TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS: Arrival. Transfer to the hotel.

Reception. Transfer to hotel and free time. You will receive information about the start of the circuit during the afternoon, or you can check the informative panels in the hotel reception area.


IMPORTANT - IF YOU REQUESTED ADDITIONAL NIGHTS on arrival at the hotel you will have your booking made but the guide of your trip will normally not arrive until the start of the included activities. YOUR TIME BEFORE THIS MOMENT IS THEREFORE FREE. At your hotel they can help you with all the information you need.


NB: The schedules you will find in this itinerary are approximate. The guide, depending on the situation and in order to improve the development of the circuit, may adjust the schedules.

Rome.-

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS: City tour of Rome and Vatican City. Transfer to Trastevere neigborhood.

In the morning, we have a 2 hrs scenic tour of the city, which will be a great introduction to “The Eternal city”. In the panoramic you will know the ancient Rome called Imperial Rome: Colosseum, Arch of Constantine, Piazza di Venezia with its monument to Italian unification, Quirinal Hill with the Palace of the President of the Republic, Marcelo Theater, Capitol Hill, Roman Forums , Circus Maximus, Church of Santa Maria in Cosmedin with the mouth of truth, Republican Temple, Termas de Caracalla, Aureliana Wall, Basilica di Santa María Maggiore and Archbasilica of St. Johm Lateran, Church of Santa María in Dominica (Navicella), Cestia Pyramid , San Paolo Gate, Lungo Tevere avenue with the Jewish synagogue of Babylonian style, Tiberina Island in front of the Castel St. Angelo. This tour ends at St. Peter´s Square in the Vatican. The Vatican Museums are closed on Sundays, so, if you are interested, we recommend you to do it at this time. Free afternoon.


18.30 hrs.- In the evening we provide transport to the Trastevere area, where you will find restaurants serving Italian, Indian, Chinese and interna­tional food. Return to hotel.

 

Free day. You can enjoy the charm of this city. Free time to explore and discover memorable places.

Rome- Florence

Total distance: 310km

Scenery: Apennine Mountains and Tuscan vineyards.
Note: We recommend you wear comfortable shoes as the tour of Florence involves walking.


08:00h Rome – Departure, passing through the Tiber Valley.
12:30h Florence – Our first contact with the Renaissance city is Piazzale Michelangelo, a viewpoint with marvellous views of the city. Don’t forget to take your camera! Walking tour with local guide, lasting two and a half hours. We visit the Duomo, Piazza della Signoria, Ponte Vechio, Straw Market, Piazza Republica, Palacio Vecchio. Free afternoon to explore and visit the city’s historical markets and museums. The city has many restaurants that offer a wide variety of local and international food, where you can dine.

Florence- Pisa- Cinque Terre- Genoa.-

Total distance covered by road: 317 km.

Countryside: Today is a day by the sea. The Ligurian coastline presents one of the prettiest sceneries and maritime corners of Europe.


07:30 hrs - Florence -departure.
09:15 hrs - Pisa –Arrival-. We are obliged to leave you in the car park for tourist coaches. From here, we include the tourist train to take you to the monumental complex. Time to visit the impressive monumental complex of Pisa with its leaning tower, Baptistery and Cathedral.


11.00 hrs - Pisa –Departure-. We continue travelling along the Mediterranean coast. The mountains where Carrara marble is produced look snow-covered.
12:45 hrs- Levanto –Arrival-. In this town we take a train (expected to leave at 1:05 PM, possible changes) which through long tunnels by the sea takes us into the region of Cinqueterre, which cannot be reached by coaches due to its difficult geography of mountains that fall directly into the sea. The area has remained isolated and has preserved its traditions, and is now a UNESCO World Heritage site. In just 10 minutes on the train, we reach Vernazza.


13:30 hrs - Vernazza- Arrival by train. Arrival in one of the 5 villages of the Cinqueterre region, which maintains its maritime appearance. Its church of St Mary stands out, built in 1318 on the seashore. Time for lunch.
15:44 hrs Vernazza -Approximate departure of our train from Vernazza (timetables may change). We continue by train to Levanto, where our coach awaits us to continue on our way along the coast towards Genoa.


NB: The train to Cinqueterre is a regular local railway service and not a tourist service. Places cannot be booked and sometimes the trains are full and passengers have to travel standing.
(The councils of Cinqueterre have announced that they will establish measures to limit the maximum number of tourists arriving each day; to date there have been no limitations on our groups but given this new measure, we might be affected at the peak of tourist times. If this should happen, an alternative visit will be offered).


17:45 hrs -Genoa –Arrival-. The city where Christopher Columbus was born, time to see its monumental centre.

Genoa- Santa Margarita- Portofino- Milan.-

Total distance covered: 170 km.

NB: By boat, we reach the enclave of Portofino. It is recommendable to have some warm clothes to hand to be able to enjoy the trip on deck.


08:30 hrs - Genoa –Departure-. We travel along the Italian Riviera.
09.00 hrs - Sta Margarita de Ligure –Arrival-..


10:15 hrs - We board a ship for a 20-minute crossing to PORTOFINO, one of the most exclusive places in Europe. Time in Portofino, a beautiful town.


12.00 hrs -After this, we return to Santa Margarita, a very pleasant coastal town. Time to have a stroll and for lunch.
NB: Sometimes the boat to Portofino is not running due to the weather. In these cases urban micro-buses will be used to get to the town (poor quality service, sometimes lengthy waits).


14.00hrs - Santa Margarita –Departure-.
16:30 hrs - Milan -Arrival. - Free time until 19:30 hrs. We recommend a stroll around its historic centre full of commercial life, and where its Gothic cathedral is not to be missed.

Milan- Lakes Region- Verona.-

Total distance covered: 360 km.

Countryside: We will see the beautiful region of the Italian lakes; the mountain scenery with snow peaked summits and large Alpine lakes surrounded by beautiful villages are unforgettable.
NB: Have some warm clothes to hand, you may need them to enjoy the boat trips included.
NB: On days of bad weather, the stop in Stressa may be shorter.


07:30 hrs - Milan -departure. We take the motorway to the great lakes. We first of all travel to Lake Orta; its rather more isolated position and its smaller size give it a special charm.
09.00 hrs - Orta de San Giulio -Arrival. A beautiful intact mediaeval town by the lake. In the centre of the lake, we will immediately see the Island of San Giulio with its monastery. On a small tourist train we reach the town where we have hired launches to sail across the lake to the island. Time to see the town and its island.


11.00 hrs - Orta de San Giulio -departure. We travel to Lago Maggiore.
11:45 hrs - Stressa. - Arrival in this tourist town by Lake Maggiore. Time to have a stroll and for lunch. If you want, there is time to take a boat trip to the Borronean Islands which face the town.




15:45 hrs . Stressa –Departure-. We will leave the mountains and travel through the industrious areas of the Poo Valley.
19:30 hrs - Verona –Arrival-

Verona- Venice.-

Distance covered: 130 km. Countryside: A pretty entrance to Verona over its large bridge.


Verona - Time to stroll in the city of Romeo and Juliet.
11:30 hrs - Verona –Departure-.
NB: depending on the time of year, the sunlight and the traffic on the way, sometimes we will see Verona on arrival from the lakes. In these cases, there will be an earlier start for Venice.


13.00 hrs - Venice –Arrival-. We include a boat transfer to Saint Mark’s Square, the place where, after time for lunch, a local guide will take us around Saint Mark’s Square, the Basilica, the Campanile, etc.; we will also see a popular Murano glass factory, where we can admire the technique of working with glass. Free time. Do you fancy a ride on a gondola? Transfer to the hotel at the end of the afternoon (normally in the area of Mestre / well connected to the historic centre by public transport).

Venice- Padua- San Marino- Gubbio- Perugia.-

Total distance covered: 475 km.

Countryside: The arrival in San Marino stands out, with its fortress on top of the mountain. Pretty scenery crossing the Apennines.


07:30 hrs - Venice -departure.
08:15 hrs - Padua –Arrival- We are in the city of San Antonio, a beautiful mediaeval basilica which receives pilgrims, bustling streets in the centre. Time to visit the basilica.


09:30 hrs - Padua –Departure-. -We travel to the Adriatic coast and to San Marino, a tiny independent country surrounded by Italy.
13:30 hrs - San Marino -Arrival. Free time at the top of the heavily fortified mountain. Time to stroll, have lunch and do some shopping.


16.00 hrs - San Marino –Departure-. Beautiful countryside crossing the Pennines.
18:15 hrs - Gubbio. -Arrival- A small, marvellously preserved city, where the Palace of Consuls and the twelfth-century cathedral stand out. Time to stroll.


19:30 hrs - Gubbio –Departure-.
20:30 hrs - Perugia –Arrival and accommodation-.

Perugia- Assisi- Rome.-

Total distance covered: 215 km.

Countryside: Pleasant scenery of Umbria.
NB: In the basilica of St Francis of Assisi, discreet dress is required; make sure you remember this for this stage.


In the Umbría region, Perugia is a surprising mediaeval historic city. With a local guide, we include a tour of the city (normally leaving the hotel at 08.00hrs), and on escalators we cross the rocky outcrop and see the surprising historic centre of the city of chocolate!


10:15 hrs - Perugia –Departure-.
11.00 hrs - Assisi -Arrival. Time for lunch and to see this artistic jewel of Umbría. Free time to see the basilicas.


13:30 hrs - Assisi - Departure.
16:30 hrs - Rome -Arrival.

 

End of our services. Please, check the time of your flight in case you might need an additional night.

Important note: In case you have to book an external service (plane/train...) on the day of the end of
your tour with activities included, please remember that the schedules of the detailed itineraries are the "planned" ones but may be affected by different circumstances (traffic density, customer delays, breakdowns...). Do not book a flight/train with a tight schedule without taking this into account.
Always leave a margin in the schedule for unforeseen events.