Italian Intermezzo

Welcome to Italy. Greet your Travel Director at Milan's Malpensa Airport. Later, join your Travel Director and head to a local restaurant where your welcome dinner provides the opportunity to mingle and get to know your fellow travelers over a pleasant evening.

Journey across the Veneto plain, rich in agriculture, known for its peach fruit trees & vineyards, with the Dolomite mountains on the northern horizon. Your hotel, exuding authentic Venetian charm, beautifully reflects the history and culture of the surrounding area. As night falls, there's the opportunity to immerse yourself in the magic of St. Mark’s Square, with its orchestras and delightful alfresco cafes, providing an unforgettable experience.

Wake up ready to embrace this romantic city. What better way to see Venice than from a private boat, sailing past palazzos and churches to St. Mark’s Square? See the gilded basilica, the Doge’s Palace and Lord Byron’s Bridge of Sighs. No visit to Venice would be complete without a gondola serenade through the myriad of beautiful canals. Relax and enjoy the local traditional songs, as you drift along in awe. While here, join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience during a visit to a traditional glassmaking workshop, where you can see how beautiful handcrafted glass is made by expert glassblowers, safeguarding traditional skills. Spend the afternoon and evening as you wish. Or, leave the hustle of St. Mark's Square behind on a delightful private cruise around the islands of the Venetian lagoon on an Optional Experience to the island of Burano. Alight at the island of Burano, famous for its candy-colored houses, artisan lace makers and leaning bell tower that would give Pisa a good run for its money. Enjoy a superb meal sampling the local specialties with wine included.

Stop in Pisa to see the remarkable Leaning Tower, where Galileo is said to have conducted his famous experiments on velocity and gravity. In the evening, consider joining an Optional Experience featuring a traditional Tuscan dinner paired with local wines — including, of course, Chianti from the region’s renowned vineyards.

This morning, explore Florence with Insight Choice: choose to visit the Accademia Museum to see Michelangelo’s David, or take a stroll with your Travel Director and enjoy a typical Italian treat in a local cafe. Afterwards, join a guided walk with your Local Expert through the Piazza del Duomo and Piazza della Signoria, where you'll admire the cathedral, Giotto’s bell tower, baptistery and Ghiberti’s Gates of Paradise, as well as the statues fronting the Palazzo Vecchio. Afterwards, enjoy a demonstration of Florence’s renowned leatherwork and gold craftsmanship before an afternoon at leisure. In the evening, you may wish to join an Optional Experience to San Gimignano, where medieval towers and artisan shops line the cobbled streets of this UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Journey to Umbrian Orvieto, a hilltop village overlooking a vineyard-covered plain. Explore the town with your Travel Director and visit Piazza del Duomo to admire the cathedral, before continuing towards the Eternal City of Rome. Enjoy the backstreets and secrets of pedestrian Rome on an optional experience taking a "passeggiata" (stroll) with your Local Expert discovering the piazzas and fountains. Be amazed at sights such as the fascinating Pantheon and the beauty of 17th-century fountains and beautiful piazzas. Why not throw a coin into the Trevi Fountain to ensure your return to the city?

In the morning, enjoy the very best of the city’s highlights, including fast-tracked entry to the Vatican Museums with a Local Expert. Admire the Papal art collection and step inside the Sistine Chapel, where you’ll marvel at Michelangelo’s masterpiece on the ceiling. Afterwards, view the magnificent exterior of St. Peter’s Basilica, followed by free time. In the evening, dine on Lazio’s culinary specialties as you celebrate your journey through Italy’s heritage and culture with your fellow travelers.

Bid farewell to the glories of Italy, savoring the memories of its enchanting cities, historic landmarks and stunning landscapes. Italy's unique allure will linger in your heart long after you leave.