ItalyTourTravel

Classic Italy

Tour Itinerary

1. Arrive Rome / Sorrento
Tour departs: Rome's Leonardo da Vinci Airport in Fiumicino one hour after the arrival of our selected flight(s). Travel through the fertile Campania countryside, around the Bay of Naples, and past Mount Vesuvius to the lively southern Italian resort town of Sorrento. Your hotel is ideally located in a tranquil garden setting above the sea. The afternoon is free to rest in your garden-view room or relax by the pool. Enjoy a welcome reception followed by dinner. Meals LD

2. Travel the Amalfi Coast
The drive along the Amalfi Coast is one of the most spectacular drives in the world, with breathtaking scenery around every bend. Fantastic rock formations drop vertically into the sea; sub-tropical vegetation on the hillsides, together with colorful Mediterranean flora, create enchanting landscapes. Seaside villages of Positano and Amalfi are a delight to see as is Ravello, which offers panoramic views of the coast. Return to Sorrento in the early evening to explore the piazzas and small alleys of this fascinating old town. Meals BL

3. Pompeii / Rome
Pompeii was a prosperous city of 30,000 inhabitants until it was completely buried by volcanic ash from the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 AD; excavations began in the 18th century and are still in progress today. Walk through Pompeii to discover the way of life in ancient Rome - visit the temple, the forum and a home adorned with frescoes. Arrive late afternoon in Rome, where you'll spend the next three nights; your hotel is centrally located on the fashionable Via Veneto, one of Rome's most prestigious addresses. Meals BL

4. The Vatican
Experience Vatican City, a state and a city all in one! Visit the Vatican Museum and its many treasures; see Michelangelo's masterpiece in the Sistine Chapel. Also visit St. Peter's Basilica and St. Peter's Square; in and around the square are Swiss guards, young Roman Catholic citizens of Switzerland wearing Renaissance-style uniforms in the bright colors of the Medici Popes. You can linger at the Vatican or return to your hotel; the afternoon is free. You may wish to shop the fashionable boutiques along the Via Condotti or relax at a sidewalk café. Meals B

5. Sightsee Rome
The City of Rome was not built in a day and therefore cannot be seen in a day! City sightseeing includes the Roman Forum and a visit to the Colosseum, plus the ruins of the Imperial Palace and the Circus Maximus. The afternoon is at leisure, allowing you to explore at your own pace. Dine this evening in Trastevere at one of Rome's oldest, and most charming, restaurants. Meals BD

6. Orvieto / Torgiano
Arrive in Orvieto, set high on a hill that's volcanic in origin, blanketed in vineyards. Visit the Duomo, one of Italy's greatest cathedrals. The façade is a visual treat, a blend of sculpture and mosaic splashed with a palette of colors and magnificent bronze doors. Inside the spectacular exterior you'll view inspiring frescoes by renowned artists. Following a traditional trattoria lunch near the Piazza del Duomo, continue through Umbria, a wine-growing region. Arrive in Torgiano, a small village in the Tiber Valley, where you'll experience Italian country life for the next two nights. Your unique accommodation is a lovely 17th-century patrician home featuring wooden beams and terracotta floors. Meals BLD

7. Discover Assisi
Take a short drive to Assisi, a hillside town spread across the slopes of a mountain. Assisi was the home of St. Francis, who left a position of wealth and turned to a life of poverty, chastity and obedience, founding the order whose followers became known as Franciscans. They built St. Francis Basilica, today housing some of Italy's great 13th-and 14th-century frescoes. Return to Torgiano for an afternoon at your leisure. Meals BD

8. Tuscany / San Gimignano / Pisa
Tuscany is a magical region, and the hilltop town of San Gimignano is one of its gems. Medieval towers, built in the 12th century by the nobility, are visible from afar. Stroll along the quaint streets and visit Piazza della Cisterna, one of Italy's finest town squares. Travel through lush countryside to Pisa for a brief visit, then on to Tirrennia for a one-night stay at a quiet resort. Meals BD

9. Cinque Terre Villages / Florence
Cinque Terre was accessible only by sea for hundreds of years. Five picture-book fishing villages are found between the Mediterranean's blue waters and the rugged coastal mountains. Visit this unique region, which has remained untouched for centuries; the small population, numbering about 7,000, lives by fishing and agriculture (vineyards, citrus fruit, olives); they remain strongly attached to their old world traditions. Journey on to the Renaissance city of Florence, where great art and architecture whisper the history of the ages. Meals BD

10. Experience Florence
In no other city did the arts flourish as they did here between the 13th and 16th centuries. Attend an in-depth briefing given by an art history lecturer from a local university which is followed by a visit to Galleria dell'Accademia, home of Michelangelo's David. The remainder of the afternoon and evening is at your leisure to explore Florence. Meals BL

11. Florence At Leisure
The entire day is free to pursue your special interests in Florence. Your hotel is ideally located within a few blocks of some of the world's greatest treasures... Pitti Palace, the famous bronze doors of the Baptistry, and the Uffizi Gallery. For three centuries, Florence was the cradle of an inspired, artistic and intellectual population. Home to Dante, Machiavelli, Giotto, Botticelli, da Vinci, Raphael, Brunelleschi and other important figures of the Renaissance, it is a mecca for art lovers. Special reservations have been made for you to visit the Uffizi Gallery. Meals B

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12. Rail To Venice
Travel by rail this morning to Venice, an unusual city built on 118 small islands and traversed by some 100 canals. Transfer by canal boat to your hotel, located near St. Mark's Square; after lunch, embark on a walking tour. Visit St. Mark's Basilica, built more than 900 years ago, and the sumptuous Doges' Palace, official residence of the elected officials of the former Venetian Republic. Meals BL

13. Venice At Leisure
The entire day is free to do as you please, perhaps people-watching from a café in St. Mark's Square or walking along the narrow streets and lanes. Murano glassware, lace and jewelry are just a few of the specialty items found within the unique shops of Venice. We invite you to join us tonight for a reception and farewell dinner. Meals BD

14. Journey Home
Tour ends: Venice's Marco Polo Airport 2 1/2 hours prior to the departure of our selected flight(s). Transfer by motor launch from the hotel to the airport. Persons departing other times should secure their own transportation to the airport. Water taxi from the hotel is approximately US $75. Meals B

 

	14 Days / 13 Nights Begins Rome Mar 12, 26, 29 Apr 9, 16, 23, 30 May 7, 14, 21, 28 Jun 4, 18, 25 Jul 2, 16, 23 Aug 13, 27 Sep 3, 10, 17, 24 Oct 1, 8, 15, 22 Nov 5 Additional dates may become available as these sell out.

	Price Per Person: March and November Twin $3690 Single $4392 Triple $3482 April through October Twin $4270 Single $4933 Triple $3945 26 Meals Included. Transatlantic air is additional. Special Airfares – Tour operator offers special fares in coach or business class on select carriers departing various cities the evening prior to departure dates listed above (subject to availability). Persons taking these flights will be met by the Tour Director outside customs at Rome's Leonardo da Vinci Airport in Fiumicino. Persons arriving on other flights may have to take a train and taxi, or private car, to the first hotel. Cost is between US $300 and $500, and takes up to 3 1/2 hours.

	Night 1,2 Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria Sorrento, Italy Night 3,4,5 The Westin Excelsior Roma Rome, Italy Night 6,7 Hotel Le Tre Vaselle Torgiano, Italy Night 8, Green Park Resort Tirrenia, Italy Night 9,10,11 Hotel Brunelleschi Florence, Italy Night 12,13 The Westin Europa & Regina Venice, Italy

Note: Tour and Tour Information are subject to change.

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