Italian Intermezzo - Small Group, Summer
Italian Intermezzo - Small Group, Summer
$4495
Italian Intermezzo - Small Group, Summer
8 Days Starting in Milan, Italy and ending in Rome, Italy
Visiting: Milan, Venice, Florence, Rome
Tour operator:
Tour code:
SE971ZN20
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
Travel from the shores of Venice to the ancient city of Rome on this 8-day guided tour of Italy. Begin your journey in Milan, where a festive feast complete with decadent Italian wines await you. In Venice, relax on a private boat as you pass by the iconic city to St Mark's Square, where you will see a gilded basilica anchoring the bustling piazza. Embark on a traditional gondola ride with your skilled Venetian gondolier, gliding along the canals while enjoying music. See the legendary Colosseum in Rome, then travel to the Vatican Museums, where a Local Expert will lead you through the papal art collection and to Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel. Celebrate a fantastic trip over dinner in a local restaurant.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Welcome To Milan
Location: Milan
Accommodation: Hotel Simplon, Baveno.
Accommodation Name: Duo, Milan
Meals Included: Dinner
Greet your Travel Director at Milan’s Malpensa Airport. Later, join your Travel Director and head to an elegant restaurant known for serving delicious fresh produce. Tonight's dinner provides the opportunity to mingle and get to know your fellow travelers over a pleasant evening.
Day 2: Venice, The Queen Of The Adriatic Relaxed Start
Location: Venice
Accommodation: Hotel Indigo Venice - Sant'Elena.
Accommodation Name: Indigo - Sant'Elena, Venice
Meals Included: Breakfast
Journey across the Veneto plain, rich in agriculture, known for its peach fruit trees & vineyards, with the Dolomite mountains on the northern horizon. Your hotel, exuding authentic Venetian charm, beautifully reflects the history and culture of the surrounding area. As night falls, there's the opportunity to immerse yourself in the magic of St. Mark’s Square, with its orchestras and delightful alfresco cafes, providing an unforgettable experience.
Day 3: Venice And The Magic Of La Serenissima
Location: Venice
Accommodation: Hotel Indigo Venice - Sant'Elena.
Accommodation Name: Indigo - Sant'Elena, Venice
Meals Included: Breakfast
Wake up ready to embrace this romantic city. What better way to see Venice than from a private boat, sailing past palazzos and churches to St. Mark’s Square? See the gilded basilica, the Doge’s Palace and Lord Byron’s Bridge of Sighs. No visit to Venice would be complete without a gondola serenade through the myriad of beautiful canals. Relax and enjoy the local traditional songs, as you drift along in awe. While here, join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience during a visit to a traditional glassmaking workshop, where you can see how beautiful handcrafted glass is made by expert glassblowers, safeguarding traditional skills. Spend the afternoon and evening as you wish. Or, join an optional experience to the island of Burano. Leave the hustle of St Mark's Square behind on a delightful private cruise around the islands of the Venetian lagoon. Alight at the island of Burano, famous for its candy colored houses, artisan lace makers and leaning bell tower that would give Pisa a good run for its money. Enjoy a superb meal sampling the local specialties with wine included.
Day 4: Tranquil Tuscany, Pisa And Florence
Location: Florence
Accommodation: Hotel Albani Firenze, Florence.
Accommodation Name: Albani Firenze, Florence
Meals Included: Breakfast
Stop in Pisa to see the incredible Leaning Tower from which Galileo is said to have conducted experiments on velocity and gravity. Explore Florence with Insight Choice. Choose to visit the Accademia Museum and see Michelangelo’s David. After that, continue on foot to admire the multi-colored marble cathedral, bell tower and baptistery, where Ghiberti’s Gates of Paradise have been recreated in all their glory. Continue into the Piazza della Signoria, still the political heart of Florence and an open-air gallery of Renaissance masterpieces. Spend time gazing at statues such as Neptune, Hercules and Cacus along the front of the Palazzo Vecchio. Alternatively, take a stroll with your Travel Director to Piazza Santa Croce to enjoy a typical Italian treat in a local café, where you will be in the perfect spot to admire the basilica and indulge in people-watching the elegant Florentines.
Day 5: Free Time In Renaissance Florence Relaxed Start
Location: Florence
Accommodation: Hotel Albani Firenze, Florence.
Accommodation Name: Albani Firenze, Florence
Meals Included: Breakfast
Learn the secrets of traditional Florentine leatherwork when you visit a local workshop to admire the intricate work. The rest of the day is free for you to fully immerse yourself in the Tuscan capital. Perhaps shop for leather or gold goods around Santa Croce or relax and soak up the atmosphere in one of the many street cafés. Be sure not to miss the magnificent museums and galleries that house some of the most famous works of art in the world. Choose to take an excursion to Tuscany's most famous hill-top town, San Gimignano. Soak up the atmosphere of this ancient gem which has remained intact for centuries and is a UNESCO World Heritage site. In the evening, consider an optional experience dining on Tuscan cuisine with local wine, including, of course, Chianti from the vineyards of Tuscany.
Day 6: Chianti Country To Orvieto And On To Rome
Location: Rome
Accommodation: Golden Tulip Rome Piram.
Accommodation Name: Golden Tulip Rome Piram
Meals Included: Breakfast
2025 marks a Jubilee Year, a momentous Roman Catholic event celebrated every 25 years, turning Rome into a center of celebration between December 24, 2024, and December 31, 2025. As festivities unfold, itineraries may be adjusted to ensure you make the most of your time as you visit the Eternal City. Journey to Umbrian Orvieto, a hilltop village overlooking a vineyard-covered plain. Explore the town with your Travel Director and visit Piazza del Duomo to admire the cathedral, before continuing towards the Eternal City of Rome. Join an optional experience, Piazzas & Fountains, and with your Local Expert, take a "passeggiata" (stroll) to enjoy the backstreets and secrets of pedestrian Rome. Be amazed at sights such as the fascinating Pantheon and the beauty of 17th-century fountains and beautiful piazzas. Why not throw your coin into the Trevi Fountain to ensure your return to the city?
Day 7: Rome Sightseeing And The Vatican
Location: Rome
Accommodation: Golden Tulip Rome Piram.
Accommodation Name: Golden Tulip Rome Piram
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
In the morning, enjoy the very best of the city’s highlights including seeing the magnificent St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican City. Cross the Tiber river to enjoy ancient Rome with your Local Expert. See the incredible Circus Maximus famous for its chariot races, and the iconic Colosseum. Enjoy fast-tracked entry into the Vatican Museums with a Local Expert. Admire the Papal art collection, before entering the Sistine Chapel to marvel at Michelangelo’s masterpiece on its ceiling.
Day 8: Arrivederci Roma
Location: Rome
Meals Included: Breakfast
Bid farewell to the glories of Italy, savoring the memories of its enchanting cities, historic landmarks and stunning landscapes. Italy's unique allure will linger in your heart long after you leave.
What's Included
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Meals
The tour includes 2 dinners with wine, 7 breakfasts, and 1 additional dinner.
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Florence Experience
Enjoy a stroll with your Travel Director to Piazza Santa Croce and a typical Italian treat in a local cafe.
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Accademia Gallery Visit
Stand beside Michelangelo's monumental statue, 'David', in the Accademia Gallery.
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Personal Radio Headsets
Personal radio headsets are provided for freedom during visits to famous highlights.
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Hotel and Restaurant Tips
All hotel and restaurant tips are included, along with taxes and porterage charges at hotels.
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Luggage Handling
Your bags are carried for you and promptly delivered to your hotel door.
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Insight Flourish
From time to time, your Travel Director will delight you with a local specialty representing the destination.
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Wi-Fi
Stay connected with complimentary coach and hotel Wi-Fi where available.
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Transfers
Transfers are available at scheduled times if your flights align with the itinerary start and end dates.
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Milan Dinner
Enjoy a special dinner with wine in Milan.
What's Not Included
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Optional Experiences
Optional experiences such as excursions to Burano and San Gimignano are not included.
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Additional Transfers
Transfers for flights outside the itinerary start and end dates are not included.
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Personal Expenses
Personal expenses such as souvenirs, additional meals, and drinks are not included.
Dining Summary
- 2 Dinner with Wine (DW)
- 7 Breakfast (B)
- 1 Dinner (D)
Additional Included Highlights
- Personal radio headsets give you the freedom to wander during visits to famous highlights, without missing any of your Local Expert's fascinating commentary.
- Hotel and restaurant tips are included - you'll never have to worry about how much to give, nor search for foreign currency. We also include all taxes and porterage charges at hotels.
- We carry your bags for you and promptly deliver them to your hotel door.
- From time to time, your Travel Director will delight you with an Insight Flourish, which is a local specialty representing the destination.
- Stay connected with friends and family with our complimentary coach and hotel Wi-Fi (where available).
- If your arrival and/or departure flights are as per the itinerary start and end dates, then transfers are available at scheduled times. If your flights are outside these times, or you have booked additional nights accommodation with Insight Vacations, you may purchase transfers or make your own way from/to the airport.
Insight Experiences
- Vatican: Visit the Vatican Museums, witness the genius of Michelangelo in the Sistine Chapel and see St. Peter's Basilica.
Well-being
- Enjoy the comfort of Insight's luxurious, air-conditioned, 40-seat coach with double the standard legroom and onboard washroom. Our customized luxury coaches are sanitized before the start of your tour and are maintained to very high standards. Physical distancing measures have been implemented on our customized luxury coaches.
- Hand sanitizer is freely available on board for you to use throughout the day.
Check out our Q&As
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What unique experiences are included in the Venice portion of the tour?
In Venice, you will have the opportunity to cruise to St. Mark's Square, see the Doge's Palace, Bridge of Sighs, and St. Mark's Basilica. You will also enjoy a gondola ride along the canals and visit a traditional glassblowing workshop to witness the ancient skill of glassblowing.
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What can I expect during the visit to Florence?
In Florence, you will have the chance to visit the Accademia Gallery to see Michelangelo's statue 'David'. You can also choose to take a stroll to Piazza Santa Croce with your Travel Director to enjoy a typical Italian treat in a local café. Additionally, you will witness a demonstration of local craftsmanship in gold and leatherwork.
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What dining experiences are included in the tour?
The tour includes a special dinner with wine in Milan and a Roman dinner in Rome, where you can savor regional flavors and embrace the city's rich culinary heritage. Overall, the tour includes 2 dinners with wine, 7 breakfasts, and 1 additional dinner.
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How does the tour support sustainable practices?
The tour includes a visit to a traditional glassblowing workshop in Venice, which supports the survival of this ancient craft. This experience directly supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities.
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What is the transportation like during the tour?
You will travel in comfort aboard Insight's luxurious, air-conditioned, 40-seat coach, which offers double the standard legroom and an onboard washroom. The coach is sanitized before the start of the tour and maintained to high standards, with physical distancing measures implemented.
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What are some of the highlights of the Rome visit?
In Rome, you will discover ancient treasures with a local expert, including the Circus Maximus and the Ancient Forum. You will also visit the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter's Basilica, with fast-tracked entry to admire the Papal art collection and Michelangelo's masterpiece on the Sistine Chapel ceiling.
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Can I join the tour once it has departed?
We regret that no refunds can be made for absences from a tour, including experiences such as missed meals or sightseeing.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Since 1978.
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
Insight Vacations is a founding member of the TreadRight Foundation, a joint initiative created by the brands within The Travel Corporation (TTC) almost 15 years ago to ensure our impact through tourism is positive. Our ethos to #MakeTravelMatter guides our decision-making at every level of our business.
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
You have two options as a solo traveller. Either choose to be matched with a same sex partner for a room share - at no extra cost. Or choose a room of your own with a reduced or even free private room upgrade on select tours.
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What policies are in place for Covid-19?
Please contact us for latest COVID-19 policies
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Book with Confidence
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Low Deposit
Barrhead Travel requires a minimum deposit of 200 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 98 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of barrhead travel charges.
Up to 98 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 97 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 74 days before tour starts: Forfeit 75% of booking price.
At 28 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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Terms and Conditions
Why book with Barrhead?
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Reliable & unbiased advice from our trusted travel experts.
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