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Discover Italy Tour: Lakes, Tuscany, Umbria and Rome
Tour Features: Stay and Visit ® Italy – Orofino Tours presents an unforgettable tour of Italian lakes, Tuscany, Umbria and Rome. Unpack your luggage and begin enjoying the “dolce vita” while in our beautiful, hospitable four-star hotels. Dinners (D) will be included unless not indicated. Breakfasts (B) will be continental style buffets. Day 1 - Depart from your city to Milano Day 2 – Milan & Cernobbio - We are met at Milan's Malpensa Airport and taken to beautiful lake Como to our hotel in Cernobbio located about 40km North of Milan. The afternoon is at leisure to relax. (D) Day 3 – Como & Bellagio - A cruise on the legendary lake of Como, a sparkling jewel in the shadow of the Alps. As we cress-cross the calm waters, we'll see the stunning hotels and villas that dot the shore where Byron and Shelley stayed and many contemporary celebrities have magnificent mansions. This afternoon we will have a guided tour of Bellagio situated on a promontory in the middle of the lake. (B & D)
Day 5 - Lago Maggiore & Stresa - Today we travel to Lago Maggiore with its most-famous attractions, the Borromean Islands, situated picturesquely just off the historic resort town of Stresa. We will enjoy the splendid scenery as we circumnavigate the lake. (B & D) Day 6 - Carrara & Montecatini - This morning, after leaving the Northern Lakes, we will visit the marble capital of Italy: Carrara. It was here that Michelangelo selected the marble block for his masterpiece: David. We will arrive in Montecatini Terme and check into our hotel. This afternoon we will take the funicular to Montecatini Alto. (B & D) Day 7 – Florence - A full day in Florence with a guided tour of the Uffizi Art Gallery. Florence is an open-air exhibition of art and culture. It is famous worldwide, the heart of the Renaissance period and home of fine arts and literature. Florence has powerful symbols of Italian and European culture in every nook and cranny, to the extent that it is hard to identify this city with just one symbol. It may be the sculpture of David or, perhaps, the romantic Ponte Vecchio, or Giotto's bell tower. Florence could also be represented by famous people such as Leonardo Da Vinci, Michelangelo or Dante Alighieri, to name but a few. (B & D)
Day 9 - San Gimignano & Volterra - Today we will see first hand why the scenery of Tuscan countryside is so famous. We will visit the multi-towered town of San Gimignano that rises on a hilltop and Volterra, one of the finest and lesser known hilltop towns in the heart of Tuscany. Day 10 – Siena, Cortona & Gubbio - This morning we will visit Cortona (Under the Tuscan Sun) and Siena, a flamboyant medieval mélange of palaces and towers, olive groves and orchards. The history of Siena has been made on the Piazza del Campo where they organized the Palio. We then continue to our hotel in Gubbio. The remainder of the evening is free to enjoy the picturesque views of Gubbio. (B & D) Day 11 - Gubbio - Guided tour of Gubbio - We will explore the tiny streets, squares, churches, museums, boutiques, cathedrals and learn about legendary mysteries of this medieval old town. The historical center of Gubbio is of decidedly medieval aspect; the town is austere in appearance because of the dark grey stone, narrow streets and Gothic architecture. The main monuments of the city include: The Roman Theater, the massive Palazzo dei Consoli, Duomo, Palazzo Ducale, and Church of S. Francesco. The rest of the day is at leisure. (B & D)
Day 13 – Orvieto & Rome - En route to Rome, we will visit Orvieto. Here is one of the loveliest cathedrals of Italy with a facade encrusted with brilliantly colored mosaics. Flanking the Duomo are wine shops offering the famous wines of the area. Sit at a cafe table sipping Orvieto Classico while watching the ever-changing tableau of the evocative square. Stop for a gelato at one of the finest ice cream parlors of this region. After this brief stop we will continue on to Rome (the Eternal) capital city of Italy. Legend has it that Rome was founded by the twins Romulus and Remus. This Great City will be our home for the next three days at the Grand Hotel**** Olympic (located in the city center). (B & D) Day 14 – Rome - Morning at leisure. This afternoon we will have a tour of Imperial Rome. One of the symbols of Rome is the Coliseum, the largest amphitheatre ever built in the Roman Empire and used for gladiatorial combat. The Roman Forum was the central area around which ancient Rome developed. The Spanish Steps is a set of steps climbing a steep slope between the Piazza di Spagna and Piazza Trinità dei Monti. It is named after the nearby Embassy of Spain (1653). The famous Scalinata is without a doubt the longest and widest staircase in Europe. The Trevi Fountain is the largest and most ambitious of the Baroque fountains in Rome. This fountain was immortalized by films such as “Three coins in the Fountain, Roman Vacation, La Dolce Vita“ (B & D) Day 16 – Rome - Transfer to Fiumicino Airport, have a safe return home, treasure the memories and… grazie and arrivederci a presto! (B) We reserve the right to change the itinerary and schedule times for logistic reasons. Departures from North America
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Day 4 – Milan - A full day visit to 
Day 8 – Pisa & Lucca - Today we will see Italy's most photographed attraction, the Leaning Tower of 
Day 12 – Assisi & Spello - The day begins with a visit to the mystical town of 
Day 15 – Rome - Morning tour of 
