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Day 1

1:55 PM: Upon arrival into Rome, after completing immigration and customs formalities, collect your baggage and proceed to the Arrivals Hall.  Here you will be met by a Charmed by Spain representative for your private road transfer to Hotel Gran Melia Rome, where you will be staying for four nights. 

5:00 PM: Later, in the afternoon you will be met by your Charmed by Spain guide and you will go on an introductory Vespa Tour to discover the highlights of Rome.  Riding with your driver-guide you ill enjoy the views of the Colosseum from the outside, rude up the Capitoline Hill to enjoy a spectacular view of the Roman Forum, then continue to the Aventine Hill for a breathtaking view of Rome from the Orange Garden. 

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Day 2

Enjoy the morning at your leisure to sleep in, recover from jet lag and do some exploring on your own. 

5:00 PM: Later, in the afternoon you will be collected from your hotel by a Charmed by Spain guide to go on a Food Tour of one of the most colorful neighborhoods of Rome, the Trastevere, and discover the delicious food that Italy offers.  Trastevere is one of Rom’e best kept secrets. With its ivy coated buildings and cobblestone streets, it is Rome’s chic and bohemian neighborhood. This tour will take you to some of Rome’s most beautiful streets, visiting bakeries, delicatessens and wine bars. 

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Day 3

7:00 AM: Your Charmed by Spain driver will collect you from your hotel and then you will meet your guide at 7:15 AM at the entrance of the Vatican for your tour.

7:30 AM: Enjoy super early access to the Sistine chapel to see the chapel almost entirely on your own.  After the visit, you will proceed to  Castelgandolfo, the official Summer residence for the Pope since the XVI century, where you will visit the Apostolic Palace including the Papal private apartments with stunning views over the gracious Albano Lake.  Next you will explore the famous Barberini gardens, a refined example of Italian style landscaped sculpture, on board an eco-vehicle.

Finally, you will reach the Pope’s farm: the “Fattoria delle Ville Pontificie”, a 55-hectare estate including stables, hen houses, orchards, gardens, citrus groves, a vineyard, spices garden, an olive grove and a dairy farm.

The Chef will welcome you with antipasti and prosecco (or soft drinks) before starting a cooking class to learn how to make fresh pasta and Italian dessert.  Lunch will be served with the food they will have prepared and local wines.

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Day 4

9:30 AM: Your Charmed by Spain guide will collect you from your hotel for a Private Full Day Tour.

Travel back in time to live the past grandeur of the Roman Empire. Get to know some of the most famous and illustrious citizens, such as Julius Caesar, Emperors Augustus and Nero as well as the Flavian Emperors who built the Colosseum. Your guide will unveil for you the secrets of the Roman Forum, where Julius Caesar was cremated, where Mark Antony made his famous speech and the vestal virgins kept alive the fire for the goddess Vesta in her temple, this fascinating visit will continue inside the Colosseum to hear the history and tales of Gladiators and animals, battles and executions- to continue through Ancient Rome in front of the Arch of Constantine, which marks the beginning of the new Christian epoch.

After some free time for lunch, the tour will continue with a visit of the early Christian Rome, where you will have the chance to visit the spooky Bone Chapel, and some of the ancient Catacombs.

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Day 5

9:00 AM: You will be collected by a Charmed by Spain driver for your private transfer to the train station where you will catch your 10:20 AM direct high speed train to Florence. 

11:50 AM: Upon arrival in  Florence, you will have a private transfer to Hotel Portrait Firenze, where you will stay for four nights. 

5:00 PM: You will be met in your hotel lobby by a Charmed by Spain guide for an orientation tour of Florence There will be time to learn about the history of Florence, the rise and fall of the great families, greatest among them was the Medici family who dominated Florence during the centuries. 

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Day 6

Enjoy a Private Florence Food and Museum Tour

9:30 AM: You will be met in the lobby by a Charmed by Spain guide for your walking tour.

Today, it will be time to see the city of Florence under a new light… and what better way than beginning your day with a visit of the Accademia Gallery to admire its masterworks, followed by a visit to the renown Market of St Lorenzo, to sample all the delicious delicacies that Tuscany can offer: cheeses, truffles, olive oil, pastries, cured meat… a feast for the senses! 

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Day 7

Today you will go on a Tuscan Countryside Tour

9:00 AM: You will be collected in the lobby of your hotel.

With your expert Charmed by Spain driver/guide, you will discover astonishing Monteriggioni, a fortress crowned with towers which was known to be impregnable and has indeed survived the centuries, a perfectly preserved jewel characterized by high fortified walls today.  

Then you will drive to a traditional Tuscan farm and learn how to make cheese in an active way, a  fun hands-on experience for all the family! After having prepared your own cheese you’ll sit down and savor a light lunch in the farm’s dining room. 

After lunch, it is time to explore the famous medieval hill town of towers, San Gimignano. 

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Day 8

Day Trip to Cinque Terre 

8:30 AM: You will be collected by a Charmed by Spain driver for your private transfer to the Cinque Terre region.

Upon arrival in Cinque Terre, a private motorboat will be at your disposal to tour the coast and discover the different villages.

In the evening, return to Florence. 

 

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Day 9

10:00 AM: You will be picked up from your hotel and transferred to the train station for your 11:03 AM direct high speed train to Verona. 

12:37 PM: On arrival, you will be transferred to Due Torri Hotel, where you will be staying for one night. 

4:00 PM: In the afternoon you will discover the city of Verona with an expert guide, including the “Romeo and Giulietta” highlights: the house of Juliet and the manor of the Montague’s.

 

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Day 10

At a time to be advised: After breakfast, you will be collected by a Charmed by Spain representative for a private transfer to the train station where you will take the 11:00 AM high speed direct train to Venice. 

12:10 PM: On arrival, you will be transferred by a private water taxi to Hotel Danieli, where you will stay for two nights.

6:30 PM: In the evening, enjoy a private gondola ride that will introduce you to the ambiance of the city.

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Day 11

9:30 AM: You will be collected from your hotel by a Charmed by Spain guide for a Private Tour including a boat trip, maschera masterclass and a bisit with a master glassmaker.

Your trip will end with a flourish, exploring both sides of Venice– the morning will bring  a light and joyful tour of the channels and the lagoon, along with an introduction to the history and legends of La Serenissima when La Republica dominated all the maritime commerce- with a private boat you will revel in the dream of a gilded past.

The afternoon you will learn about the history of the plague. The Black Death originated either in China or Central Asia in the 1330’s, traveling along the Silk Road, and reaching the Black Sea by 1346. From there, it was carried into the Mediterranean (and then throughout Europe) by Genoese merchant ships returning home. Venice, a large commercial emporium was, of course, at high risk of contagion.  The tour will end with a visit to a masque factory, where you will learn about the special clothes and masks that the doctors wore during the plague- and that nowadays are replicated for the famous Venice Carnivals.

As a special exclusive souvenir, you will paint their own personal Venetian Masque!

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Day 12

8:15 AM: After breakfast, you will be collected from your hotel by a Charmed by Spain representative, for your private road transfer to the airport for your departure flight. Return home, taking with you the sights, sounds, and memories of an incredible family vacation!

Included

  • Luxury Trip’s local reps available 24/7 while traveling;
  • Services of local guides and staff;
  • Air/ground transfers as specified;
  • Accommodation taxes, applicable tourism levies and all relevant Value Added Government Sales Tax (GST)
  • All accommodation as specified;
  • Excursions/activities as specified;
  • Luxury Trip’s final documentation.

 

Excluded

  • Meals, drinks, laundry, entrance fees, porterage, tours/excursions and transfers not specified;
  • Any scheduled flights and related taxes not specified;
  • Cancellation, baggage and medical insurance – which is essential;
  • Staff gratuities;
  • Any new gov. taxes, levies, fuel or industry increases which are beyond our control;
  • Any items of a personal nature or anything not specifically stated as included;
  • International airfare.