There is time to go shopping along the Via Condotti (at the foot of the Spanish Steps) where you find Gucci, Ferragamo and Bulgari boutiques, or on the Via Borgognona, which has offerings from Fendi and Gianfranco Ferre. If you are looking for antiques, stop by the Via del Babuino, the Via Margutta, or the Via Julia. Tonight, you dine à la carte at a local restaurant. (B,L,D)

The countryside beckons; and today you leave Rome to journey northward through Tuscany to the charming village of Todi, with its three preserved sets of walls – Etruscan, Roman, and Mediaeval. Continuing on to Orvieto, we see another town built by the Etruscans with narrow, winding streets leading up to a remarkable view overlooking little houses with balconies and hanging flowers. In the heart of the town, on the Piazza del Duomo, you visit the impressive cathedral – a wonderful example of Italian Gothic, which required the combined talents of 33 architects, 152 sculptors, 68 painters, and 90 mosaicists. Construction of this building was started in 1290; it was modified and completed in the 14^th century.

You stop in Todi for lunch and a coffee or some of the cool, fragrant wine for which this valley is famous. Upon your arrival in Siena later in the afternoon, you check into the Park Hotel, which is an adapted 15^th-century villa set amidst the Marciano Hills. Your à la carte dinner is served on the veranda overlooking the gardens. (B,L,D)

Siena is believed to have been founded by sons of Remus; the town’s coat of arms includes a she-wolf and twins, which represents the legend of Romulus and his brother, Remus, nursed by a wolf when they were babies. This morning, you go to the unique shell-shaped Piazza del Campo; eleven streets lead into it. You stop at the massive 13^th-century Palazzo Pubblico and its 286-foot-high Torre del Mangia for an incredible view from the top. You also visit the magnificent Cathedral with its multicolored striped marble façade, which dates from 1056. There is peace and elegance at every turn. This afternoon you glide across Tuscany by hot air balloon from which you view the hills and vineyards of the Tuscan countryside. Join your companions for an a la carte dinner at a local restaurant this evening. (B,L,D)

This morning you visit the charming 14th-century village of San Gimignano - "of the fine towers" – 15 of its original 72 towers still guard the town. In the Middle Ages, noble families designed their own towers to be used as keeps during the battles. Each lord tried to outdo the other by building his tower as high as he possibly could. The narrow streets are lined with palaces and old houses encircled by ramparts.

After lunch, later in the day, you visit the impressive buildings of Pisa – once a republic in its own right. In the 11th century, it was a very busy commercial port and competed with Genoa and Venice. Soldiers from Pisa joined the First Crusade in 1099. The city reached its height of power and influence in the 12th and 13th centuries, during which time the university was founded. Always known for its Leaning Tower, the city also has a very impressive cathedral and baptistry.

This evening you arrive in Florence, where you stay at the renowned Hotel Excelsior. Tonight, you dine in the Il Cestello restaurant with its stunning stained-glass windows and most tempting à la carte menu. (B,L,D)