| Day 1 Arrive Rome (2 nights) |
| Welcome to Rome. After check-in, you will have time to relax
and unwind before meeting with your Tour Director in the
afternoon. This evening why not take a stroll around this
fascinating city and admire the fountains found in every
square and on many corners of the city streets. Hotel: Aran Park /
Carlo Magno |
| Day 2 Rome sightseeing & at leisure |
| First a chance to join an optional excursion to visit the
Sistine Chapel and Vatican Museums. Later, our included
sightseeing tour with a local city expert will visit the
Vatican City and the awe-inspiring Basilica of St. Peter
where we will see the famous Pieta. On to ancient Rome to
see the Forum and the mighty Colosseum. Later, time at
leisure to explore - perhaps discover the catacombs and the
medieval city walls or the Pantheon and Piazza Navona (Buffet
breakfast) |
| Day 3 Rome - Isle of Capri - Bay of
Naples |
| We drive southwards from Rome, past the Abbey of Monte
Cassino and on to the Bay of Naples. Here we board the ferry
for the short crossing to the beautiful Isle of Capri where
on arrival we take the funicular up to Capri town. There is
plenty of time to explore this lovely island and maybe take
an excursion to see other parts of the island or just relax
in one of the many outdoor cafes. Later we cruise back to
the bustling resort town of Sorrento perched high on the
cliffs above the sea, before continuing to our
hotel. (Buffet breakfast / Dinner) Hotel: Parco |
| Day 4 Bay of Naples - Monte Cassino -
Assisi |
| Today we have the chance to take a guided walking tour of
Pompeii, the town frozen in time when it was engulfed by the
eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79. Later we leave the Bay
of Naples and make our way to the Commonwealth Cemetery of
Monte Cassino where we pause to remember those soldiers who
died in the long series of battles in 1944. Then we head
northwards to mystical Assisi, which lies on the slopes of
Mount Subasio in the beautiful region of Umbria. (Buffet
breakfast / Dinner) Hotel: Abacus |
| Day 5
Assisi - Venice (Oriago) (2 nights) |
| Our orientation tour this morning shows us that this city,
under the protection of St. Francis, is still enclosed by
medieval ramparts. We have time to visit the great Basilica
and see the Saint’s tomb, and later we see the Basilica of
St. Mary of the Angels, built on the site of where St.
Francis died in 1226 at the age of forty-five. Then we
travel through the Apennines to the flat northern plains and
the magical, romantic city of Venice. (Buffet breakfast /
Dinner) Hotel: Il Burchiello |
| Day 6
Venice orientation & at leisure |
| We start today with a cruise by vaporetto to the heart of
Venice, St. Mark’s Square. On arrival we can marvel at the
Bridge of Sighs, the magnificent and ornate Doge’s Palace
and the Byzantine Basilica of St. Mark. We have the
opportunity to watch a demonstration of the ancient craft of
glass-blowing, which originated on the Island of Murano.
Then we have time at leisure to explore this fascinating
city or perhaps to take a trip out across the lagoon to the
fishermen’s Island of Burano where we can enjoy a delicious
seafood lunch. (Buffet breakfast / Dinner) |
| Day 7 Venice (Oriago)
- Verona - Italian Lakes |
| Our day will start with a drive to the home of Shakespeare’s
star-crossed lovers, Verona. We see Verona’s answer to the
Colosseum, the vast Roman Arena, where concerts are still
held regularly each year. Then we walk on to see Juliet’s
balcony with memories of the famous scene from Romeo and
Juliet in our minds. We have time to explore further before
rejoining the coach to drive northwards to the Italian lake
district where we stop in Stresa on Lake Maggiore. From here
we have views of the idyllic Borromean Islands, where the
powerful Borromeo family built a palatial home on the Isola
Bella in the 17th century. From here we continue to our
hotel. (Buffet breakfast / Dinner) Hotel: Continental / Le
Terrazze |
| Day 8 Italian
Lakes - Florence (Calenzano) |
| Our drive today takes us southwards across the western side
of the great Northern plain of Italy before we climb through
the Apennines to make our way to the coast and the important
passenger port of Genoa. We follow the coastline, with views
of the marble quarries cut into the foothills and pass by
the town of Carrara, which is where the great slabs of
marble are prepared for export worldwide today. Soon we
arrive in Pisa with its famous Leaning Tower, cathedral and
baptistery in the Square of the Miracles. We have time to
take pictures before we continue to Renaissance Florence.
(Buffet breakfast / Dinner) Hotel: First |
| Day 9 Florence
sightseeing - Rome |
| Our guided walking tour shows us the baptistery, the domed
cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, the impressive Giotto’s
Bell Tower, the Piazza Signoria, which is now an outdoor art
gallery, and the Basilica of Santa Croce, the burial place
of Michelangelo. We enjoy a demonstration of fine
leatherwork before we have time to explore further, sample
the delicious local ice cream or shop for high quality
leather goods and 18-carat gold jewellery. Then we return to
Rome with time to throw a coin or two in the Trevi fountain
in order to ensure our return to this incredible
city! (Buffet breakfast) Hotel: Aran Park / Papillo |
| Day 10 Depart
Rome |
| ‘Arrivederci Italia’ as our memorable tour of Italy comes to
an end. (Buffet Breakfast) |
Return to top 
