ITINERARY
Day 1 - Rome/Assisi/Siena/Florence
Departure from rome by deluxe coach, we’ll arrive in assisi. Free time to visit this tiny town, surrounded by ancient walls. We suggest visiting the basilica of st. Francis, with the masterpieces of giotto and cimabue. Lunch break (not included). Via motorway arrive in siena. This medieval town is surrounded by ancient walls and is well-known for the shell-shaped piazza del campo (town square), famous for hosting the palio horse race. Then on to florence. Arrival. Dinner and overnight in hotel.
Day 2 - Florence
Breakfast. Visit this beautiful city of etruscan-roman origins, it flourished in the middle ages as a free commune. Further refined by the renaissance, florence is known as the “cradle of renaissance” for its monuments, churches and buildings. The best-known site and crowning architectural jewel of florence is the domed cathedral of the city, santa maria del fiore known as the duomo that we will visit. The magnificent dome was built by filippo brunelleschi. Then proceed to the nearby campanile tower (partly designed by giotto) and the baptistery with the golden bronze doors “gates of paradise”. In the heart of the city there is piazza della signoria, palazzo della signoria (palazzo vecchio) gothic building and the santa croce basilica. Free afternoon, (optional pisa). Dinner and overnight.
Day 3 - Florence/Bologna/Padua/Venice
Breakfast. In the morning departure to bologna. The cityscape is enriched by elegant and extensive arcades (or porticos), for which the city is famous. From independence street proceed to neptune square and major square in the heart of the city. Visit neptune square, king renzo palace, the podestà palace and the basilica of san petronio, one of the biggest in the world (during construction it was intended to be larger than st. Peter’s in rome). In the afternoon continue towards padua, with its original sant’ antonio basilica. In the evening, arrival in venice. Dinner and overnight stay in hotel.
Day 4 - Venice
Breakfast. Transfer by motorized waterbuses to st. Mark square. Visit: st mark square, and the doge’s palace (external), symbol of the glory and the authority of venice. It can be reached crossing the bridge of sighs, where casanova had been sentenced to 5 years imprisonment. At the end of the tour, stop in a murano glass factory. Afternoon at leisure. Dinner and overnight.
Day 5 - Venice/Montepulciano (Tuscany)/Rome
Breakfast. Depart by motorcoach from piazzale roma to tuscany, with its romanic churches and castles, and world-famous wine production. After a short panoramic of the chianti region, reach valle d’orcia and stop in montepulciano, a medieval town rich in history and art and “nobile” wine, available for purchase. Tasting of local wine, free time. In the evening arrive in rome. Overnight.
Day 6 - Rome
Breakfast at hotel. Departure to visit by foot this famous city and its artistic beauties among which: piazza di spagna, fontana di trevi, pantheon, piazza navona and san pietro basilica. Afternoon at leisure and overnight.
Day 7 - Rome
Breakfast. Day at leisure overnight.
Day 8 - Rome/Naples/Pompeii/Sorrento
Breakfast at hotel. Depart by motor coach along the “sun route“ motorway, through the regions of lazio and campania, with a view of the abbey of montecassino. Upon arrival in naples, short panoramic city tour: mergellina, castel dell’ovo plebiscito square, royal palace, maschio angioino and the port. Lunch in a restaurant on the way to pompeii and then visit the excavations of the famous roman city, destroyed by the eruption of vesuvius in 79 A.D. Leave pompeii and drive along the coast to sorrento. Dinner and overnight.
Day 9 - Sorrento/Capri/Sorrento
After breakfast board the boat for the island of capri, where, weather and sea conditions permitting, visit the blue grotto in small row boats. Lunch in a restaurant and free time. Return to sorrento, dinner and overnight in hotel.
Day 10 - Sorrento/Palermo
Breakfast at hotel. Morning at leisure. Afternoon departure to naples harbour to board the ferry to palermo. Overnight on boat (no dinner, no breakfast).
Day 11 - Palermo
Arrive in palermo, transfer to hotel and day at leisure. Dinner and overnight.
Day 12 - Palermo
Breakfast. In the morning visit monreale, an ancient royal town. Return to palermo. Visit the cathedral and other main interesting places of the city. Free afternoon. Dinner and overnight.
Day 13 - Palermo/Erice/Marsala/Agrigento
Breakfast. Departure as far as erice, situated 700 mt above sea level and remaining unchanged thanks to its retaining wall erected in the vi century b.c. Proceed to marsala. Free time to visit this seaside resort known for its wine production. Then pass by mazara del vallo, a fishing port overlooking the strait of sicily. Arrive in agrigento. The visit will continue with the valley of the temples (admission tickets included), with the temple of juno, temple of concorde, temple of hercules and temple of jupiter, one of the largest of all doric style buildings (if weather doesn’t permit, enjoy a visit of the valley of temples the day after). Dinner and Overnight stay.
Day 14 - Agrigento/Noto/Siracusa/Taormina (G. Naxos)
Breakfast. After leaving agrigento reach noto, a beautiful city with baroque buildings and cathedral that will astonish you. Free time. After noto continue to siracusa , visit the greek amphitheater , dionisio’s ear and the roman theatre (admission tickets included). Then see the island of ortigia, rich in baroque and medieval palaces and churches. Afternoon arrival in taormina. Dinner and overnight.
Day 15 - Taormina (G. Naxos)
Breakfast. Excursion to mount etna, the largest active volcano in europe. It is the highest mountain in italy. Climb up to 1800 meters (weather permitting). Return to taormina, crossing the town located on an impressive embankment of the monte tauro. Dinner and overnight.
Day 16 - Taormina (G. Naxos)
Breakfast. End of services.
Package includes: • transportation by deluxe motorcoach • multilingual tour escort • accommodation in 3 or 4* hotels • meals as per itinerary • panoramic visits as per itinerary
Not included: • entrance fees to museums or monuments, archeological sites • tips, extras, drinks, porterage • everything that is not mentioned under “packages include”
