Gladiators, Gondolas and Gold
10 Day Tour of Italy | Operated by Trafalgar
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10 Days
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2 Countries
Italy, Vatican City -
6 Cities
Rome, Vatican, Pisa, Florence, Bologna, Venice -
14 Meals
1 Kickoff Party, 9 Breakfasts, 3 Dinners, 1 Lunch -
Pace: Active
Faster paces with mix of 1–2-night stays in each location. Typically features 4+ miles of walking on some days and may involve steep hills and uneven surfaces, such as cobblestones.
Trip Itinerary
Ciao Roma! Feast your eyes and your stomach on the 'Eternal City' – the launch pad for an unforgettable adventure with la famiglia. Tread in the footsteps of the ancients before meeting with your Travel Director and fellow travelers for a Kickoff Party that will rock Rome.
Join a Local Specialist to delve into centuries of history and culture, including a guided tour of the Vatican Museums. Gaze up at the wonder of Michelangelo's frescoed ceiling in the Sistine Chapel and explore the Catholic shrine of St. Peter's Basilica. Venture across the Tiber to the Colosseum, imagining a time when brave warriors fought to the thunderous roar of thousands. Then it's time for a cheesy Family Fun affair as we Dive Into Culture and learn how to make authentic Italian pizza, sharing a tasty slice or two of our culinary masterpieces with our loved ones.
Book your spot on the podium. It's time for Family Fun as you become a gladiator for the day. You'll learn how to wield a gladiator's sword and gain insights into military techniques with an expert. This afternoon, you’ll have some free time to explore the city with the family. Perhaps count the Spanish Steps or toss a coin into the Trevi Fountain to secure your speedy return to Rome.
Embark on a scenic drive north through Tuscany's golden fields. Stop in Pisa to visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site Piazza del Duomo to snap a selfie in front of the famous Leaning Tower. Carry on to the Renaissance city of Florence, our home for the next three nights.
The exquisite sights of Florence are brought to life on a walking tour in the expert company of a Local Specialist. See the magnificent Gothic Duomo and famous Baptistery before marvelling at Michelangelo's statue of David at the Academy of Fine Arts. Learn about the quality and workmanship of two of this city's historic industries at demonstrations of Florentine leathercraft and 18-carat gold. Where better to Dive Into Culture and indulge in a refreshing gelato than in the city where it was invented? Tonight we Connect With Locals joining Count Miari Fulcis and his family for a Be My Guest experience, enjoying delicious specialties against the backdrop of picture-perfect olive groves and vineyards on their 15th-century estate in the Tuscan hills. Salute!
You have a full day at leisure to enjoy this remarkable Renaissance city. Florence is a living museum that you can explore on foot. Perhaps join an Optional Experience to the ‘Town of Towers’ – San Gimignano.
Stop and smell the rich aromas of Bolognese sauce, spending the morning with a Local Specialist to explore the medieval city of Bologna. Then it's just a hop, skip and a jump to the island city of Venice. Discover the 'Queen of the Adriatic' from the comfort of one of its traditional gondolas on an Optional Experience.
Cruise to bustling St. Mark's Square on a private launch. View the exquisite Doge's Palace, St. Mark's Basilica and the Campanile and the famous Bridge of Sighs, so named for the sound condemned prisoners made at catching their last glimpse of beautiful Venice. We then witness first-hand the exquisite tradition of Venetian glassblowing. Your MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience helps to support the preservation of this precious Venetian tradition for generations to come. You’ll learn how this once-thriving Venetian art is being kept alive by talented glassmakers who delight in working their magic to craft the stunning treasures for which Venice is justifiably famous. Time for Family Fun as you learn about the art of crafting Carnival masks, decorating your own masks with enough paint, feathers and glitter to rival even the most elaborate masks seen at the annual event. This afternoon, consider an Optional Experience to the colorful island of Burano for a delicious meal.
Navigating the bustling canals to the Rialto Bridge, we embrace the sights and sounds of Venice from the water before we Dive Into Culture and savor the flavors of Italy during a visit to a traditional food market. We delve into the hidden highlights of Venice during a Small Group Sightseeing walking tour, working up an appetite for our Farewell Lunch at a local restaurant.
Our unforgettable journey together has come to an end. All that's left to say is a hearty arrivederci as you prepare to return home with fantastic shared memories.
Price Includes
What's Included- - An expert Travel Director and professional Driver
- - Cherry-picked hotels, all tried and trusted
- - All porterage and restaurant gratuities
- - All hotel tips, charges and local taxes
- - Breakfast daily and up to half of your evening meals
- - Must-see sightseeing and surprise extras
- - Audio headsets for flexible sightseeing
- - Luxury air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi in most countries or alternative transportation (such as rail journeys)
- - Optional Experiences and free time
- - On occasion, hotels of similar standard and location may be utilized.
- - 1 Kickoff Party (KP)
- - 9 Breakfasts (B)
- - 3 Dinners (D)
- - 1 Lunch (L)
- Visit Vatican City and tour St. Peter's Basilica with a Local Specialist. Witness the early genius of Michelangelo as you take in the Pietà.
- View the stunning landscape of Tuscany on your drive today.
- During an orientation, your Travel Director will show you the baptistery, cathedral and the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa.
- Join a Local Specialist to view the multi-colored marble cathedral, bell tower and baptistery, adorned by Ghiberti's Gates of Paradise. Visit the political heart of the city, Signoria Square.
- See the area around Santa Croce Basilica, famous for the quality of its luxury goods, and witness a gold and leatherwork demonstration.
- Join a Local Specialist on an exploration of Bologna. See the medieval squares and red-bricked façades of this historic city.
- Embark on a sightseeing walking tour of Venice with a small group.
- A cooking experience with all the trimmings! Learn how to make tasty Italian pizza from an expert and then share your masterpiece with the family.
- Experience life as a gladiator with an included visit to a Gladiator School in Rome.
- Discover the great Venetian tradition of Carnival masks and paint and decorate your own.
- Eight generations of history with plenty of stories to tell. Enjoy a local Tuscan Be My Guest dinner with Count Miari Fulcis on his 15th-century organic olive oil estate in the Tuscan hills, used as a location for many famous films like 'Room with a View' and 'Tea with Mussolini'.
- Indulge in an Italian gelato at a local gelateria in Florence.
- Savor the vibrant atmosphere of Venice during a visit to a traditional food market in the shadow of the famous Rialto Bridge.
- Learn about the history and ancient skill of Venetian glassblowing, playing your role in ensuring the survival of this traditional craft through your visit.
Optional Experiences
Optional Experiences are subject to change. Your Travel Director will supply you with a final list of Optional Experiences available on your trip. Optional Experiences cannot be booked online; they can be purchased during your trip through your Travel Director.
Ancient and Christian Rome (Available on Day 2)Join us on an exploration of Rome's past with our Local Specialist. On this trip you'll visit the Catacombs, where the early Christians assembled to escape persecution and which were used as underground cemeteries. We’ll also pass by the pyramid of Cestius and the baths of Caracalla.
Adult Price: €43 Piazzas and Fountains (Available on Day 3)Discover the most charming areas in the city with a Local Specialist. Wander through the labyrinth of narrow streets and beautiful squares of Rome's historic center, leading to highlights such as the Trevi Fountain, as well as hidden corners of the Eternal City.
Adult Price: €46 An Introduction To Florence (Available on Day 4)Enjoy a drive up to one of the highest points that overlooks the city of Florence. Afterwards, you'll join our Local Specialist at the River Arno to take a walk over the Ponte Vecchio, see the new market, admire Piazza della Republica, the facade of the Bargello Museum and Dante's House. Then we'll finish off with a Carousel Ride for the younger participants (if available).
Adult Price: €37 Visit To San Gimignano (Available on Day 6)Join us for a panoramic drive to the nearby hilltop town of San Gimignano. Magnificently preserved from the Middle Ages, this little town, known as the 'Medieval Manhattan', is one of the most beautiful in Italy - a true gem. You'll also be treated to a delicious local gelato.
Adult Price: €40 Dinner in the Tuscan Hills (Available on Day 6)This evening we'll take a scenic drive to experience a fun and relaxed evening at a friendly, typical restaurant in the countryside. The chef will delight our senses with regional dishes, made with freshly-bought ingredients from the local farmers' markets. Your delicious meal will be accompanied by excellent wines from the vineyards for which this area is so well known. In short, a Tuscan dream come true in an authentic setting.
Adult Price: €74 Tuscan Dinner at Villa Machiavelli (Available on Day 6)Through the Chianti hills, we'll drive past vineyards to a delightful hamlet. Our destination is the ancient stone house of Machiavelli, where the great political theorist wrote his immortal work, ‘The Prince'. After a welcome drink and a visit of the villa and its wine-cellars, we'll enjoy the best of Tuscan cuisine accompanied by great music and drinks, including of course, Chianti from the Villa's own vines.
Adult Price: €74 Gondolas & the Grand Canal (Available on Day 7)Join us for a breathtaking cruise by private water taxi along Venice's Grand Canal. You'll admire the magnificent palazzi, catching a glimpse of the Rialto Bridge and St. Mark's Square. Later on, you'll glide gracefully on a gondola along Venice's dreamy, narrow waterways.
Adult Price: €85 Doge's Palace and St. Mark's Basilica (Available on Day 8)Accompanied by a Local Specialist, you'll visit the magnificent Doge's Palace and its elegant courtyards, which were home to the rulers of the Venetian republic. Afterwards, enjoy a visit to the Byzantine Basilica of St. Mark the Evangelist, patron saint of Venice.
Adult Price: €60 Lagoon Cruise to Burano with Food and Drinks (Available on Day 8)This afternoon, discover the Venetian Lagoon by private boat. You'll enjoy a delicious meal, with a selection of drinks, on the fisherman's island of Burano, famous for its multi-colored houses - a photographer's paradise.
Adult Price: €82