This classic Italian vacation is our most popular, with departures throughout the year. Two-night stays in Rome, Florence, Lake Maggiore, Venice, and Sorrento, plus one night in St. Francis’ Assisi offer plenty of time to visit the main sights with a Local Guide. Discover St. Peter’s, the Sistine Chapel, the Colosseum and Roman Forum in Rome; Michelangelo’s David and Signoria Square in Florence; and St. Mark’s and Doges’ Palace with the Bridge of Sighs in Venice. Stops are also made in Pisa to see the Leaning Tower; in Padua to visit St. Anthony’s Basilica and enjoy a cappuccino at the popular Pedrocchi Café; in dynamic Milan, where a walking tour features the Duomo, Galleria, and Milan’s famous fashion district; and in subtropical Lugano in Switzerland. Another highlight is a boat trip to Isola Madre and Isola dei Pescatori, where dinner with local specialties has been prepared for you. Two nights in Sorrento include a visit to the Isle of Capri, including a jetfoil boat ride and a funicular ride to Capri village. Also visit Pompeii at the foot of Mount Vesuvius on your way back to Rome.
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Day 1
Time to rest or start exploring the “Eternal City.” At 5 pm, meet your Tour Director and traveling companions for a special welcome dinner with wine at one of Rome’s lively restaurants. (D)
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Day 2
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)
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Day 3
North to Pisa for pictures of its amazing Leaning Tower. Continue to Florence, the capital of Tuscany and home to Renaissance splendor. Why not join an optional dinner at a Tuscan restaurant? (B)
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Day 4
Follow your Local Guide to the ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS with Michelangelo’s David. Admire the magnificent cathedral, Giotto’s Bell Tower, the Baptistry’s “Gate of Paradise,” and sculpture-studded SIGNORIA SQUARE, and see Ponte Vecchio. Afternoon free to relax or to find out more about Florence’s artistic wealth. (B)
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Day 5
Drive through the Apennine hills past Bologna, home of Europe’s oldest university, to dynamic Milan. An orientation features its gothic Duomo, glass-domed GALLERIA, and famed La Scala Opera House. Then, continue to Lugano in the Italian-speaking part of Switzerland. A leisurely break to stroll along the lake, window-shop on the refined Via Nassa, or sip an espresso on the Piazza Riforma. Next, a scenic drive along Lake Maggiore, one of Italy’s most beautiful areas. Spend two nights at your elegant resort. (B,D)
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Day 6
A restful day to sleep in or maybe join an optional excursion to the baroque palace and peacock gardens of enchanting Isola Bella (open Mar. 26-Oct. 23, subject to change). (B,D)
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Day 7
East to Verona, medieval setting for Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, to see Juliet’s balcony and the well-preserved Arena. Join the locals for lunch before continuing to Venice, deemed by some the most romantic city in the world. Enter in style by PRIVATE BOAT. (B)
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Day 8
Highlights of your guided walking tour are ST. MARK’S SQUARE and the byzantine BASILICA, lavish DOGES’ PALACE and the BRIDGE OF SIGHS. Then, watch skilled GLASSBLOWERS fashion their delicate objects in the age-old manner. Later, discover Venice at your own pace or take an optional gondola ride. (B)
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Day 9
Follow the sparkling Adriatic coast to Ravenna to see the mosaics in the 6th-century BASILICA OF ST. APOLLINARIS IN CLASSE. Afternoon arrival in Assisi. Visit ST. CLARE’S CHURCH and ST. FRANCIS’ BASILICA with a Local Guide. (B,D)
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Day 10
Today, visit POMPEII, the Roman city both destroyed and preserved by an eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. Overnight in the charming, bayside resort of Sorrento. (B)
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Day 11
Speed across the bay by JETFOIL to the Isle of Capri. Ride the FUNICULAR to Capri village for a guided visit of this pretty town. Free time to explore the little shops on the Piazzetta before returning to Sorrento. The remainder of the day is at leisure. (B)
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Day 12
Return to Rome. This evening, enjoy a farewell dinner with wine in a local restaurant to celebrate the success of your vacation. (B,D)
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Day 13
Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B)
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ROME Welcome and farewell dinners with wine at a local restaurant; guided sightseeing, visit the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel, St. Peter’s Square & Basilica, and the Colosseum and Roman ForumPISA Marvel at the legendary Leaning Tower FLORENCE Guided walking tour, visit Michelangelo’s David, and Signoria SquareLUGANO & LOCARNO (SWITZERLAND) Visit the subtropical townsLAKE MAGGIORE [LF] Boat ride to the Isola Madre and Isola dei Pescatori, followed by dinner with wine (departures March 26-October15)MILAN Orientation, see the Galleria, [LF] walk through the fashion districtVERONA See Juliet’s balcony and the Arena (all departures except March 26-October 15)VENICE Private boat ride; guided walking tour, visit St. Mark’s Square & Basilica, Doges’ Palace, Bridge of Sighs; glassblower demonstration PADUA Walking tour, visit the Piazza delle Erbe and St. Anthony’s Basilica; enjoy [LF] a cappuccino at the Pedrocchi CaféASSISI Guided sightseeing, visit St. Clare’s Church and St. Francis’ BasilicaSORRENTO-CAPRI By jetfoilCAPRI Guided visit of Capri village, including a funicular ridePOMPEII Guided walking tour of the excavations Headsets throughout tour
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ROME Albani (F)FLORENCE Kraft (F) or Grand Hotel Mediterraneo (F)LAKE MAGGIORE Grand Hotel Bristol (F) at Stresa or Starhotels Ritz (F) at MilanVENICE ISLAND All’Angelo (F)ASSISI San FrancescoSORRENTO Grand Hotel Cesare Augusto (F) or Michelangelo (F)ROME Holiday Inn Rome Aurelia (F)
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Full buffet breakfast daily (B); 5 three-course dinners (D), including special welcome and farewell dinners with wine in Rome and a special dinner with wine at Lake Maggiore (except departures January 22, February 19, October 22-December 17 and January 21-February 18, 2014 that have 4 three-course dinners included)
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NOTES:- Departures January 22, February 19, October 22-December 17 and January 21-February 18 (2014) overnight in Milan instead of Lake Maggiore. Dinner on day 5 not included. Lugano, Locarno, and Lake Maggiore replaced with Verona visit on day 7
- Departure December 17 Christmas Eve in Venice, dinner included
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Prices based on double room occupancy.Single room supplement: $362.Triple room reduction per person: $43.Extra nights per person in Rome: in single room $208, in twin $150, in triple $128.2014 departures are subject to itinerary and price modification. Details will be available in September 2013.
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LIE|Add Sicily to Your Vacation
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Italian Mosaic
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Motorcoach with free Wi-Fi; private boat rides on Lake Maggiore and Venice; jetfoil; funicular ride in Capri
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This classic Italian vacation is our most popular, with departures throughout the year. Two-night stays in Rome, Florence, Lake Maggiore, Venice, and Sorrento, plus one night in St. Francis’ Assisi offer plenty of time to visit the main sights with a Local Guide. Discover St. Peter’s, the Sistine Chapel, the Colosseum and Roman Forum in Rome; Michelangelo’s David and Signoria Square in Florence; and St. Mark’s and Doges’ Palace with the Bridge of Sighs in Venice. Stops are also made in Pisa to see the Leaning Tower; in Padua to visit St. Anthony’s Basilica and enjoy a cappuccino at the popular Pedrocchi Café; in dynamic Milan, where a walking tour features the Duomo, Galleria, and Milan’s famous fashion district; and in subtropical Lugano in Switzerland. Another highlight is a boat trip to Isola Madre and Isola dei Pescatori, where dinner with local specialties has been prepared for you. Two nights in Sorrento include a visit to the Isle of Capri, including a jetfoil boat ride and a funicular ride to Capri village. Also visit Pompeii at the foot of Mount Vesuvius on your way back to Rome.
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