Ready for a family vacation like none you’ve ever experienced before? Do you want your children to learn about history, art, and new cultures not just from textbooks, but also from real-life experiences? If so, this trip to Italy is waiting for you. Of course, you’ll see some of the famous sights you’d expect to see on a tour to Italy—the Colosseum and Sistine Chapel in Rome, St. Mark’s Square in Venice, Michelangelo’s David in Florence, and the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

Additionally, you’ll have the opportunity to participate in family experiences, such as a pizza party in Florence and a gelato tasting in Montecatini. Return home with a carnival mask you decorated in Venice and a family photo with a gladiator at Rome’s Colosseum (if available). These souvenirs—not to mention the memories and stories you’ll create on this tour—will be treasured for life. So this year, redefine what a family vacation should be and enjoy this fabulous trip to Italy.

Day 1 Arrive in Rome, Italy
Benvenuti a Roma! Welcome! Time to rest or start exploring the “Eternal City.” At 5 pm, get acquainted with your Tour Director and the other families, then enjoy an Italian welcome dinner at your hotel. (Dinner)

Day 2 Discover Rome’s History
This morning your Local Guide will take you on a journey through Rome’s dramatic history. Start with a trip to the smallest country in the world, Vatican City, the papal enclave inside Rome. Visit the VATICAN MUSEUMS and SISTINE CHAPEL, famous for Michelangelo’s ceiling paintings. Continue to monumental ST. PETER’S SQUARE with it’s 83-foot-high obelisk and visit the impressive BASILICA that covers an area of almost 4 acres. Cross the Tiber River to visit the imposing COLOSSEUM, which could seat 50,000 spectators. Learn about life as a gladiator and get a FAMILY PICTURE WITH A GLADIATOR (if available). The remainder of the day is at leisure for an optional excursion. (Breakfast)

Day 3 Michelangelo’s David & Pizza Party in Florence
Travel to Renaissance Florence, the capital of Tuscany, where your Local Guide will take you to the ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS to see Michelangelo’s celebrated David. Also admire the magnificent cathedral, Giotto’s Bell Tower, the Baptistry’s heavy bronze “Gate of Paradise,” and visit sculpture-filled SIGNORIA SQUARE. Enjoy a festive PIZZA PARTY lunch at a local restaurant, where a chef demonstrates just how Italian pizzas are made! Later, drive to the famous Tuscan spa town of Montecatini, where your hotel is located. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 4 Excursion to Pisa & a Gelato in Montecatini
Today, journey to Pisa to admire the cathedral, the baptistry on Campo dei Miracoli, and take pictures of the amazing Leaning Tower, 180 feet high and no less than 12 feet out of the perpendicular. Later, back in Montecatini, enjoy a homemade GELATO at a typical gelateria. Time to relax at the pool or to check out the medieval village of Montecatini Alto. This evening, taste this famous region’s specialties at an optional Tuscan dinner in a local agriturismo farm. (Breakfast)

Day 5 Discover Venice
Drive across the Apennine Hills to magical Venice. Enter the city in style by PRIVATE BOAT, then meet your Local Guide for a walking tour that includes ST. MARK’S SQUARE and BASILICA, famous for its spectacular mosaics; the Clock Tower; DOGES’ PALACE and the BRIDGE OF SIGHS, which connects the palace’s former interrogation room to the prison where convicts caught their final glimpse of Venice from the barred windows overlooking the canal. (Breakfast)

Day 6 Venetian Carnival Mask, Gondola Serenade & Burano Island
Enjoy the unique experience of decorating your own VENETIAN CARNIVAL MASK at an authentic Venetian workshop. When your mask is finished, use the included vaporetto ticket to return to the hotel or find a cozy trattoria for lunch. Later, admire Venice’s bridges and canals while being serenaded by live music on your included GONDOLA RIDE, then a farewell dinner on picturesque BURANO ISLAND, famous for its lace-making and colorful houses. (Breakfast, Dinner)

Day 7 Venice
Arriverderci. Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (Breakfast)

Vacation Highlights

INCLUDED FEATURES

Rome
Welcome dinner; guided sightseeing, visit the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel, St. Peter’s Square and Basilica, and the Colosseum; family picture with a gladiator (if available)

Florence
Guided walking tour, visit the Academy of Fine Arts to see Michelangelo’s David, admire the cathedral and Signoria Square; pizza party at a local restaurant

Pisa
Marvel at the legendary Leaning Tower

Montecatini
Taste Italian gelato

Venice
Private boat ride; guided walking tour, visit St. Mark’s Square and Basilica, Doges’ Palace and the Bridge of Sighs; Venetian Carnival mask decorating; vaporetto ride; gondola ride; farewell dinner on Burano Island

Headsets throughout the tour

Note:
Family Travel vacations require at least one member of the traveling party to be under the age of 21

INSIDE VISITS
Inside visits and special features are shown in the description, including admission charges when applicable.

MEALS
Full buffet breakfast; 1 pizza party lunch in Florence; 3 three-course dinners, including a welcome dinner in Rome and a farewell dinner on Burano Island

SUPERIOR HOTELS - (D) Deluxe (SF) Superior First-Class (F) First-Class
ROME Starhotels Michelangelo (SF), TUSCANY Francia e Quirinale (F) at Montecatini, VENICE ISLAND San Clemente Palace Hotel & Resort (D)