Florence and Venice

Begin your Italian adventure in the city of Florence. Upon arrival private transfer will bring you to your hotel where you can check in, get refreshed and then go exploring. We recommend starting at the famous cathedral, the Duomo, which sits in the heart of the city. You can climb to the top of the bell tower, taking in a view of the piazza and city beyond. The tower is a fine example of 14th-century Gothic architecture, standing nearly 300-feet-high. You might visit the Museo dell’ Opera del Duomo with its over 750 works of art, including Michelangelo’s last sculpture, Pietà too.

Most visitors aren’t even aware that the Oltrano quarter of Florence exists. If you want to discover the city’s less touristy side, stroll across Ponte Vecchio to reach the other side of the Arno River. You can enjoy an incredible view of the city from Piazzale Michelangelo and visit Basilica de Santo Spirito which holds frescoes and works of art by Perugino and Andrea Orcagna as well as Michelangelo’s wooden crucifix. Besure to tour Palazzo Pitti, which includes an art gallery, museums, and a palace, while Boboli Gardens is right behind it with fountains and terraces providing picturesque views.

A day trip will bring you to the city of Pisa, just a 75-minute drive from Florence. While it’s best-known for its iconic Leaning Tower, it boasts well-preserved Romanesque buildings, Renaissance piazzas, gothic churches and lively street life. You’ll witness the other sights in Piazza dei Miracoli like the Cathedral and the Baptistery before exploring the more authentic heart of Pisa with its local trattoria and tree-lined avenues. The Piazza dei Cavalieri was once the center of power in the city and later the headquarters of the Knights of St. Stephen. After returning to Florence, enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure.

Florence is one of the world’s greatest art cities and today you’ll get to discover a significant portion of it starting at the Bargello, the city’s oldest public building. It was once a prison, opening as an art museum in the mid-1800s, now featuring many world-famous statues and sculptures, including Michelangelo’s Bacchus and Donatello’s David. In the 45 halls of the Uffizi Gallery are some of the most prized treasures from the Renaissance era, including works by Botticelli, Michelangelo, and da Vinci. Visit the Basilica of Santa Croce too, the world’s largest Franciscan church with 16 chapels and various memorials.

It’s time to say farewell to Florence and hello to Venice, boarding a train to the romantic ‘Floating City.’ You’ll reach your hotel by water taxi – after checking in and unpacking your bags, jump right into the fun by taking a gondola ride, cruising the narrow canals while viewing some of the 400 bridges and islands as your gondolier fills you in on the city’s history. You might want to stop at one of the bars along the Grand Canal to enjoy some tasty tapas, known as cicchetti here in Italy, perhaps crostini topped with tuna, along with a glass of local merlot.

Today you’ll get an in-depth look at Venice by exploring the city’s top attractions. One of the most popular is St. Mark’s Square which includes its most important historic buildings like Doge’s Palace which hosts opulent rooms containing priceless Venetian art, the Torre dell’Orologio and St Mark’s Basilica. Renowned as one of the most spectacular in all of Italy, the cathedral is filled with renowned works of art and relics, while its five domes feature glittering mosaics. From the outside, marvel at the impressive bell tower, the Campanile di San Marco and then enjoy sipping a Bellini at one of the trendy outdoor cafes.

On the final full day of your itinerary, you’ll join an excursion to visit some of the most famous islands in Venice, Murano and Burano. Start with Murano, renowned for its jewellery and glassware. Watch a glass blowing demonstration at a factory and then explore the glass museum, the Museo del Vetro, where you’ll learn about the island’s glass production history. Your next stop is Burano, internationally renowned for Burano lace, which is handmade by the local women. Finally, you’ll head to Torcello, a sparsely populated island that’s home to the first cathedral in Venice, nestled among small, picturesque vineyards.

After an enchanting week discovering Florence and Venice, your trip comes to an end today, but you’ll have time for one last Italian breakfast. We recommend popping into a local pastry shop, known as a pasticceria here, to enjoy a cappuccino with a Bigne al cioccolato (a heavenly pastry with chocolate cream). At the designated time, you’ll depart by private water taxi for the approximately 20-minute ride to Marco Polo Airport where you’ll catch your flight home.