Italy for Art-Lovers, A Luxury Tour

Day 1: Arrive Rome

Upon arrival in Romes Fiumicino Airport, you will be met by your English-speaking driver and transferred by Mercedes E class sedan to the Art by the Spanish Steps Hotel. This afternoon, meet with your private guide in the lobby at your hotel for your personalized introductory tour of Rome.  Visit Piazza Navona to see the Fountains of the Four Rivers by Bernini and the Church of St Agnes by Borromini while hearing about the rivalry between these two artists supposedly evident in the architecture. From there a short stroll will take you to the beautiful Trevi Fountain to find out the importance of water and fountains in Rome and of course give you time to throw your coins in and perhaps have a gelato. Return to your hotel for an evening of leisure.

Day 2: Ancient Rome

This morning, begin your privately guided tour of Rome by Mercedes Viano. Rome is a city rich in history and is one of the only cities that allows you to walk in the footsteps of the Saints like Caesar, Pontius Pilate, St. Paul and the Apostles. Visit the Coliseum (with a special skip the line ticket), one of Romes greatest engineering accomplishments.  Once inside you will wander along the arena floor and hear the history of the gladiators and understand what these games meant to the ancient Romans.  Continue up the Via Sacra to enter the Roman Forum where you visit all the main basilicas, temples and learn about Julius Caesar and his role in ancient Roman history, including the rise and fall of the Great Roman Empire.  The rest of the touring is according to your desired destinations. We recommend the ancient Pantheon, a striking architectural marvel. You may also wish to see the site of Julius Caesars assassination (now a home to dozens of feral cats). The guide will escort you back to your hotel and you have the rest of the day at your leisure.

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Day 3: The Vatican

Todays tour takes you to the Vatican Museum and the Basilica of St. Peter. Meet with your private guide in the lobby of your hotel for the incredible tour to see the architectural complexity of the famous Vatican. The first Basilica of St. Peter, commissioned by Constantine, remains the largest religious building in the world. The Basilica was enriched with countless works of art of inestimable value, such as the wonderful marble group of the Piet, made by Michelangelo.  The tour will proceed with a visit to one of the major art collections in the world: The Vatican Museum. Over the centuries it has been enriched with an enormous collection of art pieces, accumulated by the Popes, making it now one of the most complex museums housing one of the broader and more interesting collections of art, spanning both religious and secular subjects. The grand finale is the Sistine Chapel, famed for the frescos that decorate the interior, and most particularly the ceiling with The Last Judgment by Michelangelo. Return to your hotel after the tour. 

Day 4: Romes Art Treasures

Today is free to explore the museums that most appeal to your own taste in art. The Borghese Gallery is the place for Renaissance paintings and classical-style sculpture in a palatial mansion. Pre-Roman works can be found at the National Etruscan Museum. For more modern pieces, the National Gallery of Modern Art has an impressive collection of Europes best artists. Some of the many other options include Villa Farnesia, Galleria Nazionale dArte Antica, Galleria Doria Pamphilj, and the Baths of Diocletian.

Day 5: Rome to Florence via Siena

Following breakfast, your driver will pick you up for the transfer to the Rome Termini Railway station by Mercedes E class Sedan. From there, you will take the train to Florence. En route, stop in Siena for a city tour spanning historic sites such as the Duomo, a gothic masterpiece; the Campo, Siena's central square where they hold the famed Palio horse race; and medieval architecture, statues, local streets, piazzas and beyond.  On arrival in Florence, you will be met by your driver and be transferred to the Gallery Hotel Art. The rest of the day is at leisure to relax and settle into your room and explore independently.

Day 6: Renaissance Florence

Your guide will meet you at your hotel this morning for a six-hour, personalized tour of Florence. Be enchanted by history, world-renowned works of art and monuments of the Cradle of the Renaissance. See the Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore, more commonly known as the Duomo, and continue to the octagonal shaped Florence Baptistery, one of the oldest buildings in the city, built between 1059 and 1128.  Pass through the Piazza della Signoria, an L-shaped square that maintains its reputation as the political hub of the city. Continue over The Ponte Vecchio, a medieval stone bridge over the Arno River noted for still having shops built along it. Also visit the Accademia Gallery to see the famous David statue. Of course, no visit to Florence is complete without touring the Uffizi Gallery, one of the oldest and most famous art museums of the Western World. Artwork by Leonardo da Vinci, Sandro Botticelli, Raphael, Caravaggio and Rembrandt Van Rijn are on display, among others.

Day 7: Art of Italian Cuisine

Today you will have a private cooking lesson at a Florentine restaurant to discover the tastes of Tuscany! After putting on an apron, the chef will teach you his secrets on how to prepare some typical dishes of the Tuscan tradition, including pappa al pomodoro, tomato sauce from the freshest ingredients. After you master the cooking techniques, take a seat in the restaurant and dine on your delicious creations, accompanied by a glass of Tuscan wine.

Day 8: Tuscany

Set out on a full-day guided winery tour through Tuscany. Italian wines are some of the most famous in the world, and Tuscan wines include some of the best wines in Italy. The process of making wines will be explained and you will have tastings throughout the day. Most of the wine produced in Tuscany is red wine, including Chianti, Brunello di Montalcino, Morellino di Scansano, Pomino, Rosso di Montepulciano, and Tignanello, to name a few. Explore deep in the heart of the rolling hills of Tuscany and discover why this area is renowned as a must-see for wine lovers. Begin the day with a visit to San Gimignano, a walled medieval UNESCO Heritage town. The charming city retains its feudal atmosphere and appearance amongst its squares and narrow alleys. Stop in the Guicciardini Strozzi winery, where you will enjoy a brief wine tasting. Continue to the Dievole winery for an extended lunch, wine tasting and tour, where you will have the opportunity to observe some of the harvesting process. End the day in the town of Monteriggioni, whose medieval walls and towers remain largely intact, before heading back to your hotel in Florence for an evening at leisure.

Day 9: Journey to Venice

This morning, you will be transferred to the Florence train station, for the journey to Venice in a first-class train carriage. Upon arrival at Venice Santa Lucia railway station, a representative will meet and escort you on the short walk to the Stazio to Chiesa degli Scalzi, where water taxis are berthed. You will have a voucher to show for your private motorboat ride to your hotel. Check into the Bauer Palazzo. While in Venice, the gondola tour is one you cant miss! Climb aboard and make yourself comfortable. With this old-fashioned and slow pace mode of transportation, balancing between the most famous and exciting canals of Venice, passing by the Piazza San Marco, and running along the Grand Canal, you are able to admire some of the most famous and luxurious Venetian palaces, which fill the banks of the canals. The gondola brings you back, after 35 unforgettable minutes, to the same departure point.

Day 10: Venice Immersion

This morning, meet with your guide in the foyer of your hotel, where you will then be taken on a half-day private tour (by foot and water taxi) of this incredible and unique city. Dominating Piazza San Marco is the Basilica di San Marco (St. Marks Basilica), a striking example of Italo-Byzantine architecture. Since the 11th century, this building has been praised for its opulent design, shimmering gold mosaics, and its status as the symbol of Venetian wealth and power.  Nearby is the Venetian Gothic-style Doges Palace, and the infamous Bridge of Sighs, linking the palace to the adjacent prison. Four bridges span the Grand Canal, but by far the most famous is the original, the Rialto Bridge. Climb the bridge for a picturesque view over the canal. A walk on the Venetian streets or calli will give you a taste of the unique atmosphere, rich in culture and of the glorious history of what it once was, the serene Republic of Venice. Return to your hotel after the tour or continue exploring on your own. 

Day 11: Arts of Venice

Today, visit the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, located on the Grand Canal between the Accademia Bridge and the Church of Santa Maria della Salute. The collection includes works by the most esteemed surrealist and modern artists such as Dali, Magritte, Kandinsky, and Pollock. In the afternoon, create your own art at your choice of a Carnival mask-making workshop or a glass-blowing lesson on the island of Murano.

Day 12: Venice to Milan

Today, at the appropriate time, an assistant will meet you at the hotel for the private motorboat transfer to the Venice train station, for the high-speed train to Milan in a first class train car. Upon arrival in Milan, you will be met by your English speaking driver and transferred to the Bulgari Hotel.  The capital of Lombardy, Milan has a population of 1.3 million people, and is the biggest industrial city in Italy. Most well-known for its fashion scene, Milan is a magnet for designers, artists, photographers and models, as Armani, Versace, Prada, Dolce & Gabbana, Pucci, Gucci and many more took off on Milans runways. This afternoon, you will have time for shopping (perhaps at the glamorous Galleria Vittorio Emanuele shopping gallery) or browsing art galleries in Milan.

Day 13: Tour Milan

After breakfast, you will be met by your English speaking guide for a private half-day tour of Milan. Begin at the breathtaking Duomo, one of the world's largest and most striking Gothic cathedrals. Some 135 spires and 3,200 statues cover the roof and the facade. Head to the Santa Maria delle Grazie Church, where you will gaze upon Leonardo da Vincis The Last Supper. In 1494 Leonardo da Vinci was commissioned by Duke Lodovico Sforza to paint the northern wall of the refectory. Though the representation of The Last Supper is typically found in church refectories this representation is unusual in that it depicts the moment of the announcement of Judas betrayal. The rest of the day is free to shop for souvenirs, or simply relax and enjoy sipping Italian wines.

Day 14: Depart Italy

You will have a private transfer to the Milan airport today for your international departure flight. Have a pleasant return journey! 

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