Italy Adventure Tour

We meet in front of the Turkish Airlines counter in the departures area of Istanbul Airport’s International Terminal. After completing baggage and ticket procedures, we fly to Rome with Turkish Airlines. Upon arrival, we begin our Outlet and Lake District (Castel Gandolfo-Nemi) tour. Built around a castle, Castel Gandolfo is known for its stone streets, lake and natural surroundings. The Papal Palace in the town centre served as a retreat for popes for centuries. The palace gardens have walking paths lined with flowers. We then visit Nemi, known for its strawberry fields. The Strawberry Festival takes place here every year, with celebrations throughout the town. After our visit to Nemi, we have free time for shopping in Italy’s best-known outlet district. These shopping centres, visited by locals and tourists, offer a variety of souvenirs and items for personal use. You can take a break at these centres after exploring Rome’s historical and cultural sites. At the end of the tour, we transfer to our hotel.

After breakfast, we depart for Rome. Guests who wish to join can take the optional Rome Monuments Tour (55 Euro). Rome was once home to emperors, gladiatorial contests and works of art. During the tour, we view Castel Sant’Angelo, where Cem Sultan was imprisoned, from the outside. Built as a mausoleum by the Roman Emperor Hadrian, Castel Sant’Angelo was later converted into a fortress and used as a prison and papal fortress during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. Our next stop is the Colosseum in the city centre. After viewing this building, once the setting for contests involving gladiators and wild animals, from the outside, we continue to the Trevi Fountain (Fontana di Trevi), made famous by the film La Dolce Vita. Here, we see the fountain and its statues. Other sights on our route include the Roman Forum, once a centre of social, commercial and religious life; Piazza Venezia, home to the white marble Vittoria Emanuele monument; the Temple of Hadrian; and the Pantheon. Our route also includes the Spanish Steps, consisting of 135 steps, with the sunken boat fountain at their base. We then head to St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican.

After breakfast, you have free time throughout the day. Guests who wish to join can take the optional Naples-Pompeii tour (135 Euro). We head to the ancient city of Pompeii at the foot of Mount Vesuvius. Buried under ash following the eruption of Vesuvius in AD 79, Pompeii was an important commercial and cultural centre during the Roman Empire, where agriculture, trade and art flourished. Traces of daily life in the city, covered by layers of lava and ash after the eruption, have survived to this day, making Pompeii an open-air museum. We then continue to Naples and begin our city tour upon arrival. Founded by the Greeks in the 7th century BC, Naples is the capital of the Campania region in southern Italy. An important centre during the Roman Empire, the city has been home to many cultures and civilisations from the Middle Ages to the present day. The City Centre (Centro Storico) is known for its narrow streets, historic churches, ancient ruins and squares. After the city tour, you have free time. We meet at the time specified by our guide and return to our hotel. You then have free time to rest.

After breakfast, we depart from Rome for Florence. On arrival, we begin a panoramic city tour of Florence. Sights on the tour include Santa Maria del Fiore Duomo, which has Italy’s 3rd-highest dome, the Baptistery, known for its door, and Piazza Della Republica (Republic Square). After the city tour, there is free time. The sights to be explored afterwards include Dante’s House, the Old Bridge, Uffizi Palace and Signoria Square. The programme also includes Palazzo Vecchio, where the Medici family ruled Florence; Piazza Della Signoria, home to the Renaissance statues of Hercules and David; the Uffizi Art Gallery; the historic Ponte Vecchio, the city’s oldest bridge; and the Medici Corridor. The House of Dante Alighieri, author of the 13th-century epic poem The Divine Comedy, is also among the places to be visited. At the end of the tour, you will be transferred to your hotel in Montecatini. Overnight at your hotel.

After breakfast, you have free time for the rest of the day. Guests who wish can join the optional Toscana tour (135 €), arranged by our guide at an extra charge. The tour visits Portofino and Pisa in summer, and Siena, San Gimignano and Pisa in winter. The first stop on the summer tour is Portofino, a coastal town on the Italian Riviera. After a walk among the colourful houses and around the small harbour, we travel to Pisa. After seeing the Leaning Tower of Pisa and the adjacent Square of Miracles (Piazza dei Miracoli), we return to our hotel. Overnight at our hotel. The first stop on the winter tour is Siena. The city has a strong neighbourhood culture, with 17 neighbourhoods in total. During the city tour, we see Campo Square, where the neighbourhoods compete in the Palio horse races, the unfinished Siena Duomo and the city's narrow streets. We then travel to San Gimignano, which retains its medieval character. Here, we explore the historic towers built by rival noble families in the 12th and 13th centuries and visit Cisterna Square.

After breakfast in Florence, we check out of our rooms and depart for Milan by private coach. On arrival, we begin our city tour. Located in northern Italy, Milan is a centre for fashion, design and business. One of the city's landmarks, Milan Cathedral (Duomo di Milano), is an example of Gothic architecture. The world's fifth-largest church, it is also one of Europe's largest Gothic cathedrals. Its white marble exterior features detailed carvings, and its front facade has numerous statues. The golden Madonnina statue at the top of the cathedral is regarded as the city's patron saint. Located next to the Duomo, Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is a shopping arcade known for its glass roof and mosaic floors. The arcade houses luxury brand stores, cafés and restaurants. It has four main entrances, the best known of which faces Piazza del Duomo. From this entrance, visitors can see how the building's architecture combines modern engineering with traditional art. At the end of the tour, we transfer you to your hotel in Milan. You then have free time to rest.

After breakfast, we depart for Lake Garda. Located in the lake district of northern Italy, Lake Garda is known for its natural beauty and thermal waters. Its waters have shades of emerald green and blue. You can walk around the lake or enjoy the views. After visiting Lake Garda, we set off for Venice. Upon arrival at Tronchetto Square in Venice, we take a short ferry ride to San Marco Square and begin our panoramic city tour. At the end of the square stands San Marco Basilica, known for its gold mosaics and Byzantine architecture. The Bridge of Sighs (Ponte dei Sospiri), where prisoners took a final look at the city as they were led to their cells, is also located here. Sights along the tour include the Grand Canal, the Rialto Bridge over the canal, the Doge’s Palace, the Bell Tower and Clock Tower, and Giorgio Maggiore Church. Waterways are a distinctive feature of Venice’s cityscape. Guests who wish may join the optional Grand Canal Tour (55 €), arranged by our guide at an extra charge. Palaces dating from the Renaissance line this canal, one of the city’s main transport routes. After the tour, you will be transferred to your hotel in Venice and have free time to rest.

After breakfast, we check out of our rooms and have free time until the transfer. We meet at the time announced by our guide and take our private bus to Venice Airport. We fly to Istanbul with Turkish Airlines. Our tour ends upon arrival in Istanbul. We hope to see you again on another tour.