Mediterranean Dream: Italy – Spain
17 Days: Rome, Assisi, Siena, Florence, Bologna, Padua, Venice, Tuscany Wine Region (Traditional Tuscan Lunch in Montepulciano), Rome, Barcelona, Madrid, Cordoba, Sevilla, Granada, Toledo, Madrid

Day 1 – Rome
Welcome to Rome! After meet at the airport your driver, you will be transferred to your hotel.. At 07:45 pm p/ up at the hotel and reach Via del Teatro Marcello. Our local expert guide will lead you to discover the wonders of the Eternal City, charming by day – absolutely romantic at sunset. You will cross the characteristic area of the Jewish Ghetto, one of Rome’s most beautiful neighbourhoods, full with history and with a real Roman atmoshpere. As you know, one of Rome’s typical landmarks are its beautiful fountains, and one of the prettiest is the Turtle Fountain (Fontana delle Tartarughe) in Piazza Mattei. The Jewish Ghetto of Rome is the second most ancient after the one in Venice and it can be considered the heart and soul of Roman cuisine! Then you will walk into Piazza Della Rotonda and enjoy the lit view of the Pantheon, the former temple of Marcus Agrippa later converted into a church: this is the only ancient Roman temple that remained untouched through the centuries and it’s stunning at night when the crowds are away. Next Stop… Close your eyes and throw a coin over your right shoulder straight into the Trevi Fountain: it’s said that those who do so, are granted to come back to Rome someday. Your walk continues towards Piazza di Spagna, one of the city’s most popular squares, known for its setting at the bottom of the Spanish Steps. Walk up these famous steps to enjoy a lovely view from the top! After this intense and gratifying walk, there is only one thing missing to end this experience: relax enjoying a creamy and tasty Gelato, it’s on us! The tour ends in Spanish Steps area. Enjoy on your own the rest of the night. Return to the hotel on your own and overnight stay.

Day 2 – Rome
Between 7:45 – 8:00 am, after breakfast, departure from the hotel for the included tour of the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Square with our exclusive “Skip the Line” access! No stress to reach the area: upon arrival, your guide will lead you into the museums where you’ll visit one of the most important art collections of the world. Walk along the beautiful Galleries of Tapestries and Geographical Maps before admiring Raphael’s Rooms and, then, the amazing Sistine Chapel. After this incredible masterpiece, the tour ends in St. Peter’s Square where you can admire the incredible masterpiece St. Peter’s Basilica: the biggest church in the world! The tour ends in St. Peter’s Square. Enjoy the rest of the day to explore the city at your own leisure or get any one of our selected tours for the afternoon or at night! Overnight stay. (B)

Day 3 – Rome – Assisi – Siena – Florence
Departing at 7:15 am from your hotel by a deluxe coach, you will arrive in Assisi, ready to explore, at your own leisure, this tiny town surrounded by walls, built in the Middle Ages. Take your time to visit the basilica of St. Francis, where you will see masterpieces by Giotto and Cimabue and, then, have free time for lunch (not included). Board on the bus to reach Siena, a Unesco World Heritage Site, world-known for the Palio, the historical horse race around the shell-shaped town square: Piazza del Campo. Next, you will continue on to Florence, where you will check in at your hotel before enjoying dinner and a well-earned night of rest. (BD)

Day 4 – Florence
After breakfast, you will spend the day venturing around beautiful Florence, the “Cradle of Renaissance, where, with the help of Michelangelo, Italian art reached its pinnacle. Based on Etruscan- Roman origins, the city flourished in the Middle Ages as a free “Comune” and was further refined during the Renaissance. You will be fascinated by the uncountable monuments, churches and buildings as Santa Maria del Fiore, more commonly referred to as the Duomo. On your visit, you will be amazed by its magnificent dome built by Filippo Brunelleschi. Cross a small piazza to see the “Campanile” tower (partly designed by Giotto) and the Baptistery, with its bronze doors where Michelangelo imagined the “Gates of Paradise.” In the heart of the city, you will see Piazza della Signoria, Palazzo della Signoria (also known as Palazzo Vecchio), and the Basilica of Santa Croce. Lunch in a typical Tuscan restaurant in Piazza Santa Croce. Spend the afternoon strolling the cobblestone streets of Florence on your own or take a short trip to Pisa (optional), one of the four main historical Marine Republics of Italy. There, you will tour the Piazza dei Miracoli with the Duomo, Pisa’s symbol “the Leaning Tower” and the Baptistery. Dinner at leisure, overnight stay in Florence. (BL)

Day 5 – Florence – Bologna – Padua – Venice
After breakfast in Florence, departure to Bologna. There, you will discover the elegant city center with its “porticos”, it’s shopping streets and so on. From Piazza Malpighi you will walk to Piazza del Nettuno and Piazza Maggiore (Neptune square and Major square) in the heart of the city, then King Renzo’s Palace; Palazzo Podestà and the basilica of San Petronio, one of the biggest in the world. Bologna it’s a real gourmet’s heaven…don’t miss a tasty meal at your own leisure! In the afternoon, continue toward Padova, with Sant’Antonio Basilica: one of the most visited churches by pilgrims of the catholic world. Later in the afternoon, arrival in Venice: the City of Love, one of the most romantic cities of the whole world and, undoubtedly the most beautiful city built by man! Check in at your hotel for dinner and overnight stay. (BD)

Day 6 – Venice
After breakfast, enjoy your transfer to Piazza San Marco, and visit the most iconic places of the “Floating City”: the Palazzo dei Dogi, symbol of Venice’s glorious past, the legendary “Bridge of Sighs”. After this walking tour, let us offer you a spritz or a prosecco to crown your visit to Venice highlights with the company of your tour leader. Spend the afternoon roaming along Venice’s canals at your leisure and then return to the hotel and overnight. (B)

Day 7 – Venice – Montepulciano (Tuscany wine region) – Rome
After breakfast, departure from Piazzale Roma heading to Tuscany, world-known for its landscapes, its churches and castles and its delicious wines. You will proceed to Val di Chiana with a stop in Montepulciano, a medieval town rich in history and art. Known for its “Nobile” wine, on purchase in local wine houses, Montepulciano also hosts an annual Jazz and Wine Festival every July. Lunch in a typical restaurant included!!! After lunch, quick stop to spend some free time. In the evening, you will arrive in Rome to check in into your hotel. (BL)

Day 8 – Rome – Civitavecchia (overnight on board)
Breakfast at the hotel and morning at your disposal. Meet your driver at 7:30 pm for your transfer to Civitavecchia port (Terminal Grimaldi Lines) and board on the Cruise Ferry to Barcelona. Departure at 11:00 pm. Overnight on board. (B)

Day 9 – Arrival in Barcelona
Breakfast and lunch on board. Enjoy your time and discover the variety and quality of services that these kind of Cruise Ferries can offer; a wide open space with pool (for adults and kids), lounges, bars, disco, a cafeteria (open 24 hours); self service or a la carterestaurants, boutiques, internet lounges, health center and a gym with technogym equipment. Arrival in Barcelona at 7:00 pm approx., disembark from the ferry and transfer to Barcelona. Arrival and accommodation at the hotel. (BL)

Day 10 – Barcelona
Breakfast at the hotel. Highlights city tour of Barcelona. Half-day sightseeing tour around Barcelona that will allow you to discover the history of the city while visiting some of the most important places in a comfortable and easy way. The first part of the visit consists in a guided walking tour through the small and narrow streets of the Gothic Quarter, the oldest part of the city. During this early visit we will see Las Ramblas, de Cathedral Square, The Cathedral (free time to visit the Cathedral by yourself), the Old Jewish Quarter, among other interesting places. Later we will take our bus to start with a panoramic tour around the rest of the city. We will pass through the elegant Passeig de Gràcia Street, where there are located two of the most important Gaudi’s buildings (Casa Batlló and Casa Milà “la Pedrera”), the Triumph Arc, the Olympic Village and the Olympic Port. For the next part of the visit we will access to the Montjuic Mountain. This is an important place because was the main scenery of the Olympic Games in the 1992. We will see the Olympic stadium from the bus and later we will have the opportunity to enjoy the panoramic views of the city riding the aerial tramway (subject to the weather conditions). For the next part we will go to the Spanish Village (Poble Espanyol) that consist in a synthesis of all the cultural variety in Spain. During the visit you will be given some free time to enjoy the different areas inspired in different Spanish regions, where you will find craft shops restaurants and bars. At the end, back to the bus, we will leave Montjuic and come back to the city centre passing through España square, the twin Venetian towers, the MNAC and the Shopping centre Las Arenas, build in an old bullring. We will arrive to Catalunya square, and we will end up the tour. Afternoon is at leisure to enjoy this wonderful city and surroundings. Accommodation at the hotel. (B)

Day 11 – Barcelona – Madrid
Breakfast at the hotel. Depart from our established hotels in Barcelona. Please refer to your documentation for detailed departure information. Accommodation at the hotel. (*) Transportation between Barcelona and Madrid could be done by High-Speed train (AVE) in Tourist Class. (B)

Day 12 – Madrid – Cordoba – Sevilla
Breakfast at the hotel. Depart to Seville via Cordoba Drive along La Mancha, Don Quixote’s land. Brief stop at typical site in Puerto Lapice. Cross through the natural border of “Despeñaperros” and get into Andalusia, a region for itself that shows an enormous heritage from a splendorous past. Reach Cordoba. Impressive tour of its Mosque and other sites that will ease our mind and spirit strolling through its narrow winding streets of the Jewish Quarter. In the afternoon, after a short two hours ride reach Seville. Accommodation at the hotel.

Day 13 – Sevilla
Breakfast at the hotel. Morning panoramic city tour visiting the Cathedral (the second largest in the Catholic world after St. Peters in Rome), Santa Cruz quarter (a natural scenario of “Carmen” as well as a precisely where the myth of “Don Juan” developed), Maria Luisa Park and Plaza de España. Afternoon at leisure for you to discover exclusive views, specific flavors of this active full of light city. Accommodation at the hotel. (B)

Day 14 – Sevilla – Granada
After breakfast at the hotel drive east through the Caliphate road to the heart of ANDALUSIA observing an endless number of olive trees on the way to Granada and its incredible and amazing monumental environment, last stronghold of the Moorish Kingdoms up to 1492. Visit the world famous Alhambra complex and Generalife Gardens that have inspired several authors with its sound and sights, such as the “Tales of the Alhambra” by W. Irving. Accommodation at the hotel. (B)

Day 15 – Granada
Breakfast at the hotel and free day to enjoy the Nasrid capital. Granada is more than the Alhambra; the Muslim heritage runs through every corner of the city and mixes with the Christian tradition, giving rise to a unique city. Optionally, you can participate in this spirit and be immersed in the magical neighborhood of El Albaicín, a World Heritage Site, to discover its secrets: beautiful visits to the Sierra Nevada, old mosques converted into churches and old palaces, still saturated with Arab aromas. Overnight at the hotel. (B)

Day 16 – Granada – Toledo – Madrid
Breakfast at the hotel. Drive northward where it emerges, toward the sky of Castilla and surrounded by the Tagus River, the impressive Imperial city of Toledo –World Heritage City- where the three cultures Christians, Moorish and Jewish, have lived together. Resume of the Spanish art, history and spirituality the whole town is a National Monument. Short guided tour of this historical old town through its narrow streets. Then proceed with a visit to a famous “Damasquinado” (gold and silver inlaying in iron) factory. Continue to Madrid. Accommodation at the hotel. (B)

Day 17 – Madrid
After breakfast at the hotel transfer to the airport. End of our services. (B)

(*) On the ferry and during your stay in Rome, in Barcelona and Madrid, tour escort service will not be available

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