The Essentials of Italy

Arrival. Transfer to the hotel.

Reception. Transfer to hotel and free time. You will receive information about the start of the circuit during the afternoon, or you can check the informative panels in the hotel reception area.

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS: City tour of Rome and Vatican City. Transfer to Trastevere neigborhood.

08.30hrs- In the morning, we have a 2 hrs scenic tour of the city, which will be a great introduction to “The Eternal city”. In the panoramic you will know the ancient Rome called Imperial Rome: Colosseum, Arch of Constantine, Piazza di Venezia with its monument to Italian unification, Quirinal Hill with the Palace of the President of the Republic, Marcelo Theater, Capitol Hill, Roman Forums , Circus Maximus, Church of Santa Maria in Cosmedin with the mouth of truth, Republican Temple, Termas de Caracalla, Aureliana Wall, Basilica di Santa María Maggiore and Archbasilica of St. Johm Lateran, Church of Santa María in Dominica (Navicella), Cestia Pyramid , San Paolo Gate, Lungo Tevere avenue with the Jewish synagogue of Babylonian style, Tiberina Island in front of the Castel St. Angelo. This tour ends at St. Peter´s Square in the Vatican. The Vatican Museums are closed on Sundays, so, if you are interested, we recommend you to do it at this time. Free afternoon.

18.30 hrs.- In the evening we provide transport to the Trastevere area, where you will find restaurants serving Italian, Indian, Chinese and interna­tional food. 20.30hrs- Return to hotel.

Free day in the city of Rome, the “Eternal City”. You can take the opportunity to visit one of the oldest cities in Europe.

Total distance covered: 295 km.

Countryside: Pretty countryside in Lazio, Umbría and Tuscany: hills, very picturesque villages.

07:30 hrs – Rome –Departure-. We leave Rome northbound for Umbria.
09:15 hrs – Orvieto -Arrival in this mediaeval city that dominates the hill. On arrival, we first of all go to the marvellous viewpoint that allows us to admire the whole city behind its walls with the churches standing out. After this, with a local guide, we include a visit to the mediaeval city. We climb up to the citadel using the open system of moving ramps and escalators and go inside the rocky outcrop. Our local guide will explain the history of the city and its fantastic cathedral. After this, you can stroll in its streets that take us to other times.

11:30 hrs – Orvieto –Departure-. We go into the region of Umbria.
13:15 hrs – Castiglione del lago –Arrival-. Next to Lake Trasimeno, Time to have a stroll and for lunch in this historic and picturesque village with spectacular views over the lake.

15.00 hrs – Castiglione –Departure for Tuscany.
16:30 hrs – Siena. – Arrival in this magnificent artistic city that bears witness to mediaeval times. Free time in the centre to enjoy its narrow streets, its towers and palaces, its famous Piazza del Campo and its Cathedral before going to the hotel at 19.00hrs.

Total distance covered: 110 km.

Countryside: Pleasant scenery the whole way. Hills of olive groves and vineyards where the famous Chianti wine is produced.

08:30 hrs – Siena -departure. We travel through inland Tuscany.
09.00 hrs – Monteriggione –Arrival-. A small mediaeval walled village full of magic.

10.00 hrs – Monteriggione –Departure- lands of vineyards of the Chianti region.
10:45 hrs- San Gimignano. -Arrival -. A charming small town with its high mediaeval towers and its magnificent perfectly preserved mediaeval centre. Time to have a stroll and for lunch.

13:30 hrs – San Gimignano -Departure.
14:45 hrs – Florence –Arrival-. We stop to take a photo from the Michelangelo viewpoint, where we get one of the most beautiful views of the city. We suggest that people more interested in art should today visit the Uffizi Gallery (one of the most important museums in Italy) or the Galería de la Academia (with the original David masterpiece of Michelangelo), magnificent museums that closes on Mondays.

09.00 hrs –We include a visit with a local guide to Florence, one of the most famous cities of art and history in the world, and make a walking tour of the historic centre. Approximate duration two hours.

You will have a lot of free time today, in which we suggest you stroll through the artistic centre of the city visiting the Ponte Veccio with its commercial galleries, its elegant squares, etc.

Total distance covered by road: 317 km.

Countryside: Today is a day by the sea. The Ligurian coastline presents one of the prettiest sceneries and maritime corners of Europe.

07:30 hrs – Florence -departure.
09:15 hrs – Pisa –Arrival-. We are obliged to leave you in the car park for tourist coaches. From here, we include the tourist train to take you to the monumental complex. Time to visit the impressive monumental complex of Pisa with its leaning tower, Baptistery and Cathedral.

11.00 hrs – Pisa –Departure-. We continue travelling along the Mediterranean coast. The mountains where Carrara marble is produced look snow-covered.
12:45 hrs- Levanto –Arrival-. In this town we take a train (expected to leave at 1:05 PM, possible changes) which through long tunnels by the sea takes us into the region of Cinqueterre, which cannot be reached by coaches due to its difficult geography of mountains that fall directly into the sea. The area has remained isolated and has preserved its traditions, and is now a UNESCO World Heritage site. In just 10 minutes on the train, we reach Vernazza.

13:30 hrs – Vernazza- Arrival by train. Arrival in one of the 5 villages of the Cinqueterre region, which maintains its maritime appearance. Its church of St Mary stands out, built in 1318 on the seashore. Time for lunch.
15:44 hrs Vernazza -Approximate departure of our train from Vernazza (timetables may change). We continue by train to Levanto, where our coach awaits us to continue on our way along the coast towards Genoa.

NB: The train to Cinqueterre is a regular local railway service and not a tourist service. Places cannot be booked and sometimes the trains are full and passengers have to travel standing.
(The councils of Cinqueterre have announced that they will establish measures to limit the maximum number of tourists arriving each day; to date there have been no limitations on our groups but given this new measure, we might be affected at the peak of tourist times. If this should happen, an alternative visit will be offered).

17:45 hrs -Genoa –Arrival-. The city where Christopher Columbus was born, time to see its monumental centre.

Total distance covered: 170 km.

NB: By boat, we reach the enclave of Portofino. It is recommendable to have some warm clothes to hand to be able to enjoy the trip on deck.

08:30 hrs – Genoa –Departure-. We travel along the Italian Riviera.
09.00 hrs – Sta Margarita de Ligure –Arrival-..

10:15 hrs – We board a ship for a 20-minute crossing to PORTOFINO, one of the most exclusive places in Europe. Time in Portofino, a beautiful town.

12.00 hrs -After this, we return to Santa Margarita, a very pleasant coastal town. Time to have a stroll and for lunch.
NB: Sometimes the boat to Portofino is not running due to the weather. In these cases urban micro-buses will be used to get to the town (poor quality service, sometimes lengthy waits).

14.00hrs – Santa Margarita –Departure-.
16:30 hrs – Milan -Arrival. – Free time until 19:30 hrs. We recommend a stroll around its historic centre full of commercial life, and where its Gothic cathedral is not to be missed.

After breakfast, transfer for the airport.

Note: Remember that check-out time is usually at 10.00 hrs. In most cases, you can leave your luggage at the hotel reception at check-out time so you can enjoy the city and pick it up at the time you require that same day. If you need more time to use your room, please consider booking an additional night at the end of your tour.