Itinerary

Day 1:
Board your overnight transatlantic flight.

Day 2:
Arrival in Rome, Italy. Time to rest or start exploring the Eternal City. At 6 p.m. meet your Tour Director and traveling companions and leave the hotel for a special welcome dinner with wine at one of Rome’s lively restaurants. (D)

Day 3:
Rome. Sightseeing with your Local Guide starts with a visit to the VATICAN MUSEUMS and SISTINE CHAPEL, world famous for Michelangelo’s ceiling paintings. Continue to monumental ST. PETER’S SQUARE and BASILICA. Cross the Tiber and visit the COLOSSEUM and the ROMAN FORUM, where Roman Legions marched in triumph. Then time for independent activities and exciting optional excursion possibilities. (BB)

Day 4:
Rome–Naples. This morning visit splendid REGGIA OF CASERTA, an impressive residence of 1,200 rooms with elegant GARDENS stretching two miles, reminiscent of the French Palace of Versailles. Next, enter lively and colorful Naples. A Local Guide takes you first to the NATIONAL ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM, housing some of the world’s greatest Greco-Roman treasures; focus on the well-preserved objects found in Pompeii. Then on to the city center to admire the remarkable Triumphal Arch of the New Castle, St. Charles Theater, the Royal Palace, Galleria Umberto, and the semicircular Piazza Plebiscito. Drive up to Posillipo Hill for a sweeping view of the Bay of Naples. Afterwards, explore the city independently. (BB)

Day 5:
Naples. Excursion to Capri. Speed across the Bay of Naples to the Isle of Capri, an ancient retreat for Roman emperors. Sightseeing with a Local Guide includes a visit to VILLA SAN MICHELE in Anacapri. Time to explore pretty Capri town at your own pace before returning to Naples. (BB,D)

Day 6:
Naples–Sorrento–Pompeii–Overnight Cruise to Palermo. A beautiful drive along the Mediterranean Coast to the charming resort of Sorrento. Time to check out the local shops before continuing to POMPEII, the Roman city both destroyed and preserved by an eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D. Your Local Guide will walk you past patrician homes, public baths, and commercial districts strikingly recalling day-to-day life when Rome was at the apex of her power. Tonight board your FERRY for the overnight cruise to Sicily, the great melting pot of the Mediterranean world: Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, Saracens, Normans, French, and Spanish have left their marks and contributed to its rich heritage. (BB)

Day 7:
Palermo. Start sightseeing with a Local Guide. Visit the ornate Piazza Bellini, the CATHEDRAL, and the Arab-Norman PALATINE CHAPEL in the Royal Palace. Later, drive up to Monreale for a panoramic view of the Conca d’Oro and a visit to the 12th-century NORMAN CATHEDRAL, famous for its 50,000 square feet of precious Byzantine mosaics. End with a visit to the typical and picturesque village of Mondello. Back to Palermo over scenic, history-steeped Monte Pellegrino. Tonight you may wish to enjoy local specialties on an optional dinner outing. (BB)

Day 8:
Palermo. Excursion to Valley of Temples. A day devoted to the scenic beauty and ancient Greek treasures of southwest Sicily. Head south to Agrigento and enjoy a walk with your Local Guide through the breathtaking VALLEY OF TEMPLES. Even travelers who have visited Athens and Delphi are awed by the gigantic yet graceful Greek structures that miraculously survived 24 centuries of tormented history. In the afternoon visit the DORIAN TEMPLES and ACROPOLIS at Selinunte, built on a natural balcony overlooking the sparkling Mediterranean. (BB,D)

Day 9:
Palermo–Syracuse–Taormina. An easy morning drive through the heart of Sicily to Syracuse, birthplace of the mathematician Archimedes and once a powerful Greek port whose fleet was feared throughout the Mediterranean. It attracted visitors such as the philosopher Plato and later the Apostle Paul, who converted its citizens to Christianity. Enter the ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE with a Local Guide for a visit to the 5th-century B.C. sparkling white Greek Theater, the Garden of Paradise, the Ear of Dionysus, the Altar of Hieron II, the Roman Amphitheater, and the Cordmakers’ Cave. Evening arrival at your hotel in the Taormina area. (BB,D)

Day 10:
At Leisure in Taormina. In the morning you may want to sign up for an exciting optional excursion to Mount Etna, the largest active volcano in Europe. Afternoon at leisure. (BB)

Day 11:
Taormina–Matera–Alberobello. By FERRY across the Strait of Messina, land in Calabria; drive along the Ionian coast through Apulia, the richest region of the south. On to pretty Matera. After an orientation, continue to the picturesque town of Alberobello, famous for its unique trulli, whitewashed dry stone circular houses with pinnacled, conical roofs. (BB)

Day 12:
At Leisure in Alberobello. Full day at leisure with plenty to do. Ask your Tour Director for suggestions. (BB,D)

Day 13:
Alberobello–Rome. North to the Italian capital, passing through the hilly region of Irpinia. An optional festive dinner at one of Rome’s fine restaurants may be just the way to celebrate the success of your Italian vacation. (BB)

Day 14:
Your homebound flight arrives the same day. (BB)

Dates & Prices

ROME
Welcome dinner at a local restaurant; guided sightseeing including headsets, visit the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel, St. Peter’s Square and Basilica, the Colosseum and Roman Forum

REGGIA OF CASERTA
Visit the palace and gardens

NAPLES
Guided sightseeing, visit the National Archaeological Museum

NAPLES-CAPRI
By jet/hydrofoil

CAPRI
Guided sightseeing; visit Villa San Michele in Anacapri

SORRENTO
Orientation

POMPEII
Guided visit of the excavations including headsets

NAPLES-SICILY
Overnight cruise in two-berth cabins with private facilities

PALERMO
Guided sightseeing, visit the cathedral, the Royal Palace’s Palatine Chapel, the Norman Cathedral in Monreale, and Mondello

AGRIGENTO
Guided walking tour of the Valley of Temples

SELINUNTE
Visit the Dorian Temples and Acropolis

SYRACUSE
Guided visit of the archaeological site

STRAIT OF MESSINA
Ferry crossing

MATERA
Orientation

ALBEROBELLO
Orientation
 

Itinerary

Day 1:
Board your overnight transatlantic flight.

Day 2:
Arrival in Rome, Italy. Time to rest or start exploring the Eternal City. At 6 p.m. meet your Tour Director and traveling companions and leave the hotel for a special welcome dinner with wine at one of Rome’s lively restaurants. (D)

Day 3:
Rome. Sightseeing with your Local Guide starts with a visit to the VATICAN MUSEUMS and SISTINE CHAPEL, world famous for Michelangelo’s ceiling paintings and The Last Judgement. Continue to monumental ST. PETER’S SQUARE and BASILICA. Cross the Tiber and visit the COLOSSEUM and the ROMAN FORUM, where Roman Legions marched in triumph. Then time for independent activities and exciting optional excursion possibilities. (BB)

Day 4:
Rome–Florence. A smooth drive past the Chianti hills takes you to Florence, capital of Tuscany and home of the Renaissance. Follow your Local Guide to the ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS with Michelangelo’s celebrated David and magnificent CATHEDRAL. Admire Giotto’s Bell Tower, the Baptistry’s heavy bronze “Gate of Paradise,” and sculpture-studded SIGNORIA SQUARE. Time afterwards to shop for Florentine leather goods and gold jewelry. (BB,D)

Day 5:
Florence–Pisa–Venice. The morning is dedicated to Pisa, where you can take your pictures of the amazing Leaning Tower before you head across the wooded Apennine Mountains to the northern tip of the Adriatic Sea. Tonight is your chance to sample Venetian fare. (BB)

Day 6:
Venice. Enter in style by PRIVATE BOAT to meet your Local Guide. Highlights of your walking tour are ST. MARK’S SQUARE and the byzantine BASILICA, lavish DOGES’ PALACE and the BRIDGE OF SIGHS. Also watch skilled GLASSBLOWERS fashion their delicate objects in an age-old traditional manner. Then enjoy Venice at your own pace or join an optional gondola ride. (BB,D)

Day 7:
Venice–Ravenna–Assisi. Along the coastline of the Adriatic Sea to Ravenna. Here see the famous mosaics in the 6th-century BASILICA OF ST. APOLLINARIS IN CLASSE. In the afternoon arrive in Assisi and visit the massive 13th-century lower BASILICA OF ST. FRANCIS built above the Saint’s grave. Time afterwards to enjoy the peaceful town at your own pace. (BB,D)

Day 8:
Assisi–Pompeii–Overnight Cruise to Palermo. Meet your Local Guide and enter POMPEII, the Roman city both destroyed and preserved by an eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D. See patrician houses, public baths, and commercial districts strikingly recalling day-to-day life when Rome was at the apex of her power. Tonight board your FERRY in Naples for the overnight cruise to Sicily. (BB)

Day 9:
Palermo. After disembarkation start your sightseeing with a Local Guide. Visit the ornate Piazza Bellini, the CATHEDRAL, and the Arab-Norman PALATINE CHAPEL in the Royal Palace. After lunch drive up to Monreale for a panoramic view of the Conca d’Oro and a visit to the 12th-century NORMAN CATHEDRAL (on Sundays inside guided visit not permitted), famous for its 50,000 square feet of precious Byzantine mosaics. Your first day in Sicily ends with a visit to the typical and picturesque village of Mondello before returning to Palermo. (BB,D)

Day 10:
Palermo–Agrigento. Along the western coast of Sicily all the way down to the saltbeds, famous since Roman times. Near Marsala, stop to visit a SALT MILL. Then continue to Agrigento, where your Local Guide will take you for a spectacular walk through the VALLEY OF TEMPLES. Even travelers who have visited Athens and Delphi are awed by the gigantic yet graceful Greek structures which miraculously survived 24 centuries of tormented history. (BB,D)

Day 11:
Agrigento–Taormina Area. This morning focus on the 4th-century ROMAN VILLA OF CASALE near Piazza Armerina. Its colorful and perfectly preserved mosaics depict mythological themes and hunting scenes. Enjoy the scenic beauty and treasures of the island’s heart on your way to the Taormina area. (BB)

Day 12:
At Leisure in Taormina Area. In the morning you may wish to join the half-day optional excursion to Mount Etna. Afternoon is at leisure to relax or for individual activities. (BB,D)

Day 13:
Taormina Area–Sorrento. Today board a FERRY and cross the Strait of Messina to land at the toe of the Italian boot in Calabria. Tonight you are in the charming resort of Sorrento, delightfully situated on the Bay of Naples. (BB)

Day 14:
Sorrento. Excursion to Capri. Speed across the Bay of Naples to the Isle of Capri, an ancient retreat for Roman emperors and renowned ever since that time for its beauty. Sightseeing with a Local Guide includes a visit to VILLA SAN MICHELE in Anacapri. Time to stroll around before returning across the bay to Sorrento. The remainder of the day is at leisure. (BB)

Day 15:
Sorrento–Montecassino–Rome. Interrupt the journey back to Rome to visit the ABBEY OF MONTECASSINO, rebuilt to medieval plans after near total destruction by Allied bombers. An optional festive dinner at one of Rome’s fine restaurants may be just the way to celebrate the success of your Italian vacation. (BB)

Day 16:
Your homebound flight arrives the same day. (BB)

Dates & Prices

ROME
Welcome dinner at a local restaurant; guided sightseeing including headsets, visit the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel, St. Peter’s Square and Basilica, and the Colosseum and Roman Forum

FLORENCE
Guided sightseeing including headsets, visit Michelangelo’s David, the cathedral, and Signoria Square

PISA
Picture stop at the Leaning Tower

VENICE
Private boat ride; guided sightseeing including headsets, visit St. Mark’s Square and Basilica, Doges’ Palace and the Bridge of Sighs; glassblowers’ demonstration

RAVENNA
Orientation, visit St. Apollinaris in Classe

ASSISI
Orientation, visit St. Francis’ Basilica

POMPEII
Guided visit of the excavations including headsets

NAPLES-SICILY
Overnight cruise in two-berth cabins with private facilities

PALERMO
Guided sightseeing, visit the cathedral, the Palatine Chapel, the Norman Cathedral in Monreale, and Mondello

MARSALA
Visit a salt mill

AGRIGENTO
Guided walking tour of the Valley of Temples

PIAZZA ARMERINA
Visit Roman Villa of Casale

STRAIT OF MESSINA
Ferry crossing

SORRENTO-CAPRI
By jet/hydrofoil

CAPRI
Guided sightseeing, visit Villa San Michele in Anacapri

MONTECASSINO
Visit the abbey
 

Itinerary

Day 1:
Board your overnight transatlantic flight.

Day 2:
Arrival in Rome, Italy. Time to rest or start exploring the Eternal City. At 6 p.m. meet your Tour Director and traveling companions and leave the hotel for a special welco