The Grand Tour of Italy

Fifteen days via Heidelberg and Tyrol to Rome: Lake Garda, Verona, Venice, Florence, Siena, the Vatican, Pisa, Lucca and Lake Como, returning through Switzerland.

Day-by-day itinerary

1. Day 1Heidelberg — welcome of your group at the airport or station, drive along the Rhine valley, Heidelberg Castle, Old Bridge and Hauptstraße, night in Heidelberg
2. Day 2Innsbruck — drive through Swabia and the Allgäu, arrival in Tyrol, Golden Roof and old town of Innsbruck, night in Innsbruck
3. Day 3Brenner and Lake Garda — Brenner Pass, Adige valley, Scaliger Castle in Sirmione, lakeside stroll, night in Garda
4. Day 4Verona — Verona Arena, Juliet’s House, Piazza delle Erbe and Piazza dei Signori, drive to the lagoon, night in Mestre
5. Day 5Venice — vaporetto along the Grand Canal, St Mark’s Square and Basilica, Doge’s Palace, Rialto Bridge, Murano glassworks, night in Mestre
6. Day 6Padua and Florence — Basilica of St Anthony in Padua, crossing of the Apennines, Ponte Vecchio and Piazzale Michelangelo, night in Florence
7. Day 7Florence — Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral, Baptistery, Piazza della Signoria, Uffizi Gallery, San Lorenzo market, night in Florence
8. Day 8San Gimignano and Siena — Chianti hills, medieval towers of San Gimignano, Piazza del Campo and Siena Cathedral, night in Siena
9. Day 9Orvieto and Rome — Orvieto Cathedral on its rock, arrival in Rome, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon and Piazza Navona, night in Rome
10. Day 10Ancient Rome — Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill, Capitoline Square, Spanish Steps, evening in Trastevere, night in Rome
11. Day 11Vatican and free time — Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel, St Peter’s Basilica, free afternoon, night in Rome
12. Day 12Pisa and Lucca — drive along the Tyrrhenian coast, Leaning Tower of Pisa, city walls and Piazza dell’Anfiteatro in Lucca, night in Lucca
13. Day 13Lake Como — drive across the Po plain, boat trip on Lake Como to Bellagio, lakeside walk, night in Como
14. Day 14Lugano and Lucerne — Lake Lugano, Gotthard tunnel, Chapel Bridge and Lion Monument in Lucerne, night in Basel
15. Day 15Basel and Luxembourg — old town and cathedral of Basel, drive through Alsace and Lorraine, stop in Luxembourg, return to Brussels, then transfer to the airport or station

Included

• Welcome and transfers at the airport or station of your choice
• Coach with driver throughout the tour, two drivers when needed
• 14 hotel nights with breakfast
• Optional: guide speaking the language of the group and of the countries visited, half board, cruises, tickets