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Rome and Tuscan Highlights

Operated by: Trafalgar

9 Days from $2,168 per person
APR - OCT 2023
Italy Tuscany Beautiful San Gimignano Blue Sky And Trees

Countries Visited

Italy, Vatican City ...more Italy, Vatican City

Locations Visited

Rome, Montecatini Terme, Florence, Cinque Terre, Pisa, Vinci, Siena, San Gimignano, Vatican ...more Rome, Montecatini Terme, Florence, Cinque Terre, Pisa, Vinci, Siena, San Gimignano, Vatican
  1. Day 1 Welcome to Rome

    Ciao Roma! Italy opens its doors for an unforgettable jaunt through Rome, Tuscany, and two millennia of culture, history and fiery Italian verve. Spend the afternoon exploring the city before meeting your Travel Director and fellow travellers for a Welcome Reception. Embark on an orientation drive past some of Rome's icons and unexpected highlights, including the Circus Maximus, once the site of exhilarating chariot races which attracted thousands of enthusiastic spectators.

    meals Welcome Reception
    hotel Barceló Occidental Aurelia
  2. Day 2 Journey to the Tuscan Hills

    Our journey through Rome begins in the centre of Christendom, where we join a Local Specialist on an included sightseeing tour to visit St. Peter's Basilica and Michelangelo's much-admired Pietà. This afternoon, we enjoy a leisurely drive through the scenic Tuscan hills to the thermal spa resort of Montecatini, the largest and most famous spa town in Italy and your home for the next six nights.

    meals Breakfast
    hotel Columbia
  3. Day 3 Explore Renaissance Florence

    Your Local Specialist will reveal the history of Renaissance Florence during your walking tour. View the magnificent Duomo and visit Piazza della Signoria. In your free time, perhaps take a walk across the beautiful Ponte Vecchio. In the 16th century, a decree mandated that the only businesses allowed to ply their trade on this bridge were goldsmiths and jewellers, and to this day, some of the most prestigious jewellery shops in the city can be found here.

    meals Breakfast, Dinner
    hotel Columbia
  4. Day 4 Montecatini Your Way

    Relax in the spa atmosphere of Montecatini on your day at leisure or join an Optional Experience to Cinque Terre, whose quaint pastel-hued villages cling to the rugged Ligurian cliffs.

    meals Breakfast
    hotel Columbia
  5. Day 5 Discover Pisa and Vinci Dive Into Culture Connect with Locals

    Journey to Pisa where we join a Local Specialist to view the famous Leaning Tower, the finely sculpted marble Cathedral and the ornate Baptistery, said to be the largest in Italy. We continue through Tuscany, arriving in Vinci where we’ll Dive Into Culture with a Local Specialist at Museo Leonardiano and gain a deeper understanding of the life of this talented master. Admire Leonardo da Vinci's machines and models, his sketches and handwritten notes, as well as interactive exhibits during your visit. Tonight, Connect With Locals at the Agriturismo Borgo Vigna Vecchia, where you’ll enjoy an exclusive Be My Guest dinner surrounded by vineyards and olive groves.

    meals Breakfast, Dinner
    hotel Columbia
  6. Day 6 Off to Siena and San Gimignano

    Saunter through the beautifully preserved medieval city of Siena to see the 13th century marble cathedral and the shell-shaped Piazza del Campo, home to the biannual Palio horse race. We venture to the walled medieval town of San Gimignano, renowned for its towers. Enjoy some free time strolling through its narrow lanes and shopping for locally-produced delicacies and hand-painted Tuscan pottery - the alluring aromas of pecorino cheese and cured meats tempting you at every turn.

    meals Breakfast
    hotel Columbia
  7. Day 7 Tuscan Lifestyle Experience

    Feast your eyes on the vibrant colours and busy stalls heaving with fresh produce at a local food market where you will join a Local Specialist professional chef for a tasty introduction to Tuscan cuisine. Learn how to cook like only an Italian mamma can, selecting your fresh produce from the market and preparing lunch which you will enjoy with a delicious glass of local wine. The tastes of Tuscany still lingering after an unforgettable lunch, we return to our hotel in the Tuscan hills for the night.

    meals Breakfast, Lunch
    hotel Columbia
  8. Day 8 Onwards to Rome and the Vatican City Dive Into Culture

    Departing Tuscany, we travel south to Rome. This afternoon, we Dive Into Culture with a Local Specialist for a guided tour of the Vatican Museums, including a visit to Michelangelo's magnificent frescoed ceiling in the Sistine Chapel. The evening brings a special treat, as we stay at the Vatican Museums for a Farewell Dinner set amidst the stunning Roman and Ancient Greek artworks.

    meals Breakfast, Dinner
    hotel Villa Pamphili
  9. Day 9 Journey Home

    Today we bid a fond farewell to newfound friends and an epic experience, departing Rome. Find out more about your free airport transfer at trafalgar.com/freetransfers.

    meals Breakfast
Rome Tuscan Highlights Guided Tour Map
Price Includes

Whats 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

Dining Summary

  • 1 Welcome Reception (WR)
  • 8 Breakfast (B)
  • 3 Dinner (D)
  • 1 Lunch (L)

Be My Guest

  • Florence: Enjoy an exclusive Be My Guest lunch at the Agriturismo Borgo Vigna Vecchia in the Tuscan hills.

Dive Into Culture

  • Vinci: Visit the museum dedicated to the life of Leonardo da Vinci in his Tuscan birthplace.
  • Rome: Enjoy a private visit inside the Vatican where you will tour the Museo Gregoriano Profano featuring Roman and Ancient Greek antiquities before an exclusive private dinner.

Must-see Highlights

  • : VIP Admission to the Vatican Museums
  • : Explore Rome, Vinci, Florence and Pisa with a Local Specialist
  • : Discover Siena and San Gimignano
  • : Visit St. Peter's Basilica and the Sistine Chapel in Rome, and the Leonardiano Museum in Vinci
  • : View the Santa Croce Basilica and the Duomo in Florence and the Leaning Tower of Pisa

Whats 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

Dates & Prices

Prices shown are per person based on two people sharing a twin room. To request a personalized travel quote, click "Request Quote" and a Travel Specialist will send your custom quote including airfare if requested.

Online Booking Process

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June 2023
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Jun 16 Fri
Jun 24 Sat
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DOUBLE OCCUPANCY PRICE/PERSON
$2,625 $2,231 Save $394
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Jun 30 Fri
Jul 8 Sat
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Guaranteed Departure This departure is guaranteed
DOUBLE OCCUPANCY PRICE/PERSON
$2,625 $2,231 Save $394
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July 2023
AARP Members Save up to $100
Jul 28 Fri
Aug 5 Sat
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Guaranteed Departure This departure is guaranteed
DOUBLE OCCUPANCY PRICE/PERSON
$2,550 $2,168 Save $383
GETAWAY DEALS
August 2023
AARP Members Save up to $100
Aug 25 Fri
Sep 2 Sat
AARP Members Save up to $100
DOUBLE OCCUPANCY PRICE/PERSON
$2,625
September 2023
AARP Members Save up to $100
Sep 1 Fri
Sep 9 Sat
AARP Members Save up to $100
Guaranteed Departure This departure is guaranteed
DOUBLE OCCUPANCY PRICE/PERSON
$2,625 $2,363 Save $263
FALL TRAVEL SALE
AARP Members Save up to $100
Sep 15 Fri
Sep 23 Sat
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Guaranteed Departure This departure is guaranteed
DOUBLE OCCUPANCY PRICE/PERSON
$2,725
AARP Members Save up to $100
Sep 22 Fri
Sep 30 Sat
AARP Members Save up to $100
Guaranteed Departure This departure is guaranteed
DOUBLE OCCUPANCY PRICE/PERSON
$2,725
AARP Members Save up to $100
Sep 29 Fri
Oct 7 Sat
AARP Members Save up to $100
Guaranteed Departure This departure is guaranteed
DOUBLE OCCUPANCY PRICE/PERSON
$2,625 $2,363 Save $263
FALL TRAVEL SALE
October 2023
AARP Members Save up to $100
Oct 6 Fri
Oct 14 Sat
AARP Members Save up to $100
Guaranteed Departure This departure is guaranteed
DOUBLE OCCUPANCY PRICE/PERSON
$2,625
Optional Add-Ons

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.

Montecatini Terme

Available on Day 2

Dinner, Wine and Music in the Tuscan Hills

Take a scenic drive through the beautiful Tuscan countryside to a delightful regional restaurant set among the pines and cypress trees. Here a feast of gastronomic specialities awaits, accompanied by song and music.
Adult Price: € 64

Florence

Available on Day 3

Bargello Museum Visit

Join us today for a visit to the Bargello museum, housed in one of the oldest and most intriguing buildings of Florence. As you'll learn from your Local Specialist, there was rarely a dull moment in this former barracks and prison! Learn how the Bargello has witnessed crucial episodes of history including fires, sieges and political executions. This fascinating building is now home to the National Museum and boasts awe-inspiring works by Donatello, Brunelleschi and Michelangelo to name but a few.
Adult Price: € 42

Available on Day 3

Michelangelo's 'David' & Accademia

Enjoy an insight into the world of Michelangelo and his masterpiece, David. We'll visit the Academy of Fine Arts and its Michelangelo collection, where you'll learn all about the life and works of this immortal Renaissance genius through the expert commentary of our Local Specialist.
Adult Price: € 49
Note: This optional is subject to availability and involves reservations and entrance prepayments. If you decide to cancel this optional, a 50% cancellation fee will be incurred.

Available on Day 3

Discover Palazzo Vecchio

Marvel at the legacy of the Medici as you visit Palazzo Vecchio, the symbol of Florence's political power for over seven centuries. With our Local Specialist we’ll visit the wonderful "Hall of the Five Hundred", dedicated to the Medici popes. We’ll also visit rooms decorated with masterpieces by famous artists of the Renaissance like Michelangelo and Donatello.
Adult Price: € 42

Available on Day 4

The Cinque Terre and Porto Venere

Today, with our Local Specialist, we’ll visit the Bay of Poets and the beautiful Porto Venere, gateway to the UNESCO-protected Cinque Terre. To this day, the villages have retained their charm and reputation for producing some of Italy's most exclusive wines.
Adult Price: € 63
Note: In inclement weather, Porto Venere cannot always be visited.

Available on Day 5

The Walled City Of Lucca

Join us as we visit the beautiful city of Lucca, birthplace of the composer Giacomo Puccini. You’ll explore with a Local Specialist as the monumental architecture transports you back to thirteenth-century Tuscany.
Adult Price: € 37

Reviews
Service
Vacation
Independent Reviews
Trusted Customer
Saturday, October 16, 2021
Service
Well organized from the reps in the US. Tour director and team very organized, knowledgeable, fun, personable people. They made sure were were having a good time and safe.
Vacation
The trip was great. Saw a lot of places I hadn't seen before. Especially enjoyed the dinners at local vineyards. Food and wine were excellent. The only downside is that there was not enough personal time to explore the locations on our own. I always felt rushed and couldn't do all I wanted to do in each town. They should either extend the trip by a few days to give travelers more time or cut some of the sites from the itinerary. The hotels were average at best. Fortunately we didn't spend a lot of time in the hotel as we were constantly on the go.
Response from Grand European Travel:
We appreciate your feedback and will be sure to pass that on to our Operations team for further review. Thank you for bringing it to our attention.
Wednesday, October 27, 2021
Gayle Smith
Saturday, October 16, 2021
Service
Polite knowable answered all of my questions
Response from Grand European Travel:
Thank you so much! We appreciate the business and wonderful review!
Wednesday, October 27, 2021
Vacation
Great food wonderful people trip of a lifetime our guide Muris was great also fun our sanitation person Amadeus was funny great personality also during the trip my arthritis in my knee acted up and Muris and Amadeus were very accommodating and made my trip awesome instead of a bust
Trusted Customer
Saturday, September 23, 2017
Service
I think they put together a good all around site seeing package. If you are not familiar with all of the towns and places to see you would miss a lot. so I think there they did a good job..
Vacation
I would say with the airfare and accommodations, what we got was a reasonable price
Trusted Customer
Thursday, October 20, 2016
Service
Job well done
Vacation
Excellent tour guide. Had wonderful time.
Trusted Customer
Thursday, August 4, 2016
Service
Our first experience with GE was good.
Response from Grand European Travel:
We're very happy that you enjoyed this trip. We look forward to helping you plan your next one! Grand European Travel
Thursday, August 11, 2016
Vacation
Loved the itinerary and the central location in Tuscany with minimal moves from hotel to hotel.
Trusted Customer
Thursday, August 4, 2016
Service
Awesome!
Vacation
Exceeded expectations
Trusted Customer
Thursday, July 7, 2016
Service
Well worth the money. Grand European is a first class service.
Response from Grand European Travel:
Thank you so much for your kind words. We appreciate your business and hope to be able to help plan your next trip very soon. Grand European Travel
Monday, July 11, 2016
Vacation
Awesome trip! The schedule and guides (especially Antonella) were wonderful. This is definetely one of the best vacations we have ever had.
Trusted Customer
Wednesday, May 25, 2016
Service
They were organized, very little wait, if any, when it came to catching our buses, and had interesting places to go with a tour of each one. Our tour guide, Dina Bof, was great, and she was right on top of anything. All of the side trips were so well worth it. My sister was under the weather just getting over an illness, and all the guides kept her in their sight and made sure she was ok. The food was great, and it was nice to always have some of our own time to do what we wanted.
Response from Grand European Travel:
Thank you so much for your feedback. So happy to hear that you enjoyed Rome and Tuscany and the expertise of Dina Bof. We hope to see you on another tour very soon and hope that everyone is healthy and happy! Grand European Travel
Thursday, May 26, 2016
Vacation
We loved being going back to one hotel for six nights. The towns were interesting, and it gave us such a great flavor of Rome/Tuscany. We couldn't help being in awe of what we were experiencing.
Trusted Customer
Monday, October 5, 2015
Service
This was the first tour my daughter and I have ever taken. We were thrilled with the service and extra details throughout the trip. When we travel again, we will definitely check here first!
Response from Grand European Travel:
We appreciate your comments and can't wait to help you plan your next vacation. Thank you! Grand European Travel
Monday, October 5, 2015
Vacation
What a beautiful place to visit. Our pictures cannot do it justice!
Trusted Customer
Saturday, October 3, 2015
Service
Tour was crowded. No one wanted to sit in the smaller seats in the back of the bus.Partners could not sit together. Tour guide missed our welcome arrival . Hotel was poor.
Response from Grand European Travel:
We're sorry to see that felt your group size was too large and hampered your ability to enjoy yourselves. The good news is people are traveling again, but we will certainly share your concerns with Trafalgar. We appreciate your feedback. Grand European Travel
Monday, October 5, 2015
Vacation
Italy was a beautiful country and the Tuscan highlights are amazing. Because the tour was large many of us were unable to see what the guides were explaining.
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