A 'small group tour' through the 'Heart of Italy' - Rome and Tuscany. You love art, history, wine and unforgettable Tuscan landscapes, but you prefer to avoid renting a car, trains will not take you to some of those charming small towns, and you are not keen about travelling with a large group on a tour bus. If that is you, then a small group tour with no more than 16 participants may just be the answer.

This Heart of Italy Program includes the following services:

• Small coach or minivan, depending on actual number of participants
• Tour Escort - for groups of 7 or more / Tour Host - for groups of 2 - 6 persons
• 3 nights in a double room in a 4-star hotel in Rome
• 3 nights in a double room in a 4-star hotel in Florence
• 6 breakfasts
• 4 dinners and 1 lunch - with wine included
• Tour of the Vatican, including entrance fee
• Rome Walking Tour of Colosseum & Ancient Rome
• Wine and olive oil tasting in Chianti
• Visit of Siena, and free time in San Gimignano
• Walking tour of Florence
• Full Day visit of Chianti
• Luggage handling at hotels
• Local taxes (except possible city taxes that have to be paid directly by guests to the hotel)

Services not included:

• Arrival and departure transfers
• Baggage handling at airport
• City taxes payable directly at hotel by each hotel guest
• Tips for driver, guides, meal service, hotel services 
• Beverages and meals not mentioned in 'services included'
• Optional excursions
• Travel insurance

Tour Departure Dates 2012:

MAR 23
APR 20
MAY 4, 11, 18, 25
JUN 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
JUL 13
SEP 7, 14, 21, 28
OCT 5, 12, 19, 26
NOV 2, 9

Itinerary

Day 1 - Friday - Arrival in Rome
Welcome to Italy! Upon arrival at Rome airport please proceed through the Passport Control and collect your luggage inside the customs area. transfer on your own to the hotel, or let us add an optional transfer to your program. The rest of the day is at leisure to explore the Eternal City. In the evening, meeting at the hotel with tour host which will provide information regarding the program and literature of the destination that are about to be visited. Overnight in Rome. (-/-/-)

Day 2 - Saturday - Rome
After breakfast, transfer to the Vatican for a guided visit of the Museum. Vatican art and history have always left a profound impression on visitors to Rome: discover the masterpieces of Greek and Roman ancient art, works of Raphael, Michelangelo and Caravaggio, the Sistine Chapel and St Peter's Basilica. after the tour ends, return to the hotel by private coach. afternoon available to explore the town. In the evening, enjoy a tasty dinner in a local restaurant. Overnight in Rome. (B/-/D)

Day 3 - Sunday - Rome 
Morning at leisure to explore on your own the many squares of Rome or just stroll around the city. Meet in the afternoon to live the history of ancient Rome.this itinerary will give you the opportunity to learn about the mythical origins, the thousands years of history and legendary heroes who made Rome “Caput Mundi with a visit to the Colosseum. Once inside, breathe the bloody past of the amphitheatre and its atmosphere lead by passionate and expert guides. tonight you will enjoy a great dinner served in a traditional Roman trattoria, away from the touristic crowds and amongst the locals. Overnight in Rome. (B/-/-)

Day 4 - Monday - Rome > Siena > San Gimignano > Florence
In the morning, meeting with the driver and departure to the Siena. The drive itself is a magnificent path along the roads of tuscany, where it is possible to enjoy the view of hills covered by vineyards, olives tree, small villages and original bell towers. Upon arrival in Siena, meeting with your local guide in hotel and departure for a walking tour of Siena, probably Italy's loveliest medieval city. Siena's heart is Il Campo or Campo's square, where the famous horse race Il Palio, that takes place two times each summer. the town offers magnificent masterpieces and incredible views. lunch will be served in a typical farm house outside the town, where it is possible to see the hills covered by vineyards and olive trees. Continue to Florence and en route stop in San Gimignano. Free time in town. San Gimignano is listed as a World Heritage site and fascinates for its medieval look. Its high towers create a unique skyline. Enjoy the village on your own. Arrival in Florence late afternoon. Overnight in Florence. (B/L/-)

Day 5 - Tuesday - Florence
In the morning, enjoy a walking tour of the city with guide. Lorenzo de Medici transformed Florence into the cradle of the Renaissance by attracting the best artists, architects and writers of the time such as leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo and Botticelli to whom he commissioned various works. Visit Piazza della Signoria, Palazzo Vecchio, the Dome with Giotto's bell tower, Ponte Vecchio, Santa Croce. Spend the afternoon at leisure exploring Florence on your own, visiting the Uffizi or the accademia or taking the opportunity to visit Pisa or Lucca. Dinner will be served in a local tuscan restaurant. Overnight in Florence. (B/-/D)

Day 6 - Wednesday - Chianti
Breakfast. Full day visit of Chianti area with wine and cheese tasting along scenic roads. Farewell dinner will be served in a local restaurant in Florence. Overnight in Florence. (B/-/D)

Day 7 - Thursday - Depart Florence
Breakfast. Independent transfer to airport or Railways Station in connection with your own flight/train. Or book an optional transfer to the airport or railway station with your tour.  (B/-/-)

If this is your first time to Rome, we suggest an optional tour of ancient Roman sites - the Colosseum and the Roman Forum. For return visitors interested in the Roman World, there are tours of the Palatine Hill and a visit to the Musei Capitolini, on the famous Campidoglio square, designed by Michaelangelo. For paintings and sculpture, don't miss the Galleria Borghese, Rome's finest gallery. In Florence, you may want to use some of your free time to visit the Medici Chapels and the Church of Santa Maria Novella. And if you are planning to book this tour, you can also add a 3-night extension program to Venice. Just ask us for details.

Sundays in Rome is a good day to visit the huge "Parco Regionale dell'Appia Antica. It is named after Rome's first Imperial Highway, built in 312 B.C. Parts of the road become pedestrian zones on Sundays, and once you enter the park you quickly forget how close you are to a large city. In Florence, try getting early one morning to the Piazza della Signoria, before your fellow tourists arrive, and enjoy the immense beauty of this square, its many statues, the Neptune fountain and the Palazzo Vecchio, before it becomes crowded and noisy.

Note: This is a 'land only' tour. Price does not include transportation to/from Italy. Ask your travel agent or LomaVer Tours for a quotation for airfare and other optional services.