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Northern Italy Tour (9 Days and 8 Nights)

Vacation Code: EVNIT982014
9 Days and 8 Nights
11 Meals: (8 Breakfasts, 3 Dinners)

Tour Description > View Itinerary

Spend nine days and eight nights exploring some of Italy’s most beautiful cities and sites. Your tour begins in Rome, Italy’s capital city. This trip also includes Umbrian hill towns and Tuscan cities. You will make stops at spectacular lakes and grand mountain ranges, see high fashion and the canals of Venice. See below for a comprehensive description of your Northern Italy Tour.

From Italy’s capital city you will travel to Florence, stopping along the way to see the tons of Assisi and Siena.

**This tour departs in the early morning. Please be sure to schedule your flight plans properly as to arrive in Rome the day before the tour departure.

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Itinerary

ITINERARY AT A GLANCE

Day 1: Rome – Assisi – Siena – Florence
Day 2: Florence
Day 3: Florence – Bologna – Padova – Venice
Day 4: Venice – Milan
Day 5: Milan – Lake Orta – Stresa – Como
Day 6: Como – Bellagio – Varenna – Bergamo – Brescia
Day 7: Brescia – Sirmione – Lake Garda – Verona
Day 8: Verona – Milan
Day 9: Milan

Day 1: Rome – Assisi – Siena – Florence

Rise and shine for an early departure from the Hotel Diana at 7:15am via deluxe motor coach to your first destination: the lovely town of Assisi in the Umbrian Region.

Assisi: Birthplace of St. Francis, Assisi boasts breathtaking churches, two medieval castles, and enough stunning art to keep even the most avid art-lover happy! Use your free time to visit the Basilica of St. Francesco, a World Heritage Site, and view the frescoes of Giotto and Cimabue. After lunch (not included), we’ll head to the Tuscan city of Siena.

Siena: This stately city, surrounded by ancient walls, is known for its breathtaking Romanesque cathedral, its architecturally-stunning town hall, the shell-shaped Piazza del Campo – home to the famous Palio horse race, and numerous elaborate villas.

Upon leaving Siena, we’ll head to Florence where we’ll enjoy dinner and an overnight stay.

Day 2: Florence

Enjoy breakfast before heading out to explore Italy’s most cultural city, beautiful Florence.

This city of Etruscan – Roman origins flourished in the Middle Ages as a free commune. Now the most populated city in Tuscany, Florence is recognized as the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance and is lauded for its magnificent sites. You’ll visit the architectural gem of Florence – the domed cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, better known as The Duomo. This 14th century masterpiece is visible throughout the city and is the most-visited attraction in Florence. The tour will then proceed to the Campanile (bell tower), partly designed by Giotto, and the accompanying Baptistery, graced with spectacular bronze doors that artist Michelangelo dubbed “The Gates of Paradise.” Other city sites include the Florence Accademia Gallery (not included) – where visitors can view Michelangelo’s David, the Ufizzi Gallery, the Palazzo Vecchio, and the Ponte Vechhio, Florence’s oldest bridge.

Enjoy breakfast before heading out to explore Italy’s most cultural city, beautiful Florence.

Pisa (Optional) 43 euros per person: Known, of course, for its famous Leaning Tower, Pisa achieved notoreity as one of Italy’s four 11th century Maritime Republics and was the birthplace of physicist/astronomer Galileo. While in Pisa, we’ll take time to admire the Square of Miracles where we’ll find the lovely Duomo, the quirky Leaning Tower, and many other notable sites.

Upon return to Florence, we’ll eat dinner and settle in for an overnight stay.

Day 3: Florence – Bologna – Padova – Venice

Start the day with a delicious breakfast and then depart for Bologna.

Bologna: Known for its excellent quality of life, Bologna has a strong industrial tradition and is lauded for its medieval towers and ramparts and its many elegant porticos. We’ll visit the Piazza del Nettuno with its beautiful Neptune fountain, Piazza Maggiore, and other sites in the heart of the city like King Renzo’s Palace, the Podestà Palace, and the Basilica of San Petronio, one of the largest basilicas in the world.

In the afternoon, we will continue towards the town of Padova.

Padova: Where Shakespeare set his “Taming of the Shrew.” Here, visitors can view the 13th century Pisano-designed Sant’ Antonio Basilica and other historic structures.

In the evening, head for Venice, world-famous for its canals and gondolas and its numerous museums, palazzi, churches, and villas. Enjoy dinner and an overnight stay in the city the New York Times called “undoubtedly the most beautiful city ever built by man”.

Day 4: Venice – Milan

After breakfast in your Venice hotel your journey continues on to Italy’s fashion capital city, Milan (departure at around 8:30am). Once there, you will have the rest of the day to explore this metropolitan city before checking in to your hotel. Make sure to visit Milan’s Duomo, a Gothic style cathedral that is the third largest church in Christendom. Stroll the streets that make up the chic Quadrilatero d’Oro (Rectangle of Gold.) This is where you will find the biggest Italian designer names, including Prada, Aramani and Missoni. Leonardo da Vinci’s masterpiece The Last Supper is in the church of Santa Maria della Grazie. Overnight in Milan.

Transfer from Venice to Milan will be made by either train, minivan or bus depending on the number of people in the group (to be confirmed 7 to 10 days prior to departure).

Day 5: Milan – Lake Orta – Stresa – Como

Your morning starts with an 8:30 am departure for Lake Orta, a small and charming lake in the Piedmont region, stopping in the beautiful village of Orta San Giulio for a short visit. Next it is time for a boat tour to the island of San Giulio where you can visit the pearl of the lake, the Monastery Mater Ecclesie famous for studies of antique books. You will take a ferry back to Orta and travel by bus to the town of Stresa, on Lake Maggiore one of the Italy’s largest lakes. The clear, glacial, Lake Maggiore is wedged into the foothills of the alps and is framed by the Novara hills and high snowcapped mountain peaks. These geographic features create a microclimate that is milder in winter and cooler in summer than the surrounding region. Explore the town of resort town of Stresa before an afternoon boat tour of the Pescatori island (Fishermen island.) This enchanting island is full of simple houses, narrow lanes and stone passageways. You will continue on to Bella Island to visit the Borromeo Palace and its magnificent gardens. You will travel to nearby Como to your hotel for night.

Day 6: Como – Bellagio – Varenna – Bergamo – Brescia

Enjoy breakfast at your hotel before setting off on a short visit of Como, a picturesque town with amazing natural views of mountains, the spectacular Lake Como, and wild alpine valleys. Lake Como is famous for its Y shape with its three branches intersecting at the town of Bellagio, where you will visit by boat. Bellagio is home to the one of the most renowned waterfronts in Italy. Spend some time strolling this picturesque village with its small streets, luxury hotels, villas, and gardens, stopping for lunch in one of the many cafés in town (not included). Back on the boat, you will make your way to the village of Varenna that afternoon. You will have a panoramic tour of Varenna before moving on to Bergamo. Bergamo is a truly a historic and artistic jewel characterized by its division of urban structure. The “lower town” (città bassa) is modern and dynamic, while the “upper town” (città alta) houses the city’s medieval history. After a short walking tour of in the city center, depart to Brescia, where you will settle in to your hotel for the night.

Day 7: Brescia – Sirmione – Lake Garda – Verona

Lake Garda, the largest lake in Italy, is the next destination. After breakfast at your hotel, you will have a panoramic tour of the lake’s western coast. Take in the splendid natural scenery: brilliant colors, the Dolomite mountains of Brenta, and the gentle slopes of the Morainic hills. Enjoy the area’s rich vegetation, including lemon trees, oleanders, magnolias, and bougainvilla that flourishes thanks to the mediterranean climate. Be sure to taste some of the locally produced olive oil and wines. Next, it is on to Sirmione, where you will see Lake Garda and its surroundings at their finest. Highlights of your boat tour of the area include Sirmione castle, and Catullo’s ruins. Back on land, you will have free time for lunch before departing for Riva del Garda located on the north side of the lake, where you will see the towns Venetian-style historic center. Verona will be your final stop of the day, where you will check in to your hotel for the night.

Day 8: Verona – Milan

p>Have breakfast at your hotel before setting out to see the famous city of Verona, a work of art in itself. This fascinating city is crossroads of historical periods and cultures both classical and germanic. Verona is is a blend of both northern and mediterranean influences and is both ancient and modern. A walk through the narrow streets will allow you to experience Verona’s varied and fascinating past. You will see traces of its splendid roman origins, its medieval structures, its magnificent renaissance palaces, and the impressive fortifications protecting it. It is a fascinating combination of art and history. You have time for lunch in Verona before departing for Milan, where your tour will come to an end.

Day 9: Milan

Breakfast at the hotel and end of services.

Not ready to go home yet? Having too much fun exploring magnificent Italy? Your travel specialist will review all the options available to you at the end of the trip, including an extended opportunity to explore the country or the option of spending an extra night in Rome. If you must go, you’ll head to the airport for your return home. Remember, we are always eager to help you create the travel experience you desire, so don’t hesitate to ask if you’d like to keep your travel options open!

Hotel Accommodations:

4 star hotel pricing available

Additional Information:

The tour includes:

  • Transportation by deluxe motor coach
  • Multilingual tour guide and escort
  • Accommodation at the hotels
  • Meals as per itinerary
  • Panoramic visits as per itinerary
  • Luggage service: 1 piece of luggage and 1 carry-on per person
  • Taxes and fees
  • 24 hour emergency hotline

The tour does not include:

  • Tips
  • Optional Tours
  • Drinks and extras in hotel
  • Entrance fees to monuments and museums not included in the itinerary
  • Everything that is not mentioned in "The tour includes" section
  • Extra luggage may incur an additional fee
  • Florence Hotel Taxes (4 euros per person per day) to be paid directly to hotel
  • Venice Hotel Taxes (4 euros per person per day) to be paid directly to hotel
  • Milan Hotel Taxes (4 euros per person per day) to be paid directly to hotel
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