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Trip Itinerary:

• Day 1 - Lugano

  Welcome to the pleasures of the Italian Lakes.

  Hotel

  Depart 10:00 AM from Milan's Malpensa Airport. Travel Italy Tauck style – you'll see the best of Italy, from great cities to countryside villages and towns that are off-the-beaten track! Begin by heading through the beautiful northern Italy countryside from Milan to Lugano, Switzerland, set on the edge of a bejeweled lake with views of the city and the not-too-distant Alps.

  Enjoy free time to explore the waterfront promenade, then meet fellow traveling companions at a welcome cocktail reception and dinner.

  Hotel

  Meals: Lunch, dinner.
  Lodging: Grand Hotel Eden, Lugano, Switzerland.

  

• Day 2 - Lugano

  Villa delights and a cruise on Lake Como.

  Bus

  Travel to Tremezzo to visit Villa Carlotta, built in the 18th century, and noted for garden landscaping and sculpture.

  River or Barge Cruise

  Admire the dramatic views of the Alps silhouetting the famous villas along the shores of Lake Como on a private boat cruise.

  Sightseeing

  Arrive in picturesque Bellagio, and enjoy free time to explore the town as you please. Another private boat cruise takes you past elegant villas to Como, followed by a return to Lugano where the evening is free.
  

  Hotel

  Meals: Breakfast.
  Lodging: Grand Hotel Eden, Lugano, Switzerland.

  

• Day 3 - Venice

  Travel Italy from the fabulous lakes to Venice.

  Sightseeing

  Journey to Venice, designed along an intricate system of canals within a lagoon. After lunch, head to St. Mark’s Square, the heart of Venice, with a local guide. Visit Piazza San Marco (St. Mark's Square) and St. Mark’s Basilica, one of the greatest buildings in Europe with its exquisite mosaics and detailed carvings. See the Doges’ Palace, a pink marble Gothic masterpiece containing a precious art collection.

  A serenade aboard a gondola cruise through the canals, and dinner at a popular Venetian restaurant, are the perfect endings to a perfect day.

  Hotel

  Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner.
  Lodging: Hotel Danieli Venezia, Venice, Italy

• Day 4 - Venice

  Explore Venice as you please.

  Sightseeing

  Spend the day exploring the museums and sites that interest you most in Venice, a highlight as you travel Italy with Tauck. Perhaps tour the Galleria dell'Accademia or the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, or take a boat ride to the many islands in the Venetian lagoon.
  

  Hotel

  Meals: Breakfast.
  Lodging: Hotel Danieli Venezia, Venice, Italy

• Day 5 - Florence

  Statue of David in Florence.

  Train

  Travel Italy by rail today to Florence, the birthplace of the Renaissance.

  Sightseeing

  Get an introduction to the city’s architectural landmarks and great artists from a local art historian prior to a walking tour of the city – a special touch when you travel Italy with Tauck. You'll be totally prepared for your visit to Galleria dell’Accademia, where you're certain to marvel at Michelangelo’s marble statue of David standing nearly 17 feet tall. View Lorenzo Ghiberti’s bronze doors with detailed panels at the Baptistry, part of the Duomo of Santa Maria del Fiori complex. The historical center of Florence is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
  

  Hotel

  Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner.
  Lodging: The Westin Excelsior, Florence, Italy.

• Day 6 - Florence

  Masterpieces of the Uffizi.

  Sightseeing

  Gaze at some of the world’s greatest art masterpieces at the extraordinary Uffizi Gallery, Italy’s largest art museum, on a guided tour with a local expert. Admire works by Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Michelangelo, Sandro Botticelli, and more. Following your tour, you can spend as much time as you like looking at the art. During your free afternoon you can explore as you please; perhaps you may want to visit the Pitti Palace, the Medici Chapels or stroll across the Ponte Vecchio to the lovely Boboli Gardens.
  

  Hotel

  Meals: Breakfast.
  Lodging: The Westin Excelsior, Florence, Italy.

• Day 7 - Rome

  Vineyards and Rome – highlights when you travel Italy.

  Wine

  Travel Italy through landscapes featuring olive groves, cypress trees, and vineyards, including the region that produces Chianti wine.

  Sightseeing

  Stop in the medieval hill town of Siena, and wander through the narrow streets. See the Piazza del Campo where the Palio bareback horse race is held. Visit the Duomo, one of Italy’s great cathedrals, with scenes inlaid in the marble floors and sculpture by Michelangelo. Continue through scenic Tuscany to Rome, the Eternal City that was the center of the once-powerful Roman Empire.
  

  Hotel

  Meals: Breakfast, dinner.
  Lodging: St. Regis Grand Hotel, Rome, Italy.

• Day 8 - Rome

  Visit the Vatican.

  Sightseeing

  Explore the rich treasures of the Vatican, starting at the Vatican Museums. In the Sistine Chapel, view Michelangelo’s masterpieces, and admire the art and architecture of St. Peter’s Basilica. Pursue your own special interests in Rome during the afternoon.
  

  Hotel

  Meals: Breakfast.
  Lodging: St. Regis Grand Hotel, Rome, Italy.
  

• Day 9 - Rome

  A day in Imperial Rome.

  Adventure

  Get an insider’s view of Rome from a local guide. You'll avoid long lines with pre-arranged reservations at the Colosseum, opened in AD 80 for gladiator combat. Choose among many historic sights and museums for your free afternoon.

  Share your favorite experiences at the farewell cocktail party and dinner, a special finale when you travel Italy with Tauck.
  

  Hotel

  Meals: Breakfast, dinner.
  Lodging: St. Regis Grand Hotel, Rome, Italy.

• Day 10 - Rome

  Arrivederci Rome.

  Your journey comes to an end at 7:30 AM at Rome's Leonardo da Vinci Airport in Fiumicino. If you are departing at other times, you must secure your own transportation to the airport. Meals: Breakfast

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