 | Venice, Rome, Florence & Sorrento, Italy(GRAND TOUR OF ITALY) CALL FOR DATES AND RATES |
Join your friends and neighbors on a memorable 13-day/11-night tour to several of Italy's greatest cities! The complete 13-day vacation costs little more than airfare alone. Don't miss the opportunity to visit a spectacularly beautiful part of Italy and some very interesting sites.
DAY 1 – Depart Boston's Logan Airport aboard our transatlantic flight (via an intermediate city) to Venice with complimentary meal and beverage service aloft, as well as stereo headsets for our listening and viewing enjoyment.
DAY 2 – "Benvenuti a Italia" - Welcome to Venice. Our escort will be waiting to help us outside the customs area and will accompany us to our motorcoach for transfer to the 4-starVilla Braida (or similar) in Veneto for check-in. The balance of the day will include a half-day orientation tour of Venice prior to our orientation meeting and "Welcome Dinner" this evening at our hotel. Overnight. (D)
day 3 - After breakfast, there will be a morning sightseeing tour of Venice. This walking tour will begin in Piazza San Marco where there are many galleries, shops, and charming cafes. We will also see the Doge's Palace and cross the Bridge of Sighs which connects to the Piombi Prisons. Lunch is on our own. The afternoon is at leisure for individual sightseeing and shopping. Dinner and overnight at the Villa Braida. (B, D)
Day 4 - After breakfast and hotel check-out, depart for Florence – home of the Italian Renaissance. Our first stop this morning will be in Padua, where we will visit St. Anthony's Basilica. Lunch is on our own. Then proceed on to Florence, for a free afternoon before check-in at the Hotel Cavour (or similar), with time to freshen-up prior to dinner this evening. Overnight. (B, D)
Day 5 - After breakfast, there will be a morning walking tour of Florence. We will visit the beautiful Piazza Del Duomo to see the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, Giotto's Bell Tower, and the Romanesque Baptistery of St. John. Later, visit the Academia Museum to view Michelangelo’s most famous sculpture, "The David". Free afternoon for individual sightseeing and shopping. This evening, we will visit the renowned Ristorante Falciani for dinner preceded by an authentic Italian cooking demonstration! Dinner at a local restaurant, and overnight at our hotel. (B, D)
Day 6 - After breakfast, we depart for Siena. We will drive southwest through the heart of Italian wine country, over the rolling hills of Chianti. Once in Siena, our escort will lead us to Piazza del Campo, through the narrow streets, past medieval towers and walls. One of the notable highlights of Siena is San Domenico, which holds relics of St. Catherine. On the way back to Florence, we visit San Gimignano, often described as "The most famous small town in Italy." This charming medieval hilltop town is noted for its many towers and its breathtaking views of the Tuscan landscape. Sample some "vernaccia", the town’s famous wine. Dinner and overnight at our hotel in Florence. (B, D)
Day 7 - Following breakfast and hotel check-out, we will head out for Rome, with a stop along the way for some sightseeing in Assisi featuring St. Francis' Cathedral. Enjoy the beautiful countryside with lunch (on our own) en route to the Eternal City. Upon arrival, we will check-in at the Grand Hotel Tiberio (or similar). There will be time to freshen-up prior to dinner tonight at the hotel. (B, D)
Day 8 - After breakfast, we will travel to Vatican City to visit St. Peter’s Basilica and the Sistine Chapel. Raise your eyes to see Michelangelo's 'Creation' and the famous 'Last Judgement'. Our visit will continue-on through the Vatican Museum. Lunch is on our own. This afternoon, we will be hosted on a panoramic sightseeing tour of the major attractions of Rome. Dinner at our hotel. Overnight. (B, D)
Day 9 - Today is a full-day at leisure in Rome! Today is the perfect opportunity to do some independent sightseeing, shopping at the boutiques or relax at a sidewalk ristorante sipping cappuccino! Optional tours will be available. Dinner and overnight at our hotel. (B, D)
Day 10 - This morning, after breakfast and hotel check-out, we will depart for Sorrento. En route, we will stop for a visit at the "lost city" of Pompeii and its excavations. 2000 residents lost their lives here on that fateful day in August 79 AD. We then continue on to Sorrento where we will check-in at the 4-star Hotel Michelangelo (or similar). Dinner and overnight at our hotel. (B, D)
Day 11 – After breakfast at the hotel, we will be taken on an excursion along one of the most scenic roads in the world –The Amalfi Drive! Our first stop will be above Positano, one of Italy’s most famous and elegant resorts. We will then continue through the ancient marine republic of Amalfi. There will be free time to visit the beautiful Cathedral of St. Andrew, explore the town or browse and shop. Return to Sorrento for dinner, Tarantella show, and overnight. (B, L, D)
Day 12 – After breakfast, we are off on a ferry ride to visit the beautiful Isle of Capri! we will enjoy a guided sightseeing tour of this wondrous island followed. Lunch is included today. In the afternoon, we will return to Sorrento where the remainder of the afternoon is on our own for some last minute shopping and browsing. After dinner at our hotel, we will enjoy a wonderful Tarantella Show at a local establishment. Overnight. (B, L, D)
DAY 13 - After breakfast, we will depart our hotel and be transferred to the airport where we will board our return flight to Boston (via an intermediate city) with complimentary meal and beverage service, as well as stereo headsets, while aloft. (BB)