10-Nights Wonders of Italy

10 nights from: $4,095

Wonders Of Italy
Want the full Italian Experience Cruise Cinque Terre’s rugged coastline, get lost in San Gimignano’s quaint center and discover the art of glassblowing in Venice. From Rome to Lucca and Bologna, the Wonders of Italy come alive over a glass of Tuscan Chianti.


Dining Summary

• 4 Dinner (D)
• 10 Breakfast (B)
• 1 Lunch (L)

• Florence: Meet the Lenzi family at their Tuscan wine farm, overlooking the rolling Chianti Hills, the 'heart of Tuscany', for lunch and a Chainti and olive oil tasting

• Rome: During an orientation with your Travel Director see the medieval buildings, Renaissance palaces and Baroque churches scattered throughout the city.
• : Enjoy an after-hours visit to the Basilica of Santa Maria in Cosmedin. Get up close to the legendary Mouth of Truth, an ancient Roman marble mask said to bite any liar who places their hand in the mask’s mouth. Dare to test the legend yourself and take one of the city’s most coveted photos.
• Rome: Be inspired by the magnificence of Michelangelo and da Vinci at the Vatican Museums.
• Rome: Experience Rome through the eyes of a local, as a passionate Roman guides you past the city's most iconic sites.
• Rome: Discover ancient treasures of Rome with a Local Specialist. See Circus Maximus and visit the mighty Colosseum, which bears witness to the limitless courage of the gladiators.
• Lucca: Your sightseeing tour with a Local Specialist will show you the churches, squares and palaces within the medieval ramparts.
• Cinque Terre: Led by your Local Specialist, visit this unique UNESCO World Heritage Site, tucked away on the mountainous Italian Riviera coastline. Admire the charming fishing villages and perhaps snap some memorable pictures.
• Pisa: During an orientation, your Travel Director will show you the baptistery, cathedral and the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa.
• San Gimignano: Visit the medieval Manhattan of Italy as you explore the UNESCO-listed center of San Gimignano and admire the city's distinctive towers.
• Florence: Join a Local Specialist to view the multi-colored marble cathedral, bell tower and baptistery, adorned by Ghiberti's Gates of Paradise. Visit the political heart of the city, Signoria Square.
• Verona: During an exploration of Verona, see Juliet's balcony in the courtyard of a Renaissance villa.
• Bologna: View Bologna's famed Kissing Towers and enjoy some time at leisure in this historic university city.
• Assisi: With a Local Specialist, find out why the Basilica of St. Francis is considered to be one of the crowning artisitic achievements of 13th-century Europe.
• Tivoli: Join a Local Specialist on a sightseeing tour of Tivoli and the gardens of Villa d'Este.

• Venice: Discover the ancient skill of Venetian glassblowing and play a part in preserving this traditional craft. Your visit directly supports United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities.

• Explore Rome, Lucca, Cinque Terre, Florence and Assisi
• Discover Pisa, San Gimignano, Verona and Venice
• Visit Vatican Museums, St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, a glassblowing factory in Venice, the Basilica of St. Francis in Assisi, and Villa d'Este Gardens in Tivoli
• View the ancient sites of Rome, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the Santa Croce Basilica and Duomo in Florence, Juliet's Balcony in Verona, St. Mark's Basilica in Venice and the Kissing Towers of Bologna
• See the marble quarries of Carrara
• Scenic Cruise to Cinque Terre and by private launch to St. Mark's Square in Venice

• Assisi: Built to welcome pilgrims visiting Assisi, Hotel Cenacolo is a fully renovated old Franciscan monastery with the original structure maintained, a masterful blend of ancient and modern comforts.

• An expert Travel Director and professional Driver
• Cherry-picked hotels, all tried and trusted
• All porterage and restaurant gratuities
• All hotel tips, charges and local taxes
• Breakfast daily and up to half of your evening meals
• Must-see sightseeing and surprise extras
• Audio headsets for flexible sightseeing
• Luxury air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi in most countries or alternative transportation (such as rail journeys)
• Optional Experiences and free time
• On occasion, hotels of similar standard and location may be utilized.

Assisi is a well-preserved medieval town that's, after the Vatican, Italy's second most-popular religious-pilgrimage destination. Located high on a hilltop, it has an air of mystical serenity in keeping with its history. Assisi was the home of St. Francis (the founder of the Franciscan order of friars), and the churches and crypt that bear his name draw a steady stream of pilgrims and sightseers every year. Although the town was rocked by an earthquake in 1997, much of the damage has been repaired. One of the most severely damaged buildings, however, was the treasured Basilica of San Francesco, known for its vivid frescoes by Giotto that depict the life of the saint. The upper basilica has recently reopened and, though restoration continues, many of the beloved frescoes can be admired again. The lower basilica and St. Francis' tomb are also open to the public.

Assisi Travel Travel Agents

Sara Rowlands

Sara Rowlands

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Chelsea McDonell

Jetsetter Extraordinaire: Crafting Dream Getaways, One Adventure at a Time!

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Caribbean, Bahamas, Europe, France, Italy, Hawaii, Kauai, United States, Florida, Las Vegas, California, Mexico, Cancun

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Stephanie Winner

Stephanie Winner

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Oahu, Florida, California

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Sara Jackson

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Sherri Brown

Family Trips Are The Best

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Angie Rice

Angie Rice

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Costa Rica, Caribbean, Bahamas, Jamaica, Africa, Europe, France, Germany, Italy, Hawaii, Maui, Oahu, Kauai, United States, Florida, Las Vegas, California, Mexico, Cancun, Cabo San Lucas, Riviera Maya, Australia / NZ, Sydney, New Zealand, Melbourne

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Other places of interest include the Church of Santa Chiara, a medieval fortress (La Rocca Maggiore), the Piazza del Comune (the old town center) and St. Peter's church. Or just stroll the narrow, picturesque streets and listen to the musicians practicing nearby (though they may be drowned out by construction noises -- many buildings are still under renovation).

You may want to visit during one of Assisi's numerous celebrations: the Feast of Calendimaggio, a five-day coming-of-spring festival with medieval costumes, dances and songs (around the first week of May); a month of folklore and musical events in August; or the Feast of St. Francis (4 October), which celebrates the saint's transition from this life into the next. During this two-day festival, the entire town is illuminated by oil lamps. If you are going to Assisi at one of these times, reserve accommodations well ahead of time -- the city will be filled with pilgrims.