itinerary for italy at leisure • expat explore end point · leather demo in a local shop: step...

Expat Explore - Version: Mon Mar 09 2020 14:05:25 GMT+0200 (South Africa Standard Time) Page: 1/8

DAY 1: Arrive in Rome

Welcome to Rome! The first day of the tour is an arrivals day: meet up with your tour leader at our accommodation in the afternoon

and prepare for the tour of a lifetime! If you arrive early, head into the city and see some of the sites that make Rome famous the

world over. An ancient city that has seen the rise and fall of entire empires, there is no shortage of historical real estate to feast your

eyes on. Not to mention designer shopping and brilliant food. Tonight, you’ll meet the rest of the tour group at our included welcome

dinner.

Experiences

Your tour begins! Tonight you will enjoy a welcome dinner where you can get to know your tour leader and the rest of your group.

DAY 2: Rome city tour

Itinerary for Italy at Leisure • Expat Explore

Start Point:

Hotel in Rome,

Please contact us

15:00-17:00 hrs

End Point:

Hotel in Venice,

Please contact us

10:00 hrs

Included Meals

Breakfast: Lunch: Dinner:


This morning we’ll take you on a walking tour of the Italian capital to introduce you to some of Rome’s many historic sights, including

the Colosseum, Circus Maximus, Castle d'Angelo and the Tiber river, with photo stops along the way. We'll then enjoy an included

lunch in a local restaurant, before you have a free afternoon to explore Rome at your leisure. You can also join our optional guided

walking tour of the Vatican City! Included in the price of this optional excursion is entrance to the Vatican with queue jump privilege

and the services of a local guide. Marvel at glittering artworks, vast marble halls and opulent architecture - including the Sistine

Chapel - all part and parcel of the Vatican’s status as the seat of papal power.

Experiences

Walking tour of Rome: this city has so much to see and do we can’t list everything here but your walking tour of Rome with a

professional local guide will give you a great start for further exploration in your free time. You will see the Colosseum, Roman Forum,

Arch of Septimus Severus, the Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon, Piazza Navona (Fountain of the Quattro Fiumi) and the Spanish steps.

Optional Excursions

Vatican City guided tour: € 50

* Stated prices and availability are subject to change.

DAY 3: Rome: Free Day

Included Meals


Accommodation

BV Oly Hotel

Hotel Ergife Palace

Hotel Marc'Aurelio


Rome is one of the highlights of any Italian tour; it wasn’t built in a day, but luckily you have a free one in which to explore the capital

to your heart's content. The city centre boasts ancient ruins, historical landmarks, religious buildings and a buzzing atmosphere like

no other. The Colosseum is spectacular, and for those who wish to enter, there are fabulous views of the city, and an unbelievable

feeling of drifting backwards in time, to when gladiators, chariots and lions dominated the arena. Alternatively, join our optional

excursion to explore the legendary ruins of Pompeii.

Optional Excursions

Pompeii Day Trip: € 80


DAY 4: Siena - San Gimignano - Tuscany

Today we’ll drive north through the beautiful countryside to the region of Tuscany. Our first stop is the medieval town of Siena,

famous for the 'Palio' horse race and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We then stop off in the medieval town of San Gimignano with

its iconic towers, to sample local wines and enjoy Antipasto (a selection of cheese, cured meats, bread and olives). To round off a

Included Meals


Accommodation

BV Oly Hotel

Hotel Ergife Palace

Hotel Marc'Aurelio


brilliant day of exploring we’ll enjoy an included dinner this evening at our accommodation in a spa town in the Tuscan hills.

Experiences

Orientation tour of Florence: Your Expat Explore tour leader will take you on an orientation tour to introduce you to the main sights,

including the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, Ponte Vecchio, Piazza Della Signoria and the replica statue of David.

Leather demo in a local shop: Step inside the world of Italian leather crafting as you visit a leather demo in a local leather shop and

factory, Leonardo Leather and Gold. Italy has been famous for leather production for centuries.

DAY 5: Pisa - Florence - Tuscany

Today we’ll explore the undoubted highlights of Tuscany; Pisa and Florence! Our first stop is the iconic Leaning Tower of Pisa. Now

over 800 years old, it’s a classic sight in Italy and well worth a visit to get a few photos of you 'holding up' the tower! On arrival in

Florence, we’ll take a guided walking tour of the city accompanied by an expert local guide, who will introduce you to all the sights,

including Ponte Vecchio, Florence Cathedral and the Basilica of Santa Croce. You’ll then have some free time to explore - why not see

Michelangelo’s David in the Galleria dell'Accademia? - before we return to our accommodation in the Tuscany region.

Experiences

Explore the site of the famous leaning tower of Pisa – a true classic and a must-see on any tour visiting Italy.

In Florence, enjoy a locally-guided walking tour taking in some of the city’s most famous attractions.

Optional Excursions

Taste of Tuscany: € 35


Included Meals


Accommodation

Settentrionale Esplanade

Included Meals



DAY 6: Tuscany: Free Day

Enjoy a free day to explore Tuscany and the surrounding area. If you enjoyed Florence yesterday it is only a short train ride away -

you’ll have all day to explore the museums, art galleries and shops to your heart’s content! Alternatively, you can take our optional

excursion to Cinque Terre! Cinque Terre literally means ‘Five Lands’ and consists of five coastal cliff-side towns linked by rail and by

footpaths. Overlooking the Mediterranean and amply supplied with fresh produce from the surrounding farms and homesteads, this

is a region with all the ingredients to make for an unforgettable day.

Optional Excursions

Cinque Terre: € 50


DAY 7: Modena - Verona - Venice

Included Meals


Accommodation

Settentrionale Esplanade


Today, we’ll be driving to Venice, and on the way we'll make a couple of fantastic stops. Our first is Modena, where you’ll enjoy a

tasting of balsamic vinegar. We’ll then drive on to Verona where you’ll have some free time to experience Juliet’s balcony – where

Shakespeare’s Juliet is said to have been wooed by Romeo - and the Verona Arena. Arriving in Venice this afternoon, you'll have the

option for the perfect introduction to this magical destination, with an optional private evening boat cruise of the Grand Canal - a

perspective of Venice you will never forget!

Experiences

Orientation tour of Venice: your tour leader will take you into the heart of this unique floating city for an orientation to help you

explore and see St. Mark’s Square, St. Mark’s Basilica, St. Mark’s Museum, Campanile, Doge’s Palace, Rialto Market and Scuola Grande

di San Rocco.

Optional Excursions

Venice by night: € 30


DAY 8: Venice: Free Day

Today you have a full free day to explore Venice, but first your tour leader will give you an orientation tour of the canals and

alleyways, pointing out the main sights to help you plan the rest of your day. You can get a classic Venetian view from the famous

Rialto Bridge, board a gondola and see Venice from the water, try Venetian cuisine, visit museums and art galleries and simply get the

full Venetian experience! Alternatively you can choose to relax and soak up the sun on the sandy beaches at Jesolo or Lido. There’s

also St Marks Square, The Bridge of Sighs and the Doge’s Palace to see – plus any number of culinary delights to sample, too!

Optional Excursions

Venice Gondola Ride: € 20

Included Meals


Accommodation

Hotel Residence Elite

Hotel Ambasciatori & Delfino

Included Meals


Accommodation





DAY 9: Venice: Free Day

Enjoy another free day to explore Venice and cover everything you couldn’t fit in yesterday! Your tour leader can organise a trip

further out into the lagoon to visit Murano and Burano. These islands are famous for their glass-blowing and lace-making crafts

respectively, and rows of beautiful multi-coloured houses. To learn more about the gondola’s visit Squero di San Trovaso, the oldest

boatyard in Venice where gondolas are built and repaired. This evening is your last night together with your tour leader and fellow

travellers, so we’ll enjoy a special farewell dinner before we part ways tomorrow morning.

Optional Excursions

Murano, Burano & Venetian lagoon: € 45


DAY 10: End of tour

Included Meals


Accommodation




After breakfast, we say goodbye to our travel companions and depart for home. We hope you have enjoyed your 10 day Italian tour.

Arrivederci, Italia!

Experiences

The tour ends after breakfast. Make sure you have exchanged contact details with your new-found travel friends, and share your

amazing tour memories with us online using the hashtags #ExpatExplore and #BetterTogether.

Included Meals


itinerary for italy at leisure • expat explore end point · leather demo in a local shop: step...

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