This classic Italian vacation is our most popular, with departures throughout the year. Two-night stays in Rome, Florence, Lake Maggiore, Venice, and Sorrento, plus one night in St. Francis’ Assisi offer plenty of time to visit the main sights with a Local Guide. Discover St. Peter’s, the Sistine Chapel, the Colosseum and Roman Forum in Rome; Michelangelo’s David and Signoria Square in Florence; and St. Mark’s and Doges’ Palace with the Bridge of Sighs in Venice. Stops are also made in Pisa to see the Leaning Tower; in Padua to visit St. Anthony’s Basilica and enjoy a cappuccino at the popular Pedrocchi Café; in dynamic Milan, where a walking tour features the Duomo, Galleria, and Milan’s famous fashion district; and in subtropical Lugano in Switzerland. Another highlight is a boat trip to Isola Madre and Isola dei Pescatori, where dinner with local specialties has been prepared for you. Two nights in Sorrento include a visit to the Isle of Capri, including a jetfoil boat ride and a funicular ride to Capri village. Also visit Pompeii at the foot of Mount Vesuvius on your way back to Rome, where you spend the night and then board a flight to Sicily, where you’ll spend three relaxing overnights and will enjoy guided sightseeing and a visit of the Greek-Roman Amphitheater as well as plenty of time at leisure.
Itinerary:
Day #1 Arrive in Rome, Italy. Welcome to Rome! At 5 pm, meet your Tour Director and traveling companions for a special welcome dinner with wine at one of Rome’s lively restaurants. (D)
Day #2 Rome. Morning guided sightseeing features visits to the VATICAN MUSEUMS and SISTINE CHAPEL, world famous for Michelangelo’s ceiling paintings, monumental ST. PETER’S SQUARE and BASILICA, and the COLOSSEUM and the ROMAN FORUM, where Roman legions marched in triumph. To make the most of your stay, join our optional Roman Highlights excursion. (B)
Day #3 Rome–Pisa–Florence. Marvel at the amazing Leaning Tower in Pisa, then on to Florence. Tonight is your chance to join an optional dinner to try out Tuscan specialties. (B)
Day #4 Florence. Follow your Local Guide to the ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS and see Michelangelo’s David. Admire the magnificent cathedral, Giotto’s Bell Tower, the Baptistry’s “Gate of Paradise,” and sculpture-studded SIGNORIA SQUARE, and see Ponte Vecchio. To enhance your stay, optional excursions are available to the magnificent Uffizi Gallery and to San Gimignano, Italy’s most picturesque medieval town. (B)
Day #5 Florence–Lugano, Switzerland–Locarno–Lake Maggiore, Italy. North across the Apennine hills and through the flat Po area to the Swiss border. In Lugano, enjoy a leisurely break to stroll along the spectacular lake or on Via Nassa, or sip an espresso on Piazza Riforma. Via Locarno, at the northern tip of Lake Maggiore, arrive in elegant Stresa. (B,D)
Day #6 Lake Maggiore. Boat Trip to Isola Madre & Isola Dei Pescatori. A leisurely morning with the chance to join an optional excursion to the baroque palace and peacock gardens of enchanting Isola Bella. Later, join an exciting [LF] BOAT CRUISE to the Isola Madre, with its BOTANICAL GARDEN, and to Isola dei Pescatori, where a dinner of local specialties awaits you. (B,D)
Day #7 Lake Maggiore–Milan–Venice Island. Stop in Milan, the commercial capital of Italy, for an orientation featuring its gothic Duomo, glass-domed GALLERIA, and famed La Scala Opera House. Of course, [LF] you will enjoy a walk on Via Montenapoleone and Via della Spiga, Milan’s famous fashion district. Arrive in romantic Venice, and enter in style by PRIVATE BOAT. Maybe an optional gondola ride tonight? (B)
Day #8 Venice Island. Highlights of your guided walking tour are ST. MARK’S SQUARE and the Byzantine BASILICA, lavish DOGES’ PALACE and the BRIDGE OF SIGHS. Then, watch skilled GLASSBLOWERS fashion their delicate objects in the age-old manner. A wonderful optional excursion is available to colorful Burano Island. (B)
Day #9 Venice Island–Padua–Assisi. In Padua, walk to the Piazza delle Erbe and visit ST. ANTHONY’S BASILICA. Next, [LF] enjoy a cappuccino at the popular Pedrocchi Café. Arrive in peaceful Assisi. (B,D)
Day #10 Assisi–Sorrento. Meet your Local Guide and visit ST. CLARE’S CHURCH and ST. FRANCIS’ BASILICA, built on top of his tomb. Leave the province of Umbria and turn south to the charming, bayside resort of Sorrento. (B)
Day #11 Sorrento. Excursion to Capri. Speed across the bay by JETFOIL to the Isle of Capri. Ride the FUNICULAR to Capri village for a guided visit of this pretty town. Free time to explore the little shops on the piazzetta before returning to Sorrento. The remainder of the day is at leisure. (B)
Day #12 Sorrento–Pompeii–Rome. Stop for a guided visit of POMPEII, the Roman city both destroyed and preserved by an eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. This evening, back in the “Eternal City,” a special farewell dinner with wine awaits you as a proper way to say, “Arrivederci, Roma!” (B,D)
Day #13 Rome–Sicily. You will be transferred by AIR and coach to your hotel in Giardini Naxos. The remainder of the day is at leisure. (B)
Day #14 Sicily. Morning guided sightseeing includes a walking tour of picturesque Taormina and a visit to the GREEK-ROMAN AMPHITHEATER. (B)
Day #15 Sicily. Full day at leisure. Ask your local host for suggestions. (B)
Day #16 Sicily. Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning (nearest airport is Catania). (B)
Hotels:
ROME Albani (F)
FLORENCE Kraft (F) or Grand Hotel Mediterraneo (F)
LAKE MAGGIORE Grand Hotel Bristol (F) at Stresa or Starhotels Ritz (F) at Milan
VENICE ISLAND All’Angelo (F)
ASSISI San Francesco
SORRENTO Grand Hotel Cesare Augusto (F) or Michelangelo (F)
ROME Holiday Inn Rome Aurelia (F)
SICILY Hilton Giardini Naxos (SF) at Giardini Naxos