The Splendors of Italy (6400)

9 Day Tour from Rome to Rome

2025 Tour Details View 2024 Tour Details »

You’ve dreamed about Italy—its magnificent architecture, majestic cathedrals, ancient ruins, world-class art, sumptuous cuisine and wine, and relaxing cafés—and now it is your time to experience it. On this affordable Italy tour, explore the most famous cities and discover the unique sights as you visit Rome, Siena, Montecatini, and Venice. This affordable Italy tour offers the opportunity to step back in time. Imagine what life was like in Rome 2,000 years ago, as the city was the political, social, and trading center of the Roman Empire. Imagine life during the Middle Ages as you explore San Gimignano’s medieval squares, town walls, streets, alleyways, and 14 towers still standing. Visit Florence—the Renaissance gem—with a walking tour featuring beautiful Piazza Signoria, the hub of Florence’s social and political life since the 14th century. On this affordable tour of Italy, you’ll discover some of its magnificent cathedrals. In Vatican City, wonder at the masterful St. Peter’s Basilica and square. In Orvieto, the Cathedral is a great example of Gothic architecture in Italy. In Assisi, where St. Francis was born, the world-famous Romanesque and Gothic Basilica is a permanent exhibition of Giotto’s frescoes. See Pisa’s Square of Miracles—a UNESCO World Heritage Site—with its three famous buildings (Leaning Tower, Cathedral, and Baptistery) that have historically been central to religious life. From a more secular viewpoint, experience a wine tasting in Greve, the capital of Chianti, and visit Venice, including a boat ride to St. Mark’s Square. Witness Venetian glassblowers create works of art just as they did centuries ago, and spend free time admiring the crisscrossing canals, the legendary gondolas passing under the arched bridges, the palaces, and the quaint piazzas. All of this and more—including views of the most scenic Italian landscapes—are included on this fabulous Italy vacation designed for the value-minded travel lover.

Adventure is knocking with everything you need for perfectly affordable touring. Cosmos includes hand-selected accommodations, guided sightseeing, and seamless transportation between destinations—with value-minded travel lovers in mind. Explore with expert Cosmos Tour Directors and Local Guides, complimentary headsets, and private, first-class, air-conditioned motorcoach with free Wi-Fi and a boat ride along Venice’s canals. Enhance your free time to explore like a local with your CosmosGO mobile app!

* For operational reasons, changes to the Rome program cannot be excluded.

Special departures:
December 21 Departure – Christmas lunch in Florence.
December 30 Departure – New Year’s Eve in Rome, including festive dinner.

The Splendors of Italy map

 Photo Highlights

 Meals

 Meals & Itinerary

Buffet breakfasts daily; 3 dinners

 Itinerary

Day 1 ARRIVE IN ROME, ITALY

Check into your hotel. The rest of the day is free for you to explore this ancient capital. This evening, meet your Tour Director and travel companions.

Day 2 ROME

The “Eternal City” is steeped in history, vibrantly alive and exciting, and absolutely unique! Start the included introduction to Rome’s landmarks from St. Peter’s Square with a Local Guide. Enjoy a drive along the iconic landmarks of the city: the Tiber River, the Caius Cestius Pyramid, the Aurelian Walls, and the Caracalla Baths. Complete the experience with a walk back in time from the Circus Maximus to the Arch of Constantine and to the fascinating Colosseum, symbol of the Roman Empire.*

* For operational reasons, changes to the Rome program cannot be excluded.

Breakfast Breakfast

Day 3 ROME–ORVIETO–SIENA

Journey to charming Orvieto in the Umbria region to visit the black basalt and travertine cathedral, an excellent example of Italian Gothic architecture. Reach Siena, with time to visit this Tuscan jewel. The focal point of the town is Piazza del Campo, a special square, famed all over the world for its medieval-style Palio horse race.
Today’s Distance: 152 mi/ 245 km

Breakfast Breakfast
DinnerDinner

Day 4 SIENA–SAN GIMIGNANO–GREVE–MONTECATINI

Arrive in San Gimignano and discover one of Tuscany’s greatest attractions. Its medieval squares, town walls, streets, alleyways, and 14 towers are truly unique. Continue into the very heart of the Chianti vineyards, where Chianti Classico wines are produced. Stop in Greve for wine tasting at a local wine estate. Arrive in Montecatini in time to join the optional Tuscan farm dinner.
Today’s Distance: 109 mi/ 175 km

Breakfast Breakfast

Day 5 MONTECATINI. EXCURSION TO FLORENCE

Florence, the Renaissance gem and city of the Medicis will keep you enthralled the entire day. Wander at leisure and admire the city’s timeless beauty. Don’t miss out on the included walking tour with a Local Guide, which features special city highlights. You will see Piazza Santa Croce; beautiful Piazza Signoria; Palazzo Vecchio; Loggia dei Lanzi; and, to top it all, Piazza del Duomo and its cathedral with the Giotto Campanile, and the magnificent East Doors of the Baptistry, known as the “Gates of Paradise.”
Today’s Distance: 62 mi/ 100 km

Breakfast Breakfast
DinnerDinner

Day 6 MONTECATINI–PISA–VENICE AREA

This morning, drive to Pisa and enjoy a mini-train ride to see the impressive Square of Miracles with the amazing Leaning Tower—180 feet high and approximately 4 degrees out of the perpendicular. Head across the wooded Apennine hills into the farmlands of the Po Valley to the Venice area.
Today’s Distance: 236 mi/ 380 km

Breakfast Breakfast

Day 7 VENICE AREA

Venice is more like a magical film set than a real-life city, with its crisscrossing canals, gondolas and water buses, arched bridges, palaces, and piazzas. Your included orientation starts with a boat ride to St. Mark’s Square and is followed by time at leisure and a chance to watch Venetian glassblowers create their delicate works of art as they did centuries ago. Spend some time at leisure or join one of our optional excursions, such as the gondola trip, gliding along the picturesque canals with a local troubadour to serenade you.

Breakfast Breakfast
DinnerDinner

Day 8 VENICE AREA–ASSISI–ROME

Travel across the Po Delta, then into the green Apennines to Umbria. Stop in medieval Assisi, where St. Francis was born in 1182. Visit the town and the upper and lower basilicas with a Local Guide, then head for Rome.
Today’s Distance: 317 mi/ 510 km

Breakfast Breakfast

Day 9 ROME

Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.

Breakfast Breakfast

 Tour Director

With COSMOS, there’s no better way to get to know your destination than through the eyes of a Tour Director. We’d like you to meet one of our Tour Directors, who average over a decade of experience and are representative of the type of expert that will be with you on your vacation.

DANIELA SPISSU

Escorting tours for more than 15 years

I was born in Sardinia, a beautiful Italian island. Since I was young, I dreamt of working in travel, my dream became reality when I became a Tour Director. Although I initially escorted European Panoramas tours, nowadays I specialize in Italian tours. When on tour one of my favorite things is watching the faces of people that are seeing or experiencing something amazing for the very first time, those are the moments that stay with us forever and on a tour we try to create as many memorable ones as possible.

Tour Director - DANIELA SPISSU

 Accommodations

 Optional Excursions

No matter what you’re into: food, wine, history, art, music or anything else, we give you the freedom to personalize your vacation with optional excursions that speak to your interests.

When you book your excursions with us, you can be assured that every optional excursion that we offer coordinates with the free time that you'll have in your destination, so you'll never have conflicts between included and optional activities. Our team of travel experts carefully selects each optional excursion that we offer to ensure that you receive the highest quality at a great value. Our tried-and-true partners have a finger on the pulse of the city in which they operate so they deliver the very best experiences. We offer experiences you cannot create on your own and because you’re booking with us, we coordinate all your transportation and timing needs.

The following optional excursions are examples only for this vacation. These may or may not be offered, and availability is subject to days of operation and seasonality. Please select a departure date to view optional excursions and pricing for a specific date (due to currency fluctuation, pricing shown is subject to change until purchased). Optional excursions are available for purchase on our MyCosmos site 90 days prior to the tour start date.

Price Ranges

$ ($50 USD and under)
$$ ($51 - $100 USD)
$$$ ($101 - $150 USD)
$$$$ (Over $150)


Rome
Montecatini
Venice

Rome

Treasures of Rome and Dinner

Treasures of Rome and Dinner

Enjoy a tour of Rome and relax over a 3-course dinner with dessert, local wine, and authentic Roman atmosphere!

Price Range: $$

Montecatini

Tuscan Dinner

Tuscan Dinner

Enjoy a wonderful dinner in the delightful Tuscan countryside, featuring authentic traditional dishes using the finest local ingredients.

Price Range: $$

Venice

Venetian Dinner

Venetian Dinner

The magic of Venice comes to life as you enjoy an unforgettable evening at one of the city's most celebrated local restaurants.

Price Range: $$$

Venetian Lagoon Cruise with Burano Visit

Venetian Lagoon Cruise with Burano Visit

Experience the floating city from the water as you cruise along the lagoon to charming Burano Island for free time to explore on your own.

Price Range: $

Gondola

Gondola

When in Rome, do as the Romans -- and when in Venice, head right for the gondolas! Hop aboard a traditional gondola for a ride through the magical Venetian canals

Price Range: $$

 Private Touring

Private Touring: Cosmos European Private Touring enables you to experience all of the attractions, sights and highlights of your selected Cosmos tour as a private experience - delivered just for you and your traveling party. With Private Touring, you'll have your own dedicated Tour Director, your own private transportation and driver, and your own professional local guides. All with greater flexibility in pace and your experience. For your selected tour, there will be additional per-person cost for the size of your party - from 1 to 24. This additional supplement is reduced with each traveler you add to your party. Here's a sample of the additional cost:

6 guests in a party: $1,606*
18 guests in a party: $478*

Contact Cosmos or your preferred travel agent for pricing for your specific party size as well as any other information on Cosmos Private Touring.

*Supplement pricing is per person (USD) and will be added to the standard published price for your given departure date and is based on availability. Supplement price is valid for 2021 travel year. Occasionally some included and optional activities & excursions may be operated with other guests. Additional restrictions may apply. Not applicable for custom groups. No Group allowances or promotions are available on Private Touring. Published itineraries only. Note that blackout dates may exist where the Private Touring option is not available.


The "Starting at" or listed price is based on the lowest price available to book. Price is per passenger based on double occupancy and does not include International airfare; additional fees/charges are not included. If a price is crossed out, the new price includes a limited time promotional offer(s) – please review current promotions or deals for additional information. Some tours require intra-vacation flights (and in some cases intra-vacation segments must be purchased from Cosmos).

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