Superb travel Italy style! 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 Tour 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 private boat across Lake Como at the foot of the Alps, and 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 to Italy.

Day 1 Arrive in Milan, then on to cocktails in Lugano Meals D
Tour begins 6:00 PM, Hotel Splendide Royal Lugano. A transfer is included from Milan's Malpensa Airport to Hotel Splendide Royal Lugano in Lugano. As you travel Italy, 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 Lugano, Switzerland – an Italian-style city set on the edge of a bejeweled lake with views of the not-too-distant Alps. Enjoy free time to explore the waterfront promenade, then meet fellow traveling companions at a welcome cocktail reception and dinner.

Lodging Hotel Splendide Royal Lugano

Day 2 Villa delights and a cruise on Lake Como Meals B
Your travels take you to Tremezzo to visit Villa Carlotta, built in the late 17th century, and noted for garden landscaping and sculpture. Admire the dramatic views of the Alps silhouetting the famous villas along the shores of Lake Como as you cruise to Bellagio; enjoy free time to explore the picturesque town as you please. Cruise past some of Italy's most elegant lakeside villas to Como. Return to Lugano, where the evening is free to spend as you wish.

Lodging Hotel Splendide Royal Lugano

Day 3 Travel Italy from the fabulous lakes to Venice Meals B, L, D
Journey to Venice, 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 carvings. See the Doge's Palace, a pink marble Gothic masterpiece containing a precious art collection. A serenade aboard a gondola cruise through the canals, and dinner at a popular Venetian restaurant, are the perfect endings to a perfect day.

Lodging Hotel Danieli

Day 4 Explore Venice as you please Meals B
Spend the whole day exploring the museums and sites that interest you most in remarkable Venice, a highlight as you travel Italy. Perhaps tour the Galleria dell'Accademia or the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, or take a boat ride to the many islands in the Venetian Lagoon.

Lodging Hotel Danieli

Day 5 By rail to the art treasures of Florence Meals B, L, D
Travel Italy by high-speed Eurostar 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 great prepartion for today's visit to Galleria dell'Accademia, home to many of the world's most beloved paintings and sculpture. Later, a walking tour explores the historical center of Florence, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Lodging The Westin Excelsior, Florence

Day 6 Reservations at the Uffizi and then... Meals B
Gaze at some of the world's greatest art masterpieces at the extraordinary Uffizi Gallery, Italy's largest art museum, 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. During your free afternoon you can explore 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.

Lodging The Westin Excelsior, Florence

Day 7 Explore the antiquities of Siena and on to Rome Meals B, D
Travel Italy through the verdant landscapes of Tuscany, Umbria and Lazio today, 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 Tuscany 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.

Lodging St. Regis Grand Hotel, Rome

Day 8 Discover the Vatican's treasures on an exclusive after-hours tour Meals B
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 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 St. Regis Grand Hotel, Rome

Day 9 An extraordinary day in Imperial Rome Meals B, D
Get an insider's view of Rome from a local guide on a city sightseeing tour – you'll see 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 at the Colosseum. Opened in AD 80, the Colosseum once reigned supreme as an entertainment venue used by Roman emperors to maximize their popularity with the general public. Spend some additional free time in Rome this afternoon prior to this evening's farewell cocktail party and dinner - a special finale to special Italy travel days from the Italian Lakes to Rome.

Lodging St. Regis Grand Hotel, Rome

Day 10 Arrivederci Rome Meals B
Your trip ends in Rome. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from St. Regis Grand Hotel, Rome to Leonardo da Vinci Airport in Fiumicino; allow 3 hours for check-in.

ACCOMMODATIONS

Nights 1 - 2 : Hotel Splendide Royal Lugano - Lugano, Switzerland
With an elegant ambiance befitting the palace it once was, Hotel Splendide Royal Lugano, in a truly splendid location on the shore of Lake Ceresio, has been a favorite of royalty and celebrities since it first opened in 1888. Featuring an Italian marble bathroom with robes, slippers and a hair dryer, comfortable guest rooms also provide flat-screen TV with cable and satellite channels, individual climate control, complimentary LAN Internet connection, in-room safe and a minibar. A dip in the oyster-shaped indoor swimming pool is refreshing after a long day of traveling or sightseeing and there’s a fitness corner to work out the kinks. Restaurant La Veranda serves light Italian cuisine and flambé specialties against a backdrop of a spectacular view of Lake Ceresio, with al fresco dining on the Terrazza in good weather. Enjoy international hors d’oeuvres and snacks to accompany your favorite cocktail in the casual, refined atmosphere of the Emerald Bar. Hotel Splendide Royal Lugano is a member of The Leading Hotels of the World.

Nights 3 - 4 : Hotel Danieli - Venice, Italy
Set directly on the waterfront, the legendary Hotel Danieli is mere steps away from Venice's world-famous Piazza San Marco, St. Mark’s Basilica and the Doge's Palace. This beautiful hotel more than deserves its coveted five-star rating. With its own origins as a palace of the Doge Dandolo in the late 14th century, its authentic historic ambiance artfully combines the definition of luxury down through the ages with thoroughly modern luxurious comforts and conveniences. The view from Restaurant Terrazza Danieli – its famed, newly restyled rooftop terrace restaurant – represents the same viewpoint once enjoyed by Venetian noblemen watching merchant ships arrive from the East... and it's not to be missed!

Nights 5 - 6 : The Westin Excelsior, Florence - Florence, Italy
Voted one of the 500 best hotels in the world by the readers of Travel + Leisure and named to the prestigious Gold List by Condé Nast Traveler, 5-star The Westin Excelsior, Florence richly deserves those accolades. Located in the very heart of fabulous Florence, close to the Uffizi Gallery, Pitti Palace and the Ponte Vecchio, this deluxe hotel offers both luxurious ambiance and top-notch service. The richly decorated, air-conditioned guest rooms feature Westin’s signature Heavenly Bed® as well as appreciated amenities such as satellite TV channels and in-room movies, hairdryer and bathrobes, high-speed Internet access, minibar and an in-room safe. The WestinWORKOUT gym is the place to head to keep up with your exercise routine. The glass-enclosed roof garden with views out over Florence is home to a posh, retro restaurant featuring Italian culinary methods and cutting-edge ideas. Surround yourself with Tuscan style in the ORVM Bar as you begin or end your evening.

Nights 7 - 9 : St. Regis Grand Hotel, Rome - Rome, Italy
St. Regis Grand Hotel, Rome is most conveniently located in the center of the city, within walking distance of the Spanish Steps, the Trevi Fountain and Via Veneto. The readers of Travel + Leisure have deemed St. Regis Grand Hotel, Rome to be one of the best 500 hotels in the world for very good reasons. This palace of a hotel was opened by the legendary Cesar Ritz as the first deluxe hotel in Rome in 1894, and it has steadfastly maintained his high standard of service and his insistence upon elegantly opulent surroundings for his guests. Welcoming guest rooms feature a hand-painted fresco depicting a Roman scene, flat-screen LCD TV with cable channels, in-room movies, luxury bed linens and hypo-allergic pillows, a marble bathroom with separate tub and shower, bathrobes and slippers, hairdryer, Reméde toiletries, a minibar and more. The Fitness Center is equipped with treadmills, free weights and TechnoGym equipment. Le Grand Bar, named the best bar in Rome by Newsweek magazine, reflects the Belle Époque ambiance of the hotel lobby and offers both afternoon tea and Mediterranean cuisine in addition to popular Italian cocktails such as the Bellini and the Negroni.

SPECIAL CULINARY-THEMED DATES
On select Italian Lakes, Venice, Florence & Rome departure dates, it’s all about Italian cuisine – and cultural influences – on specially priced culinary-themed trips; visit the home of a Venice chef for a lesson in Venetian cuisine, shop at a market, delve into family cuisine – Tuscany-style – and more.

INCLUDED
Tour prices are per person in U.S. dollars. All hotel accommodations, motor coach transportation, first-class accommodations on the Eurostar train from Venice to Florence, the private boat ride across Lake Como, special dinners, sightseeing, porterage, admissions, and the services of local guides, drivers and the Tour Director are included. Transportation from Milan Malpensa or Linate Airport, or Milan Central Train Station to the Hotel Splendide Royal is included, regardless of the time you check in to the hotel, provided you have furnished us with accurate flight arrival information at least two weeks prior to t he start of the tour. If you are arriving into another local train station please retain a receipt for your transfer and submit it to your Tour Director for reimbursement. Transportation from The St. Regis Grand Hotel, Rome to Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino or Ciampino Airport in Rome or Rome Terminal Train Station (Roma Termini) is also included when you check out of the hotel. Transportation to and from airports and train stations may be shared with other guests.

Hotel Accommodations – The tour price includes all hotel accommodations with private baths. Our standard is to provide the best available accommodations without sacrificing value. Although the quality may differ slightly from one hotel to another, our commitment to your comfort is unwavering. Two-bedded rooms are reserved in most hotels. Triples are usually two-bedded rooms plus a rollaway cot and are not recommended for comfort.

Meals – Most meals are included as specified in the itinerary.

Tour Director – Italian Lakes, Venice, Florence & Rome is conducted by a Tour Director who remains with the group throughout the duration of the tour. Your Tour Director is a professional, fully trained employee.

Gratuities Included – All customary gratuities for hotel and restaurant staff and local guides are included.

No Options Sold - Your Tour Director will assist you with information on free-time activities based on honest opinion and guidance, but will not sell you anything. This means better value and a more relaxed and pleasant experience for you.

NOT INCLUDED
Transportation to the tour departure point and from the tour ending point is not included. Airfare may be purchased from us for travel originating in the United States.

Hotel Rooms Before and After Tours – To avoid jet lag and possible flight delays, you may wish to make hotel arrangements for the nights preceding or following your tour. As a service, we will book additional nights for you on a space-available basis using special rates only available through us. Hotel room charges will be added to the tour cost. Train and airport transfers are included for these extended stays as described above under Inclusive Prices. If you wish to spend additional nights, please consult Extend Your Trip in the Accommodations section above on this webpage and discuss it with your reservations sales consultant or travel agent when you book your tour.

Luggage Responsibility – Although every effort is made to handle your luggage carefully, we cannot be responsible, assume liability or accept claims for loss or damage to luggage and personal effects due to breakage, theft, or fair wear and tear through hotel, airline and group carrier handling. It is important for your own self-interest and protection that you make certain you have adequate insurance to cover these eventualities. Please refer to the Travel Protection Product section below for more information.

Lost luggage is an unfortunate possibility in today's world of airline travel. We suggest that you:
Pack at least one change of clothing in your carry-on bag
Split your items between your suitcase and a traveling companion's suitcase
Do not pack any vital medications or valuables in your checked luggage
Confirm that your luggage is checked and tagged to your final destination at airport check-in
Place your luggage claim tags in a secure place for your flight
File a claim for any missing luggage immediately before leaving the baggage claim area
Secure a case number and contact information for follow-up communications
Make certain that the airline has your onward itinerary Your Tour Director will assist you with airline and other carrier communications, but has no inside contacts to guarantee or expedite recovery of lost luggage. All recovery costs, including the communication costs, are your responsibility. Check your travel protection details for covered expenses.

Personal Expenses such as phone calls, room service, alcoholic and other beverages not specifically included, laundry, dry cleaning, airline excess luggage charges, vaccinations, visa fees and services, airport arrival and departure taxes, individual train and airport transfers (when applicable), and other optional or incidental extras are not included and may be significant.

Tour Director Gratuities - The customary gratuities for the Tour Director and local drivers are not included. We ask that gratuities be extended on a voluntary, individual basis and not as a group.   

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Prices:
From approx $6,190 US dollars, per person based on double occupancy