“Our trip to Italy was, far and away, THE BEST TRIP OF OUR LIVES! This
goes for every one of us, Steve, me and all 4 kids. So many things made such an incredibly memorable experience - our once-in-a-lifetime private tour in the Vatican Museums, the pizza making, and mask making events, the ‘dream’ gondola serenade, the fabulous local guides, THE FOOD, just everything ... It does not get any better!
” – The Lynn Family, PA
visit to the Galleria dell’Accademia before settling into your charming 18th-century palace hotel. A historical landmark, it is ideally located near a Renaissance square overlooking the Arno River. Dine at the hotel tonight, ordering what you want from its à la carte menu. Meals BD
Day 4 – See the Leaning Tower in Pisa’s Field of Miracles In the Middle Ages, Pisa was a powerful maritime nation whose riverfront location on the Ligurian Sea gave its naval fleet a distinct advantage over other seafaring ships. You’ll find many beautiful buildings here that reflect its legacy and wealth, including the Duomo with its intricate medley of cream-colored colonnades and the graceful Baptistry, but it is its famous Leaning Tower on the “Field of Miracles” that has kept the town famous today. Begun in sandy soil in 1173, it was completed in 1350. Its lopsided tilt has attracted many visitors over the centuries – Galileo himself even came here to conduct experiments on falling objects! Learn about the history of the “Field of Miracles” and have lunch in a local restaurant. Dinner is on your own tonight back in Florence, perhaps sampling seasonal Tuscan cuisine in an authentic neighborhood trattoria. Meals BL
Day 5 – Discover the art of painting and pizza making Today is all about the making of masterpieces, from learning about paintings by great artists to discovering the best way to make a great tasting pizza. Your day starts after breakfast when you meet an art historian who shares insights about the masterpieces of the Renaissance, many of which you will see today. Join our local guide for a visit inside the Uffizi, one the world’s top museums, to see Botticelli’s The Birth of Venus and Michelangelo’s famed painting of
42 Italia Bella: Rome to Venice
The Holy Family, both very important works by two very important artists. Spend the afternoon exploring Florence as you wish, then join us for dinner and a pizza-making demonstration – a lesson in the culinary arts that is sure to please the entire family! Meals BD
Day 6 – Take the Eurostar train to Venice, city of canals Leave the Renaissance behind when you board the sleek Eurostar train for a first-class, high-speed rail trip to Venice. A private boat will be waiting to take you to your hotel along the Grand Canal in time for lunch. The Grand Canal winds its way through the city past lavish palaces that were built over a span of five centuries before it widens out as it approaches San Marco. You’ll see more of the city this afternoon when you join us on a guided visit to St. Mark’s Basilica and the Doge’s Palace, regarded by many as the most beautiful Renaissance palace in Italy. Your tour of this pink marble palace leads through richly decorated rooms and halls to the Bridge of Sighs and the prison. With canals in place of roads, Venice is truly unique in the world. Enjoy a serenade aboard a gondola as you glide along the canals of the city, sure to be a highlight of your two-night stay. The rest of the day is free for you to enjoy as you wish. Meals BL
Day 7 – Get a glimpse of daily life in Venice Mask-making is a centuries-old tradition here in Venice and to see them being made in person is a memorable experience. Meet skilled local artists who turn papier-mâché into colorful characters, human and animal, right before your eyes in a fascinating demonstration, creating new facial identities for the wearer! The afternoon is yours to explore the sights of the city and sample daily life on your own – be
#1 IN GUIDED FAMILY TRAVEL
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76