FLY-RAIL
VENICE, FLORENCE AND ROME FLY-RAIL TOUR
9 nights / 10 days From £ 2,420 per person
Rome
VENICE • FLORENCE • ROME
The cities of Venice, Florence and Rome hold a unique place in everyone’ s heart and mind whether you’ ve visited them before or never at all. This touring holiday combines Venice, Florence and Rome with train travel in between, flying into Venice and back from Rome.
DAY-BY-DAY ITINERARY
DAYS ONE TO THREE Venice for three nights Upon arrival in Venice you are transferred by private water taxi from the airport to your hotel( to the nearest water taxi stop). You then have two full days in Venice to explore. Venice is comprised of 117 islands and 150 canals, making it something of a maze to navigate, and making it almost impossible to uncover every treasure in one stay. To begin your exploration, we would suggest a gondola ride along the Grand Canal. From the water, you can take in the views of the beautiful palaces that line the canals and decide which direction to explore further on foot. One of the best ways to get a flavour of a city as complex as Venice is to experience the local lifestyle first-hand. To do this, we recommend visiting the Erberia and Pescheria markets, which sit just on one side of the Rialto Bridge. This hustle and bustle of noise and colour will draw you straight into Venetian life, while also giving you an insight into the quality of the local produce. The seafood, in particular, will be at the centre of your culinary experience of Venice. For a taste of the city’ s famous architecture, it is essential to spend time navigating, by foot and by boat, some of its narrowest, most higgledy-piggledy streets. But do not neglect the architectural greats such as the San Giorgio Maggoire, designed by Palladio himself. More of Venice’ s artistic heritage can be found in the Chiesi dei
Frari, home of the works of Titian and Bellini, as well as the tomb of the neoclassical sculptor, Canova. The work of Il Furioso, or Tintoretto, can be found in the Scuola Grande di San Rocco. The tombs of 25 doges are held in the Basilica dei Santi Giovanni e Paulo. However, arguably the most unmissable experience is the opportunity to witness an 18th century interior modelled on the style of the height of Venetian design, housed in the Ca’ Rezzonico. Pay a visit to one of the most important art museums in Italy, the Guggenheim, housed inside the 18th century Palazzo Venier dei Leoni. Travel further out to the island of Torcello, eerily silent compared to busy Venice, to see the Byzantine Duomo, and the 16th century ghetto. Alternatively, visit the lesser-known island of Burano to see the vibrant colours of the houses.
DAYS FOUR TO SIX Travel to Florence and stay for three nights When planning your train times, it’ s important to allow for as much time either still in Venice or for when you arrive in Florence. The train journey is 2 hours and 10 minutes and there are trains every hour. The train journey takes you first through the Parco Regionale dei Colli Euganei, and then on through Bologna, where you may wish to break your journey. As the capital of the Emilia-Romagna, Bologna is rich in important Italian history. Perhaps stop for lunch under the golden-stone colonnades of Piazza Maggiore, or take the climb up the leaning Asinelli Tower. The journey continues south to Florence, the cradle of the Italian Renaissance. Check-in to your centrally located hotel and then explore. Observe the notable works of art in the Uffizi and Bargello museums, as well as the smaller works held in the many churches. Florence’ s monastery houses a beautiful collection of Florentine paintings. For the tour de force of Florence’ s vast artistic collection, however, pay a visit to the Accademia, where Michelangelo’ s original‘ David’ is on display. Though there is plenty within Florence to satisfy the two full days you have here, a short distance out of the city, reached by public bus or taxi, is the hill-top town of Fiesole. In the evening perhaps dine at the double Michelin-starred Enoteca Pinchiorri.
DAYS SEVEN TO NINE Florence to Rome for three nights Your train journey this morning is south through southern Tuscany and into Umbria. Pass Orvieto, a small town built on the flat summit of a volcanic butt riddled with the remaining tunnels of an underground civilisation. Enter Latium and arrive in Italy’ s capital. Spend your two full days here navigating the historically rich streets of Rome, exploring worldfamous landmarks such as the Colosseum, the Pantheon, the Vatican City, the Forum dedicated
56 To speak to our specialist rail holidays team telephone 01392 441250 or see www. expressionsholidays. co. uk