Art Cities of Italy STANDARD Independent Rail Tour 2025

Arrival at Rome Fiumicino Airport, transfer to the hotel by private car and check-in to the hotel. The rest of the day is free to explore the Eternal City. Discover the most famous landmarks of Rome, such as Piazza Navona, the Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon, Piazza di Spagna. In case of an early arrival, we recommend a guided tour of the Vatican Museums, to admire Michelangelo's famous Sistine Chapel and other masterpieces of the Italian Renaissance. For gastronomy enthusiasts, enjoy a cooking lesson to learn how to make pizza or pasta and gelato. For dinner we suggest trying a typical Roman restaurant. Overnight stay at the hotel in Rome.

Breakfast at the hotel followed by another day discovering the city. Today join the Imperial Tour of Rome to admire the monuments of the Roman Forum and the Colosseum and hear a guided presentation of the evocative history of ancient Rome and the gladiators' fights that took place there. In the afternoon there is free time to continue exploring the city, enjoy an excursion to visit the Roman Catacombs or if you’re feeling more active, there is the option of an electric bike tour to discover the historic centre as well as the chance to see a unique and different side of Rome. In the evening, we recommend a walk around the Trastevere district, full of typical restaurants. Overnight stay at the hotel in Rome. (B)

After breakfast at the hotel, you will be transferred to Rome Termini station to board the high-speed train to Florence; the journey takes approximately 1 hour 30 minutes. After arriving, check into the hotel and the rest of the day is free to explore the city of Florence known as the “Cradle of the Renaissance”. We suggest taking a guided tour of one of the main museums: the Uffizi Galleries, with the masterpieces of the Italian Renaissance by Leonardo da Vinci, Caravaggio, Raffaello, Tiziano, Botticelli and many others, or the Accademia Gallery, which houses the original of Michelangelo's famous statue of David. Alternatively, take a half day visit outside Florence to Pisa to see its famous Leaning Tower. Overnight stay at the hotel in Florence. (B)

Breakfast at the hotel. Today you will discover two thousand years of Florentine history including the Renaissance period. Through the eyes of an expert local guide, you will be taken on an unforgettable journey to discover the most beautiful piazzas (squares) and monuments of Florence that have made the city one of the most visited destinations in the world. The rest of the day is free for you to explore more of the city or organise an excursion to the surrounding areas. Overnight stay at the hotel in Florence. (B)

After breakfast at the hotel board the high-speed train to Venice Santa Lucia station. The journey takes approximately 2 hours 15 minutes. In the afternoon enjoy a 30-minute gondola ride with commentary available via a mobile phone app. This evening, a must do tradition in Venice is to enjoy an aperitif before dinner accompanied by “cichéti” or small plates of food, in one of the many “bacari” or small bars scattered along the “calli”, the Venetian name for street. Overnight stay at the hotel in Venice. (B)

Breakfast at the hotel, followed by a full day dedicated to discovering the Venetian Lagoon. You can take a guided walking tour through the most famous places in the city including Piazza San Marco with the Basilica and Clock Tower, the Rialto Bridge, Campo Santa Maria Formosa and other less known sites. Alternatively, a skip-the-line guided tour of the Doge's Palace to view the luxurious Doge's apartments and the famous Bridge of Sighs or take a boat trip to the islands of the Venice lagoon: Murano, known all over the world for its famous glass craftmanship; Burano, famous not only for its lace, but also for the picturesque fishermen's houses painted in bright colours; and Torcello, the first settlement in the lagoon. Overnight stay at the hotel in Venice. (B)

Breakfast at the hotel followed by check-out. (B)