Venezia & Firenze

Departure is an exciting time for many travellers. It marks the beginning of an adventure. Today you will start to be part of a community, which will give you a rewarding travel experience. You will have the opportunity to turn a simple trip into an opportunity for personal growth, cultural enrichment, Globest welcomes you to VENICE. After your welcome at the airport, we will head to the hotel to present the rich and exciting program of the week. Typical dinner and overnight.

After breakfast, we will leave by bus in the direction of Punta Sabbioni; a private boat awaits us to take us to the heart of the Serenissima. We will land near Piazza San Marco and meet our local guide near the Doge’s Palace for a visit to discover the main treasures of the city of the Doges: the Doge’s Palace, the sumptuous seat of the Serenissima Republic, one of the finest examples of Venetian Gothic (outside), the Basilica of San Marco, monumental church with Byzantine charm adorned by magnificent mosaics (reservation included), the Bell Tower the tallest building in Venice and the Bridge of Sighs. Lunch during the visit. Return by boat to Punta Sabbioni and transfer by bus to the hotel, dinner and overnight.

After breakfast at the hotel, we will leave by bus for Punta Sabbioni, to take a private boat that will take us to the islands of the lagoon. We will discover these small villages, located between the sky and water: before Murano, lying, like Venice, on a myriad of islands connected by bridges and known throughout the world for its refined production of blown glass, then Torcello with its Byzantine cathedral founded in 639 and decorated with beautiful mosaics, the most beautiful of which represent the Virgin Mary on gold background and the Last Judgement (entrance included) finally Burano, ancient fishing village, Known for the production of fine needle lace and for the colorful houses. Lunch during the excursion and return by boat to Punta Sabbioni. Return by bus to the hotel. Dinner and overnight.

After breakfast we will leave for Padua, a magnificent city full of fascinating palaces, bridges and monuments, and home to its prestigious University that also hosted Galileo. Guided tour of the city to discover its treasures:
the Basilica of Sant’Antonio which houses the relics of the Saint, the Piazza dei Signori, important meeting place of the city, and the Clock Tower with the wonderful astronomical clock, the Palazzo della Ragione, the nineteenth-century Caffè Pedrocchi, The meeting place of choice for intellectuals and students of the time. Lunch and continuation to Montecatini Terme. Accommodation in hotel, dinner and overnight.

After breakfast we will leave for Lucca, a medieval city of unique beauty that will offer you the opportunity to take a journey through time between history and art. Continuation for a lunch stop, in an agricultural estate with tasting of local products and wine. Continuation to Pisa, known all over the world for its “leaning tower”. Pisa has preserved intact the charm of medieval city thanks to the beauty and uniqueness of its monuments. In the company of a local guide, we will discover the beauty of the famous Piazza dei Miracoli – declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Return to Montecatini Terme. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast we will leave for Florence. The whole day will be dedicated to the discovery of this city, a true open-air museum full of architectural masterpieces and works of art unique in the world. Guided tour of the beautiful historic center: Piazza della Signoria, for centuries at the center of political life in Florence, the Ponte Vecchio and its famous goldsmiths’ shops; the magnificent Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore with the famous dome of Brunelleschi, the Baptistery with the beautiful Porta del Paradiso by Ghiberti and the Giotto’s Bell Tower, from which you can enjoy an incredible view of the city; the gothic church of Santa Croce (entrance not included) which houses the tombs of many famous Florentine and famous Tuscan artists such as Michelangelo, Galileo and Machiavelli. Typical lunch. Free time for shopping and discovering this unforgettable city in total autonomy. Return to hotel for dinner and overnight.

After breakfast, we will leave by bus for San Gimignano. Among the most beautiful villages of Tuscany, known as the city of 72 towers, San Gimignano is a land of culture, excellent food and good wine, a splendid postcard thanks to its location in the gentle hills of the Val d’Elsa, to its timeless beauty and its sky dotted with its characteristic medieval towers. TYPICAL lunch in the area of Siena. In the afternoon, we will continue to Siena, a beautiful city lying gently on the slopes of its hills, whose green tones blend harmoniously with the ochre «terra di Siena». A local guide will take us, in a maze of alleys and streets, to Piazza del Campo, one of the largest medieval squares in Europe, heart of the city and annual setting of the Palio race. We will also visit the Cathedral with its beautiful mosaic floor (entrance included). Return in the late afternoon to the hotel for dinner and overnight.

On this day of return, nostalgia for the places visited and enthusiasm for returning home mix. We will accompany you to the airport to help you with the boarding logistics. Today we close a chapter and open a new one, we will say goodbye, but you are part of our community, you will carry with you the promise of new future adventures even more extraordinary. While you wait for your flight, reflect on the extraordinary experiences you have experienced during your journey: from delicious dishes to natural wonders discovered along the way. You will prepare to face the daily routine with new energy. Good return home.