Italy's Great Cities

Welcome to Rome! At 5 pm, meet your Tour Director and travel companions for a welcome dinner at a local restaurant. (D)

Roman Holiday Discover the timeless beauty of the Eternal City during your guided sightseeing. Be transported back to the times of Ancient Rome when you stand in the Colosseum and hear stories of Gladiators and Emperors. Discover more of Rome’s most celebrated monuments with a guided walk to admire the Pantheon,Piazza Navona with its Baroque fountains, and throw coins in the Trevi Fountain.* Depart Rome and drive through the rolling green hills of Umbria to Assisi. [LOCAL FAVORITE] A real treat awaits with a tasting of regional wines at a local cantina. (B,D) 140 mi / 225 km * For operational reasons, schedule changes for the Rome program cannot be excluded. LOCAL FAVORITE LOCAL TASTES For two generations, the same family has cared for hectares of fertile ground: an expanse of vines and olives, figs and fruit trees stretching through the valley to the foot of Assisi. Take in the scent of the excellent wine in this timeless cellar and experience a wine tasting in in this blissful vineyard in the Umbrian countryside.

Medieval Marvels The stunning hilltop town of Assisi is an important center for both religion and art and is the birthplace of St. Francis. Free time this morning to independently visit the Basilica of St Francis or stroll along medieval streets before continuing north to Venice Island. (B) 249 mi / 400 km TOUR HIGHLIGHT ICONIC FOOTSTEPS Walk in the footsteps of St. Francis of Assisi with a visit to the Basilica named after the deacon, friar, and mystic, who became one of the most venerated religious figures in Christianity. Revered for his love of the Eucharist and the Earth, Francis found communion with God through nature here in this Italian village where he lived and died. Marvel at the magnificent frescoes by Italian master Giotto that adorn the Basilica where the saint is buried.

Spend your day your way in Venice Enjoy a private boat ride along the Giudeca Canal. Prepare for breathtaking views as you sail in front of the entrance to St Mark’s Square. On disembarkation, walk to an historic vetreria (glass factory) to meet a local glassblower and learn how the world-famous Murano glass is created. Explore more of Venice with your choice of included Globus Choice excursions. Location, Location, Location! Once described by Napoleon as "the world's most beautiful drawing room," St. Mark's Square remains the beating heart of Venice. After a short stroll through some picturesque calli (alleyways), take a seat in a historic café for a taste of Venetian café culture. Enjoy a refreshment served with unrivaled views of Venetian landmarks! Palaces & Pontoons Your Local Guide shares legendary stories on a Venice walking tour, featuring iconic St. Mark s Square, with views of its landmark columns, Basilica, and Clock Tower. Enjoy skip-the-line access and guided visit to magnificent Doge s Palace, with its lavish rooms and infamous Bridge of Sighs which offered a final glimpse of the outside world to prisoners crossing to prison. Spend free time this afternoon and evening exploring more of the island. (B)

The Tilted Tower Drive across the Apennine Mountains, affectionately referred to as Italy’s backbone, into Tuscany. Enjoy a stop in Pisa to visit the Square of Miracles, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and location of one of the most iconic monuments in the world – the Leaning Tower of Pisa. This evening, arrive in Florence. (B) 261 mi / 420 km TOUR HIGHLIGHT ART & ARCHITECTURE See architecture gone askew from the viewpoint of the Piazza dei Miracoli in Pisa. Take the ultimate selfie in front of the Leaning Tower with a tilt of the head or other popular poses to commemorate your visit to the site of medieval art in this beautiful piazza.

Fine Art in Firenze Florence is one of Italy’s most celebrated cities. Meet your local guide for a visit of the Academy of Fine Arts, to see the David statue one of Michelangelo’s greatest masterpieces, followed by a walk through the historic center, stopping to admire and learn more about the cathedral, Giotto’s Bell Tower, the massive bronze doors of the Baptistry’s “Gates of Paradise,” and the sculptures of Signoria Square. Free time this afternoon and evening. (B) TOUR HIGHLIGHT ART & ARCHITECTURE Those lucky enough to visit the Tuscan capital are witness to some of the world’s most magnificent art. Home to a wealth of Rennaissance masterpieces, Florence is famous for Michelangelo’s Marble Masterpiece, David, standing ready for battle in the Academy of Fine Arts. Outside, the Piazza del Duomo and Signoria Square offer spectacular sights of Florentine Gothic and Renaissance art, architecture, and monuments.

La Dolce Vita Join an orientation walk through the medieval streets to the Piazza del Campo, the hub of this delightful city. Twice a year this square is the venue of the Palio, a horse race fiercely contended between the local contrade (city wards). [LOCAL FAVORITE] Taste the traditional sweets of panforte and ricciarelli before returning to Rome. (B) 193 mi / 310 km LOCAL FAVORITE LOCAL TASTES A mouth-watering mix of almonds, egg white, honey, sugar, and the pleasing aroma of almond paste are baked into each bite of ricciarelli. Doused with sugar, these oval shaped biscuits are sold by the dozens throughout Siena. Why not make it a baker’s dozen of delight with a slice of panforte? This chewy flourless cake is rich with candied fruit and almonds with a hint of spices. What was once a medieval delicacy prepared for monks and nuns in The Lands of Siena, panforte (strong bread) is now a sweet staple served in virtually every pastry shop you’re lucky enough to pass.

Arrivederci, Roma Enter the Vatican City State for a guided visit of the extensive Vatican Museums featuring the Sistine Chapel, lift your eyes to the heavens and marvel at Michelangelo’s masterpiece ceiling before continuing to St. Peter’s Square to see the spectacular St. Peter’s Basilica. This evening, enjoy a farewell dinner at a local restaurant.* (B,D) * For operational reasons, schedule changes for the Rome program cannot be excluded. TOUR HIGHLIGHT LEGENDARY LIVES Stand in awe and wonder amid one of mankind’s greatest artistic achievements in the Sistine Chapel. Hear how in 1508, a young Michelangelo was commissioned by Pope Julius II to decorate the chapel’s ceiling – a request not welcomed by the 33-year-old sculptor. Michelangelo’s 4-year project was indeed one of physical pain and psychological distress, while painting from scaffolds high above the sanctuary floor. Nevertheless, he created what is considered the most famous ceiling in the world, depicting the Creation of Adam in striking fresco style.

Safe travels until we meet again! Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B)