Highlights of Italy
Topic: European ToursSample Itinerary
DAY 1 - DEPARTURE
Check in at your airport for the transatlantic flight to Italy.
DAY 2 - ROME
Upon arrival in Rome following customs formalities you will meet your tour manager and transfer to the waiting motorcoach for the drive into Rome, the Eternal City. A short familiarization tour is followed by hotel check-in. You'll then have some free time for a short "snooze" before dinner at the hotel.
DAY 3 - ROME
A tour of Rome will show you some of the important ancient monuments, including the famous Coliseum. Next you'll take a walk through the Roman Forum. Then continue on to the Capitol for a view of the Capital Square, designed by Michelangelo. Next, stop at the huge Victor Emmanuel II Monument and the Pantheon. After time for lunch in the area, it's back to the coach for your afternoon tour which will include views of Villa Borghese, Piazza di Spagna with the famous Spanish Steps, the famous Via Veneto, Trevi Fountain, and the Quirinal. The last stop of the day will be at San Pietro in Vincoli to see the Michelangelo statue of Moses.
DAY 4 - VATICAN CITY, ROME
This morning you'll visit Vatican City and tour the fantastic Vatican Museums. The primary focus of your visit will be the Sistine Chapel. You'll also see St. Peter's Square and visit St. Peter's Basilica. Following the tour, the remainder of the day will be at leisure.
DAY 5 - TIVOLI, ROME
You'll visit some of the Catacombs this morning. Here, too, you will see the Via Appia Antica, the famous Roman road. This afternoon you're off on an excursion to Tivoli where you'll visit Villa d'Este. After this relaxing visit, return to Rome for the evening.
DAY 6 - NAPLES, HERCULANEUM, SORRENTO
After an early breakfast, travel southward to Naples to visit the National Archaeological Museum. After this visit, take time for a late lunch and then continue to Herculaneum for a visit. Then drive to Sorrento, the Italian Resort City that will be your home for the next three nights.
DAY 7 - CAPRI, SORRENTO
A morning city tour of Sorrento will include a walk through the Old Town and a visit to the Church of San Francis. Afterwards you'll board a boat for a trip to the Isle of Capri where you'll enjoy some time at leisure. After time for independent dinner, return to the hotel for a night of well-earned rest.
DAY 8 - AMALFI COAST, POMPEII, SORRENTO
This morning's drive will feature Italy's finest coastline, namely the Amalfi Coast. A stop will be made at Positano, a fishermen's village which is one of the busiest resorts on the coast. Also stop to see the town of Amalfi. Then continue on to Pompeii where a local guide will take you through this extensive site. At the end of the day, you'll return to Sorrento for your last overnight in this beautiful resort city.
DAY 9 - ORVIETO, PERUGIA
Today you'll return north. Your first stop will be in Orvieto where you'll take the funicular up to the Piazza del Duomo. From here continue on to Perugia, another lovely Italian hill town for the overnight.
DAY 10 - SIENA, MONTECATINI
Leaving Perugia, you'll travel through the hills of Tuscany to Siena, a beautifully preserved medieval town. You'll walk up to the Piazza del Campo to visit the Palazzo Publico. While you're in Siena, you'll also be visiting the Duomo. Later in the day, travel to Montecatini, Italy's most frequented and most fashionable thermal spa, which will be your home for three nights.
DAY 11 - FLORENCE, MONTECATINI
A full-day excursion takes you to Florence. A local guide will take you on a walking tour of Florence, which will start at the Duomo. Then see the Baptistry. From here you'll walk down to the Piazza de Signoria and the Palazzo Vecchio. Next visit the famous covered bridge called the Ponte Vecchio. The afternoon is at leisure for shopping, independent exploration and museum visits. After time for independent dinner, reboard the coach for the return drive to Montecatini.
DAY 12 - LUCCA, PISA, MONTECATINI
This morning you'll travel the short distance to Lucca. While here, you'll take a walk around the ramparts and visit the Duomo with its green-and-white marble façade and you'll explore the Old Town. This afternoon, continue to Pisa, known the world over for its Leaning Tower. While here you'll visit the Baptistry and the cemetery to see many Greco-Roman sarcophagi in the galleries. Then it's back to the motorcoach for the return to Montecatini.
DAY 13 - BOLOGNA, PADUA, VENICE-MESTRE
This morning's drive takes you northward to Bologna. In its city center you will see the Neptune Fountain, the leaning towers and the Basilica of St. Petronius. After the city tour and time for independent lunch, travel northward to Padua to visit the Scrovegni Chapel. In the center of town you will also see the Piazza della Frutta and the Piazza delle Erbe. Next stop at the Basilica del Santo. Your last drive of the day takes you alongside the Brenta Canal. At Stra you'll travel past the Villa Nazionale with its majestic garden. Near Mira you'll see the Palazzo Foscarini and the Villa Widmann-Foscari-Rezzonico. In the late afternoon you'll be arriving at the hotel in Mestre for the last two nights of the tour.
DAY 14 - VENICE-MESTRE
After breakfast you'll cross the causeway which separates Mestre from Venice. Then travel by
vaporetto, the Venetian waterbus, to the Piazzo San Marco where you'll meet a local guide who will take you on a tour of the Basilica of San Marco and the Doges' Palace. Next walk through the narrow streets and alleys towards the Grand Canal and on to the Gallerie dell' Accademia. After your visit, you'll have the remainder of the day at leisure to explore on our own.
DAY 15 - RETURN
Transfer to the Venice Airport to check in for the return flights to the U.S.
