ISTANBUL – LJUBLJANA – TRIESTE – FERRARA – (Pisa Tour) – FLORENCE
We arrive at Istanbul Airport’s International Departures Terminal 3 hours before departure and, after completing ticketing, baggage drop-off and passport procedures, we fly to Ljubljana at 07:30 with Turkish Airlines’ direct scheduled TK1061 flight. Upon arrival at Ljubljana Airport at 08:45 local time, we meet our private coach and depart for Trieste. During our Trieste tour, Piazza Unita Building, San Giusto Basilica, Campo Square and especially Piazza Unita d’Italia, considered one of the most impressive squares in Italy due to its seaside location, elegant and serene grandeur, and the combination of Italian and Central European architecture, will be among the main sights. After our tour of Trieste, known worldwide as the birthplace of Illy Coffee because it was for centuries one of the main ports of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and the city from which coffee beans spread largely to Europe, we will have a short free time before heading to Ferrara. Following our panoramic Ferrara city tour, where we will see areas and architectural structures specific to the Renaissance on one side and the old brick houses, churches, monasteries and the historic Este Castle, which bear traces of the Middle Ages, on the other, we continue towards our hotel in the Florence region, where we will stay. On the way, guests who wish may join the optional Pisa Tour (50 Euro). Upon arrival in Pisa, we will visit the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the Cathedral, the Baptistery and Piazza dei Miracoli. After a short free time for photos, we arrive at our hotel in the Florence region. Check-in and free time for rest.
FLORENCE – (San Gimignano & Siena Tour) – ROME
After breakfast and check-out, we depart for Rome. On the way, guests who wish may join the optional San Gimignano & Siena Tour (80 Euro). Our first stop will be San Gimignano. San Gimignano, which has preserved its medieval architecture and appearance to the present day, is included on the UNESCO World Heritage List and is also known as the “Town of Beautiful Towers” thanks to 14 architectural marvels that survived of the 76 towers that once stood after wars and natural disasters. In San Gimignano, where it feels as if time has stopped and visitors are taken on a time journey back to the Middle Ages, we will enjoy a walking tour through the narrow streets opening onto the town square and panoramic views of the 14 magnificent towers. Afterward, we continue to Siena, our next stop. Siena is famous for its narrow medieval streets, small avenues and Campo Square, considered one of the largest squares in Europe. In Siena, we will enjoy a pleasant walk through Campo Square and the historic narrow streets leading to it, then continue our journey to Rome. Upon arrival at our hotel in the Rome region, check-in and free time for 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). We take you on a historical journey through Rome and its icons, the “city at the center of the world” or Urbs aput mundi, with its art, history, music, shopping, sun and cuisine, and buildings in different styles ranging 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 even these crowds without overwhelming the visitor, with all its beauty and elegance. On our tour, in the imperial city of Rome, which has shaped European civilization and bears witness to 23 centuries of history, we will first see the Colosseum, the city’s symbol and the ancient theater that hosted gladiator combats during the Roman Empire, the Roman Forum, the ceremonial center of the city in imperial times, the Trevi Fountain, where legend says that anyone who throws a coin into it will return to Rome, the Spanish Steps, famous for street artists, and Piazza Pietra and Piazza Popolo panoramically. At the end of the Rome Icons Tour, we will have free time at the Pantheon. We then continue by seeing Castel Sant’Angelo and Piazza Navona, and visit Vatican / San Pietro, the center of the Catholic branch of Christianity and the world’s smallest country by area. We will have free time at St. Peter’s Square, where thousands of Catholics come to worship and gather every year and where the Pope greets the public from his residence on special occasions, and where the San Pietro Cathedral, the world’s largest cathedral with 140 saints’ statues, 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 residents of the city, we will experience the real Italian atmosphere in Trastevere, Piazza Trilussa, Ponte Sisto and the Ghetto area, with its naturalness and simplicity as well as its cafes, small family restaurants, boutiques, greengrocers, butchers and many other small and charming shops, and we will also see the Ancient Tiber Island, connected to the city by two bridges, panoramically. After a walking tour through its maze-like narrow backstreets with small tables set out, we complete the tour and return to our hotel in the Rome region.
ROME – (Sorrento, Pearl of Amalfi 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, combines Italian character and charm with a Mediterranean style and fascinates visitors with its small tourist boutiques, stunning beaches, breathtaking views and the limoncello, the Italian lemon liqueur, which is famous in the Amalfi coast. After our city tour and surroundings visit in Sorrento, 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 – VENICE
After breakfast and check-out, we depart for Florence. Upon arrival in Florence, we begin our city tour. In Florence, the capital of the Renaissance and the homeland of Pinocchio, we first see from the outside the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, which immediately draws attention with its orange-colored dome and is the 4th largest church in Europe. One of the cathedral’s most remarkable features is its bronze doors, some of which depict prophetic stories also mentioned in the Quran and are referred to as the “Gates of Paradise.” We then see Giotto’s Bell Tower, once used to call the people to parliament, Piazza della Signoria, which was for centuries the political and social center of Florence and houses Michelangelo’s famous David statue, and the Old Bridge (Ponte Vecchio), famous for its antique and jewelry shops. After the Florence city tour, we head to our hotel in the Venice region. Upon arrival at our hotel in the Venice region, check-in and free time for rest.
VENICE – (Venice Masterpieces & Colorful Islands by Boat and Outlet Tour)
After breakfast, guests may join the optional full-day Venice Masterpieces & Colorful Islands by Boat and Outlet Tour (135 Euro – Vaporetto transport included), offered during the full day at leisure. We first offer pleasant free time at the outlet center, home to the stylish stores of world-famous brands, cafes and restaurants, and recreational areas, for affordable and quality shopping. After the free time, we depart for our Venice Colorful Islands program. In this tour, where we will have the chance to observe the Venice island from different angles while passing through the lagoons, we will see Lido and Murano 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 district for our Venice Masterpieces program. In this part of our tour in Venice, we will see the main iconic structures such as St. Mark’s Square, constructed from stone and marble with columns brought from Istanbul, 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, then enjoy a pleasant walk through Venice’s streets connected by bridges and extending along narrow canals. After the Venice Masterpieces tour, we complete the tour and return to our hotel in the Venice region, where we offer free time for rest.
VENICE – (Ljubljana & Lake Bled Tour) – LJUBLJANA – ISTANBUL
After breakfast and check-out, we depart for Ljubljana Airport for our return flight to Istanbul. On the way, guests who wish may join the optional Ljubljana and Lake Bled Tour (65 Euro). In this tour, we first conduct our Ljubljana city tour. Ljubljana, the capital and largest city of Slovenia, is located at the intersection of Alpine, Central European and Mediterranean cultures and therefore has great cultural and architectural richness. During our tour in Ljubljana, we will see Vodnik Square, Ljubljana Castle, St. Nicholas Cathedral, Zmajski Most, Old Square, the Historic Fountain and People’s Square. After a short free time, we proceed to Bled. We enjoy a peaceful sightseeing tour of Bled, built on an island in the emerald-green alpine lake of the same name, famous for its church on the island and Bled Castle on the high hilltops, then continue our journey to Ljubljana Airport. Upon arrival at the airport, after completing baggage drop-off, ticketing and passport control procedures, we fly to Istanbul at 20:15 with Turkish Airlines’ direct scheduled TK1064 flight. Arrival at Istanbul Airport at 23:40 local time and end of the tour.