Eternal cities, Milan & Lake Como

Begin your Italian adventure in Rome and admire one of the most romantic cities in the world with cultural delights, such as the Colosseum. Head to Florence to discover its hidden treasures and Renaissance heritage. Next, explore Venice, known for its waterways and canals, and finally discover design hub Milan and Lake Como, with its dramatic scenery set against the foothills of the Alps.

Itinerary

1st Day: Canada - Night on board

Pack your bags and head to your departure airport, ready for a flight to the eternal city of Rome.* Night on board.

2nd Day: Rome

Land in Rome, the Italian capital known as the Eternal City. Transfer to your hotel. Depending on your arrival time, the remainder of the day is free to begin exploring this romantic, historic city. The evening is the most magical time of day in Rome when the streets take on an even more charming character, wander around the quaint streets and charming piazzas while you indulge in their world-famous gastronomy. Overnight stay in Rome.

3rd Day: Rome

Breakfast at the hotel. Your guide will greet you at the hotel in the morning. Today, enjoy a panoramic view on the bus and discover the eternal city. Learn about the history of this empire, from its birth to the gladiatorial fights in the Colosseum with a guided tour, and appreciate the preserved corners of ancient Rome in the Forum and the Palatine Hill. We recommend the optional dinner at an authentic Italian restaurant.* Overnight stay in Rome.

*Optional Authentic Roman Dining Experience: Savor an evening of authentic Italian cuisine in the heart of historic Rome. Let the charm of the city envelop you as you enjoy traditional Italian dishes at a local restaurant, fully immersed in the rich flavors and vibrant atmosphere of Roman culture.

Included Activity

• Guided walking Tour of the Colosseum, Roman Forum & Palatine Hill
  You will be required to walk short distances and climb some steps. Time will be spent both standing and sitting down. Take a guided walking tour of three of the main archaeological sites in Rome. Learn about the history of this empire, from its birth to the gladiator fights of the Colosseum and appreciate the relics of ancient Rome at the Forum and Palatine Hill.

4th Day: Rome

Breakfast at the hotel, today enjoy a day at your leisure in Rome. Perhaps visit the Vatican, trace the footsteps of the greats in the ancient streets of the old city or simply indulge in some delicious Italian ice cream. However you choose to spend your day, Rome is sure to delight you with its old-world charm and unbeatable sights. We suggest taking the optional Guided tour of Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel* or a nocturnal view of Rome with our Rome by Night - Baroque Rome, with Dinner excursion.** Overnight stay in Rome.

*Optional Skip-the-line Guided Tour of Vatican Museums, St. Peter's Basilica and Sistine Chapel: Explore the priceless treasures held within the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel! Visit the Pio Clementino Hall, Laocoon and Apollo Belvedere, Maps Gallery, Candelabra Gallery, Tapestries Gallery and the incredible Sistine Chapel. Afterwards, discover the incredible St. Peter’s Basilica and the atmospheric St. Peter’s Square, dominated by Michelangelo’s imposing Cupola!

**Optional Rome by Night - Baroque Rome, with Dinner excursion: A nocturnal view of Rome, with the splendid squares illuminated and away from the daytime bustle. The charming Plaza de España with its spectacular staircase, the fairytale frame of the Trevi Fountain, the majesty of the Pantheon and the baroque Piazza Navona, a route structured to go back in time and evoke the times of the "Dolce Vita" fellini. The tour will end with a typical Roman dinner.

***Optional Baroque Rome by Night & Dinner: A night tour of Rome, with the splendid illuminated squares and away from the bustle of the day. The tour will end with a typical Roman dinner.

5th Day: Rome - Orvieto - Assisi - Florence

Breakfast at the hotel. Leave Rome early this morning to transfer to the beautiful city of Florence. To break up this journey, stop in Orvieto*, a quaint town especially known for its renowned Duomo, European Gothic architecture and the San Patrizio Well, a masterpiece of hydraulic engineering in which you can immerse yourself, descending into the bowels of the earth. Next, take a break in Assisi, a majestic hilltop town known for its medieval architecture and the Basilica of St. Francis, a huge 2-level church. In the early evening, arrive in Florence, the heart of the Italian Renaissance, and enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure exploring the city and the Italian cuisine in this gourmet paradise. Overnight stay in Florence.

Included Activity

• Short Stop in Orvieto
  You will be required to walk for a few hours on comfortable terrain. En route to Florence, make a brief stop to Orvieto to get to know this charming town.

• Short Stop in Assisi
  You will be required to walk for a few hours on comfortable terrain.nBriefly explore this quaint town in the region of Umbria, known as the birthplace of St. Francis and St. Clare, considered an important Christian pilgrimage site surrounded by incredible landscape, green fields and olive groves.

6th Day: Florence

Breakfast at the hotel. Today head to the Historic Centre for a guided walking tour of Florence and discover the hidden secrets of the Tuscan capital. Start discovering the up-market Piazza Repubblica, before heading to Loggia del Mercato Nuovo, a building within which a local market takes place.

Keep exploring the streets of Florence before arriving at the beautiful and well-known Ponte Vecchio, the most iconic bridge in the city and one of its main symbols. You will then walk through the Piazza della Signoria, the heart of Medieval Florence with the imposing Palazzo Vecchio. End the tour admiring Piazza San Giovanni, home to the impressive Florence Cathedral, with its iconic Brunelleschi cupola and the famous Giotto Belltower.

Enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure to continue exploring the captivating sights of Florence. Why not explore the city in more depth with one of our optional excursion to either the Uffizi* or the Leaning Tower**? Overnight stay in Florence.

*Optional excursion to The Uffizi: The Uffizi Gallery, designed in the mid-sixteenth century by Giorgio Vasari, consists of 90 museum rooms that host the most important and famous paintings in the history of art: works by Giotto, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Botticelli, in addition to numerous paintings by Flemish and Dutch painters exhibited in chronological order. A visit to this museum is a real journey through time by means of art.

**Optional Half-Day Tour to Pisa & The Leaning Tower: No trip to Italy is complete without a photo at the iconic leaning tower, so don't miss your chance to take a day trip to Pisa! Enjoy a guided walking tour of Piazza dei Miracoli and its monuments before spending time at the legendary Leaning Tower of Pisa, learning all about the history of this University city along the way.

Included Activity

• Guided Walking Tour of Florence
  You will be required to walk short distances and climb some steps. Time will be spent both standing and sitting down. Discover the highlights of Florence, the birthplace of the Renaissance, on a guided walking tour. Highlights include the historic Ponte Vecchio bridge, Piazza della Signoria, Piazza San Giovanni, the iconic Florence Cathedral and the Giotto Belltower.

7th Day: Florence - Bologna - Padova - Venice Mestre

Breakfast at the hotel. Today leave Florence early this morning to transfer you head to the city of Venice. During the journey, stop in Bologna and discover this lively, historic capital of the Emilia-Romagna region, free time before continuing with your journey. Make another stop in Padova, a city rich in beauty, which retains traces of its glorious past, and one of the most important cultural capitals during the fourteenth century.

Finish the day in the historic and enchanting Venice Mestre, the mainland town connected to Venice by rail and road bridges over the lagoon. Spend the night at your leisure and embrace the convenience of numerous transportation options, such as the frequent trains/buses to Venice center. The train station/bus stop is at walking distance from your hotel and it will take you to the iconic Venice center.

Venice built across more than 100 small islands, Venice is a pleasure to explore on foot as you get lost in the labyrinthine streets, stumbling across hidden cafes and cultural gems along the way. Get out and discover the plentiful delights of this eternal city, such as the immense Piazza San Marco. Overnight stay in Venice Mestre.

Included Activity

• Short Stop in Bologna
  You will be required to walk for a few hours on comfortable terrain. Get to know the city of Bologna in this quick stop where you will familiarize yourself with the city’s rich culinary, cultural, historical and artistic heritage.

• Short Stop in Padova
  You will be required to walk short distances and climb some steps. Time will be spent both standing and sitting down. Acquaint yourself with charming Padua in this quick stop of the city known for being an artistic hub of Italy, one of its most popular tourist destinations and bearing important religious significance.

8th Day: Venice

Breakfast at the hotel. Today, embark on a walking tour of Venice to discover all the beauty this city has to offer. Enjoy a guided walking tour through the City of Canals to learn about the history, culture and artistic heritage. Stroll through the most emblematic neighborhoods, see Venice's famous markets and pay a visit to the iconic Rialto Bridge.

The rest of the day is at your disposal to continue discovering this unique city at your own pace. Alternatively, we recommend taking part in one or both of the following optional activities: first, you can enjoy a quintessentially Venetian gondola ride* and then you can take part in an excursion to Murano and Burano islands.** Overnight stay in Venice Mestre.

*Optional Gondola Ride Experience excursion: One of the most well-known characteristics of Venice are its historic gondolas. You can be a part of this legacy! Experience an unforgettable gondola ride through the charming waterways of Venice including the iconic Grand Canal. The quintessential Venetian experience! Note: Please note that it is a shared gondola (up to five people for each one) so you might have to share it with other people.

**Optional Half-Day Murano and Burano excursion: Discover the most beautiful islands in Venice, enjoying the enchanting scenery of the Venetian lagoon. The tour includes two stops to visit Murano and Burano and discover their typical artisan products: the centuries-old glass processing in Murano, the fine lace in Burano. Enjoy the original colorful buildings as you tour this enchanting area.

Included Activity

• Guided Walking Tour of Venice
  Take a guided walking tour through Venice to learn about the culture and artistic heritage of the city. Stroll through the city, visit the iconic Rialto Bridge and cruise on the Giudecca Canal!

9th Day: Venice - Milan

Breakfast at the hotel. Begin the independent part of the tour, so its time to say goodbye to your group. At the indicated time, transfer to the Venice Mestre train station to catch the Frecciarossa high-speed train to Milan (Milano Centrale).

Transfer to the hotel and, once settled, make your way to the meeting place for your Evening Tour of Milan to discover the history and culture of this Gothic city as the sun gets ready to set. Stop at Parco Sempione and Castello Sforzesco, a medieval fortress rebuilt and embellished by the Sforza family in 1450. Walk through the surrounding gardens and admire the castle from the outside. Continue to the Teatro alla Scala, the Milanese Salone and the Tempio dell'Opera.

See the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, an opulent shopping arcade, famous for its vaulted glass and iron arches, before admiring the incredible Duomo Cathedral from the outside, a true architectural marvel and the fifth largest cathedral in Europe! The remainder of the day is free to enjoy Milan at your leisure. Why not go out for a few scoops of gelato this evening or pay a visit to the fabulous Vittorio Emanuele II shopping arcade, one of the most famous sights in Milan. Overnight stay in Milan.

Included Activity

• Milan City Tour
  Even though you will be seated most of the time, you may be required to walk short distances or climb some steps. Discover Milan, from the medieval Castello Sforzesco to the Teatro alla Scala, the iconic Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II and the famous Duomo Cathedral as you explore the most emblematic sights in this Gothic city.

10th Day: Milan - Lake Como - Milan

Breakfast at the hotel. Continue the independent part of this tour and leave the hustle and bustle behind as you set off on a full-day excursion to Lake Como and Bellagio.* Head to the meeting point and depart northwards to the Italian Alps, home to the stunning shores of Lake Como, one of the most sought-after destinations in the country. Known for its tranquil waters and glamorous resorts, explore the natural beauty of the surroundings and enjoy some free time for shopping or lunch.

Afterwards, embark on a 2-hour cruise across Lake Como to take in the Alpine views and cool, clear air. Disembark at the upmarket town of Belaggio and spend some time at your leisure to get to know its charming streets and cosmopolitan cafes before returning to Milan. Overnight stay in Milan.

Included Activity

• Full-Day Excursion to Lake Como & Bellagio
  You will be required to walk short distances and climb some steps. Time will be spent both standing and sitting down. Head to the Italian Alps, home to the stunning shores of Lake Como, once of the most sought-after destinations in the country. Embark on a 2-hour cruise across Lake Como to take in the Alpine views and cool, clear air and explore upmarket Bellagio.

11th Day: Milan - Canada

Breakfast at the hotel. At the indicated time, transfer to the airport for your return flight.

Don't miss out on this unforgettable adventure—call us now to secure your spot on this incredible tour!