Italian Intermezzo - Small Group, Summer
Tour Operator:
Tour Code:
SE971ZN18-10
Start City:
Milan
End City:
Rome
Tour Style:
Tour Quality:
First Class
Tour Length:
8 days
Age Requirement:
5+ Years Old
Tour Capacity:
24
Physical Rating:
1 - Light
Dates & Prices
| Start Date | End Date | Offers | Brochure Land Price | Quote |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday, Oct 01, 2023 | Sunday, Oct 08, 2023 | Get Lower Price | Get Quote |
Promotions
LOW UNPUBLISHED PRICES ON INSIGHT VACATIONS TOURS
Why pay full price? Call us or click above for a quick quote and save money on Insight Vacations Tours.
Young Travelers Save up to 10%
Young Travelers Save up to 10%
Promotion Details
If you're traveling with a child between the age of five and 17, you will get a discount of up to 10% on the land-only portion of their holiday. Young travelers must be under the age of 18 years on the date of departure and must be accompanied by an adult (limit of one Young Traveler Discount per room).
5% Savings on Group Vacations
5% Savings on Group Vacations
Promotion Details
Group benefits and applicable discounts apply to Scheduled Departure and Exclusive Departure groups only, booked on the same booking number. Group benefits and discounts do not apply to Custom Groups, flight segments, train vacations, cruises, extensions or any pre/post-trip additions. Group Benefits are not available on all trips and/or departure dates and are not combinable with Limited Time Offers. Please refer to your group’s contract for further details. Other conditions may apply.
Tour Itinerary
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 — awaits you on the shores of Lake Como. In Venice, relax on a private boat as you pass by its iconic floating houses to St. Mark’s Square, where you will see a gilded basilica anchoring the bustling piazza. Later, take a traditional gondola ride and sail through the canals as your Italian gondolier serenades you with songs. 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. Dine in the Pope’s garden, beneath the cupola of St. Peter’s Basilica, and celebrate a fantastic trip.
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Day 1
Elegant ComoWelcome to Italy. After being greeted by your Travel Director at Milan’s Malpensa Airport, your transfer departs at 09:30 or 12:30. Join your Travel Director at 17:30 and head to L’antica Riva, an elegant restaurant on the shores of Lake Como, known for serving delicious fresh produce. Your Welcome Dinner provides the opportunity to mingle and get to know your fellow travellers over a pleasant evening.Accommodation: Palace Hotel, Como.
Meals: Dinner -
Day 2
Venice, the Queen of the Adriatic Relaxed StartJourney through the beautiful Italian lake district, past Lakes Iseo and Garda to the floating city of Venice, Queen of the Adriatic. Your hotel offers authentic Venetian charm, as it reflects the history and culture of the surrounding area. As night falls, why not savour the magic of St. Mark’s square with its orchestras and al-fresco cafes?Accommodation: Hotel Indigo Venice - Sant'Elena.
Meals: Breakfast -
Day 3
Venice and the Magic of La SerenissimaWake up ready to embrace this romantic city. What better way to see Venice than from a private boat, cruising 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 arts center, 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 coloured 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.Accommodation: Hotel Indigo Venice - Sant'Elena.
Meals: Breakfast -
Day 4
Tranquil Tuscany, Pisa and FlorenceJourney to Pisa and see the Leaning Tower in the Square of Miracles. Later, continue to Florence and start your explorations with Insight Choice. Choose to visit the Accademia Museum and see Michelangelo’s David. Alternatively, wander through the market stalls on a shopping tour, enjoying all the Italian treats and finery on offer. With your Local Expert, admire the marble-clad cathedral and baptistery, and stroll around Piazza della Signoria, an open-air gallery filled with Renaissance sculptures. In the evening, dinner is served with a selection of Tuscan wine.Accommodation: Hotel Albani Firenze, Florence.
Meals: Breakfast Dinner -
Day 5
Free Time in Renaissance Florence Relaxed StartLearn 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 since the 14th century and is a UNESCO World Heritage site. In the evening, enjoy an opportunity to sample the true flavours of the region with a sumptuous optional Tuscan dinner, served with local wine. Your destination is the ancient stone house of Machiavelli, where the great political theorist wrote his immortal work, ‘The Prince'. After a welcome drink and a visit of the villa and its wine-cellars, enjoy the best of Tuscan cuisine accompanied by great music and drinks, including of course, Chianti from the Villa's own vines.Accommodation: Hotel Albani Firenze, Florence.
Meals: Breakfast -
Day 6
Chianti Country to Orvieto and on to RomeJourney 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. 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. In the evening, why not throw your coin into the Trevi Fountain to ensure your return to the city?Accommodation: Radisson Blu GHR Rome.
Meals: Breakfast -
Day 7
Rome Sightseeing and Dinner in the VaticanIn the morning, enjoy the very best of the city’s highlights, including visiting the magnificent St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. Cross the Tiber river to enjoy ancient Rome. See the incredible Circus Maximus and the legendary Colosseum, site of memorable battles and a monument to the courage of gladiators. In the afternoon, gain exclusive priority entry to the Vatican Museums with a Local Expert. Admire the Papal art collection and visit the breathtaking Sistine Chapel to marvel at Michelangelo’s ceiling Masterpiece. This evening, indulge in a special Highlight Dinner hosted inside the galleries of the Vatican’s Anima Mundi Museum.Accommodation: Bettoja Hotel Massimo D'Azeglio, Rome.
Meals: Breakfast Dinner -
Day 8
Arrivederci RomaBid farewell to the glories of Italy. Departure transfers arrive at Rome’s Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci Airport.
Meals: Breakfast
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Dining Summary
- 3 Dinner with Wine (DW)
- 7 Breakfast (B)
Choice Highlights
- Choose between two carefully selected activities
- Florence: Stand beside Michelangelo's monumental statue, 'David', in the Accademia Gallery, and admire the exquisite technique and absorbing history behind the world's most famous sculpture.
- Florence: Take a stroll with your Travel Director to Piazza Santa Croce to enjoy a typical Italian treat in a local café.
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.
Authentic Dining
- Como: The L'antica Riva restaurant, situated on picturesque Lake Como, is built within a historic 17th century building which was one of the first houses of the area. Here you will enjoy a special Welcome Dinner with wine, as you get to know your fellow travelers.
- Florence: During dinner, meet a sommelier who will talk you through a tasting of some of Tuscan's finest wines.
- Vatican: Experience a special Celebration Dinner inside the Vatican's Anima Mundi Museum.
Insight Experiences
- Vatican: Gain priority access into the Vatican Museums, witness the genius of Michelangelo in the Sistine Chapel and view the splendid dome of St. Peter's Basilica.
Make Travel Matter
- Venice: Witness the ancient skill of glassblowing, now practised by precious few masters. Watch artisans create delicate works of art using rare traditional practices. The workshop's master craftsmen teach visitors about the traditional craft of glassblowing and its history which dates back to the 15th century. Every visit helps to support the workshop and the survival of this traditional craft. The workshop advances UN Sustainable Development Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities.
Top Rated Highlights
- Como: Take in the exquisite views of the lake and its alpine backdrop as you enjoy an orientation of this magnificent town.
- Venice: With your Travel Director cruise to St. Mark's Square and see the Doge's Palace, Bridge of Sighs and St. Mark's Basilica.
- Venice: Delight in the magic of this charming city as you are serenaded, traveling through the atmospheric canals by gondola.
- Pisa: Your Local Expert will show you the baptistery bristling with marble spines, the colonnaded bell tower lurching behind the 11th century cathedral and of course, the famous Leaning Tower in the Square of Miracles.
- Florence: Stand beside Michelangelo's monumental statue, 'David', in the Accademia Gallery, and admire the exquisite technique and absorbing history behind the world's most famous sculpture.
- Florence: Take a stroll with your Travel Director to Piazza Santa Croce to enjoy a typical Italian treat in a local café.
- Florence: Join a Local Expert to view the multi-colored marble cathedral, bell tower and baptistery, adorned by Ghiberti's Gates of Paradise. Visit the political heart of the city, Signoria Square. See the area around Santa Croce Basilica, famous for the quality of its luxury goods.
- Florence: See the area around Santa Croce Basilica, famous for the quality of its luxury goods and witness a gold and leatherwork demonstration.
- Orvieto: During your orientation of this Umbrian hilltop town with your Travel Director, visit Piazza del Duomo to admire the cathedral.
- Rome: Discover ancient treasures of Rome with a passionate local. See Circus Maximus and the Ancient Forum, and stand beside the Colosseum, which bears witness to the limitless courage of the gladiators.
Travel Director
- : "One food I really love introducing my guests to is tramezzini sandwiches because they are a real art form in Venice. For the locals it is a quick inexpensive bite to get them through the day...best eaten standing up at the bar!"
- : "Venice is so unique that anyone seeing it for the first time is never fully prepared for the magic, from seeing their first gondola to the facade of St. Mark’s Cathedral."
- : "I really love about showing guests the huge variety that Italy has to offer, from quaint countryside villages to cities full of stupendous art and architecture."
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.
Health and Safety Protocols for Insight Vacations Tours
Insight Vacations has introduced these enhanced hygiene protocols – for you and team members.
You can travel with Insight Vacations and be assured that their team has put numerous new measures in place to elevate their hygiene standards and protocols. The well-being of guests and team has always been, and always will be, their primary concern.
In this new, fast changing Covid-19 era, Insight Vacations is doing all they can to adapt to new requirements and expectations. Here are some important new steps and procedures that they have implemented to enhance hygiene protocols, to comply with physical distancing requirements by relevant government authorities and to give you the peace of mind when you are traveling during these new times.
Expertly Trained Travel DirectorsTravel Director training equips them with enhanced hygiene and physical distancing procedures. During your trip, they will operate with a duty of care and monitor the hygiene etiquette of the guests, reacting and advising as needed, to ensure high standards are maintained. Before you travel, Insight Vacations will also keep you well informed about new protocols required in these areas, and ask that you cooperate with and heed the advice and direction of Travel Directors while on your trip. The Travel Directors have preventative measures in place to try and ensure your well-being and in the event that any unexpected issues arise on trip, they will activate additional protocols.
Stringent On-the-Road ProtocolsThe customized luxury coaches are sanitised before the start of your trip and have always been kept to very high standards. Following the outbreak of COVID-19, Insight Vacations have taken additional measures to elevate hygiene and sanitary practices in accordance with guidance from the World Health Organisation (WHO) and as required, applicable government regulations. The Driver training provides them with the latest hygiene protocols. They will clean and disinfect all surfaces including handrails, door handles, tables, seats, air-conditioning filters and overhead lockers on a daily basis. All the guests are asked to follow hygiene practices recommended by the World Health Organisation including the thorough and regular washing of hands and sanitising when required. Hand sanitiser is freely available on board for your use throughout the day. Please bring your own washable face mask and gloves with you, and additional hand sanitiser to make you feel comfortable, as these will be required to be worn in public in some countries. Should an unexpected situation arise, additional face masks, rubber gloves, antiviral sprays and wipes will be available for guest distribution on all trips.
A Full Team of Support 24/7It’s not just your Travel Director and Driver who will be taking care of you. Behind the scenes, the operations and guest support teams are in contact with them and on call 24/7, so you can rest assured that you’re in good hands.
Physical DistancingAdapting to the right size groups, based on government distancing requirements, you can rest assured that you will travel with the comfort of your own personal space. Have peace of mind that all of the experiences, hotels and restaurants you’ll enjoy on your trip have been vetted to ensure they adhere to physical distancing and hygiene guidelines.
Trusted Partners, Exceptional StandardsInsight Vacations is very selective in who they work with and choose to only use hotels, restaurants, ground handlers and venues that take the well-being of the guests as seriously as Insight Vacations does and agrees to meet expected guidelines and specifications. Insight Vacations only works with establishments that they are confident will consistently adhere to their high standards.
Always in the KnowAs part of The Travel Corporation (TTC) , Insight Vacations is kept up to date with all government advisories and travel alerts on a daily basis and is continually in touch with all of the partners on the ground in each destination. Also, rest assured that during your trip, the teams work to ensure the supplier partners (hotels, restaurants, museums and other venues) are also applying the same standard to these new hygiene and distancing protocols, to the extent possible.
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Question: How many suitcases can I take with me on my trip?
Question: Is Airfare Included in the Price?
This is my 5th Insight Tour in 5 years...they are great at what they do; their staff, the tour bus and the great optional excursions. I am ready to book my tour for next year.
Toured with Insight before and have never been disappointed! Understand, you are on the go and walk a lot. But, that is what we wanted and paid for!
This was a perfect vacation!! We loved being on a boat and having one room to return to each night no packing and unpacking or hauling belongings from place to place. We were surprised how roomy and very comfortable our room on board was. Even the bathroom gave us plenty of room to move around in. And the boat itself was spacious, clean, and laid out with lots of thought put into the needs of guests. The staff onboard was phenomenal. They went above and beyond, always smiling, helpful, and spoiling us. Everything was clean, the food excellent and plentiful, and planned stops included keeping passengers safe at all times. I would highly recommend this trip to anyone who wants to relax and enjoy the Adriatic! Thank you Affordable Tours.
I have been on 4 trips with Insight and will continue to use them. They are a wonderful company
This was our 2nd tour with Insight Vacations and it was a wonderful experience. Michael, our tour director, was excellent!
The Tour Director and Driver were excellent! Very enjoyable.
Insight took care of everything! Great hotels and excursions!
Insight not only provides an educational and cultural experience, but they also lessen the stress that can come with traveling as they provide airport pick ups and drop offs, and just tell us when to have our luggage outside our hotel door. We would definitely travel with Insight again.
Got my money's worth! This was a fabulous trip! American the Beautiful has a deeper meaning after seeing unimaginable beauty every mile of the way. The Tour Guide and Wellness Coordinator were fabulous, and you just can't find a better bus driver. The extra legroom available on Insight Tours makes all the difference when you are on a bus for 10 glorious days.
This trip was one of my best. The itinerary was just right. Everything went to perfection
This was my third trip with Insight Tours. It was a very good tour. I chose Insight because of their itinerary for this particular tour.
The best of the trip, definitely the staff! Thanks!
Best price for the tour when you book with Affordable Tours
Insight took wonderful care of us
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