13 Days 12 Nights Essence of Italy Private Tour

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• Day 1 ARRIVE ROME
• On arrival at Rome Airport, your driver will meet you at the arrival hall and drive you to your hotel in Rome, the capital of Italy.
• Day 2 ROME: VATICAN CITY
• Birthplace of the Roman Empire and home to Vatican City, Rome is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Steeped in history with rich offerings of historical monuments, Roman architecture and works of art, Rome also has lots to offer in terms of food and fashion. No visit to Rome would be complete without visiting Vatican City, an independent city-state and HQ of the Roman Catholic Church. Within Vatican City is one of the world’s greatest museum complexes with a huge collection of highly-acclaimed Renaissance art. Not to be missed would be Raphael’s Rooms and the Sistine Chapel – home to Michelangelo’s “The Last Judgement” fresco. Enjoy a guided tour of Vatican City and Sistine Chapel.
• Day 3 ROME: CENTRO STORICO
• Spend your morning on a guided tour of Rome’s “Centro Storico”, its historical centre and an UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visit iconic sites like the Piazza Navona, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, Colosseum and Forum. Spend the rest of the day soaking in the charm and ambience of Rome with its ubiquitous Baroque churches, fountains and palazzos. And, don’t forget to eat a gelato .. or two!
• Day 4 ROME – FLORENCE
• Depart Rome on one of Italy’s high speed trains and head to Florence, the capital city of Tuscany and often regarded as the most beautiful city in Italy. In fact, the beauty of Florence places it among the most beautiful cities in the world. Its rich heritage is attested to by its accreditation as an UNESCO World Heritage Site. One of Florence’s most iconic sights is the Duomo – Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral, a cathedral with a terracotta-tiled dome and a bell tower (“Campanile”) by Giotto. The Galleria dell’Accademia houses Michelangelo’s “David” sculpture. The Uffizi Gallery is one of the world’s top art museums exhibiting art by Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Botticelli and many other celebrated artists.
• Day 5 FLORENCE
• Go on a guided tour of Florence city centre and visit iconic attractions such as Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral, the Baptistery of St John, Giotto’s Campanile, Ponte Vecchio, Piazza Signoria, Uffizi courtyard and the famous statues of the Loggia dei Lanzi, just to name a few. Continue with your exploration of Florence at your own leisure thereafter.
• Day 6 FLORENCE: SAN GIMIGNANO – SIENA – PISA
• Spend the day enjoying Tuscany’s beautiful sights, famous cities, medieval villages, and its wines and local produce as you visit historic San Gimignano and Siena, both of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. San Gimignano and Siena will certainly leave you with lasting memories of Tuscany. Continue on to Pisa, one of the most exciting cities in Tuscany, home to its crowning glory, the Leaning Tower of Pisa. At the beautiful Square of Miracles (Piazza dei Miracoli), be captivated by (1) the magnificent 60m tall Pisa Leaning Tower, (2) the Pisa Cathedral that rests on a white marble pavement and is an impressive example of Romanesque architecture famous for its bell tower, and (3) the Baptistery – Italy’s largest baptistery (54.86m tall and 104m in circumference). A Chianti Hills lunch and wine tasting are included in today’s guided tour.
• Day 7 FLORENCE: CINQUE TERRE
• Cinque Terre (“five lands”) consists of 5 uniquely and ingeniously constructed picturesque fishing villages that line the Italian Riviera. Located at one of the most isolated and ruggedly beautiful stretch of the Italian coastline, it was declared an UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997. The 5 towns from north to south are: Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore. These tiny villages are perched on jagged cliffs with sweeping views of the sparkling blue waters of the Mediterranean Sea, defying not just gravity but time! Visit all 5 villages on a guided tour, including a local lunch meal in Cinque Terre.
• Day 8 FLORENCE-VENICE
• Depart Florence and travel to Venice on one of Italy’s high speed trains. An UNESCO World Heritage Site, Venice is a city unlike any other – it is built on 118 small islands that are separated by canals and linked by bridges. Some of Venice’s top attractions include Grand Canal, St Mark’s Square, Doge’s Palace and Bridge Of Sighs, just to name a few. Join a guided tour to visit Doges Palace and St Mark’s Basilica (with Terrace access).
• Day 9 VENICE: MURANO/ BURANO/ TORCELLO
• Take a guided boat trip to the famous and picturesque islands of Murano, Burano and Torcello renowned for their handicrafts and history. Resembling a mini-Venice, Murano was once a major glass-making centre in Europe and it continues to be popular for its blown glassware. Burano is a very stunning island, thanks to its brightly-coloured houses. Just as Murano is famous for its glass-blowing industry, Burano is famous for its lace-making industry. Torcello is very much about history being the oldest centre of civilization in the Venetian Lagoon and famous for its Byzantine mosaics in the seventh-century Cathedral of Santa Maria Dell’Assunta.
• Day 10 VENICE-MILAN
• Depart Venice and proceed to Milan, the capital of fashion and finance (home to the national stock exchange), and a bustling metropolitan city with a rich history of art and culture. Iconic attractions include: the Gothic Duomo di Milano Cathedral; the Castello Sforzesco (15th century defensive fortress with large courtyards and massive walls); the Santa Maria delle Grazie convent (housing the “The Last Supper” mural by Leonardo da Vinci); the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II (impressive building filled with shops); the Quadrilatero della Moda (Milan’s exclusive shopping district); the Navigli Canals (canal neighbourhood with lots of restaurants and bars); the Teatro alla Scala (opera house); and the beautiful Romanesque Basilica of Sant’Ambrogio.
• Day 11 MILAN
• Go on a discovery tour of the stunning Milan Cathedral – the Duomo of Milan – and its terraces. Standing proud in the main city square, this highly impressive cathedral with 5 naves is in fact the largest Gothic cathedral in the world. The rooftop terraces of the cathedral (included in the tour, with elevator access) offer stunning views of the city. Explore the archaeological area beneath the Duomo where among others the ruins of the 4th century Baptistery of San Giovanni alle Fonti (a baptismal font for full immersion) were found. Thereafter, visit the Duomo Museum and San Gottardo Church in Corte which houses a 14th century fresco by Giotto of the crucifixion.
• Day 12 MILAN
• Continue to explore Milan at your own pace. Shopping aside, check out Milan’s vibrant gastronomic scene. Savour excellent Italian cuisines, gelatos and coffees. It is said that you can never have a bad cup of coffee in Italy as they are always strong, fresh, and tasty. From Michelin-starred restaurants to rustic local trattorias, Milan’s food scene with focus on local produce and regional recipes is among one of the most exciting in Italy.
• Day 13 DEPART MILAN
• Free time until your transfer to Milan Airport for your departure flight.