8 Days - Northern Highlights
GROUP TOUR
Departures 2022: Shoulder Season: Jun 29, Aug 3,5,10,12,17,19,24,26 High Season: Apr 1,8,15,22,29 May 4,6,11,13,18,20,25,27 Jun 1,3,8,10,15,17,22,27,29 Aug 31 Sep 2,7,9,14,16,21,23,28,30 Oct 5,7,12,14,19,21,26,28
Rome – Assisi – Siena – Florence– Bologna – Padova – Venice- Montepulciano - Rome
Prices from $2677pp
Day 1: Rome
Welcome to Rome! After a meet & greet at the airport, you will be transferred to your hotel.
Day 2: Rome – Assisi – Siena – Florence (B/D)
Departing at 7:15 am from the Hotel Massimo D’Azeglio by a deluxe coach, you will arrive in Assisi, ready to explore, at your own leisure, this tiny town surrounded by walls, built in the Middle Ages. Take your time to visit the basilica of St. Francis, where you will the masterpieces of Giotto and Cimabue. After enjoy free time for lunch (not included). Board the bus to reach Siena, a Unesco World Heritage Site, world-known for the Palio, the historical horse race around the shell-shaped town square: Piazza del Campo. Continue on to Florence, where you will check in at your hotel before enjoying dinner.
Day 3: Florence (B/L)
After breakfast, you will spend the day venturing around beautiful Florence, the “Cradle of the Renaissance”, where, with the help of Michelangelo, Italian art reached its pinnacle. Based on etruscan-roman origins, the city flourished in the Middle Ages as a free “Comune” and was further refined during the Renaissance. You will be fascinated by the uncountable monuments, churches and buildings as Santa Maria del Fiore, more commonly referred to as the Duomo. On your visit, you will be amazed by its magnificent dome built by Filippo Brunelleschi. Cross a small piazza to see the “Campanile” tower (partly designed by Giotto)and the Baptistery, with its bronze doors where Michelangelo imagined the “Gates of Paradise.” In the heart of the city, you will see Piazza della Signoria, Palazzo della Signoria (also known as Palazzo Vecchio), and the Basilica of Santa Croce.
Enjoy lunch in a typical Tuscan restaurant in Piazza Santa Croce. Spend the afternoon strolling the cobblestone streets of Florence on your own or take a short trip to Pisa (optional), one of the four main historical Marine Republics of Italy. There, you will tour the Piazza dei Miracoli with the Duomo, Pisa’s symbol “the Leaning Tower” and the Baptistery. Dinner at your own leisure
Day 4: Florence – Bologna – Padova – Venice (B/D)
After breakfast in Florence, depart for Bologna. There you will discover the elegant city centre with its “porticos” and its shopping streets. From Piazza Malpighi you will walk to Piazza del Nettuno and Piazza Maggiore (Neptune square and Major square) in the heart of the city, then King Renzo’s Palace; Palazzo Podestà and the basilica of San Petronio, one of the biggest in the world. Bologna it’s a real gourmet’s heaven…don’t miss a tasty meal at your own leisure! In the afternoon, continue toward Padova, with Sant’Antonio Basilica: one of the most visited churches by pilgrims of the catholic world. Later in the afternoon arrive in Venice: the City of Love, one of the most romantic cities of the whole world and, undoubtedly the most beautiful city built by man. Check in at your hotel for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 5: Venice (B/D)
After breakfast, enjoy your private water-taxi transfer to Piazza San Marco, with “skip the line” tickets to visit the splendid St. Mark’s Basilica and, after this, check out the most iconic places of the “Floating City”: the Palazzo dei Dogi, symbol of Venice’s glorious past, the legendary “Bridge of Sighs”. Spend the afternoon roaming along Venice’s canals at your leisure and then return to the hotel for dinner and overnight.
Day 6: Venice – Montepulciano (Tuscany) – Rome (B)
After breakfast, departure from Piazzale Roma heading to Tuscany, world-known for its landscapes, its churches and castles and its delicious wines. You will proceed to Val di Chiana with a stop in Montepulciano, a medieval town rich in history and art. Known for its “Nobile” wine, on purchase in local wine houses, Montepulciano also hosts an annual jazz and wine festival every July. Spend the afternoon discovering Montepulciano at your own pace, enjoying free wine tastings in many wine shops and free time for shopping. In the evening, you will arrive in Rome to check in into your hotel.
Day 7: Rome
Between 7:45 - 8:00 am, after breakfast, departure from the hotel for the included tour of the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and St. Peters Basilica with our exclusive “Skip the Line” access! No stress to reach the area: upon arrival, your guide will lead you into the museums where you’ll visit one of the most important art collections of the world. Walk along the beautiful Galleries of Tapestries and Geographical Maps before admiring Raphael’s Rooms and, then, the amazing Sistine Chapel. After this incredible masterpiece, you will be taken by a privileged door to St. Peters Basilica: the biggest church in the world! The tour ends on St. Peter’s Square: enjoy the rest of the day to explore the city at your own leisure or get any one of our selected tours for the afternoon or at night.
Day 8: Rome (B)
After breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport.
Included: Airport transfers, Transportation by deluxe motorcoach, Monolingual tour-escort in English, Accommodation, Meals as per itinerary, Entrance fees, Local guides as per itinerary
Excluded: Porterage service, Drinks, Entrance fees to monuments or museums when not mentioned, City tax for overnight stays (according to each city council rules)
Prices depend on date of departure. Please contact us for more information.
Cost above is indicative, based on Low Season in NZ Dollars and subject to change due to fluctuation in exchange rates. Please read T&C before booking Call 09 410 5060 or 0508 EXOTIC (0508 396 842) or email info@exoticholidays.co.nz for more information.