CLASSIC ITALY ROME TO VENICE 
DAY 1: ROME
Welcome to Italy! Get ready to embark on an unforgettable experience. Upon your arrival, a private driver will meet you and take you to your hotel. Today, take advantage of a day at leisure, so rest up as you prepare to embark on your Italian adventure!
DAY 2: ROME
After breakfast at the hotel, we’ll embark on a morning tour (7:45 a.m.) which will include visits to Moses’ Fountain; the famed Trevi Fountain (don’t forget to throw in a coin!); the Greco-Roman Pantheon, (except on Monday); Piazza Navona, where Romans came to watch the ancient “games”; and St. Peter’s Basilica, the symbolic “mother church” of the Roman Catholic Church, with seating for 60,000 worshippers!
This afternoon, you can explore further on your own, heading for sites like the Roman Forum – once the economic hub of the city, the famous Coliseum, or The Spanish Steps. When you’re through touring the city, head back to the hotel for an overnight stay.
DAY 3: ROME-NAPLES-POMPEI-AMALFI
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel and depart at 6:45 am by deluxe motor coach for Naples, where we’ll embark on a brief panoramic visit of this city known for its history, architecture, culture, and food. Next, we continue to Pompeii, where we’ll eat lunch and visit the ruins of this Roman town destroyed by the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 A.D.
Upon leaving fascinating Pompeii, we continue by coastal road to Sorrento, where you’ll enjoy dinner and an overnight stay.
DAY 4: SORRENTO-CAPRIO-SORRENTO
Eat breakfast at the hotel and depart at 8:30 by steamer for the famous Isle of Capri. On arrival at the port of Marina Grande, we’ll embark on an excursion (weather and sea conditions permitting) to the Blue Grotto by small rowboat. The Grotto, known for its intense blue hues, was once believed to be inhabited by witches but modern-day Italians just appreciate it for its great beauty.
We’ll lunch in Capri and spend the afternoon at leisure exploring this town that has been a resort destination since the days of the Roman Republic. Check out sites like the Villa Jovis, built by the Emperor Tiberius in the first century AD. Then we return to Sorrento for dinner and an overnight stay.
Day 5: SORRENTO-ROME
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel and the morning at your leisure to shop or further explore the town of Sorrento, a charming city overlooking the Bay of Naples. This small city is known for its production of limoncello as well as for its spectacular citrus fruits, wine, olives, and nuts.
After lunch, we’ll return by bus to Rome, where we’ll spend the night.
DAY 6: ROME-FLORENCE
After breakfast at the hotel, we’ll depart at 6:45 a.m. on a deluxe motor coach for our journey to Florence (our regular tour 19). This popular city of Etruscan- Roman origin, which flourished in the Middle Ages as a free commune, is now the most populated city in Tuscany.
Florence is recognized as the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance and is lauded for its magnificent sites such as its many museums, religious structures, and palaces. This morning, our city tour will include visits to the magnificent Duomo with its landmark dome, the Baptistery with its stunning golden doors by Ghiberti, Giotto’s Bell Tower, the Academy of Fine Arts where we’ll view the original statue of “David” by Michelangelo, and vibrant Piazza della Signoria.
After lunch at a local restaurant, you’re free to spend the afternoon as you please, exploring other sights such as the Florence Accademia Gallery – where visitors can view Michelangelo’s David, the Ufizzi Gallery, the Palazzo Vecchio, and the Ponte Vecchio, Florence’s oldest bridge. Return to the hotel for an overnight stay.
DAY 7: FLORENCE
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel and the remainder of your day at leisure. Pisa or Siena/San Gimignano tours are optional. Known, of course, for its famous Leaning Tower, Pisa achieved notoriety as one of Italy’s four 11th century Maritime Republics and was the birthplace of physicist/astronomer Galileo.
While in Pisa, we’ll take time to admire the Square of Miracles, where we’ll find the lovely Duomo, the quirky Leaning Tower, and many other notable sites. Siena is a medieval town known for its marvelous Romanesque cathedral, the shell-shaped Piazza del Campo – famous for hosting the Palio horse race, a breathtakingly beautiful town hall, and several other notable structures, while San Gimignano boasts wonderful medieval architecture and excellent wines. Once again, we’ll stay overnight in beautiful Florence.
DAY 8: FLORENCE-VENICE
Eat breakfast at the hotel and then choose how you wish to spend the remainder of our time in Florence. Visit more notable historic and cultural sites, embark on a shopping adventure, or take some time out to rest. At an indicated hour, you’ll transfer to the train station on your own for departure by train to Venice, where we’ll check into our hotel and stay the night.
DAY 9: VENICE
After breakfast at the hotel, we begin our morning walking tour (meeting at 9:00 a.m. at San Marco Square, tourism office near the Correr Museum) of the city the New York Times described as “undoubtedly the most beautiful city ever built by man” with visits to the Doge’s Palace, the long-time ducal residence and symbol of Venetian authority; the famous Bridge of Sighs, where prisoners got their last look at Venice before being incarcerated; St. Mark’s Square, famous for its abundant pigeon population, and St. Mark’s Basilica, a stunning example of Byzantine architecture and one of the most photographed churches in the world. In the afternoon, you can continue exploring at your leisure, go shopping, or dine among the friendly locals.
At night, it’s time to return to the hotel for an overnight stay.
DAY 10: VENICE
Breakfast at the hotel. The private driver is going to be waiting at the hotel to take you to the airport. End of Services.
Not ready to go home yet? Having too much fun exploring magnificent Italy? Your travel specialist will review all the options available to you at the end of the trip, including an extended opportunity to explore the country or the option of spending an extra night in Rome. If you must go, you’ll head to the airport for your return home. Remember, we are always eager to help you create the travel experience you desire, so don’t hesitate to ask if you’d like to keep your travel options open!
HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS:
3 and 4 star hotel pricing available
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
The tour includes:
- Transportation by deluxe motor coach
- Multilingual tour guide and escort
- Accommodation at the hotels
- Meals as per itinerary
- Panoramic visits as per itinerary
- Luggage service: 1 piece of luggage per person in Florence and Venice
- Taxes and fees
- 24 hour emergency hotline
The tour does not include:
- Tips
- Drinks and extras in hotel
- Entrance fees to monuments or museums
- Everything that is not mentioned in the paragraph “the TOUR includes”
- Extra luggage may incur an additional fee
