The Italy Explorer

Afternoon          Board your overnight flight to Italy via connections

Morning               Arrive at Venice Marco Polo Airport. Venice is world-famous for its canals. It was built on an archipelago of 118 islands formed by about 150 canals in a shallow lagoon.

Transfer to your hotel, check in and freshen up.

Head to Venice

After some time to relax, visit St Mark’s Basilica. The Basilica is a status as a symbol of Venetian wealth and power from the 11th century.

Evening               Eat dinner as a group in Venice before heading back to the hotel by public bus to catch some sleep at the end of a long travel day.

Morning               Wake up and enjoy breakfast at the hotel. Take the train to Venice.

Get on board a vaporetto, a local water ferry. You will pass by the world-famous Gondoliers in their signature black and white striped shirts. As the ferry travels the length of the Grand Canal, we will have the perfect waterside vantage on the crumbling pastel banks, as well as the steady stream of boats.

Afternoon           Take the vaporetto to Burano Island. Here we will have a chance to eat lunch and stroll through the streets with very charming, colourful houses. Make sure you bring your camera as the photo ops are endless. Make our way over to Torcello the first inhabited island in the lagoon which is just a quick 5 minute ride away. Here you will find a laid back atmosphere as well as the ex-cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta and the tiny church of Santa Fosca.

Evening               Return to Venice and enjoy dinner as a group.

Attend a live concert performance this evening.

Morning              Depart for Florence and check in.

Afternoon          Enjoy lunch and exploration in Piazza della Signoria, the main square in Florence. Admire breathtaking historical landmarks of 14th Century Loggia dei Lanzi and 13th Century Palazzo Vecchio, Gates of Paradise & Giotto’s Bell Tower. Visit the Duomo, then walk over to Dante’s house on the way to the Basilica of Santa Croce for a visit.

Evening              Enjoy your welcome dinner at a Traditional Trattoria, or small local restaurant to sample authentic Italian food as a group.

Morning              After breakfast, we visit the Galleria dell’Accademia to see the original sculpture David by Michelangelo, which has been housed here since 1873.  Discover the Mercato Centrale for browsing in this large outdoor market with amazing leather goods and other shops.

Afternoon          Lunch at Piazza della Republica, which was the city’s old forum. After lunch we will visit a leather shop where they will demonstrate the skills of professional leatherwork. After that we will enjoy a charcoal drawing class following in the steps of the great artist’s way.

Evening              Enjoy a group dinner

Morning              After breakfast, head to the Uffizi Gallery Museum to see Botticelli, Giotto, Michelangelo and other masterpieces. This is an unmissable opportunity to see one of Italy’s top most visited museums, after the Vatican.

Transfer to Rome

Afternoon          Arrive at Rome, Italy’s capital city. Transfer to your hotel, check in and freshen up. Begin our exploration with a guided walking tour of the Campo dei Fiori by a local guide, learning about the rich history and culture of the capitol while taking in some of the city’s historic and stunning landmarks.

Evening              Enjoy a group dinner then evening exploration with your Evolve Tours director.

Morning              After breakfast, head to the historic Piazza Navona. Originally built on the site of the Stadium of Domitian in the 1st century AD, it was then the city’s main market for almost 300 years. Walk over to Piazza della Rotonda where the Pantheon is located. Hailed as an architectural masterpiece, this ancient building dates back to 125 AD. Enjoy some time to explore the interior at your leisure, then we’ll head towards the famous Trevi Fountain, passing Trajan’s Column. As we continue our walking tour, we’ll depart to one of the most famous squares in Rome: the Piazza di Spagna.

Afternoon          Next, head to the Piazza del Colosseo to visit the famous Colosseum on a self-guided tour, and see the enduring symbol of the Eternal City. Get ready to be impressed by the sophistication and beauty of the old Roman Forum which remains part of the modern city.

Evening              Enjoy a group dinner then evening exploration with your Evolve Tours director.

Morning              After breakfast, enjoy a guided visit of Vatican City. We will visit St Peter’s Basilica, as well as other highlights such as the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel. If we’re lucky the Pope might even wave to us from his apartment high above St Peter’s square. After take in the impressive interior of St. Peter’s Basilica.

Afternoon          Enjoy lunch in the area. Then head over the famous Castello Sant’ Angelo for a visit. This building was commissioned by the Roman Emperor Hadrian as a mausoleum for himself and his family. It would be later used by the popes as a castle and a fortress.

Evening              Enjoy a group dinner then evening exploration with your Evolve Tours director.

Morning              Enjoy breakfast at the hotel, check out and depart to Rome International Airport.

Evening              Arrive home after an incredible tour to Italy together!