Insight Vacations European Fall Winter and Spring - TPI Worldwide

Easy PaceitalyTour Pace - As the name suggests, this tourhas been designed to showcase the historic cities ofnorthern and central Italy in a relaxed & leisurelymanner, with three day stays in each fascinating city.Hotels - All hotels are well located to enableeasy exploration of the historic centres. They rangein style from the modern Milan Hilton to the 15CContinental on the Grand Canal; while the PalazzoOgnissanti is a new hotel housed in a 19C palace.Fellow Passengers - This tour appeals tothose wanting a flexible itinerary with theconvenience of an escorted tour. Half day city toursintroduce you to highlights of each location, thenthe rest of the time is yours to explore at will.Highlights - Each centre is a highlight initself! Milan’s exquisite Gothic cathedral, thehaunting waterscape of Venice, RenaissanceFlorence and Rome – overflowing with artistry &ancient monuments.Venice, the glorious city of bridges and gondolasfff18-19DAY 1 – DEPART CANADA. Overnight flight to Milan.DAY 2 – ARRIVE MILAN. Welcome to Milan, lively capital of Lombardy and Italy’s nervecentre for commerce, industry and banking! On arrival at Malpensa airport there are complimentarytransfers to the tour hotel at 09.00 and 12.30. The rest of the day is at leisure. Tonight, before dinner,we enjoy a Welcome Drink with our Tour Director. Hotel: Hilton. (D)DAY 3 – MILAN SIGHTSEEING. Sightseeing this morning includes the magnificent GothicMilan Cathedral, its marble facade bristling with 135 pinnacles and over 2000 statues! Admire themassive Sforza Castle and world famous La Scala Theatre too, before free time to explore on yourown. Stroll in the elegant 19th century shopping arcades, or sip a cappuccino in one of the cafes,meeting places of the rich and famous! (BB)DAY 4 – MILAN AT LEISURE. Today is at leisure to relax or perhaps continue sightseeing?Why not take an optional excursion to the nearby, scenic Italian Lake District? (BB)DAY 5 – MILAN – VENICE. Head east to Verona, tragic setting for Shakespeare’s ‘star crossedlovers’. See the Arena, built over 1900 years ago by the Romans, and walk through the old narrowstreets to the courtyard of the Capulet home to see Juliet's balcony. Then step back into the 16thcentury as you make your way to magical Venice. Hotel: Continental. (BB,D)DAY 6 – VENICE SIGHTSEEING. You will see much of this famous city as you cruise byprivate motor launch; gondolas, ornate palaces, the Grand Canal and Bridge of Sighs, whichoverlooks the old Piombi Prison. Alight at the Piazza San Marco, with its famous Basilica and Palaceof the Doges. Later visit a glass-blowing factory to see some of the exquisite Venetian glasswarebeing made. The remainder of the day is at leisure. (BB)DAY 7 – VENICE AT LEISURE. A day to drink in the unique atmosphere of this wonderfulcity! Maybe explore the treasures of the Academy Museum, browse through the shops on the RialtoBridge or sit a while at a canal side café with a glass of local wine? (BB)DAY 8 – VENICE – FLORENCE. Bid farewell to the unique city of Venice as you cross thefertile valley and climb high into the Apennines, to enter the peaceful landscapes of Tuscany. In theRenaissance city of Florence, sightseeing includes a visit to the Academy Gallery to see Michelangelo’sstatue of ‘David’. Continue with your guide to the Duomo, where Ghiberti’s ‘Gates of Paradise’ adornthe Baptistery. Now admire the many statues of Signoria Square, before visiting the Basilica of SantaCroce which houses the tombs of Michelangelo and Galileo. Hotel: Palazzo Ognissanti. (BB,D)DAYS 9 & 10 – FLORENCE AT LEISURE. Two whole days to enjoy this beautiful city!Maybe take an optional excursion to see the Leaning Tower of Pisa or the unique and beautifulCinqueterre region? Perhaps visit San Gimignano to admire the picturesque Salucci Towers? Or whynot dedicate a day to shopping for leather and gold products? The choice is yours! (BB, BB)DAY 11 – FLORENCE – ROME. Travel through the vineyards of the Chianti region en routeto Assisi. A chance to visit the tomb of St Francis and the frescoes of Giotto in the great basilica, beforecontinuing along the Tiber valley towards the 'Eternal City', Rome. Hotel: Ateneo Garden Palace. (BB)DAY 12 – ROME SIGHTSEEING. Sightseeing begins with a visit to the Vatican Museums -a virtual cornucopia of priceless art and antiquities. Your local guide escorts you to the SistineChapel, where the Popes are elected, and immortalised by Michelangelo's painted ceiling. Next, visitthe vast St. Peter's Basilica, before crossing the Tiber to enter the Colosseum. Here fights betweenmen and beasts, gladiatorial conquests, races and simulated naval battles took place. Your tourconcludes with a view over the Roman Forum. This afternoon you are at leisure to shop or relax. (BB)DAY 13 – ROME AT LEISURE. A full day to explore Rome at your own pace. Perhaps spendsome time in the designer stores of the Spanish Steps, visit the well preserved Pantheon or relax inthe Piazza Navona - the 'Living Room of Rome'. This evening, drive to a local restaurant to enjoy aHighlight Dinner of typically Roman cuisine with entertainment. (BB,HD)DAY 14 – RETURN TO CANADA. Sadly, your tour comes to an end today. Transfers fromthe hotel arrive at Rome’s Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci Airport at 07.00 and 09.30 hrs. (BB)