Italy: A Walker's Paradisio

Upon arriving in Rome you will be met and transferred to your hotel, enjoying a panoramic city tour en route. You will have the afternoon to rest or explore this ancient city. This evening, you will all meet for a traditional welcome dinner, an orientation of the Italian adventure you are about to embark on and an opportunity to get to know one another! (D)

Overnight in Rome for 3 nights

After breakfast this morning you will begin your walk through history. You will see many of Rome’s wonders, including the infamous Coliseum; the Ancient Forum, the architecturally perfect Pantheon; and the delightful Piazza Navona. This afternoon you tour the world-famous Vatican Museum with its papal art treasures, as well as the Sistine Chapel, home to Michelangelo’s ceiling masterpiece, followed by a visit to St. Peter’s Basilica, the largest church on the planet. By the end of the day, you will have covered approximately 10 km/6.3miles of amazing history walking on everything from Marble to cobblestones. (B)

As Rome has so much to share we will begin our touring right after breakfast, visiting the presidential palazzo of Quirinale Hill; Trevi Fountain, (make sure to throw a coin over your shoulder to ensure you come back to Rome); Largo Argentina, crossing Tiber Island via ancient bridges; a visit to the Jewish Ghetto; and a stroll past the open-air theatre of Marcellus. With the remainder of the day free, to revisit any of the places that particularly perked your interest or maybe it's time for a little shopping. (B)

After a wonderful breakfast, your private coach will transport you to Orvieto where your walk starts in the Piazza del Duomo. This space was the home of the ecclesiastical powers of Orvieto from at least the 10th century when it contained the earlier cathedral and the bishop's palace. After visiting these buildings you move on to a fourth papal palace, which is known as Palazzo Soliano, as well as the modern Palazzo Vescovile which contains a number of interesting Roman remains found in the surrounding area. Moving down a short path to a series of grottoes that can be visited (Orvieto Underground). These were quarried for tufa blocks and then used for various purposes from Etruscan times. The first grotto that you visit contains two Etruscan shafts that were probably used as wells, as well as a number of medieval artisan premises used for making ceramics and pressing olives. The rooms in the second grotto communicate with the houses above and a number of them functioned as dovecotes. (Doves provided a means of communications and also food during sieges of the city). You will continue your walking tour seeing many Churches, Palaces, Convents and Franciscan buildings and end in a shady square and the restaurant of San Francesco, which occupies part of an ex-convent for Lunch. You will check into your hotel and now knowing the history of Orvieto you have the rest of the day to explore on your own. (BL)

Overnight in Orvieto for 2 nights

Today after breakfast you will enjoy the Anello della Rupe, a path that goes around the entire rock of Orvieto, in a succession of hills that define the perimeter of the massive tufa rock on which the city rests. To begin you will find yourself immersed in nature, like walking through a forest. You will see the "roofs" of the ancient Etruscan tombs in the necropolis known as the Crocifisso del Tufo. After the necropolis there is a small church built into a cave in the cliff on the left. There is legendary storytelling of a US paratrooper landing accidentally here during WWII, and taking shelter in the cave. Soon the scenery opens up to reveal the Abbey “La Badia”, a former convent in the 1200s with a beautiful tower. Above you, on the cliff, you can see pigeonholes and caves dug by ancient peoples. You will also visit Fortezza dell’Albornoz, the seat of the communal gardens, with immense walls of tufa rock, and small openings from the Middle Ages used to defend the rock as well as a natural cave containing fossil logs of 320,000 years ago. Enjoy a picnic lunch before returning to town along the ancient cobblestone streets following the city wall for a well-deserved rest. The rest of the day is free. (BL)

Today your guide and driver will take you along the less-travelled scenic route through Tuscany, with stops to wander through timeless hill towns with pristine views including famous Siena. Our final destination today is Florence, the fabled City of the Renaissance. You have the late afternoon free either to explore this charming medieval city, to which so much of Italy’s history and artistic genius can be traced. (B)

Overnight in Florence for 2 nights

This morning’s guided walking tour of Renaissance Florence reveals the delights of this art-lover’s mecca. Imbibe the spirit of Michelangelo and Da Vinci at sites like the Duomo, the adjoining Baptistry, and the impressive Vecchio Palace, home to the powerful Medici family. An early afternoon visit to Florence’s Uffizi Museum, one of the world’s finest displays of Renaissance art, introduces us to the works of masters like Botticelli and Raphael. Following this art-drenched day, the balance of the afternoon and evening is free to explore this delightful town full of grace and history. (B)

First stop today is in Pisa to admire the resolve of its famous leaning tower. From Pisa, we continue on to the magical region of Cinque Terre; Five perfectly preserved fishing villages, laced together with hiking paths that meander between vineyards and the deep blue sea. After winding our way down to the seaside village of Levanto, we'll board a train for the 10-minute ride to Monterosso. We'll arrive late this afternoon, with plenty of time to enjoy Monterosso's pleasant eateries and ambiance. (B)

Overnight in Cinque Terre for 2 nights

Enjoy a day of fresh air and sweeping Mediterranean views as you hike between the trail-linked, hill-hugging villages of the Cinque Terre. There is time to explore the historic stairways and alleyways and sun yourself on the rocks, sipping a cappuccino and catching up on your journal at an outdoor café to finish off the day. (B)

This morning after breakfast your coach will transport you to Padua were you hit the ground walking, with a tour of its colorful market squares and piazzas. Along the way, you'll be amazed at Giotto's glorious frescoes in the Scrovegni Chapel, and learn how our inner workings were revealed at Europe's first great Anatomy Theater. You'll have the rest of the evening to marvel at the Renaissance masterpieces in St. Anthony's Basilica, roam through the university's acclaimed Botanic Garden, or relax with a creamy espresso at a sidewalk café. (B)

Overnight in Padua for 1 night

After breakfast, you will travel to Venice. After checking in at your hotel your local guide will join you for a historical walking tour, with a modern Venetian's-eye view, through the backstreets of Venice, ending with the shimmering, mosaic-filled St. Mark's Basilica. Along the way, we'll learn about the city's remarkable past and its challenging future. Then it's all aboard for a cruise into Venice's lagoon on our private boat. You'll visit the picturesque island of Burano, known for its lace-making, where you'll have free time to explore this pastel-painted island and find lunch on your own. After returning to Venice, the evening is yours to explore the imposing Doge's Palace, maybe take in a church concert, waltz on St. Mark's Square, or pub-crawl your way through this unique city. (B)

Overnight in Venice for 2 nights

Today is free to explore, a great day to simply get lost in Venice, exploring the alleys and cruising the canals. This evening, we recall fond memories together, as well as more great Italian cuisine at our farewell dinner. (BD)

Return home from Venice. (B)