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Italy- 12 Days  

Sample Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive Rome
Make your own way to the hotel, then the day is free to explore at leisure. Maybe start your souvenir shopping or try an Italian gelato. Tonight, enjoy dinner after meeting with your Tour Manager and fellow travellers at 6pm. (D) Hotel

Day 2: Rome to Sorrento
First, an opportunity to visit the ancient city of Pompeii, then on to Cliffside Sorrento with marvelous views of the Bay of Naples. (B) Hotel

Day 3: Capri Excursion
Our complimentary cruise takes you to the Isle of Capri for a full day to enjoy its many attractions from the Blue Grotto to the hilltop town of Anacapri. (B,D) Hotel

Day 4: Sorrento to Florence
Leaving behind the stunning Amalfi coast we head north through Lazio and Umbria and make a stop en route to taste some local wine. Later a first taste of Renaissance Florence. (B,D) Hotel

Day 5: Florence
Your day includes a walking tour of the Piazza della Signoria, the Duomo and Santa Croce, and a chance to shop for leather, gold and silver. In your free time maybe visit one of the city’s many museums or galleries and this evening enjoy the colourful Florentine nightlife. (B) Hotel

Day 6: Florence to La Spezia
Free time in Pisa, home of the famous LeaningTower, then enter the unspoilt Cinque Terre Region. (B,D) Hotel

Day 7: La Spezia to Milan
A day of enormous contrast as we head from the tranquil western coast of Italy to the hussle and bustle of the fashion capital of Italy – Milan. (B,D) Hotel

Day 8: Milan to Venice
With Milan behind us we head east to our afternoon stop in Verona, home to Shakespeare’s tragic tale of Romeo and Juliet. Later we head to our hotel close to the stunning city of Venice. (B) Hotel

Day 9: Venice
A short boat ride takes us into the historical centre of Venice to see St Mark’s Square, the Bridge of Sighs and the Doges’ Palace. Ample time to wander the bustling streets, see the skill required to create local crafts such as Venetian glass and fine lace and visit one of the many amazing museums. Why not treat yourself to a gondola ride and evening meal with your fellow travellers as a perfect end to your Venetian experience? (B) Hotel

Day 10: Venice to Rome
Travelling south we stop at the Republic of San Marino, then its on to Rome and our evening sightseeing tour. (B,D) Hotel

Day 11: Rome
Ancient and modern Rome await your discovery. Why not take a guided tour of the Imperial Forum and walk in the footsteps of Gladiators? In your free time explore the Vatican City and Sistine Chapel, snap up Italian fashions or just watch the world go by with a gelato (or two). (B) Hotel

Day 12: Depart Rome
Time to swap addresses and email details and say ‘Arrivederci Roma’ as our tour ends after breakfast. (B) Hotel
 

ANOTHER OPTION

Day 1 - Arrive Rome (2 nights)
Greetings from a warm Welcome to the ‘Eternal City'. You are transferred to your hotel before time at leisure to perhaps take an excursion to visit the fountain-filled squares of the city by night.

Hotel: Parco Tirreno (2 nights)

Day 2 - Rome sightseeing & at leisure
To start the day, you may wish to join an optional excursion to visit Michelangelo's most impressive work - the ceiling of the Sistine chapel where popes are elected. Later, our included sightseeing tour with a local city expert will visit Vatican City and the awe-inspiring Basilica of St. Peter where we will see the famous 'Pieta'. On to Ancient Rome to see the Forum and the Colosseum. The balance of the day is at your leisure to visit more of the sights – perhaps discover the Catacombs and the medieval city walls or the Pantheon (reminiscent of Dan Brown's 'Angels and Demons') and Piazza Navona. (Buffet Breakfast)

Day 3 - Rome – Isle of Capri – Bay of Naples
Via the vineyards of Frascati and through the fertile hills of the Campania we reach the port of Naples where we cruise across the legendary bay in the shadow of the volcano – Vesuvius. On arrival in ‘Marina Grande' on the Isle of Capri, we are taken to the funicular, which rises through lemon and olive groves to Capri town. There's time to sip a cappuccino on the piazzetta and perhaps visit Anacapri before we 'Return to Sorrento', the popular resort which is a cluster of old houses and more modern hotels lined along the tufa cliffs overlooking the glorious Bay of Naples. On arrival a short orientation points out the Piazza Tasso and Corso Italia with its many cafés, restaurants and boutiques. We drive to our hotel on the Bay of Naples where this evening we will enjoy dinner. (Buffet Breakfast / Dinner)

Hotel: Parco

Day 4 - Bay of Naples – Monte Cassino – Assisi
This morning you will have the opportunity to visit the excavations at Pompeii – the Roman town engulfed by the eruption of Vesuvius in AD 79 before we drive along the spectacular coast on our journey north. We will stop at the Commonwealth Cemetery of Monte Cassino beneath the Abbey of St. Benedict to pay our respects to those who died in the World War II battle. Then into the peaceful hills of the Umbria to the mystical town of Assisi perched atop the Mount Subasio. Enjoy the tranquil views from the town as swallows swoop over the bucolic scenery before dinner tonight. (Buffet Breakfast / Dinner)

Hotel: Abacus

Day 5 - Assisi – San Marino – Venice (Main.) (2 nights)
This morning an orientation tour of Assisi will show us the Basilica of St. Francis where the saint who ‘spoke to the animals' is buried. We will also visit Santa Maria degli Angeli and see the roses without thorns – our Tour Director will tell us the incredible story of this startling building before continuing our journey through the constantly changing scenery of Umbria and the Marches towards the Adriatic coast. We drive into the hills and to the tiny Republic of San Marino – the world's smallest and oldest! Located on the Mount Titano it measures 60 square kilometres and lives from the sale of duty free goods and postage stamps! Then we drive through the National Park of the Po Delta to the unique and most romantic city on earth – the floating islands of Venice. (Buffet Breakfast / Dinner)

Hotel: Il Burchiello (2 nights)

Day 6 - Venice orientation and at leisure
On our included canal cruise along the Giudecca Canal taking us to St. Mark's square we witness extraordinary architecture of a fairy-tale by gone age. On arrival in St. Mark's basin we will see the marble lace-work of the Doges' Palace, the Bridge of Sighs, the Grand Canal, the Palladian Churches of
St. George and Saint Mary of our Health as well as St. Mark's Basiica itself with its mighty Bell-tower. A stroll across St. Mark's square will bring us to one of the oldest Murano glass workshops on the island and here we will witness the Art of Glass-blowing and have the opportunity to purchase items in this beautiful material. The rest of the day you may wish to spend exploring some of the other 200 islands in the Venetian Lagoon and perhaps samples some fresh fish and seafood. Later – why not be really romantic and try out a gondola serenade? We return to the mainland for dinner at our hotel. (Buffet Breakfast / Dinner)

Day 7 - Venice (Main.) – Verona – Italian Lakes
Morning departure for the city of the star-crossed lovers, Romeo and Juliet – the city of Verona. Here we will see Juliet's balcony, the 2000-year-old Roman Arena and the vast Piazza Bra with its many open-air cafés and gardens. Then via Milan, we drive towards the Alpine range to the lush and opulent region of the Italian Lakes. First we drive to the shores of Lake Maggiore, abundant with flowers and elegant villas. We will stop in the stately resort of Stresa, where you may wish to take a boat trip to visit the Borromean islands. Then we cross the lake by ferry and drive to our hotel, close to the shores of Lake Varese. (Buffet Breakfast / Dinner)

Hotel: Continental

Day 8 - Italian Lakes – Florence (Prato)
First the Lombardy Plains bring us to Alessandria and then south to the Italian Riviera and Genoa – birthplace of Christopher Columbus. We follow the Mediterranean coast past Rapallo and Portofino and beneath the hills of Carrara where we see the great expanses of white marble to Pisa. Here we visit the aptly names Square of Miracles to see the marble Cathedral with its famous Campanile – more commonly known as the ‘Leaning Tower of Pisa'. Then we continue along the valley of the river Arno to the city where Western civilisation blossomed – the Renaissance jewel that is Florence. (Buffet Breakfast / Dinner)

Hotel: Wall Art

Day 9 - Florence sightseeing – Rome
There is no better way to visit this city than on foot with our local city guide. We will see the most beautiful monuments and sights of the city including the Piazza Signoria, the multi-coloured marble Duomo and Baptistry, the Santa Croce Basilica and breathtaking views across the city from Piazzale Michelangelo. Then you will have time to shop for the products for which this city is renowned – fine leather goods, 18 carat gold jewellery and wonderful wine! Finally we return to Rome crossing fields of tobacco, sunflowers, olive groves and vineyards. Tonight, don't miss out on visiting the Trevi fountain to throw
in your coins and thus ensure your return to this enigmatic city. (Buffet Breakfast)

Hotel: Cristoforo Colombo

Day 10 - Depart Rome
We transfer you to the airport – and its not goodbye but 'arrivederci Italia' before you board your flight home. (Buffet Breakfast)

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