Compare Classic Italy Tour by YMT Vacations vs Highlights of Italy in Winter by Intrepid Travel

Day 1

Depart for Rome, Italy:

Your adventure begins as you depart the U.S. on your transatlantic flight. Overnight in flight.

Day 2

Arrive in Rome:

Arrive in historic Rome, Italy. This evening meet your fellow travelers and learn about the exciting days ahead, then relax over a tasty Italian dinner. (D)

✦ Hotel H10 Roma or similar

Day 3

The Vatican:

This morning, you’ll tour the Vatican City, home of the Pope. Our guided tour explores the Vatican Museums, which house some of the most important and valuable art treasures in the world. Visit the Sistine Chapel to view floor-to-ceiling biblical frescoes painted by Michelangelo in around 1512, St. Peter’s Basilica and St. Peter’s Square. Touring the Vatican Museums requires walking up several staircases and 2-3 hours of walking. (B)

✦Hotel H10 Roma or similar

Day 4

Rome:

A full-day sightseeing tour includes the highlights of this Eternal City. Today’s sights include outside views of the Roman Forum, once a marketplace and center of daily Roman life, and the Colosseum (entrances not included), the Piazza Navona and the renowned Spanish Steps along with the fabled Trevi Fountain, completed in 1762. (B, D)

✦Hotel H10 Roma or similar

Day 5

Orvieto and Montecatini Terme:

Depart Rome and travel north into the picturesque Umbrian countryside. We stop and take the funicular up to the ancient town of Orvieto, where you can explore this charming town and admire a variety of Etruscan, Medieval and Renaissance art. By late afternoon, we arrive at Montecatini Terme for a 2-night stay. (B)

✦Hotel Tamerici & Principe or similar

Day 6

Pisa and Florence:

Today’s full-day excursion starts with a short drive toward the Mediterranean coast and the city of Pisa. Here you will see the Leaning Tower of Pisa, which as of April 2011, is free of scaffolding for the first time in 20 years. Enjoy a walking tour of Florence and see the 13th century Duomo with the Brunelleschi dome and Giotto’s Campanile (bell tower). See Ghiberti’s golden “Gates of Paradise” doors at the marble-clad Baptistery of St. John, the Piazza della Signoria and the Ponte Vecchio, the medieval bridge spanning the River Arno, complete with shops built along it. (B, D)

✦Hotel Tamerici & Principe or similar

Day 7

Bologna and Venice:

We drive northeast and stop in Bologna. Probably best known for its culinary tradition, Bologna also has an impressive history and is home to the world's oldest university, founded in 1088. Enjoy some time on your own and perhaps pasta with authentic bolognese sauce (ragu alla bolognese in Italian) before we continue toward the Adriatic coast. We’ll arrive in the Venice area by late afternoon and will stay just a few miles across the lagoon from the historic city. (B, D)

✦Crowne Plaza Venice East or similar

Day 8

Venice:

This morning enjoy a sightseeing tour of this amazing city, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, built on an archipelago of 117 islands in a lagoon. Visit St. Mark’s Square, with its Byzantine Basilica and clock tower; see the Grand Canal and the Doge’s Palace, once home to the Duke of Venice (entrance not included), the fabled Bridge of Sighs, as well as the Rialto Bridge. This afternoon you are free to wander through the labyrinth of canals and alleyways, lined with their boutiques and souvenir shops. If you want to get out on the water, there are a variety of boat rides (not included) from water taxis to the traditional gondolas that are synonymous with Venice. (B)

✦Crowne Plaza Venice East or similar

Day 9

Verona, Lake Garda and Lake Maggiore:

Today we head inland from Venice and the Adriatic Sea, through the lush northern Italian landscape as we drive to Verona. A city best known as the setting for Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, it also offers wonderful examples of Medieval and Renaissance art and architecture. Our walking tour includes the Duomo (cathedral), Piazza delle Erbe with the famous Torre dei Lamberti (high tower), and of course the house of Juliet, with its famous balcony. We continue west toward Lake Garda — at over 30 miles long, Italy’s largest lake, before spending the night in the Lake Maggiore area. (B, D)

✦Zacchera Hotels or similar

Day 10

Lake Maggiore Cruise and Milan:

This morning we’ll take a scenic lake cruise and you’ll also have a little time to explore one of the picturesque lakeside towns before we continue our journey west to Milan, capital of the region of Lombardy. Your panoramic sightseeing tour highlights will include Piazza del Duomo, the main central square surrounded by several important buildings, such as Milan’s Gothic cathedral and the Royal Palace of Milan. You’ll also have a chance to see Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, an impressive and ornate indoor shopping arcade built in 1865, as well as La Scala Opera House. (B, D)

✦Crowne Plaza Milan Malpensa or similar

Day 11

Depart Milan, for Home:

Bid farewell to Italy, taking home a suitcase full of memories and stories to share. (B)

Please note that this is a proposed itinerary; the actual itinerary may vary due to season, special events, or weather. Because our tour arrangements are often made a year or more in advance, YMT Vacations reserves the right to alter the itinerary. Itinerary changes are made to improve your vacation experience, as well as respond to any unforeseen circumstances that mandate alterations. By their nature, all tour vacations involve a certain level of physical activity. While YMT tours have been designed with our guests in mind and are not physically demanding, this tour does include walking and periods of standing during the sightseeing visits. You will also encounter steps and some uneven ground along the way, particularly at older, historical sights.

Day 1 Rome

Welcome to Italy! There’s nowhere quite like Rome, a city where designer shops, restaurants and cafes are slotted among ancient ruins and religious monuments. After tonight's welcome meeting why not head out for your first taste of Italy during an optional dinner.

Day 2 Rome

Remember, the best attitude to embrace the chaos of this city is ‘when in Rome’! Join your leader on an orientation walk around the city and witness iconic sights such as the Colosseum and Arch of Constantine, the Forum (centre of ancient Rome), the Victor Emmanuel Monument, the Pantheon, via Condotti and the Spanish Steps. Your afternoon is free to explore further. Perhaps recharge with a slice of pizza and a strong espresso at the Piazza Navona or throw a coin into the Trevi Fountain and make a wish to return to the 'Eternal City'. No visit would be complete without a trip to Vatican City and St Peter's Basilica. Entry to the Basilica is free and there's a small charge to climb the dome for a panorama over the city. History buffs will enjoy a jaunt through the ancient halls of the Pantheon. Choose whether to have dinner with the group or find a spot on your own – there are plenty to choose from.

Day 3 Florence

This morning depart the eternal city and catch a train to Florence. On arrival, check into the hotel and go for a brief walk around the immediate area to get your bearings. Florence is one of the most culturally rich and beautiful cities in Italy, known to many as the beating heart of Tuscany. The Medicis, Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Brunelleschi, Machiavelli, Donatello and Michelangelo all lived in Florence at the height of their creative reign. Food is a major part of the city's identity, so perhaps explore some of the culinary delicacies on offer from across Tuscany. Regional specialities are noted for their simplicity and fine flavour, and the use of high-quality olive oil, cannellini beans and fresh herbs. Meat lovers should try the bistecca alla fiorentina, a huge T-bone steak that's usually shared between two people, or ribollita, a thick delicious vegetable soup with bread, beans and greens. Panforte is the signature sweet treat.

Day 4 Pisa / Florence

Set out to the nearby city of Pisa (approximately 30 minutes by local train). A short orientation walk will help you to get your bearings in this easily navigable and small city. Then there'll be ample time for you to visit the quirky world-famous Leaning Tower, as well as the Duomo (Piazza dei Miracoli, once the largest in Europe) and Pisa Baptistry (please note that it's not always possible to climb the tower). The tower was built in the 12th century, but its foundation was on shifting sand and clay, meaning that it now leans at an angle of 4 degrees (after restoration and stabilising work). Wander the narrow streets, which feature everything from high-end boutiques to speciality book and antiques stores, and perhaps enjoy an aperitif. Back in Florence take your time and be captivated by the culture-rich atmosphere, from family-run vineyards on the outskirts of the city to the Duomo’s magnificent marble facade. Maybe start with a visit the Galleria dell'Accademia where you can see Michelangelo's famous statue of David. Stop by the Uffizi, one of the world's oldest art galleries, or walk up to Piazzale Michelangelo, which is set on a hill on the south bank of the Arno River, to take in beautiful views of the city – a lovely way to while away the afternoon.

Day 5 Florence / Bologna

This morning, jump on a train to Bologna. Often neglected by travellers, Bologna is a charming city filled with medieval and Renaissance buildings and art. Get acquainted with this orange-hued city during an orientation walk. Later, learn the fine art of Italian cooking with an evening class, crafting that king of comfort food – pasta. Of course, this being Italy, the class ends with the chance to stuff yourself silly with your carb creations.

Day 6 Bologna / Venice

Late morning, get the train to the watery wonderland that is Venice. Full of bridges, towers, piazzas, canals, churches and gondolas that remain practically unchanged since the 15th century, Venice is just as beautiful as you've always imagined. An orientation walk will help you to get the hang of the maze of the complex canal system, then you can set out on your own. Meet your group in late afternoon to explore Venice further, this time with your tastebuds. Cicchetti are small snacks that are served in most drinking establishments and cafes, and are a delightful surprise to many thirsty travellers. On this two-and-a-half-hour tour, you’ll snack and sip your way through the bars and taverns.

Day 7 Venice

Today is a day at leisure which you can spend as you wish. Perhaps board a traghetto (public gondola) and see the city from the water, as was intended, stroll over the Rialto Bridge and browse the endless amounts of boutique shops that sell Venetian masks and handmade Murano glassware. In the evening, why not visit busy San Marco square and listen to the sounds of orchestras and the rush of canals.

Day 8 Venice

Your adventure comes to an end on the final morning. There are no activities planned for today and you're free to depart the accommodation at any time before check-out. As there is so much to see in Venice we recommend you to stay a little longer. We are happy to book additional accommodation for you (subject to availability). Please speak to your booking agent at the time of booking.