This trip to Italy is purposely kept small, no more than 16 guests, so that each one feels the personalized care that we have put into the Experience. You will never feel as though you are being herded around like so many cattle. It is our goal to introduce you to the real Italy by meeting and mingling with the locals and seeing those small out of the way places that large tour buses often miss. We keep bus time to a minimum and let you Experience the exciting range of transportation modes that Italy has to offer. We will have short train rides as well as breathtaking boat trips. Through all this a multilingual guide will never be more than a few steps away. From time to time we will pick up local experts to direct your attention to the most interesting sights of the city.
Your trip with us will be a deluxe journey through Italy’s rich history, art, and culture. All this is offered at the price typically charged for a budget bus tour.
Trip Itenerary and Pricing...
Day 1
- 4:00pm All arrive at Jet Hotel in Gallarate near Milan to check into hotel
- 5:00pm Depart by taxi and train for Milan city center and dinner together
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Day 2
- 9:30am - 12:30pm City tour of Milan to include The last Supper
- 12:30pm-2:00pm Lunch on your own
- 3:00pm -5:45pm Train to Florence
- 6:00pm Transfer to Hotel Balcone for 3 night stay.
- 7:00pm-8:30pm Orientation tour of Florence
- 8:30pm Dinner
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Day 3
- 8:42am Train to Arezzo: walking tour of town followed by free time, lunch on your own.
- 4:42pm or 6:42pm Train back to Florence.
- 8:00pm Dinner
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Day 4
- 9:00am Tour Florence’s market, lunch,then walking tour of Florence with Ufizi or Acadamia, dinner on your own
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Day 5
- 9:30am Leave Florence by small bus for Monteriggioni, have lunch and walk around town
- 1:30pm Travel to Volterra
- 2:30pm Arrive in Volterra. Check into Hotel Nazionale for 3 night stay
- 3:30pm Orientation tour of Volterra followed by dinner on your own.
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Day 6
- 9:30am 10:45om Bus to San Gimignano
- 10:45am -2:00pm Walking tour of town then lunch on your own.
- 2:00pm-3:00pm Bus to Siena
- 3:00pm - 6:30 Walking tour of Siena
- 6:00pm - 7:30pm Bus to Volterra followed by dinner & wine tasting
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Day 7
- 10:00am-3:00pm Bus to Populonia and Gulf of Baratti then Lunch at Bar Risorante Pizzeria For Ever in San Vincenzo
- 3:00pm-4:30pm Free time to explore Volterra dinner on your own
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Day 8
- Morning free to see what you missed in Volterra - today is market day.
- 1:00pm-2:30pm Picnic in the park: we will have purchased items from the market
- 2:30pm-3:30pm Bus to Lucca
- 3:30pm-4:00pm Check into Albergo Magnolia for 3 night stay
- 4:00pm-6:00pm Orientation tour of Lucca, dinner on your own
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Day 9
- Visit to a vineyard with wine and olive oil tasting and tour of the wine operation followed by lunch.
- Dinner on your own
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Day 10
- Train to Pisa
- Spend morning in Pisa
- Return to Lucca by 3:00pm for cooking class
- Dinner: dine on what you cooked
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Day 11
- 9:30am 11:30am Bus to Portovenere
- 12:00pm Check into hotel Belvedere for a 2 night stay
- 1:00pm-2:30 Lunch
- 2:30pm Orientation tour of Portovenere followed by free time with dinner on your own
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Day 12
- Free Day in Cinque Terre: boat tickets/Maps/ Cinque Terre Cards provided, enjoy the beautiful scenery and picturesque villages
- Return by 8:00pm for dinner
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Day 13
- 9:00am-12:00pm Bus to Stresa on Lake Maggiore
- 12:00pm Check into Hotel Moderno for a 2 night stay
- 1:00pm Lunch at Hotel
- 2:30pm Orientation tour of Stresa
- Dinner on your own
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Day 14
- 9:00am Free day: boat ticket to anywhere the boat goes (as far as Switzerland if you like) or take the tram to the top of the mountain for a view of the Swiss Alps on a clear day
- Return to hotel by 7:30 for Farewell Dinner
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Day 15
- Travel to airport and return home
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