ITALIAN WORLD HERITAGE SITES

Day 1

Start of Tour, ROME Arrival in Rome during the morning and transfer to your 4 star Hotel in one of the most beautiful streets of the city centre. During the first afternoon, a welcome cocktail will be offered to you in the hotel. Preliminary meeting of the tour group and presentation of the itinerary. Guided walk in the historical centre, to discover the eternal city. Dinner in a typical restaurant of the Roman dolce vita .

Day 2

The marvels of the eternal city , ROME Guided visit to Ancient Rome: on the trail of the great fire , amid the sites of the fabulous origins of Rome: the Colosseum (Colosseo), the Roman Forum (Foro Romano), the Imperial Forums (Fori Imperiali), with an extraordinary and uncommon itinerary. Break for lunch and visit to one of the masterpieces of Italian art: the Basilica of San Pietro, topped by the dome perceived by Michelangelo, the dome so loved by the Romans . Guided visit inside the Basilica, the Vatican Museums with its 1000s of masterpieces and the marvellous Sistine Chapel. Evening at your leisure in Rome, walking through the streets of the centre or tasting the local specialties in Trastevere. Alternatively, you can relax in your fascinating hotel.

Day 3

The splendour of the Italian Villas, TIVOLI Excursion to the Roman hills, to discover a characteristic aspect of Italian life and its architecture: the marvellous Villas built by the Roman aristocracy. Visit to Villa Adriana (Hadrian s Villa), evidence of an ancient past, the most beautiful and biggest Roman Villa from ancient times and Villa d Este, witness of the renaissance splendour with one of the finest examples of classical Italian gardens. Stop in the picturesque town of Tivoli and lunch in a typical and tranquil local restaurant. In the evening, return to Rome.

Day 4

The pearl of the South: covering 2000 years of history, POMPEII and NAPLES From Rome towards the heart of the south of Italy: the vibrant city of Naples and the incredible archaeological site of Pompeii In the morning you will visit Pompeii, the city buried by the ashes of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD, approximately 2000 years ago, remained untouched ever since: the Piazza del Foro, the Ancient Temples, the Thermal Baths, the Market, the Majestic Theatre and the very beautiful private Roman houses. Accommodation in a hotel with a marvellous view on the Bay and Mount Vesuvius. In the afternoon, guided visit through the most beautiful and characteristic streets of the centre of Naples. In the evening a lesson of real Neapolitan pizza and pizza for dinner.

Day 5

The Italian Versailles: the Royal Palace of Caserta, CASERTA Visit to the Royal Palace of Caserta, which was built in the 1700 s by the order of the King of Naples, to rival the great palaces of his European colleagues : the Royal Palace and its Italian Gardens. Refined lunch, a mixture of creativity and Italian traditional cuisine. After lunch, departure towards the Centre of Italy, Umbria. Accommodation in an elegant ancient mansion in one of the most characteristic Italian towns.

Day 6

Umbria: the land of Saint Francis and gentle hills, ASSISI, DERUTA and MONTEFALCO A day dedicated to the discovery of The Heart of Italy . In Deruta, visit to the most ancient and prestigious ateliers of valuable artistic majolicas and beautiful Umbrian fabrics hand woven on antique looms. In Montefalco, tasting of pecorino cheese, local salami and the famous Sagrantino wine. In the afternoon, guided visit to Assisi, the city of Saint Francis. Walk through its narrow and tidy streets, admiring the transition between churches and cloisters and visit to the amazing Basilica of Saint Francis, with its marvellous frescos by Giotto and Cimabue. Visit to the sites where Saint Francis withdrew to pray: the Hermitage of Carceri and San Damiano.

Day 7

The splendour of the ancient capitals, RAVENNA and VENICE From Umbria to Venice. Stop at Ravenna to experience the magical ambience of its Basilicas and Mausoleums. Visit to the marvellous, perfectly preserved golden paleo-Christian Byzantine mosaics. Lunch in a local restaurant, with typical dishes of the Emilia Romagna region, the region where Tagliatelle and Tortellini were invented. Arrival in Venice, incredible city built in a lagoon on more than a hundred islands. Transfer by boat to the hotel, an ancient palace located in one of the most enchanting areas of the city. Orientation visit to this marvellous city: from San Marco square to the Ponte di Rialto bridge, all the places you can imagine when thinking of Venice!

Day 8

The city on water, VENICE Visit to the hidden Venice : walk through narrow footways along the canals, mostly frequented by the Venetian themselves, from the Market of Rialto to the characteristic neighbourhood of Canaletto, to arrive at the spectacular Church Chiesa dei Frari , in which works by Tiziano and Donatello can be admired. Romantic gondola tour through the channels. It is not possible to visit Venice without going for a Gondola tour! Afternooon at your own leisure to explore this amazing city or the islands of the lagoon (Murano, Burano and Torcello). Dinner in a typical traditional Venetian osteria away from the mass tourism and a baroque music concert to enjoy the evening.

Day 9

The genius of Andrea Palladio and his Villas, VICENZA - ASOLO Excursion from Venice: visit to the beautiful 16th century villas, designed by Palladio, a man of equilibrium and measure, an architect with a extraordinary sense of proportion and spatial relationships: Villa Emo, the purest expression of the Palladian classical style, Villa Foscari-La Malcontenta, the most famous and Villa Barbaro, the most richly decorated with the frescos of Paolo Veronese. The tour of these sites will have an interval to visit the enchanting town of Asolo, also known as the Pearl of Veneto , to have a delicious lunch and taste good wine in a local restaurant. In the evening, return to Venice.

Day 10

The city of Michelangelo, FLORENCE Day completely dedicated to the discovery of one of the cities, where the Italian artistic genius has reached its peak: Florence. In the morning, transfer from Venice to Florence. In the afternoon, from the piazzale Michelangelo, from where you can admire all of Florence, we will wander through the city and visit the main monuments, avoiding the most crowded places and giving priority to the most characteristic places: the Cathedral with its incredible Dome of Brunelleschi, the Baptistery and Giotto s spectacular Bell Tower, the austere Piazza della Repubblica and the elegant Piazza della Signoria, the characteristic Ponte Vecchio. Afterward we ll take you to the Galleria dell Accademia to admire the David, Michelangelo s indisputable masterpiece. A very high quality Italian cuisine dinner, in one of the best gourmet restaurants of Florence.

Day 11

The Masterpieces of the past in the Uffizi and the ones of the present in the workshops of Florentine artisans, FLORENCE A day dedicated to the discovery of the Italian artistic genius, with two exclusive itineraries. In the morning, visit to Oltrarno (literally on the other side of the Arno River), one of the most fascinating and least known neighbourhoods of Florence, place of many of the artisan goldsmiths workshops, Florentine mosaic ateliers, restorers and wood carvers, gilders and engravers. Early in the afternoon, guided visit to one of the most famous museums in the world: the Uffizi Gallery, which displays the works and biggest achievements of the greatest Italian artists: Cimabue, Giotto, Botticelli, Leonardo, Michelangelo, Raffaello, Tiziano and many others. Access to the Vasari Corridor, the most exclusive area of the entire Museum, normally closed to the public. The rest of the afternoon and the evening is free for your own leisure.

Day 12

Tuscan colours and landscapes, SIENA and VAL d ORCIA Full day excursion to Val d Orcia, with its hills covered in vineyards and plantations, its warm colours and the lively piazzas. First stop: Siena, an amazingly beautiful city of medieval origin, characterised by the orange-brown colour of its land and its buildings. Visit to the Cathedral in Piazza del Duomo and a walk to the Piazza del Campo, the heart of the city. For lunch, a delicious light meal in Val d Orcia, including typical products and great wine. In the afternoon visit the medieval town of Montalcino and the renaissance town of Pienza. Return to Florence in the evening.

Day 13

Return to the origins: the Etruscans End of Tour, TARQUINIA and CERVETERI ROME From Florence, return to Rome. Visit to two important archaeological sites with the remains of the mysterious Etruscan civilisation that thrived in central Italy 3000 years ago: the Necropolis of Tarquinia and Cerveteri, rich in evidence of their immense culture and their extraordinary modern civilisation. Afternoon off for your own leisure and last minute shopping in Rome. Evening in a refined restaurant in the centre of Rome for a memorable goodbye dinner.

Day 14

Depart for home.