ETERNAL ROME & FLORENCE

The arrival is scheduled in the morning at Roma Fiumicino airport, where you will be welcomed by our representative who will be with you during your entire stay. Then, you will be transferred by coach to your preferred hotel in Rome.

In the afternoon, you will start a sightseeing tour of Rome, the Eternal City. Rome is the capital and largest city of Italy and the fourth-most populous city in the European Union. Throughout the years, Rome has also been the setting of many unforgettable movies like: Roman Holidays, with Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn, La Dolce Vita (The Good Life) by Federico Fellini and Three Coins in the Fountain. Rome has been the capital of one of the globe’s greatest civilizations ever, the Roman one. This population has extended its cultural, religious and economical influence over the Western World for almost two and a half thousands of years. In addition, Rome hosts the Vatican City and it is also the capital of the Catholic religion.

You will be accompanied for a walk through the ruins of the magnificent ancient Rome where you will have the chance to visit: i Fori Imperiali (The Imperial Fora), a series of monumental ruins which represent the old center of the Roman Empire, the Colosseum, an elliptical amphitheatre symbol of the powerful Roman domination where gladiatorial shows and hunts of wild animals took place, the Arch of Constantine, a triumphal arch that was built by the first Christian emperor Constantine I to celebrate his victory over Maxentius at the Battle of Milvian Bridge, and the Capitoline Museums, Renaissance palaces which host many historical and archeological exhibits celebrating the Roman civilization. After the excursion, you will return to the hotel for overnight stay.

After breakfast, you will meet with our representative who will take you on a sightseeing tour of the Christian part of Rome. You will be accompanied for a walk through the Vatican City where you will be able to visit: Saint Peter’s Basilica, one of the holiest Catholic sites where the tomb of Saint Peter, one of the twelve apostles of Jesus and first Bishop of Rome, is located; the Vatican Museums, one of the best museums in the world which displays the vast collection of Renaissance treasures and classical sculptures of the Roman Catholic Church; and the Sistine Chapel, famous for its architecture and its frescos painted by some of the best Renaissance artists like Michelangelo whose Last Judgment on ceiling fully describes the genius of his works.

In the afternoon, after a short break for lunch you will be led to the famous Catacombs, ancient underground paths used by the early Christians of the 2nd century AD as burial, ceremonial and hiding places during the time of persecution.

After this quick visit, you will be guided to two of the four major papal churches of Rome: the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, which was originally founded by the emperor Constantine I who erected a memorial church on the burial place of Saint Paul; and St. John Lateran’s Basilica, the first cathedral of the Diocese of Rome and official ecclesiastical seat of the Bishop of Rome who is the Pope. In the evening you will return to the hotel for overnight stay.

After breakfast, you will have the entire morning to say goodbye to Rome. You will definitely fall in love with its rich historical heritage and its cosmopolitan atmosphere which makes this timeless capital one of the most visited, influential and beautiful cities in the world. Rome is also one of the most outstanding fashion capitals of the world where some of the oldest Italian jewellery and clothing firms were founded. You can take a walk through via del Corso, the main shopping street in the heart of the historical center, enjoy the lovely breathtaking view of il Pincho in Villa Borghese, visit The Pantheon, a stunning temple dedicated to the Roman pagan gods, stop at the Trevi Fountain where you can throw a coin in the fountain and make your wish come true, have your portrait made by one of the local freelance artists in Piazza Navona, have a refreshing gelato at the Spanish Steps of Piazza di Spagna, go window shopping at the high fashion boutiques of via Condotti or have a delicious meal in some the typical trattorias of rione Trastevere, one of the most famous neighbourhoods of the Roman Good Life.
In the afternoon, you will be head to Florence. Along the way, you will stop in Orvieto, a cozy small town which is located in the green hilly heart of Italy, in the peaceful region of Umbria. This area is worldwide known for its olive oil and its vineyards from which excellent wines are produced.

Orvieto was originally an Etruscan town which rises on a high cliff mountain. It is definitely noted for its stunning cathedral which is made up of white travertine and greenish-black basalt whose architecture and facade are very similar to the splendid cathedral of Siena. The town perfectly shows its medieval background from its many fortresses, its watching towers and defensive walls made of tufa, a volcanic type of rock. In the evening you will arrive in Florence where you will check in at your preferred hotel for overnight stay.

After breakfast, you will meet with our representative who will take you on a sightseeing tour of Florence. This precious Renaissance pearl is located between the banks of the river Arno and the Apennines mountain range. It was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1982. It is internationally renowned for its handcrafted leather products and its haute couture and luxury brands which list Florence within the top fifty fashion capitals of the world.

You will be accompanied for a walk through the many breathtaking beauties of the historical center, such as: the Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore, also known as the Duomo, that was built by Filippo Brunelleschi, one of the most outstanding architects of the Italian Renaissance, the nearby Campanile (Bell Tower) that was projected by the Medieval artist Giotto, the Baptistery and its golden Gates of Paradise designed by Andrea Pisano, Piazza delle Signoria, which has been the social and political hearth of the city since the 14th century, Ponte Vecchio, which is a Medieval arch bridge famous for its high class jewellery stores, the Loggia dei Lanzi, also called the Loggia della Signoria, which is an amazing open-air sculpture gallery of antique and Renaissance art, the Basilica di Santa Croce (the church of the Holy Cross), also known as the Temple of the Italian Glories, which is the burial place of some of the most illustrious Italian geniuses such as: Michelangelo, Galileo, Machiavelli, Foscolo, Gentile and Rossini.

In the afternoon, after a short break for lunch you will visit the Uffizi Gallery, which is one of the oldest and most famous museums of paintings and sculpture in the world. The Uffizi collection presents some of the most impressive masterpieces of the Italian Renaissance such as: the Primavera and The Birth of Venus by Botticelli, the Madonna with Child and Two Angels and the Incoronation of the Virgin of Filippo Lippi, the Annunciation and the Adoration of the Magi of Leonardo da Vinci, the Tondo Doni of Michelangelo and the Madonna of the Goldfinch of Raphael. In the evening, you will return to the hotel for overnight stay.

After breakfast, you will have the entire morning free to explore the city in every aspect. You will definitely fall in love with the splendour of this open-air art museum that is the city of Florence. You can go shopping in Mercato di San Lorenzo where you can bargain for some good genuine Italian leather goods, window shop at the high fashion boutiques of via de’ Tornabuoni or take a walk through the jewellery stores on Ponte Vecchio, go visit museums like: the Bargello Palace art collection, which displays masterpieces of Michelangelo and the famous Donatello’s David or the Accademia Gallery, which houses the original sculpture of the Michelangelo’s David placed in Piazza della Signoria, have a delicious meal in some typical osterias or a tasty gelato at one of the many cafés around the center, go to the lovely Giardini di Boboli (the Boboli gardens), one of the most beautiful parks of Florence which has a great collection of impressive sculptures, from Roman antiquities to statues dating from the 16th through the 18th centuries. In the afternoon you will get back to the hotel and then transferred by coach to the Florence airport for your scheduled departure.