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From Michelangelo’s statue of David to the echoes of gladiators at Rome’s Colosseum, the art and drama of the ages inspire this journey. View the original works of the masters at the Uffizi Gallery, Vatican Museums, and Venice’s Accademia. See the Doges’ Palace and St. Mark’s Square in Venice, the Roman Forum and the Vatican in Rome; and the medieval town of Siena in the Tuscan countryside. Enjoy a ferry ride across Lake Como at the foot of the Alps, and a train ride to Florence. Pursue your own interests with free time in Venice, Florence, and Rome when you travel Italy with Tauck.
Day 1
Arrive Milan and on to Bellagio on Lake Como
Tour begins 6:00 PM, Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni. A transfer is included from Milan’s Malpensa Airport to Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni in Bellagio. As you travel Italy Tauck-style, you’ll see the best of this ancient country, from great cities to countryside villages and towns that are off-the-beaten track! Begin by heading through the beautiful northern Italian countryside from Milan to your historic 19th-century grand hotel in beautiful Bellagio on the shores of bejewelled Lake Como. Meet your fellow travelling companions at a welcome cocktail reception and dinner at your hotel.
Lodging
Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni
Day 2
Villa delights on Lake Como
Your travels take you by private boat from Bellagio to visit Villa Del Balbianello; set on a wooded peninsula that juts into the lake, it was built in the late 18th century on the site of a Franciscan monastery. Noted for its exquisite landscaping and sculpture, the villa features spectacular terraced gardens ablaze with magnolias, cypresses, azaleas and more against dramatic views of the distant Alps and the famous shore of Lake Como, and appeared as a location in the James Bond film Casino Royale and in Star Wars II: Attack of the Clones. After lunch on Isola Comacina, return to Bellagio and enjoy the afternoon and evening to explore as you wish; enjoy dinner on your own tonight.
Lodging
Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni
Day 3
Travel Italy from the lakes to Venice – St. Mark’s Basilica and more
Journey across northern Italy from the lakes to Venice, among the world’s best-loved cities, designed along an intricate system of canals within a lagoon. After lunch, head to St. Mark’s Square, the heart of Venice, with a local guide. Visit Piazza San Marco (St. Mark’s Square) and St. Mark’s Basilica, one of the greatest buildings in Europe with its exquisite mosaics and detailed carving, and the Doge’s Palace, a pink marble Gothic masterpiece containing a precious art collection. Dine this evening at a popular Venetian restaurant.
Lodging
Hotel Danieli
Day 4
Explore Venice as you please
Spend the entire day exploring Venice at your leisure – your Tauck Director can offer recommendations. You may wish to explore the small islands of the Venetian Lagoon, including the lace-making island of Burano or Murano where skilled artisans still make glass in the ways of their forefathers. Possibilities on your day in Venice include a visit to the Galleria dell’Accademia, boasting one of the world’s largest collections of Venetian art, and the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, a head-turning display of modern art housed in Guggenheim’s former home on the Grand Canal, the 18th-century Palazzo Venier dei Leoni. Late afternoon, join us for a gondola cruise through the canals, complete with a serenade… the perfect ending to a perfect day.
Lodging
Hotel Danieli
Day 5
High-speed rail to Florence, guided visit of the Galleria Dell’Accademia
Travel Italy by high-speed rail today from Venice to Florence, the birthplace of the Renaissance. Get an introduction to the city’s architectural landmarks and great artists from a local art historian; view Lorenzo Ghiberti’s bronze doors with detailed panels at the Baptistry, part of the Duomo of Santa Maria del Fiori complex. Your art lecture is a fitting prelude to today’s visit to Galleria dell’Accademia, Europe’s oldest art school and home to many of the world’s most beloved paintings and sculpture, including Michelangelo’s famed statue of David. Later, a walking tour explores the historical center of Florence, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Have dinner à la carte at your leisure this evening at your hotel in the heart of the city .
Lodging
The St. Regis Florence
Day 6
Masterpieces of the Uffizi & time at leisure in Florence
We’ve made reservations for you today at Florence’s extraordinary Uffizi Gallery, Italy’s largest art museum and one of the first art galleries in the world, where you’ll gaze at some of the world’s greatest art masterpieces on a guided tour with a local expert. Admire works by Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Michelangelo, Sandro Botticelli, and more; following your tour, you can spend as much time as you like looking at the art. The rest of the day is free to explore more of Florence as you please; perhaps you may want to visit the Pitti Palace, the Medici Chapels or stroll across the Ponte Vecchio to the lovely Boboli Gardens; enjoy lunch and dinner on your own today.
Lodging
The St. Regis Florence
Day 7
Antiquities in Siena, then on to Rome through Tuscany and Umbria
Travel Italy through lush Tuscan landscapes this morning, featuring olive groves, cypress trees, and vineyards, including the region that produces Chianti wine. Stop in the medieval hill town of Siena, and wander through its narrow centuries-old streets. See the Piazza del Campo where the Palio bareback horse race is held, and visit the Duomo, one of Italy’s great cathedrals, with scenes inlaid in the marble floors and sculpture by Michelangelo. Continue through scenic Umbria and Lazio to your final destination – Rome, the Eternal City that was the center of the once-powerful Roman Empire, and is today the capital of modern Italy – for a three-night stay at one of Europe’s finest hotels. Indulge this evening in an à la carte dinner at a Roman neighbourhood restaurant known for its regional cuisine.
Lodging
The St. Regis Rome
Day 8
The Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel on an exclusive after-hours tour
Your first full day in Rome begins with a visit to one of the world’s most famous houses of worship, immense St. Peter’s Basilica, and St. Peter’s Square. The remainder of the day is free to explore Rome as you please before this evening’s Tauck Exclusive! An after-hours guided visit to the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel (subject to availability; day of the visit may vary) gives you privileged access to the treasures of the Vatican, without the day’s crowds. See the Candelabra Gallery, Map Gallery and the Tapestries; it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see some of the world’s great masterpieces, including Michelangelo’s famous Sistine Chapel ceiling frescoes, without the usual crowds. Up close and unhurried, you’ll have a chance to see firsthand why the chapel’s floor is as famous as its celebrated ceiling!
Lodging
The St. Regis Rome
Day 9
The Colosseum and glories of Imperial Rome
Get an insider’s view of Rome from a local guide on a city sightseeing tour – view such can’t-miss sights as the Roman Forum, Piazza Venezia, and the Circus Maximus – and you’ll avoid long lines with pre-arranged reservations for a visit inside the Colosseum. Opened in AD 80, the Colosseum once reigned supreme as an entertainment venue used by Roman emperors to maximise their popularity with the general public. Spend some more free time in Rome this afternoon prior to this evening’s farewell cocktail party and dinner – a special finale to your extraordinary Italy travel days from the Italian Lakes to Rome.
Lodging
The St. Regis Rome
Day 10
Arrivederci Rome
Your trip ends in Rome. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from The St. Regis Rome to Leonardo da Vinci Airport in Fiumicino; allow 3 hours for check-in.
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive Milan and on to Bellagio on Lake Como
Tour begins 6:00 PM, Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni. A transfer is included from Milan’s Malpensa Airport to Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni in Bellagio. As you travel Italy Tauck-style, you’ll see the best of this ancient country, from great cities to countryside villages and towns that are off-the-beaten track! Begin by heading through the beautiful northern Italian countryside from Milan to your historic 19th-century grand hotel in beautiful Bellagio on the shores of bejewelled Lake Como. Meet your fellow travelling companions at a welcome cocktail reception and dinner at your hotel.
Lodging: Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni
Day 2: Villa delights on Lake Como
Your travels take you by private boat from Bellagio to visit Villa Del Balbianello; set on a wooded peninsula that juts into the lake, it was built in the late 18th century on the site of a Franciscan monastery. Noted for its exquisite landscaping and sculpture, the villa features spectacular terraced gardens ablaze with magnolias, cypresses, azaleas and more against dramatic views of the distant Alps and the famous shore of Lake Como, and appeared as a location in the James Bond film Casino Royale and in Star Wars II: Attack of the Clones. After lunch on Isola Comacina, return to Bellagio and enjoy the afternoon and evening to explore as you wish; enjoy dinner on your own tonight.
Lodging: Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni
Day 3: Travel Italy from the lakes to Venice – St. Mark’s Basilica and more
Journey across northern Italy from the lakes to Venice, among the world’s best-loved cities, designed along an intricate system of canals within a lagoon. After lunch, head to St. Mark’s Square, the heart of Venice, with a local guide. Visit Piazza San Marco (St. Mark’s Square) and St. Mark’s Basilica, one of the greatest buildings in Europe with its exquisite mosaics and detailed carving, and the Doge’s Palace, a pink marble Gothic masterpiece containing a precious art collection. Dine this evening at a popular Venetian restaurant.
Lodging: Hotel Danieli
Day 4: Explore Venice as you please
Spend the entire day exploring Venice at your leisure – your Tauck Director can offer recommendations. You may wish to explore the small islands of the Venetian Lagoon, including the lace-making island of Burano or Murano where skilled artisans still make glass in the ways of their forefathers. Possibilities on your day in Venice include a visit to the Galleria dell’Accademia, boasting one of the world’s largest collections of Venetian art, and the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, a head-turning display of modern art housed in Guggenheim’s former home on the Grand Canal, the 18th-century Palazzo Venier dei Leoni. Late afternoon, join us for a gondola cruise through the canals, complete with a serenade… the perfect ending to a perfect day.
Lodging: Hotel Danieli
Day 5: High-speed rail to Florence, guided visit of the Galleria Dell’Accademia
Travel Italy by high-speed rail today from Venice to Florence, the birthplace of the Renaissance. Get an introduction to the city’s architectural landmarks and great artists from a local art historian; view Lorenzo Ghiberti’s bronze doors with detailed panels at the Baptistry, part of the Duomo of Santa Maria del Fiori complex. Your art lecture is a fitting prelude to today’s visit to Galleria dell’Accademia, Europe’s oldest art school and home to many of the world’s most beloved paintings and sculpture, including Michelangelo’s famed statue of David. Later, a walking tour explores the historical center of Florence, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Have dinner à la carte at your leisure this evening at your hotel in the heart of the city .
Lodging: The St. Regis Florence
Day 6: Masterpieces of the Uffizi & time at leisure in Florence
We’ve made reservations for you today at Florence’s extraordinary Uffizi Gallery, Italy’s largest art museum and one of the first art galleries in the world, where you’ll gaze at some of the world’s greatest art masterpieces on a guided tour with a local expert. Admire works by Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Michelangelo, Sandro Botticelli, and more; following your tour, you can spend as much time as you like looking at the art. The rest of the day is free to explore more of Florence as you please; perhaps you may want to visit the Pitti Palace, the Medici Chapels or stroll across the Ponte Vecchio to the lovely Boboli Gardens; enjoy lunch and dinner on your own today.
Lodging: The St. Regis Florence
Day 7: Antiquities in Siena, then on to Rome through Tuscany and Umbria
Travel Italy through lush Tuscan landscapes this morning, featuring olive groves, cypress trees, and vineyards, including the region that produces Chianti wine. Stop in the medieval hill town of Siena, and wander through its narrow centuries-old streets. See the Piazza del Campo where the Palio bareback horse race is held, and visit the Duomo, one of Italy’s great cathedrals, with scenes inlaid in the marble floors and sculpture by Michelangelo. Continue through scenic Umbria and Lazio to your final destination – Rome, the Eternal City that was the center of the once-powerful Roman Empire, and is today the capital of modern Italy – for a three-night stay at one of Europe’s finest hotels. Indulge this evening in an à la carte dinner at a Roman neighbourhood restaurant known for its regional cuisine.
Lodging: The St. Regis Rome
Day 8: The Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel on an exclusive after-hours tour
Your first full day in Rome begins with a visit to one of the world’s most famous houses of worship, immense St. Peter’s Basilica, and St. Peter’s Square. The remainder of the day is free to explore Rome as you please before this evening’s Tauck Exclusive! An after-hours guided visit to the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel (subject to availability; day of the visit may vary) gives you privileged access to the treasures of the Vatican, without the day’s crowds. See the Candelabra Gallery, Map Gallery and the Tapestries; it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see some of the world’s great masterpieces, including Michelangelo’s famous Sistine Chapel ceiling frescoes, without the usual crowds. Up close and unhurried, you’ll have a chance to see firsthand why the chapel’s floor is as famous as its celebrated ceiling!
Lodging: The St. Regis Rome
Day 9: The Colosseum and glories of Imperial Rome
Get an insider’s view of Rome from a local guide on a city sightseeing tour – view such can’t-miss sights as the Roman Forum, Piazza Venezia, and the Circus Maximus – and you’ll avoid long lines with pre-arranged reservations for a visit inside the Colosseum. Opened in AD 80, the Colosseum once reigned supreme as an entertainment venue used by Roman emperors to maximise their popularity with the general public. Spend some more free time in Rome this afternoon prior to this evening’s farewell cocktail party and dinner – a special finale to your extraordinary Italy travel days from the Italian Lakes to Rome.
Lodging: The St. Regis Rome
Day 10: Arrivederci Rome
Your trip ends in Rome. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from The St. Regis Rome to Leonardo da Vinci Airport in Fiumicino; allow 3 hours for check-in.
Departures & Rates
Travel Italy style with Tauck in 2016! From Michelangelo’s statue of David to the echoes of gladiators at Rome’s Colosseum, the art and drama of the ages inspire this journey. Pre-arranged reservations mean you see the Colosseum in Rome – without long lines. View the inspiring treasures of the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel during a special after-hours guided visit – a Tauck Exclusive!
Confirmed reservations provide an opportunity to view the original works of the masters at the Uffizi Gallery and Galleria dell’Accademia in Florence. Enjoy confirmed reservations at the Doge’s Palace in Venice, see St. Mark’s Square, and take a gondola ride on the canals complete with a serenade. Visit the medieval town of Siena in the Tuscan countryside. Take a high-speed train ride to Florence. And of course, you’ll also have ample time to pursue what interests you most in Venice, Florence, and Rome when you travel Italy with Tauck!
Rates
| Departure Date | Prices From |
| 21Apr16 | US$6,175 |
| 23May16, 02Jun16 or 23Jun16 | US$6,675 |
| 04Jul16 or 18Aug16 | US$6,375 |
| 08Sep16 | US$7,875 |
| 12Sep16 or 22Se16 | US$6,875 |
| 29Sep16 | US$7,875 |
| 03Oct16 or 13Oct16 | US$6,375 |
Fares Include
- TAUCKS YELLOW ROADS! Traverse Lake Como’s stunning shoreline and Lombardy’s pastoral landscapes to Venice
- TAUCK EXCLUSIVE! An after-hours guided visit to the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel, without the crowds and without being rushed a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see the treasures of the Vatican unhurried
- Confirmed reservations at the Doge’s Palace, Uffizi Gallery, Galleria dell’Accademia, and Rome’s Colosseum – discover the world’s great art and architecture without waiting in long lines
- High-speed train travel with first-class seating, from Venice to Florence
- Lecture by an art historian in Florence, setting the stage for guided museum visits
- Gliding through the historic canals of Venice aboard a gondola as local musicians serenade you with traditional Italian songs
- Airport transfers upon arrival and departure
- 17 meals (9 breakfasts, 3 lunches and 5 dinners)
- Service charges, gratuities to local guides, admission fees, taxes and porterage
Special Solo traveller Savings – on select special departures you save US$300 on the single room price; specific dates apply – select “Singles Departures” in the pull-down menu above for complete pricing.
Prices are per person twin share in USD and are subject to availablity and change. Itinerary may differ at time of booking. Fares are based on the lowest available and may differ at time of booking. For more information and full terms and conditions please contact one of our travel specialists.
*Rates are subject to availability and seasonality and may change without notice. Rates are based on two adults sharing. For solo travellers or single person occupancy rates or further information on terms and conditions, please contact our Travel Specialists at time of booking.
