The Experience

The Forum, St. Peter’s Basilica, the Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon, and the Colosseum and that’s just the world-renowned sites of Rome. Picnic at Villa Borghese Gardens or walk around the Trastevere neighborhood for a bit more relaxed Rome.

Florence is fantastic for art, architecture, wine, food and shopping. A trip to Florence inspires, if you’re a fan of the Renaissance or a shopaholic. Be sure to take a trip out into the Tuscan countryside, visit a few of the smaller villages and get a taste of life in Chianti.

St. Mark’s Square, St. Mark’s Basilica, Rialto Bridge and the Gondolas rides are the major sites in Venice. Doge’s Palace impresses with the art work of Tintoretto, Titian, Bellini, and Veronese, then walk over the Bridge of Sighs to visit the prison where Casanova was held for over a year until his escape.

Includes:

• Private round-trip transfers in each city
• 3 nights Rome
• Semi-private Rome tour
• 3 nights Florence
• Semi-private Florence tour
• 3 nights Venice
• Semi-private Venice tour
• Gondola ride
• One-way 1st class rail and seat reservations between cities
• One traditional 3-course dinner in each city
• TripBuilder Guidebooks for each city
• Daily breakfast

Day 1 – Arrive Rome:
You’ll be met coming out of baggage claims and passport control by your driver holding a sign with your name on it for your private transfer from Rome Fiumicino airport to your hotel in central Rome for three night’s accommodations. (Transfers do not include porterage or assistance. Limit: One suitcase and one handbag allowed per person. Accommodation, Rome)

Day 2 – Rome:
After breakfast, you have a morning city tour. (Breakfast, accommodation, Rome)

Meet your driver for your Semi-private Rome Panoramic Orientation Tour in your hotel lobby (specific pickup time will be in your documents). Exclusive to Avanti Destinations clients, a small-group tour with a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 8 people. Your English speaking driving guide acquaints you with all the main monuments including St Peter’s Square, the Coliseum, Forum, Piazza Navona, Spanish Steps and Trevi Fountain. (Driving guide not licensed to lead tour inside of monuments or museums. Tour does not include any entrance fees, meals or gratuities.)

Tonight you dine with reservations at 8:00 p.m. at the ristorante of your choice:

Ristorante Checco Er Carrettiere, a historical restaurant run by 3 generations of the “Checco” Porcelli family features family recipes of traditional Italian dishes or seafood dressed with simplicity. (Please arrive on your own for your 8:00pm for dinner reservations. Present voucher prior to ordering. A 3-course dinner with beverages is included, gratuities not included)

Ristorante Santopadre, a family-run restaurant near the Via Veneto where locals eat, offering Regional Italian cuisine. Specialties include Rigatoni with chickpeas and lamb chops & homemade desserts. (Closed Sundays. Please arrive by 8:00pm for your dinner reservations. Present voucher before ordering. A 3-course dinner with beverages is included, gratuities not included)

Day 3 – Rome:
After breakfast, you have this day at leisure, or you can choose from a number of optional
Avanti tours and excursions such as the Vatican Museums Half Day tour or the Naples: Pompeii Full Day Tour with Lunch. (Breakfast, accommodation, Rome.)

Day 4 – Rome to Florence:
After your breakfast, you have a private car transfer to Termini rail station for your travel by rail to Florence in first-class, seat reservations included. Upon arrival in Florence, you are met on the platform at the rail station by your driver for your private transfer to your hotel for three night,™s accommodations. (Your driver will be holding a sign with your name on it. Transfers do not include porterage or assistance. Limit: One suitcase and one handbag allowed per person. Breakfast, Rome; Accommodation, Florence.)

Day 5 – Florence:
After breakfast, your Florence city tour is scheduled. (Breakfast & accommodation, Florence)

Florence Morning City Tour: Arrive on your own at the Railway Station Square by 9:15a.m. to board your motor coach. Drive along the Viale dei Colli to Piazzale Michelangelofor a panoramic photo stop then on to the old city with a walking tour of the Duomo. The highlight of your day is a visit to the Galleria dell’Accademia to see Michelangelo’s David statue (left) and more. (Tour lasts 3 hours and ends at the Accademia Gallery.)

After an afternoon at leisure, your dinner this evening is The Ristorante Buca Mario a Firenze, open since 1886, is located in the wine cellars of Palazzo Niccolini a few steps from Santa Maria Novella Square, specializing in real Tuscan cooking with fresh pasta and superb grilled meat. Dinner is 3-courses and clients will have the possibility of choosing among 3 different menus. (Please arrive on your own for your 8:00 p.m. reservations, present voucher before ordering. Includes one 3-course dinner per person, beverages and gratuities not included.)

Day 6 – Florence:
After breakfast, you have a full day at your leisure to shop (the best prices for Italian apparel are to be found in Florence) or to explore. You may include an optional Avanti day tour such as Siena and San Gimignano with Lunch or the delightful two-hour afternoon Private Gastronomic Walking
Tour, the best way to experience the specialty shops and stands of Florence to sample typical wines of the region. (Breakfast & accommodation, Florence)

Day 7 – Florence to Venice:
You have a private transfer to the rail station after your included breakfast for your reserved seats in first-class on the Eurostar Italia to Venice. Upon arrival at Santa Lucia station your host will meet you on the platform and escort you to the private boat for transportation to your Venice hotel where you have three night,™s accommodation. En route your hostess will orient you to the main sights along the Grand Canal then personally escort you into your hotel. (Transfers do not include porterage or assistance. Limit: One suitcase and one handbag allowed per person. Breakfast, Florence; accommodation, Venice)

Day 8 – Venice:
After your breakfast you have your morning and early afternoon at leisure. (Breakfast, accommodation, Venice)

Venice Private Gondola Ride: Daily April 1 – October 31 meet at the assigned pier by 6:30 p.m. November 1 – March 31 meet at the assigned pier by 4:00 p.m. (Late arrivals cannot be accommodated. Your Gondola Ride voucher with detailed information will be delivered to your hotel in Venice. Note: Singing gondolier is extra.)

Day 9 – Venice:
After breakfast you have your entire day at leisure to shop or explore on your own, or, you may elect to take advantage of an optional tour. The most popular tour Avanti offers in Venice is the 3 Islands Tour to the islands of Murano (glass), Burano (lace) and Torcello, home of the first Cathedral in the lagoon. (Breakfast, accommodation, Venice)

Located near the Venetian opera house, Ristorante La Colomba has encouraged Italian artists to eat, drink and be merry since 1946, and if they can’t pay? The restaurant accepts a painting in payment. The result? Paintings from any number the known and yet to be discovered – including Picasso and Chagall. The cuisine is classic seafood such as risotto with prawns and zucchini flowers, plus the wine list is excellent. (Please arrive at the restaurant on your own for an 8:00 p.m. reservation. Your meal is 3-courses and does not include beverages or gratuities. Please present voucher prior to ordering.)

Day 10 – Depart Venice:
After your breakfast, a private boat and driver will meet you at the appointed time in your hotel lobby for your transfer to either the Venice rail station or airport. (Transfers do not include porterage or assistance. Limit: One suitcase and one handbag allowed per person. Breakfast, Venice)