Sightseeing Highlights

• Rome: Guided visit of the Sistine Chapel, St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican and the Colosseum.
• Siena: Visit this medieval Tuscan city.
• Florence: Sightseeing tour with special audio system includes Signoria Square, Santa Croce Basilica, the Baptistery and views from Piazzale Michelangelo.
• Venice: Canal cruise by private launch. View St. Mark's Square, Doge's Palace and the Bridge of Sighs.
• Scenic drives: Through the Chianti vineyards of Tuscany, across the fertile Po Valley and over the Apennine Mountains.

Dining Highlights

• 1 Welcome Drink with your Tour Director in Rome
• 6 hot buffet breakfasts on tour
• 2 three-course dinners
• Farewell Dinner with wine in Rome

First Class Travel Highlights

• First Class hotel accommodation includes twin-bedded rooms with private facilities, all hotel service charges and tips, baggage handling fees and local taxes.
• Touring by luxury air-conditioned coach with reclining seats and a washroom onboard.
• Rome Fiumicino Airport transfers are provided on Days 1 and 7.
• Professional, multi-lingual Tour Director on tour.
• Specialised local guides in Rome and Florence.
• A stylish wallet, tour documents and map book journal.

Airport Transfers
Group transfers on arrival at Rome Fiumicino Airport will operate at 09.30, 12.30 and 15.30. Return transfers from the last hotel will arrive at Rome Fiumicino Airport at 07.00 and 09.30

• London Gateway: Trafalgar passengers purchasing either “Land Only” or “Land and Air” will receive Hotelink transfers during published hours of operation. This is providing that:
• Passengers are staying at a London hotel, booked by Trafalgar on the night of their arrival and the night before their departure.
• Passengers or their Travel Agents supply Trafalgar with accurate flight information not less than 21 days prior to departure.
• European Gateways: Trafalgar passengers purchasing “Land Only” will receive coach transfers at the times published in the brochure at NO extra charge. However, if these “Land Only” passengers arrive outside the brochure advertised coach transfer times they must make their own arrangements at their own expense.
• Passengers purchasing “Land and Air” from Trafalgar will receive coach transfers at times published in the brochure or, if they arrive outside of these set times, then a separate transfer will be booked for them. These transfers will be available only on the days of arrival and departure of the tour.
• Passengers purchasing pre and post tour accommodation must arrange their own transfers regardless of whether or not they have bought “Air” from Trafalgar.

Simply Italy (Winter 2008/2009) Optional Excursions

I25 - FLORENCE. Jewels of the Renaissance
A guided tour of the Accademia allows us to appreciate the most controversial sculpture in Italy, Michelangelo’s David. Our visit will be enhanced by the effective use of our excellent audio system.
34 (€)

I22 - FLORENCE. Lunch or Dinner, Wine & Music in the Chianti Hills
Take a scenic drive through the beautiful Tuscan countryside to a delightful regional restaurant set among the pines and cypress trees. Here an feast of gastronomic specialities awaits, accompanied by song and music.
57 (€)

I29 - FLORENCE. Medici entertainment and Sumptuous Banquet in a Renaissance Palace
Experience a feast for the eyes as well as the stomach! In a sumptuous Renaissance Palace, we will be served a delicious banquet of modern Tuscan cuisine - the main course brought to us by waiters in Renaissance dress. We will be entertained with Renaissance music, dancing and songs by a troop of singers and dancers in the flowing robes of the Medici era. Wine and coffee are included with the meal and show.
66 (€)

I24 - FLORENCE. Pisa & the Arno Valley
A half day excursion along the picturesque Arno Valley, through the land of Leonardo near Empoli, to ancient Pisa. Time to visit the Square of Miracles with its famous Cathedral, Baptistry and Leaning Tower within the imposing city walls.
35 (€)

I25a - FLORENCE. The Uffizi Galleries
We enjoy a guided visit of the Uffizi Galleries. Our visit will be enhanced by the effective use of our excellent audio system.
34 (€)

I21a - FLORENCE. Visit to the monastery of Certosa and Gourmet Lunch or Dinner
We begin the evening with a fascinating guided visit to Certosa, the monastery in the hills on the doorstep of Florence. Later we enjoy a gourmet lunch or dinner of local specialities at a nearby restaurant where the atmosphere will take you back in time. Wine and liqueurs at the monastery's distillery are included. (without the visit, 57euros)
66 (€)

I14 - ROME. Ancient and Christian Rome
Explore Rome’s past. Visit the Catacombs where the early Christians assembled to escape persecution and which were used as underground cemeteries. Then, on to the best preserved of the Roman Temples, the Pantheon - today used as a Christian church! On some tours a visit to the Chuch of St. Peter in Chains to see Michelangelo’s statue of Moses, will be visited instead of the Pantheon. Our visit will be enhanced by the effective use of our excellent audio system.
33 (€)

I7 - ROME. Evening Tour: Fountains and Dinner
A lighthearted introduction to the “Eternal City”. Make sure of a safe return to Rome as you toss coins in to the Trevi Fountain. Drive along the glamorous Via Veneto - famed as the setting of “la dolce vita”, and admire the splendour of the monuments in magnificent Piazza Venezia. Then relax and enjoy a typical Italian meal with drinks included.
57 (€)

I40 - ROME. Introduction to Rome by Night
Cameras at the ready for the many magnificent sights awaiting us as we ‘do as the Romans do’ and start the evening with a ‘passegiata’ (evening stroll) along the Via Condotti to the world-famous Spanish Steps in Rome’s most fashionable shopping area. The ‘Campidoglio’, Piazza Venezia and so much more are included on this evening visit before we linger in Piazza Navona with its many pavement cafés and trattorias to admire the seventeenth century fountains and architecture. NB On certain departures, the Spanish Steps will be substituted by the Piazza Rotonda, dominated by the mighty Pantheon.
32 (€)

I12 - ROME. Ostia Antica
Drive to the Mediterranean coast and visit the excavations of Ancient Ostia, the former harbour of Rome. These ruins offer perhaps a more complete picture of Roman urban life than either Rome or Pompeii. See the remains of the baths, theatre, apartment houses, drinking room, mosaics and wall paintings at this beautiful site, mirrored by Cypress trees and Umbrella pines. Our visit will be enhanced by the effective use of our excellent audio system.
36 (€)

I35 - ROME. Roman dinner and concert of live musical entertainment
We spend the evening in one of Rome’s finest restaurants. Here we will enjoy a delicious dinner, punctuated by a concert of typical Italian songs and ‘bel canto’ for which this country is justifiably famous! Sit back, relax and imbibe the special Roman atmosphere – the wine or soft drinks are also included!
57 (€)

I11 - ROME. Tivoli and Lunch or Dinner
An excursion to the ancient Sabine town of Tivoli situated a few miles outside Rome to enjoy the gardens and fountains of the Villa D’Este. You will visit its grottos and pavilions, the Avenue of a Hundred Fountains, and the Dragon Fountain of the Organ. We end the visit with a typical Italian lunch or dinner, wine, soft drinks and music. (without lunch/dinner 40)
59 (€)

I85 - VENICE Magical Venice
On certain departures, for operational reasons, tours I49 & I19 will be combined, excluding the drink.
60 (€)

I19 - VENICE. Gondola Serenade
An ideal introduction to this unique and magical city. Enjoy a romantic gondola journey along canals full of character and colour, while musicians and singers entertain. See the Grand Canal with its magnificent and elegant palaces, witnesses of the past splendours of the ‘Serenissima’.
32 (€)

I18 - VENICE. Lagoon Cruise with Lunch or Dinner
A half day off the beaten track! We are taken by private boat to the nearby islands in the lagoon of Venice. See the island of Murano and the Hermitage of San Francesco del Deserto. Lunch or dinner is taken at the island of the ‘fisherman’ - Burano - a photographer’s paradise. Drinks are also included.
65 (€)

I71 - VENICE. Venetian Glories
Accompanied by a local expert we are taken into the magnificent Doges’ Palace – home to the rulers of the Venetian republic for hundreds of years. We are shown the main highlights of the palace and its elegant courtyards, before entering the Byzantine Basilica of St. Mark the Evangelist, patron saint of the city of Venice. Here we admire the stunning golden mosaics and wonderful Byzantine architecture. (entrance fees included).
34 (€)

I49 - VENICE. Venice by Night
A scintillating introduction to this magical city! First we cruise along the Grand Canal by private water taxis admiring the elegant Palazzos. We see the Rialto Bridge and then reach the ‘most beautiful outdoor drawing room in the world’ - St. Mark’s Square. Here we will have time to wonder at the impressive architecture before enjoying an included drink at one of the chic ‘al fresco’ cafés whilst listening to the music of its own orchestra. We return to our coach on the mainland by private motor launch. (1 drink inc.)
43 (€)

Child Prices: Apply to children under the age of 16.