Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival in Florence
Your coach picks you up at the airport and drives you to Florence. Once you get to your 4-star hotel, you'll check in and settle into your room. Dinner is on your own this evening, so you can rest after traveling or find a local spot to eat.
- Day 2
Florence
After breakfast at the hotel, you'll join a guided walking tour through Florence's city center. The tour takes you across Ponte Vecchio where you can see all the shops and boutiques lining the bridge. You'll have lunch on your own, then the afternoon is yours to either visit the Uffizi Gallery or wander neighborhoods like Oltrarno and San Niccolò. Dinner is on your own again.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at the hotel)
Included Activities
- Guided walking tour of Florence city center
- Cross Ponte Vecchio
Optional Activities
- Entrance to the Uffizi Gallery (outstanding collections of ancient sculptures and paintings from the Middle Ages to the Modern period)
- Self-guided exploration of Oltrarno neighborhood
- Self-guided exploration of San Niccolò
Landmarks Ponte Vecchio Uffizi Gallery Oltrarno San Niccolò - Day 3
San Gimignano - Volterra - Monteriggioni
Following breakfast, you'll leave Florence for a full day exploring Tuscany. The morning starts in medieval San Gimignano where you can watch artisans work with pottery or leather. Later you'll head to Volterra for a traditional Tuscan lunch and visits to the Roman Theatre, Palazzo dei Priori, and the Etruscan Museum. From there Monteriggioni awaits, where you'll tour historic cellars at Castello di Monsanto winery and taste Chianti Classico. You'll also walk the medieval walls and see Piazza Roma and the Church of Santa Maria Assunta. Dinner is on your own.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at the hotel), Lunch (Traditional Tuscan lunch at local restaurant)
Included Activities
- Full day excursion to Tuscany
- Explore medieval town of San Gimignano
- Brief pottery or leather crafting demonstration with local artisan
- Visit Roman Theatre in Volterra
- Visit Palazzo dei Priori in Volterra
- Visit Etruscan Museum in Volterra
- Tour historic cellars at Castello di Monsanto winery
- Chianti Classico wine tasting at Castello di Monsanto
- Walk on medieval walls of Monteriggioni
- Visit Piazza Roma in Monteriggioni
- Visit Church of Santa Maria Assunta in Monteriggioni
- Traditional Tuscan lunch at local restaurant
Landmarks San Gimignano Volterra Roman Theatre, Volterra Palazzo dei Priori Etruscan Museum Monteriggioni Castello di Monsanto Church of Santa Maria Assunta Piazza Roma - Day 4
Venice
You'll have a leisurely morning before lunch at a local restaurant. After eating, your coach takes you on an approximately 3.5-hour drive to Venice port. You'll board your cruise ship at 6 p.m., get settled in your cabin, and attend a welcome cocktail to meet the crew. The rest of the evening is yours to explore Venice on your own.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch at local restaurant), Dinner (Dinner on board ship)
Included Activities
- Welcome cocktail with crew introduction
Optional Activities
- Explore Venice on your own in the evening
Landmarks Venice - Day 5
Burano - Murano
The ship cruises through the Venice lagoon and you can watch churches and palaces from the sun deck. You'll visit the island of Burano, known for traditional lacemaking and its colorful houses, with free time to look around. In the afternoon you choose between watching a glassblowing demonstration on Murano island or exploring other parts of the lagoon. The evening brings you back to Venice.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast on board ship), Lunch (Lunch on board ship), Dinner (Dinner on board ship)
Included Activities
- Morning cruise in the Venice lagoon
- Visit to Burano island with free exploration time
- Excursion CLASSIC / DISCOVERY: Murano island visit
- Visit glassblowing workshop on Murano island with glassblowing demonstration
Landmarks Venice Lagoon Mazzorbo Burano Murano - Day 6
Venice
During the morning you'll pick between two guided excursions. One option covers Doge's Palace and Saint Mark's Square, including the basilica exterior and palace interiors with paintings by Tintoretto and Veronese. The other explores the artistic Dorsoduro district with its museums, galleries, and the Basilica of Santa Maria della Salute. Your afternoon is free to discover Venice at your own pace. Many people head to the Rialto Bridge to see the Grand Canal and historic buildings.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast on board ship), Lunch (Lunch on board ship), Dinner (Dinner on board ship)
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Doge's Palace and Saint Mark's Square (CLASSIC excursion option)
- Guided tour of Dorsoduro district (DISCOVERY excursion option)
Optional Activities
- Free afternoon exploration of Venice
- Visit Rialto Bridge
- Explore Grand Canal and historic buildings
Landmarks Doge's Palace Saint Mark's Square Saint Mark's Basilica Dorsoduro Grand Canal Basilica of Santa Maria della Salute Rialto Bridge - Day 7
Padua - Porto Viro - Canda
The ship cruises to Chioggia and you can explore this medieval city at your own pace. Then you'll join a guided tour of Padua, home to Saint Anthony. You'll visit Il Santo, the Pontifical Basilica of Saint Anthony of Padua, and wander through charming medieval squares and palaces. While you're on the tour, the ship cruises to Porto Viro where you'll return to board. The afternoon brings cruising toward Canda.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast on board ship), Lunch (Lunch on board ship), Dinner (Dinner on board ship)
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Padua
- Visit Il Santo (Pontifical Basilica of Saint Anthony of Padua)
Optional Activities
- Free time to explore Chioggia before the excursion
Landmarks Chioggia Padua Il Santo (Basilica of Saint Anthony of Padua) Porto Viro Canda - Day 8
Verona - Mantua
The ship reaches Ostiglia in the morning. This afternoon you have two excursion options. The classic tour takes you to Verona's famous amphitheater plus Juliet's House and her balcony. The discovery option explores Verona through food and medieval squares, visiting hidden districts and tasting two local sweet specialties and coffee at a well-known pastry shop. You'll return to the ship in Mantua.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast on board ship), Lunch (Lunch on board ship), Dinner (Dinner on board ship)
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Verona and its amphitheater or Giusti Gardens (CLASSIC excursion option)
- View Juliet's House (Casa di Giulietta) and balcony from outside
- Guided tour of Verona through its gastronomy (DISCOVERY excursion option)
- Tasting of two sweet specialties with coffee at a famous pastry shop (DISCOVERY option)
Landmarks Ostiglia Verona Juliet's House (Casa di Giulietta) Amphitheater of Verona Giusti Gardens Mantua - Day 9
Mantua
A guided tour takes you through Mantua, one of northern Italy's most artistically and romantically significant cities. You'll visit the Palazzo Ducale di Mantova, a palace built over centuries by the Gonzaga noble family, including the Castel di San Giorgio and the Camera degli Sposi with frescoes by Andrea Mantegna. You'll also see the Rotonda di San Lorenzo and Basilica of Sant'Andrea in the historic center. The afternoon offers free time, or you can optionally visit the Ferrari Museum in Modena. Tonight is the gala evening celebration.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast on board ship), Lunch (Lunch on board ship), Dinner (Refined French cuisine - Gala dinner and evening)
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Mantua
- Visit Palazzo Ducale di Mantova (Ducal Palace)
- Visit Castel di San Giorgio
- Visit Camera degli Sposi with frescoes by Andrea Mantegna
- Visit Rotonda di San Lorenzo
- Visit Basilica of Sant'Andrea
- Gala evening
Optional Activities
- Optional tour of the Ferrari Museum in Modena (not included in packages)
Landmarks Mantua Palazzo Ducale di Mantova Castel di San Giorgio Camera degli Sposi Rotonda di San Lorenzo Basilica of Sant'Andrea Ferrari Museum Modena - Day 10
Disembarkation
You'll have breakfast on board, then disembark at 9 a.m. A coach transfers you from Mantua back to Venice where your tour services end.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast on board ship)
