Day
1
WED I FLORENCE
Morning arrival into Florence’s Peretola Airport. Here you’ll be met and transferred to your hotel. The balance of the day is at leisure to allow you to get acquainted with the city where the Renaissance reached its highest point.
Day
2
THU I FLORENCE
Your morning tour takes you to Michelangelo Square for a panoramic view of the city. Then visit: the Accademia to see Michelangelo’s original “David” statue, Giotto’s Bell Tower, the Baptistery with its “Gates of Paradise” doors, Signoria Square and Santa Croce Church. Enjoy your afternoon exploring the treasures of Florence on your own or embark on an optional tour to Pisa featuring dinner at an authentic farmhouse and winery in the enchanting Tuscan countryside. (B)
Day
3
FRI I FLORENCE I SIENA I SAN GIMIGNANO I FLORENCE
After breakfast today, head out for a day of discovery to Siena and San Gimignano. Medieval Siena, known for its famed Palio horse races and expansive central Il Campo plaza, awaits your exploration. Visit Siena’s Duomo, considered to be one of the finest Gothic cathedrals in Italy. In San Gimignano, stroll the old-world center and take in the fascinating architecture and towers that offer amazing views of the city and the surrounding valley. Tonight, enjoy a festive dinner with wine and music at a charming villa located on a beautiful Tuscan hillside outside Florence. (B,D)
Day
4
SAT I FLORENCE I MAGIONE I ASSISI I ROME
Morning departure for Rome. Drive through the serene Tuscan and Umbrian countryside, passing by the shores of Lake Trasimeno with a stop at the Magione Castle, presently the private residence of the Prince and Grand Master of Sovereign Military Order of the Knights of Malta. Here a wine expert will lecture on the vinification process that takes place at the castle, followed by a delicious tasting of the varieties of wines produced there and a light lunch. Continue to Assisi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and enjoy your guided tour of St. Francis Basilica. Arrive in Rome in the late afternoon. (B,L)
Day
5
SUN I ROME
Rome is filled with monuments, fountains, antiquities and other sites worth exploring. Use this free day to discover, on your own, all the Eternal City has to offer, take an optional tour or discover why Roman trattorias are famous for their fine cuisine. (B)
Day
6
MON I ROME
This morning, experience a very special privately guided tour of the priceless collection of art and treasures in the Sistine Chapel and Vatican Museum. Then proceed to the Piazza Venezia and Roman Forum, with a stop at the Colosseum – a testament to the greatness of Rome’s past. Continue your full day tour by viewing the Arch of Constantine, Circus Maximus, the Great Synagogue, Isola Tiberina and Castel Sant’Angelo. Tonight bid arrivederci to Rome at a special dinner with wine in a lovely Roman restaurant. (B,D)
Day
7
TUE I ROME I POMPEII I SORRENTO
This morning, before heading to Sorrento, stop in Pompeii, the ancient city covered by volcanic lava 2,000 years ago, for a guided tour of the remarkably preserved ruins of temples, houses, gardens and public buildings. Then, drive along the spectacular coast road of the Bay of Naples to Sorrento, the famous resort town of orange and lemon groves. Dinner at your hotel restaurant is included. (B,D)
Day
8
WED I SORRENTO I POSITANO I AMALFI I RAVELLO I SORRENTO
Leave Sorrento in the morning for Positano. Enjoy a brief stop at the Belvedere for a unique view of Moorish architecture blended with pastel colored houses. Weather permitting, board a motorlaunch and cruise along the coast to Amalfi for a walking tour of the old town. Continue to Ravello for lunch at a restaurant with spectacular views of the Amalfi coast and the Bay of Salerno. Enjoy some free time for a stroll around the center of town before returning to Sorrento. (B,L)
Day
9
THU I SORRENTO I CAPRI I SORRENTO
A morning jetfoil whisks you across the blue Bay of Naples to the fabled Isle of Capri, where you will ascend to the Piazzetta, visit the Floral Gardens of Caesar Augustus, and still have free time for lunch and some shopping before returning to Sorrento. Tonight dinner is at a local restaurant. (B,D)
Day
10
