A Taste of Italy
September 2023
Countdown to the Trip
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Embark on a journey to Italy with an authentic Italian Tour Planner and a small group of only 16 people. “A Taste of Italy” is a spectacular tour that commences in Rome’s ancient Forum, Colosseum, Pantheon, Vatican Museums, and Sistine Chapel. We then move on to the picturesque city of Florence, where you can marvel at Michelangelo’s exquisite David and explore the Uffizi Gallery. We’ll also take an excursion to Pisa to witness the world-renowned leaning tower. Next, we’ll visit the timeless St. Mark’s Square and Basilica in Venice, before concluding our adventure in the vibrant and fashionable city of Milan. Throughout the trip, you’ll have the opportunity to enjoy guided neighborhood walks, unforgettable meals, and indulge in full-bodied Italian wines, delicious gelato, and pasta.
Brief Itinerary:
- Thursday Sept 14th: Leaving US
- Friday Sept 15th: Arrive in Rome
- Saturday Sept 16th: Vatican City guided tour. Walking Tour of the city center.
- Sunday Sept 17th: Colosseum guided tour and free rest of the day in RomeĀ
- Monday Sept 18th: Train to Florence and walking tour of the city.Ā
- Tuesday Sept 19th: Half/Day tour to Pisa and free rest of the day in FlorenceĀ
- Wednesday Sept 20th: Train to Venice and visit the city.
- Thursday Sept 21st: Boat tour of Murano and free rest of the day in Venice
- Friday Sept 22nd:Ā Train to Milan. Visiting Milan City Center, Last Supper and the Cathedral.
- Saturday Sept 23rd: Return to USA
These prices are an estimate of the actual costs. I will do my best to keep the costs as closes possible to the estimate.
$3,950 per double occupancy
(Deposit $500 per couple)
(Payments are available – Last Payment June 2023)
NB: these prices don’t include the airfare
Milan, Italy
Itinerary
1. Thursday Sept 14th
Leaving US
2. Friday Sept 15th
Arriving in Rome.
Private Transfer Airport/Hotel
We’ll stay at the Navona Palace BoutiqueĀ Hotel (4 Stars).
3. Saturday Sept 16th
Private Transfer from Hotel to Vatican City
After Vatican City we’ll go to the city center for a Walking Tour from the Spanish Steps to the Trevi Fountain.
After a little rest in the hotel, we’ll have dinner at the Baccano restaurant.
4. Sunday Sept 17th
Today we’ll have a guided tour of the beautiful Colosseum.
After the Colosseum enjoy the rest of the day in Rome on your own.
5. Monday Sept 18th
Good bye Roma, welcome Florence…
Today we’ll leave Rome with the fast train and we’ll go to Florence where we’ll stay at theĀ Palazzo Castri Boutique Hotel (Hotel 4stars) for two nights.
In these two days we’ll visit the city and we’ll eat good food and drink good wine.
6. Tuesday Sept 19th
Enjoy an unforgettable and splendid excursion through the fertile and picturesque Tuscan countryside to the historic university city of Pisa, famous for its architectural beauty.
Upon arrival in Pisa, your informative guide will take you on a thorough guided walking tour of Piazza dei Miracoli and its monuments. You will be dazzled by this marvellous square which is dominated by the Cathedral, a model of the distinctive Pisan Romanesque architecture, the celebrated Leaning Tower and the round- shaped Baptistery surrounded by its suggestive columned arcades.
The commentary of our guide will be particularly focused on the Leaning Tower one of the wonders of the world. You will be enthralled by the history and the leaning structure of the Tower which stirs the imagination of all visitors. Then our guide will lead you through the historical quarter where you can admire the Church of San Sisto, one of the oldest churches in Pisa.
After a pleasant guided walk you will reach Piazza dei Cavalieri which was the political centre in the middle Ages. Our guide will introduce this amazing square where you can admire the historic Scuola Normale, one of the most famous universities in the world, the house of Count Ugolino della Gherardesca also called āConte Ugolino Towerā as told by Dante in the Divine Comedy. Passing the famous medieval Tower houses, you will be captivated by the explanation provided by our guide about the history of these particular buildings.
While walking y through the downtown streets, you can admire the ancient house where Giacomo Leopardi lived. Then you will reach the amazing Piazza Arcivescovado where the impressive Palazzo Vescovile is located. After the guided tour you will have free time at your disposal.
Free rest of the day in Florence.
7. Wednesday Sept 20th
Today we’ll move to Venice with the fast train
In Venice we’ll stay at the Principe Hotel (4 Stars).
After the Check-in in the hotel we’ll take a private Taxi Boat on the Grand Canal to San Marco Square
8. Thursday Sept 21st
Today we’ll spend the morning visiting Murano, famous for glass factories and glassmaking museum.
Enjoy the rest of the day on your own dedicated to tours, gondola raid, shopping.
9. Friday Sept 21st
Today we’ll leave Venice to go to Milan with the fast train.
In Milan we’ll stay at the NYX Hotel (4Stars)
Click here to check the hotelĀ Ā
After the check-in in the hotel, we’ll go to the city center to see the Galleria and the Cathedral.
If you want there is the Cathedral tour, inside and outside (the roof).
āFor who is interested, is available the Las SupperĀ tour.
10. Saturday Sept 23rd
Time to go home. So sorry but today we’ll have the flight to go back to US.
A private transfer we’ll take us to the airport where we’ll have the flight to go home. Bye Bye Italy, hope to see you soon.
*Hotels subject to change. If because unforeseen circumstances change need to be made, replacement Hotels will be equally as awesome as above.
Old Bridge, Florence
What’s Included
- Full-time services of a professional Italian Emanuele Dickinson guide and local expertsĀ who will make the fascinating history, art, and culture of Rome, Florence, Venice, and Milan.
- 8 nights’ accommodations in 4 stars Hotels centrally located.
- All breakfasts.
- All transfers Airport/Hotel – Hotel Airport.
- All Fast Train rides between the cities.
- Boat ride in Venice.
- Tour of the Vatican City and the Colosseum.
- Tour of Pisa.
- Tour of Murano in Venice.
- All tipsĀ for guides and drivers.
- Guaranteed tour price, locked at the moment you make your deposit
Fine print:Ā You are responsible for the cost of your drinks and free-time sightseeing.
Group sightseeing events subject to change.
What’s not Included
- Airfare roundtrip US/Italy
- Meals not specified in itinerary
- Gratuities for private transfer drivers and hotels staff
- Optional travel insurance
- Everything not mentioned under “what’s Included”
NB: My tours are physically active! On my 10/12 days tour in Italy, you’ll need to happilyā¦
- Carry/roll your luggage over uneven pavement (possibly several blocks) and up stairways (in some cases) to reach your hotel.
- Travel from a city to another city by fast train.
- Be on your feet, walking and standing, indoors and outdoors, in all weather conditions. Comfortable shoes are raccomanded.
After orientation and transportation lessons, you’ll be able to navigate cities on your own,Ā keep the Hotel business card always with you, it will be easier to get back to the hotel if you feel lost.
Tour Conditions Agreement
Cancellations, refunds, and credits: Tour deposits are refundable up to 120 days prior to the tour’s departure date. Deposits made 91ā150 days before a tour departs become non-refundable after 30 days. Deposits made 68-90 days before a tour departs become non-refundable on the final payment due date. If you book a tour less than 67 days before its departure date, the entire tour cost becomes non-refundable after 7 days, but may be creditable in the case of a Creditable Event. Once your deposit refund date has passed, your deposit will not be refunded under any circumstance.
Tour price guarantee:Ā The price for the tour you’ve selected will be locked and guaranteed the moment we receive your deposit. (Note: Our tour prices do not include airfare and may change without notice.)
Itineraries are subject to change:Ā Europe is full of surprises, and we need to be flexible enough to take advantage of whatever comes along (good or bad!) so that we may provide you with the best possible tour. Uncompleted portions of the tour itinerary are not cause for refund.
Airfare: Airfare are usually NOT REFUNDABLE after the purchaise. In some cases Airline Companies can give you credit for another trip.
Tours
(Included and not Included)
Tours in Rome
Vatican City
- See captivating sites such as the Raphaelās Rooms, Gallery of the Maps, and Bramanteās Pinecone Courtyard
- Audio headsets are provided to make sure you can hear your guide clearly at all times
- With a reserved Skip-the-Line entrance, head straight into the Vatican to explore the museums with your dedicated art historian guide
More Info about Bus Tour
This is the fastes and more comfortable way to visit the city. You can Hop on / Hop offĀ and visit what you prefer. With a comfortable App on your phone you’ll have access to the city map and decide when Hop off.Ā You can start the tour at the time you prefer.
St. Peter's Dome
St. Peter’s Dome (Cupola di San Pietro), one of Italyās most famous monuments, doesn’t technically stand on Italian soilāit sits a top St. Peterās Basilica in Vatican City. Michelangeloās architectural masterpiece is a symbol for Catholics around the globe and, as the highest dome in the world, offers spectacular views across St. Peterās Square and Rome.
From $52
Colosseum
We’ll spend the morning visiting the Colosseum with a specialist in History to discover all the secrets about this magical place and the Forum, the birthplace of Rome ancient.
Tours in Florence
Uffizi Museum
The Uffizi Galleries (Gallerie degli Uffizi) houses one of the worldās most significant collections of art, drawing in more than a million annual visitors who wish to cast eyes upon its many masterpieces. Set in the heart of Florence, the museum contains the works of artists such as Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Caravaggio, Botticelli, and Giotto, among others. It is the premier place to view Italian Renaissance art and is the most-visited museum in Italy.
From $32
Galleria dell'Accademia
Once one of Europeās oldest drawing schools, Florenceās Accademia Gallery (Galleria dellāAccademia) is now one of the cityās most visited museums, home to one of the worldās most impressive works of Renaissance artāMichelangeloās 17-foot-tall (5.2-meter-tall)Ā David. Other works on display include 15th- and 16th-century paintings by the likes of Botticelli and Lippi, unfinished Michelangelo sculptures, and a museum of musical instruments.
From $20
Boboli Garden
Skip the line to visit Florence’s famous Renaissance gardens.
The Boboli Gardens are one of the greatest open-air museums in Florence that embraces another site of culture in Florence, the Pitti Palace. The park hosts centuries-old oak trees, sculptures, fountains and offers peaceful shelter from the warm Florentine sun in summer, the beautiful colors of the changing foliage in the fall and smells of blooming flowers in the spring.
Its creation and development spans four hundred years, from the 15th and 19th centuries.
From $26
Pitti Palace
Pitti Palace (Palazzo Pitti) was built by Luca Pitti in the 1400s. A century later, Duchess of Florence Eleonora di Toledo purchased the Renaissance palazzo for her husband, Cosimo I de’ Medici, and it remained the official residence of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany until the early 20th century. Today, Pitti Palace is Florence’s largest museum complex.
Come and visit the last Medici residence in Florence. The museum takes place through the daily life of the Medici Grand Dukes family, from Cosimo I to the last descendants (early 18th century), Ferdinando, Gian Gastone and lastly Anna Maria Luisa also known as the Palatine Electress to whom it is dedicated the museum. The successors of the Medici, the Habsburg Lorraine, up to the first King of Italy with adjoining Royal apartments.
In addition to the civic and political function of the rooms, the museum also preserves a private collection of Florentine paintings, ancient statues, furniture and mosaics of great beauty and historical importance. Not to mention the frescoes that decorate the ceilings and walls.
From $35
Florence Dome
Towering above Florence, Filippo Brunelleschiās dome (Cupola del Brunelleschi) is an important engineering and architectural feat. Completed in 1436, the fact that this symbol of the city still stands tall over the Duomo more than 600 years later is testament to Brunelleschiās mastery. Climb to the top for some of the best views over Florence.
- Skip-the-line tour of the cathedral and dome in Florence
- Climb into the iconic dome of the Florence Duomo to see its amazing construction
- See Vasari frescoes and stained glass windows up close
- Enjoy incredible views over the city from the top of the dome
Dome's Terraces
- Guided tour of Florence’s iconic Duomo
- Learn the fascinating history behind Brunelleschi’s architectural marvel
- Climb to the very top of the dome to take in stunning panoramic views of the city below
- Gain access to secret terraces and rooms not open to the general public
From $95
Giotto's Bell Tower
After Brunelleschiās soaring dome, Giottoās elegant bell tower (Campanile di Giotto) is perhaps the most recognized landmark emerging above the rooftops of Florence. Admire the intricate polychrome marble covering the entire 270-foot (82-meter) height, and climb the more than 400 steps (NO ELEVATOR) to the top for one of the best views over Florence.
- Experience the Florence Cathedral from different perspectives on a new combo tour
- Climb more than 400 steps to the top of Giottoās Bell Tower for panoramic views
- Get expert insight into the Duomoās history and construction
- See the original baptistery doors and other devotional art at the Duomo museum complex
From $30
Tours in Venice
Gondola Ride
Is not possible to buy tickets for the Gondola, the only way is to go there and pay directly to the Gondolier.
I advise to use the Venice Gondolier Association that is located in front of S.Lorenzo Column
Murano & Burano tour
- Watch local craftsmen at work in a Murano glass workshop
- Browse an impressive collection of glass artwork
- See Burano lace being made by local islanders
- Visit the Burano Lace Museum independently
- Enjoy transportation by a private boat, exclusively for your tour group.
- Enjoy an intimate tour experience with a small group of 20 people or fewer
St. Mark's Basilica and Doge's Palace
- Get special, skip-the-line access to Doge’s Palace and St. Mark’s Basilica
- Avoid large tour groups with this small-group tour of up to 15 people
- Audio headsets are provided so you donāt miss your guideās commentary
- Choose from a morning or afternoon tour time depending on your preference.
- From $ 78.50
The Real Hidden Venice
- Take a break from the crowds by visiting Venice’s quieter districts
- Learn about the history of the city and daily life today from your guide
- Visit little-known treasures plus famous sights like the Rialto Bridge
- A small-group tour for a more intimate experience and relaxed pace
From $ 45
Tours in Milan
The Cathedral
There are so many tours about this beautiful Cathedral, I think the best is the Roof tour (with elevator).
It’s amazing walking on the roof and see how much marble they used to build this church and the city view….
If you want to visit also the Cathedral, you need to buy the Duomo Pass Lift that costs $ 30.
Bus Tour
A central line in the heart of Milan that allows you to discover all the Milan Highlights more quickly.
A path that, in less than 1 hour, crosses the streets of shopping, art and culture.
From $ 20
The Castle
Sforza Castle (Castello Sforzesco) is a medieval fortress built by the Visconti dynasty that became home to Milanās ruling Sforza family in 1450. Stark and domineering, the historic brick castle has massive round battlements, an imposing tower overlooking the central courtyard and surrounding Parco Sempione gardens, and defensive walls designed by Leonardo da Vinci. Today the castle houses a number of world-class museums and galleries.
From $45
Last Supper
- Priority access to Da Vinciās āLast Supperā to make the most of your time
- A guide for an in-depth explanation of the frescoās history and composition
- Easy meeting point directly outside the Santa Maria delle Grazie church
- Headsets to follow your guideās commentary even in a crowd
From $67
Ask me if you have any question
Book your tour ASAP, just a few spots are still available.
Only 16 seats available
Emanuele Leoni Dickinson
(Pac&Go Founder)
Independent Travel Agent
in collaboration with
American Travel Bureau, Lancaster CA (USA)
AR/IATA #05505183
Business License 07723648