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Taste of Italy
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DAY 1: Rome
Welcome to Rome, and one of our most popular Italy tours! The first day of the tour is an arrivals day: meet up with your tour guide at our accommodation in the afternoon and prepare for the tour of a lifetime! If you arrive early, head into the city and see some of the sites that make Rome famous the world over. An ancient city that has seen the rise and fall of entire empires, there is no shortage of historical real estate to feast your eyes on. Not to mention designer shopping and brilliant food. Tonight, you’ll meet the rest of the tour group at our included welcome dinner.
Experiences
Your tour begins! Tonight you will enjoy a welcome dinner where you can get to know your tour leader and the rest of your group.
Accommodation
Hotel Cristoforo Colombo
Other Foods to try
After joining the tour, you will enjoy a dinner in the evening – the perfect opportunity to get to know your fellow travellers! Typical dishes include penne carbonara, spaghetti with garlic and olive oil, as well as a range of meat dishes, including roasted chicken and beef.
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DAY 2: Rome
Today we’ll take a guided walking tour of the city, stopping off at the landmarks that have made Rome a perennial favourite with travellers all over the world. See ancient Roman architecture, medieval buildings, Renaissance artworks and more remnants of Rome’s illustrious past as capital of this incredible country – and of the Roman Empire at large. Be sure to see sightseeing highlights like the Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, the Roman Forum, the Pantheon and the countless other attractions that make Rome famous the world over. Later, you’ll have the option of taking a guided walking tour of the Vatican City. Marvel at glittering artworks, vast marble halls and opulent architecture – all part and parcel of the Vatican’s status as the seat of papal power. Eating and drinking well is also an important part of Roman life, and as they say, ‘When in Rome, do as the Romans do.’ Try excellent Italian cuisine, and be sure to grab a famous Roman gelato while you’re sight-seeing!
Experiences
Included in our tour, we take a locally-guided walking tour of the city, stopping off at some of the sightseeing highlights that make Rome famous. Highlights include the Pantheon, the Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, the Spanish Steps, Piazza del Popolo, the Roman Forum and much more.
| Vatican City guided Tour | €45 |
| * Stated prices and availability are subject to change. | |
Accommodation
Hotel Cristoforo Colombo
Other Foods to try
Seek out a pizzeria and grab a slice of pizza! True to Roman tradition, you won’t get many toppings, but the pizza is cooked in wood fired ovens to thin, fresh and chewy perfection. Bellissimo!
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DAY 3: Rome – Orvieto – Venice
Leaving the capital behind, we’ll drive through the region of Umbria. Known as the ‘fruit bowl of Italy’, it is famous for its produce, food and beautiful mountainous landscapes. Prepare for one of the most spectacular sights in Europe as we approach Orvieto, a city perched dramatically atop sheer vertical volcanic rock. We’ll take the funicular up to the historic centre, where you’ll have some free time to explore and see the sights, including the exquisite facade of the Cathedral of Orvieto, the papal residence and the Albornoz fortress, before we travel on to Venice. We’ll get a classic Venetian view from the famous Rialto Bridge on our orientation walking tour. While in Venice you also have the opportunity to board a gondola and see Venice the traditional way, try classic Venetian cuisine, visit the famous museums and art galleries and simply get the full Venetian experience!
Experiences
Comfort stop in Orvieto, where you will have free time to explore and see the main sights in this incredible city perched upon a volcanic hill.
In Venice, your tour leader will take you on an orientation tour of Venice, where you see the highlights, including the Rialto bridge, St Mark’s Square and views of Doge’s Palace.
Accommodation
Elite Residence Hotel
NH Laguna Palace
Hotel Complex Ambasciatori & Delfino
Hotel Venezia
Other Foods to try
You are free to indulge in the local cuisine. Venice is of course located on a lagoon, and is therefore heavily influenced by seafood, including cuttlefish and sardines. Be sure to ask your tour leader for their recommended restaurants, and don’t miss out on trying tiramisu – translating as “pick me up” it is a delicious combination of coffee liqueur soaked-sponge with mascarpone cheese.
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DAY 4: Venice – Free day
Take the time to explore today on your free day in Venice. Marvel at this incredible city, which features more artistic masterpieces per square kilometre than any other place on earth! Speak with your Expat Explore tour leader for suggestions for your free day in Venice. You also have the option of joining our evening excursion to Verona, where you can see Juliet’s balcony – where Juliet is said to have been wooed by Romeo in Shakespeare’s most famous play – and see the ancient amphitheatre built by the Romans.
| Gondola Ride | €20 |
| Verona Evening Excursion | €45 |
| * Stated prices and availability are subject to change. | |
DAY 5: Lake Garda – Florence – Tuscany
Today, we make our way to the beautiful city of Florence, stopping along the way in Lake Garda for a photo opportunity. Then, we make our way to Florence for a guided walking tour. Learn more about the heritage of this city, which stretches back through the ages to encompass Renaissance artworks and Roman ruins. Sights to see in Florence include Ponte Vecchio, Palazzo Vecchio, Florence Cathedral, the Basilica of Santa Croce and of course Michelangelo’s David. A cultural and political focal point during the Renaissance, Florence is endowed with a huge variety of important buildings and famous artworks. We’ll then make our way to our accommodation in Tuscany.
Experiences
Lake Garda photo stop.
In Florence, enjoy a locally-guided walking tour taking in some of the city’s most famous attractions.
Accommodation
Hotel Massimo d’Azeglio
Hotel Meridiana Florence
Other Foods to try
Lampredotto is a Florence street food, consisting of the fourth stomach of the cow cooked in a broth and then served with salsa verde or/and spicy sauce. Be sure to try this interesting delicacy while you are in Florence!
| Extra Information | |
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DAY 6: Tuscany – Free day
Enjoy the option of a free day today in beautiful Tuscany, where options include further time in the city of Florence or exploring the spa town of Montecatini. You also have the option of joining an optional excursion to Pisa and Cinque Terre! A highlight of any tour to Italy, you’ll be able to snap photos of the legendary Leaning Tower of Pisa and explore the grounds. We will then continue on to the stunning coastal town of La Spezia, the gateway to the Cinque Terre. Cinque Terre literally means ‘Five Lands’ and consists of five coastal cliff-side towns linked by rail and by footpaths. On this excursion return transport via Pisa is included in your tour package, and you have the option of purchasing a pass to enter Cinque Terre.
| Tuscan Dinner | €22 |
| Free Cinque Terre & Pisa day-trip | €0.00 |
| * Stated prices and availability are subject to change. | |
DAY 7: San Gimignano – Siena – Rome
This morning we make our way through one of the world’s most picturesque countryside landscapes, admiring Tuscan farmhouses, vineyards and olive groves as we drive by. Our first stop of the day will be in San Gimignano, a small walled hill town. Known as the ‘Town of Fine Towers’, it offers beautiful Romanesque and Gothic architecture and 12 well-preserved tower houses. We’ll then make the short drive to Siena, a UNESCO World Heritage Site famous for the ‘Palio’ horse race held twice a year in the main piazza, or public square. We’ll enjoy a wine tasting accompanied with antipasto, before we head back to Rome and round the off the day with a farewell dinner together on our last night of the tour.
Experiences
Comfort stop at the town of San Gimignano. Famous for its medieval towers, it is a real gem of the region. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, 13 of the original 70 towers remain, providing an iconic and unforgettable skyline that sets it apart from the many other hill towns in Tuscany.
Visit the UNESCO World Heritage town of Siena, famous for the Palio horse race, held each year on 2nd July and 16th August. This bareback horse race has taken place since the 14th Century in the main town square of Siena, and the 17 participants represent local families, or contrade.
Enjoy a wine tasting accompanied by antipasto.
Accommodation
Hotel Cristoforo Colombo
Other Foods to try
Enjoy a wine tasting with antipasto. Antipasto means “before the meal” and is the traditional first course of a formal Italian meal. Typical antipasto includes cold cured meats, olives, anchovies, artichoke hearts, cheeses and peperoncino.
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DAY 8: End of tour
After breakfast, your 8 day Italian tour concludes. It is time to say your goodbyes to your fellow travellers, and of course, the incredible land of Italy. Arrivederci, Italia!
Experiences
If you would like to extend your stay in Rome after the tour, please contact us to confirm the hotel. By this point you will have enjoyed 8 incredible days exploring the very best of Italy. A true delight!
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