Overview
Itinerary
Tour begins: 2:00 PM, Hotel Splendide Royal Roma. Welcome to Rome, where your tour of the ancient world (and beyond) begins; a transfer is included from Leonardo da Vinci Airport in Fiumicino to Hotel Splendide Royal Roma. Your adventure starts with a drive through the heart of the city to see real-life relics of Imperial Rome, once the capital of the ancient world. Join your fellow family travelers tonight for a welcome reception and dinner featuring authentic Italian fare that whets your appetite for a fun-filled Italy tour. Stay Two Nights: Hotel Splendide Royal Roma (D)
This morning, enjoy a guided visit to St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City. Midday, just around the corner from Piazza Navona, you'll visit a 17th-century cooking school for a lesson in the making of gelato, an Italian staple.
After a free afternoon, join us tonight for a Tauck Exclusive – an after-hours visit to the Vatican Museums, full of fascinating history and artistic masterpieces. View Michelangelo's famous ceiling in the Sistine Chapel – which the artist originally resisted doing because he considered himself a sculptor, not a painter – without the usual crowds! (Subject to availability and day of visit may vary.) (B)
Discoveries abound on your Italy tour adventure today as your family sets off through rural Umbria and Tuscany. The first stop on your travels is walled Orvieto, perched on a volcanic plateau; a guided tour takes you under its cobblestone streets to explore the town's honeycombed medieval tunnels and caves dating back to the time of the ancient Etruscans. Then it's on to Florence, birthplace of the Renaissance.
Upon arrival you'll be treated to a panoramic orientation of the city – from the inside of a vintage Fiat 500*! Arrive at your luxury hotel, steps away from the Piazza della Signoria and the Uffizi Gallery, for a memorable three-night stay. Stay Three Nights: The Westin Excelsior, Florence (B/D)
An excursion from Florence takes you and your family to Pisa for a look at this maritime city's great medieval buildings – including a glimpse of the remarkable Leaning Tower and more of Pisa's "field of miracles," such as the Duomo and the Baptistry. If you wish, you'll have an opportunity to climb the famed tower for the view from the inside (children 8 – 18 must be accompanied by an adult). After lunch at a local restaurant, return to Florence for an evening spent as you wish. Enjoy dinner tonight as you please at one of this grand Renaissance city's many restaurants. (B/L)
Today begins with a walk along the Arno, accompanied by a local guide. Learn about the "other side of the Arno"; the Ponte Vecchio; go through Piazza Santa Trinita and little alleyways where you'll get some insights into the tower houses – then on to Signoria Square with its towering Town Hall. Great Renaissance art awaits as you join your local guide for a tour of one of the world's first, and best, art galleries – the Uffizi Gallery.
After some free time, visit one of Italy's most famous museums, Galleria dell'Accademia – the oldest art school in the world, home to many famed paintings and Michelangelo's David. Tonight, join us for dinner and a hands-on pizza-making demonstration at a popular local restaurant in Florence. (B/D)
A rail journey aboard a high-speed train takes your family to Venice, a city of islands where the roads are paved with water. Have lunch at a local restaurant, followed by free time to explore as you please in St. Mark's Square. A canal boat takes you to your hotel, the JW Marriott Venice.
Tonight, you're in for a real treat, embark on a true adventure – a pirate boat excursion around Venice and the islands, with dinner and games. Stay Two Nights: JW Marriott Venice (B/L/D)
One of the most iconic spots in Venice is St. Mark's Basilica and the Doge's Palace; the architecture beckons from St. Mark's Square and your visits inside reveal the secrets of the centuries – including the story behind the Bridge of Sighs. If there is any city in Europe that is perfect for just wandering, seeing and experiencing, it is Venice – and you'll have the chance to do just that for the rest of the day. Follow the small, cobbled streets and alleyways to see where they lead, visit a museum or sample some gelato (served warmer and creamier than traditional ice cream).
Tonight, everyone meets again for a farewell party at your hotel on your private island in the Grand Canal... by the pool, weather permitting! A spectacular close to a fantastic week. (B/D)
Tour ends: Venice. Arrivederci! Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from JW Marriott Venice to Venice's Marco Polo Airport; allow a minimum of 3 hours for flight check-in. (B)
Trip Inclusions
- After-hours tour of the Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel, without the lines or crowds, for unhurried viewing
- Exclusive dinner and evening aboard a pirate ship cruising the waterways of Venice
- Vintage Fiat 500 ride* (with a driver) across the Arno River for a great overview and gorgeous views of Florence
- Visit to a 17th-century cooking school in Rome to learn to make gelato
- Visit to the hilltop town of Orvieto, including a tour of its underground Etruscan caves and honeycombed tunnels
- Guided tours of the Uffizi Gallery and Galleria dell'Accademia in Florence
- Visit to Pisa and the famed Leaning Tower
- Hands-on pizza making in Florence
- All gratuities to Tauck Director, local guides, and drivers
- Multiple-night stays in historic hotels in the heart of Rome and Florence
- High-speed rail travel from Florence to Venice
- Airport transfers on arrival and departure as noted
- Service charges, taxes and porterage
- 14 included meals (7 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 5 dinners)
- Itinerary and inclusions subject to change.
- Price is for land, cruise and specified internal flights. International flights not included.
Brochure
Tauck European River Cruising (2024)
Availability
Your Global Journeys Travel Advisor will check the availability of your departure date when you enquire. Additional savings may apply. We guarantee the lowest price in Australia. T&C’s apply.
Tour & cruises prices are per person. Prices shown have savings applied, are subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time without notice. Prices and trip information are correct at the time at this point in time, however are subject to confirmation at the time of booking and are subject to change by Tauck. For cruise itineraries, cabin images are sourced from Tauck. These should be treated as indicative only. Cabin inclusions, upholsteries and room layout may differ to the image(s) shown depending on the ship selected and your sailing dates.
Similar Tours
