THE BEST OF ITALY – 16 days/15 nights

Itinerary

Rome – Assisi – Siena – Florence – Pisa – Padua – Venice – San Marino – Rome – Naples – Pompeii – Sorrento – Capri – Palermo – Monreale – Palermo – Segesta – Erice – Marsala – Agrigento – Piazza Armerina – Catania – Siracusa – Ragusa – Etna – Taormina

Day 1 Friday: Rome
Arrive in Rome on your own. Day at leisure. Check in at hotel, overnight.

Day 2 Saturday: Rome – Assisi – Siena – Florence
Breakfast. Depart at 7.30 am for Assisi. Time at leisure to visit this Little Medieval City. We recommend a visit to the famous San Francesco’s Basilica, where you shall Find GIOTTO’s and CIMABUE’S Masterpieces. Free time for lunch (not included). Proceed to Siena, the gothic city constructed on three hills in the heart of Tuscany. This monumental and medieval city is encircled by ancient walls and is famous for its splendid square "Piazza del Campo", designed in the shape of a shell. Here, every year the famous "Palio" takes place. Visit the elegant Palace and the Cathedral. In the afternoon proceed on to Florence. Dinner and overnight.

Day 3 Sunday: Florence
Breakfast at hotel, followed by a morning city tour of Florence. Visiting the famous Dome by Brunelleschi, the bell tower by Giotto and its Baptistery. The sightseeing tour continues through Piazza della Signoria, Palazzo Vecchio and finally the church of Santa Croce. Time at leisure. Return to the hotel. Dinner and overnight.

Day 4 Monday: Florence – Pisa – Padua – Venice
Breakfast at hotel. Depart for an excursion to Pisa. This quiet and graceful town shows signs of its past greatness through the famous Piazza del Campo, better known as the "Square of Miracles" where we find the Cathedral, the Leaning Tower (a Romanic bell tower of 58mt) and the Baptistery. Afterwards, depart for Padua for a short visit of St. Anthony’s Basilica, before continuing towards Venice, the city of gondolas. Dinner and overnight.

Day 5 Tuesday: Venice
Breakfast at hotel. Sightseeing includes St. Mark's square and the Doge's Palace (external). In the morning visit the island of MURANO, famous for it’s glassware. Afternoon at leisure. Dinner and overnight at the Hotel.

Day 6 Wednesday: Venice – San Marino – Rome
Breakfast at hotel. Depart for San Marino, one of the smaller states in the world which still has its own currency, stamps and has preserved its political system for over nine centuries. Free time for lunch (not included). In the afternoon travel to Rome. Overnight.

Day 7 Thursday: Rome – Naples – Pompeii – Sorrento Breakfast at hotel. After leaving Rome, the coach will take the "Sun Route" motorway, driving through the regions of Lazio and Campania, with a view of the Abbey of Montecassino. Upon arrival in Naples there will be a short panoramic city tour: Mergellina, Castel dell'Ovo Plebiscito Square, the Royal Palace, the Maschio Angioino and the port. Lunch in a restaurant on our way to Pompeii to visit the excavations of the famous Roman city, destroyed by the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 A.D. Leaving Pompeii and driving along the Sorrentine coastal, arrival in Sorrento. Dinner and overnight.

Day 8 Friday: Sorrento – Capri – Palermo
After breakfast we board the boat for the Island of Capri, where, weather and sea conditions permitting, we will visit the Blue Grotta in small rowing boats. Lunch in a restaurant and free time for personal activities. In the afternoon depart for Naples harbour to board the Tirrenia ferry to Palermo. Overnight on boat.

Day 9 Saturday: Palermo
Arrival in Palermo and transfer from the pier to the hotel (independent arrival). Day at leisure. Dinner and overnight.

Day 10 Sunday: Palermo – Monreale – Palermo
Buffet breakfast. Morning tour of Palermo: the Palatine Chapel, the Cathedral of Palermo. Continue to Monreale to visit the Cathedral and its Cloister. Time for a leisurely lunch and to enjoy this Sunday afternoon in the Sicilian capital or participate in an optional excursion (payable locally) to Cefalù where we will visit the famous Cathedral and Castelbuono, a beautiful village on the Madonie mountains which will give us a slice of the Sicilian way of life. Return to Palermo. Dinner and overnight at your hotel.

Day 11 Monday : Palermo – Segesta – Erice – Marsala
Buffet breakfast. Depart for Segesta to visit the Doric Temple situated on a hill surrounded by beautiful landscapes. Proceed to visit the medieval village of Erice, with its tiny, stony medieval streets. Time at leisure for lunch. We will then continue to Trapani to view the salt windmills and then to Marsala. We will close this exciting day with a special dinner, but first be delighted by a wine tasting of the well-known Marsala wine.

Day 12 Tuesday: Marsala – Agrigento – Piazza Armerina – Catania
Buffet breakfast. Depart for Agrigento and visit the amazing Valley of the Temples. These Temples are better preserved than the Temples in Greece. Continue to Piazza Armerina. Free time for lunch. In the afternoon visit at leisure the Roman Villa del Casale famous for its more than 3500 sqm of well preserved mosaics. Continue to Catania. Dinner and overnight.

Day 13 Wednesday: Catania – Siracusa – Ragusa
Buffet breakfast. In the morning, panoramic tour of Catania. Depart for Syracusa to visit the archaeological area, including the Greek Theatre, the Dyonisios Ear, the Latomie of the Paradise. The visit continues to the historical and baroque centre situated on the Island of Ortigia. Enjoy the beautiful atmosphere of this small island. Time at leisure for lunch and depart for Ragusa to visit the historical center in Ragusa Ibla. After this amazing visit

Day 14 Thursday: Ragusa – Etna – Taormina
Buffet breakfast. Depart for Mount Etna, the highest active volcano in Europe (conditions permitting). You will reach 1800 meters high and visit some of the Sylvester craters. After this unforgettable experience with nature, enjoy a special farmhouse lunch, followed by wine tasting of local Etna wines. Continue to Taormina, called the Mediterranean pearl. Dinner and overnight.

Day 15 Friday: Taormina
Buffet breakfast. Free time to visit the Greek Theatre viewing the beautiful bay of Naxos. Lunch. In the aftenoon time at leisure, or enjoy an optional excursion (payable locally) to visit in the village of Savoca, the famous catacombs of the Cappuccini convent and Bar Vitelli – used in the shooting of the “Godfather” in 1971. Then a scenic drive to Forza D’agro’. Includes a walking tour trough the peaceful streets, churches and cathedrals. Return to Taormina. Dinner and overnight at your hotel.

Day 16 Saturday: Taormina
Buffet breakfast at your hotel. End of tour

Tour Details

The tour includes
* Transportation by Deluxe motorcoach
* Multilingual Tour-Escort
* Accommodation in 4 star or 3 star Hotels
* Meals as per itinerary
* Panoramic visits as per itinerary
* Porterage service: 1 piece of luggage only per person ONLY in Florence
and Venice (NO porterage in other cities)

The tour does not include
* Drinks, entrance fees to monuments or museums, tips, extras
* Anything not specified in the ''the tour includes''

Our Hotels
Hotels may be substituted with similar category
Rome: Diana OR Prime Hotel St Johns OR Oxford OR Beverley Hills OR
Milton; Corona OR Santa Costanza
Florence: Raffaello; Columbus OR Mediterraneo
Venice: Continental OR Carlton Grand Canal; Lugano Torretta OR Siro OR Delfino
Sorrento: Ambasciatori OR Vesuvio
Palermo: Grande Albergo Sole OR Hotel Ai Cavalieri
Marsala: Hotel Baglio Oneto OR similar
Catania: Hotel Villa del Bosco
Taormina: Hotel Monte Tauro OR similar

Prices per person
4 star hotels: Single: $6125 Double: $4718 Triple: $4595
3 star hotels: Single: $5567 Double: $4220 Triple: $4178

Departure Dates 2008:
May 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd, 30th; June 6th, 13th, 20th, 27th
July No departures; August 15th, 22nd, 29th
September 5th, 12th, 19th, 26th; October 3rd, 10th, 17th