Best Of Italy

BEST OF ITALY - 10 DAYS - Venice, Florence and Rome

• Nine nights accommodations in hotel category of choice with private facilities
• Flexibility of independent travel
• Continental breakfast daily
• Transportation between cities via first class rail including seat reservations
• Comprehensive guided sightseeing tours of Venice, Florence and Rome
• Services of professional English speaking guide for sightseeing
• Tour St. Mark's Basilica in Venice
• See a Venetian glass blowing demonstration
• Tour the magnificent Duomo in Florence
• See the ancient Colosseum in Rome
• Visit the Roman Forum - the cradle of Roman Civilization
• Legend Tours travel kit
• 24 hour help line

DAILY ITINERARY

Day 1 Venice
Arrival in Venice, one of the few cities in the world that can be trulydescribed as unique. It is built on a series of low mud banks amid the tidalwaters of the Adriatic. Lying in the northeastern section Italy, Venice becamean independent Byzantine province in the 10th century. Exclusive trading linkswith the Orient and victory I the 1204 Crusade brought wealth and power.
Hotel: Savoia E Jolanda (ST), Giorgione (F), Colombina (SF)

Day 2 Venice
Your guided walking tour visits St. Marks Square and the Basilica de San Marco,one of the greatest building in Europe. It is filled with mosaics and the famousHorses of St. Marks statues. See the 9th century Doges' Palace, and the bridgeof Sighs over which prisoners were led to and from their sentencing. Enjoy aremarkable display of the age-old art of Venetian Glass Blowing. The remainderof the day is at leisure. (B)

Day 3 Venice
A full day to explore this magnificent city. You can walk to most places inVenice itself and easily take a "vaporetto" (waterbus) to any of theislands. (B)

Day 4 Venice/Florence
Journey by first class rail from Venice to Florence, a living monument to theRenaissance in art and culture. Florence began in 59 BC as a Roman colony, butemerged from the Dark Ages as an independent city-state. It boasts such literarygiants as Dante, Petrarch, Machiavelli and artists like Botticelli,Michelangelo, and Donatello. (B)
Hotel: San Giorgio & Olimpic (ST), Pitti Palace (F), Pierre (SF)

Day 5 Florence
Your guided sightseeing tour introduces you to beautiful Florence and visitsthe richly decorated Duomo, rising above the heart of the city with itsorange-tiled dome. It is Europe's 4th largest church and tallest building inFlorence. You will also visit the Belltower and the Baptistry. Its celebratedbronze doors are considered the first work of the Renaissance dating back to the4th century and making it the oldest building in Florence. The remainder of theday is at leisure to explore Florence. (B)

Day 6 Florence
An entire day to enjoy Florence! Perhaps stroll along the Ponte Vecchio,a14th Century bridge lined with shops spanning the Arno River. Or visit theGalleria dell'Accademia (Academy of Fine Arts), which was founded in 1563 andwas the first school in Europe to teach the techniques of drawing, painting andsculpture. The Academy boasts the famous "David" statue byMichelangelo. Be sure to sample the fine cuisine and wines of the city. (B)

Day 7 Florence/Rome
Travel by first class rail through the sultry Tuscan countryside to the"Eternal City" of Rome. According to legend, the twins, Romulus andRemus, were brought up by a wolf on the Palatine (an ancient site in Rome). HereRomulus, having killed his brother, is said to have founded the village that wasto become Rome. (B)
Hotel: San Remo (ST), Anglo Americano (F), Quirinale (SF)

Day 8 Rome
Sightseeing today introduces you to Ancient Rome, see the Trojan Market andthe bustling Piazza Venezia. Stop at Capitoline Hill, the smallest of the SevenHills of Rome. Continue to the Roman Forum, the ceremonial center of the cityunder the Ceasars. Today the ruins of the Forum have become a testament of theRoman Civilization as we know it. Then visit the ruins of the Circo Massimo,used for races and contests of the gladiators and Paltine Hill, one of theoriginal Seven Hills. A visit to the Colosseum is included (ex. Wed and Sun).Colosseum, to many the symbol of Rome, is an amphitheater commissioned in AD 72on the site of Nero's palace, and it is the legendary stage for gladiator andwild animal fights. The remainder of the day is yours to continue yourexploration of this city of amazing history and culture. (B)

Day 9 Rome
An exciting day in ancient Rome! Perhaps visit the Vatican with the greatBasilica of St. Peter's and the Sistine Chapel with Michelangelo's frescoedceiling. You may choose to stroll along the Piazza Navona. Or see the famous18th century Spanish Steps in the Piazza de Spagna, an exclusive area filledwith elegant shops and restaurants. (B)

Day 10 Rome/Departure
Legend Tours' Best of Italy services will end after breakfast. (B)

PRICES &DEPARTURES

Departures every day ofthe week