INCLUDED FEATURES...

HIGHLIGHTS

Enjoy glorious days of magnificent art, architecture and panoramic views as you explore "the Eternal City" of Rome, southern Italy's breathtaking Amalfi coast with its stunning vistas of the Mediterranean Sea, and view Greek Temples and magnificent gardens in beautiful Taormina. Discover the ruins of Pompeii, visit the well-known sites of Classical Rome featuring the Circus Maximus and the Colosseum, see artisans at work in the seaside resort town of Sorrento, and enjoy two nights in Agrigento.

MEALS

9 Buffet Breakfasts, 5 Dinners

14 Meals Total

HOTELS

Day 1: OVERNIGHT FLIGHT. Join Collette Vacations in exploring the hidden treasures of southern Italy and Sicily. Enjoy breathtaking scenery, historic cities, centuries old hilltop villages, and wonderful cuisine. Your journey begins with an overnight flight to Palermo.

Day 2: ARRIVE PALERMO, SICILY - TOUR BEGINS. Your tour begins in Palermo, the capital of Sicily. This evening, join your fellow travelers for a special welcome dinner at a local restaurant featuring traditional Sicilian cuisine. Today dinner is included.

Day 3: PALERMO - MONREALE - AGRIGENTO. A Palermo cultural tour features the lovely squares of Quattro Canti, Piazza Pretoria and Piazza Bellini. Note the exotic mixture of Moorish, Norman and Spanish Baroque styles that make this city special. You also see the Palace of the Normans, La Martorana Church, and the Cathedral, which houses the Imperial Crown of Constance of Aragon in its treasury. In the nearby town of Monreale, visit the 12th century Cathedral with its dazzling interior of multicolored marbles, paintings, mosaics and cloisters. Depart Palermo for Agrigento later this afternoon. Today breakfast and dinner are included.

Day 4: AGRIGENTO. Learn about ancient Greek cultures when you visit the Archeological Museum, known for its extensive collection of Greek vases and mosaics. Then, proceed to the stunning Valley of the Temples, one of the most important archeological sites in the world and a UNESCO world-heritage site. From ancient times to the present day, the Valley of the Temples' ruins, landscape flora and colors have inspired poets, writers and painters. Here, get an up-close view of the temples of Hercules, June, Dioscuris, Vulcan and Olympian Zeus. Today breakfast and dinner are included.

Day 5: AGRIGENTO - PIAZZA ARMERINA - GIARDINI-NAXO. Depart Agrigento today and travel to the central part of Sicily to the town of Piazza Armerina. Here you pay homage to the Roman past at the Villa Casale, which houses one of the most incredible collections of ancient mosaics in the world. Later visit Mt. Etna Volcano National Park to see the spectacular landscapes sculpted by nature. Arrive in Giardini Naxos, the "garden of Sicily" and your home for the next two nights. Today breakfast and dinner are included.

Day 6: GIARDINI-NAXOS - TAORMINA - GIARDINI-NAXOS. This morning you tour beautiful Taormina, known for its charming atmosphere, significant monuments and flowering gardens. Enjoy viewing the Greek Temples, Corso Umberto and the bountiful Public Gardens. Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure to further explore this delightful town.

Day 7: GIARDINI NAXOS - AMALFI COAST. Today travel to Messina where you will take a short ferry to Villa San Giovanni on the mainland of Italy. Travel northward through the beautiful and unspoiled region of Calabria and into Campania, arriving later this afternoon on the Amalfi Coast. Today breakfast and dinner are included.

Day 8: AMALFI COAST - SORRENTO - AMALFI COAST. Begin your day exploring the popular seaside resort town of Sorrento. Visit local artisans and watch them demonstrate the art of inlaid wood making. Travel the Amalfi Drive where stunning views exist around every bend in the road. En route, view picturesque Positano before arrival in Amalfi, where you have free time to explore the town square, ceramic shops and cafes. Today breakfast is included.

Day 9: AMALFI COAST - POMPEII - ROME. Travel towards the Bay of Naples and experience the excavated ruins of Pompeii at the foothills of Mount Vesuvius. Soak in the history of the preserved original buildings of a typical Roman town 2,000 years ago. The forms of people who died in Pompeii are evident and cast an insight into how they lived. Later, travel to Rome, the magnificent capital of Italy. Today breakfast is included.

Day 10: ROME. Begin your day with an optional tour to the “Magnificent Treasures of the Vatican Museums.” Later, enjoy a tour of Classical Rome featuring the Piazza Venezia, the Roman Forum, the Circus Maximus, the Colosseum, and the Arch of Constantine. Contemporary Rome is highlighted through the Spanish Steps and the Trevi Fountain. Tonight you will celebrate the end of your journey with a farewell dinner at a popular local restaurant. Today breakfast and dinner are included.

Day 11: ROME - DEPART FOR HOME. Your tour ends today, leaving you with many pleasant memories of a wonderful vacation. Today breakfast is included.