Signature Italy

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Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive Rome, Italy

Arrive in Rome, where you are met and transferred to your hotel in the city center. Famous throughout history as a center of prestige, power and intrigue, Rome was built on seven hills. The city has forever altered the Western world’s standards of beauty and excellence in such fields as art, religion and government. It boasts a greater number of historic buildings, monuments and ruins than any other city in the world.

The St. Regis Rome (Gold) or Rose Garden Palace (Silver)

Day 2: Rome and Vatican City

Your local guide joins you in a discovery of the evocative remains of the Imperial City, starting with the Palatine Hill. Continue to the imposing Arch of Constantine; then visit the mighty Colosseum, constructed in AD 80 to seat 50,000 spectators who reveled in gladiatorial contests. Enjoy lunch at leisure before visiting Vatican City. Admire the stunning collection of antiquities, objets d’art in the vast museum; then gaze at Michelangelo’s famous painted ceiling in the Sistine Chapel and wander through St. Peter’s Basilica, housing Michelangelo’s Pietà and Bernini’s exuberant baldachin.

The St. Regis Rome (Gold) or Rose Garden Palace (Silver)   |   Meals: B

Day 3: Rome

Glimpse the local character of Rome with a walking tour that begins in the pretty Campo de Fiori, whose local food market delights the senses. Continue through a labyrinth of small lanes to the Piazza Navona, dominated by the remarkable Baroque Fountain of the Four Rivers. Visit the Pantheon, built in the first century AD as a temple. Later, stop at the iconic Trevi Fountain. Legend says that if you throw a coin over your left shoulder into the fountain, you will return to Rome one day. Conclude your tour at the famous Spanish Steps on the Piazza di Spagna. Enjoy a leisurely afternoon to explore independently.

The St. Regis Rome (Gold) or Rose Garden Palace (Silver)   |   Meals: B

Day 4: Rome/Orvieto/Florence

Depart for a scenic drive to Florence, stopping in the Umbrian town of Orvieto for lunch. Enjoy a guided walking tour of this ancient city perched atop of a rock. In the magnificent Piazza del Duomo stands the cathedral housing Luca Signorelli’s masterpiece fresco Cycle of the Apocalypse. Continue through the breathtaking Tuscan countryside, renowned for its art, history and evocative landscapes. Among the vineyards and olive groves, see hamlets and farmhouses. Afterward, visit a local wine producer and enjoy a wine tasting before continuing to Florence, the birthplace of the Renaissance.

Westin Excelsior, Florence (Gold) or Hotel Santa Maria Novella (Silver)   |   Meals: B

Day 5: Florence

Embark on a walking tour of this glorious city. Cross the Arno at the shop-lined Ponte Vecchio, the only bridge not bombed into oblivion during World War II, and visit the graceful red Duomo, designed by Brunelleschi for the cathedral. Continue to the Uffizi Gallery, housing such striking works as Carravagio’s Medusa, Botticelli’s Birth of Venus, da Vinci’s Annunciation and Raphael’s Madonna of the Goldfinch. The balance of the day is at leisure.

See the monument restoration project supported by A&K Philanthropy.

Westin Excelsior, Florence (Gold) or Hotel Santa Maria Novella (Silver)   |   Meals: B

Day 6: Florence/Venice

From Piazzale Michelangelo you have a panoramic view across the city. Visit the Galleria dell’Accademia to see Michelangelo’s David. After lunch, A&K’s Concierge Rail Service offers assistance at the station when you travel to Venice by train. On arrival, cruise along the Grand Canal to your hotel.

Luna Hotel Baglioni (Gold) or Londra Palace (Silver)   |   Meals: B

Day 7: Venice

Spend the morning wandering the market district around the Rialto Bridge. Since the 11th century, Venetians and foreign merchants have traded exotic imported goods from here. At a bacari, a small wine bar, try un’ ombra (small glass of wine) with traditional Venetian snacks. Admire the lyrically beautiful Madonna and Child by Giovanni Bellini and Assumption of the Virgin by Titian at the nearby Frari church. This afternoon, stroll through vibrant St. Mark’s Square and visit St. Mark’s Basilica, one of the finest examples of Byzantine architecture in Venice. Continue to the Doge’s Palace, the seat of the main government departments and the residence of the Doge who ruled the Venetian Republic.

Luna Hotel Baglioni (Gold) or Londra Palace (Silver)   |   Meals: B

Day 8: Venice /Murano/Venice

Travel by private launch to the lagoon island of Murano, where for centuries the famous Murano glass has been manufactured. Enjoy a visit to one of the most exclusive glass factories with the chance to browse their excellent selection of glassware, vases and chandeliers. Return to Venice for an afternoon at leisure. This evening, enjoy a gondola ride through the canals.

Luna Hotel Baglioni (Gold) or Londra Palace (Silver)   |   Meals: B

Day 9: Depart Venice

This morning, transfer to the airport for your flight home.

Meals: B