VENICE, FLORENCE & ROME - Northbound - (12 days) - EU-2024


DAY: 1 ROME
Your trip begins with a regularly scheduled overnight flight to Rome aboard an internationally recognized airline.

DAY: 2 ROME
Welcome to Rome, the Eternal City! A Go Ahead representative greets you at the airport after you clear customs and then escorts you to your hotel. If you have taken our pre-tour extension to Rome, join the rest of your tour today. The rest of the day is free to begin your explorations of Rome. At tonight’s included dinner, meet your fellow travelers. (B in flight, D)

DAY: 3 ROME
Follow in the footsteps of Caesar during your guided sightseeing tour of Rome. Highlights include the Colosseum, where 50,000 spectators cheered their favorite gladiators to victory, and the ruins of the Forum Romanum, from which the caesars ruled their vast empire. This afternoon is free to further your explorations of ancient Rome. Visit the Pantheon, or tour one of Rome’s many important churches. (B)

DAY: 4 ROME
Spend a free day in Rome however you choose. Take in all the art and architecture that greet the eye at every turn—from relics of Caesar’s reign to treasures of the Renaissance. Stroll across the Spanish Steps. See Bernini’s captivating Fountain of the Four Rivers and stop at the legendary Trevi Fountain, into which centuries of visitors have tossed coins to ensure their eventual return to Rome. You might also wish to join an optional excursion to Vatican City, featuring visits to St. Peter’s Basilica and the Sistine Chapel. Opt to end the day at a Dinner with Tenors, an evening of food and live opera music. (B)

$79 USD Dinner with Tenors
End your day with an elegant four-course dinner in the heart of Rome. While you dine, you’ll be entertained by talented singers performing some of opera’s most beloved masterpieces. Don’t miss this festive evening, sure to leave you with wonderful memories of Italian hospitality!

$85 USD Vatican City
This guided tour takes you into the world’s smallest state, Vatican City, and visit St. Peter’s Basilica, the Sistine Chapel and the Vatican Museum.

DAY: 5 ROME
Enjoy another free day in Rome or join a full-day optional excursion to excavated Pompeii, an ancient Roman city buried in volcanic ash in A.D. 79. (B)

$165 USD Pompeii
Discover how Roman citizens lived two thousand years ago, before Mt. Vesuvius erupted in A.D. 79, preserving the town of Pompeii in a flood of volcanic ash. View the excavated ruins of theaters, villas, temples and baths.

DAY: 6 FLORENCE
As you journey to Florence, stop at the ancient Etruscan stronghold of Orvieto. Situated on a pedestal of volcanic rock, the lovely town of Orvieto boasts one of the finest Romanesque cathedrals in the country. Travel to this impressive Gothic city by funicular and take in views of the surrounding Volscian Mountains. Continue on to the timeless city of Florence, birthplace of the Italian language, the Renaissance and opera. Guided sightseeing of Florence introduces you to the city’s Renaissance splendor. Marvel at Brunelleschi’s masterpiece—Florence’s massive pink, white and green Duomo, complemented by Giotto’s Campanile. Then discover the church of Santa Croce, where the tombs of Galileo and Michelangelo as well as the Dante Memorial are displayed. You’ll also see the Palazzo Vecchio, Piazzo San Lorenzo and the Pitti Palace, home of the Medici rivals, and housing work by Raphael and Veronese. Dinner is included tonight. (B, D)

DAY: 7 FLORENCE
During free time in Florence, choose to admire the world’s finest collection of Renaissance art at the Uffizi Gallery. Stroll along the romantic Arno River or visit the Accademia Galleria to view Michelangelo’s early masterpiece, the sublime statue of David, sculpted when the artist was 26 years old. You could also join an optional excursion to San Gimignano and Siena in the Tuscan countryside. You’ll begin in San Gimignano, where you might choose to visit the Palazzo del Popolo or the Citadel. Next, enjoy a guided sightseeing tour of Siena’s glorious scenery and landmarks, including the cathedral and the famed Campo. On your way back to Florence, stop at the Palagio Castle, where you will have the opportunity to sample some of the region’s finest wines. (B)

$105 USD Siena & San Gimignano
Journey through the countryside to the town of San Gimignano, with its unusual skyline of huge, medieval towers. In Siena, admire the city’s marble cathedral and stunningly adorned baptistery, as well as the famous Campo.

DAY: 8 FLORENCE
Enjoy another free day in Florence. Alternatively, join an optional excursion to Pisa, where you’ll see the 12th-century Leaning Tower and visit both the adjacent cathedral and the Baptistery. Tonight, travel to the hilltop town of Fiesole for an optional dinner and spectacular views of Florence. (B)

$59 USD Dinner in Fiesole
Explore Fiesole, a hill town which features panoramic views of Florence. It was also where Leonardo da Vinci experimented with his "flying machine."

$69 USD Pisa
Travel through the Tuscan countryside for a visit to Pisa’s Piazza dei Miracoli (Field of Miracles) where you can view the 12th-century Leaning Tower.

DAY: 9 VENICE
Cross the sprawling plains of Po’ Valley to the Floating City of Venice. Take advantage of free time to begin exploring the city’s streets and canals before this evening’s included dinner. (B, D)

DAY: 10 VENICE
Experience the romance of Venice during this morning’s guided sightseeing tour. Visit the Gothic Doges’ Palace, once the political heart of this powerful maritime empire. Wind through the maze-like streets and view several important churches. Tonight, consider joining an optional romantic gondola ride with music and champagne. (B)

$75 USD Gondola Ride with music
More than 100 waterways crisscross the beautiful city of Venice, “La Serenissima.” Gliding along the canals aboard a black gondola is a timeless and romantic tradition. This memorable excursion includes a scenic gondola ride with music.

DAY: 11 VENICE
You’ll have free time today to explore the city on your own. Find a hidden trattoria and enjoy a delicious Venetian lunch. Stroll across the Rialto Bridge or follow alleyways lined with boutiques of handblown glass treasures. (B)

DAY: 12 VENICE
A Go Ahead representative escorts you to the airport for your return flight home. (B)

Extend Your Stay
Add 2 nights in Rome for only $299 USD (Single room: add $90 USD)
Only in Rome can you sip cappuccino at a café in front of the Pantheon, buy grapes at a centuries-old market, and have an audience with the pope—all in one morning. For a mix of spectacular art, grand history and exuberant street life, no other city comes close.

Destination Information

At a Glance
Venice:
Population: 271,251
Size: 458 square kilometers
Language: Italian
People: Italian; German, French, Slovenes, Albanian-Italians, Greek-Italians
Religion: 85% Roman Catholic; 15% Jewish and Protestant
Time: Greenwich Mean Time plus one hour. When it's noon in New York it’s 6pm in Italy.
Currency: The Euro. Banking hours are generally 9am - 12pm and 2pm - 4pm, Monday to Friday. Some banks are closed on Monday, while others are also open on Saturday.
Electricity: 230 volts, 2 pin plugs are widely used.

Florence:
Population: 400,000
Size: 129 square kilometers
Language: Italian
People: Italian; German, French, Slovenes, Albanian-Italians, Greek-Italians
Religion: 85% Roman Catholic; 15% Jewish and Protestant
Time: Greenwich Mean Time plus one hour. When it's noon in New York it’s 6pm in Italy.
Currency: The Euro. Banking hours are generally 9 am - 12 pm and 2pm - 4pm, Monday to Friday. Some banks are closed on Monday, while others are also open on Saturday.
Electricity: 220-230 volts, 2 pin plugs are widely used.

Rome:
Population: 2.7 million
Size: 1502 square kilometers
Languages: Italian
People: Italian; German, French, Slovenes, Albanian-Italians, Greek-Italians
Religion: Roman Catholic (85%), Jewish, Protestant (5%)
Time: Greenwich Mean Time plus one hour. When it's noon in New York it’s 6pm in Italy.
Currency: The Euro. Regular banking hours are Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 1pm and 3pm to 4pm.
Electricity: 220 volts, 2 pin plugs are widely used.

(*) Price plus government taxes and fees