9 Days Discover Italy

Discover Italy

9 Days / 8 Nights

TOUR INCLUDES:

Travel by bus with English speaking guide, basic travel insurance, hotel and breakfast buffet.
On some tours, according to the number of passengers, the service may be provided in bilingual (usually in English and Spanish).
Includes arrival transfer
City tour in: ROME, FLORENCE, VENICE
Boat: San Giulio Island, Tronchetto and St. Mark´s Square in Venice
Evening transfer: Trastevere in Rome
Transfer: Piazzale Michelangelo in Florence
Ticket admission: Murano Glass Factory in Venice
Train: The Field of Miracles in Pisa, Cinque Terre , Orta
Ferry: Santa Margherita Ligure and Portofino

Discover Italy

9 Days / 8 Nights

ITINERARY:

Day 1 – ROME: We’ll transfer you to the hotel and you’ll have some free time. In the afternoon, you’ll find information about the start of your tour on the boards located at the hotel reception.

Day 2 – ROME: We´ll include a scenic tour of the capital of Italy, one of the oldest and most influential cities in Western civilization. You´ll see the Colosseum, the Roman forums, the central squares and fountains, and experience the vibrant life of the city. We´ll finish at St. Peter´s Basilica in the Vatican, an independent microstate within Rome and the center of the Catholic Church, where you´ll be able to visit the basilica and museums. In the evening, we´ll include a transfer to Trastevere, a lively neighborhood known for its charming traditional restaurants.

Day 3 – ROME: Enjoy a free day to take in the charm of this city, exploring and discovering its memorable places.

Day 4 – ROME – FLORENCE: We´ll journey to Florence, the capital of Tuscany. Upon arrival, we´ll stop at the Michelangelo viewpoint for a photo opportunity, offering one of the most stunning views of the city. Following this, we´ll embark on a sightseeing tour with a local guide of this renowned city, one of Italy´s most visited destinations considered the cradle of the Renaissance and some of the most influential artists and thinkers in history, such as Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Botticelli, and Raphael. Highlights of the tour include the Gothic cathedral Duomo di Firenze, the historic Ponte Vecchio, known for its goldsmith workshops along its paved streets and Piazza della Signoria, the city´s political heart featuring the medieval town hall.

Day 5 – FLORENCE – PISA – CINQUE TERRE – GENOA: Today, we’ll travel to Pisa. A little tourist train will take us to the Piazza dei Miracoli (Square of Miracles), home of the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa. After this, we’ll head to the Ligurian Riviera, renowned for some of the prettiest coastlines in Europe. We’ll visit the Cinque Terre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This area comprises five villages, almost isolated by road, which live on fishing and tourism. We’ll arrive by train, tickets included, to one of its charming towns (normally Vernazza, but on busy tourist dates, it could be Manarola or Corniglia, very similar towns that are somewhat less crowded). We’ll have time for lunch. Afterwards, we’ll travel by train to Levanto, where we’ll take the bus to continue to Genoa. Its center reminds us that it was a thriving republic in the Middle Ages.

Note: The train to Cinque Terre is a regular commuter service, not a tourist train. During peak tourism times, there can be long waits as trains may be full, and seat reservations are not available. In some cases, the journey might be done standing. If this happens, we recommend walking to the monumental site, which is approximately 900 meters away.

Day 6 – GENOA – PORTOFINO – MILAN: We’ll continue our journey to the nearby city of Santa Margherita Ligure, where we’ll embark for Portofino, one of the most exclusive places in Europe. Enjoy a stroll by the sea and time at leisure. After lunch, we’ll continue to Milan, the busy northern city where we recommend a visit to the cathedral.

Note: During winter, weather conditions may prevent the boat to Portofino from operating. In such cases, we’ll spend more time in Santa Margherita. If you wish, you can take an urban minibus to Portofino (service quality may be poor, with long waits).

Day 7 – MILAN – LAKES REGION – VERONA: Today we’ll see one of the most beautiful scenic areas in Europe, the region of the Italian Lakes. First, we’ll travel to Lake Orta in Orta San Giulio, a well-preserved medieval city. We’ll take a train ride to reach the medieval center of the town and then a boat to the Island of San Giulio, a little island on the lake with a monastery. After this, we’ll go on to Lake Maggiore, making a stop in Stresa, where we’ll have the option to visit the Borromean Islands. The highlight is Isola Bella, featuring its gardens and palace (closed in the winter). We´ll have some time for lunch and then we’ll head to Verona.

Note: During the winter months, the Orta train does not operate. If that is the case, you can access the medieval town by walking approximately 800 meters from the bus parking lot.

Day 8 – VERONA – VENICE

We’ll have time to explore Verona, the enchanting city of Romeo and Juliet, before departing for Venice, arriving around 01:00 p.m. A delightful boat trip to St. Mark’s Square is included, followed by a guided walking tour of the City of Canals, including a visit to see Murano glasswork. Afterwards, enjoy some leisure time—perhaps a gondola ride? Accommodation will be in the Mestre district.

Day 9 – VENICE

After breakfast, our journey will come to an end, leaving you with wonderful lasting memories.