Exoticca's Escorted Eternal Cities

Immerse yourself in Italian history, culture and gastronomy. Land in Rome and admire one of the most romantic cities in the world. Head to Florence to discover its hidden treasures and Renaissance heritage, via the quaint medieval towns of Assisi and Orvieto. Next, explore ancient Bologna and artistic Padova. Finally, uncover Venice, known for its stunning canals, built across 100 small islands.

Itinerary

1st Day: Canada - Night on board

Pack your bags and head to your departure airport, ready for a flight to the eternal city of Rome.* Night on board.

*If either your outbound or inbound flights depart in the early hours (before 4:00 a.m.) you must arrive at the airport the night before the indicated departure day.

2nd Day: Rome
Land in Rome, the Italian capital known as the Eternal City. Transfer to your hotel. Depending on your arrival time, the remainder of the day is free to begin exploring this romantic, historic city. The evening is the most magical in Rome, as the streets take on an even more charming character. Wander around the quaint streets and charming piazzas while you indulge in their world-famous gastronomy. Overnight stay in Rome.

3rd Day: Rome
Breakfast at the hotel. Your guide will greet you at the hotel in the morning. Today, enjoy a panoramic bus tour and discover this city. Learn about the history of this empire, from its birth to the gladiatorial fights in the Colosseum with a guided tour, and appreciate the preserved corners of ancient Rome in the Forum and the Palatine Hill. We recommend the optional dinner at an authentic Italian restaurant.* Overnight stay in Rome.
*Optional Authentic Italian Dinner at a restaurant in Campo Di Fiori ($): Enjoy an evening of authentic Italian cuisine in beautiful Campo Di Fiori Square, nestled in the heart of historic Rome. Soak up the atmosphere as you indulge in Italian dishes at a local restaurant.

4th Day: Rome
Breakfast at the hotel, today enjoy a day at your leisure in Rome. Perhaps visit the Vatican, trace the footsteps of the greats in the ancient streets of the old city or simply indulge in some delicious Italian ice cream 'gelato'. However you choose to spend your day, Rome is sure to delight you with its old-world charm and unbeatable sights. We suggest taking the optional Guided tour of Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel.* In the evening we recommend a night-tour of Rome including a delicious dinner**. Overnight stay in Rome.
*Optional Skip-the-line Guided Tour of Vatican Museums, St. Peter's Basilica and Sistine Chapel ($): Explore the priceless treasures held within the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel! Visit the Pio Clementino Hall, Laocoon and Apollo Belvedere, Maps Gallery, Candelabra Gallery, Tapestries Gallery and the incredible Sistine Chapel. Afterwards, discover the incredible St. Peter’s Basilica and the atmospheric St. Peter’s Square, dominated by Michelangelo’s imposing Cupola!
**Optional Rome by Night - Baroque Rome, with Dinner excursion ($): A nocturnal view of Rome, with the splendid squares illuminated and away from the daytime bustle. The charming Plaza de España with its spectacular staircase, the fairytale frame of the Trevi Fountain, the majesty of the Pantheon and the baroque Piazza Navona, a route structured to go back in time and evoke the times of the "Dolce Vita" fellini. The tour will end with a typical Roman dinner.

5th Day: Rome - Orvieto - Assisi - Florence
Breakfast at the hotel. Leave Rome early this morning to transfer to the beautiful city of Florence. To break up this journey, stop in Orvieto*, a quaint town especially known for its renowned Duomo, European Gothic architecture and the San Patrizio Well, a masterpiece of hydraulic engineering in which you can immerse yourself, descending into the bowels of the earth.
Next, take a break in Assisi, a majestic hilltop town known for its medieval architecture and the Basilica of St. Francis, a huge 2-level church. In the early evening, arrive in Florence, the heart of the Italian Renaissance, and enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure exploring the city and the Italian cuisine in this gourmet paradise. We recommend an evening excursion of the city lit up that includes a delicious dinner.** Overnight stay in Florence.
**Optional Illuminated Florence Tour with Dinner excursion ($): Depart from the hotel and stop at Piazzale Michelangelo where you can admire Florence from the best hill of the city with the most interesting viewpoint, continue to the center from where a night walk will begin to enjoy the illuminated city. The walk will end with a typical Florentine dinner.

6th Day: Florence
Breakfast at the hotel. Today head to the Historic Centre for a guided walking tour of Florence and discover the hidden secrets of the Tuscan capital. Start discovering the up-market Piazza Repubblica, before heading to Loggia del Mercato Nuovo, a building within which a local market takes place.
Keep exploring the streets of Florence before arriving at the beautiful and well-known Ponte Vecchio, the most iconic bridge in the city and one of its main symbols. You will then walk through the Piazza della Signoria, the heart of Medieval Florence with the imposing Palazzo Vecchio.
End the tour admiring Piazza San Giovanni, home to the impressive Florence Cathedral, with its iconic Brunelleschi cupola and the famous Giotto Belltower.
Enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure to continue exploring the captivating sights of Florence. Why not explore the city in more depth with one of our optional excursion to either the Uffizi* or the Leaning Tower**? Overnight stay in Florence.
*Optional excursion to The Uffizi ($): The Uffizi Gallery, designed in the mid-sixteenth century by Giorgio Vasari, consists of 90 museum rooms that host the most important and famous paintings in the history of art: works by Giotto, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Botticelli, in addition to numerous paintings by Flemish and Dutch painters exhibited in chronological order. A visit to this museum is a real journey through time by means of art.
Please note that this activity can de purchased up to 30 days before departure of your trip. This optional is not available on Mondays.
**Optional Half-Day Tour to Pisa & The Leaning Tower ($): No trip to Italy is complete without a photo at the iconic leaning tower, so don't miss your chance to take a day trip to Pisa! Enjoy a guided walking tour of Piazza dei Miracoli and its monuments before spending time at the legendary Leaning Tower of Pisa, learning all about the history of this University city along the way.

7th Day: Florence - Bologna - Padova - Venice Mestre
Breakfast at the hotel. Today leave Florence early this morning to transfer you head to the city of Venice. During the journey, stop in Bologna and discover this lively, historic capital of the Emilia-Romagna region, free time before continuing with your journey. Make another stop in Padova, a city rich in beauty, which retains traces of its glorious past, and one of the most important cultural capitals during the fourteenth century.
Finish the day in the historic and enchanting Venice Mestre, the mainland town connected to Venice by rail and road bridges over the lagoon. Spend the night at your leisure and embrace the convenience of numerous transportation options, such as the frequent trains/buses to Venice center. The train station/bus stop is at walking distance from your hotel and it will take you to the iconic Venice center.
Built across more than 100 small islands, Venice is a pleasure to explore on foot as you get lost in the labyrinthine streets, stumbling across hidden cafes and cultural gems along the way. Head out and discover the plentiful delights of this city, such as the immense Piazza San Marco. Overnight stay in Venice Mestre.

8th Day: Venice
Breakfast at the hotel. Today, embark on a walking tour of Venice to discover all the beauty this city has to offer. Enjoy a guided walking tour through the most emblematic neighborhoods, see Venice's famous markets and pay a visit to the iconic Rialto Bridge.
The rest of the day is yours continue discovering this unique city at your own pace. Alternatively, we recommend taking part in one or both of the following optional activities: first, you can enjoy a quintessentially Venetian gondola ride* and then you can take part in an excursion to Murano and Burano islands.** Overnight stay in Venice Mestre.
*Optional Gondola Ride Experience excursion ($): One of the most well-known characteristics of Venice are its historic gondolas. You can be a part of this legacy! Experience an unforgettable gondola ride through the charming waterways of Venice including the iconic Grand Canal. The quintessential Venetian experience! Note: Please note that it is a shared gondola (up to five people for each one) so you might have to share it with other people.
**Optional Half-Day Murano and Burano excursion ($): Discover the most beautiful islands in Venice, enjoying the enchanting scenery of the Venetian lagoon. The tour includes two stops to visit Murano and Burano and discover their typical artisan products: the centuries-old glass processing in Murano, the fine lace in Burano. Enjoy the original colorful buildings as you tour this enchanting area.

9th Day: Venice - Canada
Breakfast at the hotel.* At the indicated time, transfer from Venice Mestre to the airport for your return flight.

Included Activities

Call us for more information about this amazing trip!!