City Group Sightseeing in Italy with Ciao Tours. Daily departures

Rome

Vatican City Museum& St. Peter's Basilica Skip the line up! 3 hour tour:No need for presentation of Vatican Museums, the history is inside that with its 14 kilometers and 2000 rooms of the most extensive collection of art in the world. You will admire the marvelous of the Sistine Chapel, one of the most famous and visited monuments in the world. Michelangelo did its masterpiece painting the vault with the magnificent Creation of Adam as first and the incomparable Last Judgment in the altar wall. But Vatican Museums are not the Sixtine Chapel only, along the tour our guide will show you further art jewels. After the visit we will leave the Vatican Museum and will proceed to Saint Peter’s Basilica. Inside the church we can not miss a stop to visit the world famous sculpture La Pietà and in the meantime we will discover the originality of another art genius, Gian Lorenzo Bernini. Thanks to him you can now admire the extremely impressive Altar Baldaquin (in gold and bronze) and the splendid Colonnade in the outside St. Peter’s Square.

2013 Cost: 58 Euros per person

Walking Tour of Rome 3 hours: This itinerary begins at Campo dei Fiori, certainly one of the most characteristic squares in Rome with its “open-air” market. Next to Campo de’ Fiori we will admire the magical charm of Piazza Farnese and then Palazzo Spada. The building is worth a stop thanks to the brilliance of forced prospective introduced by the famous architect Borromini. Proceed then to Piazza Navona, one of the most famous squares in the world. The symbol of the square is the “Fountains of Four Rivers”, designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini and competing with Borromini’s famed church S.Agnese in Agone. In a ten minute walk we reach Piazza della Rotonda housing the unmistakable structure of the Pantheon (inside visit). We then cross Via del Corso and in just 5 minutes we are at the Trevi Fountain, a true masterpiece and certainly the most famous and spectacular fountain in Rome. The last stop of our itinerary will be Piazza di Spagna, (Spanish Steps). In the centre of the square you will admire the Fontana della Barcaccia made by Pietro Bernini.

2013 Cost: 35 Euros per person

Jewish Ghetto, Tiberina Island and Trastevere District in Rome (Tues, Thurs, Sun): During the itinerary you will literally cross between centuries and you will discover treasures from the Middle Ages and Renaissance as well. The itinerary starts with the characteristic area of Jewish Ghetto (one of the anciest Ghettos throughout Italy and Europe). The main sign of the ghetto is without a doubt the monumental building of the Synagogue built in 1904. Behind the Synagogue runs Via del Portico d’Ottavia. After the visit to the Jewish Ghetto, we will walk on the Ponte Fabricio and we arrive shortly at Tiberina Island. The island itself offers an amazing walk even without specific monuments The typical houses, courtyards and streets are reminiscent of its medieval origin and will surely enchant you. We will then proceed to one of the most famous and ancient parts of Rome, Trastevere. Piazza in Piscinula, Via Arco dei Tolomei, Vicolo dell’Atleta and Piazza Sonnino are our stops in this typical and unique district. The perfect end of this itinerary is along Via della Lungaretta where we'll arrive at the square to find the Basilica of St. Maria in Trastevere, one of Rome’s medieval gems.

2013 Cost: 35 Euros per person

Florence

The Main Sights of Florence Walking Tour PM with Accademia and Uffizi Galleries. The most famous monuments and the suggestive views of the heart of Florence with two of the most important museums in the world: Accademia (David) and Uffizi Galleries. Full Day

Tuscan Group Cooking Course with Visit to the Market and Lunch AM only. On this course you can learn to cook a typical everyday Tuscan meal, starting off by choosing the ingredients in season. Under the expert guidance of a multilingual chef, you will visit the historic San Lorenzo central market, where you will select the ingredients that you will then use to prepare a four-course meal (starter, first course, second course and dessert) in a top class cookery school. The course will be followed by lunch with the dishes you have prepared, accompanied by a good Tuscan wine and a fun and friendly atmosphere.

Venice

Excursion to Murano, Burano and Torcello Islands: We will start from St.Mark's Square to go directly to Murano Island, the biggest island famous for its glassworks. Here, in 1291 all the glassblowers were moved for security reasons. Then we will go to Burano Island, famous for its painted houses and buildings and for its lace works. At the end the boat will leave to Torcello that is the smaller of the three islands. Now, only 13 people are living there but, on the X century it was a big centre with 40.000 habitants, 12 churches and convents. It was also the richest and most powerful island in the lagoon.

Morning City Tour on Foot: Have a walk outdoors (no entries) through the most characteristic and important places for the history of Venice. A qualified and experienced guide will escort you through the millennium of life of the Serenissima Republic, recalling the past full of charm of this unique city. An essential tour for the understanding of Venice! Route: Piazza San Marco - Origins, history and description of the main monuments: Basilica San Marco, Palazzo Ducale, Bell Tower, Clock Tower and Procuratie. Santa Maria Formosa -History and anecdotes related to this wonderful and characteristic square. Campo SS. Giovanni ePaolo - The "Pantheon" of Venice, the Great School of Charity, the Captains of fortune. Marco Polo’s House and Malibran Theatre - Anecdotes and past and recent history cross each other in this beautiful corner of Venice. Return to San Marco through the Mercerie, vital connection between Rialto and San Marco and the main street for the city shopping.

Amalfi

Pompeii: Meet with the guide in Naples and 30’ minutes tour in the historical center where you will be able to admire Piazza del Municipio, Umberto Gallery, San Carlo Theatre, Piazza del Plebiscito and the Royal Palace. Proceed to Pompeii and stop for a visit to an ancient cameos and coral factory. After lunch visit of the excavations. 19 Centuries ago during the summer of 79 a.C., Vesuvius suddenly erupted completely destroying Pompeii and Herculaneum. Its ashes, gases and hot clouds claimed numerous lives but at the same time preserved the existing environment and a way of life typical of the ancient Roman society at its height. The layer of ashes preserved intact people and everyday items, food and domestic animals, all remained steady and hidden until the first half of 18th Century when regular digs were organized. Return to Naples

Capri: Meet with the guide in Naples and embark to the Island of Capri, the most famous in the Mediterranean. Upon arrival, weather permitting, visit the BlueGrotto, a miracle of equilibrium among water, light and reflections of seafloors. A panoramic tour by minibuses of the island with a stop at the characteristic village of Anacapri . After lunch free time for shopping and then back to Marina Grande to embark the boat to Naples.

Tuscany

Siena, San Gimignano and Chianti Landscapes Tour depart from Florence: A beautiful excursion through the delightful hills of the Chianti countryside, with ever changing scenery of vineyards and olive trees. Upon arrival in Siena, a guided tour of the old city centre: walking along the small medieval streets, admiring the splendid palaces and ending up at the Cathedral where you can visit the splendid interior including the Libreria Piccolomini and the adjacent Museo dell'Opera Metropolitana. The guided tour will conclude in the Piazza del Campo, one of the most beautiful in the world, where you will find the Palazzo del Comune (exterior). Free time for lunch (not included).Departure for San Gimignano a tiny city that has remained intact through the centuries; situated on a hilltop, it is famous for its numerous towers, frescoes and other art treasures; free time to discover this fascinating city. On the way back, through the ample coach windows, you will be able to admire the ancient medieval hamlet of Monteriggioni enclosed by its famous walls, still intact.

Highlights of Tuscany Tour with Wine Tasting & Lunch departs from Florence: Depart for Siena, driving through the lovely Chianti vineyards, getting there while the town is still immersed in early morning drowsiness; the perfect time of day to wander around the pedestrian-friendly heart of this beautiful hilltop town, drenched in history. Upon arrival in Siena our local guide will take you on a guided walking tour along the small medieval streets and squares, passing the oldest bank in the world, and the Piazza del Campo - site of the famous 600-year-old Palio horse-race, to the spectacular Cathedral. During your free time, stroll through Siena at your own pace. After lunch, departure for San Gimignano, Unesco world heritage, famous for the still intact mediaeval town planning. It is often nicknamed the “Manhattan of the Middle Ages” because its famous tall, narrow towers create a skyline that looks a bit like a modern city.From San Gimignano, we drive past hilltop hamlets, or little churches, scattered over some of the most beautiful and enchanting countryside. We finally wind down the hillsides towards the coast, to Pisa, our last destination for the day. Getting off the coach, we reach the Field of Miracles, a green grass field dominated by the dazzling white buildings of the Cathedral or Duomo, the Tower and the Baptistery - exquisite examples of Pisan Romanesque architecture: the Leaning Tower is almost 56 meters tall (about 183 ft). It leans at about 4 degrees, making it one of the most famous and iconic buildings in the world. You are in one of the most renowned places in the world: revel in it, take creative photographs or wander off down the local streets.

Cinque Terre

Best of Cinque Terre Tour with Lunch departs from Florence: Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso. Walking from village to village along the cliffs you will be enchanted by the rocky, carefully cultivated terraces and pastel colored villages hovering between the sky and the sea: it is the best and only way to experience the unique magic of the Cinque Terre.

Alessandra Caturelli

Chiama Oggi! (Call Today) For more information on our Tours of Italy, or to book one of our Escorted Tours, Custom Tours, and/or Private Tours, call us today at 1.877.444.CIAO (2426) to speak to one of our tour designers or email us at info@ciaotours.com for a no obligation proposal that will be delivered to you in 24 hours!

At Ciao Tours we are ready to help plan you’re perfect, private, Italy Tour while respecting your budget. Ciao Tours is located in the Italian Business Centre in Calgary, Alberta - sharing an office with the Italian Consulate and Italian Chamber of Commerce.