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Saturday 9am – 3pm

Monday to Friday 9am – 6pm | Saturday 9am – 3pm

Italian Grand Tour

GRAND TOUR OF ITALY
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FIRST CLASS RAIL & AIR

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DISCOVER THE ROMANCE OF ITALY

1st class rail & 4 Star Accommodation

9 nights / 10 days
Inc. 3 nights in Rome, Florence & Venice

British Airways flights to Venice

Rome, Florence & Venice by First Class rail

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Holiday Highlights

Grand Canal and Basilica Santa Maria della Salute, Venice, Italy

Re-live the magic of the classic grand tours of Europe on this fabulous 9 night holiday which captures the quintessential Italy, contrasting the Eternal City of Rome, Renaissance Florence and the romanticism of Venice.

9 night /10 holiday by First Class rail on daytime trains and by air, including 3 nights each in Rome, Florence and Venice from £1,495 per person

Your Grand Tour Of Italy Holiday Itinerary

Day 1 – By air to Venice

You begin your ‘Grand Tour’ as you fly with British Airways from London Heathrow to Venice. On arrival at Venice’s Marco Polo airport you enter the strange timelessness and other-worldly quality of Venice.

Here you travel in ultimate style across the lagoon, through the Venetian backwaters in your private water taxi and onto the Grand Canal and to your hotel for the next three nights, the Hotel Canal Grande (4 star), ideally-located on the Grand Canal, just a short walk from the Rialto Bridge, with its beautiful design and welcoming

atmosphere. This afternoon you may have some time to explore the charming city of Venice before dinner.

Orient Express Special Venice compressed
Channel street, Venice Orient Express

Days 2 and 3 - Venice

Embrace the magic of Venice and become fully immersed in the spirit of the city as you wander amid the mosaic of intertwined canals and bridges.

You might like to start your adventure at St. Mark’s Square, past the symbolic Doge’s Palace and explore the hidden waterways and Grand Canal in elegance from the comfort of a traditional gondola (payable locally).

Perhaps choose to spend more time casually wandering past Byzantine basilicas and painted palazzi or journey across more of the UNESCO World Heritage Venetian lagoon to discover the attractive islands of Murano and Burano, famous for their glass blowing, lace and coloured houses.

Day 4 – Venice to Florence

Savour your final morning in Venice before making the journey back to Venezia Santa Lucia station for your First Class journey south on board the Eurostar Italia Frecciarossa service to Florence.

On arrival at Firenze Santa Maria Novella station stroll to the stylish Glance Hotel (4-star), your hotel for the next three nights, ideally located close to the station.

Days 5 and 6 – Florence

Florence, the epicentre of the Italian Renaissance, houses some of the greatest masterpieces ever created.

The best way to explore this diverse and compelling city is on foot. You might like to start at the celebrated Duomo (Santa Maria del Fiore), a triumph of architecture and engineering before visits to the world-renowned Uffizi Gallery and the iconic Medieval closed-spandrel segmented arched bridge, the Ponte Vecchio.

Enjoy traditional Florentine and Tuscan culinary delights or take a trip through Tuscany’s rolling hills, one of Italy’s most romanticised regions. From Siena’s UNESCO world heritage medieval centre to Pisa’s famous leaning tower and Lucca’s Renaissance-era city walls it is good to know that these fascinating attractions are easily accessible by train.

Day 7 – Florence to Rome

Take your leave of Florence as you depart from Firenze Santa Maria Novella station and join the Eurostar Italia service to the eternal city of Rome.

Relax in your comfortable first class seat as the landscape of central Italy unfurls before you.

As you arrive into Roma Termini station it is just a short walk to the comfortable and highly-rated Boutique Hotel Liberty (4 star), your hotel for the next three nights.

Days 8 and 9 – Discovering Rome

The Eternal City of Rome encompasses architectural wonders from classical ruins, Renaissance palazzi and Baroque fountains with a modern touch of quirky shops on the Via del Corso, lively bars and rustic trattorias.

A trip to Rome would not be complete without a visit to the city’s celebrated sights from the Trevi Fountain to the Spanish steps, the Vatican City to the Coliseum.

Take time to marvel at the Sistine Chapel and Michelangelo’s painted ceiling – a masterpiece of High Renaissance art, which will provide lasting memories, as will the view from the top of St. Peters Cathedral across Rome’s seven hills cityscape.

Day 10 – Rome to London by air – Homeward bound

This morning after breakfast you may have time to further discover the stunning city of Rome. Then you make own your way to Rome’s Fiumicino airport as you bid farewell to Rome and Italy and board your British Airways flight back to London Heathrow.

As you head through the clouds memories abide before the final leg of your homeward journey.

Further information

Your recommended hotels

VENICE
Hotel Canal Grande (4-star) is a charming, highly-rated boutique hotel located in Ca’ Polacco, an elegant
little palace which has just been restored. The furniture of the hotel is characterised by the elegance of
Rococo style, typical of 18th century Venice. The lobby with its rose marble fireplace, the breakfast room with
its golden mirrors, and the bar with its Venetian red velvet armchairs overlook the Grand Canal and are the
best places to begin and end your day! The small terrace on the Grand Canal gives you the opportunity to have
a drink in a very special setting and watch the Venetian world go by. Prestige double rooms with Grand Canal view are equipped with damasks, Murano glass and mirrors, and briar, gold decorated furniture.
The room features retractable TV, safe, direct telephone, WiFi connection, private marble bathroom with mosaic decorations and air conditioning/heating working all year round.

FLORENCE
Enjoying a delightful central location just a short walk from the Cathedral and Ponte Vecchio, the contemporary Hotel Glance (4 star) is ideally situated for exploring Florence – and thanks to its proximity to the station, is also convenient for taking in the surrounding area. The hotel offers facilities such as a lounge bar and a rooftop pool which offers panoramic views of the city. Free Wi-Fi access is available throughout the building. The modern rooms are equipped with typical amenities for hotels of this standard.

ROME
The Liberty Boutique Hotel (4 star) enjoys a convenient location just 500 metres from Roma Termini station. The stylish brand-new boutique hotel has just 25 tastefully appointed rooms, equipped with wi-fi, flat-screen TV with satellite channels, memory foam mattress, Espresso maker, minibar, electric kettle, complimentary bottled water and toiletries. Each sound-proofed room is decorated in classic liberty style to the finest detail with the highest quality materials and finished by the local artisans. Rooms include a private bathroom with a shower.

Departure dates

·       Throughout the year and tailor-made to suit your holiday needs

Holiday duration is 10 days

For information and booking Tel: 01347 82 52 92 or email info@planetrail.co.uk

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