A lot of my clients want my advice on the best itinerary to do for their first trip to Italy. This Classic Italy Itinerary allows you to see the highlights and "must-see" sights, without being too overwhelming.<strong> This is just a small sample of what you can do in Italy. From simple to exotic, I can work with you to make it happen!</strong>

<strong><u>VENICE</u></strong>

Upon arrival in the Venice Airport please collect your luggage and exit the baggage claim area where you'll find your assistant waiting with a porter for private transfer by boat to your Venice hotel.

<strong>Venice Walking Tour</strong> <em>(3 hours)</em>

Your expert guide will meet you in the lobby and escort you on a walking tour of this romantic city, that begins in <em><strong>San Marco Square</strong></em> with the magnificent <em><strong>Basilica of San Marco</strong></em>. One of the most unique cities in the world, Venice offers priceless art, stunning architecture and an element of mystery with its canals and winding alleyways.  Admire the church’s rich, detailed mosaics and the sculptures that adorn this enchanting structure. Next, learn about Venetian art and style with a tour of the gothic <strong><em>Doge’s Palac</em>e</strong> that dates to approximately 1309, and its trove of treasures. This tour concludes in the Rialto area where clients will stroll over the city’s oldest and best-known <em><strong>Rialto Bridge</strong></em> to end in the bustling Rialto Market for a glimpse of local life.

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<strong>Grand Canal Cruise with Walking Tour </strong><em>(3 hours)</em>

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What better way to visit this mysterious and ancient city than by private boat with expert guide? Depart from hotel with your expert guide for a walking tour of the Dorsoduro sestiere of authentic Venetian quarters, strolling along hidden streets where locals once built their world-famous gondolas. Visit the <strong><em>Church of San Sebastian</em>o</strong> to tour the masterful frescoes by the pre-eminent late Renaissance painter Paolo Veronese and then enjoy a one-hour <em><strong>cruise along the Grand Canal</strong></em> by private boat to witness the splendor of the Venetian palazzi.

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<strong><u>FLORENCE</u></strong>

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<strong>Train from Venice to Florence – First Class</strong>

Meet  your private assistant in the hotel lobby to transfer you via private boat to the Venice train station in time to catch your train. Enjoy a first class train trip to Florence, located in the heart of Tuscany. You are met at the Florence train station by your private driver, who will be holding a sign with your name on it. <strong>                 </strong>

<strong>Florence Walking Tour</strong> <em>(3 hours)</em>

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Meet your guide in your hotel lobby for a tour of the intriguing city of Florence that boasts some of the best preserved Renaissance architectural monuments in Italy. Walk its winding cobblestone streets with your expert guide and visit <em><strong>Brunelleschi’s Duomo, Piazza Della Repubblica, Piazza della Signoria, Santa Croce</strong></em> with its tombs of Michelangelo and Galileo and the <em><strong>Ponte Vecchio</strong></em> lined with centuries-old jewelry shops that is topped by the Medici families’ secret passageway.

<strong>The Accademia and Medicis Tour </strong><em>(3 hours)</em>

<img class="size-medium wp-image-517 alignleft" src="http://www.lindsaystravels.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/David-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" />Enter the<em><strong> Accademia Gallery</strong></em> with a reservation and visit the famous<strong><em> ‘David</em>’</strong>, the statue that established <em><strong>Michelangelo</strong></em> as  the greatest sculptor of his time.  Learn about the making and history of this glorious sculpture, and tour Michelangelo’s other works in residence. Also on display at the Accademia are paintings from other notable Renaissance artists, such as <em><strong>Uccello, Ghirlandaio, Botticelli, and Sarto</strong></em>. Proceed to the splendid Medici Chapels decorated with frescoes and inlaid stones, or visit the first residence of Cosimo di Medici, known as the Palazzo Medici Riccardi.

<strong>Masterpieces of the Uffizi Tour</strong> <em>(3 hours)</em>

<img class="size-medium wp-image-519 alignleft" src="http://www.lindsaystravels.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/birth-of-venus-300x192.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="192" />The Uffizi Gallery, one of the most important galleries in the world, offers a collection of world-famous artistic masterpieces such as Botticelli’s <em><strong>Birth of Venus</strong></em> and <em><strong>Caravaggio’s Bacchus</strong></em> along with other works by Renaissance masters <em><strong>Leonardo da Vinci</strong></em> and <strong>Michelangelo</strong>.  You will enter with a reservation  and tour the gallery’s treasures with an expert, English-speaking private guide. Tour will also include an overview of the Piazza della Signoria and Palazzo Vecchio.

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<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>TUSCANY</strong></span>

<strong>A Day in Chianti (8 hours)</strong>

Your private English speaking driver will pick you up in the hotel lobby to begin this day trip through the Chianti countryside, characterized by its silver-green olive groves, well-kept vineyards and small stone cottages. Stroll through the towns of <strong>Greve</strong>, <strong>Montefioralle</strong> and <strong>Radda</strong> in Chianti on your own to explore their charming piazzas and churches. Visit a <strong>Chianti winery</strong> and taste their famous <strong>Chianti Classico</strong> and <strong>Chianti Riserva</strong> wines, along with local <strong>Extra Virgin Olive Oil</strong>. Stop for lunch in a local trattoria along the way where you can enjoy the specialties of the region, and continue your exploration in the afternoon. Return to your Florence hotel.

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<strong>A Day in Lucca and Pisa - Driver Service (8 hours) </strong>

<img class="size-medium wp-image-527 alignleft" src="http://www.lindsaystravels.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Pisa-Leaning-Tower-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" />Depart with driver from your hotel through the <strong>Tuscan countryside</strong> and head towards the coast for a day of exploring <strong>Lucca</strong> and <strong>Pisa</strong> on your own. Enjoy the walled medieval town of Lucca and walk along its cobblestone streets to visit its important piazzas and churches, then enjoy time on your own for lunch. Proceed to Pisa, home of the famous <strong>Leaning Tower</strong>, where you can admire it from the <strong>Piazza dei Miracoli</strong> or I can reserve a visit with the resident staff of the tower for a short climbing tour.

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<p style="text-align: left;"><strong><u>ROME</u></strong></p>
<strong>Train from Florence to Rome – First Class</strong>

Enjoy the 1 hour 20 minute train ride from Florence to Rome. Upon your arrival at the Rome train station you will find your driver at the exit bearing a sign with your last name. Enjoy a private transfer to  your hotel.

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<strong>Full Day Rome Tour with Driver and Guide </strong><em>(6 hours)</em>

Meet your private driver and guide in the hotel lobby for a full day tour of Rome. Take a journey through time and discover Ancient Rome with your expert guide and driver. See the famous sites of the Roman gladiator fights at the <strong><em>Colosseum</em></strong>, learn the meaning of the ruins at the <strong><em>Forum</em></strong>, and visit <strong><em>Circo Massimo, the Arch of Constantine</em></strong> and <strong><em>Piazza Venezia. </em></strong>This delightful tour, full of historical anecdotes with a private expert guide will allow you to visit the main artistic and architectural monuments of Classic Rome. View Nicola Salvi’s theatrical design the <strong><em>Trevi Fountain</em></strong>, Bernini’s Baroque style in <strong><em>Piazza Navona</em></strong>, feel the charm of the <strong><em>Spanish Steps</em></strong> and witness the most extraordinary and best preserved ancient building in Rome, <strong><em>the Pantheon.</em></strong>

<strong>The Vatican Experience: St Peter’s Basilica and the Sistine Chapel with Reserved Entrance <em>(4 hours)</em></strong>

Your private guide will meet you  in your hotel and you will proceed by taxi to the Vatican.  Enter with a reservation and tour the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and St Peter’s Basilica.

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Enjoy an informative tour of the Vatican accompanied by an expert guide with <em><strong>pre-reserved entrance times</strong></em> to the Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel.  Our special relationship with the Vatican enables us to reserve your entrance to avoid waiting in the immense lines that one finds most of the year. Transfer by taxi to the Vatican for this four hour in-depth tour where you will learn about the great artists who helped to embellish one of the most fascinating sovereign states in the world. Visit the Vatican museums which includes some of the world’s most precious artistic and religious treasures including the Galleries of Maps, Candelabras and Tapestries, the Raphael Rooms, and  Michelangelo’s stunning frescoes in the Sistine Chapel.  Afterwards, a visit to St Peter’s Basilica completes the tour with its splendid sculptures and mosaics of great historic and religious importance.

<strong>Let's get started!</strong>  The earlier you start planning the better, since things tend to book up quickly in Italy, especially in high season. <strong><a href="http://www.lindsaystravels.com/contact/">Contact me</a> today to start planning!</strong>

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