Itinerary

Day 1, Sun. USA - Venice: Overnight flight to Venice, Italy.  Airfare not included.

Day 2, Mon. Venice – Arrival: Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. (Your arrival transfer is included only if you arrive on the actual day the tour commences. For customers arriving earlier an individual transfer can be organized at an additional cost. Night supplements will be charged for early morning/late evening transfers.) The rest of the day is at leisure until you meet your tour director and fellow travelers for a welcome dinner. (D)    Carlton Hotel on the Grand Canal    or similar hotels  

Day 3, Tues. Explore Venice: Begin your exploration of Venice with a boat ride to Murano Island, famous for its artistic glassware. Visit a glassblowing factory and watch a master artisan demonstrate this traditional Venetian art. Continue to St. Mark’s Square, where a walking tour of Venice will show you the highlights of Venice: St. Mark's Square, St. Mark's Basilica, the Doge's Palace, the Bell Tower, and the Bridge of Sighs. Your afternoon is at leisure to enjoy Venice at your own pace, browse through the shops, or take an optional gondola ride. (B)     Carlton Hotel on the Grand Canal    or similar hotels

Day 4, Wed. Venice – Ferrara – Pisa – Florence: Drive to Ferrara, a Renaissance gem in the Emilia-Romagna region, located on the banks of the Po River. After a short tour, continue to Pisa where you will view the famous Piazza del Miracoli with its Leaning Tower, the Baptistery, and the Duomo. Continue to Florence. (B, D)  Starhotel Michelangelo or similar hotels

Day 5, Thurs. Explore Florence: This morning, enjoy a city tour of Florence. Start at the majestic Piazza del Duomo to see the Cathedral crowned by Brunelleschi’s awe-inspiring Dome, Giotto’s Bell Tower, and the Baptistery with Ghiberti’s splendid bronze “Gates of Paradise.” Then, visit the Academy of Fine Arts, where Michelangelo’s David is displayed. The tour ends at the Piazzale Michelangelo with a spectacular view over Florence. The remainder of the day is yours to savor the Renaissance splendor of the Tuscan capital your own way. (B)  Starhotel Michelangelo or similar hotels

Day 6, Fri. Florence – Assisi – Rome: Travel through the stunning panorama of Tuscany with its iconic landscapes as you make your way to Assisi, the hometown of St. Francis. Here, take a walking tour to see the main square and visit the impressive Basilica of St. Francis. Continue to Rome. (B, D)  Starhotel Metropole or similar hotels

Day 7, Sat. Explore Rome: Today, enjoy a full-day tour of Rome showing you all the highlights of this Eternal City. Visit the Vatican Museums with the Sistine Chapel and grand St. Peter’s Basilica. Continue with a visit of the Coliseum, the ancient Palatine Hill overlooking Circus Maximus and the Imperial Palace, and the Roman Forum. (B)   Starhotel Metropole or similar hotels

Day 8, Sun. Explore Rome: Enjoy a day at leisure in spectacular Rome. Your tour director will have suggestions on how to spend your time. You might want to visit some of the chic shops, galleries, and museums; do some more sightseeing on your own or relax in a sidewalk café with a glass of fine Italian wine, a cold Limoncello, some refreshing gelato, or a hearty dish of pasta. (B, D) Starhotel Metropole or similar hotels

Day 9, Mon. Rome – Pompeii – Sorrento: Departing Rome, travel to Pompeii, destroyed and forever preserved by an eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D. After a visit to the haunting site, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, continue to Sorrento. (B, D)  Central Hotel or similar hotels

Day 10, Tues. Capri: Glide across the glistening Gulf of Naples to the beautiful Isle of Capri. Here, you will visit the magnificent gardens of Caesar Augustus and view the famed Faraglioni Rocks. You will have time to wander through the winding streets and browse in the elegant boutiques before returning to Sorrento. (B, L)   Central Hotel or similar hotels

Day 11 Wed. Sorrento at Leisure: Enjoy a day at leisure in Sorrento. You might want to wander through the shops, indulge in a spa treatment, or simply relax & enjoy the views.
(B)   Central Hotel or similar hotels  (Optional ... A leisurely afternoon drive through the Amalfi Coast)

Day 12, Thurs. Sorrento – Naples – Return: After breakfast, you will be transferred to the Naples airport for your return flight home. (Your departure transfer is included only if you depart on the actual day the tour concludes. For customers departing later an individual transfer can be organized at an additional cost. Night supplements will be charged for early morning/late evening transfers.) (B)

Price Includes

• Transfers per itinerary

• Hotels per itinerary or similar – 2 N Venice, 2 N Florence, 3 N
  Rome, 3 N Sorrento  

• Meals per itinerary; (B) Breakfast, (L) Lunch, (D) Dinner

• Sightseeing per itinerary

• Travel funds escrow protection program

• Touring by modern air-conditioned private minivan or minibus

• Professional tour director throughout the tour