Rome, Florence & Venice

September 3 – 10

Double $4,649* Single $5,549; Triple $4,599

Included in Price: Round Trip Air from Toronto Intl Airport, Air Taxes and Fees/Surcharges of $180 per person (subject to increase until paid in full), Hotel Transfers

Not included in price: Cancellation Waiver and Insurance of $369 per person

* All Rates are Per Person and are subject to change, based on air inclusive package from Toronto

Collette’s Flagship: Collette’s tours open the door to a world of amazing destinations. Marvel at must-see sights, sample regional cuisine, stay in centrally located hotels and connect with new and captivating cultures. These itineraries offer an inspiring and easy way to experience the world, where an expert guide takes care of all the details.

Collette Experiences  Join a local expert and explore the rich history of Rome’s Colosseum.  Visit the Academy Gallery to view Michelangelo’s extraordinary David.  Take in a glass-blowing demonstration on Venice’s Murano Island.

Must-See Inclusions  Join a local guide on your panoramic tour featuring Rome's treasures.  Embark on a walking tour featuring Florence's artistic and architectural gems.  Come to know Venice, one of Italy's most unique cities, with a local expert.

Culinary Inclusions  Enjoy tastings of cheese, cured meats, bread, chocolate, gelato and more during a Bologna food walking tour.  Dine in true Italian style with wine at every included dinner!

Highlights: Rome, Colosseum, Florence, Academy Gallery, Duomo, Bologna, Food Walking Tour, Venice, St. Mark’s Square

Day 1: Thursday, September 3, Overnight Flight

Join us for a fabulous Italian adventure, featuring the magic of Rome, Florence and Venice. Come along with us and embrace the history, culture, art and romance of this incredible country.

Day 2: Friday, September 4, Rome, Italy - Tour Begins

Welcome to Rome. This evening, meet your fellow travellers over a welcome dinner. (D)

Day 3: Saturday, September 5 Rome - Classical Rome City Tour

This morning, a locally guided tour of Classical Rome will allow you to discover famous sights such as the Baths of Caracalla, the legendary Aventine and Palatine Hills, the ancient Circus Maximus, and the Arch of Constantine. During an in-depth visit to the Colosseum, your guide recounts its rich history. The mythic Pantheon and the Piazza Navona are also featured. Enjoy the afternoon at leisure. Perhaps a trip to Vatican City, with an optional tour to the Vatican Museums and St. Peter's Basilica, will be on your personal sightseeing list. (B)

Day 4: Sunday, September 6, Rome - Florence

This morning you continue to Florence – the “Cradle of the Italian Renaissance.” Upon arrival, discover

the Academy Gallery to see Michelangelo’s magnificent sculpture of David. The remainder of the day is yours to explore Florence’s cultural riches independently. (B)

Day 5: Monday, September 7, Florence

This morning, meet a local expert for a walking tour of this city that is a work of art all its own. Your guide will highlight the Piazza del Duomo, the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore and the Baptistry. You also visit the Piazza della Signoria with its impressive Palazzo Vecchio. (B)

Day 6: Tuesday, September 8, Florence - Bologna - Venice

Today, travel the beautiful Emilia Romagna region to Bologna, Italy’s foodie capital. Join a local expert on a leisurely paced walking tour highlighting the culinary side of this historic city. Explore one of Bologna’s oldest food markets and check out traditional food shops. Discover Bologna’s culture, architecture and history as you enjoy tastings of cheese, cured meats, bread, chocolate, gelato and so much more. Later, continue to Venice, often called La Serenissima (the most serene) of cities. The remainder of the day is yours to independently explore the hidden spots of this charming city; perhaps you will take an optional gondola ride. The locals say the best way to get to know Venice is to "get lost" here. (B, L)

Day 7: Wednesday, September 9, Venice

Explore enchanting Venice with its 117 tiny islands surrounded by a latticework of 150 canals and 400 bridges. Your Venetian journey opens on Murano Island* for a glass-blowing demonstration. Then we make our way to St. Mark’s Square, the city's lively hub. A local expert will guide you on a walking tour through the area highlighting St. Mark’s Basilica and the Clock Tower with its famous Moors. Gather tonight to toast the end of your Italian adventure at your farewell dinner. (B, D)

Day 8: Thursday, September 10, Venice - Tour Ends

Your tour comes to a close today, leaving you with many fond memories of incredible Italy. (B)

Itinerary at a glance Day 1 Overnight Flight Days 2, 3 Massimo D'Azeglio Hotel, Rome Days 4, 5 Starhotels Michelangelo, Florence Days 6, 7 Hotel Santa Marina Venice, Venice On some dates alternate hotels may be used.

Experience It! Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore

Standing tall among the many architectural wonders of Florence is the imposing Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral, also known as the "Duomo," the third largest cathedral in the world. The exterior is a colourful mix of pink, white and green marble; important artwork, statues and intricate stained glass adorn the interior. This famous landmark, designed by Arnolfo di Cambio, began construction in 1296. In the 15th century, the cathedral’s world-renowned dome was added, a creation of architect Filippo Brunelleshci. This architectural wonder was created without using a centering support for the masonry. This is a feat that has not been achieved by many, particularly with one of its size. It is still the biggest dome in the world where this technique was used. It weighs an estimated 37,000 tons and it’s said that a staggering four million bricks were used.

For important reservation information visit https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/980858.

You can also find this information on your tour documents.

Please Note:

PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP: PASSPORTS AND VISAS

Documentation is required by foreign governments for all trips outside Canada. You should visit Global Affairs Canada at www.international.gc.ca for general information about passports and visa requirements. Some countries require a visa in addition to a valid passport for entry, so it is important that you check with the appropriate foreign consulate or embassy for specific entry requirements and details you need to know regarding how and when to obtain the visa. Please remember the possession of valid passports and necessary visas are the responsibility of each client/passenger. If you would like assistance in ensuring you have the proper visa(s) for your trip outside of Canada, we would be happy to refer you to a company that can assist you.

We strongly recommend that you have a valid passport (with seven-month validity) for all travel outside Canada.

Please be advised transit visas may be required if connecting through a country on route to your final destination.

INSURANCE

When travelling outside Canada, health insurance is required. Contact your booking agent for more details.

TRAVEL CONDITIONS

There may be different living standards and practices and different standards and conditions with respect to the provision of services and accommodations outside of Canada.

Days of features are interchangeable.

Single accommodations are limited and are available on a first come, first served basis.

Most shops and businesses in Italy are closed on Sundays and on national/religious holidays.

Florence province museums, including the Uffizi and the Academy Gallery, are closed on Mondays.

Vatican Museums are not available on Sundays.

When reserving single accommodations, be advised that single rooms in Italy are often smaller in size.

To complete your tour, we include roundtrip airport-to-hotel transfers when purchasing our airfare with your tour. If you have arranged for your own air, we are pleased to provide you the option of purchasing these transfers. Please note that all transfers will leave at pre-scheduled times.

*On occasion, due to inclement weather, your visit to Murano Island may be substituted with a visit to a local glass factory in Venice.

The Academy Gallery Museum, the Vatican Museums and the Colosseum dates and times are all subject to change based on availability of reservations.

This tour includes moderate physical activity. The itinerary blends some longer days with shorter days and more leisure time. Walking tours, as well as walking slightly longer distances, up stairs or on uneven walking surfaces, should be expected.

Please be advised many airlines do not provide advance seat assignments until check-in at the airport. Advance seating will be subject to the airline's terms and conditions.

Economy air rate and schedule are applicable for groups of 10 or more travelling on the same flights and dates.

A deposit of $500 per person is due upon reservation. Reservations are made on a first come, first served basis.

For more information visit https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/980858

The Collette Passport Club When you travel with Collette, you’re automatically enrolled as a member of Collette’s loyalty program, The Collette Passport Club. As a member of The Collette Passport Club, you will receive a $150 travel credit for each trip you take† along with other great travel benefits, fun gifts, and special recognition.

Our Worry-Free Travel Protection Plan Sometimes life happens, and your carefully-made plans have to change on the fly. With Collette’s worry-free Travel Protection Plan, you can cancel your trip for any reason right up until the day prior to departure and receive a full refund (less the cost of insurance). You’re also covered on tour – if you have to return home early, need medical assistance, are delayed on tour for more than 12 hours, or lose your baggage, you’re covered. This is just one of the ways we are with you at every step of the journey – even before it begins. Learn more at gocollette.com/guided-travel#no_worries_waiver

The Collette Gateway The Collette Gateway is designed to be your "one-stop shop" with all the important travel information you need, plus a lot of experience-enhancing extras you’ll love. By registering for the Collette Gateway, you can discover more about your destination, explore exciting optional excursions, get a checklist of important things needed for a smooth journey, and access your Collette Passport Club features. Learn more at gateway.gocollette.com

† Full credit is valid for your next tour when travel is completed within 12 months of the original trip. $100 of the credit remains valid for travel within 13-24 months. Credit expires 24 months after the original trip.

You will visit the following 2 places:

Italy

Italy is a country in Southern Europe. It is home to the greatest number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the world. Much like its food, this country is an endless feast of experiences. It is famous worldwide for its delicious cuisine, its trendy fashion industry, luxury sports cars and motorcycles, diverse regional cultures and dialects, as well as for its beautiful coast, alpine lakes and mountain ranges (the Alps and Apennines).  There is also the country’s enormous cultural legacy: Tuscany alone has more classified historical monuments than any country in the world; there are considerable remnants of the Roman Empire all over the country, notably in Rome itself; and every region retains its own relics of an artistic tradition generally acknowledged to be among the world’s richest.

Hotel Florence