Michelangelo Tour
From the lakeside city of Como to the many splendours of Rome, this tour encompasses many of Italy's most famous cities, comfortably, by first-class rail.
Day 1 & 2 Milan | Como
On arrival in Milan you will be met and transferred by private car to your Como hotel for check-in. Settle in and then it's time to explore Como at your leisure; relax in the cafes, people watch, drink pure Italian coffee, and absorb the history and elegance of your new surroundings. The remainder of today, and all day tomorrow, is free to visit and absorb the delights of Como. Be sure to visit Como's walled Old Town and, at its heart, Piazza San Fedele with its many 400-year-old buildings and basilica. (B)
Day 3 Como | Venice
This morning, enjoy a leisurely breakfast at your hotel before making your way to Como's rail station to board a first-class train for the journey east to Venice. Once you arrive in Venice you will be met and guided to your motor-launch, the Venetian mode of transportation, and transferred to your hotel. Comprising of more than a hundred small islands, a hundred and fifty canals and more than four hundred bridges, Venice is built like no other city in the world and your afternoon is free to start your exploration of this fascinating city. (B)
Day 4 Venice
This morning an experienced guide will escort you through the millennium of life of the Serenissima Republic . Starting at Piazza San Marco where you will admire its most important monuments, Basilica San Marco, Palazzo Ducale, Bell Tower, Clock Tower and Procuratie, walk through Venice’s meandering alleys to Campo SS. Giovanni e Paolo before returning through the Mercerie, vital connection between Rialto Bridge and San Marco and the main street for the city shopping, to San Marco Square. The tour continues with a guided visit of the Palazzo Ducale which for centuries represented the seat of the Venetian political power. The remainder of the day is free to pass as you please perhaps selecting an optional excursion to visit the famous islands of Murano, Burano & Torcello. (B)
Day 5 Venice | Florence
This morning a guide will lead you from your hotel to your motor-launch to transfer you to the train station to board a first-class train to Florence. Sit back and enjoy watching the scenery change as you travel from Veneto through Emilio Romagna to Tuscany. When you arrive in Tuscany's capital city of Florence you will be met and transferred to your hotel by private car. Check-in to your hotel and now it's time to start discovering Florence and the many artistic & historical wonders it offers. The remainder of your day is free. (B)
Day 6 Florence
This morning enjoy a guided tour of the "Cradle of the Renaissance" - Florence. Start with a drive along the romantic Viale dei Colle up to Piazzale Michelangelo for a fantastic panoramic view of the city. Then a guided walking tour of the historic centre including a visit to the Duomo complex, Giotto's Belltower and the ancient Baptistery with its bronze door before finally arriving to the renowned Galleria dell'Accademia* to admire the famous David by Michelangelo and other great works. The remainder of the day is yours to spend as you please. (B)
Day 7 Florence | Pisa or Chianti | Florence
Today the choice is yours whether to spend the afternoon on a visit to Pisa or enjoy a visit to the Chianti area. Both tours take place during the afternoon with the Pisa tour being a splendid excursion through the fertile and picturesque Tuscan countryside to the historic university city of Pisa, famous for its architectural beauty. Arriving in Pisa you will enjoy a guided walking tour of Piazza dei Miracoli, with the celebrated Leaning Tower (exterior), the Baptistery (exterior) and other important monuments. This is followed by a visit to the interior of the Cathedral, an unrivalled masterpiece of Romanesque art constructed between the 11th and 12th centuries. After the visit to the Cathedral there will be free time at your disposal or, for those who are interested you can take a pleasant walk with our tour escort and reach Piazza dei Cavalieri, where you can admire the historic Scuola Normale, one of the most famous universities in the world. However, if the tour of Chianti is your choice this excursion will take you to one of the most suggestive areas of Tuscany, known all over the world for its wine and its countryside of unrivalled charm, where woods alternate with vineyards and olive groves, in a landscape dotted with Romanesque churches, farmhouses, villas and castles of rare beauty. This tour includes a visit to a site of particular historic and artistic interest in an ancient hamlet and to one of the most famous wine-growing estates, complete with a snack and tasting of its prestigious wines. The excursions take place in different areas of the Chianti Classico and Chianti Fiorentino wine districts. Whichever tour you choose an early evening return to Florence is planned. (B)
Day 8 Florence | Rome
Enjoy breakfast at your hotel before a private car transfer whisks you to the railway station to board a first-class train with reserved seating to Rome where, on arrival a private car will take you to your next hotel. Check-in and the remainder of today is free to relax or explore on your own. (B)
Day 9 Rome
This morning you will enjoy a city tour visiting some of the best-known monuments of Rome. The tour begins by crossing Piazza della Repubblica with Najad's Fountain, where your local guide will take you on a pleasant stroll through the historical centre, where you can admire the Trevi Fountain, the Colonna of Marco Aurelio, Palazzo Montecitorio designed by Bernini, the Pantheon (visit inside), Palazzo Madama (seat of the senate) and Piazza Navona. Passing alongside Castel S. Angelo your tour will take you to the Basilica of St. Peter (visit inside except when there are religious celebrations) where you can admire on the Michelangelo's magnificent works of art, "La Pieta". You can choose to return with the tour to your hotel (or closest drop-off point) or remain inside St. Peter's returning at your leisure. The afternoon is free to pass as you wish. (B)
Day 10 Rome
Today you can enjoy a leisurely breakfast and some time to explore Rome on your own before an afternoon guided tour. This tour begins with an arrival at Piazza Venezia with its impressive monuments erected for King Victor Emanuele II and the tomb dedicated to the Unknown Soldier, before continuing by foot to the famous Piazza del Campidoglio designed by Michelangelo: from there you will enjoy a fantastic view of the Roman Forum. Our coach will then continue to view the Circus Maximus and the pyramid of Caius Cestius before arriving at the Basilica of St. Paul outside the Walls (visit inside). The tour will be completed with a visit inside the imposing Coliseum. Return to your hotel or nearby or you can elect to leave the tour at the Coliseum making your own way back to your hotel at your own pace. (B)
Day 11 Rome | Pompeii | Sorrento
An early departure from Rome is planned for this morning and the tour heads towards Naples where a short panoramic visit of this city is planned highlighting its main historic sites before finally arriving at Pompeii, where there will be a stop first for lunch. After that you will visit the excavations on foot with a local guide on an archaeological journey through the ancient city. In approx. 2 hours you will see some of what has been discovered in more than 1,700 years since Pompeii was covered by ashes during the eruption of Vesuvius in the year 79 AD. Through the remains and ruins of this ancient city, you can visualize the everyday life of the Imperial Age and imagine the panic felt by the people in those last few minutes before the city was so disastrously buried. At the end of this visit the tour will travel on to Sorrento for dinner and overnight hotel accommodation. (B.L.D)
Day 12 Sorrento | Capri | Rome
This morning you will board the jet boat for the 45 minute crossing to Marina Grande, the port of Capri. Here you will board motorboats to reach the Blue Grotto (if weather and sea conditions permit). Minibuses are used for a panoramic drive to reach Anacapri, situated at 280 metres above sea level from where you will have a wonderful view of the Bay of Naples. After lunch in a local restaurant, there will be some free time to take unforgettable photographs and purchase local products before returning to Marina Grande to board the boat back to Naples. Entering the port of Naples, don't miss this opportunity to admire the splendid Maschio Angioino (a fortress of the 12th century), the Certosa of San Martino and the Royal Palace. After disembarking you will then take the coach for the return journey of approx. 3 hours, back to Rome with a planned arrival time of approximately 9:00 pm. (B.L)
Day 13 Rome
Today you have an entire day to discover Rome on your own perhaps returning to one of the many places visited during your guided tours or visit one of the many famous shopping areas that Rome. (B)
Day 14 Departure
After breakfast a private car transfer will take you from your hotel to Rome airport for your return flight.
Daily Departures
The Michelangelo Tour can also operate in reverse.
