Daily Travel Plan

Day 1

Arrive at London Heathrow Airport. Terminal 2. Clear immigration /customs. Pick up our luggage. Heathrow is one of the largest airports in the world. There will be lots of walking with our luggage. Pack Light.

We take the free inter-terminal Heathrow Express Train from Terminal 2 to Terminal 4. Once we arrive at T4, take the lift up to the Departures Level (level 2) where we will find the covered link bridge that connects to our Holiday Inn Express Hotel. They have a 24 hour Cafe with snacks available. Relax and get some sleep.

Day 2

Our flight to Rome leaves from Terminal 5. See the Travel tips page for a Map of Heathrow. Upon arrival in Rome, a taxi will be waiting to take us to Piazza Venezia, Central Rome.

After check in, we have tickets to the Colosseum for those that want to go. We have to travel together as there is only one ticket for 6 people. Our entrance time is 5:00pm. It's a 16 minute walk.

Below is a link to the walking directions.

https://goo.gl/maps/26BSmj6jSqLjFk4P6

If you are not interested in the Colosseum, go for a stroll and try some authentic Italian cuisine. Check out the walking tour links I have inserted on Day 3.

Day 3

A full day in Rome.

I highly recommend St. Peter's Basilica. It's best to go as early as possible. The doors open at 6:50am The line will be long but this early in the morning, it will move quickly. No shorts, no bare shoulders, no bare knees. Entry is free. It's a 30 minute walk.

If you wish to see the Vatican, Sistine Chapel, purchase "Skip the Line" tickets NOW.

Below is my suggested walking tour for after lunch. Starting point, our home base at Piazza Venezia. Walk to the Trevi Fountain. You must use your right hand & toss a coin over your left shoulder into the fountain. As the legend goes, this will guarantee you will return to Rome. Then on to the Spanish Steps (Piazza di Spagna). Next is Piazza Navona to see the beautiful fountains. Then on to the Pantheon. We have tickets to enter the Pantheon with an entrance time of 4:00pm. Stroll back to Piazza Venezia.

This walk is a total of 42 minutes without stops. But of course it will take much longer as you enjoy the sights along the way.

Don't forget to try the Gelato!

Another Option: There is a popular market called Campo de' Fiori. You could visit there after lunch and then go to the Pantheon for 4pm. You can do the suggested walking tour in reverse.

I also recommend touring the area across the river knows as Trastevere. Visiting the Jewish Ghetto area along the way. This is an area I would like to check out and have Dinner tonight.

Below are links to the Walking Tours on Google Maps

Piazza Venezia to Pantheon

https://goo.gl/maps/8RFZfDAbiwPgimoz8

Piazza Venezia to Travestere

https://goo.gl/maps/6qC5qgbZLzmWesfL8

Piazza Venezia to St. Peter's Basilica

https://goo.gl/maps/XAfu8koL9XrjdJHY7

Day 4

We taxi to Ciampino Airport Car Rental to pick up our cars. We drive to Tufillo and tour this charming old world Italian village. There will be very few tourists and little to no english here. We will see Papa Ranni's house and church where he was baptized. Then off to San Vito Chietino on the Adriatic Coast.

Day 5

Adriatic Coast

A walk on the beach, a bike ride, or both. Enjoy an Italian coastline missed by most North American tourists. We will celebrate a birthday today by dining on a Trabocco. A Trabocco is a fishing machine which offered fisherman an alternative to a fishing boat. They have been turned into restaurants. We are booked at

https://www.traboccopuntafornace.it/

It's a fixed menu of seafood and pasta. We will get a taste of the local cuisine. Italians eat dinner late. Usually between 8:00pm - 10pm. I have booked the earliest time available which is 7:30pm

Day 6

Drive to Tuscany. I included an optional stop in Orvieto for Lunch and another stop in Montepulciano. These are well worth seeing and are on the way to our destination: Pensieri Di Cavatina in Pianella.

It's 3.5 hours to Orvieto. Then 1 hour to Montepulciano. And 1 hour to Pensieri Di Cavatina.

Suggested timeline: Depart 8:00am. Arrive Orvieto 11:30/noon

for lunch. Depart 2:00pm Arrive Montepulciano 3:00pm Tour and have a snack. Depart 4:30pm Arrive at Pensiere 5:30-6:00pm

Here is the link to the Driving Instructions

https://goo.gl/maps/axPTuJipBX54rNHT6

Day 7

Visit Tuscan Hill Towns

Some of the most popular towns nearby are Volterra, San Gimignano.

Total drive time without stops is 1 hour.

https://goo.gl/maps/zW1LHn8t4qAX1cR89

The Cinque Terre villages are also an option, but further away.

A 3 hour drive.

https://goo.gl/maps/DfC8mDL38Z1kGKPc6

Day 8

The Saturnia Hot Springs are about a 2.5 hour drive. An all day trip that looks amazing. There are some great towns to visit for lunch along the way.

https://goo.gl/maps/dJ5bKGVvo7QdgDeZA

Day 9

Tour a larger center like Siena or Florence. Or go further and see the leaning Tower of Pisa. For Florence, I suggest you take the nearest train as parking is a nightmare. The train is an experience in itself.

Day 10

Our last day in Tuscany. We have a Cooking Class in Giaole booked at 10:00am. Graham and I will attend for lunch at Noon.

The afternoon leaves lots of time to tour the village while in the area.

Day 11

Fly to London. We arrive at Gatwick Airport 3:00pm and taxi to our B&B in Belgravia.

Harrods Department store is amazing. It really is worth a visit.

It's a 20 minute walk from our B&B. Walk another 5 minutes and you can enjoy a quiet time in Hyde Park. I am sure there will be a London Pub along the way to stop for dinner.

Walking directions:

https://goo.gl/maps/CKvMs6RQKCUEUPae9

Day 12

Tour London. Walk, take the tube, or the Double Decker bus. They are all good ways to see the city.

It's 1 hour 15 mins to walk to London Bridge. Along the way you will see Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, London Bridge, Big Ben, and the London Eye.

Walking tour:

https://goo.gl/maps/Sofb2uaWLeNmKpyA8