Eternal cities, Milan & Lake Como

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. We recommend an evening excursion of the city lit up that includes a delicious dinner**. Overnight stay in Florence.

*Upon arrival at Orvieto you'll need to take a funicular to reach the hilltop meeting point as it's not accessible by bus. We advise you to take cash to pay for your ticket upon arrival at the station.

** Optional Illuminated Florence Tour with Dinner excursion: Depart from the hotel and stop at Piazzale Michelangelo where you can admire Florence from the best hill of the city with the most interesting viewpoint, continue to the center from where a night walk will begin to enjoy the illuminated city. The walk will end with a typical Florentine dinner.

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 excursions. Overnight stay in Florence.

* Optional visit 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.

* Please note that this activity can de purchased up to 30 days before departure of your trip.

** Please note that this optional is not available on Mondays.

**  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 and visit the spectacular Pisa Cathedral before spending time at the legendary Leaning Tower of Pisa, learning all about the history of this University city along the way.

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.

Breakfast at the hotel. Enjoy your morning at leisure and take this time to move at your own pace. Alternatively, you can choose to spend your morning taking part in our optional excursion to Murano and Burano islands*.

In the middle of the afternoon, embark on a walking tour of Venice to discover all the beaty 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. We recommend enjoying a quintessentially Venetian gondola ride**. Overnight stay in Venice Mestre.

*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. Enoy the original colorful buildings as you tour this enchanting area.

**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.

Why not upgrade your trip with our Must See's of Italy package of 2 excursions, available in the next step of the booking process!

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

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.

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.