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Detailed Itinerary (back to top)
Day 1 Rome (D) Your tour leaders Mario and Viny will meet you at the hotel in the centre of Rome at 4.00 PM, when there will be introductions and a small talk on the tour. The tour leaders will then guide you on a leisurely afternoon stroll through some of the famous piazze of Rome. The guided walking tour will include Piazza della Repubblica, Piazza Barberini, Piazza di Spagna, Fountain of Trevi, Piazza della Rotonda, Piazza Navona and finally Campo de' Fiori. The walk will end with an early dinner in a traditional restaurant in Trastevere.
Day 2 Rome (BD) After breakfast your tour leader will guide you on a walking tour through some of the fascinating sites of Rome. We start with the Monument to Vittorio Emmanuele followed by the Campidoglio and the Mayoral Offices. We then take the group through Ancient Rome, visiting the Roman Forum, followed by a special visit to the Colosseum. The afternoon is free to pursue your own interests. Dinner will be in a traditional Roman restaurant.
Day 3 Rome (BLD) Today we spend the whole day at the Vatican. A tour of St Peters Basilica is followed by a special conducted tour of the Vatican Museums including the Sistine Chapel. There will be time allowed for those who wish to further explore the magnificence of the Basilica and its treasures. At night we say good-bye to Rome with a dinner in a traditional Roman restaurant.
Day 4 Rome/Pompeii/Sorrento (BD) After breakfast we leave Rome and drive south along the Autostrada del Sole making our way to Pompeii, which was destroyed and preserved by an eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. A local guide will lead the group through the ruins of this truly magnificent Roman city. We then proceed to your hotel in Sorrento, which will provide you with some of the most memorable sights of the Bay of Naples and the imposing Mt Vesuvius. Dinner in a traditional restaurant in the heart of Sorrento.
Day 5 Sorrento/Positano/Amalfi Coast (BLD) Today will be taking the sights of the Amalfi Coast, which has breathtaking views. We travel by local bus to beautiful Positano and then proceed to Amalfi. The afternoon is free to wander through Amalfi. The return trip will be by ferry to enjoy this spectacular coastline by sea. Dinner in Sorrento.
Day 6 Sorrento (BD) Today is a free day to relax and enjoy the facilities of the hotel and its beautiful pool or to wander into the historical part of Sorrento. Sorrento has great shops with gifts, souvenirs, ceramics and fine liqueurs. You could also visit Capri and the Blue Grotto, a short trip by ferry. The group will meet for dinner in a traditional restaurant in Sorrento.
Day 7 Sorrento/Pesaro (BD) After breakfast we travel east crossing the Central Apennines to the City of Pesaro in Le Marche Region. We will travel in air conditioned comfort through some of the most beautiful countryside of Central Italy. Part of the trip is travelling along the A14 Autostrada which has spectacular views of the Adriatic and surrounding countryside. We should reach Pesaro by late afternoon. The City of Pesaro is situated on the Adriatic Coast. A charming town nestled against a backdrop of hills surrounded by ancient hilltowns and castles. After check in and dinner at the hotel, there is an optional walk through the Centro Storico of Pesaro.
Day 8 Pesaro/San Marino/San Leo (BLD) Today after breakfast at the hotel, we travel just over the Le Marche border for a morning visit to the tiny Republic of San Marino. It is a day for shopping as San Marino is jammed with heavily discounted shops. Apart from souvenirs, you will be able to pick up perfumes, watches and leather bags at very reasonable prices. San Marino is also worth a visit for its history and pageantry and its magnificent hilltop setting, which offers excellent views of the countryside.
We then travel to San Leo with its ancient castle perched above sheer cliffs. Lunch is organised at a local trattoria famous for its formaggio di fossa, a cheese walled up in rock caves to mature for months. Dinner at the hotel.
Day 9 Pesaro/Gradara (BLD) Tuesday is market day in Pesaro. A huge travelling market visits the City every Tuesday. You will be guided through the markets whose stalls are full of leather goods and the latest fashions. There will also be a guided visit of the City of Pesaro visiting the Rossini House and Theatre, the Civic Museums and Piazza del Popolo with its historical Ducal Palace. Lunch will be at one of the oldest restaurants in Pesaro. Afternoon is free. Towards the evening there is a visit to Gradara: a medieval village dominated by its magnificent castle overlooking the Adriatic Sea. We will tour the impressive castle and the well preserved old town. Gradara was made famous by the legendary love affair between Paolo Malatesta and Francesca da Rimini as immortalised in the 5th Canto of Dante's inferno. Dinner at Gradara for piadina and local wine.
Day 10 Pesaro/Urbino/Urbania (BLD) Today after breakfast we explore the land once ruled by the medieval lords of Montefeltro. We visit Urbino one of Italy's fascinating towns of the Renaissance. It is also the birthplace of Raphael. A conducted tour of the magnificent Ducal Palace which houses the Galleria Nazionale delle Marche with its precious paintings by Piero della Francesca, Tiziano, Paolo Uccello and Raphael. In the afternoon, we visit the nearby City of Urbania, famous for its traditional Majolica ceramics. Lunch will be at an award winning osteria specialising in local produce. We also visit several ceramic workshops and observe skilled artisans working at their craft. Dinner at the hotel.
Day 11 Pesaro/Venice/Dolo (BD) After breakfast, we say good bye to Pesaro and Le Marche and travel to Dolo (Venice). After check in at our beautiful villa on one of the canals that lead to the lagoon of Venice, we travel to Venice for our first visit. We take a vaporetto ride along the Grand Canal to Piazza San Marco. We will explore and enjoy some of the best sights of the City including the Basilica, the Bridge of Sighs, Ducal Palace and the Rialto Bridge. We then walk back to our bus through the small streets of Venice. Dinner at a local restaurant serving traditional Venetian food.
Day 12 Venice/Murano (BLD) Another ride along the Grand Canal to the island of Murano where Venice's world famous glass is made and visit the Museo Vetraio. Then we return to San Marco Square and the afternoon is free for shopping for masks or a piece of Venetian glassware. Dinner in a typical Venetian restaurant
Day 13 Venice/Villa Pisani/Florence (BD) After breakfast we will visit the remarkable Villa Pisani built by the Doge of Venice as a summer palace on one of the canals outside Venice. We then proceed to Florence, the Renaissance jewel and city of the Medici. We should reach Florence by late afternoon and after check in we will take a leisurely walk, featuring Piazza del Duomo and its Cathedral with the Giotto Campanile and the magnificent East Door of the Baptistery known as the "Gate to Paradise". Dinner in a restaurant famous for its local cuisine in the centre of Florence.
Day 14 Florence (BD) Our second day in Florence starts with a stop at Piazzale Michelangelo with its sweeping views of the city. Then we proceed to the Academy Gallery and admire the original David by Michelangelo and other masterpieces by this great artist. The tour continues to the Piazza della Signoria and we visit the famous Uffizi Gallery and Ducal Palace. In the afternoon you are free to wander through the famous markets shopping for leather and gold goods or leisurely explore this beautiful city. There will also be free time to explore other historical sights such as Ponte Vecchio and the church of Santa Croce renowned for its frescoes and the tombs of some of Italy's famous artists. Dinner at a restaurant.
Day 15 Siena/San Gimignano (BLD) Today after breakfast we travel to San Gimignano: a tiny historical city perched on a hill, famous for its numerous towers and art treasures. There will be wine tasting and the chance to buy a bottle or two of Vernaccia, the area's famous white wine to have with our picnic lunch. In the afternoon we visit Siena to admire the Cathedral and the Piazza del Campo: one of the most beautiful squares in Europe and learn about the famous race, The Palio. Dinner in a local restaurant in Florence.
Day 16 Florence/Chianti Region/Greve (BLD) Today we take a picturesque drive through the Chianti region. We visit a couple of wineries and taste the local wine. A special lunch is organised at one of the oldest wineries in the area for you to experience the atmosphere of this part of Tuscany which is full of small villages and hundreds of vineyards dotting the countryside. Afternoon refreshments in the piazza at Greve. Dinner at a local pizzeria.
Day 17 Florence (B) The tour officially ends after breakfast at the hotel.
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