Italy

Take a stirring journey through art and religious history with skip-the-ticket-line entry to the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel. Avoid the long ticket lines and then enjoy your visit at your own pace.  Wander through the Greek Cross Gallery to see elaborately-carved sarcophagi that might just contain the earthly remains of some of antiquity's famous kings and queens. Peek at the Cabinet of the Masks, or tour the Sala degli Animali to see a virtual menagerie of fantastic beasts, real and imagined. Walk the Upper Galleries, including the Gallery of Maps, to see how cartographers depicted the world through the ages. See masterpieces by Renaissance masters in the Raphael Rooms, and rest for a while in the Borgia Apartments. Then, it’s time to marvel at Michelangelo’s exquisite Sistine Chapel, the crown jewel of the Vatican, and perhaps even of all the world’s art treasures.

Skip the long ticket line and go straight to the fast track entrance for security checks. After entering the Colosseum at your allotted time, relive the stories of emperors and gladiators. Begun under the emperor Vespasian in 72 AD, and completed by his son Titus in 80 AD, the Colosseum was the largest amphitheater ever built. Imagine the ferocious fights between man and beast, as you stand in the elliptical arena, comprised of 4 levels, and once able to seat up to 73,000 spectators. Your ticket also includes one entry to the Palatine Hill and Roman Forum, must-see sights for all those visiting the “Eternal City.” According to ancient tradition, this is the spot where Rome was born. Look down at the ruins of temples in the Imperial Forum, center of all political, social, and economic life in the city during the Roman Republic. Experience the most ancient parts of Rome from the most significant of its “Seven Hills.”

Discover the iconic symbol of Milan with your access-all-areas ticket to the Duomo and see the 600-year-old cathedral. Learn about the history of St. Ambrose and the cathedral's important role during the evolution of the city both spiritually and culturally.  Admire city panoramas from the Duomo Terraces. Built using Candoglia marble, on bright days, you can see as far as the Alps and the Apennine Mountains. Elevator optional.   Admire the Duomo's 27 halls and its 14th-century Palazzo Reale's stained glass window, tapestries, and sculptures. See the archaeological remains of the S. Giovanni alle Fonti Baptistery and S. Tecla.   Gain a deeper appreciation of the cultural and spiritual heritage of Milan. Built in the 4th century by St. Ambrose and demolished in 1387 to make space for the cathedral, the Baptistery was forgotten until 1961.

Make your way to the Aquarium of Genoa to see more than 15,000 animals from 400 species at Italy's largest aquatic zoo. Skip the line, and learn how the aquarium was built for the Genoa Expo '92. Enjoy a venue that is home to the biggest display of aquatic biodiversity in Europe. Venture into the fascinating waters of the world as you explore more than 70 tanks of critters. Marvel at animals from the Antarctic, such as penguins, and see sharks, seals, jellyfish, and the colorful fish of the coral barriers. Go to the Cetacean Pavilion, designed by Renzo Piano, and laugh along with the bottlenose dolphins at 4 open-air pools.

Discover masterpieces of art at one of Italy (and the world’s) greatest art museums, and enjoy priority entrance at the world-famous Uffizi Gallery in Florence. Marvel at Italian Renaissance art by some of the greatest artists of all times. See paintings by Michelangelo, Da Vinci, Raffaello, Giotto, Cimabue, Masaccio, and others. Go to the gallery’s most renowned room to see the stunning collection by Botticelli. Admire his “Primavera” and “The Birth of Venus,” and reflect upon his representation of the birth of the goddess as she emerges from the sea foam. Escape the hassle and hurry of organized group tours, and explore at your own pace. You are free to stay inside the museum for as long as you like.

Enjoy a shared water taxi service between Venice Marco Polo Airport and central Venice hotels. Choose from a 1-way or round-trip service and relax for a scenic ride. Depart straight after you find your luggage and get whisked across the lagoon to your hotel. This is the most romantic and direct way to travel to the city. Be picked up or dropped off directly at some hotels located along the Grand Canal, or hotels such as Hilton Stucky and San Clemente. For less-accessible destinations on the inner canals, a designated meeting point will be decided that is within walking distance of your hotel.  For JW Marriott - Isola delle Rose, you will be dropped off in San Marco nearby the Marriott hotel shuttle boat.

Skip the long ticket lines on this 2-hour guided tour and discover the remains of the Roman city. See ancient ruins, destroyed by the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD, leaving the city buried under mountains of volcanic ash. Your guide will take you to see houses and everyday items that were still almost intact when the city was unearthed. Experience this everyday Roman town, almost like it was under the Roman Empire. Highlights include the Roman Amphitheater, small theater, and public gymnasium. See places where the Romans had their fun and held banquets, and discover frescoes frozen in time, and poignant casts of citizens and their pets.

Visit the Roman city of Pompeii with this entrance ticket. Discover its temples, theaters, homes, and public buildings. On the morning of August 24, AD 79, the Vesuvius eruption took Pompeii's 11,000 residents by surprise. The dramatic event killed the inhabitants and the city was buried beneath ash. This event created one of the most preserved archeological sites in the world today.  Explore well-known sites such as the amphitheater, the Villa of Mysteries as well as the houses of Vettii and Faun, amongst others.

Visit the Doge's Palace, an important historic landmark that served as the seat of Venetian political power for centuries. As you explore the seat of a 1,000-year republic, you’ll travel back in time to the Middle Ages. Marvel at the rich details of the magnificent gold staircase and spectacular works of art. Relive the anguish of the prisoners as they crossed the famous Bridge of Sighs. Your admission ticket also includes entry to the Correr Museum on St. Mark's Square. The building was originally designed as a residence for Napoleon, and later became the Venetian residence of the King of Italy.

Climb up the world-famous Leaning Tower of Pisa with this convenient timed entrance ticket. Skip the long lines at the ticket office and go directly to the tower at your reserved time slot for a stress-free visit to the Leaning Tower, located in Piazza del Duomo next to the 11th-century Cathedral and the Baptistery. Walk past the notoriously long queues and admire both the tower and the cathedral at your own pace. The Tower is the third oldest structure in Piazza del Duomo after the cathedral and the baptistery. The construction of the tower started in 1172 and took place in three stages over a span of 199 years. In 1987, the tower was declared part of the Piazza del Duomo UNESCO World Heritage Site along with the neighboring cathedral, baptistery, and cemetery.