Tauck A Week in Venice, Florence & Rome

TAUCK’S YELLOW ROADS – Travel from Florence through the Chianti hills, in the heart of the Chianti Classico region, on a day trip to Badia di Passignano; the hilly landscape, basking in golds and greens, is filled with vineyards and olive groves

TAUCK EXCLUSIVE – After-hours guided visit to the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel, without the crowds; see the treasures of the Vatican unhurried, at your own pace

TAUCK EXCLUSIVE – Special cellar tour and wine-pairing lunch featuring traditional Tuscan cuisine and local wine plus an olive-oil tasting at the osteria of a famed monastery in the Chianti hills

• A lecture by an art historian introducing Renaissance art and a guided tour of the Uffizi Gallery with a local expert
• A guided tour through the must-see sites of Old Rome as seen through the eyes of a local guide
• A gondola ride on the legendary canals of Venice
• Travel First Class by high-speed train Venice to Florence, Florence to Rome
• Airport transfers upon arrival and departure as noted
• 13 meals; service charges, drivers, gratuities to local guides, admission fees, taxes and porterage

Day 1: Arrive Venice

Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Baglioni Hotel Luna. Welcome to Venice! Arrive at the Baglioni Hotel Luna, a five-star luxury hotel in the heart of the city, with its own private jetty. Once an aristocratic palace, its splendidly appointed rooms, marbled floors and frescoed ceilings retain the elegance of a bygone era. You are only steps away from Piazza San Marco and close to the city’s most famous landmarks. Dine tonight at Antico Martini, one of Venice’s top restaurants, in an intimate, picture-perfect setting opposite the La Fenice opera house.

Day 2: St. Mark’s & more in Venice

Eccentric, romantic, and innovative, Venice defies the tides of history. Its famous canals, once a defense against barbarian armies, belie its vulnerability and uniqueness as a timeless city on the edge, teeming with art and restless energy. You can feel that ancient energy on a guided walking tour of St. Mark’s Basilica, adorned with domes, columns and spires, its gilded, soaring walls and ceilings profusely decorated with Byzantine mosaics and relics. Aural art has a history here too: antiphonal music was born in the basilica’s peculiar design and perfect acoustics. No less inspiring is the adjacent Doge’s Palace, a mass of pink marble that seems to float on tiers of Gothic arcades. Once the seat of power in the Venetian empire, the palace is now a museum of art treasures and a work of art itself in every intricate detail. Experience Venice up close and in style on a gondola ride through its maze of water lanes. Dine as you please this evening and explore the city’s vibrant contemporary culture in its fine restaurants, shops and galleries.

Day 3: First Class high-speed train to Florence

Travel to Florence by high-speed rail, First Class. A transfer is included from Santa Maria Novella Train Station to your stylish hotel in the center of the city, just a short walk to Galleria degli Uffizi, Ponte Vecchio and Piazza della Signoria as well as popular streets like Via Tornabuoni. Upon arrival, a private talk by an art historian sets the stage for your exploration of the “birthplace of the Renaissance.” After lunch at the hotel, take a walking tour of Florence’s historic center, followed by a guided visit to the fabulous Galleria dell’Accademia, home to artistic treasures such as Michelangelo’s David. You have a choice of an included dinner at a local restaurant tonight or tomorrow night, with wine included. Buon appetito!

Day 4: Culture & the art of the Uffizi in Florence

The power of art and wealth are alternating currents in the city where the Medici crest still adorns public buildings. Your day begins with a walk through the Piazza della Signoria with a local guide en route to one of the oldest, most famous art galleries in the world. The Uffizi (“the offices”), conceived in 1581 as a massive government facility, was converted ten years later to a public museum which today holds some of the most important artworks of all time. Your guided visit to this remarkable institution, with its 45 exhibition halls and thousands of masterpieces, it is an art immersion unlikely to be experienced anywhere else. The afternoon is yours to explore the city’s contemporary culture. Besides Michelangelo and Botticelli, Florence is also the home of Gucci and Ferragamo, and a wealth of shops and galleries on the edge of modern culture.

Day 5: A taste of Tuscany in the Chianti Classico

Drive outside the city of Florence and through the Tuscan countryside for a Tauck Exclusive at the ancient monastery of Badia de Passignano in the Chianti Classico region, where the monks are known for their love of learning (Galileo taught here in 1587) and their cultivation of grapes. Tour the wine cellar with a sommelier, sample its famous Chiantis, and have lunch at Osteria di Passignano… a celebration of traditional Tuscan cuisine paired with some of the famous wines produced in surrounding vineyards… followed by a little extra-virgin olive oil tasting with the chef. Return to Florence to relax or explore as you please, enjoying dinner on your own.

Day 6: Rome via First Class high-speed rail

A First Class high-speed rail journey whisks you from Florence to Rome and the Regina Baglioni, in the heart of the city. Your five-star hotel on the Via Veneto is an Art Deco masterpiece that has entertained poets and princes, in easy reach of the Villa Borghese gardens, the Trevi Fountain, and the most stylish boutiques and restaurants. Lunch is at a local restaurant before a tour of the Eternal City where monumental art is part of everyday life. Enjoy a guided visit at the Colosseum, the iconic symbol of Rome, and its most breathtaking feat of Roman engineering; its empty shell still resonates with its history of gladiator contests, mock battles, and violent spectacles. From a high vantage point, view the imposing remains of the great Forum, once the hub of the ancient city, where Romans gathered by the thousands for political, judicial, and religious events.

Day 7: St. Peter’s & the Vatican Museums after hours in Rome

With your local guide, you’ll stand in awe of Saint Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City, on a vast piazza surrounded by colonnades. The great dome, designed by Michelangelo, is one of the largest in the world; it houses a soaring ornate cathedral, the tombs of popes since Early Christian times, and galleries of ancient masterpieces, including Michelangelo’s Pieta. After your visit, head back to the hotel for an afternoon at leisure, then return this evening when the crowds are gone for a Tauck Exclusive – an after-hours tour of the Vatican and its museums – unparalleled repositories of relics, archaeological treasures, paintings, sculptures, maps, and tapestries collected over centuries – and the magnificent Sistine Chapel (subject to availability and day of tour may vary). Outside the galleries, Vatican City is illuminated against the night sky – and your visit is one that you won’t soon forget.

Day 8: Journey home

Tour ends: Rome. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from the Regina Hotel Baglioni to Leonardo da Vinci Airport in Fiumicino. Allow 3 hours for check-in.

Baglioni Hotel Luna, Venice

Facing a small canal leading to the Grand Canal, the Baglioni Hotel Luna, housed in a magnificent, aristocratic palace, is very convenient to all that you’ll want to see and do in Venice. Reputed to be the first hotel in Venice, this historic and charming property dates back to the 12th century when, it is said, it hosted the Knights Templar. Ornate public rooms that you’ll encounter when you arrive at the small, private jetty directly at the hotel entrance enchant with Murano chandeliers, fresh flowers, antique furniture and impressive artwork.

Welcoming guest rooms, beautifully appointed with classic French décor, silk fabrics on the walls and dark wood furniture, feature an in-room safe, minibar and en suite marble bathroom with bathrobes, slipper and heated towel bars. The Canova restaurant, winner of the Fogher d’Oro and Gambero Rosso awards, features cuisine drawn from the best of the Venetian culinary tradition using fresh, seasonal products in an intimate setting. Surround yourself with elegance at the Caffè Baglioni, with its views of the canal facing the hotel and the Giardini Reali of Piazza San Marco, after a busy day in Venice. Baglioni Hotel Luna is a member of The Leading Hotels of the World.

Hotel Bernini Palace, Florence

Hotel Bernini Palace in Florence resides in a 15th-century building that was the parliament of the Kingdom of Italy when Florence was the capital; it evokes the magic of Florence during the rule of the Medici family. The historic hotel is in a perfect location, set in the heart of the city behind Piazza della Signoria and the Uffizi Gallery – just minutes from Via Tornabuoni, one of the most famous city streets, as well as Piazza San Firenze, Ponte Vecchio, and Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore.

The splendid ceiling fresco in the hotel’s Parliament Room is intriguing, as are the portraits of the political leaders of the time who met within these walls. The hotel’s decor is a unique blend of old and new; guest room furnishings integrate antiques with modern amenities. Hotel Bernini Palace staff are well-known for their attention to detail and service – the hotel is truly a cozy retreat with a delightfully elegant, yet warm and friendly, ambiance.

Baglioni Hotel Regina, Rome

There is no better location in Rome than the one enjoyed by the Regina Hotel Baglioni on the famous Via Veneto, just a few minutes’ walk from Villa Borghese, the well-known shopping street, Via Condotti, and many of the city’s most popular sights. Spacious guest rooms, decorated in Art Deco style, delight with traditional Italian styling highlighted by antique furniture, Murano hand-blown chandeliers, rich brocades and marble bathrooms. After a busy day, the Tempio della Salute, the Wellness area of the Baglioni Hotel Regina, stands ready with a fully equipped fitness area for guests wanting to keep up with their workout routine and rejuvenating spa treatments to nurture a harmony between body and soul.

Enjoying direct access from the Via Veneto, the Brunello Lounge & Restaurant boasts an ambiance of traditional Italian elegance with contemporary design elements, making it among the most innovative lounges in the city. A menu of Mediterranean cuisine is available for both lunch and dinner and it’s a great place to begin or cap the evening with a cocktail.

Please note, prices listed are guide prices only and are based on 2 people sharing and don’t include any additional supplements. Holiday prices are fluid and dynamic and may be changed at a moment’s notice, prior to booking, at which point they are confirmed. Please call the team free on 0800 707 6229 for more departure dates available and a quote.