A Taste of Italy (LH) - 2013 / 2014

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7 days from Rome to Venice Island

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Vacation Overview

This perfect one-week vacation covers Rome, Florence, and Venice, with enough time to explore on your own. Sightseeing with a Local Guide in all cities covers the must-see sights: the Colosseum, Roman Forum, St. Peter’s Square and Basilica, Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel in Rome, Michelangelo’s celebrated David statue, sculpture-studded Signoria Square in Florence, as well as St. Mark’s Square and Basilica, and the Doges’ Palace and the Bridge of Sighs in Venice. Enjoy a special dinner with Tuscan specialties and wine in Florence, and in Venice, enjoy a glassblower’s demonstration and receive a special gift. A welcome dinner in Rome and a private boat ride in Venice are included, as well as a farewell drink at famous Florian Café on St. Mark’s Square. The full day at leisure in Venice gives you the opportunity to join an optional excursion to the island of Burano.

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Receive a $200 per couple air credit on all 2013 Globus air-inclusive Europe vacations.*

*Book a 2013 Globus air-inclusive Europe (excluding Jordan) vacation to receive the $100 per person air credit. Must be booked, under deposit and discount applied between January 9 and June 25, 2013 for travel between January 9 and December 31, 2013. Not applicable on instant purchase air. Applies to coach class only. Air must be purchased through Globus in conjunction with a Europe tour. Air credit will apply to the per person air price and is non-transferable. Offers not valid with any other offer except Journeys Club Repeat Traveler benefit. Applies to new 2013 bookings only, and offer will not be applied to pre-existing bookings. An additional $300 non-refundable deposit is required for air booked in conjunction with a land vacation. Once airfare is confirmed and Globus has received your full air and land deposit, your air-inclusive price is guaranteed. Globus reserves the right to ticket passengers upon receipt of full land and air deposit; Any subsequent changes and/or revisions to airline reservations at your request after receipt of full land deposit are subject to revision fees and/or airline-imposed change or cancellation fees. These fees are a minimum of $300, and in some instances may be up to 100% of the ticket price. In addition, promotional discounts do not carry forward on changed air bookings. However, promotions in effect at the time of the change will apply. Total air price includes all government-imposed taxes and fees applicable at the time of booking. Air price, air tax and security fees are non-commissionable. Additional airline fees for baggage may apply. For the most current airline-imposed baggage fees, please check the following website, www.iflybags.com. Offer reliant on space availability. Full cancellation penalties will apply. Additional restrictions may apply.

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ROME
Welcome dinner with wine at a local restaurant; guided sightseeing, visit the Colosseum and Roman Forum, the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel, St. Peter’s Square and Basilica

FLORENCE
Dinner at a local restaurant; guided walking tour, visit Michelangelo’s David and Signoria Square

VENICE
Private boat ride, guided walking tour, visit St. Mark’s Square and Basilica, Doges’ Palace and the Bridge of Sighs; glassblower demonstration with surprise gift; farewell drink at Caffé Florian

Headsets throughout the tour

DAY 1Arrive in Rome, Italy

Welcome to Rome! At 5 pm, meet your Tour Director and traveling companions, and leave the hotel for a special welcome dinner with wine at one of Rome’s lively restaurants. (Dinner)

Enjoy the beautiful architecture in Rome

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DAY 2Rome

Sightseeing with your Local Guide this morning concentrates on religious Rome: visit the VATICAN MUSEUMS and SISTINE CHAPEL, world famous for Michelangelo’s ceiling paintings and The Last Judgement. Next, visit monumental ST. PETER’S SQUARE and BASILICA. To make the most of your stay, join our optional Roman Highlights excursion, and see the Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, and other sites and squares of medieval Rome made famous in the movie Angels and Demons. (Breakfast)

The Sistine Chapel is world famous for Michelangelo’s ceiling paintings

Vatican Museums

"In the early 1500s, Rome was full of neglected ruins from the days of the ancient Empire, which still contained artworks buried amongst the rubble. The Renaissance had seen a sudden growth of interest in all things classical, and the popes – cultivated men who were in touch with the intellectual currents of the day – were the richest art collectors in Italy. They began offering substantial cash rewards for any sculptures, until Rome was scoured by freelance treasure hunters on the hunt for pagan masterpieces. The most dramatic discovery occurred in 1506, when a Roman father-and-son team of excavators reported a promising find near the ruined Baths of Titus. The artist Michelangelo himself excitedly hurried over to help with the work, followed by the pope’s official agent, Guiliano da Sangallo. When the excavators brushed away the dirt of 1,000 years, they found an enormous marble sculpture, perfectly intact, of a muscular Trojan hero being attacked by giant snakes. Guilano cried out in amazement, “This is the very Laocoön described by (the ancient Roman author) Pliny!” The sculpture was carted off to the Vatican Museum."

Trevi Fountain

"Rome is one of the most filmed cities on earth, with its signature set location being the Fontana di Trevi, or Trevi Fountain, a romantic, 85-foot-high baroque masterpiece depicting the god of the sea, Neptune, and his Tritons. Not surprisingly, the best time to visit Fontana di Trevi is late at night, when the crowds have gone, the din of Rome’s traffic has died and floodlights dance magically on the water. In fact, the whole centro storico takes on a calm, timeless aspect after dark, and it is well worth stretching your legs after dinner on your own Fellini-esque promenade."

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DAY 3Rome–Florence

A guided visit to the magnificent COLOSSEUM brings the days of the gladiators alive. Also admire the Arch of Constantine, and enter the ROMAN FORUM, where Roman legions marched in triumph. In the early afternoon, drive through Umbria along the Highway of the Sun north into Tuscany and its hill-clad vineyards, which house the famous Chianti wine, to Florence, “Cradle of the Renaissance.” Time to shop for Florentine leather goods and gold jewelry, sold by the ounce. A special dinner with Tuscan specialties and wine awaits you at Finisterrae restaurant. (Breakfast, Dinner)

See the vineyard covered hillsides of Tuscany

Tuscany is known for its landscapes and its artistic legacy

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DAY 4Florence

During your walking tour with a Local Guide, visit the ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS with Michelangelo’s celebrated David, admire the magnificent cathedral, Giotto’s Bell Tower, the Baptistry’s heavy bronze “Gate of Paradise,” sculpture-studded SIGNORIA SQUARE, and take pictures of Ponte Vecchio. This afternoon is your chance to join an optional excursion to the picturesque town of San Gimignano. (Breakfast)

San Gimignano is a small walled hill town in the province of Siena

Admire the detailed craftsmanship of Michelangelos David

La Piazza Della Signoria

"What’s the best vantage point to ponder the most illustrious town square in Florence, the Signoria? An outdoor table in the venerable Caffè Rivoire – preferably over a delicious, if not painfully expensive cioccolata con pane, a dark and mud-thick hot chocolate. Late at night, when the crowds have gone, you can search the long shadows and imagine that very little has changed here since the 1400s. The Signoria is the most elegant sculpture garden in Europe. Masterpieces include the splendid Neptune Fountain by Ammannati, Hercules and Cacus by Bandinelli and a precise copy of Michelangelo’s David, all strategically poised in front of the Palazzo Vecchio. This grand public space has been the centerpiece of Florence since the 15th Century, the golden age when the city was established as the most beautiful in Europe. Eminent merchants in their ostentatious finery met here to discuss business in the midst of Florence’s raucous daily life."

Ponte Vecchio

"As the Nazis retreated from Florence during the Second World War, they blew up all of the bridges across the River Arno except one – the Ponte Vecchio. It was evidently saved on Hitler’s personal orders. This was where he had met the Italian dictator Benito Mussolini in 1938, cementing the “pact of steel” alliance. The Führer had been so impressed by the elegant “Old Bridge,” which had graced the spot since being built in stone in 1345, that he decided to save it. The German army instead blew up all of the ancient buildings on either side, so that the bridge could not be used by the Allies, but the Ponte Vecchio itself was salvaged for posterity."

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DAY 5Florence–Venice Island

A spectacular drive through the wooded Apennine Hills brings you to Venice, a powerful magnet for romantics and art lovers from around the globe. Enter in style by PRIVATE BOAT to meet your Local Guide. Highlights of your walking tour are ST. MARK’S SQUARE, a favorite location for many movies, and the Byzantine BASILICA, lavish DOGES’ PALACE and the BRIDGE OF SIGHS. Also watch skilled GLASSBLOWERS fashion their delicate objects in an age-old traditional manner, and receive a Venetian mask gift, just for you! (Breakfast)

Venice is considered one of the most beautiful cities in the world

Bridge of Sighs

"The world’s most poetically-named bridge, Il Ponte dei Sospiri, the Bridge of Sighs, was built in 1614 so that prisoners of the Venetian state could be transferred in secret from the Doge’s Palace to the so-called Nuovi Prigioni, or New Prisons. The wistful name was actually conceived by the English poet Lord Byron in the early 1800s that imagined the horror of prisoners taking their last glimpse of Venice before going underground to captivity. "

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DAY 6At Leisure on Venice Island

Immerse yourself in the wonderful atmosphere of Venice. Wander through the narrow streets, discover Rialto Bridge, and top it all off by enjoying a farewell drink at famous CAFFÉ FLORIAN, while musicians entertain you. Later, why not join an optional cruise to the charming island of Burano followed by a delicious meal of local specialties to celebrate the success of your Italian vacation? (Breakfast)

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DAY 7Venice Island

Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (Breakfast)

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Transportation

Motorcoach with free Wi-Fi; boat in Venice

ROME Cicerone (SF)
FLORENCE Grand Hotel Mediterraneo (F)
VENICE ISLAND Palazzo Selvadego (F)

Full buffet breakfast daily; 2 three-course dinners : a special welcome dinner with wine in Rome and a special dinner with wine in Florence; farewell drink in Venice

Four Ways Globus Eliminates the Hassles

VIP Access
Skip the lines and get special treatment at the must-see attractions.

Perfect Hotels
We’ve done the work to find just the right hotels in just the right locations.

Tour Directors
Take your heads out of the guidebook and let expert guides make every destination fascinating.

Transportation
Leave the navigating to us – and just sit back and enjoy the ride.

View Offer

Receive a $200 per couple air credit on all 2013 Globus air-inclusive Europe vacations.*

UNESCO World Heritage Sites

The following UNESCO World Heritage Sites can be seen or visited on the A Taste of Italy:

Vatican City
Historic Centre of Florence
Historic Centre of Rome
Venice and its Lagoon

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