ISTANBUL – LJUBLJANA – TRIESTE – FLORENCE
We arrive at Istanbul Airport’s International Departures Terminal 3 hours before the flight and, after completing ticketing, baggage drop, and passport control procedures, we fly to Ljubljana on Turkish Airlines’ direct scheduled flight TK1051 at 11:45. Upon arrival at Ljubljana Airport at 12:55 local time, we meet our private coach and depart for Trieste. During our Trieste tour, Piazza Unita Building, San Giusta Basilica, Campo Square, and especially Piazza Unita d’Italia, which is considered one of Italy’s most impressive squares due to its seaside location, elegant and tranquil splendor, and the fact that it combines both Italian and Central European architecture, are among the main places to see. After our tour in Trieste, known worldwide as one of the main ports of the Austro-Hungarian Empire for centuries and as the birthplace of the world-famous Illy Coffee, due to coffee beans spreading widely to Europe from here, we continue to our hotel in the Florence region after a short free time. Upon arrival at the hotel, room check-in and free time to rest.
FLORENCE – (Pisa & Cinque Terre Tour by Train)
After breakfast at the hotel, we offer a full day at leisure. During this free time, guests who wish may join the optional Pisa & Cinque Terre Tour by Train (95 Euro). Our first stop on the tour will be Cinque Terre. Cinque Terre consists of villages lined up one after another and connected by walking paths. It is located on the western coast of Italy and is known for its colorful houses and unique local flavors. Thanks to its culture and historical features, it is included in UNESCO’s World Heritage List and is also protected as a national park. After free time in Cinque Terre, we continue our journey to Pisa. Upon arrival in Pisa, our tour includes the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the Cathedral, the Baptistery, and Miracle Square. After a short free time for photos, we transfer to our hotel in the Florence region and have free time to rest.
FLORENCE – (San Gimignano & Siena Tour) – ROME
After breakfast and check-out from the hotel, we depart for Rome. En route, guests who wish may join our optional San Gimignano & Siena Tour (80 Euro). Our first stop on the tour will be San Gimignano. San Gimignano has earned its place on the UNESCO World Heritage List because it has preserved its medieval architecture and appearance to the present day. It is also known as the “Town of Beautiful Towers” thanks to 14 architectural marvels that survived among 76 towers after wars and natural disasters. Following our sightseeing walk through San Gimignano’s narrow streets, where time seems to have stood still and which make visitors feel as though they have traveled back to the Middle Ages, and through its squares from which the 14 magnificent towers can be viewed panoramically, we reach Siena, our next stop. Siena is famous for its narrow streets dating from the Middle Ages, small avenues, and Campo Square, considered the largest square in Europe. After our pleasant walk through Campo Square and the historic narrow streets leading to it in Siena, we complete the tour and continue our journey to Rome. Upon arrival at our hotel in the Rome region, room check-in and free time to rest.
ROME – (Rome Icons & Vatican and Local Neighborhoods Tour)
After breakfast, we offer a full day at leisure. Guests who wish may join the optional Rome Icons & Vatican and Local Neighborhoods Tour (95 Euro). In Rome, known as Urbs aput mundi, meaning “the city at the center of the world,” we take you on a historical journey through the city and its icons, with its art, history, music, shopping, sun, and cuisine, and its buildings in various styles spanning from antiquity to the Renaissance. While the works created by architects competing with one another attract thousands of tourists to the city in every season, Rome carries all this beauty and elegance without overwhelming even the crowds. On our tour, in the imperial city of Rome, which has shaped European civilization and bears witness to 23 centuries of history, we first see the Colosseum, the city’s symbol and an ancient theater that hosted gladiator fights during the Roman Empire, the Roman Forum, the ceremonial center of the city in imperial times, the Trevi Fountain, where it is believed that anyone who throws a coin in will return to Rome, the Spanish Steps, famous for street performers, Piazza Pietra, and Piazza Popolo panoramically. At the end of the Rome Icons Tour, we offer free time at the Pantheon. Then we continue by seeing Castel Sant’Angelo – the Castle of Angels – and Navona Square, and visit Vatican / San Pietro, the center of the Catholic branch of Christianity and the world’s smallest country by area. We offer free time at San Pietro Square (St. Peter’s Square), where thousands of Catholics come to worship each year and where, on special occasions, the Pope comes out from his position to greet the people, and where the San Pietro Cathedral, the world’s largest cathedral with 140 statues of saints, is located. After the free time, we begin our Rome Local Neighborhoods tour. In this tour, where we mingle with the people of Rome and feel like locals of the city, we experience the real Italian atmosphere in Trastevere, Piazza Trilussa, Ponte Sisto, and the Ghetto district, which stand out with their naturalness and simplicity as well as cafes, small family restaurants, boutiques, greengrocers, butchers, and many other small and charming shops; Antik Tiber Island, connected to the city by two bridges, will also be seen panoramically. After our walk through the narrow backstreets lined with small tables, we complete the tour and return to our hotel in the Rome region.
ROME – (Amalfi Pearl Sorrento Tour) – ROME
After breakfast, we offer a full day at leisure. During this free time, guests who wish may join the optional full-day Amalfi Pearl Sorrento Tour (95 Euro). Sorrento, whose history dates back to prehistoric times and which fascinates visitors by combining Italian character and charm with a Mediterranean style, is famous for its small tourist boutiques, breathtaking beaches, stunning views, and Limoncello, the Italian lemon liqueur. After our city tour and sightseeing in Sorrento, located on the Amalfi Coast, we offer free time for sea, sand, and sun at the region’s most beautiful beaches. After this enjoyable free time, we complete the tour and return to our hotel in the Rome region.
ROME – FLORENCE – (Ferrara Tour) – VENICE
After breakfast and check-out from the hotel, we depart for Florence. Upon arrival in Florence, we begin our city tour. In Florence, the capital of the Renaissance and the hometown of Pinocchio, we first see the Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral from the outside, immediately recognizable by its orange dome. One of the cathedral’s most striking features is the bronze door known as the “Gate of Paradise,” depicting prophetic stories, some of which are also mentioned in the Quran. Then we see Giotto’s Bell Tower, which once served to call the people to parliament, Signoria Square, the political and social center of Florence for centuries and home to Michelangelo’s famous David Statue, and the Old Bridge (Ponte Vecchio), famous for its antique and goldsmith shops. At the end of the Florence city tour, we head to our hotel in the Venice region. En route, guests who wish may join the optional Ferrara Tour (40 Euro). In Ferrara, we panoramically see areas and architectural structures typical of the Renaissance on one side, and on the other, old brick houses, churches, monasteries, and the historic Este Castle that preserve traces of the Middle Ages. After the tour, we continue our journey to Venice. Upon arrival at our hotel in the Venice region, room check-in and free time to rest.
VENICE – (Venice Masterpieces & Colorful Islands by Boat and Outlet Tour)
After breakfast, during the full day at leisure, guests who wish may join the optional Venice Masterpieces & Colorful Islands by Boat and Outlet Tour (135 Euro – including vaporetto transport fees). Our tour first includes a pleasant free time at the outlet center, home to stylish stores of world-famous brands, cafes and restaurants, and areas for personal activities, offering affordable and quality shopping. After the free time, we set out for our Venice Colorful Islands program. In this tour, where we have the chance to observe the Venice island from different angles by passing through the lagoons, we see Lido and Murano islands from the sea and visit Burano Island, a fishing village famous for its lace and known as one of the 10 most colorful places in the world. After the Colorful Islands program, we head to the canal area to organize our Venice Masterpieces program. In this part of the tour in Venice, we see iconic structures such as St. Mark’s Square, whose columns were brought from Istanbul and which was built from stone and marble, St. Mark’s Basilica, the Doge’s Palace designed and used as a symbol of grandeur and power, the Clock Tower, the Bridge of Sighs, and the historic Campanile Bell Tower, and then enjoy a pleasant walking tour through the streets of Venice connected by bridges and extending along narrow canals. After Venice Masterpieces, we complete the tour and return to our hotel in the Venice region for free time to rest.
VENICE – (Ljubljana & Bled Lake Tour) – LJUBLJANA – ISTANBUL
After breakfast and check-out from the hotel, we depart for Ljubljana Airport for our return flight to Istanbul. En route, guests who wish may join the optional Ljubljana and Bled Lake Tour (65 Euro). On our tour, we first take a city tour of Ljubljana. Ljubljana, the capital and largest city of Slovenia, is geographically and culturally rich as it lies at the crossroads of Alpine, Central European, and Mediterranean cultures. During our tour in Ljubljana, Vodnik Square, Ljubljana Castle, St. Nicholas Cathedral, Dragon Bridge, Old Square, the Historic Fountain, and People’s Square are among the places to see. After a short free time at the end of the tour, we head to Bled. We enjoy a peaceful sightseeing tour in Bled, famous for its church on an island in a turquoise mountain lake of the same name and the Bled Castle on the high hills above it, then continue our journey to Ljubljana Airport. Upon arrival at the airport, after completing baggage drop, ticketing, and passport control procedures, we fly to Istanbul on Turkish Airlines’ direct scheduled flight TK1064 at 20:15. Arrival at Istanbul Airport at 23:40 local time and end of the tour.