Number Of Travelers:
4
Travel Duration:
16 days
Reason For Travel:
Mother/Daughter Vacation
Historical pieces of evidence suggest that refugees founded Venice. When Germanic tribes ravaged northern Italy in the 5th century, many mainlanders escaped to this difficult-to-access area on the Adriatic Sea.
Over the centuries, the refugee community grew into the most powerful trading port in the Mediterranean. At its peak, Venice counted 3,000 trade ships and 300 navy vessels. After Napoleon’s fall, it became part of the Austrian Kingdom of Lombardy-Venetia, but after the uprising in 1848, the city reached its independence once again. Shortly after, in 1866, Venice was annexed to the Kingdom of Italy. 1932 saw the opening of the motor and rail bridge between Venice and the mainland, which led this city to come out on top as a tourist destination.
Trip Highlights:
Landmarks
- Rialto Bridge
- St. Mark Basilica
- Doge’s Palace
- Juliet’s Balcony
- Michelangelo’s David
- Uffitsi
- Brunelleschi’s Dome
- Leaning Tower of Pisa
- Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore
- Ponte Vecchio
- Rocca Maggiore
- St. Francis Basilica
- Trevi Fountain, Pantheon
- Colosseum
Excursions
- Gondola Ride
- Glass Blowing Factory
- Wine Tasting, Tour of Vatican Museums
- Sistine Chapel & St. Peter’s Basilica
- Boat Tour to Capri & Blue Grotto
- Pompeii Tour
Key Cities
- Venice
- Murano
- Verona
- Florence
- Assisi
- Pisa
- Rome
- Pompeii
- Positano
- Capri
- Vatican City
It can be a bit hard to navigate around the city, but don’t let that put you off, as this is part of Venice’s charm. Leave the other tourists at St Mark’s Square and the Rialto Bridge and explore the maze-like little neighborhoods instead. The most interesting areas and islands are Cannaregio, San Polo/Santa Croce, Dorsoduro, San Marco, and Castello.
Close to Garda Lake, Verona is a city of rare beauty, set back against the hills to the north and laid out harmoniously along the smooth curves of the Adige river. Founded as a commercial and political town in Roman times, traces of this period remain with the massive Arena, the Roman theatre, the Gavi Arch and the Borsari gate, as well as the archaeological area of Porta Leoni and that of the Scaligeri excavations. Large sections of the ancient walls are still standing and they bear witness – along with the monumental gates and other fortifications – to the strategic importance of the city.
Verona is also full of prestigious cultural institutions, from the ancient Civic Capitolare Library to the university and the oldest Music academy in the world. The Fondazione Arena has been producing stunning opera productions for its 15.000 capacity audience for over a hundred years, and every summer an international crowd packs the open-air theatre to cheer each performance.
Florentia — literally “florid city” — was the name given by the Romans to this settlement founded in the I century A.D. along the Arno river, at the foot of Fiesole, an Etruscan city whose ruins are visible on the hill which dominates the city.
The flowering of Florence in art, culture and international trade began in the 13th century and it reached its peak in the 15th century under the reign of the Medici family, who ruled over the city for more than three centuries.
Everywhere you turn in Florence, you find extraordinary works of art and architecture, which attract almost 8 million tourists every year — from the Palazzo Vecchio to the world-famous Uffizi Gallery to the Cathedral with its magnificent dome and the tower designed by Giotto. Along the river Arno, the Ponte Vecchio with its jewelry shops is a must for all those who pass through the city, as well as the splendid Boboli gardens across the river.
Florence is also an international wine and gastronomic center, Chianti is its most famous local product together with the celebrated Fiorentina steak on the bone.
Set in picturesque northeastern Tuscany, on the banks of the Arno River, Florence is one of the most beautiful and enticing cities in the world. In addition to showcasing iconic masterpieces like Michelangelo’s David, the entire city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that’s packed with extraordinary art, architecture and historic monuments.
The surrounding Tuscany region is famously known for its Chianti wine region, which offers a breathtaking panorama of scenic landscapes and Tuscan towns that have inspired travelers to roam these roads for centuries. Here, you can treat your taste buds to a full-bodied glass of Chianti, or admire the medieval skyline and 13th-century squares and churches of San Gimignano. A trip worth taking is to Siena, where you can climb the Piazza del Campo tower for a stunning view of the city and countryside, or simply stroll the cobblestone streets to get a sense of daily life.
Rising above the banks of the Arno River and considered one of the most significant cities in Tuscany, Pisa is a historic medieval town known for its Renaissance-style architecture, Romanesque and Gothic churches and home to one of the world’s most famous attractions — the Leaning Tower of Pisa
Stroll along the streets of Rome and see first-hand the flow of history from ancient empires to the 20th century. Visit St. Peter’s Basilica, the Colosseum, Piazza Navona and the restored Sistine Chapel ceiling.
Recognized as the most chaotic, passionate and vibrant city in Europe, Naples is a dazzling and mesmerizing feast of food, museums, art galleries and the incomparable archaeological Roman ruins of Pompeii and Herculaneum.
Positioned between the Sorrento peninsula and Salerno, the Amalfi Coast is a 28-mile winding narrow route of
dramatic coastline — home to some of the most beautiful towns, stunning panoramas and breathtaking drives in the world. It’s most famous towns — Amalfi, Island of Capri, Positano, Sorrento and Ravello — have captivated and inspired artists for centuries.
Say Pisa — and you immediately think of the Leaning Tower, one of the most famous monuments in the world. Pisa, however, is much more than just its tower. It is also home to the extraordinary complex of buildings known as the Piazza dei Miracoli (Square of Miracles), with its magnificent cathedral and baptistery. Step away from the tower and you’ll discover the old town with Renaissance palaces, medieval tower-houses, churches in Romanesque and Gothic style, the Botanic Gardens (one of the oldest in Europe, recently restored), and the River Arno, which you can admire by walking through old streets called Lungarni.
Pisa was the birthplace of Gailileo Galilei and is home to the important University of Pisa, founded in 1338, and the Scuola Normale Superiore, opened in 1813. As an Etruscan settlement and a Roman town, Pisa formed part of the Longobardo Kingdom, and then of the Carolingio Empire before becoming part of Italy after 1861. The medieval period coincided with the peak of Pisa’s economic and political power. Pisa was one of the four Italian coastal republics until it was annexed by the Republic of Florence in 1406.
Pisa is the starting point to discover the province, with its unspoilt and well-preserved landscape. Do not miss a visit to San Miniato (50 km), Volterra (65 km), San Gimignano (80 km) and Florence (105 km).
Where should one begin to summarize the history of the Eternal City? A good date might be 21 April 753 BC, when Romulus founded the city after murdering his twin brother Remus. During the following centuries, Rome grew into a powerful empire, peaking during the rule of Marcus Aurelius in 161-180 AD.
Like the ancient city, today’s Rome is built on seven hills: Capitolino, Palatino, Quirinale, Viminale, Esquilino, Celio, and Aventino. The central area is called Campo Marzio, named after the Roman God of war, and was the ancient army’s training grounds. This is where many of the famous sights are located. Other well-known areas are Trastevere, on the other side of the Tiber River, and Monti. Little Pigneto is considered to be the most typical Roman neighborhood.
