ITALY: THE FIRST TIME


Never been to Italy? Looking for an unforgettable journey through the peninsula …this is the ideal journey for you! Venice, Florence and Rome, together with the Chianti region and Siena: an intense experience that will leave you completely overwhelmed by powerful emotions. Fall in love with Italy!



DAY BY DAY ITINERARY

DAY 1 - ARRIVAL IN VENICE


Arrival in Venice airport and private transfer to your Hotel in Venice. Lunch on your own. Free afternoon to visit the city centre at leisure, discovering the beauty of Venetian palaces and the elegance of its canals. Welcome dinner based on Venetian specialties in a local osteria and overnight in Venice.


ESSENCE SPECIALS

 

  • A special welcome dinner serving the best Venetian specialties in a romantic and evocative atmosphere: the famous osteria "Agli Assassini"



DAY 2 - CLASSIC VENICE TOUR


In the morning meet with your private guide in the hotel lobby and enjoy a HD classical walking guided tour of Venice city centre of 2 hours, discovering the main highlights and familiarize with city’s art and culture. Afternoon at leisure to visit and explore Venice on your own. Dinner and overnight in Venice.


TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

 

  • St Mark’s Square, one of the biggest and more beautiful squares in the world

  • Gran Canal, with its bridges and elegant palaces directly built on the sea

  • The Cathedral, masterpiece of Byzantine and Gothic art, and the Clock Tower with the 2 "Mori".

  • Rialto Bridge with its evocative landscape and its outdoor market


DO NOT MISS

 

  • The Dukes’ Palace, full of enchanting and elegant salons, artistic masterpieces and terrifying prisons

  • Craftsmen’s masks shops along Venice streets

  • An aperitif at the typical "bacari", where to have excellent Italian wines accompanied by appetizers

  • The Jewish ghetto, an enchanted place immersed in the past.

  • Gondola ride at sunset



DAY 3- MURANO, BURANO AND TORCELLO

In the morning, meeting with your private English speaking guide and departure with ferry to visit Murano,Burano and Torcello, three wonderful islands where to admire the art of Venetian craftsmen. Lunch on own in a typical restaurant of one of these islands. Return to Venice in the early afternoon, balance of the day at leisure. Dinner on own and overnight in Venice.

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

 

  • Murano island, famous for its glass-ware and glass laboratories

  • Burano island, with its colorful fishermen’s houses painted in bright colors and its lace-making laboratories

  • Torcello, the silence of its atmosphere and the mystical surrounding of its ancient Byzantine church


ESSENCE SPECIALS

 

  • Private islands’ tour, an original exclusive excursion with professional guide


DO NOT MISS

 

  • Glass objects and souvenirs in Murano

  • Glass production live demonstration in laboratories in Murano

  • Burano typical pastries: the "Buranelli"

  • Burano hand-made laces

  • A lunch at the famous Locanda Cipriani in Torcello, a real must-go restaurant.



DAY 4 - CLASSIC TOUR FLORENCE

In the morning, check-out and train from Venice to Florence by train. Arrival in Florence in the late morning, check-in at your hotel and lunch on own. In the afternoon, meet your guide for an half day walking tour of Florence that will include the main city highlights of the so-called "Renaissance crib". Rest of the afternoon at leisure to enjoy the town and to discover its glorious history. Dinner on own. Overnight in Florence.

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

 

  • St Croce Church

  • Piazza Signoria and Palazzo vecchio

  • Ponte Vecchio

  • Cathedral complex


DO NOT MISS

 

  • An aperitif at Procacci (famous for its truffles’ sandwiches)

  • An espresso at the historical Café Rivoire

  • An ice-cream at Gelateria dei Neri, with more than 50 flavours to choose from

  • A lampredotto sandwich at a local kiosk

  • St Lorenzo market

  • A dinner at Ristorante Il Targa, out of the touristic circuits, overlooking the Arno river



DAY 5 - FLORENCE AND ARRIVAL IN ROME

Today you will have the full morning at disposal to visit Florence on your own. We suggest you to visit the Uffizi Gallery or the Boboli Gardens which are definitely worth a tour and perfectly show the love of the Medici family for art. Get lost in Boboli Gardens and admire Leonardo’s and Michelangelo’s paintings in the Uffizi museum. Lunch on own. In the afternoon transfer from Florence to Rome, the eternal city, by train. Check-in at your hotel. Dinner on own. Overnight in Rome

DO NOT MISS

 

  • Uffizi Gallery and Accademia Gallery (reservations on request)

  • The Oltrarno district, with Pitti Palace and Boboli and Bardini Gardens

  • Gucci and Ferragamo fashion museums



DAY 6 - CLASSICAL ROME TOUR

In the morning meet your private English-speaking guide in the hotel and start a guided tour of Rome, where you will visit the main attractions of the Ancient Roman . Lunch at leisure. Balance of the day at leisure: we suggest you to focus on Renaissance and Baroque Rome through the Spanish steps, the Trevi Fountain, Piazza Navona and Campo dei Fiori. Dinner on own. Overnight in Rome

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

 

  • The Colosseum, where gladiators and animals’ battles took place in ancient times

  • The Roman Forum, full of well-preserved ruins of religious and civil buildings, evidence of a glorious civilization

  • The Palatine Hill, the place where Rome was founded

  • The Spanish Steps, the elegant living room of Rome high society

  • The Trevi fountain: throw a coin in it and pray for good luck!

  • The colorful, lively and original Piazza Navona and Campo dei Fiori


ESSENCE SPECIALS

 

  • A half-day guided tour that will help you getting in touch with Roman history, civilization and art


DO NOT MISS

 

  • Shopping in Via Condotti, Via del Babbuino and Via del Corso, the most elegant and luxurious shopping streets of Rome with several exclusive boutiques

  • A dinner at Restaurant l’Antica Pesa, located in the typical Trastevere area

  • A coffee at St. Eustachio café, prestigious coffee house in Piazza del Popolo



DAY 7 - CHRISTIAN TOUR ROME

In the morning, meet with your private English speaking guide for a guided visit of the Christian Rome and its mystical atmosphere. Lunch at leisure. Balance of the afternoon free: we suggest you to take a walk in the city centre and or to visit Villa Borghese Gallery. Dinner in one typical restaurant of Rome. Overnight in Rome.

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

 

  • The Vatican Museums, among the most important museums of the world, with the Sistine Chapel

  • St Peter’s Church


ESSENCE SPECIALS

 

  • Private guided visit of Christian Rome

  • Typical dinner based on special Roman dishes in the Restaurant Felice al Testaccio: pasta with amatriciana sauce, beef steak and many others!


DO NOT MISS

 

  • A visit to the wonderful Villa Borghese Gallery, hosting prestigious art masterpieces by the most famous Italian artists

  • The Caracalla thermal centre, a magnificent and well-preserved example of civil buildings of the ancient era



DAY 8 - CHECK OUT


Check-out. Private transfer to Rome FCO airport.



OPTIONS AVAILABLE FOR THE TOUR: 3*, 4*, 5* HOTELS, VILLAS AND HISTORICAL RESIDENCES, ALL THE TOURS CAN BE PERSONALIZED AND TAILOR MADE

PRICE: ON REQUEST AT INFO@ESSENCEOFITALY.IT