9-Nights Classic Journey - Italian Lakes to Rome from $4,095

CIE Tours

OFFER ID 1631212

Journey from the fashionable city of Milan to the breathtaking shores of Lake Como and Lake Garda. Explore the romantic city of Verona, taste wine in Valpolicella, and experience the experience the timeless beauty of Venice, Florence, and Rome. This tour features must-see attractions, local cuisine, and authentic Italian culture for an unforgettable travel experience.

Authentic Local Experiences:

Experience the enchantment of Verona, the legendary setting of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, and be charmed by its picturesque piazzas, romantic atmosphere, and rich history.
Marvel at the magnificent Duomo in Milan as you discover the Italian capital of fashion and design, with its cosmopolitan atmosphere blending centuries of culture with modern style.

Dining Experiences:

9 breakfasts (B), 1 lunch (L) and 5 dinners (D)

Trip Highlights:

Lake Como
Lake Garda
Masi Winery Tour & Dinner
Michelangelo’s David at Accademia Gallery
Milan Duomo and City Tour
Murano Glass Demonstration in Venice
Roman Colosseum
Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel & St Peter’s Basilica
Verona Walking Tour

Hotels:

Duo Milan Porta Nuova, Milan (2)
Hotel Veronesi La Torre, near Verona (1)
Hotel Continental Venice, Venice (2)
Anglo American Hotel Florence, Curio Collection by Hilton, Florence (2)
NH Collection Roma Giustiniano, Rome (2)

9 nights from $4,095 per person

Itinerary

CIE Tours: Classic Journey - Italian Lakes to Rome

Day 1: Milan Arrival & City Tour
Your tour departs from your hotel in the heart of Milan at 3:00 PM. Set out for a panoramic city tour with a local guide and discover this cosmopolitan city’s historic role as a capital of art, fashion and finance. The highlight of your tour will be a visit to the magnificent Duomo di Milano, a masterpiece of Gothic architecture. This cathedral, one of the world’s largest, took nearly six centuries to complete after construction began in 1386. Enjoy a welcome drink and dinner with your group.

Hotel: Duo Milan Porta Nuova
Meals: (D)

Day 2: Lake Como
Depart Milan for a scenic day trip to Lake Como, renowned for its dramatic alpine backdrop and elegant villas. Enjoy free time in Como to explore independently. You might choose to relax by the sparkling waters, take a cruise to one of the charming lakeside villages, or stroll through the lush gardens of historic villas. Indulge in local cuisine at a waterfront café as you wish, and soak in the breathtaking mountain views. Return to Milan for a free evening.

Hotel: Duo Milan Porta Nuova
Meals: (B)

Day 3: Lake Garda and Masi Winery
Travel to Sirmione, a picturesque town of fairytale architecture and natural beauty known as “the pearl of Lake Garda.” Enjoy a short orientation tour of the lively town center with its Roman ruins, medieval churches, thermal springs, and a moat-surrounded castle. Enjoy free time for lunch. Continue toward Verona and arrive at your hotel near the city. In the evening, venture into the Valpolicella wine region for a tour of the renowned Masi Winery and its cellars, followed by dinner.

Hotel: Hotel Veronesi La Torre
Meals: (B, D)

Day 4: Verona & Venice
Start the day with a walking tour of Verona, famed as the setting of Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet,” then enjoy time to explore independently. The town center is filled with historic architecture from Roman, medieval, and Renaissance times, as well as lively piazzas and scenic river views. Travel on to Venice and dine with your group in your hotel.

Hotel: Hotel Continental Venice
Meals: (B, D)

Day 5: Murano Glass & Venice Sightseeing
Start your morning by crossing the Venetian Lagoon to Murano Island to explore its centuries-old glassmaking tradition by watching a demonstration by artisans at a historic factory. Return to Venice for a guided walking tour. The rest of the day is yours to discover the city’s enchanting canals, romantic architecture, and labyrinthine streets independently, and savor local cuisine as you please.

Hotel: Hotel Continental Venice
Meals: (B)

Day 6: Bologna & Florence
Stroll through Bologna on a walking tour with your tour director and discover this vibrant city, celebrated for its medieval towers and a legendary food scene. With free time for an independent lunch, you’ll have some time to taste why Bologna is known as the culinary capital of Italy. Continue to Florence, the cradle of the Renaissance, where you’ll dine at your hotel with your group.

Hotel: Anglo American Hotel Florence, Curio Collection by Hilton
Meals: (B, D)

Day 7: Florence Accademia & Walking Tour
Discover this amazing city of art, architecture, and genius, beginning with a guided visit to the Accademia Gallery to see Michelangelo’s David. Continue on a walking tour with a local guide, passing highlights like the Duomo, Piazza della Signoria, and Ponte Vecchio. Enjoy a Tuscan lunch in the heart of the city. The afternoon and evening are free for you to explore and dine as you please.

Hotel: Anglo American Hotel Florence, Curio Collection by Hilton
Meals: (B, L)

Day 8: Rome & Vatican Museums
Travel south through the rolling landscapes of Tuscany and the green hills of Umbria to Rome, where you will visit the Vatican Museums with a local guide. Marvel at Michelangelo’s iconic frescoes in the Sistine Chapel and his Pieta inside St Peter’s Basilica. Your evening is free to savor Roman cuisine and stroll the historic streets as you wish.

Hotel: NH Collection Roma Giustiniano
Meals: (B)

Day 9: Colosseum & Rome Sightseeing
Discover the wonders of Rome as you explore with a local guide, seeing evocative ruins, glorious architecture, and hidden piazzas. Tour the legendary Colosseum, where gladiators once battled before roaring crowds. The afternoon is yours to experience this magnificent city as you please, before joining up again with your group for a farewell dinner.

Hotel: NH Collection Roma Giustiniano
Meals: (B, D)

Day 10: Tour ends in Rome
Your tour ends after breakfast.

Meals: (B)

Meal Abbreviations: B: Breakfast, L: Lunch, D: Dinner

Featured Destinations

Sorrento

Sorrento is a town of extraordinary beauty and is known as a popular gateway to Italy's most spectacular stretch of coastline - the Amalfi Drive lined with fishing villages and famous resorts. The seaside resort of Amalfi sits with weathered houses scrambling up steep cliffs. Visitors marvel at its location and its magnificent cathedral. The religious sanctuary of Cloister of St. Francis is worth a visit. The tiny, exclusive resort of Positano has its famous world-class hotel, San Pietro. Excavations of the ruined city of Pompeii, which was destroyed in 79 A.D. during the disastrous eruption of Mount Vesuvius, give visitors a vivid impression of life in a very wealthy ancient city and the tragic end of its population. The Isle of Capri ranks as one of the most beautiful islands and has captured visitors for centuries with excellent climate, spectacular landscape and fantastic sea caverns. Capri has lavish villas, elegant hotels, chic boutiques and quaint restaurants. Museo Correale contains a death mask of poet Torquato Tasso and some special editions of his works, pictures, furniture and porcelain.

Excursions

Sorrento: The Ancient City of Pompeii - 6 Hours

Sorrento: The Iconic Amalfi Coast - 6 Hours

Sorrento: Capri Exploration by Private Motorboat – 8 hours

Venice

With a great historic past and incomparable art treasures, Venice is renowned as one of the world’s great cities. Its 118 islands are separated by more than 150 canals and spanned by 400 bridges. During Venice's artistic golden age many magnificent structures were erected to create world-famous masterpieces. One of the best sightseeing routes is along Grand Canal, with many palaces lining the famous waterway. St. Mark’s Square offers access to some of Venice’s most famed attractions - St. Mark’s Basilica and Doge’s Palace. From Piazza San Marco, a maze of narrow streets are lined with shops, cafés and restaurants. A popular pastime is sitting at an outdoor café facing the square while people-watching and letting the whole marvelous scenario unfold. Venice’s Murano, Burano and Torcello Islands comprise an area famous as home of Venice’s glass-blowing industry and known for their charm, skilled lace-making and medieval monuments. Relax on a gondola ride, see art treasures in museums, churches and palaces, and have a sumptuous meal - all in this incomparable city.

Excursions

Venice: Splendours of Venice Walking Tour - 4 hours

Venice: Venice for Art Lovers Walking Tour - 4 hours

Venice: The Roman City of Verona - 7 hours

Venice - St. Marks, Grand Canal and Murano - 6 hours

Venice: Lagoon Islands - 7 hours

The story of Murano and Burano

The Canal Grande cruise followed by a walking tour of Venice

Rome

Sprawled across seven legendary hills, romantic and beautiful Rome was one
of the great centers of the ancient world. Although its beginning is shrouded
in legend and its development is full of intrigue and struggle, Rome has always
been and remains the Eternal City.

Rome enjoyed its greatest splendor during the 1st and 2nd centuries when art
flourished, monumental works of architecture were erected, and the mighty Roman
legions swept outward, conquering all of Italy. These victorious armies then
swept across the Mediterranean and beyond to conquer most of the known world.
With Rome's establishment as capital of the western world, a new ascent to glory
began.

Today's Rome, with its splendid churches, ancient monuments and palaces, spacious
parks, tree-lined boulevards, fountains, outdoor cafes and elegant shops, is
one of the world’s most attractive and exciting cities. Among the most famous
monuments is the Colosseum. As you walk its cool, dark passageways, imagine
the voices that once filled the arena as 50,000 spectators watched combats between
muscled gladiators and ferocious animals.

Stop to see the remains of the Forum, once the city's political and commercial
center. In later times, Rome's squares were enhanced with such imposing structures
as the Vittorio Emanuele Monument and grandiose fountains like the Fontana di
Trevi. Join the millions who stand in awe of Christendom’s most magnificent
church and admire the timeless masterpieces of Michelangelo's frescoes in the
Sistine Chapel.

Rome jars the senses and captures the soul. Grasp all you can during the short,
precious time you have available in the Eternal City. With so much to see and
do, a day or two will only allow you a sampling of the city's marvelous treasures.

Caution: As in many big cities and tourist destinations purse snatching
and pickpocketing is common. Valuable jewelry and excess cash are best left
in a safety deposit box in your hotel.

Shopping For most visitors shopping for beautiful Italian leather articles,
designer shoes, fashions for men and women, linens, knitwear, silk scarves and
ties is a favorite pastime. Except for tourist-oriented shops, the majority
of stores are closed on Sundays. Some of the department stores, such as Rinascente,
open in the late afternoon on Sundays.

Cuisine Rome's choice of restaurants is mindboggling as is the variety
of cuisine. Whether your meal is at a top-rated restaurant or a rustic trattoria,
you can be sure that you will enjoy your food, especially when accompanied by
wines from the hill towns surrounding Rome.

Other Sights Rome's attractions are endless, and depending on how much
time you have at your disposal a careful selection has to be made about what
to see. Be aware of horrendous traffic conditions and major construction work
all around the city in preparation of Jubilee 2000, the Holy Year. Some of the
sights not to be missed:

Piazza Venezia - This busy square is easily recognized by its imposing Vittorio
Emanuele II Monument. The white marble structure was inaugurated in 1911 as
a symbol of Italy’s unification.

The Forum - Once the civic heart of ancient Rome, today the remains include
a series of ruins, marble fragments, isolated columns and some worn arches.

Colosseum - No visit to Rome is complete without a stop at this awe-inspiring
theater, which is among the world’s most celebrated buildings. Here ancient
Rome flocked to see gladiatorial contests and numerous other spectacles.

Trevi Fountain - Take a stroll to Rome's famous fountain. A spectacular fantasy
of mythical sea creatures and cascades of splashing water, the fountain is one
of the city's foremost attractions. Legend has it that visitors must toss a
coin into the fountain to ensure their return to Rome.

St. Peter's Square - Part of Vatican City, this square created by Bernini
is considered one of the loveliest squares in the world. Twin Doric colonnades
topped with statues of various saints and martyrs flank either side of the square.
In the center stands an 84-foot obelisk, brought from Egypt in 37 A.D.

St. Peter's Basilica - At the head of the square stands Christendom's most
magnificent church, which was begun in 1452 on the site where St. Peter was
buried. Throughout the following 200 years, such Renaissance masters as Bramante,
Michelangelo, Raphael and Bernini worked on its design and created an unparalleled
masterpiece. Of special note are Michelangelo's Pieta and the bronze canopy
over the high altar by Bernini. The immense dome was designed by Michelangelo.

Vatican Museum - To see this museum's immense collection would take days.
As you enter, there are special posters that plot a choice of four color-coded
itineraries. They are repeated throughout the museum and are easy to follow.
It is a good idea to pickup a leaflet at the main entrance and concentrate on
exhibits of major interest. Of course, the Sistine Chapel is a must. Most likely
you may have to wait in line to enter.

Florence

Vacation Details

Valid Date Ranges

04/04/2026 - 04/13/2026

from $4,495 per person

04/18/2026 - 04/27/2026

from $4,495 per person

05/02/2026 - 05/11/2026

from $4,645 per person

05/09/2026 - 05/18/2026

from $4,645 per person

05/30/2026 - 06/08/2026

from $4,645 per person

06/06/2026 - 06/15/2026

from $4,845 per person

06/27/2026 - 07/06/2026

from $4,845 per person

07/11/2026 - 07/20/2026

from $4,295 per person

08/08/2026 - 08/17/2026

from $4,245 per person

08/22/2026 - 08/31/2026

from $4,245 per person

09/12/2026 - 09/21/2026

from $4,645 per person

09/19/2026 - 09/28/2026

from $4,645 per person

10/10/2026 - 10/19/2026

from $4,545 per person

10/24/2026 - 11/02/2026

from $4,545 per person

11/07/2026 - 11/16/2026

from $4,095 per person

* This departure has been designated a guaranteed departure by the operator, meaning that the minimum number of guests has been met, although still subject to weather and other conditions.

Prices Start At

from $4,095 per person

Length

9 Nights

Air City

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Vacation Rating

Deluxe
Fine dining, on-site bars or lounges and room service with extended hours are characteristic of deluxe establishments. Guest services usually include valet parking, concierge services, baggage assistance and laundry services. Other on-site facilities often include shops and boutiques, full service spas, full fitness facilities with pools and tennis courts. Business amenities may include available up-to-date technology and support staffs available for services. Attention to detail is apparent in the guestrooms which typically have stylish furnishings, quality bedding and bath products and often provide an evening turn down service.

Remarks

Prices are per person, land only, based on double occupancy, subject to availability and change without notice. Taxes additional. Single supplement available. Surcharges may apply. Internal and international airfare not included. All pricing and accommodations are subject to availability. Full terms and conditions apply. Rates may vary by date of travel; please inquire for the best prices for your preferred travel dates. Itinerary and map subject to change. Prices subject to availability and changes without notice. Some restrictions may apply.

All fares are quoted in US Dollars.

OFFER ID

1631212

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Merced Travel

1211 Cabella Circle
Lady Lake, FL 32159
USA

(209) 383-1511 Alternate (209) 658-6518