10-Nights Lake Como, Venice, Florence & Rome - Land Journey from $9,490

Tauck

OFFER ID 1553113

Lake Como, Venice, Florence & Rome

When you think of Italy... you evoke thoughts of leisurely cruises on picturesque lakes lined with villas against the backdrop of the Italian Alps... the Byzantine grandeur of San Marco and serenades aboard gondolas in the age-old canals of Venice... Florentine art and architecture that sing of life in the Renaissance, and a stroll in the garden where opera was born... a glass of Chianti in a sidewalk café in hilltop Siena... the haunting ruins of Imperial Rome... hand-painted frescoes whose eloquence is most poignantly experienced in the Sistine Chapel... From Michelangelo's masterpieces to the glories of Ancient Rome, the art and drama of the ages inspire our journeys in Italy including Lake Como, Venice, Florence, Siena and Rome. View the inspiring treasures of the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel and view the original works of the masters at the Uffizi Gallery and Galleria dell'Accademia in Florence. In Venice, stay at a top award-winning hotel on a private island in the Venetian Lagoon, explore St. Mark's Basilica and Square and take a gondola ride on the canals, complete with a serenade. Visit the medieval town of Siena in the Tuscan countryside. Take a high-speed train to Florence. And of course, you'll also have ample time to pursue what interests you most in Venice, Florence, and Rome...

10 nights from $9,490 per person

Itinerary

Tauck World Discovery: Lake Como, Venice, Florence & Rome

Day 1 Bellagio, Italy
Arrive Milan and on to Menaggio on Lake Como

Tour begins: 6:30 PM, Grand Hotel Victoria Concept & Spa. A transfer is included from Milan's Malpensa Airport to Grand Hotel Victoria Concept & Spa in Menaggio, on Lake Como. Upon arrival, travel through the beautiful northern Italian countryside from Milan to your 5* 19th-century grand hotel in beautiful Menaggio on the shores of bejeweled Lake Como. Meet your fellow traveling companions at a welcome cocktail reception and dinner at your hotel.

Meals: D

Day 2 Bellagio, Italy
A Villa on fashionable Lake Como

Your travels take you by private boat to visit Villa del Balbianello; set on a wooded peninsula that juts into the lake, it was built in the late 18th century on the site of a Franciscan monastery. Noted for its exquisite landscaping and sculpture, the villa features spectacular terraced gardens ablaze with magnolias, cypresses, azaleas and more against dramatic views of the distant Alps and the famous shore of Lake Como, and appeared as a location in the James Bond film Casino Royale and in Star Wars II: Attack of the Clones. Cruise to the lovely village of Bellagio for lunch, and some free time to explore, before returning to Menaggio late afternoon; spend the evening as you wish.

Meals: B, L

Day 3 Venice, Italy
From Lake Como to Venice

En route to Venice, stop in the Veneto region for a lunch at a wine relais in the countryside, paired with a wine pairing from the Veneto region. Continue on to Venice, uniquely designed along an intricate system of canals within a lagoon. A private boat transfer on the iconic canals brings you to the heart of Venice; enjoy an iconic Venetian experience - a gondola cruise through the city's historic canals as local musicians serenade you with traditional Italian songs. Transfer by private boat to your home for the next two nights in Venice - Splendid Venice; this evening, join us for a Tauck Exclusive - an after-hours visit to St. Mark's Basilica, one of Europe's architectural masterpieces with its exquisite mosaics and detailed carvings.

Meals: B, L, D

Day 4 Venice, Italy
St. Mark's & Venice as you please

Start the day in Venice with guided visits to Piazza San Marco (St. Mark's Square) and the Doge's Palace, an extraordinary palace that was once the seat of Venetian government. Spend the rest of the day and evening experiencing more of Venice at your leisure - perhaps exploring the small islands of the Venetian Lagoon; viewing one of the world's largest collections of Venetian art at the Galleria dell'Accademia; or visiting the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, a head-turning display of modern art housed in Guggenheim's former home on the Grand Canal, the 18th-century Palazzo Venier dei Leoni; your Tauck Director can offer recommendations.

Meals: B

Day 5 Florence, Italy
High-speed rail to Florence

Travel Italy by high-speed rail today from Venice to Florence, the birthplace of the Renaissance. Get an introduction to the city's architectural landmarks and great artists from a local art historian; view Lorenzo Ghiberti's bronze doors with detailed panels at the Baptistry, part of the Duomo of Santa Maria del Fiori complex. Your art lecture is a fitting prelude to today's visit to Galleria dell'Accademia, Europe's oldest art school and home to many of the world's most beloved paintings and sculpture, including Michelangelo's famed statue of David. Later, a walking tour explores the historical center of Florence, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Have dinner this evening at a Florentine osteria, known for Tuscan specialties.

Meals: B, L, D

Day 6 Florence, Italy
The Uffizi & time at leisure in Florence

The day is free to explore Florence as you please; perhaps you may want to visit the Pitti Palace, the Medici Chapels or stroll across the Ponte Vecchio to the lovely Boboli Gardens. Tonight, we invite you to join us for a Tauck Exclusive - an after-hours visit to Florence's extraordinary Uffizi Gallery, Italy's largest art museum and one of the first art galleries in the world (subject to availability and day of the tour may vary), where you'll gaze at some of the world's greatest art masterpieces on a guided tour with a local expert. You'll be introduced to masterpiece works by Botticelli, Michelangelo, Raphael, Lippi, Leonardo da Vinci, and many more Renaissance masters; you have time to study, and contemplate, without the day crowds.

Meals: B

Day 7 Siena, Italy
Through Tuscany & Umbria via medieval Siena

Travel Italy through lush Tuscan landscapes this morning, featuring olive groves, cypress trees, and vineyards, including the region that produces Chianti wine. Stop in the medieval hill town of Siena, and wander through its narrow centuries-old streets. See the Piazza del Campo where the Palio bareback horse race is held, and visit the Duomo, one of Italy's great cathedrals, with scenes inlaid in the marble floors and sculpture by Michelangelo. Travel on to the beautiful Val D'Orcia for a two night stay in the most beautiful part of Tuscany. Dinner is at leisure in your hotel.

Meals: B, D

Day 8 Rome, Italy
Wine tasting in Val D'Orcia

Enjoy a tour and wine tasting at a local vineyard in Val D'Orcia, a UNESCO Heritage Site, where you'll have the opportunity to immerse in the production process, from the grape to the bottle to the glass, amidst picturesque views. The remainder of the day is free.

Meals: B

Day 9 Rome, Italy
Journey to Rome

Journey to Rome this morning for a two-night stay in the heart of the city; upon arrival, have lunch at a local restaurant. The remainder of the day is free to explore Rome as you please - during your stay, you'll have a guided visit to the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel (subject to availability, day and time of the visit may vary).

Meals: B, L

Day 10 Rome, Italy
The treasures of Imperial Rome

Get an insider's view of Imperial Rome from a local guide on a city sightseeing tour - view iconic can't-miss sights. Spend some more time this afternoon exploring the "Eternal City" as you wish prior to this evening's farewell cocktail party and dinner at your hotel in Rome - a fitting finale to your extraordinary adventure to three of Italy's greatest cities.

Meals: B, D

Day 11 Rome, Italy
Arrivederci, Roma

Tour ends: Rome. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from The St. Regis Rome to Leonardo da Vinci Airport in Fiumicino; allow 3 hours for check-in.

Meals: B

Featured Destinations

Rome

Sprawled across seven legendary hills, romantic and beautiful Rome was one
of the great centers of the ancient world. Although its beginning is shrouded
in legend and its development is full of intrigue and struggle, Rome has always
been and remains the Eternal City.

Rome enjoyed its greatest splendor during the 1st and 2nd centuries when art
flourished, monumental works of architecture were erected, and the mighty Roman
legions swept outward, conquering all of Italy. These victorious armies then
swept across the Mediterranean and beyond to conquer most of the known world.
With Rome's establishment as capital of the western world, a new ascent to glory
began.

Today's Rome, with its splendid churches, ancient monuments and palaces, spacious
parks, tree-lined boulevards, fountains, outdoor cafes and elegant shops, is
one of the world’s most attractive and exciting cities. Among the most famous
monuments is the Colosseum. As you walk its cool, dark passageways, imagine
the voices that once filled the arena as 50,000 spectators watched combats between
muscled gladiators and ferocious animals.

Stop to see the remains of the Forum, once the city's political and commercial
center. In later times, Rome's squares were enhanced with such imposing structures
as the Vittorio Emanuele Monument and grandiose fountains like the Fontana di
Trevi. Join the millions who stand in awe of Christendom’s most magnificent
church and admire the timeless masterpieces of Michelangelo's frescoes in the
Sistine Chapel.

Rome jars the senses and captures the soul. Grasp all you can during the short,
precious time you have available in the Eternal City. With so much to see and
do, a day or two will only allow you a sampling of the city's marvelous treasures.

Caution: As in many big cities and tourist destinations purse snatching
and pickpocketing is common. Valuable jewelry and excess cash are best left
in a safety deposit box in your hotel.

Shopping For most visitors shopping for beautiful Italian leather articles,
designer shoes, fashions for men and women, linens, knitwear, silk scarves and
ties is a favorite pastime. Except for tourist-oriented shops, the majority
of stores are closed on Sundays. Some of the department stores, such as Rinascente,
open in the late afternoon on Sundays.

Cuisine Rome's choice of restaurants is mindboggling as is the variety
of cuisine. Whether your meal is at a top-rated restaurant or a rustic trattoria,
you can be sure that you will enjoy your food, especially when accompanied by
wines from the hill towns surrounding Rome.

Other Sights Rome's attractions are endless, and depending on how much
time you have at your disposal a careful selection has to be made about what
to see. Be aware of horrendous traffic conditions and major construction work
all around the city in preparation of Jubilee 2000, the Holy Year. Some of the
sights not to be missed:

Piazza Venezia - This busy square is easily recognized by its imposing Vittorio
Emanuele II Monument. The white marble structure was inaugurated in 1911 as
a symbol of Italy’s unification.

The Forum - Once the civic heart of ancient Rome, today the remains include
a series of ruins, marble fragments, isolated columns and some worn arches.

Colosseum - No visit to Rome is complete without a stop at this awe-inspiring
theater, which is among the world’s most celebrated buildings. Here ancient
Rome flocked to see gladiatorial contests and numerous other spectacles.

Trevi Fountain - Take a stroll to Rome's famous fountain. A spectacular fantasy
of mythical sea creatures and cascades of splashing water, the fountain is one
of the city's foremost attractions. Legend has it that visitors must toss a
coin into the fountain to ensure their return to Rome.

St. Peter's Square - Part of Vatican City, this square created by Bernini
is considered one of the loveliest squares in the world. Twin Doric colonnades
topped with statues of various saints and martyrs flank either side of the square.
In the center stands an 84-foot obelisk, brought from Egypt in 37 A.D.

St. Peter's Basilica - At the head of the square stands Christendom's most
magnificent church, which was begun in 1452 on the site where St. Peter was
buried. Throughout the following 200 years, such Renaissance masters as Bramante,
Michelangelo, Raphael and Bernini worked on its design and created an unparalleled
masterpiece. Of special note are Michelangelo's Pieta and the bronze canopy
over the high altar by Bernini. The immense dome was designed by Michelangelo.

Vatican Museum - To see this museum's immense collection would take days.
As you enter, there are special posters that plot a choice of four color-coded
itineraries. They are repeated throughout the museum and are easy to follow.
It is a good idea to pickup a leaflet at the main entrance and concentrate on
exhibits of major interest. Of course, the Sistine Chapel is a must. Most likely
you may have to wait in line to enter.

Siena

Florence

Venice

With a great historic past and incomparable art treasures, Venice is renowned as one of the world’s great cities. Its 118 islands are separated by more than 150 canals and spanned by 400 bridges. During Venice's artistic golden age many magnificent structures were erected to create world-famous masterpieces. One of the best sightseeing routes is along Grand Canal, with many palaces lining the famous waterway. St. Mark’s Square offers access to some of Venice’s most famed attractions - St. Mark’s Basilica and Doge’s Palace. From Piazza San Marco, a maze of narrow streets are lined with shops, cafés and restaurants. A popular pastime is sitting at an outdoor café facing the square while people-watching and letting the whole marvelous scenario unfold. Venice’s Murano, Burano and Torcello Islands comprise an area famous as home of Venice’s glass-blowing industry and known for their charm, skilled lace-making and medieval monuments. Relax on a gondola ride, see art treasures in museums, churches and palaces, and have a sumptuous meal - all in this incomparable city.

Excursions

Venice: Splendours of Venice Walking Tour - 4 hours

Venice: Venice for Art Lovers Walking Tour - 4 hours

Venice: The Roman City of Verona - 7 hours

Venice: Lagoon Islands - 7 hours

The story of Murano and Burano

The Canal Grande cruise followed by a walking tour of Venice

Bellagio

The lake of Como, or better lake Lario, is of glacial origin and occupies the cavity cut out by the glacier of the Adda that, in the quaternarian époque extended over the two southern branches of the lake before coming out in the Brianza leaving there morenic hills and other small lakes. Its passage is marked by erratic boulders which are frequently found especially on the central promontory of the lake.It is the third largest subalpine lake but the deepest of all of them having a maximum depth of 410 metres. Its form of an overturned “Y” with two branches of Como and Lecco and with upper basin of Colico gives it its perimeter of 170 Km. The peninsula of Bellagio extends with the town and its suburbs, on the banks, the false plain and on the hills which precede the northern extremity of the Larian promontory. For its position it has stupendous views of a large part of the lake with its mountains. Due to its excellent walks and its 800 beds for tourists Bellagio is one of the most famous resorts on the lake of Como ( Lario). About 150,000 visitors per year come to Bellagio to lose themselves in the characteristic little steep streets which house many shops or in the romantic gardens of Villa Melzi or in those of Villa Serbelloni. The particular fascination of Bellagio conquered poets and artists ever since the Renaissance and ever since the nineteenth century a great number of well known foreign visitors have visited it from Shelley to Longfellow and from Stendhal to Flaubert and Liszt. In ancient times we have references to paleovenetian and gallo-insubric colonies after which followed the roman conquests in the second century b.C. On the rear of the promontory where the Villa Serbelloni now stands Pliny the Younger had his villa built which was one of the two that he had on Lake Como and was called “Tragoedia”. It was on this site they say that Stilicone, when he defeated the Visigoths at Bellagio, built a fortress given its dominating strategic position. The vegetation is of Mediterranean, alpine and subalpine variety. On the banks we find cypresses and pines, on the sunbathed slopes vines and olive trees and on the mountainside chestnut trees, beeches, walnut trees and conifers. The calendar of flowering includes : narcissus and lily of the valley in March, the highly coloured azaleas, rhododendrons and camellias in April and May whereas roses. oleanders and hydrangeas decorate Bellagio from June to September. Notable also the wonderful range of autumn colours in the gardens and parks of Bellagio starting in September and October. The climate. The temperate and moderate climate favours the vigorous and varied growth of vegetation. The mean winter temperature does not fall below 6-7° C. whereas in summer the level is between 25-30° C. The summer temperature is mitigated by the “breva,”, a light breeze characteristic of the Lake of Como.

Vacation Details

Valid Date Ranges

04/21/2025 - 05/01/2025

from $9,490 per person

04/28/2025 - 05/08/2025

from $11,990 per person

05/05/2025 - 05/15/2025

from $12,590 per person

05/10/2025 - 05/20/2025

from $10,990 per person

05/12/2025 - 05/22/2025

from $12,590 per person

05/24/2025 - 06/03/2025

from $12,590 per person

05/26/2025 - 06/05/2025

from $12,590 per person

06/07/2025 - 06/17/2025

from $12,590 per person

06/09/2025 - 06/19/2025

from $10,990 per person

06/16/2025 - 06/26/2025

from $12,590 per person

06/30/2025 - 07/10/2025

from $10,490 per person

07/05/2025 - 07/15/2025

from $10,890 per person

09/01/2025 - 09/11/2025

from $10,990 per person

09/06/2025 - 09/16/2025

from $12,590 per person

09/08/2025 - 09/18/2025

from $12,590 per person

09/13/2025 - 09/23/2025

from $10,990 per person

09/20/2025 - 09/30/2025

from $12,590 per person

09/27/2025 - 10/07/2025

from $12,590 per person

09/29/2025 - 10/09/2025

from $12,590 per person

10/04/2025 - 10/14/2025

from $10,990 per person

10/11/2025 - 10/21/2025

from $12,590 per person

10/18/2025 - 10/28/2025

from $12,590 per person

10/20/2025 - 10/30/2025

from $12,590 per person

* This departure has been designated a guaranteed departure by the operator, meaning that the minimum number of guests has been met, although still subject to weather and other conditions.

Prices Start At

from $9,490 per person

Length

10 Nights

Air City

Call for airfares from your city.

Vacation Rating

Deluxe
Fine dining, on-site bars or lounges and room service with extended hours are characteristic of deluxe establishments. Guest services usually include valet parking, concierge services, baggage assistance and laundry services. Other on-site facilities often include shops and boutiques, full service spas, full fitness facilities with pools and tennis courts. Business amenities may include available up-to-date technology and support staffs available for services. Attention to detail is apparent in the guestrooms which typically have stylish furnishings, quality bedding and bath products and often provide an evening turn down service.

Remarks

Prices are per person, based on double occupancy, and subject to availability and change without notice. Prices reflect land only accommodations, airfare is additional. Blackout dates/seasonal supplements may apply. Itinerary and map subject to change. Offer subject to availability and change without notice. Some restrictions may apply.

All fares are quoted in US Dollars.

OFFER ID

1553113

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Cruise and Travel by Donna

(571) 377-0212