2024 Iconic Spring & Fall Tours
April 21-30 & October 21-30
Venice, Florence & Rome
10 days/9 nights
Iconic Spring & Fall Tours are tailor-made for you to celebrate Italy on a journey that will have you floating through history, art, food, wine and culture.
Venice brings romance to the forefront, with sprawling Baroque palaces and meandering, gondola-dotted canals, let's experience a memorable walking tour visiting St. Mark’s Square, the Doge’s Palace, Grand Canal and enjoy a gondola ride.
In Florence we’ll devote time to the breathtaking Renaissance art of the Uffizi — home to the finest collection of Italian paintings anywhere — including works by Leonardo, Botticelli, Michelangelo, and more. We’ll visit the Accademia Gallery to marvel at the power of Michelangelo's greatest masterpiece, David.
And in Rome, history is ever present, the people, the food, the way of life…experience what Italy is all about. Behold Michelangelo's take on creation at the Sistine Chapel and retrace the footsteps of ancient Romans at the Colosseum. Let’s end one of our days as any good Roman would — with a stroll through the historic heart of the city, lacing together the classy Piazza Navona, splashy Trevi Fountain, and the remarkably preserved, 2,000-year-old Pantheon.
ITINERARY
Venice 3 nights:
Day 1:
We'll meet at 4 p.m. at our Venice hotel, deeply nestled amidst the canals, bridges, and alleyways of this magical, preserved-in-amber city. After introductions, we'll set off on an orientation walk and then enjoy getting acquainted over a traditional Venetian dinner together. Light walking: 2–4 miles throughout the day on mostly level terrain. Sleep in Venice.
Day 2:
Historic Venice. Our local guide will join us this morning for a historical walking tour — with a modern Venetian's-eye view — through the backstreets of Venice, ending in St. Mark's Square and the shimmering, mosaic-filled Basilica. Along the way, we'll learn about the city's remarkable past and its challenging future. The afternoon and evening are free to explore the imposing Doge's Palace, take in a church concert, waltz on St. Mark's Square, or pub-crawl your way through this unique city. Strenuous walking: 2–8 miles throughout the day with lots of hills, stairs, and uneven terrain. Sleep in Venice.
Day 3:
Venice's Accademia Gallery and Lagoon. This morning we'll have our first real brush with the Renaissance — Venetian style — with a tour of the Accademia's treasure trove of great Venetian art, starring Titian, Veronese, Bellini, Tintoretto…and every shade of color imaginable. Then it's all aboard for a cruise into Venice's lagoon on our private boat. We'll visit your guide's favorite island, where you'll have free time to explore and enjoy lunch on your own. After returning, we'll set you free to discover Venice's other famous sights and find dinner on your own in the tangled maze of alleys and trattorias. Tonight, we'll regroup for a classic, romantic gondola ride through Venice's moonlit canals. Moderate walking: 2–6 miles throughout the day with some hills and stairs. Boat: 1 hour. Sleep in Venice.
Florence 3 nights:
Day 4:
Wonders of Renaissance Florence. At 8:30 am we'll check out from our hotel to take, at 10:00 am, a 2 hours high-speed train straight to Florence and hit the ground walking with a Renaissance tour of the city's historic center. We'll learn about Brunelleschi's magnificent cathedral dome, Ghiberti's Baptistery doors, and other creations that helped define this world-changing era. Tonight we'll share a hearty Tuscan dinner together. Moderate walking: 2–6 miles throughout the day with some hills and stairs. Sleep in Florence.
Day 5:
The Backstreets of Florence. A local scholar will join us this morning as we take a walking tour of the backstreets of Florence, with some fascinating peeks into Roman, medieval, and 19th-century Florentine life along the way. After exploring the highlights of the Bargello Museum, we'll continue our tour across the river, where we'll create today's tasty lunch during a fun and informative cooking class. Your afternoon will be free to see more of the city's museums. Strenuous walking: 2–8 miles throughout the day with lots of hills, stairs, and uneven terrain. Sleep in Florence.
Day 6:
The Uffizi and David. This morning we'll devote our time to the breathtaking Renaissance art of the Uffizi — home to the finest collection of Italian paintings anywhere — including works by Leonardo, Botticelli, Michelangelo, and more. After lunch, we'll visit the Accademia Gallery to marvel at the power of Michelangelo's rough-hewn Prisoners and his greatest masterpiece, David. Moderate walking: 2–6 miles throughout the day with some hills and stairs. Sleep in Florence.
Rome 3 nights:
Day 7:
Rome, the Eternal City. On this day we will take the high speed train to Rome. After checking in we'll take a neighborhood orientation walk on our way to today's late lunch together. We'll end our day as any good Roman would — with a stroll through the historic heart of the city, lacing together the classy Piazza Navona, splashy Trevi Fountain, and the remarkably preserved, 2,000-year-old Pantheon. Moderate walking: 2–6 miles throughout the day with some hills and stairs. Sleep in Rome.
Day 8:
The Vatican Museums and St. Peter's. Today we'll focus on Renaissance (Catholic) Rome. At the sprawling Vatican Museums we'll visit what seems like a limitless collection of treasures as you make your way to one of the world's most famous works of art: Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel. We'll then be introduced to the greatest church in Christendom: the awe-inspiring St. Peter's Basilica, home to Michelangelo's sublime Pietà. The rest of your day is free to wander through this immense church and explore more of the Eternal City on your own. Strenuous walking: 2–8 miles throughout the day with lots of hills, stairs, and uneven terrain. Sleep in Rome.
Day 9:
Monuments of Ancient Rome. We'll spend our morning uncovering ancient Rome, starting with a tour of multi-layered San Clemente — a 12th-century church sitting atop a fourth-century basilica and a previous Roman temple. Then we'll tour and hear vivid tales of the larger-than-life Colosseum and the birthplace of ancient Rome: the Forum. You'll be free this afternoon to wander through the nearby Palatine ruins, visit St. Peter-in-Chains Church (home to Michelangelo's Moses) or climb to the top of the Victor Emmanuel Monument to enjoy a panoramic city view. Tonight we'll feast together at our farewell dinner sharing travel memories and toasting new friends. Salute! Strenuous walking: 2–8 miles throughout the day with lots of hills, stairs, and uneven terrain. Sleep in Rome.
Day 10:
Our fantastic tour comes to an end after our farewell breakfast. Your La Dolce Vita Tour guide is available to help you with any post tour planning including airport transfers, leaving you well prepared for the road ahead.
Arrivederci!
Itinerary specifics subject to change. For the best experience, capacity is limited to 8 travelers per tour. Choose to join other travelers or form your own group with a minimum of 6 travelers.
Dates:
ICONIC SPRING & FALL TOURS: April 21-30 & October 21 - 30, 2024
TOUR PRICES
Starting at:
group size / price per person
1 - $8,999.00
2 - $8,605.00
3 - $7,241.00
4 - $6,500.00
5 - $5,941.00
6 - $5,382.00
7 - $5,369.00
8 - $5,291.00
Minchu M. Mendive - Certified Travel Advisor
Hotels & Flights
Tour Hotels
In case you wish to book pre- or post-tour hotel accommodations, please let us know if you need help.
Flights
Our price tours don’t include airfare, so your flight arrangements and transfers are completely up to you. Most tour members arrange to fly into Venice Marco Polo (VCE) and out of Rome Leonardo da Vinci (FCO) — choose "multicity" on flight-booking websites. Booking round-trip to one city will require a connecting flight, train trip, or additional overnight stay in Italy.
We suggest arriving a day before your tour begins to allow ample time to get over jet lag and be well-rested for the first few days of your tour.
For more information about transportation options for getting to and from your tour, contact your La Dolce Vita Touring advisor.
OTHER INFO:
* There is a dress code for churches and basilicas. Shoulders and knees must be covered, shorts, miniskirts, and sleeveless shirts are not permitted. It is recommended that you not take large bags on tours that include churches as storage is not always available
* Please wear comfortable footwear as the tours on your vacation involve a lot of walking
* The team at La Dolce Vita Touring is absolutely flexible and will customize your vacation to suit your personal needs. Are you traveling with children? We will provide the necessary assistance to adjust our packages to ensure that your vacation is truly memorable!
* Contact La Dolce Vira Touring for customization options on your vacation
FAQ
When should we start planning our trip?
Ideally, we ask for at least 3 months' advance notice, especially in the high season (May through September). Arrangements can be made on shorter notice, but you run the risk of missing out on the availability of our favorite hotels and guides. We want the best for our clients, and the more time we have, the more we can guarantee just that.
What are La Dolce Vita Touring's payment terms?
We require a 20% deposit upon approval of your vacation package. The balance is due 45 days prior to your date of travel.
Should I purchase travel insurance?
We strongly encourage you to buy travel insurance at the time of booking, in the event you must cancel and forfeit funds or in the unfortunate case of injury or loss. We offer travel insurance through out partner, Allianz.
What kind of information will we receive before our trip?
Approximately one month prior to your departure date, you will receive a La Dolce Vita Touring Travel Packet consisting of a detailed day-to-day itinerary, our list of recommended restaurants, a “Helpful Hints Guide” for Italy, and your specific destinations, plus detailed information and contacts for your accommodations, tours and transportation.
Can you give me a cost breakdown of my customized vacation and what is included?
The vacations we create are bundled packages and therefore we do not provide a cost breakdown. Our local suppliers give us bundled prices for the services provided and we do the same for our clients. We simply arrange for all your accommodations, transportation, local tour guides, restaurant reservations, and any other fun activities and experiences from the moment you arrive until the day of your departure.
CANCELLATION POLICY
La Dolce Vita Touring Cancellation Policy With respect to any Shore Excursion or Walking Tour booked with La Dolce Vita Touring, at least 24 hours notice must be provided to obtain a full refund. If less than 24 hours' notice is provided, no portion of your payment will be refundable. The following cancellation policy will apply with respect to any of the Vacation Packages on the website or a Customized Vacation Package booked with La Dolce Vita Touring.
1. Notice. Your notice of cancellation must be in writing (email will suffice), received during La Dolce Vita Touring's normal business hours, addressed to the electronic contact information provided on the Site.
2. Cancellation Fee. Except as otherwise provided in the voucher and in each case subject to the exceptions in Section 3 below, the following cancellation fees will apply:
* A non-refundable deposit of 20% is due at the time of confirmation
* For a cancellation between 30 to 21 calendar days before the tour begins: You will be charged a 40% cancellation fee.
* For a cancellation between 20 to 8 calendar days before the tour begins: You will be charged a 60% cancellation fee.
* For a cancellation between 7 days to the day the tour begins: No refund will be given.
* Refunds. Refunds will not be made until your payment has cleared, and any objection or chargeback period has expired. Exceptions are made under documented extenuating circumstances.
3. Tickets. Under no circumstances may you change or cancel an event that includes the sale of a ticket to a museum, a theater, musical or sport event. Ticket sales are final and cannot be changed once the purchase has been confirmed. If, before the execution of the purchased service, your payment via credit card or other payment mechanism is revoked or is not honored, this will be considered as a cancellation and the above cancellation fees will apply. The cost of museum tickets is always refunded when the museums are unexpectedly closed.
Minchu M. Mendive
Certified Travel Advisor
with more than four decades of experience