Italy's Art Capitals: 8-days in Rome, Florence & Venice

SEMI-PRIVATE VENICE

Italy's Art Capitals: 8-days in Rome, Florence & Venice

Tour Code TUR-01520

Duration 8 days

Group Type Semi-Private

Departs From Venice

Meeting Point Venice Marco Polo Airport

Customize This Journey View Full Itinerary

Overview

During your time traveling with us, you can decide whether you want an intensive program of tours and activities, or more free time to explore on your own. In each city, we offer a wide range of private and small group tours, food and wine tastings, cooking classes and other typical local experiences. Just ask us to find out more about what is on offer in each city. All our itineraries are flexible, so if you want to add some more days, or change the route, we will be only too happy to meet your requests.

This tour starts with your arrival in Venice, where our representative will be waiting to transfer you to your city center hotel, where you will stay for the next two nights. Venice has so much to offer, from romantic gondola rides, to island tours, nature visits, wine tastings, and so much more, which will allow you to experience this incredible water city.

From Venice, you will take the high speed train to the beautiful city of Florence. Immerse yourselves in the elegance of the Renaissance, whether you decide to stay in the city and trace the footsteps of the powerful Medici Family, or head out into the Tuscan countryside to the wine-producing areas of Chianti or Val d'Orcia.

Rome will take you further back in time to the world of Ancient Rome and the power of the papacy. In the heart of the Roman Empire, visit the glorious Colosseum and walk the ancient streets of the Forum. Across the river, the imposing Basilica of St. Peter's welcomes visitors to the center of the Catholic faith. Between the two wonderful monuments and squares like the Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, the Pantheon, Piazza Navona, Campo dè Fiori and endless churches filled with works by the likes of Bernini, Michelangelo, Borromini and Rafael...

Prices start from €2700 per person, depending on hotel and tour options, speak to one of our travel consultants for further details.

Itinerary

Where We Visit: Venice | Meeting Location: Venice Marco Polo Airport

When you arrive at Venice Marco Polo Airport, one of our team will be waiting to meet you and accompany you to your hotel by private boat.

Take it easy today - wandering the streets and canals to discover where each bridge leads you, is one of our favorite ways to get to know Venice and the perfect way to spend your first afternoon in the world's most romantic city.

In the evening, a local guide will meet you at your hotel for an evening boat tour, which will take you through the Grand Canal, and other smaller canals, in the peace of the evening. Along the way, your guide will talk to you about the magnificent buildings you pass, the families that once lived there and how they tie into the wonderful, rich history of La Serenissima.

The tour can end back at your hotel, or at a local trattoria, where, after a dinner of local specialties, you can enjoy this magical, peaceful time of day as you walk back to your hotel.

Overnight in Venice.

Where We Visit: Venice

This morning a guide will meet you at your hotel and accompany you to St. Mark's Square to begin your tour. The square, famous in itself, is home to two of the city's most iconic buildings: St. Mark's Basilica and the Doge's Palace.

You may find yourselves overwhelmed as you step into the glittering Byzantine basilica, richly decorated in gold, a symbol to the world of Venice's wealth and power. Despite its splendor, for centuries the church was the private chapel of the Doge, who lived in the palace next door, not open to the public. The palace, like the basilica, is an example of the Venetian Gothic style of architecture and from here, the Republic of Venice was run. Visit the Doge's apartment and the Council chambers, decorated by some of the city's finest artists, including: Gentile da Fabriano, Pisanello, Giovanni Bellini, Pordenone and Titan.

After the tour, you'll have some free time for lunch before heading out into the lagoon for a group tour of the Venetian Islands. You'll visit the islands of Murano, famed for its beautiful, colored glass (the tour will include a glass blowing demonstration), Burano, known for its lace and brightly-painted houses and Torcello, home to the city's first cathedral and oldest mosaics. The tour is available both in the morning and afternoon and departs from close to St. Mark's Square.

Evening at leisure.

Overnight in Venice.

Where We Visit: Vatican City

Your driver will meet you at your hotel after breakfast and take you to meet your guide at the walls of Vatican City, where you will have priority entrance into the Museums.

The Museums house an incredible collection of art which began with the private collection of Pope Julius II in the 16th century, when he purchased the recently discovered Laocoön. Today you will see some of the greatest examples of Roman sculpture, including the Laocoönâ€‹, Belvedere Apollo, Sleeping Ariadne and the Belvedere Torso, which so inspired Michelangelo and his contemporaries. The tour will take you through the Gallery of the Maps, Gallery of the Tapestries and the personal apartments of Julius II, beautifully decorated by Raphael and including his masterpiece 'The School at Athens' which sees other Renaissance masters depicted as Greek philosophers.

The visit to the museums ends at the magnificent Sistine Chapel. You will learn about how the chapel was originally decorated and the frescoes depicting the lives of Moses and Christ on the side walls, which pre-date Michelangelo's arrival in Rome. Your guide will talk you through the Old Testament stories that grace the ceiling, the frescoes that Michelangelo had never wanted to paint and The Last Judgment on the altar wall, which was commissioned almost 30 years later when the artist was in his late 60s.

Exiting the chapel, you will come into St. Peter's Basilica. Worked on by the greatest artists of the Renaissance and Baroque eras, the church today owes much of its appearance to the Roman artist, Bernini. Discover all that he created here, including the baldachin above the papal altar, the statues of the Holy Relics and the tomb of Alexander VII, as well as the monumental square outside. Learn the building's fascinating history, from the death of St. Peter, to the basilica of Constantine that was destroyed to make way for the world's largest church, one that would take 120 years to reach completion. Throughout the building you'll see the hand of the men who worked to make it the jewel of Renaissance architecture, including the stunning Pietà, sculpted by the 22-year-old Michelangelo.

Following the tour, you will have the rest of the day at leisure.

Overnight in Rome.

Where We Visit: Rome

Your driver will meet you at the hotel and bring you to meet your guide in Piazza Venezia. The tour will begin outside in the 16^th century square, designed by Michelangelo to impress the Holy Roman Emperor, Charles V. At the heart of the square stood the monumental equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius (the original is inside the museum), which was relocated from San Giovanni where it had long been identified as Constantine.

The world’s first public museum was started here in 1471, when Pope Sixtus IV, donated a collection of ancient bronze statues to the city of Rome, including the Capitoline Wolf and the lovely Spinario (boy with a thorn in his foot) which you will see today. Far more extensive is the collection of ancient marble sculptures, which were discovered during excavations throughout the city. Your guide will take you to see the finest examples of this ancient art which fill the beautifully frescoed apartments, including Cupid and Psyche, the Capitoline Venus, the Dying Gaul and the busts of the Roman emperors and important members of the imperial families.

Following the tour, the rest of the day will be yours to enjoy the city at your leisure.

Overnight in Rome.

Inclusions & Exclusions

What's Included

4-star hotel accommodation
High-speed train tickets
Gondola Ride
Venetian Island Tour
Walking Tour of Florence
VIP Colosseum entrance with guide
VIP Vatican Museums entrance with guide
Night Tour of Rome
Airport Transfers

What's Not Included

Everything not clearly specified under â€œrates includeâ€.
Food and beverages not mentioned in the program
Gratuities of any type
International fights
Local City Hotel Tax Paid Directly to Hotel
Travel Insurance

Pricing & Availability

Please contact us today by either phone or email for assistance with this booking.

Email: team@italyvacationspecialists.com
Toll Free: 1-866-779-2565

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