Duration: 10 Days
Dates: March 08 - March 17, 2024
Departure City: Dallas, TX (DFW)

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Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Friday 08 March, 2024 - Today we depart on LH439 @ 04:15 pm - Overnight flight to Germany

Day 2: Saturday 09 March, 2024 – Milan / Venice
We arrive in Frankfurt at 08:45 am and connect with LH 252 to Milan. We arrive in Milan at 01:45 pm – We will meet our tour manager outside the baggage claim area. Drive to Venice. ( approx 3 hrs drive) - We will have a break on the way 06:30 pm – Check in at our hotel 07:30 pm – Dinner at the hotel ( 3 course menu + water + 1 glass of soft drink) - Overnight (BD)

Day 3: Sunday 10 March, 2024 Venice
We depart the hotel after breakfast. A short travel lead us to the dock from where, along the Grand Canal, by private boat, we will reach San Mark ‘s square in 30 minutes- 09:00 am With our guide we will visit the Doges’ Palace ( inside) the Basilica of St Mark ( inside) then we walk throughout the narrow streets (calle) of Venice, to see the Bridge of Sights and Rialto Bridge. Break for lunch. Some time at leisure for personal activities. ( Optional gondola ride or visit a Murano glass factory or shopping ).– Return to our hotel 07:00 pm Dinner ( 3 course menu + water + 1 glass of soft drink) - Overnight (BD)

Day 4: Monday 11 March, 2024 – Venice / Pisa / Montecatini
We depart the hotel after breakfast. We travel to Pisa ( approx 4 hrs drive). Upon arrival by small electric train, we reach Piazza dei Miracoli, where we can see the monuments that make Pisa well known all over the world: Duomo, Baptistery, Cemetery and Leaning Tower. Break for lunch. 02:30 pm In the early afternoon, we will visit the Duomo ( inside) and the Baptistery. ( see from outside) – Time at leisure for an optional visit inside the Leaning tower (313 steps to climb!) – Regain our bus and drive 30 minutes to the SPA village of Montecatini where we will spend the next two nights. 07:00 pm Check in at the hotel 07:30 pm Dinner ( 3 course menu + water +1 glass of soft drink) - Overnight (BD)

Day 5: Tuesday 12 March ,2024 – Montecatini / Florence / Montecatini
After breakfast we drive to Florence ( 1 hr drive). Before entering the city, we will stop at Piazzale Michelangelo for an amazing view over the city. 09:30 am We meet the local guide for a full day walking tour starting from the Accademia Gallery (inside) where we will admire the works of the great Michelangelo, among them: the imposing David and the unfinished Pietà (the Palestrina Pietà) – Walking, we then reach the Duomo of Santa Maria del Fiore, to marvel at the sight of its cupola by Brunelleschi. See the doors of the Baptistery (gate to paradise) and Giotto’s bells tower. Continue to Piazza della Signoria to see the Palazzo Vecchio – 01:30 pm Break for lunch – Afternoon at our leisure for shopping . Visit Ponte Vecchio to see the original renaissance shops selling golds or Piazza Santa Croce to buy leather items. Visit church of Santa Croce, where many famous Italians are buried. Regain our bus and return to the hotel in Montecatini 07:30 pm Dinner ( 3 course menu + water + 1 glass of soft drink) - Overnight (BD)

Day 6: Friday 13 March, 2024 – Montecatini / San Gimignano / Siena
After breakfast we drive to San Gimignano ( 2,5 hrs drive) where we will have some time at leisure to walk throughout the streets of this well preserved medieval town, very well known for its towers. Continue to Siena ( 45 minutes drive) Time at leisure for lunch 02:00 pm With our guide we will tour Siena to see Piazza del Campo , and to visit the Duomo ( inside) where the relics of Santa Caterina are preserved. Continue to the hotel 06:30 Check in at the hotel 07:30 pm Dinner ( 3 course menu + water + 1 glass of soft drink) - Overnight (BD)

Day 7: Saturday 14 March 2024 – Assisi / Rome
After breakfast we drive to Assisi ( 2 hrs drive ) the birthplace of St Francis. Upon arrival, we will visit the Basilica of St Mary of the Angels which houses the "Portiucola church " and the "Chapel of Transit “, where St Francis died. After lunch, we will enjoy a walking tour visiting the Basilicas of St Clare and St. Francis, where we can visit the tomb of St Francis.. Some time at leisure for shopping then we continue to Rome ( 3 hrs drive) 07:30 pm Check in at the hotel 08:00 pm Dinner -( 3 course menu OR buffet style + water +1 glass of soft drink) - Overnight (BD)

Day 8: Sunday 15 March 2024 – Rome: Ancient Rome & San Paul Outside the Walls & – Basilica of St John Lateran
After breakfast,we will visit the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls which we will then visit with the local guide –Then we will visit the Basilica of St John Lateran , which houses a fragment of the table on which Jesus consumed his last supper, from there we cross the street to the the Holy Stairs so named because they are the steps which lead to the praetorium of the Roman Procurator Ponzio Pilato-Break for lunch. This afternoon we continue with our guide on a walking tour to learn about history of Ancient Rome. We start at the Church of Saint Peter in Chains, the we walk down to see the Arch of Constantine erected to commemorate the victory of the emperor over Maxentius in the 4th century A.D. (tradition says that before the battle the Emperor saw a brilliant cross in the sky and said the famous words "in hoc signovinces", meaning "In this sign you will conquer"). The tour continues at the Colosseum, everlasting symbol of the greatness of Rome and the stage for the historical fights of the gladiators. We’ll then walk through the valley of the Roman Forum, the great Rome, with its important buildings On the other side of the Via dei Fori Imperiali (street of the Imperial Fora), the ruins of the fori that the great emperors built as lasting memory of their power. We see the Forum of Trajan, the biggest and most splendid of all, whose markets are true forerunners of the modern commercial centers. See the Trajan's Column, jewel of architecture and sculpture made by Apollodorus of Damascus. Finally we will reach the Capitoline Hill, once political and religious center of the town, which today is the seat of the Municipality. A stairway leads you to the Piazza del Campidoglio, whose natural terrace provides the best panoramic point over the valley of the Roman Forum and the Palatine Hill. Here you’ll find the magnificent result of a single project by Michelangelo, a copy of the most famous equestrian statue in the world, the statue of Marcus Aurelius. Regain our bus and return to the hotel for dinner and overnight (BD)

Day 9: Monday 16 March 2024 – Rome: Vatican Museums – San Peter’s Basilica –Fountains and Squares
After breakfast, transfer to the Vatican and meet the local guide to visit the greatest art collections in the world, the Vatican Museums. Walk through the richly decorated galleries. Continue on to the Sistine Chapel, the private chapel of the Popes, where Michelangelo best expressed his genius in monumental frescoes – Return to San Peter’s Basilica. Take in the awesome architecture and the statuary adorning this largest of all Christian churches, including Michelangelo’s magnificent “Pieta.” among incredible works of art, we may wish to go to the Vatican Crypt to see and the tomb of St. Peter and where numerous pontiffs are buried. Break for lunch – This afternoon we will reach Navona Square and walk throughout the beautiful city center of Rome and see monuments, fountains, and squares. We will see the Pantheon ( outside) the Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps, where we have time at leisure for shopping. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight (BD)

Day 10: Tuesday 17 March 2024 –Departure