The Best Of Italy

2012 Season
Departs From: Rome

From 1,925EUR

Length:  11 days from Rome to Rome, or 12 days incl. travel

Overview

On this Best of Italy tour, visit some of Italy’s most popular cities, including Rome, Florence, Venice, Pisa, and Assisi. See the must-see sights in these cities, including the Vatican Museums, Colosseum, and Roman Forum in Rome; the Leaning Tower of Pisa; St. Mark’s Square and Basilica in Venice; and the church where St. Francis is buried—St. Francis Basilica—in Assisi. In Orvieto, situated high atop a volcanic rock, ride a funicular through the ramparts and visit the cathedral.

A tour highlight is Pompeii, which was completely buried during the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. Imagine what life was like 2,000 years ago—this preserved town gives you an amazingly detailed look into life at the peak of the Roman Empire. Admire the paintings still on the walls, and look for the early fast-food restaurants beloved by ancient Romans. Another tour highlight is the picturesque Isle of Capri, where you’ll ride the funicular to Capri village and have time to pamper yourself at one of its luxurious spas, shop at its designer shops, enjoy limoncello (a sweet local drink), savor the sumptuous cuisine at a bistro, and enjoy the amazing views of the breathtaking azure sea.

Italy can satisfy even the most discerning traveler, and this tour allows you to experience its stunning beauty, ancient ruins, amazing sculptures, exquisite art, tasty cuisine, fine wines, and so much more. So grab your camera and leave all the details to TravelToe, so you can just enjoy yourself on this memorable vacation!

Duration:  11 Days

Schedule:

Start Date	End Date
30 May, 2012	09 June, 2012
03 June, 2012	13 June, 2012
04 June, 2012	14 June, 2012
06 June, 2012	16 June, 2012
10 June, 2012	20 June, 2012
11 June, 2012	21 June, 2012
13 June, 2012	23 June, 2012
17 June, 2012	27 June, 2012
18 June, 2012	28 June, 2012
20 June, 2012	30 June, 2012
24 June, 2012	04 July, 2012
25 June, 2012	05 July, 2012
27 June, 2012	07 July, 2012
27 June, 2012	07 July, 2012
01 July, 2012	11 July, 2012
04 July, 2012	14 July, 2012
08 July, 2012	18 July, 2012
11 July, 2012	21 July, 2012
15 July, 2012	25 July, 2012
18 July, 2012	28 July, 2012
25 July, 2012	04 August, 2012
30 July, 2012	09 August, 2012
01 August, 2012	11 August, 2012
08 August, 2012	18 August, 2012
15 August, 2012	25 August, 2012
22 August, 2012	01 September, 2012
26 August, 2012	05 September, 2012
29 August, 2012	08 September, 2012
29 August, 2012	08 September, 2012
03 September, 2012	13 September, 2012
05 September, 2012	15 September, 2012
05 September, 2012	15 September, 2012
09 September, 2012	19 September, 2012
10 September, 2012	20 September, 2012
10 September, 2012	20 September, 2012
12 September, 2012	22 September, 2012
12 September, 2012	22 September, 2012
16 September, 2012	26 September, 2012
17 September, 2012	27 September, 2012
17 September, 2012	27 September, 2012
19 September, 2012	29 September, 2012
19 September, 2012	29 September, 2012
23 September, 2012	03 October, 2012
24 September, 2012	04 October, 2012
24 September, 2012	04 October, 2012
26 September, 2012	06 October, 2012
26 September, 2012	06 October, 2012
30 September, 2012	10 October, 2012
01 October, 2012	11 October, 2012
03 October, 2012	13 October, 2012
07 October, 2012	17 October, 2012
08 October, 2012	18 October, 2012
10 October, 2012	20 October, 2012
10 October, 2012	20 October, 2012
14 October, 2012	24 October, 2012
15 October, 2012	25 October, 2012
15 October, 2012	25 October, 2012
21 October, 2012	31 October, 2012
28 October, 2012	07 November, 2012

City Highlights

Rome
Welcome and farewell dinners at a local restaurant; guided sightseeing, visit the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel, St. Peter’s Square and Basilica, the Colosseum and Roman Forum

Orvieto
Ride a funicular though the ramparts and visit the cathedral

Florence
Guided walking tour, visit Michelangelo’s David, and Signoria Square

Pisa
Marvel at the legendary Leaning Tower

Venice
Private boat ride; guided walking tour, visit St. Mark’s Square and Basilica, Doges’ Palace and the Bridge of Sighs; glassblowers’ demonstration

Assisi
Guided sightseeing, visit St. Clare’s Church and St. Francis’ Basilica

Pompeii
Guided walking tour of the excavations

Naples-Capri-Sorrento
By jetfoil

Capri
Funicular ride; guided sightseeing, visit Villa San Michele in Anacapri

Headsets throughout the tour

Day 1   Arrive in Rome, Italy. Time to rest or to start exploring the “Eternal City.” At 5 pm, meet your Tour Director and traveling companions and leave the hotel for a special welcome dinner with wine at one of Rome’s lively restaurants. (D)

Day 2   Rome. Sightseeing with your Local Guide starts with a visit to the VATICAN MUSEUMS and SISTINE CHAPEL, world famous for Michelangelo’s ceiling paintings and The Last Judgement. Continue to monumental ST. PETER’S SQUARE and BASILICA. Cross the Tiber and visit the COLOSSEUM and the ROMAN FORUM, where Roman legions marched in triumph. Then, time for independent activities and exciting optional excursion possibilities. (B)

Day 3   Rome–Orvieto–Tuscany. Following the Tiber Valley, reach Orvieto, perched high atop a volcanic rock. Access, denied to many a would-be conqueror through the ages, is easy for you. Ride a modern FUNICULAR right through the forbidding ramparts. Time to browse through tempting shops in the lanes off Piazza del Duomo and to find the right angle for a picture of the fabulous gothic façade of the CATHEDRAL with its San Brisio Chapel. Next, drive through the Chianti wine area to the spa resort of Montecatini in Tuscany. (B)

Day 4   Tuscany. Excursion to Florence. All day dedicated to Florence, “Cradle of the Renaissance.” Your guided walking tour includes visits to Michelangelo’s David in the ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS and the magnificent cathedral. Admire Giotto’s Bell Tower, the Baptistry’s heavy bronze “Gate of Paradise,” and sculpture-studded SIGNORIA SQUARE. Afternoon for independent sightseeing and browsing through the many shops. Florentine leather goods and gold jewelry sold by the ounce are attractive buys. (B,D)

Day 5   Tuscany–Pisa–Venice. A short drive to Pisa. Take your pictures of the amazing Leaning Tower, 180 feet high and no less than 12 feet out of the perpendicular. Next, enjoy a comfortable drive north to Venice, a powerful magnet for romantics and art lovers from around the world. (B)

Day 6   Venice. Enter in style by PRIVATE BOAT to meet your Local Guide. Highlights of your walking tour are ST. MARK’S SQUARE and its byzantine BASILICA, lavish DOGES’ PALACE and the BRIDGE OF SIGHS. Also watch skilled GLASSBLOWERS fashion their delicate objects in an age-old traditional manner. Then, enjoy Venice at your own pace or join an optional excursion to the island of Burano. (B)

Day 7   Venice–Assisi. Through the Apennine Mountains to peaceful Assisi. Meet your Local Guide and visit ST. CLARE’S CHURCH and ST. FRANCIS’ BASILICA built above the Saint’s grave. (B,D)

Day 8   Assisi–Pompeii–Naples–Capri. South on the Highway of the Sun to famous POMPEII. Meet your Local Guide and start your highlight visit of this Roman city both destroyed and preserved by an eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. See a patrician home, public baths, and shops that give a striking picture of what day-to-day life was like in Rome at its apex of power. Next, drive to Naples, cross the blue bay by JETFOIL to the beautiful Isle of Capri for your two-night stay, and ride the FUNICULAR to Capri village. (B,D)

Day 9   Capri. This morning, enjoy sightseeing with a Local Guide. Highlight is a visit to VILLA SAN MICHELE in Anacapri. Afternoon and evening are at leisure to stroll around and discover the beauty of this famous island. (B)

Day 10   Capri–Sorrento–Rome. Speed across the bay to the charming resort of Sorrento. Enjoy time to stroll around and check out the local shops before returning to Rome. This evening, enjoy a farewell dinner with wine in a local restaurant to celebrate the success of your vacation. (B,D)

Day 11   Rome. Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B)

Meals:  Full buffet breakfast (B), 5 three-course dinners (D), including special welcome and farewell dinners with wine in Rome

Hotel Information:  ROME Mediterraneo (F) or NH Villa Carpegna (F), TUSCANY Settentrionale Esplanade (F) at Montecatini or Grand Hotel Tettuccio (F) at Montecatini, VENICE ISLAND Sant’Elena (F) or Principe (F), ASSISI Windsor Savoia (F) or San Francesco or Giotto (F), CAPRI La Residenza (F) or La Palma (F), ROME Holiday Inn Rome Aurelia (F) or NH Midas (F) or Villa Pamphili (F)


Terms and Conditions

Note: Flights are NOT included with the Tour and unless otherwise stated above transfers are also NOT included.

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