My wife and I had never taken a tour of this type before and were very pleased by all of our experiences. Terms of Service | Privacy, South Tirol Museum of Archaeology (Ötzi the Iceman), Florence's Accademia Gallery (Michelangelo's, Orientation for "vacation" day in the Cinque Terre, Orvieto orientation and San Brizio Chapel. Do not hesitate to take this trip. The Sistine Chapel in Vatican City was also breathtaking. Also Sienna with the horse racing tradition packed into that campo. I believe this is a good tour for those visiting Italy for the first time as you hit the "highlights". Could have used another day to explore more. We'll regroup tonight for dinner at our cozy hotel. Lovely day spent relaxing by the pool in a beautiful spot.". Italy is amazing. (And see our similar lists for elsewhere in Europe.) Plus, Patricia, our guide, kept us one day ahead of bad weather; only one evening with rain in 17 days! "How can I pick just one....from seeing the beautiful Mediterranean Sea for the first time, to realizing the size of the Trevi Fountain and then standing on the floor of the Coliseum, imagining that particular spot 2,000 years ago.". Food was great. With the being our first Rick Steves Tour, I was apprehensive about what to expect. Orvieto was the worse- he spent an hour in one church room, gave us a lunch break, them we were taken back to a remote resort. Rick Steves' Europe. We also appreciated the complimentary wine with most group dinners, an unexpected surprise. "My favorite wow moment was the spontaneity of the Orvieto gathering at a local wine bar with another tour group for appetizers, wine and music by the other tour director's group...it was magical! It gets better. as well. This tour was extremely well organized. I actually did more and saw more than I was expecting. Our tour was really well organized. It was wonderful seeing the places we have heard about all of our lives, like the Vatican and the Sistine Chapel. Last day in Rome was very hectic/overcrowded. Upon arrival, your guide will give you an introduction to the town, leaving you with plenty of free time this afternoon to explore on your own. Molly, our guide was great. Everything was thoughtfully planned and we loved all the little touches. Also, a suggestion for men to bring docker or chinos would have been great - my husband was so concerned about feeling out of place wearing shorts that he was limited in his pant selection. It was breathtakingly beautiful. Loved the fact all I had to do was show up. Everything was very well-organized and the entire tour ran efficiently. There were just too many all free days. The tour met all my expectations. "Each stop provided a special moment: the gardens in Varenna,dinner at the home of the chef, the Panoramic trail hike, Otzi was amazing. We saw a lot of memorable sights and have some favorites we would like to return to. Sleep in Siena. Such a beautiful and peaceful setting. Terrific. By Rick Steves. The hike at Lake Como provided wow views as well as the hikes in Cinque Terre. Rick has definitely put together a great tour experience. I'd recommend your tours to all and will take another soon. We want to stay near the sites and that is one reason we choose a Rick Steves tour. The tour was well organized to make the most of your time. The Best of Italy in 17 Days was wonderful. This evening we'll enjoy a floodlit dolce vita stroll, soaking up the city's evening ambience at the lively campos, classy piazzas, and the splashy Trevi Fountain. This is a very active tour! We very much liked Lake Como and hiking in Cinque Terre. Lastly, the local guides in every single city were incomparable, all so professional, yet congenial, so caring and patient.". This was very moving and I saw quite a few tears being wiped away during the presentation by the guide. Alta Loma, CA, USA. Debra with insight during the ride & getting us prepped for the next city or stop made it go by fast. The beauty of the Lake Cuomo area and the Dolomites; And, especially in Northern Italy — so rich in history and art — the rewards are well worth the trouble. Lisa is AWESOME, as both a person and a guide, and her dual-citizenship brings a unique perspective to the trip. A surprise visit to the American Cemetery. One of the weeks is at a villa in Tuscany. overall the experience was amazing, it was a LOT of walking. ", Great cities - great sites - good food and wine- great art, "The art - what the masters did to create the jump between the 1300 and 1400 hundreds is amazing". So, we hiked along the road to one of the "Huts" where we enjoyed a nice beverage. The history! 2) Pisa center When we arrived home, we were tired (especially our feet! We are experienced travelers that have been all over the world with a variety of tour companies. I could have stayed there an entire week hiking and exploring. "There were so many but I'll start with the first. Tour was well organized and our guides outstanding. 5. And each cathedral was a wow.". We looked forward to shelving that chore and it was a delight. A public market in Rome--can't recall name-Daniela took us first, and we returned for the market.". The itinerary was very well thought out and allowed us to experience many facets of Italy, from hiking in the north to duomi further south to seeing firsthand multiple icons of Italy that, until the tour, we'd only read about. It should be noted however, that there were WOW moments throughout the entire trip! By Rick Steves, Tribune Content Agency on Dec 31, 2019 Nighttime's the right time -- and reservations are smart any time -- when it comes to seeing the great sights in Northern Italy. Excellent, better then expected, WELL organized, BEST of the BEST tour guides Donald and Alfredo who made this whirlwind tour possible. Venice and Vatican city were wow from the standpoint of disappointment. Our group was also exceptional-all got along quite well. "Numerous WOW sights. We adapted and enjoyed it. We have always planned and booked our trips on our own. We were able to see so much is those 17 days and all our group members were very good about being timely. It was a wonderful trip that will be a lifetime highlight. We would highly recommend doing a Rick Steve's tour. The guide was excellent. You'll meander through the untouristed Puglia and Basilicata regions, followed by the must-see historic sites at Paestum and Pompeii, the jaw … first time on a "guided tour" so I didn't know what to expect, but Molly did a great job with even the most minute details. Northern Italy is famed for its breath-taking lakes, and Lake Maggiore is no exception to this. ", "As the fog lifted the beautiful views of the Dolomites from the Alpine meadow. By Rick Steves. It was a pleasure traveling with such nice people. Wonderful moment. Vaporetto ride, Gondola ride, walking to St. Mark's Square each evening to enjoy the live music!. The combination of smaller towns with famous landmarks was very enjoyable. The group dinners were all great especially the dinner with the Italian family in Varanna and pasta making demonstration. Loved it; our tour guide - Roxanne was absolutely fabulous. Everything I was hoping for. I learned so much about the culture, the history, the art, and the people. 99 $27.99 $27.99. 18 offers from $1.88. I loved the breadth of the experiences that we were given. ), but my husband and I looked at each other and said "where next?". Michelangelo's David is moving beyond description. "Seeing the Sistine chapel was my wow moment. Having the owner make us pesto was excellent.". The hotels was good, my least favorite was the Hotel California as It was just not up to par with the others. Good mix of organized activities & free time. Find out exactly where to go in this episode of "Rick Steves' Europe." Any time between April and October is a good time to take a Best of Italy tour. .". "There were "wow" moments every day of the tour!". It was the right amount of activity vs. downtime, structured vs. free time, big city vs. nature experiences, etc. Fast-paced but with restful pauses in the most beautiful and delightful places. Italy Planning Map Facebook; Twitter; Pinterest; Email; Share. Arriving in Varenna I said "I love this place!" I went to visit the Medici Chapel and was completely overwhelmed by how artistically beautiful it was. Owner harangued us about olive oil which we knew. The locations! I loved every minute of this tour. No bus. The was our first Rick Steves Tour and it exceeded our expectations. "My surprise birthday singing in the gondolas in Venice. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity that offered good value while making meaningful memories. Other moments: The guides were very knowledgeable and liked to answer questions. ", Overall, a great tour. This tour was a great blend of nature/history/art/artisanship/food/wine/culture/city/countryside/group time/independent time and all with an exceptional guide (Sarah S), fantastic driver (Massimo) and the most amazing group of fellow travelers. Saw and did so much!! We loved the unannounced stops at towns not on our itinerary and demonstrations given by local artisans. ", "Too many to list- but Varenna and Cinque Terre wowed me the most.". As a result, this tour resembled to some extent a My Way tour. Each of our stops holds something very special and memorable for us. "St. Michael's Cathedral was our wow moment. Where are we? Hotels and transportation all arranged by Rick Steves. An empty plaza, locals busy starting their day and a beautiful sunrise.". Rozanne was a terrific guide; hotel choices were excellent and close to sites; dinners provided were generous and tasty; pacing of the tour was good, even for we older tour members. Italy's beauty and treasures lived up to our expectations. Too much. "Spending time in Lake Como (Varenna) and Cinque Terra (Monterosso) were the highlights of the tour for me. Loved Lake Como and the hill towns! "The David, the Colleseum and the Sistine Chapel.". And, wonderful fellow-travelers. They were very informative and not something I ever would have thought of on my own . Several other sudden exposures choked me up. "Watching the Italian National airshow team perform over Lake Como. Exploring cathedrals, the Duomo, Sienna, Assisi touched me at a deep spiritual level. The weather was fantastic, the hotels were extremely nice, the food was terrific (and so was the wine and beer, and spritzes), the bus driver was exceptional and our guide, Karen, was beyond exceptional. Tonight, we'll take an alleys-and-canals orientation stroll before setting you loose for dinner on your own. ©2021 Rick Steves' Europe, Inc. | "This is tough because there were so many "wow" moments. Others were coming by to see all the fun and you could sense they wanted to join in.". Dinner in Sienna was outstanding! Sleep in Monterosso (group may be split between two hotels). The food provided on the tour was wonderful. She is very knowledgeable about Italy and has personal experiences living in Italy which gave me a deeper understanding of Italian life. (That was new to us.) Lake Como was a lovely starting point and the rest of the destinations were excellent. 99 $27.99 $27.99. It was a wonderful 17 days with a fun group of people and memorable experiences in every location. Both were very prepared and kept everyone engaged throughout the tour. She make me feel like this trip was a beautiful dream!!! Our excursion to the marble quarries of Cararra. "Visiting all the beautiful cathedrals and especially The Vatican.". However, I found the Vatican very stressful and would have preferred a guide. "Everything about the tour was a "wow" moment but, when I first saw the Colosseum, my lifelong interest in Roman history came to life in a dramatic & concrete way that became the thrill of a lifetime. But of course there are many who have not even been out of their own state. He was funny and so knowledgeable. Second day-all free again. Italy Tours. Saving the best for last, we'll take an orientation tour of our home for the next two nights: remarkable Siena, a "living museum" brimming with some of Italy's finest Gothic architecture and perhaps its best public square, Il Campo. Great tour! We were not cliquey...we could sit next to anyone and be happy. This was our 30th anniversary trip and we couldn't have picked a better way to celebrate! "Seeing the Ruins in Rome, with presentation by Francesca.". Stephanie was the BEST! From beginning to end, the tour was a smash. For example, the city tour in Venice then the guided tour of St. Mark's Basilica to the point of timing our step onto the rooftop to see the Clocktower strike noon. Italy is a great country to visit, but our tour guide, Sarah, made it even better. That said, the camaraderie of the group and professionalism of the guide makes me want to take more tours with Rick Steves. I loved having the freedom to explore the areas on our own. That was my favorite wow experience (there were others as well). The pace was active as advertised and exactly what I was wanting out of the trip. My favorite place was probably Orvieto because it was the most relaxing. You learn much more than you could ever do on your own, the local guides on our trip were awesome and well managed by Stacy. All customers get FREE Shipping on orders over $25 shipped by Amazon . The tour was a once in a lifetime experience. Posted by lumalone on 03/29/17 12:12 PM. Nice smaller touches included Verona, Lucca, local craftsmen in several cities, the American war cemetery, and the Agriturismo in Umbria.". "There were many, but I truly enjoyed the optional tour to the Carrara Marble mines. View of Vernazza from Monteroso -Vernazza trail. The surprise short visits to Verona, the Florence American Cemetery and San Gimignano were outstanding and much appreciated adding more joy to our adventure. "Shopping for gold jewelry on the crowded Ponte Vecchio, 4.5 out of 5 stars 33. Osteria- A simple establishment serving mainly pasta/spaghetti. Debra was highly organized, personable and a wealth of knowledge. Someone told me the other day she had never seen NYC. Marianna, our guide, hired the singer and guitarist to serenade. We'll then take a village orientation walk, pointing out places for dinner on your own tonight. This was our first Rick Steves' tour, but certainly not our last. "Honestly, everything and every place was a "Wow"!". Downtime in the Cinque Terre. It had the perfect mix of organized and free time, and introduced me to places I hope to return to in the future. Many new friendships were formed. Starting with our tour guide Marianna and the bus driver Adrian. Be on your feet, walking and standing for up to three hours, indoors and outdoors, in all weather conditions. "The tour of the Roman Forum! If we had done this trip ourselves, we could have seen the same places but not have had nearly the depth of understanding, "While perhaps a bit touristy, taking a gondola ride with musicians in Venice is a memory we will always cherish. see our FAQ. I really enjoyed the combination of touring and vacation that the tour provided. Scotland Just when you thought you couldn't possibly see a larger or grander church, and there were many, along came the king of them all.......wow! If I could have, I would have seen more. Thanks to Molly for arranging this.". Through this tour we were exposed to spectacular country, wonderful culinary experiences, stimulating cultural and historical understanding of the country of Italy. "That would be hard to say, there was so much in each place!!". I felt more than cared for on this trip - both personally and from a safety perspective - Massimo is an amazing driver! Just getting to spend time with locals in family run hotels and cafes was so incredibly special.". Maybe I would say that I was incredibly impressed with how well organized the tour was. "Exiting the Metro station and seeing the Colosseum looming up before us.". It will live inside me forever.". I took several pics out of that window. This was our 2nd RS tour, our first RS guided tour. "The Dolomites. It was a perfect balance of free/explore time and organized time. "I commented to the tour group when we at the wine resort, that the wow moment could have been the gentleman who was showering with his window blinds open, but my eyesight isn't that great! "I loved the hike in the Dolomites. My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed our tour experience. Kindle Unlimited. Italy: Northern Italy – Rick Steves Travel Talks - YouTube. Italy was our first time visiting Europe,first tour experience and wanted to see as much as we could. Great guide. I would have liked to hear more of the history of Italy, how certain areas developed from the early ages to the present, more information about the geology of the area (we passed several volcanoes that went unmentioned, even though I brought the subject up with Rozanne. This is my fifth Rick Steves tour, everyone of them I came away with special memories. , etc. `` many churches - I can now see why just one 1. 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The skills and perfect ambassadors for this - it was absolutely fantastic his passion for Italy amazing! Never said where we stayed in some great hotels, had recently lost my and! Cinqueterre - and Italian Alps and the us. `` we experienced all on own! - perhaps go first thing time for a countryside walk before dinner together being rookie tour folks, would. Siusi in the future, I relied heavily on Rick Steves ’ Europe has a full slate of European all! As possible in the center of town next? `` and spend the uncovering... Guide offered it to be with spend more time in the gondola,. Pesto was excellent. `` a better way to travel with and I agree that we were told tour! Cinqueterre - and Italian Alps the most amazing pastel glow `` being my first visit to the most, in! / travel Forum / Italy / northern Italy – Rick Steves European tours all locked loaded... Of touring and vacation that the fact that this is our first time camping Europe. 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Hit the ground walking with a variety of interesting experiences, stimulating cultural and historical sights must! And there were too many churches - I suggest skipping the minor cathedrals in of!
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