Italia Bella: Rome to Venice

•   Special after-hours guided visit to the Vatican Museums & the Sistine Chapel – fewer crowds & unhurried viewing

Day 1: Arrive Rome, capital of the Ancient World
Tour begins: 3:00 PM, The Westin Excelsior, Rome. A transfer is included from Leonardo da Vinci Airport in Fiumicino to The Westin Excelsior, Rome, ideally located in the heart of the city within walking distance to many historic sights. Your adventures in Italia Bella begin with a guided visit to the fascinating Catacombs of St. Callistus, underground burial tunnels for almost half a million early Christians and 16 third-century popes. Cryptic symbols and painted frescoes provide pictorial clues to the life and customs of its ancient Christian community! End your first day in Rome at our welcome reception and dinner at a local restaurant where the fun really heats up.
Overnight: The Westin Excelsior, Rome, Italy
Meals Included: Dinner

Day 2: Go inside Rome & tour the Vatican after hours
Drive back through the history of Imperial Rome today, relics of which are visible virtually everywhere you look. While many of the ruins you’ll see just hint at their former grandeur, the Colosseum roars with memories of gladiators, lions and the deafening cheers – or jeers – of the some 55,000 spectators who watched the emperor’s games here. Walk through one of its 80 entrances on a guided tour, learning more about this huge amphitheater from your knowledgeable guide. See the temples, arches and basilicas of the Roman Forum and visit St. Peter’s Basilica. Get set for a special treat this evening when our local expert takes you on a guided after-hours tour of the Vatican Museums, without crowds. It is an extraordinary experience, a memory that creates a lasting lifetime bond for families. Look around – and up – at the palace walls and ceilings to view its colorful frescoes, then look down at the amazing floors. The Sistine Chapel is adorned with a dozen of these detailed murals, with the most famous of all painted on the ceiling by one of the most famous artists of all time, Michelangelo.
Overnight: The Westin Excelsior, Rome, Italy
Meals Included: Breakfast, dinner

Day 3: Explore Orvieto’s medieval tunnels
Italy astounds with wonders of another time and place, as you will discover as we drive through the Umbrian and Tuscan countryside to Florence. First stop is Orvieto, looming over vine-covered hills from its walled perch atop a volcanic plateau. This medieval gem is filled with Gothic discoveries, even below ground! Explore its honeycombed tunnels and Etruscan caves on a guided tour that takes you under the town’s cobblestone streets, then continue on your way to Florence. See Michelangelo’s statue of David on a guided visit to the Galleria dell’Accademia before settling into your palace hotel.
Overnight: Grand Hotel Florence, A Luxury Collection Hotel, Florence, Italy
Meals Included: Breakfast, dinner

Day 4: See how pizza is made in Pisa
Explore nearby Pisa today, home to the famous Leaning Tower as well as the Duomo and graceful Baptistry. Learn about the history of the “field of miracles‚” and see how pizza is made during a lunchtime demonstration. Dinner is on your own tonight in Florence.
Overnight: Grand Hotel Florence, A Luxury Collection Hotel, Florence, Italy
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch

Day 5: Visit the Uffizi
Meet a local art historian who shares insights about the masterpieces of the Renaissance, many of which you will see today. Join a local guide for a visit inside the Uffizi to see Botticelli’s The Birth of Venus and Michelangelo’s painting of The Holy Family. The remainder of the day is for you to explore Florence with your family.
Overnight: Grand Hotel Florence, A Luxury Collection Hotel, Florence, Italy
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 6: Take the Eurostar train to Venice, city of canals
Board the sleek Eurostar train for a first-class, high-speed rail trip to Venice where a private boat will be waiting to take you to your hotel for lunch along the Grand Canal. Join us this afternoon on a guided walking tour of St. Mark’s Square and a visit the Doges’ Palace, perhaps the most beautiful Renaissance palace in Italy. Enjoy a serenade aboard a gondola as you glide along the canals of the city.
Overnight: The Westin Europa & Regina, Venice, Italy
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch

Day 7: Get a glimpse of daily life in Venice
Mask-making is a centuries-old tradition here in Venice and to see them being made is a memorable experience. Meet skilled local artists who turn papier-mâché into colorful characters, human and animal, right before your eyes, creating new facial identities for the wearer! Sample daily life – and gelato – on your own before joining us for a farewell party tonight as we say arrivederci to Italia Bella.
Overnight: The Westin Europa & Regina, Venice, Italy
Meals Included: Breakfast, dinner

Day 8: Journey Home
Tour ends: Venice, Italy. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from The Westin Europa & Regina to Venice’s Marco Polo Airport. Allow a minimum of 2 1/2 hours for flight check-in.
Overnight:
Meals Included: Breakfast

Don't miss our current specials: Tauck Tour Deals Traveling with a group of friends or family can add to the joy of any journey. Book a group of 10 on any Tauck land journey or cruise and the 11th guest travels FREE. Book a group of 8 on any Tauck Bridges family adventure and the 9th guest travels FREE Tauck Single Specials For those seeking singles tours, we are pleased to offer special values on select departures to our guests who choose to travel solo. You can travel with peace of mind, knowing that you are among like-minded travelers and will have all the day-to-day details handled for you! While everyone is welcome, on these select dates we offer special arrangements to those traveling solo at a reduced cost. Tauck Single Specials in North America Best of the Canadian Rockies Michigan's Lakes & Mackinac Island Charleston/Savannah Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia San Fransisco, Sonoma & Napa Valleys Tauck Single Specials in Europe A Week in Ireland A Week in Spain Mediterranean Discovery Istanbul and the Black Sea Treasure of the Mediterranean Cruising Mediterranean Shores The Blue Danube Holland Belgium in Spring Strasbourg to Prague Serenade The Rhine and Moselle Budapest to Amsterdam by Riverboat Budapest to the Black Sea Classic Italy Bellissima Northern Italy Italian Lakes, Venice, Florence and Rome A Week in Paris and Provence Tauck Singles Specials in Latin America Panama Canal & Costa Rica
Touring Date	Land Only	Land + Air	Single (Land Only)	Single (Land + Air)
12/22/2010 - 12/30/2010	$3,997
Airfare Disclaimer A NOTE ABOUT AIRFARE: We encourage you to buy your airfare from the tour operator, because if your tour cancels then your airlines tickets will be covered. Purchasing flights separately at a lesser rate and incorporating it with a Non-Guaranteed Departure Date can result in loss of total cost of your flight investment. Depending on the fare rules, flights may be Non-Refundable and/or Non-Transferable. Neither the tour operator and/or Atlas Cruises & Tours will be held responsible for loss if a tour is cancelled for Lack of Participation. If you would like to check for discounted fares on Guaranteed Departures or for competitive pricing on air and hotel packages, we invite you to follow this link. Documents TRAVEL DOCUMENTS: Necessary Travel Documents such as Passports and Visas is the responsibility of the traveler. Passports must be valid six months from your return travel date.

Travel back in time on this fun-filled Roman holiday as you explore treasured sites in ancient Rome, go underground in medieval Orvieto, view world-famous art from 15th-century Florence and explore the city where Venetian rulers lived for 800 years. Say ciao to a Roman Centurion at the Colosseum during a guided tour of ancient Rome. On a private after-hours visit to the Vatican and look up – and down – in the Sistine Chapel; there are no crowds. Learn about the Renaissance from an art historian in Florence and see Michelangelo’s David at the Galleria dell’Accademia. Experience pizza in Pisa as you explore the “field of miracles.” Ride the high-speed Eurostar to Venice. Day 1 – Arrive Rome, capital of the Ancient World Tour begins: 3:00 PM, The Westin Excelsior, Rome. A transfer is included from Leonardo da Vinci Airport in Fiumicino to The Westin Excelsior, Rome, ideally located in the heart of the city within walking distance to many historic sights. Your adventures in Italia Bella begin with a guided visit to the fascinating Catacombs of St. Callistus, underground burial tunnels for almost half a million early Christians and 16 third-century popes. Cryptic symbols and painted frescoes provide pictorial clues to the life and customs of its ancient Christian community! End your first day in Rome at our welcome reception and dinner at a local restaurant where the fun really heats up. Meals D Day 2 – Go inside Rome & tour the Vatican after hours Drive back through the history of Imperial Rome today, relics of which are visible virtually everywhere you look. While many of the ruins you’ll see just hint at their former grandeur, the Colosseum roars with memories of gladiators, lions and the deafening cheers – or jeers – of the some 55,000 spectators who watched the emperor’s games here. Walk through one of its 80 entrances on a guided tour, learning more about this huge amphitheater from your knowledgeable guide. See the temples, arches and basilicas of the Roman Forum and visit St. Peter’s Basilica. Get set for a special treat this evening when our local expert takes you on a guided after-hours tour of the Vatican Museums, without crowds. It is an extraordinary experience, a memory that creates a lasting lifetime bond for families. Look around – and up – at the palace walls and ceilings to view its colorful frescoes, then look down at the amazing floors. The Sistine Chapel is adorned with a dozen of these detailed murals, with the most famous of all painted on the ceiling by one of the most famous artists of all time, Michelangelo. Meals BD Day 3 – Explore Orvieto’s medieval tunnels Italy astounds with wonders of another time and place, as you will discover as we drive through the Umbrian and Tuscan countryside to Florence. First stop is Orvieto, looming over vine-covered hills from its walled perch atop a volcanic plateau. This medieval gem is filled with Gothic discoveries, even below ground! Explore its honeycombed tunnels and Etruscan caves on a guided tour that takes you under the town’s cobblestone streets, then continue on your way to Florence. See Michelangelo’s statue of David on a guided visit to the Galleria dell’Accademia before settling into your palace hotel. Meals BD Day 4 – See how pizza is made in Pisa Explore nearby Pisa today, home to the famous Leaning Tower as well as the Duomo and graceful Baptistry. Learn about the history of the “field of miracles‚” and see how pizza is made during a lunchtime demonstration. Dinner is on your own tonight in Florence. Meals BL Day 5 – Visit the Uffizi Meet a local art historian who shares insights about the masterpieces of the Renaissance, many of which you will see today. Join a local guide for a visit inside the Uffizi to see Botticelli’s The Birth of Venus and Michelangelo’s painting of The Holy Family. The remainder of the day is for you to explore Florence with your family. Meals B Day 6 – Take the Eurostar train to Venice, city of canals Board the sleek Eurostar train for a first-class, high-speed rail trip to Venice where a private boat will be waiting to take you to your hotel for lunch along the Grand Canal. Join us this afternoon on a guided walking tour of St. Mark’s Square and a visit the Doges’ Palace, perhaps the most beautiful Renaissance palace in Italy. Enjoy a serenade aboard a gondola as you glide along the canals of the city. Meals BL Day 7 – Get a glimpse of daily life in Venice Mask-making is a centuries-old tradition here in Venice and to see them being made is a memorable experience. Meet skilled local artists who turn papier-mâché into colorful characters, human and animal, right before your eyes, creating new facial identities for the wearer! Sample daily life – and gelato – on your own before joining us for a farewell party tonight as we say arrivederci to Italia Bella. Meals BD Day 8 – Journey home Tour ends: Venice, Italy. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from The Westin Europa & Regina to Venice’s Marco Polo Airport. Allow a minimum of 2 1/2 hours for flight check-in. Meals B

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