Bella Italia Tour

Take a journey you won’t forget! Enjoy an Italy vacation where you will visit legendary sites all the way from Rome to Milan. Explore the most romantic country in the world whose historic ruins, incredible architecture, stunning natural beauty, and exceptional cuisine make it irresistible to travelers from across the globe.

Tour Vatican City, home to the pope and some of the world’s finest artwork including Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel. In Rome, explore the Forum and other buildings and massive ruins that came to symbolize the Ancient Roman Empire’s unparalleled strength and influence. Admire Orvieto’s abundance of history, and then relax in the ancient spa town of Montecatini Terme.

Strike a pose for a classic picture in front of the leaning tower of Pisa, before falling in love with Florence, the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance. Foodies will be thrilled to visit the culinary hotspot of Bologna, where pasta is a must. The next day starts and ends in Venice, and includes a fascinating guided tour of the canals. Shakespeare fans will be enamored of the House of Juliet in fair Verona, while our most fashionable travelers will enjoy a final city tour of Milan, the stylish capital of the Lombardy Region.

“Bella,” which means beautiful, is the only way to describe this incredible country. You’ll see its most famous sites on this immersive Italy vacation package.

Add-Ons

Ostia Antica Tour with Dinner

Experience the majesty of ancient Rome on this historic tour.

Tuscan Wine Tasting & Dinner

Enjoy your evening in classic Tuscan style with wine and dinner.

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Bella Italia

Tour Starts:

Rome, Italy

Tour Ends:

Milan, Italy

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Day 1

Depart for Rome

Your adventure begins as you depart on your overnight transatlantic flight.

Day 2

Arrive in Rome

Arrive in historic Rome. This evening meet your fellow travelers and learn about the exciting days ahead, then relax over a tasty Italian dinner. (D)

Hotel H10 Roma or similar

Day 3

Vatican City

Today, take a guided tour of Vatican City, home of the pope. Explore the Vatican Museums, which house some of the most important and valuable art treasures in the world. Visit St. Peter’s Basilica, St. Peter’s Square, and the Sistine Chapel, with floor-to-ceiling biblical frescoes painted by Michelangelo in around 1512.  (B)

Hotel H10 Roma or similar

Note: Touring the Vatican Museums requires walking up several staircases and 2-3 hours of walking. Vatican entry times may vary depending on availability.

Day 4

Rome

Join us on a full-day sightseeing tour as you uncover the highlights of Eternal City. You’ll see outside views of the Roman Forum, once a marketplace and center of daily Roman

life, the Piazza Navona, and the renowned Spanish Steps, as well as the fabled Trevi Fountain. (B)

Hotel H10 Roma or similar

Add-On: Ostia Antica Tour With Dinner

Day 5

Orvieto and Montecatini Terme

Depart Rome this morning and travel north into the picturesque Umbrian countryside. We stop and take the funicular up to the ancient town of Orvieto, where you can explore the rich history of this charming town and admire a variety of Etruscan, Medieval, and Renaissance art. The Orvieto funicular (a cliff cable railway) first opened in 1888 and uses water and gravity to transport its cars up and down the hillside. We then continue north and by late afternoon, we’ll arrive at Montecatini Terme, a beautiful spa town that was built around its mineral water springs. This is where you’ll spend the next two nights. (B)

Hotel Boston or similar

Add-On: Tuscan wine tasting and dinner

Day 6

Florence and Pisa

Today’s full-day excursion starts with a short drive toward the Mediterranean coast and the city of Pisa. See the famous Leaning Tower, and then enjoy a walking tour of Florence. Here you’ll look at the 13th century Duomo with Brunelleschi’s Dome and Giotto’s Campanile (bell tower). You’ll also discover Ghiberti’s golden “Gates of Paradise” doors at the marble-clad Baptistery of St. John, the Piazza della Signoria, and the Ponte Vecchio, the medieval bridge spanning the River Arno, complete with shops built along it. (B)

Hotel Boston or similar

Day 7

Bologna and Venice

We drive northeast and stop in Bologna. Probably best known for its culinary tradition, Bologna also has an impressive history and is home to one of the world’s oldest universities, founded in 1088. Enjoy some time on your own and maybe savor some pasta with authentic bolognese sauce (ragù alla bolognese in Italian) before we continue toward the Adriatic coast. We’ll arrive in the Venice area by late afternoon and will stay just a few miles across the lagoon from the historic city. (B, D)

Hotel Novotel Venezia Mestre Castellana or similar

Day 8

Venice

Enjoy a sightseeing tour of this amazing city, now a World Heritage Site, built on an archipelago of 117 islands in a lagoon. Formed by 177 canals and connected by 409 bridges, Venice is truly unique. Note that there are no motorcars or trucks in the city. Transfer by boat to St. Mark’s Square where you’ll begin your walking tour to see the lavish Doge’s Palace, (entrance not included) and the fabled Bridge of Sighs as well as the Rialto Bridge, Venice’s oldest, spanning the Grand Canal. This afternoon you are free to wander through the labyrinth of canals and alleyways, lined with boutiques and souvenir shops, or perhaps relax and “people watch” over an espresso or tasty Italian gelato. If you want to get out on the water, there are a variety of boat rides available (not included) from water taxis to the traditional gondolas. By the end of the day you’ll be truly inspired by the history and romance of this wonderful city.  (B)

Hotel Novotel Venezia Mestre Castellana or similar

Add-On: Murano & Burano Tour

Day 9

Verona & Milan

Today we head through the lush northern Italian landscape to Verona. A city best known as the setting for Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, it also offers wonderful examples of Medieval and Renaissance art and architecture. Our walking tour includes the Duomo (cathedral), Piazza delle Erbe with the famous Torre dei Lamberti (high tower), and of course the house of Juliet, with its famous balcony. Continue west to Milan, capital of the region of Lombardy. Your panoramic sightseeing tour highlights will include Piazza del Duomo, the main central square surrounded by several important buildings, such as Milan’s Gothic cathedral and the Royal Palace of Milan. You’ll also have a chance to see Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, an impressive and ornate indoor shopping arcade built in 1865, as well as La Scala Opera House. (B, D)

Hotel Cavalieri della Corona or similar

Day 10

Depart for Home (B)

Your Italy vacation comes to an end today as you depart for home with newfound friends and a suitcase full of memories to last a lifetime!

Please note that this is a proposed itinerary; the actual itinerary may vary due to season, special events, or weather. Hotels may differ depending on date. Because our tour arrangements are often made a year or more in advance, YMT Vacations reserves the right to alter the itinerary. Itinerary changes are made to improve your vacation experience, as well as respond to any unforeseen circumstances that mandate alterations. By their nature, all tour vacations involve a certain level of physical activity. While YMT tours have been designed with our guests in mind and are not physically demanding, this tour does include walking and periods of standing during the sightseeing visits. You will also encounter steps and some uneven ground along the way, particularly at older, historical sights. Please ask your Travel Consultant for more information.

YMT Vacations itineraries may contain suggestions for activities for your leisure time; these suggestions do not constitute a recommendation nor an endorsement of any specific service provider and the decision to participate in any such activities should be made independently.

FAQs

Add-Ons

Make your vacation extra special by adding optional excursions to your tour. It’s a great opportunity to enhance your trip, these experiences slot seamlessly into your package, and we’ll take care of all the logistics for you. Remember that adding an optional experience might increase the overall activity level of the tour, so always keep that in mind when planning your trip.

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Ostia Antica Tour with Dinner

Experience the majesty of ancient Rome on this historic tour. After picking you up from your hotel, your coach will bring you to the ruins of Ostia Antica on the mouth of the River Tiber, once a busy port city of the Roman Empire. After the tour, enjoy a delicious 3 course dinner at a restaurant nearby the ruins before returning to the hotel.

Inclusions

• Guided exploration of the Ostia Antica ruins
• 3-course meal including water, and a choice of a glass of wine or a soft drink

Note: This tour requires moderate walking and standing for long periods of time, so comfortable shoes are recommended. Terrain is mostly flat and even but may require walking some stairs in amphitheater. There is one step going into the restaurant entrance, two to access each room of the restaurant, and two to reach the toilets. If the tour falls on the first Sunday of the month, the price will be lower, as admission to Ostia Antica is free on such occasions.

Duration: Approx. 5 hours (afternoon)

Activity Level: Moderate

Price: $109 USD

Tuscan Wine Tasting & Dinner

Enjoy your evening in classic Tuscan style with a vineyard tour, wine tasting and dinner. Your private coach will take you from your hotel to the Fattoria Il Poggio Winery, where you will be met by one of the property’s knowledgeable guides. Learn about the traditional wine making process and head to the converted wine cellar where your 3-course meal and wine tasting session await. Your first course will begin with an assorted antipasti menu paired with three white wines to sample, followed by three red wines to complement your main dish. Follow it up with local dessert paired with a traditional Vin Santo.

Inclusions

• Guided walking tour of the vineyard
• Dinner at a wine cellar with live music; Menu includes handmade pasta, a chicken, sausage, and ribs platter, and two sides of your choice. Dessert will be a tiramisu served and almond biscuits. All meals will come with red or white wine and unlimited water

Note: This tour involves an approximately 200-yard walk with a slight incline.

Duration: Approx. 3 hours (evening)

Activity Level: Moderate

Price: $72 USD

Murano & Burano Tour

Join your fellow travelers for an unforgettable afternoon as you discover the Islands of Murano and Burano. After your private boat ride from San Marco Square, see the exquisite glasswork of Murano and watch how the glassblowers create these works of art. Continue on to Burano, well known for the old tradition of lace making, where your guide will take you through the streets lined with quaint multi-colored homes.

Inclusions

•  Private boat ride from San Marco Square to Murano & Burano islands
• Complimentary tea or coffee at the Colleoni Glass factory
• Included workshop – Create your very own one-of-a-kind earrings or key ring of Murano glass to take home
• Tour of Burano

Duration: Approx. 5 hours (afternoon)

Activity Level: Active

Price: $39 USD