True Wonders of Italy Custom Tour

“These tours are examples of some of the places to visit and the sights and activities you can experience. They are completely customizable to your time and budget. Please use the “Design Your Own form” to start planning your next vacation with us”

Tour Features

At Ciao Tours, we pride ourselves on our exceptional Italian staff and this tour highlights several who are wonderful assets to our company. Our local guides in Rome, who are passionate about the city they love so dearly, will help you discover the treasures of Rome that many travelers miss. Our Professional Guides will introduce you to the fine restaurants where locals eat, the fabulous churches where they worship, and the art, culture and architecture they appreciate. Every second of your journey through Rome will contain moments to remember. Our guide in Florence, has a flare for the Renaissance and a great sense of humor that endears him to all our clients. He introduces them to a Florence that only a local can share. Even if you have visited Michelangelo’s city many times, this will seem like the first! San Gimignano, the town of the medieval towers, is home to our charming Italian Mamma, a master at preparing exceptional Italian dishes. In her home, in the heart of San Gimignano, she passes on the secrets learned from her mother who learned them from her own mother and so it has been through the ages. This warm submersion into Italian cooking will be a lasting memory. Our Italian Mamma’s husband grows the grapes, makes the wine and then for Ciao Tours, he pours it as the perfect accompaniment to her recipes. The history of Tuscany is mesmerizing and as you visit Volterra, Pienza, Montepulciano, Lucca, Siena, Pisa and many more unique places included in this tour, you will gain an understanding of how the ancient civilizations and cultures of the Etruscans, Greeks and Romans influenced this fascinating region. Liguria and its awe inspiring Cinque Terre is a delight for both mountain and sea lovers. Whether you are hiking the famous trails or taking a train from village to village, the days will be enhanced by warm sea breezes, beautiful foliage, azure water, craggy cliffs, picnics that have you gazing at villages in the distance or eating focaccia in a quaint little local bar.

CURRENT EXCHANGE RATES

Ciao Tours will fix the exchange rate at the time of full payment or 60 days prior to departure.

Accommodations

  • 3 Nights Lodging in Central Rome
  • 2 Nights Lodging in Central Florence
  • 4 Nights Lodging – Agritourism near San Gimignano
  • 2 Nights Lodging in Central Lucca
  • 3 Nights Lodging in Monterosso al Mare
  • 1 Night Lodging in Central Milan
Customize
  • Or customize a whole tour to your liking

What’s Included

  • 15 Nights Accommodation in Unique Hotels
  • Daily Breakfast at all Accommodations
  • 7 Day Car Rental with Standard Transmission
  • 1st Class Italian Train Pass to Florence & Milan
  • Private Guided Tours in Rome, Florence &  Siena
  • Private Tour of the Vatican, entrance included
  • Wine Tasting at the Verrazzano Castle
  • Reservation at the Uffizi Museum
  • Authentic Italian Cooking Lesson
  • Italian Markets
  • Wine & Olive Oil Tasting
  • Self Guided Tours
  • General driving Instructions Including Maps
  • Includes All Taxes except local city tax
  • Assistance from Ciao’s Italian Representatives
What’s Not Included

Air flights, travel insurance, tips, and anything not specifically mentioned in “What’s Included”.

Daily Itinerary

DAY 1 – ARRIVAL – ROME

Arrive at “Leonardo da Vinci” Airport– Rome (FCO) .  Private Transfer to Central Rome Hotel, then explore Rome at leisure.

NO MEALS INCLUDED ON DAY 1

DAY 2 – ROME
  • 4-hour Private Guided Walking Tour of Rome
  • Coliseum and Forum, Piazza Navona,  Pantheon
  • See the Tiber river and Castel Sant’Angelo
  • Suggested visit to Villa Borghese Museum and Park

MEAL INCLUDED: BUFFET BREAKFAST

DAY 3 – ANCIENT ROME
  • Private transfer to Vatican for 3-hour Private Tour (Entrance Included)
  • St. Peter’s Basilica, The Vatican Museum and the Sistine Chapel
  • Large collection of art and treasures collected through its 2,000 years of history
  • Large collection of paintings by the best of the Italian masters from the Renaissance

MEAL INCLUDED: BUFFET BREAKFAST

DAY 4 – FLORENCE (FIRENZE)
  • 1st Class Train Tickets and Private Transfer to Florence Hotel
  • San Lorenzo market, in piazza San Lorenzo
  • Duomo or Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore and The Cupola (dome) of the Basilica (cathedral), by Brunelleschi
  • Palazzo Vecchio (Town Hall) and Ponte Vecchio (Old Bridge) and the Arno River
  • Galleria dell’Accademia (featuring the infamous Statue of David)
  • San Lorenzo Market
  • Birthplace of the Renaissance or Rinascimento
  • Red roofed Buildings and marble facades

MEAL INCLUDED: BUFFET BREAKFAST

DAY 5 – FLORENCE
  • 3-hour Private Guided Walking Tour of Florence
  • Afternoon Reservations at the Uffizi Museum
  • The Uffizi houses one of the most important and oldest (16th c) art collections in the world, featuring the greatest masterpieces of Italian art and a good collection of paintings by those of foreign schools’ The 16thc Palace by Vasari, and also exhibits ancient Roman and 16thc sculptures.

MEAL INCLUDED: BUFFET BREAKFAST

DAY 6 – CHIANTI WINE REGION
  • 7 Day Car Rental Economy with Standard Transmission
  • Tour of Verrazzano Castle with Wine Tasting & Light Lunch
  • Tour Italy’s famous Chianti Wine Region at Leisure
  • Quaint Towns featuring rolling countryside dotted with vineyards and olive groves
  • Chianti Classico Region
  • Historical Italian Castles, Renaissance Villas, Romanesque Churches
  • Enjoy the small towns of Greve, Panzano, Castellina and Radda

MEALS INCLUDED: BUFFET BREAKFAST & LIGHT LUNCH

DAY 7 – VOLTERRA & SAN GIMIGNANO
  • 5-hour Authentic Italian Cooking Lesson in a Private Home in San Gimignano (Includes Wine Tasting)
  • Volterra – Palazzo dei Priori, Town Hall, Piazza San Giovanni
  • San Gimignano – Palazzo del Popolo, Torre Grossa, Piazza del Duomo with the Romanesque Collegiata
  • Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta

MEAL INCLUDED: BUFFET BREAKFAST

DAY 8 – SIENA
  • Wine/Olive Oil Pairing and Lunch with a Ciao Tours Representative
  • 3 Hour Private Tour of Siena
  • Home of the Palio famous Horse Race
  • Piazza del Campo, Piazza del Duomo and the Basilica
  • Museum of Santa Maria della Scala
  • Palazzo Comunale

MEALS INCLUDED: BUFFET BREAKFAST & LUNCH

DAY 9 – TUSCANY
  • Tour Abbazia di Monte Oliveto Maggiore, Pienza and Montepulciano at Leisure
  • Pienza: (Corso Rossellino, Pecorino – sheep cheese, Ancient home of Enea Silvio Piccolomini, Pope Pius II)
  • Montepulciano: (Piazza Grande, Renaissance Duomo ,Vino Nobile D.O.C.G. Wine with Sangiovese and Canaiolo grapes, 14th c Palazzo Comunale in Florentine style)

MEAL INCLUDED: BUFFET BREAKFAST

DAY 10 – LUCCA
  • Explore Historical Centre at Leisure and the surrounding walls on foot or rent a bike
  • The 4-km walled fortification built in the 16th c for military purposes were later transformed into what is now a public promenade that encircles the Old Town and offer wonderful views especially on the north and west sides
  • Pinacoteca Nazionale di Palazzo Mansi, the National Gallery

MEAL INCLUDED: BUFFET BREAKFAST

DAY 11 – OUTSIDE LUCCA
  • Tour the Barga and Garfagnana Mountain Region at Leisure
  • Ponte del Diavolo, the Devil’s Bridge on the Serchio River
  • Porta Mancianella and Porta Macchiaia two ancient gateways into town
  • Magnificent Romanesque Duomo
  • Hike up to the Fortezza delle Verrucole and see the stunning views

MEAL INCLUDED: BUFFET BREAKFAST

DAY 12 – PISA
  • Return Car Rental, then take 1st Class Train to Monterosso
  • Explore Pisa & Monterosso at Leisure
  • Leaning Tower of Pisa- La Torre Pendente and the Battistero
  • Campo dei Miracoli- Square of Miracles
  • Church of Santa Maria della Spina
  • Piazza Cavalieri and Palazzo dei Cavalieri
  • Palazzo dell’Orologio

MEAL INCLUDED: BUFFET BREAKFAST

DAY 13&14 – CINQUE TERRE
  • Hike the local paths connecting the five towns and explore each town at Leisure
  • Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, Riomaggorie
  • Breathtaking vistas of the sea
  • Cliffside walking trails connected by ancient stairs surrounded by olive groves, grapes and flowers connecting the five lands
  • Via dell’Amore – Walk of Love

MEAL INCLUDED: BUFFET BREAKFAST

DAY 15 – MILAN
  • Explore Milan at Leisure
  • See the famous Duomo (Cathedral) that dominates the main piazza
  • La Galleria and shopping District
  • Sforzesco Castle and park
  • View from the top of the Duomo
  • La Scala Opera House
  • Il Cenacolo- The infamous painting The Last Supper

MEAL INCLUDED: BUFFET BREAKFAST

DAY 16 – MILAN

Shuttle bus to Milan Malpensa Airport on own & conclusion of tour.

MEAL INCLUDED: BUFFET BREAKFAST

Customize a whole tour to your liking