The Independent

Monday 16 March 2015

NEWS

Featured Offers

Seven Cities of Italy

Discover this magical country

Join us to explore some of the finest cities in Europe. Marvel at exquisite Venice and romantic Verona, discover the treasures of Florence and 'eternal' Rome, and wander the shrine at Assisi and the Tuscan gems Siena and San Gimignano.

What's Included

Unwind by the shores of beautiful Lake Garda
Explore the fabled city of "star-crossed lovers" - Verona, with its sweeping Piazza Bra and astonishing Roman arena
Venice is, quite simply, one of the world's most beautiful cities
Take in the Renaissance majesty of Florence, home of Michelangelo, Botticelli and Leonardo da Vinci
Siena's magnificent Piazza il Campo and the hill-top fortress of San Gimignano
Discover Rome, 'the Eternal City', on an included guided tour
See Assisi, the birthplace of Italy's patron saint
Seven nights' dinner, bed and breakfast accommodation in four-star hotels in Moniga del Garda (3 nights), Chianciano Terme (3) and Lugagnano (1)
Return flights from your chosen airport to Italy
Comfortable, air-conditioned coach travel and transfers
Fully escorted by a friendly, experienced Tour Manager
Single rooms are available for a supplement

Itinerary

Day One

Fly to Italy and transfer to Moniga del Garda and your hotel. After a chance to relax and familiarise yourself with your surroundings, enjoy dinner in the hotel.

Day Two

Today we explore "fair Verona", the historic backdrop for the tragic tale of "Juliet and her Romeo" and home to the famous opera season held yearly in its Roman amphitheatre. Explore this fascinating place, then take a seat in an open-air cafe in Piazza Bra to watch the world go by.

Day Three

Venice is one of the world's most beautiful cities, and you can explore alone or join our included guided tour. With its mysterious labyrinth of alleys and waterways, spectacular St Mark's Square and Cathedral, the bell tower, the Doge's Palace, the Rialto Bridge and the mystique of the Palace of Prisons and the Bridge of Sighs, Venice has to be seen to be believed.

Day Four

Bidding farewell to Garda's shores, we travel south to Florence. See the magnificent Florentine skyline, explore Santa Croce and cross the medieval Ponte Vecchio. Art lovers can visit the Accademia to marvel at Michelangelo's peerless statue of David, or wander the Uffizi and admire Botticelli's 'Birth of Venus' (gallery entries payable locally).

In the afternoon we'll head further into Tuscany to our second base - Chianciano Terme.

Day Five

Our fifth day's touring takes us into the rolling Tuscan hills and to Siena. See the magnificent Piazza il Campo, home of the traditional Palio horse race, before continuing north west to see the exquisite, Tuscan, hill-top fortress of San Gimignano and its beautiful towers, medieval walls and cathedral.

Day Six

Today we travel south to Rome. Enjoy our guided tour of the ancient Colosseum and Forum, the great basilicas and the Baroque fountains. In the Vatican City, the dome of St Peter's looks over the vast Square, while a visit to the nearby Sistine Chapel will reveal Michelangelo's fabled frescoes.

Day Seven

Join us as we head through Umbria to Assisi, birthplace of Italy's patron St Francis, and home to the magnificent Basilica with its frescoes celebrating the life of that "most saintly of all the saints".

After our visit we'll head to our final hotel, in Lugagnano, just outside Verona.

Day Eight

Transfer back to the airport for check-in and your flight home.

Hotel transfer times

The transfer time to your hotel is approximately one hour from Verona, and three hours from Milan and Venice. The transfer time back to the airport from your hotel is approximately 10 minutes from Verona Airport and three hours from Milan.

Combining hotel transfers

We sometimes need to combine transfers to and from your hotel. We always try to keep any wait to a minimum, but you may be asked to wait at the airport for up to an hour, while other incoming flights arrive, before the transfer to your hotel. Similarly, we may need to transfer you back to the airport up to three hours before your flight home departs.

Meals in Italy

Guests on half-board arrangements will be served a three-course evening meal, and can expect a first course of traditional pasta or soup, a main meat or fish course accompanied by one or two types of vegetable, and a simple dessert of fruit, cake or Italian ice cream. Breakfasts will usually consist of bread rolls, jam, cereal, ham, cheese, fruit juice, tea and coffee. Menus will vary from hotel to hotel, but choice will be more limited than in a normal restaurant.

Early mornings

The extensive programme of your holiday will often involve early starts on most days. This will give you as much time as possible in the cities you visit and ensure you return to you hotel in time for dinner each day.

Special requirements

If you have notified us of any special requirements, please check that they have been noted and acknowledged. This is especially important with any dietary needs you may have.

Entrance fees

Since certain attractions visited offer free admission to visitors aged under 18 and over 65, we do not include entrance fees. These will be payable locally where applicable. This applies to excursions that are included in the price of your holiday and to excursions booked as optional extras.

Disabled access

The majority of our tours involve a certain amount of walking, including a short walk from the coach stop to the town, attraction or venue you're visiting. If you are bringing a wheelchair or electric scooter, please let us know as soon as possible so that appropriate arrangements can be made.

Changes to your hotel

This holiday is very popular, and we have limited rooms in the hotels described. If demand is high on a particular date we may accommodate you in an alternative hotel, of a similar standard, in a convenient location for the tour. Full details of your hotel will be sent with your Joining Instructions.

Italian hotel room tax

Some regions of Italy have introduced a room tax of between 1 EURO and 3 EURO per person per night, payable directly by the guest to the hotel on check-out. You will be advised by your tour manager in resort if a particular hotel is implementing this charge.

Airport development fees

An Airport Development Fee has been introduced at a few UK Airports. You will be required to pay this charge at the following airports prior to checking in for your flight: Blackpool, Durham Tees Valley, Newquay and Norwich. The amount varies from airport to airport, but it is generally between £5 and £10 per person. Please visit the airport's website for further information.

Itinerary changes

Occasionally, for operational reasons, we may have to change the order of the excursions on your holiday. The final day-by-day itinerary will be confirmed on your Final Travel Documents, which you will receive approximately three weeks prior to your departure.

Holiday Provided By

Please click here to view the Terms and Conditions of travel (this link opens in a new window).

from

£719.00

Based on: London Gatwick, 7th Jun 2015

Please use the calendar below to select your holiday dates.

Departure

Choose your desired departure date

Departure Airport:

April 2015

Mon

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri

Sat

Sun

Key:
	Available
	Limited Availability

Adults

Children (2-16)

Alternatively, if you'd prefer to book by phone, please call our sales team on
0330 160 7869

Join our community. Sign up to our newsletter

traveloffers.independent.co.uk is operated on behalf of Independent Digital News and Media by P&P Associates Ltd.

Registered in England No. 2124920. Registered Office: Patteson Court, Nutfield Road, Redhill, Surrey, RH1 4ED