Rome and Tuscany

Day 1/ March 07/ Tuesday – Departure
Depart Toronto to Rome.

Day 2/ March 08/ Wednesday – Rome
Arrive in Rome in the afternoon and transfer (airport transfer can be arranged depending on your flight) to STARHOTELS MICHELANGELO 4* near the Vatican and St. Peter’s Basilica https://www.starhotels.com/en/our-hotels/michelangelo-rome The rest of the day is at leisure. Enjoy a stroll in the city or a dinner at a local restaurant.

Day 3/ March 09/ Thursday – Rome [B,L] After breakfast, meet your local guide in the hotel lobby for a private tour of Rome. Visit the Colosseum, the biggest amphitheater ever built in the antiquity. Outside the Colosseum you will see the Arch of Constantine, built in 315 AD to celebrate the victory of Constantine over Maxentius, three years before. Walk through the Forum, the central square of Ancient Rome. You will stop by the Arch of Titus, the House of the Vestal Virgins, the Temple of Saturn, the Senate House, the Arch of Septimius Severus, and following the Sacred Way you will reach Capitol Hill. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant (included). Only few narrow streets away and we will arrive at the Trevi fountain, the most beautiful fountain in Rome created by Niccolò Salvi in 1735. Continue to Pantheon, the best preserved temple of Ancient Rome. The building houses the Tomb of the painter Raphael. Return to your hotel for an overnight.

Day 4/ March 10/ Friday – Vatican [B]
After breakfast, meet your local guide in the hotel lobby for a private tour of Vatican, also called the Center of the Catholic World. Enjoy the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, St. Peter’s Basilica and Michelangelo‘s famous Sistine Chapel frescoes, without wasting time waiting in line. Discover the oldest section of the Museums where you will visit the collection of Classical Roman and Greek Art. In the Belvedere Courtyard you will see the beautiful statues of Apollo, Laocoon and the Apoxiomenos by Lysippus. Continues to the Room of the Animals, the Hall of Muses with its famous Torso, the Greek Cross Room, the Gallery of Candelabra, the Gallery of Tapistries and through the Hall of Geographic Maps you will reach the Raphael’s Rooms. Your will stop longer here to enjoy the view of the Parnassus, the School of Athens and other masterpieces of the greatest painter of the Renaissance. A narrow passageway will bring you to the Borgia Apartments and the breathtaking Sistine Chapel with its magnificent fresco by Michelangelo, Botticelli and Ghirlandaio. Continue to the Basilica of St. Peter, with the famous statue of the Pietà and the Holy Grottoes, where the Popes are buried. The visit ends in St. Peter’s Square, the impressive work by Gianlorenzo Bernini where you will be able to see the Popes Residence and the chimney where the smoke comes out when the Popes are elected. The rest of the day is at leisure.

Day 5/ March 11/ Saturday – Rome [B]
After breakfast, enjoy your free day at Rome. You can take a ride on the hop on hop off bus, do a gastronomic tour of Rome or simply stroll the streets of this ancient city. If you feel like you’ve seen enough of Rome, you can do a day tour to Pompeii, Amalfi Coast and Positano. Overnight in Rome.

Day 6/ March 12/ Sunday – Siena – San Giminiano – Florence [B,L]
After breakfast, transfer to Siena by private bus (around 2:45 hrs). Enjoy a private city tour of Siena with your local tour guide. Walk through the medieval city streets starting from the Basilica of San Domenico, pass through Piazza del Campo and see the Palazzo Pubblico (Town Hall). Then, head to the Cathedral to to marvel at works by Donatello and Bernini. Lunch at a local restaurant (included). Transfer to San Giminiano. Explore the medieval hill town of San Gimignano on a private tour of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre with a local guide. Follow a centuries-old pilgrim road to a series of historic landmarks, get views of the Tuscan countryside, and learn about the fascinating history of the region. Transfer to Florence for a check in and overnight at the Kraft Hotel https://www.krafthotel.it.

Day 7/ March 13/ Monday – Florence – Pisa [B,L]
After breakfast, transfer to Diacceroni farmhouse located on the hills of the Pisa area for a private cooking lesson: we will have a choice to make pasta or pizza. Enjoy lunch with self-made dishes (included). https://www.diacceroni.com/en/portfolio-item/tuscan-cooking-courses/
After lunch, continue to Pisa for a private city tour. Pisa is known for its famous leaning Tower but the city has a rich artistic and historical heritage. Discover Piazza del Duomo – better known as Miracles Square – the religious soul of Pisa where the famous leaning Tower, Cathedral, Baptistery and monumental Cemetery are located. All together they show Pisa’s power during the Middle Ages. Walking through Saint Mary street, full of touristic shops and restaurants, arrive to Piazza dei Cavalieri, the former political and administrative heart of the city. Admire the Church of Cavalieri built using the prestigious Carrara marble, the Palazzo della Carovana that nowadays hosts the Scuola Normale Superiore – the eight university in the entire world – and its library too. Return to Florence for an overnight.

Day 8/ March 14/ Tuesday – Florence [B,D]
After breakfast, enjoy a private half day city tour of Florence, a city for all the senses. As the birthplace of the Renaissance, the very air of the city is laden with art, sculpture, and culture. As you wander through Florence’s streets and piazzas, you’ll discover masterpieces can be found on every corner. It’s here that you’ll discover Michelangelo’s David or the Uffizi Gallery and be as awestruck as the many visitors before you. You can stroll the city streets for some shopping or famous food and drink spots. The rest of the afternoon is at leisure. Enjoy a farewell dinner at one of the local restaurants (included). Overnight in Florence.

Day 9/ March 15/ Wednesday – Departure [B]
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your international flight back home (airport transfer can be arranged depending on your flight).