TAUCK BRIDGES FAMILY TRAVEL

Italia Bella: Rome to Venice

Imagine ancient Rome as you step back in time inside the Colosseum… picture Michelangelo painting frescoes on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel during your special after-hours visit… go underground in hidden Etruscan caves… meet famous Renaissance paintings and statues in the famed Galleria dell’Accademia and Galleria degli Uffizi… taste the magic of gelato, strike a pose beside the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa and make your own authentic pizza… stay at an award-winning hotel on a private island in the Venetian lagoon, cruise by opulent palaces on the Grand Canal in Venice and glide along the world’s most famous canals aboard a gondola…

Only With Tauck

After-hours tour of the Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel, without the lines or crowds, for unhurried viewing.

Tour prices are per person in U.S. dollars ― All hotel accommodations, motor coach transportation, First Class accommodations on the Trenitalia train from Florence to Venice, sightseeing, admissions, porterage and the services of local guides, drivers and the Tauck Director are included. Transportation from Rome’s Leonardo da Vinci Airport in Fiumicino or Ciampino Airport, or from the Rome Central Terminal (Roma Termini) train station or Tiburtina Train Station to The Westin Excelsior, Rome is included, regardless of the time you check in to the hotel, provided you have furnished us with accurate flight arrival information at least three weeks prior to the start of your tour. If you are arriving into another local train station please retain a receipt for your transfer and submit it to your Tour Director for reimbursement. Transportation from The San Clemente Palace Kempinski Hotel to Venice Marco Polo Airport or Santa Lucia train station is also included when you check out of the hotel. Transportation to and from airports and train station may be shared with other Tauck guests.

Age Recommendations – Children 8 years of age or older at the time of travel are welcome on this Tauck journey. Based upon our experience with family travelers, we have a minimum recommended age for each journey to encourage comfort and enjoyment for all of our guests. All children must be accompanied on activities by a parent or guardian. At least one guest in the traveling party must be 21 years of age or older in order to make a reservation.

Rates and schedules are not guaranteed until booked and will vary based on departure date.

ITINERARY

INCLUDED

INCLUDED HOTELS

Day 01 :

Back in time to ancient Rome

Tour begins: 2:00 PM, Hotel Splendide Royal Roma. Welcome to Rome, where your tour of the ancient world (and beyond) begins; a transfer is included from Leonardo da Vinci Airport in Fiumicino to Hotel Splendide Royal Roma. Your adventure starts with a drive through the heart of the city to see real-life relics of Imperial Rome, once capital of the ancient world. See the Circus Maximus and other traces of the ancient empire. Walk through one of the Colosseum’s 80 entrances, imagining what it was like for ancient gladiators and the Roman crowds who piled into this famous arena to see them, and pose for pictures with Roman Centurions. Join your fellow family travelers tonight for a welcome reception and dinner featuring authentic Italian fare that whets your appetite for a fun-filled Italy tour.
Meals – Dinner
Lodging – Hotel Splendide Royal Roma

Day 02 :

St. Peter's & Vatican Museums after hours

This morning, enjoy a guided visit to St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City. Midday, just around the corner from Piazza Navona, you’ll visit a 17th-century cooking school for a lesson in the making of gelato, an Italian staple. After a free afternoon, join us tonight for a Tauck Exclusive – an after-hours visit to the Vatican Museums, full of fascinating history and artistic masterpieces. View Michelangelo’s famous ceiling in the Sistine Chapel – which the artist originally resisted doing because he considered himself a sculptor, not a painter – without the usual crowds! (Subject to availability and day of visit may vary.)
Meals – Breakfast
Lodging – Hotel Splendide Royal Roma

Day 03 :

Through Umbria & Tuscany to Florence

Discoveries abound on your Italy tour adventure today as your family sets off through rural Umbria and Tuscany. The first stop on your travels is walled Orvieto, perched on a volcanic plateau; a guided tour takes you under its cobblestone streets to explore the town’s honeycombed medieval tunnels, and caves dating back to the time of the ancient Etruscans. Then it’s on to Florence, birthplace of the Renaissance. Upon arrival you’ll be treated to a panoramic orientation of the city – from the inside of a vintage Fiat 500*! Arrive at your luxury hotel, steps away from the Piazza della Signoria and the Uffizi Gallery, for a memorable three-night stay.
Meals – Breakfast, Dinner
Lodging – The Westin Excelsior, Florence

Day 04 :

The city of Pisa and the famed Leaning Tower

An excursion from Florence takes you and your family to Pisa for a look at this maritime city’s great medieval buildings – including a glimpse of the remarkable Leaning Tower and more of Pisa’s “field of miracles,” such as the Duomo and the Baptistry. If you wish, you’ll have an opportunity to climb the famed tower for the view from the inside (children 8 – 18 must be accompanied by an adult). After lunch at a local restaurant, return to Florence for an evening spent as you please, and have dinner as you please in one of this grand Renaissance city’s many restaurants.
Meals – Breakfast, Lunch
Lodging – The Westin Excelsior, Florence

Day 05 :

The Uffizi, Galleria dell'Accademia & a night making pizza

Today begins with a walk along the Arno, accompanied by a local guide. Learn about the “other side of the Arno”; the Ponte Vecchio; go through Piazza Santa Trinita and little alleyways where you’ll get some insights into the tower houses – then on to Signoria Square with its towering Town Hall. Great Renaissance art awaits as you join your local guide for a tour of one of the world’s first, and best, art galleries – the Uffizi Gallery. After some free time, visit one of Italy’s most famous museums, Galleria dell’Accademia – the oldest art school in the world, home to many famed paintings. Tonight, join us for dinner and a hands-on pizza-making demonstration at a popular local restaurant in Florence.
Meals – Breakfast, Dinner
Lodging – The Westin Excelsior, Florence

Day 06 :

Via high-speed train to Venice

A first-class rail journey aboard a high-speed train takes your family to Venice, a city of islands where the roads are paved with water. Have lunch at a local restaurant, followed by free time to explore as you please in St. Mark’s Square. A canal boat takes you to your hotel, the San Clemente Palace Kempinski Venice – named the #1 hotel in Venice as the winner of Condé Nast Traveler’s 2018 “Top Hotels in Italy/Venice” Reader’s Choice Award! You’re in for a real treat – this beautiful, award-winning hotel is on its own private island, complete with a fantastic pool and walking trails. Embark on a true adventure this evening – a pirate boat excursion around Venice and the islands, with dinner and games.
Meals – Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Lodging – San Clemente Palace Kempinski Venice

Day 07 :

St. Mark's Basilica, Doge's Palace and time to explore

One of the most iconic spots in Venice is St. Mark’s Basilica and the Doge’s Palace; the architecture beckons from St. Mark’s Square and your visits inside reveal the secrets of the centuries – including the story beind the Bridge of Sighs. If there is any city in Europe that is perfect for just wandering, seeing and experiencing, it is Venice – and you’ll have the chance to do just that for the rest of the day. Follow the small, cobbled streets and alleyways to see where they lead, visit a museum or sample some gelato (served warmer and creamier than traditional ice cream). Tonight, everyone meets again for a farewell party at your hotel on your private island in the Grand Canal… by the pool, weather permitting! A spectacular close to a fantastic week.
Meals – Breakfast, Dinner
Lodging – San Clemente Palace Kempinski Venice

Day 08 :

Homeward bound

Tour ends: Venice. Arrivederci! Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from San Clemente Kempinski Palace to Venice’s Marco Polo Airport; allow a minimum of 3 hours for flight check-in.
Meals – Breakfast

Nights 1-2 Rome, Italy

Hotel Splendide Royal Roma

Hotel Splendide Royal Roma is located in the heart of one of the most romantic cities in the world, a five star hotel that
was designed to be royal… and luxurious. This 19th-century palace was once headquarters of the Roman Maronite community, only a stroll away from Via Veneto, on a hill directly above the historic centre of Rome with magnificent views out over the green gardens of Villa Borghese. Gracious decor and design greets guests throughout, bringing the lush and rich sumptuousness of the city’s Baroque period to life once again. The Murano glass chandelier which Luchino Visconti chose for the ballroom scene in his masterpiece film “The Leopard” now lights up the hotel’s hall amidst the marble floors’ geometric designs. On the walls, golden “boiseries” enhance the warm tones of brocades while the Winter Garden’s sparkling stucco and lush mirrors reflect the soft and natural rays of light beaming in through the vault from above. Guest rooms are characterized by the luxury and spaciousness reminiscent of the elegant boudoirs of the aristocracy, featuring elegant Baroque style decors and nuances; boiseries, fine draperies and antique furniture all creating an exclusive, yet warmly welcoming, atmosphere. Rooms have large marble bathrooms with natural light source, and have large terraces with sweeping views over the city and the gardens of Villa Borghese. Amenities include The Mirabelle, an exclusive meeting point among the Italian and International “bel mondo,”

considered to be among the very best restaurants in the city.

Tauck Guests enjoy complimentary Internet access in guest rooms!

Nights 3-5 Florence, Italy

The Westin Excelsior, Florence

Voted one of the 500 best hotels in the world by the readers of Travel + Leisure and named to the prestigious Gold List by Condé Nast Traveler, 5-star The Westin Excelsior, Florence richly deserves those accolades. Located in the very heart of fabulous Florence, close to the Uffizi Gallery, Pitti Palace and the Ponte Vecchio, this deluxe hotel offers both luxurious ambiance and top-notch service. The richly decorated, air-conditioned guest rooms feature Westin’s signature Heavenly Bed® as well as appreciated amenities such as satellite TV channels and in-room movies, hairdryer and bathrobes, minibar and an in- room safe. The WestinWORKOUT gym is the place to head to keep up with your exercise routine. The glass-enclosed roof garden with views out over Florence is home to a posh, retro restaurant featuring Italian culinary methods and cutting-edge ideas. Surround yourself with Tuscan style in the ORVM Bar as you begin or end your evening.

Tauck Guests enjoy complimentary Internet access in guest rooms!

Nights 6-7 Venice, Italy

San Clemente Palace Kempinski Venice

Named the #1 hotel in Venice as the winner of Condé Nast Traveler’s 2018 “Top Hotels in Italy/Venice” Readers’ Choice Award, San Clemente Palace Kempinski Venice is located on the private island of San Clemente in the Venetian Lagoon, only minutes away by complimentary boat from Piazza San Marco in inimitable Venice. Also a proud member of Leading Hotels of the World, this exclusive retreat guarantees peace, tranquility and privacy amidst the classic decor of its well-appointed guest rooms overlooking the lagoon or a centuries-old park; each features high ceilings, Italian marble bathtubs, high-definition LCD flat-screen TVs, safe and more. The hotel’s proximity to Venice and the combination of five-star luxury and exemplary service make San Clemente Palace Kempinski Venice the perfect choice for a visit to the timeless “city of canals.” Indulge in fine cuisine at the hotel’s three restaurants – Acquerello, La Dolce, and Insieme, offering exceptional interpretations of iconic Italian and Venetian specialties – or cocktails at its several stylish lounges and bars. With its outdoor pool, tennis court and a state-of-the- art fitness room, as well as herb-therapy massage treatments, this island retreat is the perfect destination to unwind in total relaxation.