Renaissance Tuscany – Cinque Terre – Venice, 6 days

Gathering early in the morning at the "Macedonia" airport and boarding our plane for our direct flight to Bologna. Arrival and immediate departure for Florence. This is followed by a tour of the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance known for its fine arts and architecture. We will see the Church of the Holy Cross, Santa Croce, the most impressive church in Florence and burial place of 270 famous Florentines, including Galileo, Michelangelo and Machiavelli. We will admire the Ponte Vecchio bridge, with its houses and shops that seem to float over the river, one of the most characteristic images of Florence. In Piazza de la Signoria we will see the Palazzo Vecchio, seat of the local government for seven hundred years, which today houses remarkable works of sculpture and we will reach Piazza San Giovanni, home to the third largest cathedral in Europe, Santa Maria Del Fiore, with Brunelleschi's famous dome, a trademark of the city. Then departure to our hotel. Arrangement in our rooms. Evening free in the beautiful town of Montecatini.

Breakfast and departure for the historic city of Pisa. On our tour we will see in the "Field of Miracles" the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa, the bell tower of the Cathedral, the Baptistery and the monumental cemetery of Campo Santo. Then we depart for the jewel of Tuscany, San Gimiano. San Gimiano is located in the wine region of Tuscany. This beautiful medieval village is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The medieval towers are the trademark of the city. The city developed a lot from the Middle Ages onwards due to the fertile hills of the area. Our next destination is the city-museum, Siena. The city is divided into seventeen “Contrada” (neighborhoods) and each of them has the name of an animal or an object. This quaint country town has an aura of a bygone era due entirely to its intact architecture! Free time for coffee and lunch. Then return to our hotel

Breakfast and optional departure for the famous Cinque Terre villages perched on the craggy cliffs of the southern Italian Riviera. The area is one of the most beautiful in western Italy and has been declared a World Cultural Heritage by UNESCO. We will visit them on a unique cruise and admire the unique villages of Riomaggiore, Manarola and Monterosso, where we will have free time for lunch. Then we will visit the village of Vernazza which is probably the most beautiful village in the area and we will have the opportunity to wander through the beautiful streets and end up at the ruins of the castle with a breathtaking view. Finally, we will visit Porto Venere built on the edge of the Italian Riviera on a rocky peninsula. After the end of the cruise we will visit Lucca one of the most picturesque medieval cities in Europe. Built by the Etruscans, the city is surrounded by an excellent 16th century moated wall and is located in the center of the modern city. Piazza San Michele with the church of the same name from 1070, the Duomo, the Palazzo de la Provincia are impressive. Free time for dinner in the central Octagon Square with street musicians and traditional Italian restaurants. In the evening return to our hotel.

Breakfast and immediate departure for romantic Verona. Arrival in the city of Shakespeare's eternal lovers, on the banks of the Adige river. In the central Bra Square. we will see the famous Roman Arena, and continue to the beautiful Piazza del Erbe and dei Signori, surrounded by excellently preserved medieval buildings, and of course to the "Capulets' mansion" with the legendary Juliet's balcony. Free time and departure for Padua. Arrival and settling in our rooms.

Breakfast and then we will start our tour of one of the largest and most picturesque cities in northern Italy. The pride of the city is its historic university, one of the first educational institutions in Europe to obtain the title of university (1222), in the history of which we meet leading names of letters and arts such as Galileo and Copernicus. We will tour the city to see many of Padua's most important sights. Then we will depart for Venice. Arrival at Trogeto to take the vaporetto (own tickets) to St. Mark's Square. We begin our tour. It is a city-museum, a city where time seems to have stopped somewhere during the Renaissance. During our walk we will admire the famous St. Mark's Square, the "Most Beautiful Salon in the World" according to Napoleon where we will see the homonymous church, the Doge's Palace, the Clock Tower and the Bridge of Sighs, the old prisons as well as and the Greek Orthodox Church of St. George. Our tour will end at the Rialto Bridge, the most beautiful bridge that connects the two banks of the Grand Canal. Free time in the picturesque alleys of the city, where you will find Murano workshops as well as boutiques of well-known designers. For your lunch, we recommend the Rivetta trattoria with traditional Venetian dishes, as well as the Caravella restaurant, hangout for celebrities, with its famous risottos and very good wine. Then we take the boat for the return.

Breakfast and then departure for Lake Garda, the largest lake in Italy. A popular tourist destination, the lake was formed at the end of the Ice Age. It has many small islands that can be reached by boat and is ideal for sports such as skiing and sailing. We will head to medieval Sirmione, the most beautiful and popular resort on the lake. We will see the imposing castle, the old town with its stone houses and picturesque alleys. We will admire the house of Maria Callas, the villa of an ancient Roman rich lord and the walls. Then free time for lunch. Then departure to Treviso airport for the return flight.