Signature Italy

Arrive in Rome, the lively capital of Italy, where you are met and transferred to your hotel. Referred to even in ancient times as the Eternal City, Rome has witnessed the rise and fall of the greatest empire in the history of Western civilization and today remains a center for trends in fashion and cuisine, as well as one of the world’s most popular travel destinations.

Begin your day at Palatine Hill, then pass the imposing Arch of Constantine to visit the mighty Colosseum. This afternoon, stop at the lovely Campo de Fiori, one of Rome’s thriving markets. Visit the Piazza Navona, dominated by the Baroque Fountain of the Four Rivers, and continue to the Pantheon. Later, enjoy a moment at the Trevi Fountain to perhaps toss in a coin, and finish your day at the foot of the picturesque Spanish Steps. Also known as the Stairs of Trinity of the Mountains, they are the widest stairway in all of Europe and a perfect place for people watching.

Today, tour Vatican City, admiring the stunning collections in its vast museum. Behold the Sistine Chapel with its glorious ceiling painted by Michelangelo, and wonder at St. Peter’s Basilica. View the poignant Pietà of Michelangelo and the exuberant Baldaquin of Bernini.

Drive to Florence, stopping for a guided walking tour of the hillside city of Orvieto, home to the cathedral housing Luca Signorelli’s Cycle of the Apocalypse. Continue to Florence and visit the Galleria dell’Accademia, where you behold Michelangelo’s David.

Drive to Pisa, famous for its iconic Leaning Tower. Visit the magnificent 11th-century Piazza del Duomo (cathedral) and its austerely beautiful, 179-foot-tall Baptistery of St. John. A masterpiece of Romanesque architecture, the Duomo boasts a detailed marble façade that features narrow columns and Moorish-style arches. Enjoy time at leisure before returning to Florence this afternoon, where a guided tour of the Florence Synagogue will reveal the importance of the Jewish community in Italian history.

Enjoy a guided tour of the Uffizi Gallery to admire Caravaggio’s Medusa, Botticelli’s Birth of Venus, Leonardo da Vinci’s Annunciation and Raphael’s Madonna of the Goldfinch. Then, leave behind the main tourist path and continue to the 13th-century Basilica of Santissima Annunziata where you visit Abercrombie & Kent Philanthropy’s restoration project. Your afternoon is free to continue your explorations.

Stroll the San Lorenzo district’s famous Central Market and discover the rich bounty of Tuscan produce. A drive through the countryside brings you to an ancient wine and olive oil estate. Enjoy a tasting before returning to Florence for your high-speed rail trip this afternoon to Venice. Upon arrival, embark on a cruise of the Grand Canal to reach your hotel.

On a walking tour of Venice, roam through the area of the former Jewish ghetto. Then, see another side of the city as you visit the lavish Doge’s Palace and explore St. Mark’s Square and Basilica. Following an afternoon at leisure, conclude your sojourn in Italy with a romantic gondola ride through the canals of timeless Venice.

After breakfast, transfer to the airport and depart.