Classical Italy - Manchester

Ciao bella! This eight-day escape is a true love letter to Italy. From Venice, a Casanova of a city with unrivalled good looks, and star-crossed Verona to Rome's head-in-the-clouds architecture and Florence's breathtaking bridges, it's hard not to fall in love with the romance of this country.What's Included?
Includes- Return flights to Rome- Airport taxes & luggage allowance (one piece of checked-in hold luggage per person)- Airport transfers in Italy- 7 nights at selected hotels in Italy (JG4 rating) with breakfast plus 3 dinners- Excursions to Rome, Florence & Venice- Guided city tour of Rome- Guided walking tours of Florence & Venice- En-route visits to San Gimignano & Verona- Services of a tour manager in Italy

Itinerary
ItineraryDay 1We fly to Rome and transfer to our hotel where we stay on a bed and breakfast basis for two nights.Day 2 - RomeWe start this exciting day of sightseeing with a guided city tour of Rome. Highlights include Via Veneto, Santa Maria Maggiore, Circus Maximus, Ponte Sisto, Castel Sant'Angelo and the iconic Colosseum, the largest amphitheatre ever built in the Roman Empire. We continue our tour on foot, taking in some of the most famous sights of the Italian capital; the Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, Piazza Navona and the Spanish Steps. The rest of the day is free to explore the city at your own pace and choose a restaurant for an early dinner before we return to our hotel.Day 3 - San GimignanoThis morning we check out of our hotel and head towards Montecatini, stopping en route in the picturesque Tuscan town of San Gimignano. Cameras at the ready for the stunning medieval city walls and 14 sky-scraping towers which punctuate the hilltop setting and can be seen for miles.Later we check in to our hotel where we stay for two nights. Tonight, we enjoy dinner together at the hotel.Day 4 - FlorenceWe head by train to Florence, where we enjoy a guided walking tour. Undoubtedly one of Italy's most charming cities, don`t miss the Palazzo Vecchio, Giotti's Bell Tower and the Ponte Vecchio, Florence's lovely 'Old Bridge', which is still occupied by gold and silversmiths today.Day 5 - VeronaWe leave Montecatini and head to Shakespeare-famous Verona. This is a wonderful place to explore, complete with a beautifully preserved amphitheatre, pockets of pretty streets and, of course, Juliet's House, where you can gaze up at her balcony and post your love letter in the little red mailbox.We then make our way to Venice Mestre and check in to our hotel, our base for the next two nights. This evening we enjoy dinner together at the hotel.Day 6 - VeniceWe explore Venice with a guided walking tour. This city is a floating work of art replete with locals lounging back in sunny piazzas with a spritz in hand. Boasting wonderful attractions like St Mark's Square, the Bridge of Sighs and of course the gondolas that ply their trade up and down the canals. The rest of the day is left free to explore at leisure and choose a restaurant for dinner (not included).Day 7 - Day at leisureWe head back to our first hotel in the outskirts of Rome and have the rest of the day to spend as we please before we enjoy a farewell dinner together at the hotel.Day 8We check out of our hotel and transfer to Rome airport for our return flight home.Hotel
Selected HotelJG4 ratingWe'll stay in a selection of hotels in Italy (JG4 rating) such as the Hotel Principe di Pomezia in the outskirts of Rome, the Grand Hotel Tamerici in Montecatini and the Smart Hotel Holiday in Venice Mestre.Hotel RatingJG4 ratingAccommodation in our JG4 category is of an even higher standard, typically offering a wide range of facilities and services. Bedrooms are designed to make your stay the most comfortable possible and the staff provide a service that reflects the detail and quality. You can also expect higher standards of food and beverages.