Overview
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From Paris, drive past Fontainebleau Forest, the châteaux, and vineyards of Burgundy to arrive in picturesque Lucerne. Be impressed by acclaimed Danish sculptor Thorvaldsen’s Lion Monument, honoring fallen Swiss Guards during the French Revolution. Cross the Chapel Bridge to the Jesuit Church with time to spare to shop for some chocolate and Swiss Knives. On your way to Italy, take in the thrilling views from the St. Gotthard highway through the Swiss Alps to Lugano. In Venice, arrive at St. Mark’s Square by private boat, and take a guided walking tour to see the Byzantine Basilica, Doges’ Palace, Bridge of Sighs, and an authentic Italian glassblowing artisan at work. In Florence, see Michelangelo’s marble masterpiece, David, along with numerous sculptures in Signoria Square.
Continue on to Rome and visit the Colosseum to imagine the spectacle of gladiator games, and the Roman Forum, the heart of ancient Rome. Join an exclusive visit to the centuries-old Papal Palace and Barberini Gardens at Castel Gandolfo. Visit the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel, and see Michelangelo’s ceiling paintings and The Last Judgment. Also visit St. Peter’s Square and Basilica to see the artist’s magnificent La Pietà. Sculpted in Carrara marble, this Renaissance masterpiece depicting Christ in his Mother’s lap is the only piece Michelangelo signed. End your journey throughout Europe with a fabulous dinner at a local restaurant.
Due to government travel restrictions in the Lombardy and Veneto regions of Italy, this vacation will have a modified itinerary temporarily to ensure its operation is smooth and safe. For details on any adjustments, please refer to the Travel Update & Policy page found on the home page.
Highlights
Welcome dinner at a local restaurant; guided sightseeing, enjoy a Seine cruise
LUCERNE
Walking tour, admire the Lion Monument and Chapel Bridge
LUGANO Stop in the lakeside town
VENICE ISLAND
Private boat ride; guided walking tour, visit St. Mark Square and Basilica, Doges’ Palace and the Bridge of Sighs, enjoy a glassblower demonstration
FLORENCEGuided walking tour, visit Michelangelo’s David and Signoria Square
ROMEGuided sightseeing, visit the Colosseum and Roman Forum, St. Peter’s Square and Basilica, the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel; farewell dinner at a local restaurant
CASTEL GANDOLFO
[LF] Guided visit of the Papal Palace and the Barberini Gardens
2020 Tour itinerary
Inside visits and special features are shown in UPPERCASE in the tour description, including admission charges where applicable.
Total meals included:
- 9 breakfasts, 3 dinners
ARRIVE IN PARIS, FRANCE
Day1
Welcome to Paris! At 6 pm, meet your Tour Director and traveling companions and leave the hotel for a welcome dinner at one of Paris’ lively restaurants.
Meals included:
- Dinner
PARIS
Day2
Morning guided sightseeing of the world capital of chic and style features the Opéra, Arc de Triomphe, Champs-Elysées, and a relaxing CRUISE on the River Seine. An optional excursion is available to the magnificent Louvre Museum with the famous Mona Lisa. Tonight, dinner and show at the world-famous Moulin Rouge may just be the ticket!
Meals included:
- Breakfast
PARIS—LUCERNE, SWITZERLAND
Day3
Leave Paris, drive past Fontainebleau Forest, and enjoy views of châteaux and the Burgundy vineyards on your way to the Swiss Alps and to picturesque Lucerne.
Meals included:
- Breakfast
- Dinner
LUCERNE
Day4
During your walking tour, admire Thorwaldsen’s impressive LION MONUMENT, dedicated to the fallen Swiss Guards who protected the Royal House of France during the French Revolution, and cross the CHAPEL BRIDGE to the Jesuit Church. Afternoon and evening are at leisure.
Meals included:
- Breakfast
LUCERNE—LUGANO—VENICE ISLAND, ITALY
Day5
Have your cameras ready for thrilling views along the St. Gotthard highway, which leads straight through the Swiss Alps to the Swiss-Italian Lake District. Stop in Lugano, beautifully situated at the lake, then, cross the Italian border and drive through the flat Po area to the Adriatic coast. Arrive in Venice, a magnet for romantics and art lovers from all over the globe. This evening you may wish to join an optional outing to try local specialties at one of Venice’s excellent restaurants.
Meals included:
- Breakfast
VENICE ISLAND
Day6
Enter in style by PRIVATE BOAT to ST. MARK’S SQUARE. Meet your Local Guide for a walking tour including visits to the Byzantine-style BASILICA, lavish DOGES’ PALACE and the BRIDGE OF SIGHS. Watch a skilled GLASSBLOWER fashion delicate objects in an age-old traditional manner. Balance of the day is at leisure.
Meals included:
- Breakfast
VENICE ISLAND—FLORENCE
Day7
Drive across the Apennine Hills to Florence, birthplace of the Renaissance. Your guided walking tour features visits to the ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS to see Michelangelo’s David and sculpture-studded SIGNORIA SQUARE. Time to shop for leather and gold for which the city is famous. This evening, an optional dinner outing is available.
Meals included:
- Breakfast
FLORENCE—ROME
Day8
Arrive in the “Eternal City,” Rome. Guided sightseeing features visits to the amazing COLOSSEUM, where gladiators once fought, and the ROMAN FORUM, where Roman legions marched in triumph.
Meals included:
- Breakfast
ROME
Day9
Look forward to a unique experience and enjoy LF a guided visit of the impressive PAPAL PALACE in Castel Gandolfo, former summer residence of the popes and, since October 2016, a museum open to the public. Also visit the magnificent BARBERINI GARDENS, where ruins of the residence of Roman Emperor Domitian are still visible. Then, return to Rome, and visit with a Local Guide the VATICAN MUSEUMS and SISTINE CHAPEL with Michelangelo’s ceiling paintings and The Last Judgment. Visit monumental ST. PETER’S SQUARE and the BASILICA to admire Michelangelo’s Pietà. This evening, a farewell dinner awaits you at one of Rome’s lively restaurants.
Meals included:
- Breakfast
- Dinner
ROME
Day10
Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.
Meals included:
- Breakfast
Things to note
- Hotels listed may occasionally be substituted with alternative hotels of equivalent standard.
Hotels
It may occasionally be necessary to use alternative hotels of a similar standard to those shown.
Le Meridien Etoile
Superior First-Class
Located just a short distance away from the Champs Elysees and the Arc de Triomphe, this elegant 1025-room hotel has a captivating mid-century modern design with boutique amenities reflective of the lively surroundings. Artfully appointed accommodation includes modern technology such as complimentary Wi-Fi and air conditioning, luxurious bath products and the Le Méridien Signature Bed. The legendary Paris Jazz Club is the place to enjoy snacks and hand crafted cocktails with a backdrop of live music on weekends, the welcoming restaurant serves a creative international menu composed of fresh seasonal produce and there is also a 24 hour fitness center on-site.
Location
81 Bd Gouvion St Cyr, Paris Cedex 17, France
Hotel Facilities
- Free WiFi
- Bar/Lounge
- Business Center
- Restaurant On-Site
- Laundry Available
- Ice Machine
- Fitness Room
- Parking/Valet
- Concierge desk
- Luggage Storage
- Currency Exchange
- Elevator
Room Facilities
- Non-smoking Rooms
- Hair Dryer
- Cable/Satellite
- Alarm Clock
- Air Conditioning
- Voicemail
- Complimentary Newspaper
- Air Conditioning (Seasonal)
- In-Room Safe
- Iron/Ironing Board
- Disabled Access / Rooms
- Wake-Up Calls
- Complimentary Toiletries
- Internet Access
- Climate Control
- Window Opens
- Phone
- Desk
- Room Service
- Television
Astoria
First-Class
Ideally located in the heart of Lucerne, surrounded by mountains, close to its lake boasting crystal clear waters, the historic old town, and famous Chapel Bridge. All 252 contemporary rooms have a minibar and Wi-Fi. There's a plush cocktail lounge, a stylish café, and a rooftop bar affording city views. Other facilities include a full equipped modern gym.
Location
Pilatusstrasse 29, Lucerne, Switzerland
Hotel Facilities
- Elevator
- Parking/Valet
- Currency Exchange
- Business Center
- Restaurant On-Site
- Luggage Storage
- Fitness Room
- Concierge desk
- Ice Machine
- Gift Shop
- Laundry Available
- Bar/Lounge
- Free WiFi
Room Facilities
- Non-smoking Rooms
- Hair Dryer
- Alarm Clock
- Mini-bar
- Television
- Air Conditioning
- Cable/Satellite
- Phone
- In-Room Safe
- Internet Access
Bellini
First-Class
Hotel B4 Bellini is situated in an elegant 18th-century patrician palazzo in the Cannareggio quarter, transformed into a hotel at the turn of the last century. Inside, the luxurious splendour of the 18th and 19th centuries lives on in the ancient marbles and magnificent Murano glass chandeliers, all set against rich period decor. The restaurant offers local specialties served in a dining room illuminated by splendidly decorated windows, guests can also relax comfortably and sip a cocktail in the enclosed garden. Free Wi-Fi internet access is available in all guestrooms and public areas of the hotel.
Location
Lista Di Spagna 116/A, Venezia, Italy
Hotel Facilities
- Concierge desk
- Free WiFi
- Luggage Storage
- Bar/Lounge
- Elevator
Room Facilities
- Non-smoking Rooms
- Room Service
- In-Room Safe
- Window Opens
- Climate Control
- Hair Dryer
- Television
- Phone
- Internet Access
- Alarm Clock
- Wake-Up Calls
- Complimentary Toiletries
- Air Conditioning (Seasonal)
- Mini-bar
- Desk
Carlton on the Grand Canal
First-Class
A plush traditional Venetian style hotel set in a majestic four story building with refined interiors such as Murano glass wall lamps and gilt-edged furniture. Perfectly placed on the Grand Canal, with a vaporetto stop right outside and close to the main train station, this property offers great transportation access with the Rialto Bridge close by. Free Wi-Fi access is available throughout the property which has an elegant fine-dining restaurant, a lobby bar, and a lovely rooftop terrace where drinks are served with views of the spired city skyline as a backdrop. 145 air-conditioned classically styled guestrooms offer coffee/tea-making facilities.
Location
Santa Croce, 578, Venezia, Italy
Hotel Facilities
- Bar/Lounge
- Laundry Available
- Restaurant On-Site
- Currency Exchange
- Luggage Storage
- Elevator
Room Facilities
- Mini-bar
- Television
- Internet Access
- Complimentary Toiletries
- Pay Movies
- Phone
- In-Room Safe
- Air Conditioning
- Climate Control
- Desk
- Hair Dryer
- Non-smoking Rooms
- Room Service
- Cable/Satellite
Roma
First-Class
Housed in a stately 18th-century building overlooking Piazza Santa Maria Novella, this 52-room romantic hotel has a cozy atmosphere with classic Florentine design, including beautiful stained glass windows from the Art Nouveau period. A generous breakfast buffet is served each morning in the informal breakfast room and there is an elegant bar serving cocktails and other drinks in a classically appointed room with marble floors and frescoed walls and ceilings. Free Wi-Fi access is available in all public areas and guestrooms.
Location
Piazza Santa Maria Novella 8, Florence, Italy
Hotel Facilities
- Free WiFi
- Elevator
- Bar/Lounge
- Currency Exchange
- Laundry Available
- Luggage Storage
Room Facilities
- Air Conditioning
- Wake-Up Calls
- Window Opens
- Phone
- Non-smoking Rooms
- Smoking Rooms
- Complimentary Toiletries
- Climate Control
- Hair Dryer
- Cable/Satellite
- Air Conditioning (Seasonal)
- Room Service
- Mini-bar
- In-Room Safe
- Coffee Maker
- Desk
- Television
- Internet Access
Hotel Cellai
First-Class
Located in the historic heart of Florence, this upscale 55-room boutique property is housed in a restored 19th-century townhouse with elegant parlors, vaulted wooden ceilings and original Tuscan artwork. There is a bar in the antique library that works on an honor-system, a charming rooftop garden with city views and Free Wi-Fi internet access is available throughout. Breakfast is served in a lavish mirrored room on a long table decked out with silver candelabras and complimentary tea, coffee and cake are served between 5 and 7 pm daily.
Location
Via 27 Aprile, 14, 52r, Florence, Italy
Hotel Facilities
- Bar/Lounge
- Fitness Room
- Business Center
- Free WiFi
- Elevator
- Concierge desk
- Laundry Available
- Luggage Storage
Room Facilities
- Disabled Access / Rooms
- Mini-bar
- Room Service
- Window Opens
- Hair Dryer
- Complimentary Toiletries
- Air Conditioning
- Climate Control
- Television
- Cable/Satellite
- In-Room Safe
- Internet Access
- Air Conditioning (Seasonal)
- Non-smoking Rooms
- Wake-Up Calls
- Desk
- Complimentary Newspaper
- Phone
Romanico Palace
First-Class
Set in a 19th-century building with a lavish baroque designed interior, this luxurious 121-room hotel boasts a roof top restaurant and terrace offering grand views of Rome's skyline. There is an American-style bar in the extravagantly decorated lobby and a Roman inspired wellness area and gym. Free WIFI internet access is available in all guestrooms and public areas.
Location
Via Boncompagni 37, Roma, Italy
Hotel Facilities
- Elevator
- Fitness Room
- Restaurant On-Site
- Luggage Storage
- Currency Exchange
- Bar/Lounge
- Free WiFi
- Concierge desk
- Laundry Available
- Business Center
Room Facilities
- Non-smoking Rooms
- Disabled Access / Rooms
- Mini-bar
- Internet Access
- Complimentary Toiletries
- Complimentary Newspaper
- In-Room Safe
- Wake-Up Calls
- Room Service
- Hair Dryer
- Window Opens
- Climate Control
- Desk
- Television
- Phone
- Air Conditioning
- Cable/Satellite
