It's a new trip for us
with these 3 destinations combined. Bologna will be new
and offers many different options of day trips. We have
been to Florence and Venice many times but only 2-nights
in Venice in the past - this time 4-nights with more options
for day trips.
Starting off with Florence
will certainly kick this trip off with a bang.
Florence is situated in central Italy, in the heart of Tuscany.
Florence's museums, palaces, and churches house some of
the greatest artistic treasures in the world. The most popular
and important sites in Florence include the
Cathedral, the Baptistery, the Uffizi,
the
Bargello, and the
Accademia. The churches of
Santa Maria Novella and
Santa Croce are veritable art galleries, and the library
of San Lorenzo is a magnificent exhibition
of Michelangelo's architectural genius. The memory of the
Medici, who for centuries commanded the citys fortunes and
were, as generous patrons, instrumental in unleashing the
Renaissance, lives on. To this day the family crest of six
balls adorns many public buildings. The citys artists and
sculptors regaled the city with their finest creations.
Michelangelo, Leonardo, Donatello, Giotto, the Lippis, Masaccio,
Botticelli, Pontormo and a host of others left their mark,
and formidable galleries such as the Uffizi, Pitti and Accademia
today house many of their works.
While
in Florence, besides touring this incredible city we will
organize a side trip to Pisa and Cinque Terra. But
Florence itself will amaze you and since this is our 3rd
trip there so we've got it dialed in with the very best
places for our tours. Our hotel is perfectly situated just
outside of the city center - an easy walk to all the attractions.
Bologna is our
next stop and is the capital and largest city in Northern
Italy's Emilia-Romagna region. It's also an architecture
lover's dream. Although Bologna is best known for its medieval
towers and extensive porticoes, thanks to extensive restoration,
Bologna's architecture includes Etruscan and Roman structures
as well.
Bologna is also
the perfect hub for some fantastic day tours. Here's an
idea of the towns we can visit:
Ravenna-
This small town in Northern Italy's Emilia-Romagna province
was once the capital of the Byzantine Empire and is most
known for its intricate mosaics, which date back to the
6th century. Ravenna is a quick 90 minute detour on the
Venice - Florence train route and can easily be explored
in a day trip. Its quaint town center is best experienced
on bike as Ravenna's various churches and mosaic attractions
are slightly spread out throughout the town. For visitors
overwhelmed by large summer crowds, Ravenna is a refreshingly
quiet and un-touristy destination!
Parma-
is the birthplace of parmesan cheese and parma ham,
two of Italy's most famous culinary exports. Food lovers
should head to the city's countryside for an in-depth tour
of local meat and cheese factories and head to the city
center for traditional restaurants serving simple, delightful
Northern Italian cuisine. Once the home of Renaissance painter
Correggio and 20th century conductor Arturo Toscanini, Parma
today boasts fantastic theatres, museums and opera concerts.
Don't miss out on exploring this quaint riverside city!
Modena -(balsamic
vinegar, rare collection of Ferrari/Maserati) Looking for
a lovely little town with winding streets you can stroll
for hours? Head to Modena-and bring your appetite! This
town is the home of both balsamic vinegar and tortellini
(a ring-shaped, stuffed pasta that's famous throughout Italy,
and the world!). (Here's what you have to know about the
balsamic vinegar of Modena!). But it's not all about food
in Modena. Luxury car lovers will want to check out the
rare collections and manufacturing plants of Ferrari and
Maserati, located nearby. And be sure to visit the Duomo
di Modena (Modena's cathedral) and its newly-restored Torre
della Ghirlandina, too.
Our final stop is Venice,
is one of my all time favorite places on earth.
If
you've never been I'm quite confident you will be completely
blown away by what you will be seeing. Our hotel is perfectly
situated to get us on the island of Venice by train. We
will also offer a tour of the island of Burono which we
really enjoyed on our last visit with the colorful buildings
surrounding the canals. There's not much else to say about
Venice except it's a must see and should be on everyone's
bucket list.
We will be there for 4-nights
and may need to pull you away for one or two other great
day tours. Here are a two towns that we can hit in just
one day:
Treviso -20
miles from Venice, walled city. The centre of Treviso is
a little walled city, with medieval gates, narrow, cobbled
streets of arcaded rose-red brick and stone that twist and
turn like dried-out water courses - which is what some of
them originally were. Tiny canals run past handkerchief-sized
gardens, glide beneath houses, appear at street corners.
Gushing
millstreams, some with black water-wheels that once had
a commercial purpose, now turn lazily, playing a purely
decorative role."
Verona -
is a picturesque city filled with Roman ruins, Renaissance
palaces and medieval buildings. Located between Milan and
Venice, the city receives a bit less attention from travelers
than its more celebrated neighbors but not for lack of attractions.
Verona offers visitors the chance to enjoy all of the charms
of an ancient Italian city without constantly battling crowds.
Although the first stop for many visitors is "Juliet's
House" with its recently added balcony, it's important
to remember that Romeo and Juliet were characters from fiction,
not reality.
We really got a great group
rate on our air and hotels for this trip!
Sign
up with a $200 deposit
Check
out pictures from our last trip to Northern Italy
OUR AIR:
Flight:Alitalia 621 Departure: Los Angeles 29AUG /415P
Arrival:Rome Fiumicino 30AUG/110P
Flight:Alitalia 1677( OPERATED BY SUBSIDIARY/FRANCHISE )
Departure: Rome Fiumicino 30AUG /215P Arrival:Florence
30AUG/310P
Flight:Alitalia 1468 Departure: Venice Marco Polo 09SEP
/735A Arrival:Rome Fiumicino 09SEP/840A
Flight:Alitalia 620 Departure: Rome Fiumicino 09SEP /1010A
Arrival:Los Angeles 09SEP/215P
Price without air: $2,430 and you won't pay the departure
tax
INCLUDES:
- Round trip international
air from LAX (other gateways are always an option but
may cost slightly more)
- All ground transportation
- 10-nights accommodations
(double occ.)
- Daily Breakfast
- 3 City Tours
DOES
NOT INCLUDE:
- Departure tax of $375 (subject to change up until ticketing)
- Optional tours
SINGLE
SUPPLEMENT: if
you want your own room - $850
HOTELS:
Florence: **** HOTEL
BERCHIELLI - REVIEW
#46 out of 409 hotels in Florence
Luxury hospitality
in Florence since 1890. Overlooking the Arno River just
steps from Ponte Vecchio and Piazza della Signoria, the
4-star Hotel Berchielli is one of Florence’s points of reference
when it comes to hospitality. Berchielli, accommodations
florence, has maintained all the charm of an historical
hotel and has had the honour of hosting such figures as
Pablo Picasso.
Venice: ****
HOTEL BOLOGNA
REVIEW #5 in Mestre on Tripadvisor
A hotel in Mestre,
right on Venice's
doorstep: located opposite Venezia Mestre train
station, only a couple of minutes from Canal
Grande. Easy to reach from Venice airport
and Treviso, or from the motorway.
We have been in the hospitality
business for 100 years - it is what we love doing, and
we know how to do it well.
Bologna: **** HOTEL
AEMILIA - REVIEW
#4 in Bologna on Tripadvisor
Modern
and elegant, a few minutes' walk from the heart of the town
and close to the Sant'Orsola Hospital, the historical centre
and the University District, the Aemilia Hotel fascinates
its guests thanks to its marvellous views of the Towers
of Bologna and the hills of Bologna.
Located in an
excellent position, from where you can reach Piazza Maggiore
and the historical centre in a few minutes' walk, it is
easy to reach both by car and by public transport.
Our 124 comfortable
and practical bedrooms, terraces surrounded by green areas
and our Wi-Fi connection free of charge though an optical
fibre, make the Aemilia Hotel the ideal solution for those
who are looking for a hotel equipped with all the comforts,
near the historical centre but lying in a reserved and silent
area.