoon. Your are met at the train by our driver, who provides private transfer to the hotel.

This afternoon, you take a 2 hour walking guided tour of the center of Florence. In addition to a general orientation to Florence, you will see: the Duomo (Santa Maria dei Fiori Cathedral), home to one of the largest Renaissance paintings – The Last Judgement by Vasari and Zucari – and distinguished by Brunelleschi’s unmistakable Dome (the model for all subsequent Renaissance domes); Baptistry Square, where you will be spoilt for significant details to view, from Ghiberti’s bronze doors, described by Michelangelo as “fit to be the gates of paradise”; Giotto’s bell tower; Piazza della Signori; Ponte Vecchio; Palzzo Vecchio and other Renaissance palaces; and Vassari's Corridor.

Early this evening you will attend a cooking school and then consume the product of your labor. B/D

Florence
Day 5
After breakfast, you have reservations to visit the Galleria degli Uffizi, world famous for its unparalleled collection of Renaissance art and hosting masterpieces by Michelangelo da Vinci, Botticelli, Uccello, Giotto, Raphael, Titian, Caravaggio and others.

This afternoon, you have reservations at the Accademia (Academy of Fine Arts) to see Michelangelo’s David, followed by a visit to the Gallery of Modern Art. Then, on to Santa Croce, a 14th Century Franciscan church decorated with numerous precious works of art (not least of which are the famous frescoes by Giotto and his school) and containing the tombs of great Florentines, including Michelangelo, Galileo, Machiavelli and Rossini. Other options this afternoon include the famous Leather School and Casa Buonarroti, Michelangelo’s house, which contains some of his early, less monumental statues and sketches.

In the early evening, have Espresso at an outdoor café in Piazza della Signoria and observe the local scene.

Florence (with optional excursion to Chianti or Pisa)
Day 6

This morning, a driver with private sedan will escort you to the sites of Castello and Petraia and then on to the Certosa del Galluzzo, situated on the summit of a hill overlooking the city. It was once one of the most powerful monasteries in Europe, with a collection of over 500 important works of art, before the arrival of Napoleon Bonaparte and his army, who unceremoniously looted the Certosa. Today the monastery presents many significant sites, not least of which is the church of San Lorenzo, with its Mannerist architecture, wonderful frescoes, paintings and 16th Century marble altar. Depending on the pace of your morning, you may also have time for Fiesole with its gardens, villas, monastery and magnificent views of Florence.

Alternatively, the driver will take you to Pisa (to see the Leaning Tower) or to the hills, vineyards, and wine villages of Chianti. As you return to Florence, you may want to visit the Romanesque church of San Miniato, once a Mithras temple before being Christianised in the 6th century, to discover the mosaics and frescoes. Descend to the 19th century Piazzale Michelangelo, with its copy of David, where you can take magnificent pictures of the skyline of Florence. If you choose to exceed 4 hours, or excessive mileage, there is an extra charge.

The remainder of the afternoon is free to relax, shop, or explore more of the Old City. B

Florence - Rome
Day 7

You are transferred by private sedan this morning to the train station in Florence (or, for a reduction in price, walk if your hotel is near the station) and take the high speed train through the enchanting Tuscany and Umbria countryside. You are met at the station by our driver who will provide private sedan transfer to your hotel in the heart of Rome.

After lunch, you begin a 2 - 3 hour guided walking tour of Ancient Rome. Your English speaking guide will regale you with history, facts, legends, and myths as you visit the following world famous sites:

• The Colosseum - the symbol of Rome’s eternity and the location at which Gladiators did battle and where Christians were eaten by lions.
• Roman Forum - popularly referred to as the “ruins”, but the stones still give testimony to the roots of Western Civilization
• Capitoline Hill - the spiritual center of ancient Rome and today the seat of Rome’s civil government. But it is the mind of Michelangelo that continues to dominate the experience of this space.
• Trevi Fountain – with water flowing since 19 B.C. and immortalized in literature, film, and song.
• Pantheon - a temple built in 27 A.D., the best preserved of the ancient buildings and the one which speaks most clearly of the Roman spirit.
• Piazza Navona – built above the stadium that hosted chariot races and the home to modern day cafes that are the social heart of Rome.

This evening, you can return to any or all of these attractions, take a leisurely stroll through the fashionable shopping district, explore Rome on your own, or simply relax. If you visit the Ancient City at night, you will be struck by the magnificent effect of the lights. B

Rome
Day 8

This morning, you take a "half-day" (2-3 hour) tour of the Vatican City, visiting the following:

St. Peter’s Square and Basilica - Here the work of Bramante, Michelangelo, and Bernini continues to shape the experience of this majestic space. From the welcoming arms of Bernini’s colonnade, to the hush imposed by Bramante’s towering piers over the main altar, finishing with the awe inspired by Michelangelo’s dome, the walk through the square and the basilica is one of the most dramatic journeys in Rome. You should be aware that on most Wednesdays there is a papal audience in an auditorium that adjoins St. Peter’s. If you are interested in attending, we will rearrange your schedule and arrange tickets for you to attend the audience.

This afternoon, assuming that you have selected a hotel near Via Veneto (made famous by Fellini’s movie, La Dolce Vita), walk past the American Embassy and the intriguing “church of the bones” to the Piazza Barberini, the location of two fountains by the baroque master, Gian Lorenzo Bernini. From here an easy stroll brings you to the top of the Spanish Steps for a panoramic view of the city. At the base of the steps is Rome’s most fashionable shopping district. If you are staying near the Spanish Steps, simply reverse the walk.

Transfer by taxi early this evening to Rome’s medieval Jewish ghetto section. Dating back to the second century BC, its narrow streets are now filled with trendy shops and restaurants and some fine historic buildings, including the Palace of Pope Pius XVI. Return to your hotel in Rome this evening. B

Rome
Day 9

A driver with private car will collect you at the hotel this morning and will take you for a 4 hour tour of the Appian Way (Via Appia Antica), the catacombs, and the acqueduct. Or you can choose to use your 4 hours to see attractions that may be of more interest to you, such as: Villa Giulia, the country home of Pope Julius III, which now houses a remarkable Etruscan Museum displaying the well-known Married Couples sarcophagus from Cerveteri, spectacular jewelry, and a fine 5th-century terra cotta statue; the expressive fifth-century mosaics on the triumphal arch of the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore; Bernini’s Cornaro Chapel; Borromini’s Church of San Carlo; Baroque Sant’Andrea al Quirinale, one of Bernini’s finest architectural marvels; the Ara Pacis, commemorating Emperor Augustus’ military victories; the marble-girded Augustum; the fifteenth-century Church of Sant’Agostino, housing Sansovino’s “Madonna”, Caravaggio’s altarpiece “Madonna of Loreto”, and Raphael’s “Isiah”; Church of San Liugi dei Francesi, displaying the magnificent Caravaggios; Borromini’s masterpiece Sant’Ivo alla Sapienza Church; or others that you may select from your guidebook. If your selections involve excessive mileage or time, there will be an extra charge.

This evening at your hotel in Rome is the last night of your Italy vacation and we will be pleased to make arrangments for dinner, shows, or other events. B

Rome - U.S.A.
Day 10
Departure from Rome FCO for home. B/Meals aloft