Join your tour leaders, Patricia and Manolis
on this 10 day trip to Italy.
We will visit the must-see highlights,
but also those hard to find spots that most travelers never see.
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Day 1 -
The beautiful city of Venice is the start of our odyssey. Join us in our centrally located hotel as we sip some Prosecco and taste test some of Italy’s favorite olives. After introductions we will head out for a leisurely stroll along romantic canals and over quaint bridges, on our way to dinner. We have a special trattoria picked out for our first dinner together! Prosecco & olives taste testing/ Dinner together. /UNESCO World Heritage Site (Venice & The Lagoon)/ Overnight Venice. |
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Day 2-
We head out early for our walk of historic Venice. We will start at the Basilica di San Marco to tour this magnificent church. Climbing up to the balcony to see the bronze horses up close, (said to be from the Hippodrome in Constantinople) we will be treated to a stunning view of Venice. We will make our way to the Rialto Bridge, catching a great view of "main street"- the canal, with majestic buildings rising from the water. A stop at the famous Rialto fish and produce market is in order as we make our way through the San Marco neighborhood. We'll be in a place where there a quite a few authentic trattorias to choose from, for lunch on your own. After lunch you will be free to explore on your own, sit at a sidewalk cafe and people watch, or go for a gondola ride. Dinner on your own with recommendations from us. Breakfast/ lunch together/ UNESCO World Heritage Site (Venice & The Lagoon)/ Overnight Venice. |
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Day 3-
Venice, early in the morning, is a wonderful place to explore. Take your time and have another walk on the canals before or after breakfast, your choice. Be ready mid morning as we say goodbye to Venice. We’ll board our fast train that will take us to Florence. Once in Florence, we'll check into our hotel and then have an orientation walk of the Historical Centre of this marvelous city. We'll pass by the Duomo and the Campiello and take our time visiting the piazzas and the outdoor David. We'll show you several restaurants where you can taste Tuscan delights for dinner on your own. Breakfast/ Fast train to Florence/Orientation Walk of Florence/ UNESCO World Heritage Site (Historic Center of Florence)/ Overnight Florence. |
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Day 4 -
We will leave early this morning for our visit of the Galleria dell’Accademia, were we will see renowned works of art, such as Michelangelo’s David. Next, we will make our way to one of the most impressive monuments in all of Florence, the Duomo. Here you can take your time to visit the sanctuary or climb to the top of the tower, for some of the best views of the city. Lunch is on your own. We will continue on to the main part of the city where we will walk by the Uffizi gallery, cross the Pont de Vecchio, and end up at the Palazzo Pitti (former residence of the Medici family) on the other side of the river. The rest of the afternoon will be yours to further explore the beautiful city. We will meet later and walk to dinner together at a traditional Tuscan trattoria. Breakfast/ Galleria dell'Accademia/ Tour of Florence/ UNESCO World Heritage Site (Historic Center of Florence)/ Dinner together/ Overnight Florence. |
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Day 5-
We take off early for a day trip out of Florence. Our first stop is the medieval walled city of Lucca. Know for its 16th century ramparts and cobblestone streets, it is also famous as the birthplace of Puccini. We will have a local that will take us around. Lunch will be on your own at any number of spots in this quintessential Renaissance town. In the afternoon, our driver will take us to the city of Pisa, known for its Cathedral, the Piazza dei Miracle (the Piazza of Miracles) and of course the Leaning Tower. We will take our time visiting each of these sites and if you are so inclined you can climb the tower to tremendous views over the Tuscan Plains. Breakfast/ Visit and tour of Lucca/ Visit to Pisa and the Leaning Tower/ UNESCO World Heritage Site (Piazza del Duomo)/ Overnight Florence. |
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Day 6 -
We’ll leave the city of Florence today for rural Tuscany. Here we take the back roads through the Chianti region. We will take our time wandering through the town of Greve where you can sample wine, olives and olive oils. We’ll pick out some great cafes for lunch on your own. We glide into the heart of Tuscany where we’ll stay in a converted farm estate. Our hosts will be on hand to take us around and visit their winemaking productions. We'll follow up with a wine tasting and then join them for dinner at their estate. Breakfast/ Town of Greve/ UNESCO World Heritage Site of San Gimignano/ Dinner together/ Overnight San Gimignano. |
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Day 7-
This morning we are up early for our look at San Gimignano. We'll explore this medieval village and even climb one of the Torre Grosse (tower) for extended views over the countryside. There is ample shopping to be done and great sidewalk cafes where you can watch the locals go by. Lunch is on your own at any of the excellent restaurants on the piazzas and back street. We will return to our Tuscan estate where you can have the afternoon to sit by the pool and read before joining us for another excellent Tuscan dinner! Breakfast/ San Gimignano/ The Torre Grosso/ UNESCO World Heritage Site of San Gimignano/ Swimming Pool Time / Dinner together/ Overnight San Gimignano. |
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Day 8-
This morning is yours to rest. There are trails and neat back roads to walk and take in some excellent country side views. We will offer a poolside lunch of charcuterie and wine. Be ready in the afternoon as we join the proprietress in her kitchen as she gives us a pasta making lesson. We learn a few things about Tuscan cooking and afterward eat what we just made. A leisurely dinner, together with their own local wines, will be our pleasure! Breakfast/ Pool Side Lunch/ UNESCO World Heritage Site of San Gimignano/ Swimming Pool Time / Pasta making lesson/ Dinner together/ Overnight San Gimignano. |
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Day 9-
We are off early for the spectacular city of Siena. We'll start at the church of Saint Catherine of Siena, where we will visit this impressive building. Then we head to the center of town to one of the finest piazzas in Italy, the Piazza del Campo, home to the twice yearly horse races, the Palio. You can enjoy lunch at the spectacular piazza at the center of town. Then we'll make our way to Italy's most famous city, Rome. After we check into our hotel in the center of the city, we’ll have a highlight walk of the center of Rome. We will start the Coliseum* and the Arch of Constantine* and then onto the Trevi fountain the end at the Pantheon. We will and our day with our farewell dinner together. Breakfast/ UNESCO World Heritage Site (Siena)/ The Coliseum*/ The Arch of Constantine* Trevi Fountain/ The Pantheon/ UNESCO World Heritage Site (Historic Center of Rome)/Farewell dinner/ Overnight Rome. *These we will see from the outside |
Day 10-
After breakfast together we will say good-bye. There is plenty more to explore. As part of this tour we will help you to book any other parts of Rome you want to see. Want skip the line tickets to the Vatican? Want to have a tour of the Forum. We'll help you get where you want to go!
Either way we had a great time and we can say Arrivederci!
Breakfast
After breakfast together we will say good-bye. There is plenty more to explore. As part of this tour we will help you to book any other parts of Rome you want to see. Want skip the line tickets to the Vatican? Want to have a tour of the Forum. We'll help you get where you want to go!
Either way we had a great time and we can say Arrivederci!
Breakfast
Tour Cost
14 people-$TBD
12 people-$TBD
10 people-$TBD
8 people $TBD
Until final payment date all deposits are fully refundable.
To email us your questions click here.
Solo/ Single travelers- We welcome single/ solo travelers on all of our tours. You will be paired up with a same-sex fellow traveler and you will each have your own bed in each hotel room during the tour. If you want to secure your own room we offer what we call a single supplement. This guarantees your own room each night of the tour. For this tour it is $775 added to the cost of your tour. If you do the Add On + it will be an additional $200 for your own room during that segment.
What do you get with this tour?
Visits to the following historical sites:
- Basilica San Marco (Venice) UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Piazza San Marco (Venice) UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Historic Center of Florence UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Galleria dell’Accademia (Florence)
- The City of Lucca
- The City of Pisa
- The Leaning Tower of Pisa UNESCO World Heritage Site
- San Gimignano (Tuscany) UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Piazza del Campo & the Historic Center of Siena (Tuscany) UNESCO World Heritage Site
- The Pantheon (Rome) UNESCO World Heritage site
- Piazza Navonna (Rome)
- The Coliseum (Rome) UNESCO World Heritage site*
- Trevi Fountain
- *outside view
PLUS!
- Always small groups
- Great Italian food
- Tour of Venice
- Custom itineraries
- The vineyards of Tuscany
- Cheese and prosciutto taste testing
- Special wine tastings
- Visit to local markets
- Pasta making lessons in Tuscany
- Prosecco sampling
- Olive Oil & Olive tasting
- Meetings with the locals
- Nine full breakfasts
- One pool-side picnic lunch (including wines)
- Six multi-course dinners (including wines)
- Experienced tour leaders
- Comfortable transportation
- Fast Trains
- Carefully selected hotels in great locations
- Careful attention paid to the pace of the trip, so you get the most impact!
What are you responsible for?
Airfare and transportation to and from the airport at the start and end of the tour.
Some lunches and dinners (when noted) that will be on your own, with plenty of recommendations from us.
Expenses arising from personal needs such as medications, vaccinations, travel documents, communications or any other expenses incurred due to traveling, including transport costs when you are sightseeing on your own.
Price is inclusive of all hotels, meals where indicated, and entrance to historic sites where noted. Also included is bus transportation starting after day one until the end of the scheduled tour.
What to expect-
vegetarian
vegan
For non-gluten or other dietary restrictions please contact us by email.
- Email or phone contact at any time you want it with your tour leaders pre-tour (even pre-booking for questions) Email us now!
- A great paced tour. You will get to see a lot of sites but never rushed. In addition we allow plenty of time for seeing the sites on your own.
- Skip the line tickets so we do not have to wait in line at very popular sites
- Great attention to detail
- We can handle the following dietary needs (if you tell us before the tour)
vegetarian
vegan
For non-gluten or other dietary restrictions please contact us by email.
- The easiest and fastest transportation. We pride ourselves on our transportation modes. When indicated we use fast trains, private coaches, easy walking, local transport. All in the effort to make getting around the easiest and fastest for you. If you have any questions about possible mobility issues please email us your concerns.
Our tour starts in Venice and ends in Rome. Please book your flight accordingly.
We have a document on booking your flights
"We loved traveling with you. Thanks again for all your efforts. We had a wonderful time!”
- Linda & Jim H. Fernandina Beach, Fla.
Who are your leaders?
Manolis HajifotiouA native of Greece, Manolis has been leading tours in Europe for 21 years. Besides traveling, his passion is playing his guitar and creating his own music. He also likes to keep up with the stone house he shares with his wife, Patricia, especially trimming their olive trees. He looks forward to showing you his favorite places and making sure you feel right at home.
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Patricia HajifotiouA native of the U.S.A., Patricia has been leading tours in Europe for 21 years. She lives on the island of Evia, Greece, with her husband Manolis. When she is not on tour, she lives off the grid in a rock house, powered by the wind and sun. There she likes to spend her time digging in the garden. She looks forward to showing you the places she likes the best.
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