Grand Tour of Northern Italy
Package Tour visiting the great art cities of Italy with English and Spanish speaking guide
7 Days / 6 Nights 4 Star Hotels
Departure on Tuesday- March to November 2003
Rome - Stops: Assisi, Siena, Florence, Padua, Venice, Verona, Lake Como, Milan, Bologna, San Marino, Perugia

Price: Go to our Catalog

Day 1 Tuesday Rome - Assisi - Siena - Florence
After breakfast at hotel, depart Rome via deluxe motorcoach through the Umbrian and Tuscan countryside. Visit Assisi, a hill-top town entirely built in pink sandstone from nearby Mount Subasio, and the home of St. Francis, founder of the Franciscans order, and his desciple St. Claire, founder of the Poor Claires. You'll be lead on a guided tour including basilicas dedicated to both saints, where highlights include masterpieces by the Renaissance painters Giotto and Cimabue. Lunch is on your own, and you may wish to sample an Umbrian specialty like "strangozzi" (pasta) or "cinghiale" (wild boar) or Dolce D'Assisi (sweet, rich chestnut pastry). This afternoon, proceed to Siena in the Chianti region of Tuscany, famed for the rich red color of its cityscape. Siena is home to St. Catherine of Siena (a designated Doctor of the Church and credited with returning the Papacy to Rome) and the Palio, a horse race dating from medieval times and which takes place each July in Siena's central square! Enjoy Siena's major treasures, including its fabulous marble gothic cathedral. Proceed through the cypress groves and vineyards of Chianti country to Florence, "flower" of the Renaissance. Dinner, overnight in Florence.

Day 2 Wednesday Florence
After breakfast at the hotel, meet Florence with guided tour highlighting Florentine treasures: the cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore (St. Mary of the flower, Florence's namesake), Baptistry of St. John, Bell Tower by the Renaissance master Giotto, the Academy of Fine Arts gallery housing Michelangelo's "David", and Santa Croce, a 13th-century gothic beauty housing Cimabue's famed painted Crucifix, the tombs of illustrious Florentines (Macchiavelli, Galileo, among others), and its own centuries-old leather school and shop. This afternoon is free to join an optional tour to Pisa, town of the leaning tower or to explore additional treasures of Florence and shop on your own. The outdoor Market of San Lorenzo boasts leather products, and the Ponte Vecchio, covered since medieval times with godsmiths' shops, is a must for Florence's other specialty, gold jewelry. Dinner, overnight in Florence.

Day 3 Thursday Florence - Padua - Venice
After breakfast at the hotel, depart Florence, traverse the Appenine mountains to arrive at Padua for a visit to the magnificent Basilica of St. Anthony of Padua, revered destination of pilgrimages. Proceed to Venice, city of canals, lagoons, gondolas, and known as "La Serenissima". After check-in at the hotel, enjoy a tour of the magnificent Piazza and Basilica of St. Mark's, its marvelous Byzantine-style architecture studded with colored marbles and glittering gold mosaics and housing the tomb of the Evangelist Mark. Visit also the elaborate Doge's Palace, sumptuous home of the former Venetian rulers with its famous Bridge of Sighs, where prisoners crossed before being led to the dungeons. Dinner, overnight in Venice.

Day 4 Friday Venice
After breakfast at the hotel, the day is at leisure, perhaps for optional excursion to islands of Burano, Murano, & Torcello, famed for their hand-blown glass and lace-making crafts, Venetian treasures which are available for purchase. You may wish to explore Venice's canals, museums, churches, and quiet neighborhoods on your own. Dinner, overnight in Venice.

Day 5 Saturday Venice - Verona - Lake Como
After breakfast at hotel, depart Venice for the brief drive to Verona. Enjoy a short visit of this city of Romeo and Juliet, site of the magnificent Roman Arena Amphitheatre. Drive through the Veneto countryside with vineyards of bardolino and valpolicella wines and through Lombardy to beautiful Lake Como, a glacial lake nestled in the Alps on the Swiss border. Dinner, overnight in Como.

Day 6 Sunday Lake Como - Milan - Bologna - San Marino
After breakfast at the hotel, you'll make the short trip to Milan, Italy's fashion and business capital. You'll enjoy a panoramic tour, highlighted by the enormous gothic cathedral known as "il Duomo" and perhaps the world's premier opera house, the Teatro alla La Scala. Continue to Bologna, one of Italy's most important art cities. Visit this medieval town with its charming squares Piazza Maggiore and Piazza del Nettuno. Proceed to San Marino, the world's smallest and oldest independent Republic. Dinner, overnight in San Marino.

Day 7 Monday San Marino - Perugia - Rome
After breakfast at the hotel, depart for Perugia, the charming university town. Visit the impressing Cathedral and the Palazzo dei Priori. Continue to Rome. End of the tour.

PRICE PER PERSON: Go to our Catalog

OUR SELECTED FIRST CLASS HOTELS
In Florence Adriatico or similar - In Venice Principe or similar - In Como Grand Hotel or similar - In S.Marino Grand Hotel Titano or similar

UNBEATABLE FEATURES
- 6 Nights Accomodations at 4 Star Hotels with down-town location - 6 Daily Italian Breakfasts- 6 Dinners-Service charges and taxes included -Ground transportation by deluxe motorcoach- Professional assistant during the tour - Sightseeing as per itinerary with local guides and entrance fees

English speaking tour leader and guide guaranteed. Please ask for other languages

Travel in Rome, Italy. Alternative itineraries, city tours of Rome,
excursions, bus tours of Italy. Argiletum Tour Rome

E-MAIL argiletum@argiletumtour.com

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