Itinerary

1. Overnight Flight

   Ciao, Italy!

   Accommodation: Mediterraneo Hotel

2. Rome, Italy - Tour Begins

   Welcome to Rome. Tonight, join your fellow travelers for a special welcome dinner featuring regional delicacies and Italian wines.

   Meals: Dinner
   Accommodation: Mediterraneo Hotel

3. Rome - Classical Rome City Tour

   Discover the city on a locally guided tour of Classical Rome, passing by the Baths of Caracalla as well as the remains of the ancient Circus Maximus. During an in-depth visit to the Colosseum, your guide recounts its rich history. Meander through Rome’s Renaissance district for a peek at the mythic Pantheon and the oval-shaped Piazza Navona, adorned with Baroque fountains. This evening, consider strolling through the Borghese Gardens for views of the city’s skyline or meander through Rome’s medieval Campo de' Fiori neighborhood where the cobblestoned streets are lined with antique shops, independent boutiques and local restaurants.

   Meals: Breakfast
   Accommodation: Hotel Michelangelo

4. Rome

   Enjoy a full day at leisure to explore Rome’s cultural treasures. Your Tour Manager will be on hand to offer suggestions. Consider an optional trip to Vatican City to tour the Vatican Museums* and St. Peter’s Basilica. The evening is yours. Perhaps you will join an optional food tour and taste your way around Rome’s bohemian Trastevere district.

   Meals: Breakfast
   Accommodation: Hotel Michelangelo

5. Rome - Pompeii - Sorrento

   Journey to the brilliant Bay of Naples, where charming villages are built into hillsides above the blue sea. Soak in 2,000 years of history at the excavated ruins of Pompeii with a local guide. Pause in nearby Gragnano for a late lunch and visit to a family-owned pasta factory. Continue to the scenic resort town of Sorrento, your home for the next 2 nights. Enjoy the rest of the afternoon to explore the city independently. You may wish to visit the Duomo, a Romanesque cathedral with inlaid woodwork, a famous local Sorrento craft.

   Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
   Accommodation: Grand Hotel Baglioni

6. Sorrento - Choice on Tour - Sorrento

   Today, it’s your choice! You have two tantalizing options today. Sail to the enchanting Isle of Capri.** Upon arrival, admire the island’s iconic scenery on a panoramic cruise, passing by the steep cliffs, endless small caves, and the famous Faraglioni rocks, jutting out of the water. Spend time in Capri town with its world-famous piazzetta and explore this island paradise of chic boutiques, lush vegetation, and outdoor cafés -OR- journey along the Amalfi Coast for a morning at leisure in the colorful village of Positano, a maze of streets and stairways winding around pastel houses and draped in lush flowers. Perhaps you’ll make your way to Positano’s famous pebble beach, Marina Grande, offering a sweeping ‘bottom to top’ view of the village.

   Meals: Breakfast
   Accommodation: Grand Hotel Baglioni

7. Sorrento - Florence - Michelangelo’s David

   Head through Tuscany, with its landscape of vineyards and olive groves. Experience Florence, the “Cradle of the Renaissance.” Home to Italy's best art and architecture, here you’ll visit the Academy Gallery to see Michelangelo’s renowned sculpture of David. Tonight, enjoy regional Italian cuisine at a local restaurant.

   Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
   Accommodation: NH Venezia Santa Lucia

8. Florence

   Embark on a locally guided tour of Florence, highlighting the Piazza del Duomo and the famous Gates of Paradise on the Baptistery. Wander through the Piazza della Signoria and stand in awe before the imposing Palazzo Vecchio. The rest of the day is yours. Consider an optional excursion to the 14th century Certosa monastery, featuring an after-hours tour and dinner in a popular Tuscan restaurant.

   Meals: Breakfast
   Accommodation: NH Venezia Santa Lucia

9. Florence - Pisa - Venice

   Visit the ancient maritime Republic of Pisa to discover the Piazza Dei Miracoli and the famous Leaning Tower. A special stop is made at a Tuscan winery and farm to enjoy lunch and sample local wines and specialties. Next, cross the Apennine Mountains en route to Venice, where 117 islands are connected by a latticework of 150 canals and 400 bridges.

   Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
   Accommodation: Regina Palace Hotel

10. Venice - Murano Island - Venice

    Embark on a boat trip*** to Murano Island for a glass-blowing demonstration. When you return, step off the beaten path and see for yourself how the locals live. Explore the Castello district with a local expert, walking canal by canal through the narrow streets all the way to St. Mark’s Square. Admire the stunning Basilica and the ornate façade of the Doge’s Palace. The remainder of the day is at leisure. Consider an optional gondola cruise to experience Venice’s most famous pastime.

    Meals: Breakfast
    Accommodation: Regina Palace Hotel

11. Venice - Verona - Stresa, Lake Maggiore

    Depart Venice for Verona, and stroll the streets that were the backdrop for Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. Arrive in the resort town of Stresa in the breathtaking Italian Lakes District, your home for the next two nights, and admire the beautiful views of Lago Maggiore.

    Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

12. Stresa - Choice on Tour - Isola Dei Pescatori

    Today, it’s your choice! Take a boat across Lake Maggiore to Isola Bella, where you’ll join an expert guide and venture into the Borromeo Palace**** -OR- cross into Switzerland as your motor coach climbs up the Simplon Pass for a taste of the Swiss Alps, admiring the Simplon Hospice dominating the landscape. Tonight, travel by boat to Isola dei Pescatori***** for a farewell dinner surrounded by beautiful scenery.

    Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

13. Stresa - Tour Ends

    Your Italian adventure comes to a close today.

    Meals: Breakfast