A Week In... Italy
From Rome’s monumental Colosseum to Florence’s art masterpieces to Tuscany’s medieval hill towns, this week in Italy packs in the classic highlights. Art historians and local guides provide the inside story behind Florence’s art masterpieces, notably at the Uffizi Gallery. Take a high-speed train to Rome to view the Roman Forum, Circus Maximus, and ornate fountains at the center of piazzas. Gaze at the Sistine Chapel in wonder on a tour of the Vatican. The Tuscany tour explores preserved ancient hill towns like Siena, Orvieto, and Todi. Crowning Assisi is a basilica named after native St. Francis, who lies buried there.
Day-by-Day Itinerary

Day 1: Medieval hill towns
Tuscany tour adventure begins at Rome Leonardo da Vinci Airport in Fiumicino one hour after the arrival of Tauck-selected flights. Travel north to Orvieto, set on a 984-foot plateau overlooking vineyards below. Enjoy lunch at a trattoria. Visit the Duomo of Orvieto, a notable Romanesque-Gothic cathedral built over a span of 300 years. View the scenic Tiber Valley en route to the medieval hill town of Todi. Get to know fellow travelers at the welcome dinner.
Meals: Lunch, dinner
Lodging: Hotel Fonte Cesia, Todi, Italy

Day 2: Revered Assisi
Visit Assisi, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its art and architecture. A highlight is the Basilica di San Francesco, the burial place of St. Francis, the beloved patron saint of animals. A local expert shares insights on the Basilica’s 13th- and 14th-century frescoes. Enjoy time to stroll the cobblestone lanes on your own. Relax in the ancient Etruscan town of Todi later in the day.
Meals: Breakfast
Lodging: Hotel Fonte Cesia, Todi, Italy

Day 3: Siena & Michelangelo’s David
Travel to Siena, and visit the Duomo, one of Italy’s great cathedrals, with scenes inlaid in the marble floors and sculpture by Michelangelo. See the Piazza del Campo where the Palio bareback horse race is held. Travel to Florence, where your first stop is at the Galleria dell’Accademia to see Michelangelo’s marble statue of David standing nearly 17 feet tall, a Tuscany tour highlight. In the evening, hear a lecture by a local art historian.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Lodging: Plaza Hotel Lucchesi, Florence, Italy

Day 4: Art in Florence
Tour the Uffizi Gallery, Italy’s greatest art museum, with a local expert. Gaze in wonder at works by Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Michelangelo, Sandro Botticelli, and more. Choose among many museums and sights in Florence during your free afternoon.
Meals: Breakfast
Lodging: Plaza Hotel Lucchesi, Florence, Italy

Day 5: Rome by rail
Travel by high-speed train to Rome. Tour the Colosseum, opened in 80 AD for gladiator battles; Circus Maximus, the 4th-century BC stadium where chariot races were held; and the Roman Forum with temples, monuments, and the Senate House. Also see the Piazza Barberini, Piazza Venezia, Trajan’s Forum, Imperial Palaces, and the Temple of Vesta.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch
Lodging: Grand Hotel Parco dei Principi, Rome, Italy

Day 6: Visit the Vatican
Explore the rich treasures of the Vatican, starting at the Vatican Museums. Take a guided tour of the Candelabra Gallery, the Map Gallery, and the tapestries. View the art and architecture of St. Peter’s Basilica. In the Sistine Chapel, view Michelangelo’s frescoes of the Last Judgment on the altar and Genesis on the ceiling. Enjoy a free afternoon in Rome.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Lodging: Grand Hotel Parco dei Principi, Rome, Italy

Day 7: A day in Rome
The day is clear to pursue whatever interests you most in Rome. If you want to see more art, you have a reservation to tour Galleria Borghese featuring works by Italian Renaissance and Baroque artists. Share favorite tour moments at the evening farewell reception and dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Lodging: Grand Hotel Parco dei Principi, Rome, Italy

Day 8: Arrivederci Italia
Tour ends at Rome Leonardo da Vinci Airport in Fiumicino 2 1/2 hours prior to the departure of Tauck-selected flights. If you are departing at other times, you must secure your own transportation to the airport.
Meals: Breakfast

 

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