Italian Lakes, Venice, Florence and Rome

From Michelangelo’s statue of David to the echoes of gladiators at Rome’s Colosseum, the art and drama of the ages inspire this journey. View the original works of the masters at the Uffizi Gallery, Vatican Museums, and Venice’s Accademia. See Doges’ Palace and St. Mark’s Square in Venice, the Roman Forum and the Vatican in Rome; and the medieval town of Siena in the Tuscan countryside. Enjoy a ferry ride across Lake Como at the foot of the Alps, and a train ride to Florence. Pursue your own interests with free time in Venice, Florence, and Rome when you travel Italy with Tauck.
 

Day-by-Day Itinerary

Day 1: Lake Lugano
Tour begins at Milan Malpensa Airport one hour after the arrival of Tauck-selected flights. Travel through northern Italy to Lugano, Switzerland, set on the edge of a lovely lake. Enjoy free time to explore the waterfront promenade, then join the welcome reception and dinner.
Meals: Lunch, dinner
Lodging: Grand Hotel Eden, Lugano, Switzerland

Day 2: Cruise Lake Como
Admire the dramatic views of the Alps reflecting in Lake Como as you ride a ferry to the picturesque town of Bellagio. Enjoy free time to explore the town, which has attracted artists and writers for centuries. Travel to Tremezzo to visit Villa Carlotta, built in the 18th century, and noted for garden landscaping and sculpture.
Meals: Breakfast
Lodging: Grand Hotel Eden, Lugano, Switzerland

Day 3: St. Mark’s Square
Journey to Venice, built in a lagoon and laced with canals. Head to St. Mark’s Square, the heart of Venice, with a local guide. Visit St. Mark’s Basilica, one of the greatest buildings in Europe, featuring exquisite mosaics and detailed carvings. See Doges’ Palace, a pink marble Gothic masterpiece containing a precious art collection.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Hotel Danieli Venezia, Venice, Italy

Day 4: Explore Venice
Spend the day exploring the museums and sites that interest you most in Venice, a highlight as you travel Italy as an “insider.” Perhaps tour the Accademia featuring Venetian art, take a classic gondola ride on the canals, or a boat ride to islands in the lagoon.
Meals: Breakfast
Lodging: Lodging: Hotel Danieli Venezia, Venice, Italy

Day 5: Statue of David in Florence
Travel by rail to Florence, the birthplace of the Renaissance. Get an introduction to the city’s architectural landmarks and art masters from a local art historian. At the Galleria dell’Accademia, marvel at Michelangelo’s marble statue of David standing nearly 17 feet tall. View Lorenzo Ghiberti’s bronze doors with detailed panels at the Baptistry, part of the Duomo of Santa Maria del Fiori complex.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: The Westin Excelsior, Florence, Italy

Day 6: Masterpieces of the Uffizi
Gaze at some of the world’s greatest art masterpieces at the extraordinary Uffizi Gallery, Italy’s largest art museum. Admire works by Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Michelangelo, Sandro Botticelli, and more. You have a gallery reservation, but can spend as much time as you like looking at the art. During your free afternoon, perhaps visit the Ponte Vecchio, the 14th-century bridge.
Meals: Breakfast
Lodging: The Westin Excelsior, Florence, Italy

Day 7: Sights of Siena
Travel Italy landscapes featuring olive groves, cypress trees, and vineyards, including the region that produces Chianti wine. Stop in the medieval hill town of Siena, and wander through the narrow streets. See the Piazza del Campo where the Palio bareback horse race is held. Visit the Duomo, one of Italy’s great cathedrals, with scenes inlaid in the marble floors and sculpture by Michelangelo. Continue through scenic Tuscany to Rome, center of the powerful Roman Empire 2,000 years ago.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Lodging: St. Regis Grand, Rome, Italy

Day 8: A day in Rome
Get an insider’s view of Rome from a local guide. A tour highlight is the Colosseum, opened in AD 80 for gladiator battles. Explore the Roman Forum with temples, monuments, and the Senate House. Choose among many historic sights and museums for your free afternoon.
Meals: Breakfast
Lodging: St. Regis Grand, Rome, Italy

Day 9: Visit the Vatican
 

Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Lodging: St. Regis Grand, Rome, Italy

Day 10: Arrivederci Rome
Tour ends at Rome Leonardo da Vinci Airport in Fiumicino 2 1/2 hours prior to the departure of Tauck-selected flights. If you are departing at other times, you must secure your own transportation to the airport.
Meals: Breakfast

 

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Prices
10 Days from $4,990 plus airfare

 

Double	Single	Triple
$4990	$6520	$4522

17 meals included.

International Air is Additional – Tauck can book your international air, for travel originating in the United States, subject to availability; ask upon booking for special airfares that may be available.

Please ask at time of booking about additional hotel nights before your tour begins and about our comprehensive Guest Protection Plan.