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Walking Key
Light = Two to four miles of mostly level walking.
Moderate = Four to six miles and/or up and down hills and/or some stairs.
Strenuous = Six to ten miles, lots of stairs, uneven terrain.
Heart of Italy in 11 Days
$2,995 + air • 24-28 people • Begins in Florence and ends in Rome
So much Italy...so little time. If you've been wishing we'd offer a shorter, more affordable version of "The Best of Italy" — start packing! Our new Heart of Italy tour covers the most quintessentially Italiano week and a half from our longer itinerary, and weaves in a few special extras.
In 11 dazzling days you'll experience Renaissance Florence, eternal Rome, medieval Siena, St. Francis' Assisi and the cliff-hugging villages of the Cinque Terre. But you'll also spend an afternoon in charming Lucca, eat and sleep at a rural agriturismo, and enjoy unforgettable wine and olive oil tastings.
This is an ideal way to discover the magic of Italy in the fall, when the crowds go home, the nights get cooler, and the harvest moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie.
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Your day-by-day itinerary
Day 0: Depart USA
Remember, you'll arrive in Europe the day after you depart the USA.
Day 1: Welcome to Italy
At 3 p.m. we'll meet our guide and fellow tour members at the hotel to get acquainted. You'll have an unforgettable introduction to Florence as we visit the Accademia Museum and Michelangelo's David. Afterwards, we'll enjoy dinner together at a favorite local restaurant. Sleep in Florence (2 nights). No bus. Walking: moderate.
Day 2: Uffizi
Our guide will lead us on a historical treasure hunt of Renaissance Florence, including the masterpiece-packed Uffizi Gallery. The rest of the day is yours to visit Florence's historic churches, browse the markets and sample many helpings of gelato. No bus. Walking: strenuous.
Day 3: Cinque Terre Villages
After a visit to Lucca and its impressive city walls, we'll head west; our destination is the Cinque Terre, a string of path-connected villages on the Italian Riviera, where we'll sleep (2 nights). Bus: 4 hrs. Walking: light to strenuous (your choice).
Day 4: Free Day to Roam the Cinque Terre
Today is yours in our Mediterranean getaway. Hike through the vineyards from one town to the next, sun yourself on the rocks, or find a waterfront bench and catch up on your journal. No bus. Walking: light to strenuous (your choice).
Day 5: Siena and the Heart of Tuscany
Today we'll venture into the heart of Tuscany, stopping to explore one of its many hill towns. Then it is on to the traffic-free "living museum" of Siena, brimming with some of Italy's finest Gothic architecture. Sleep in Siena (2 nights). Bus: 4 hrs. Walking: moderate.
Day 6: All Day to Savor Siena
After a morning walking tour, you'll be well oriented for your free afternoon to enjoy Siena, from its dramatic city hall tower to its elaborate cathedral and its well-respected enoteca (wine bar/museum). No bus. Walking: moderate.
Day 7: Assisi and the Umbrian Countryside
This morning we'll visit the hill town of Assisi and its impressive Basilica of St. Francis. We'll end our day amid the picturesque olive groves of Umbria. Enjoy dinner and sleep at a rural agriturismo near Orvieto (2 nights). Bus: 4 hrs. Walking: moderate.
Day 8: Umbrian Hill Towns and Vineyards
This morning we'll visit the classic hill town of Orvieto and its eye-opening Archeological museum. We'll return to our agriturismo in time for a delicious dinner together featuring local Umbrian specialties. Bus: 1 hr. Walking: moderate.
Day 9: A Walk through Caesar's Rome
Today we'll discover ancient Rome, as we do the Caesar shuffle through the Colosseum and Forum. This evening should be ideal for a floodlit fountain walk through Rome's great piazzas. Sleep in Rome (2 nights). Bus: 2 hrs. Walking: strenuous.
Day 10: Renaissance Rome
We'll devote today to Catholic Rome, visiting St. Peter's Basilica, the immense Vatican Museum and the brilliantly restored Sistine Chapel. You'll also have free time to find the Roma of your dreams: climb the Spanish Steps, toss coins in fountains, or do any last-minute shopping. As it's our final night together, we'll have a grand dinner. No bus. Walking: strenuous.
Day 11: Tour over after breakfast
It's a breeze to reach Rome's airports by taxi or train. Your guide will help you with any post-tour planning, leaving you well prepared for the road ahead. Grazie e ciao!
Itinerary specifics subject to change.
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