9 Day Venice, Florence & Rome by Rail (Chicago Special)

• Flights Chicago-Rome, Venice-Chicago or vice versa
  Other departure cities available. Click on date of departure for selection and prices
• Airline taxes & fuel surcharges
• 7 nights accommodations
  • 2 nights Venice
  • 2 nights Florence
  • 3 nights Rome
• Transportation between cities via Standard rail with reserved seats
• Breakfast daily

Included sightseeing in each city

• Walking Tour of Venice & trip to Murano
• Walking Tour of Florence
• Tour of Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel & St. Peter’s Basilica

Is This Trip Right for You?

This independent program allows the flexibility to explore on your own. Affordable optional sightseeing excursions are available to enhance your trip. Please note that this tour is not escorted and therefore you will not have the services of a tour manager to assist with hotel check-in formalities and luggage handling. A variety of airfare options are available for this program, including some low-cost fares which may exclude complimentary checked luggage and advance seat assignments. Please read each offering to ensure you choose the option that best fits your wishes. This is an Independent program.

2022 Dates & Prices           Single Supplement: $300

DAY 1, Wednesday – Depart for Italy
Depart to Italy

DAY 2, Thursday – Arrive in Rome
Arrive in Rome and transfer independently to your hotel. Spend the rest of the day at leisure
Overnight: Rome

DAY 3, Friday – Vatican Museum Tour
Today, travel independently to Caffe Vaticano, opposite the Vatican Museum Entrance, to begin the guided tour of the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and St Peter’s Basilica, skipping the lines. Upon arrival, your guide will lead you into the museums where you will visit one of the most important art collections in the world. Admire the Gallery of Tapestries and the Geographical Maps before arriving to the famous Sistine Chapel with its great frescoes by Michelangelo. Then continue to the unforgettable St. Peter’s Basilica*, built on the burial site of Saint Peter. Afternoon is at leisure or, choose to join the optional Ancient Rome tour to visit the fabled Colosseum
*Due to Religious events, the opening times of St. Peter’s Basilica are subject to change without notice. In those cases, you will visit the Vatican Library instead of the Basilica
Optional: Ancient Rome (PM)
Overnight: Rome
Meals: Breakfast

DAY 4, Saturday – Full Day in Rome
Spend the entire day exploring “The Eternal City” at leisure. Perhaps, visit the Pantheon, a magnificent ancient temple, the world’s best-preserved ancient monument, that was later converted into a church and view Raphael’s tomb. From here, take a stroll to the nearby beautiful Piazza Navona, to get a glimpse of the famous fountains by Bernini. Perhaps, join the optional Naples & Pompeii with lunch. Depart Rome this morning and drive along the Sun Route to Pompeii, passing by the bay of Naples and majestic Mt. Vesuvius. After lunch, visit Pompeii, the city that was frozen in time under a thick carpet of volcanic ash almost 2,000 years ago. Return to Rome later in the afternoon
Optional: Naples & Pompeii with lunch from Rome
Overnight: Rome
Meals: Breakfast

DAY 5, Sunday – Travel to Florence by Rail and Florence Walking Tour
Travel to Florence, birthplace of the Renaissance, by high speed rail. After check-in, travel independently to the Perseo Statue inside the Loggia dei Lanzi in Signoria Square to begin your walking tour* of Florence in the open-air art museum. Admire the statues of the Loggia dei Lanzi, the Palazzo Vecchio before continuing to the splendid Ponte Vecchio. Walk to the magnificent Duomo, celebrated for its dome designed by Brunelleschi, and view the Baptistery’s renowned “Gates of Paradise” by Ghiberti. Florence is indeed the center of the world’s finest art and architecture
*This is a walking and orientation tour of Florence that does not include entry into any landmarks.
Overnight: Florence
Meals: Breakfast

DAY 6, Monday – Full Day in Florence
Spend the entire day exploring Florence on your own, or choose to join the optional half day Chianti tour. Journey to Chianti region that is famous for is quaint villages, rolling hills, and vineyards. Tour two wineries and enjoy wine tastings, expertly paired with light Tuscan delicacies. Afterward, travel to Greve in Chianti, one of the most renowned Chianti Villages
Optional: Half Day Chianti Tour (PM)
Overnight: Florence
Meals: Breakfast

DAY 7, Tuesday – Travel to Venice by Rail
Today, travel to Venice via high speed rail. After check-in, the rest of the day is at leisure. Enjoy the Venetian atmosphere or dive into the sumptuous culinary delights which abound citywide
Overnight: Venice
Meals: Breakfast

DAY 8, Wednesday – Morning Walking Tour of Venice
Today, travel independently to Venice Santa Lucia Train Station, meet just outside on top of the staircase to begin a morning tour* of Venice. Start with a boat ride to the Island of Murano, known for its artistic and colorful Murano Glassware, and witness a glass blowing demonstration. Return to Venice for a walking tour, beginning with an orientation of St. Mark’s Square where you will learn about the Square’s most prominent monuments including the Golden Basilica of San Marco, the Doge’s Palace, the Bell and Clock Towers. Proceed to Santa Maria Formosa Square and Campo SS. Giovanni e Paolo, the second largest square in Venice. Continue to the corner of Marco Polo’s House and Malibran Theater. Then, return to St. Mark’s Square through the Mercerie, a series of interconnecting streets that link Rialto Bridge and St. Mark’s Square, and are the main streets in the city for shopping.The remainder of the day is at leisure or you may choose to enjoy an optional Gondola Serenade
*This is a walking and orientation tour of Venice that does not include entry into any landmarks.
Optional: Gondola Ride with Music (PM)
Overnight: Venice
Meals: Breakfast

DAY 9, Thursday – Depart Italy
Transfer independently to the airport for your departure flight
Meals: Breakfast

Grand Hotel Mediterraneo, Florence.

This first class hotel is situated on the bank of the River Arno, within walking distance of the city center.

Hotel Villafranca, Rome.

This superior tourist class hotel is located near the historical and commercial center of Rome.