Rome and Tuscan Highlights

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 travelers for a Welcome Dinner. 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.

Our journey through Rome begins in the center 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.

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 16^th 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 jewelery shops in the city can be found here.

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.

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.

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. Then 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.

Feast your eyes on the vibrant colors 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.

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. This evening, Roman flavors and ancient ruins take center stage as you dine at Ristorante Pancrazio, built over the ruins of the first-century-BC Theater of Pompey. Toast your travels over a selection of signature Roman dishes handed down over four generations.

Today we bid a fond farewell to newfound friends and an epic experience, departing Rome.