INCLUDED FEATURES
Excursions & Sights
- Guided visit of St Peter’s Basilica - mother church of the Catholic faith
- Visit Sorrento’s Piazza Tasso and watch the art of ‘intarsio’ wood inlaying
- Visit the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli and the medieval hill-town of Assisi
- Visit the impressive Basilica of St Francis and see the frescoes by Giotto
- Enjoy a delightful mountain drive through the Appenines
- Cruise through the canals of Venice by private launch
- See the Doges’ Palace, Bridge of Sighs, Campanile and St Mark’s Basilica
- Venetian glass-blowing demonstration
- See Juliet's balcony and the 1st century Roman Arena in Verona
- See the Leaning Tower of Pisa
- See the Cathedral, belltower and ‘Gates of Paradise’ on the Baptistery in Florence
- Visit the statue lined Piazza della Signoria, political stage of Florence
- Watch a demonstration of leatherwork in the Santa Croce district
- Visit Siena’s Campo Square and see the Town Hall, ‘Fountain of Joy’ and Cathedral
Guided City Tours
- In depth sightseeing tour in Rome, Pompeii, Assisi, Ravenna & Florence
- Orientation tours in Sorrento, Venice, Verona and Siena
Insight's First Class Services
- Escorted by a professional Tour Director
- Luxury 40 seat touring coach with extra legroom & onboard toilet
- First Class hotels with all service charges, taxes and porterage
- Travel bag, document wallet, map book journal and information pack
- Complimentary transfers on Day 2 & Day 13 between the airport and your tour hotel
Quality Dining
- Highlight Dinner of Italian cuisine in Rome (HD)
- 11 buffet breakfasts (BB), 5 three course table d’hôte dinners, or buffets, plus tea or coffee (D)
|
DAY 1 – DEPART USA
Overnight flight to Rome.
DAY 2 – ARRIVE ROME
Welcome to Rome! Complimentary transfers to your Insight tour hotel depart Rome’s Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci Airport at 09.30, 12.30 & 15.30 hours. Later, join your fellow guests and Tour Director for a Welcome Drink. Hotel: Ateneo Garden Palace.
DAY 3 – ROME SIGHTSEEING
Meet your guide in the Vatican State, the richest community in the world, and visit the superb Vatican Museums. Browse through the vast art collection before emerging into the Sistine Chapel, immortalised by Michelangelo's painted ceiling. Your tour continues inside St Peter’s Basilica, designed by some of history's greatest architects. Another highlight takes you inside the Colosseum, scene of combat in imperial times. Then look out over the ruins of the Forum - once the religious, political and commercial heart of the Roman Empire. (BB)
DAY 4 – ROME – SORRENTO
Travel southwards towards Pompeii, the incredibly preserved Roman city, destroyed by the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 A.D. After a walk with a local guide through cobbled streets to explore some of the shops, villas and temples, continue along the Bay of Naples to the lively cliff-top resort of Sorrento. Hotel: Johanna Park. (BB)
DAY 5 – SORRENTO SIGHTSEEING
Visit Sorrento’s Piazza Tasso and watch the art of ‘intarsio’ wood inlaying. Cruise to the island of Capri and ascend to Capri town by funicular railway. There is time to explore before returning to Sorrento. (BB,D)
DAY 6 – SORRENTO – ASSISI
You pass beneath the hilltop monastery of Monte Cassino today, before climbing into the foothills of the Appenine Mountains. Stop first at the massive Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli, built around the tiny chapel of the monastery founded by St Francis himself. Now ascend to the charming hill-town of Assisi, a perfectly preserved medieval community of cobbled streets and houses of warm pink stone. Visit the impressive basilica, housing the saint's tomb and decorated with frescoes by Giotto. Hotel: Grand.(BB,D)
DAY 7 – ASSISI – VENICE
A delightful mountain drive takes you through the heart of the Appenines to the Adriatic coast and on to Ravenna, the 'City of Mosaics' and meeting point of Roman, Christian and Byzantine cultures. At one time a Roman naval base and the site of Dante's tomb, your guide reveals some of Ravenna’s great artistic treasures and famous buildings. Continue through the marshes of the Venetian lagoon and across the causeway to the unique city of Venice. Hotel: Sant Elena. (BB,D)
DAY 8 – VENICE SIGHTSEEING
Venice - a living treasure! What better way to see it than from a private launch? Cruise past Palladian churches and 13th century palaces to St Mark’s Square. See the Doges’ Palace, connected to the prisons by the Bridge of Sighs. It was from here that Casanova made his daring escape. Now turn the corner, and the gilded regalia of St Mark’s Basilica comes into view. Finally, watch one of the few remaining masters blow molten glass into a unique creation at a Venetian glass-blowing factory. (BB)
DAY 9 – VENICE – COMO
This morning travel to Verona, setting for one of history's saddest love stories. Here view Juliet's balcony and the well-preserved Roman Arena. Cross the fertile northern plains and pass by the outskirts of Milan, the commercial capital, before heading north to the Italian lake district and the stunning beauty of Lake Como, your destination for tonight. Hotel: Barchetta. (BB,D)
DAY 10 – COMO – FLORENCE
Head towards the Mediterranean and stop at Pisa to see the famous Leaning Tower in the 'Field of Miracles', and also the 11th century Cathedral and Baptistry. Continue to your hotel in the heart of Florence, treasure house of the Renaissance. Hotel: Astoria. (BB,D)
DAY 11 – FLORENCE SIGHTSEEING
Join a local guide for a walking tour and highlight visit to the Academy Gallery to see Michelangelo’s monumental figure of David. Continue to the multi-coloured marble Cathedral to see Giotto’s belltower and ‘Gates of Paradise’ before visiting the Piazza della Signoria, still the political heart of Florence. Finally watch a demonstration of leatherwork in the area around Santa Croce Basilica. Then, there’s free time to shop for Florence’s finest or continue sightseeing. The rest of the day is at leisure. (BB)
DAY 12 – FLORENCE – ROME
Travel through the Chianti vineyards and olive groves to Siena, Renaissance rival of Florence. Walk through the narrow cobbled streets, lined with palaces and mansions to reach the vast Campo Square, where the Palio horse race takes place. See the Town Hall, Della Quercia's ‘Fountain of Joy’, and climb up to the hilltop Cathedral before returning to Rome. Drive to a local restaurant tonight for a highlight farewell dinner including pasta, vino and entertainment. Hotel: Villa Pamphili. (BB,HD)
DAY 13 – RETURN TO USA
Sadly, our tour comes to an end after breakfast today. Transfers from the hotel arrive at Rome’s Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci Airport at 07.00 & 09.30 hours. (BB)
|
;)