DAY 1: DEPART USA. Overnight flight to Rome.

DAY 2: ARRIVE IN ROME. On arrival at Rome's Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci Airport there are complimentary transfers to the tour hotel at 09.30, 12.30 and 15.30. Later, join your Tour Director for a Welcome Drink.

Hotel: Melia Roma Aurelia Antica

DAY 3: ROME SIGHTSEEING. With a local guide we visit St. Peter's Basilica, seeing the Popes' Altar by Bernini and Michelangelo's powerful Pieta. Now we cross the river Tiber to see the Forum and visit the Colosseum, where gladiators once fought. Time at leisure this afternoon. Tonight, we stop by the Trevi Fountain before enjoying a Highlight Dinner, complete with vino and entertainment. (BB,HD)

DAY 4: ROME - SORRENTO. We stop briefly at the Commonwealth War Cemetery at Cassino this morning, before continuing south to Pompeii. With our local guide, we stroll through the streets of this Roman town engulfed in 79 A.D. by an eruption of Mt Vesuvius. Now on to our hotel in the scenic cliff top resort of Sorrento. (BB,D)

Hotel: Michelangelo

DAY 5: SORRENTO. Today's excursion is to Capri, the island of dreams! Arriving at the Marina Grande by boat, we ascend to Capri Town by funicular railway. Here, we have time to wander through the shops and enjoy the fabulous views. Perhaps join an optional excursion to Anacapri before returning to Sorrento. (BB)

DAY 6: SORRENTO - TAORMINA. We take the smooth Autostrada south along the very edge of the mountainous Calabria region, so often compared to Switzerland. Continuing down to the very toe of Italy, we make the short ferry crossing to Sicily and continue to Taormina. (BB,D)

Hotel: Sant Alphio Garden

DAY 7: TAORMINA. Taormina, founded in 400 B.C., is beautifully located overlooking the sea and facing the snowy peak of Mount Etna. We shall visit the Greek Theater (3rd Century B.C.), the glorious sub-tropical terraced gardens, then stroll along elegant Corso Umberto to Piazza 9 Aprile for splendid panoramic views across the bay to the Ionian Sea. The rest of the day is at leisure. (BB,D)

DAY 8: TAORMINA - PALERMO. We cross the island to the small fishing town of Cefalu, hemmed between the sea and a rocky promontory. We visit the impressive cathedral, which was erected to fulfil a vow made by the Norman King Roger II. Later, we follow the coast to the Sicilian capital of Palermo. (BB)

Hotel: Astoria Palace

DAY 9: PALERMO. Palermo was the setting of some of the film locations for the 'Godfather' and you will surely recognise some of the scenes! Our guided tour shows us the Piazza Bellini, Cathedral and Palace of the Normans with its Palatine Chapel and dazzling mosaics. We then drive out to Monreale to admire the multi-coloured marble, paintings and mosaics inside the Cathedral. We return to Palermo for time at leisure. (BB)

DAY 10: RETURN TO USA. Our tour ends after breakfast today. Transfers from the hotel arrive at Palermo Airport at 05.00 and 07.30 hrs. (BB)