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Rome & The Tuscan Highlights |
9 day
tour from US$1650
Tour Type: Europe at Leisure |
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Highlight |
Itinerary |
What's
Included |
Optionals |
Dates
& Rates |
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HIGHLIGHT |
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Highlights:
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Rome
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San Gimignano
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Siena
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Chianti Hills
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Florence
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Pisa
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Tuscan Countryside
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Torre del Lago Puccini
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Forte dei Marmia
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Assisi
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ITINERARY |
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| Rome
& The Tuscan Highlights |
Day
1 - Arrive Rome
On arrival you're met at Rome Fiumicino Airport and transferred to
your hotel. After check-in there's time to relax before a welcome
drink with your Tour Director.
Hotel: Cicerone
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Day
2 - Rome sightseeing – Tuscan Hills (Montecatini) (6 nights)
Our morning sightseeing with a local guide, whose commentary will be
crystal clear with the use of our audio system, includes a visit to
St. Peter's in the Vatican and a stop at the Forum to admire views
of the Colosseum. Finally, we see the Circus Maximus – famous for
its 'Ben Hur' style chariot races in Roman times! Afterwards, enjoy
some time on your own before a scenic drive takes us into the Tuscan
Hills for our arrival at the spa resort of Montecatini.
(Buffet Breakfast / Dinner)
Hotel: Grand Hotel Croce di Malta (6 nights)
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3 - Siena & San Gimignano Excursion
After breakfast this morning, we begin our journey to the 'medieval
Manhattan' of San Gimignano. Here there's time to explore this
many-towered town with its squares and winding streets before we
drive to Siena. On arrival, our Tour Director takes us to the famous
Piazza del Campo, scene of the celebrated Palio horse race. Then we
may also visit the stunning marble Cathedral before travelling
through the Chianti Hills back to Montecatini. Tonight, we enjoy
dinner in our hotel. (Buffet Breakfast / Dinner)
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Day
4 - Montecatini at leisure
After breakfast enjoy a full day at leisure to do as you please. You
may wish to just relax, or simply stroll through the streets of this
pleasant town. Maybe take an excursion to nearby Lucca to visit one
of the many palaces? This evening, dinner is at a local restaurant.
(Buffet Breakfast / Highlight Dinner)
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Day
5 - Florence Excursion
It's a short drive to Renaissance Florence. On our arrival we enjoy
a sightseeing tour on foot with a local guide, including an audio
system, showing us the Duomo, Piazza Signoria and visits the Santa
Croce Basilica. After lunch in a local restaurant perhaps take an
excursion to explore the museums, Uffizzi galleries or Pitti Palace.
Or why not shop for leather goods and gold jewellery? (Buffet
Breakfast / Highlight Lunch)
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Day
6 - Pisa – Torre del Lago Puccini & Forte dei Marmi Excursion
This morning we're off to Pisa to see the famous Leaning Tower in
the Square of Miracles. We also admire the finely sculpted marble
Cathedral, and see the ornate Baptistry. From here we drive into the
Tuscan countryside stopping in a pleasant olive grove to visit an
olive mill. Here we will be told about olive oil production and also
enjoy a tasting of the various varieties followedby a delicious
lunch. Next we're off to the splendid Italian Riviera via Torre del
Lago Puccini to see where the great 19th century composer wrote
"La Boheme" and "Madame Butterfly". Finally, we
arrive in the fashionable seaside resort of Forte dei Marmi. Here
there is time to lie on the beaches and swim, or stroll along the
promenade before returning to Montecatini for the night. Your
evening is at leisure. (Buffet Breakfast / Highlight Lunch)
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7 - Montecatini at leisure
A full day to relax by the pool. Or why not take an excursion to
visit the marble quarries at Carrara, or the 'Pinocchio Park' at
Collodi? For the 'culture vultures', perhaps return to Florence to
further explore the museums and Art galleries. The possibilities are
endless and the choices are all yours! (Buffet Breakfast / Dinner)
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8 - Tuscan Hills (Montecatini) – Assisi – Rome
An early start as we take the 'autostrada' into Umbria and on to St.
Francis' Assisi. Here there's time to visit the Basilica with its
Giotto frescoes, and enjoy the views from its medieval ramparts.
Then it's only a short drive into the Latium, and the Italian
capital Rome, the 'Eternal City'. This evening, why not celebrate
your final night with your fellow travelling companions in a Roman
trattoria? (Buffet Breakfast)
Hotel: Sheraton Golf
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Day
9 - Depart Rome
'Arrivedeci Roma' after breakfast, with time to bid a fond farewell
to new-found friends before we transfer you to Rome's Fiumicino
Airport for your return flight home. (Buffet Breakfast)
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WHAT'S
INCLUDED
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Rome & The
Tuscan Highlights What's Included
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Sightseeing
Highlights
- Rome:
Sightseeing tour with special audio system includes views
of the Forum and Colosseum plus visits St. Peter's
Basilica and the Circus Maximus.
- San Gimignano: Visit
this medieval town with its ancient towers.
- Siena: Visit the
medieval Tuscan city, home of the Palio horse race.
- Chianti Hills: Enjoy
a magnificent scenic drive.
- Florence: Sightseeing
tour with audio system includes Signoria Square, the Duomo
and visits the Santa Croce Basilica.
- Pisa: Visit the
Square of Miracles and view the Cathedral, Leaning Tower
and Baptistry.
- Tuscan Countryside:
Visit an olive mill including tastings of various
varieties.
- Torre del Lago Puccini:
See the home of this great composer.
- Forte dei Marmi:
Visit this seaside resort.
- Assisi: Sightseeing
includes St. Francis' Basilica.
- Scenic drives through
the Umbrian and Tuscan Hills, through the Chianti Hills,
along the Italian Riviera and along the Arno Valley.
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Dining
Highlights
- A welcome drink with your Tour
Director in Rome
- 8 Buffet breakfasts
- 2 lunches of local specialities in
Florence and the Tuscan countryside
- 3 three-course dinners in hotels
- 1 local speciality restaurant
dinner in Montecatini
14 meals in total (see day-by-day
itinerary)
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First
Class Travel Highlights
- The services of one of Trafalgar's
top professional multi-lingual Tour Directors on tour.
- A qualified local city guide in
Rome, Florence and Assisi.
- Chauffeur driven on Trafalgar's
luxury air-conditioned motorcoaches with reclining seats and
washroom.
- You'll stay in twin-bedded rooms
with private facilities.
- All hotel service charges and
tips, baggage handling fees and local taxes included.
- A stylish travel bag and wallet
containing tour documents and helpful information.
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Airport
Transfers
- London Gateways:
Transfers can be expensive, particularly between the Airport and
central London. When you book your tour with Trafalgar your
transfers to and from the airport are included. It's that
simple. Trafalgar has included a Free transfer to and from your
airport and Central London.
- Important – Please Note: Passengers
will only be entitled to transfers to and from London Airports
providing the following conditions are met:
- You are staying at a London hotel,
booked by Trafalgar, on the night of your arrival and the night
prior to the date of your departure.
- Flights are either booked by
Trafalgar or detailed information on flights is provided by your
Travel Agent not less than 21 days prior to departure.
- Only one included transfer both
inbound and outbound per tour is included by Trafalgar.
Transfers are by express train to a Central London Rail Station.
- Heathrow Express operates between
05.10-23.30. Gatwick Express operates inbound services between
05.20-23.45 and outbound services from 04.30-23.45. Transfers
outside of these times are at the passengers own expense.
- In the event of unforeseen events
(road or rail works, demonstrations, strikes) Trafalgar will not
be held responsible for delayed or cancelled transfers.
- No refund is available for
passengers not utilising this service.
- Why not upgrade to a Hotelink
transfer from the Airport to-the-door of your Trafalgar London
hotel? (please ask Trafalgar or your travel agent of the
additional upgrade price per person when booking)
- European Gateways: With
Trafalgar all passengers will receive complimentary arrival and
departure transfers on the scheduled arrival and departure day
of their tour at the times specified below. Please ensure your
Travel Agent reserves your flight to co-ordinate with the
transfer times shown.
- Trafalgar Bonus - Passengers who
book Trafalgar's Land+Air package and who arrive or depart
outside of these specified times on the scheduled arrival and
departure day of the tour will also be provided with a transfer.
- Passengers arriving before or
leaving after the scheduled tour days are not entitled to a
transfer but may book and purchase one through Trafalgar
providing that they also purchase the additional pre and/or post
tour hotel night(s) from Trafalgar. Please ask for prices of
transfers at the time of booking your extra night accommodation.
- Land only passengers arriving or
departing on the scheduled tour arrival or departure days but
whose flights don't coincide with the listed transfer times
below may also book and purchase these transfers. Flight details
must be provided to Trafalgar not less than 21 days before the
flight departure.
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OPTIONALS |
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Rome & The
Tuscan Highlights Optional Excursions
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Note:
All optional excursions listed are for
2004/2005 please use the information as a guide only.
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I7
- ROME. Evening Tour: Fountains and Dinner
A lighthearted introduction to the “Eternal City”. Make sure of
a safe return to Rome as you toss coins in to the Trevi Fountain.
Drive along the glamorous Via Veneto - famed as the setting of “la
dolce vita”, and the splendour of the monuments in magnificent
Piazza Venezia. Then relax and enjoy a typical Italian meal with
drinks included.
55.00 (€)
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I15
- ROME. Vatican Museums & the Sistine Chapel
An extension to the included sightseeing tour which allows us to
admire the artistic masterpieces collected and commissioned by the
Popes. See the famous Tapestry Gallery and Gallery of Maps then
finally wonder at the masterpieces in the Sistine Chapel. Take your
time - Michelangelo spent 11 years in the preparation of the vault
and altar wall! Our visit will be enhanced by the effective use of
our excellent audio system.
36.00 (€)
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- FLORENCE. Dinner, Wine & Music in the Chianti Hills
Take a scenic drive through the beautiful Tuscan countryside to a
delightful regional restaurant set among the pines and cypress
trees. Here an evening of gastronomic specialities awaits,
accompanied by song and music.
54.00 (€)
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I25
- FLORENCE. Jewels of the Renaissance
A guided tour of the Accademia allows us to appreciate the most
controversial sculpture in Italy, Michelangelo’s David. Then to
the fascinating ‘Cortile’ of the Medici Palace. Our visit will
be enhanced by the effective use of our excellent audio system.
32.00 (without the ‘Cortile’ 31.00) (€)
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I25a
- FLORENCE. Uffizzi & Medici Courtyard
On certain departures we will enjoy a guided visit of the Uffizzi
galleries instead of visiting the Accademia. Our visit will be
enhanced by the effective use of our excellent audio system.
43.00 (€)
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I35
- ROME. Visit to Piazza Navona followed by Roman dinner and concert
of live musical entertainment
We will first visit Piazza Navona (when available) with its
beautiful fountains and street artists before a short drive to one
of Rome’s finest restaurants. Here we will enjoy a delicious
dinner, punctuated by a concert of typical Italian songs and ‘bel
canto’ for which this country is justifiably famous! Sit back,
relax and imbibe the special Roman atmosphere – the wine or soft
drinks are also included!
58.00 (without the visit to Piazza Navona or another Roman site
or monument the price is 55.00) (€)
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I40
- ROME. Introduction to Rome by Night
Cameras at the ready for the many magnificent sights awaiting us as
we ‘do as the Romans do’ and start the evening with a
‘passegiata’ (evening stroll) along the Via Condotti to the
world-famous Spanish Steps in Rome’s most fashionable shopping
area. The ‘Campidoglio’, Piazza Venezia and so much more are
included on this evening visit before we linger in Piazza Navona
with its many pavement cafés and trattorias to admire the
seventeenth century fountains and architecture. NB On certain
departures, the Spanish Steps will be substituted by the Piazza
Rotonda, dominated by the mighty Pantheon.
30.00 (€)
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I56
- MONTECATINI. Lucca and a visit to an Olive Oil Mill
First to the beautiful town of Lucca where we enjoy a guided tour.
The monumental architecture of this charming city will transport you
back to thirteenth century Tuscany – so unchanged is the town
since those days of mystery and foreboding! By contrast, we will end
our excursion with a visit to a nearby olive oil mill, where we will
have the opportunity to sample this golden Elixir!
40.00 (€)
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I57
- MONTECATINI. The Marble Quarries of Carrara
This afternoon we ascend the Apuan Alps in the comfort of our
motorcoach, to visit the area where the most celebrated marble in
the world is quarried. Chosen by Michelangelo, and more recently
Henry Moore and Barbara Hepworth, Carrara marble is deemed by
sculptors to be among the best in the world. Why not purchase some
yourself, as a souvenir of this fascinating visit?
22.00 (€)
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I58
- MONTECATINI. The Cinqueterre – Lerici and Monterosso
Today we drive to the most romantic spot on the Italian Riviera –
the Bay of Poets, where Byron and Shelley spent much of their
Italian sojourn. We take a ferry to Monterosso, and admire the
almost inaccessible 'Cinqueterre' as we sail past. These five
villages, which we will see quite clearly, are built on a
promontory, for years only accessible by donkey and hence little
changed over the centuries. Even today, the villages retain their
charm and their reputation for producing one of Italy's most
sought-after and exclusive wines!
55.00 (€)
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I69
- FLORENCE. Dinner in the Tuscan Hills & Visit to the house and
Wine Cellars of Machiavelli
We drive to the pretty village of Sant’ Andrea in Percussina,
one-time home of Machiavelli. Here we visit the house where he lived
with its romantic wine-cellars before enjoying a dinner of fine
Tuscan food and wine in a typical ‘tavernetta’.
57.00 (€)
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I73
- FLORENCE. The Uffizzi Galleries and the Accademia
With a local guide we first visit the world-renowned Uffizzi
galleries with its famous Botticellis and other great
Renaissance artists. Then we go on to the Fine Arts Academy
where we see the ‘David’ by Michelangelo among other great
sculptures and paintings. Our visit will be enhanced by the
effective use of our excellent audio system.
47.00 (€)
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DATES
& RATES |
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*These prices are correct at
the time of the website going live, however are subject to confirmation at
the time of booking.
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