Itinerary

1. MON I VENICE

   Morning arrival into Venice’s marco Polo airport. Here you’ll be met and transferred to your hotel in Venice. the balance of the day is at leisure. this evening enjoy a welcome dinner at a popular restaurant. (D)

2. TUE I VENICE

   Your morning tour of Venice is on foot and will highlight the Basilica of st. mark and the Doge’s Palace, the Bridge of sighs and Piombi Prison. afternoon is at leisure with enough time for more sightseeing, shopping or relaxation. (B)

3. WED I VENICE I PADUA I MODENA I FLORENCE

   This morning depart Venice and stop in Padua to visit the Basilica of st. anthony and its art, including the large bronze works of Donatello. continue your scenic drive to modena where you’ll be treated to a special balsamic vinegar tasting session plus lunch, featuring local specialties and Lambrusco wine. after lunch continue to florence, the home of michelangelo. (B,L)

4. 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)

5. 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)

6. 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)

7. 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)

8. 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)

9. 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)

10. 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 Duomo in Florence to Sorrento. (B,L)

11. 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)

12. FRI I SORRENTO I NAPLES I PALERMO

    Today we say goodbye to Sorrento. Transfer to Naples airport for your flight to Palermo (not included). Arrival in Palermo and transfer to your hotel. Tonight enjoy dinner at a local restaurant. (B,D)

13. SAT I PALERMO

    This morning enjoy a tour of Palermo featuring the Massimo Theater, Quattro Canti, a splendid example of Spanish Baroque Architecture, the Palace of the Normans, and the Cathedral housing the shrine of Santa Rosalia. The last stop will be at the Abbey of Monreale, an Arab-Norman Cathedral built in the 12th century famous for its magnificent Byzantine mosaics and the adjacent Benedictine cloister. Balance of the day is at leisure to relax or to take an optional tour of Cefalu, a picturesque fishing village outside of Palermo. (B)

14. SUN I PALERMO I ERICE I MARSALA I AGRIGENTO

    This morning we take a breathtaking scenic drive up to the medieval town of Erice. After the Elymians settled here, it became an important religious site associated with the goddess Venus. Wander through its ancient streets, each cobbled with rectangular stones, and take some time to stop by one of the famous homemade pastry shops selling delicacies such as marzipan candies and pistachio pastries. After enjoying an olive oil tasting session and lunch accompanied by Marsala wine at a local farmhouse, we will travel along a coastline mostly made up of salt pans built back in roman times. Overnight in Agrigento. (B,L)

15. MON I AGRIGENTO I RAGUSA

    This morning enjoy a guided tour of "The Valley of the Temples", a UNESCO World Heritage site. One of the main archaeological treasures of the Mediterranean, this site is immersed in a rural landscape of rare beauty characterized by the presence of century-old olive and almond trees. Your guided walking tour will cover about one mile in a mostly downhill direction, with stops along the “Via Sacra” (holy pathway) to admire the Temple of Concordia, the Temple of Herakles and ruins of the Temple of Zeus. In the afternoon we continue to Ragusa. Dinner and overnight at hotel. (B,D)

16. TUE I RAGUSA I MODICA I ORTIGIA (SYRACUSE) I TAORMINA/GIARDINI NAXOS

    Today’s first stop will be in Modica, a quaint historic town and UNESCO World Heritage Site. Boasting some very fine Baroque architecture, picturesque views and historic sites, Modica is also known for its chocolate. Rich, dark and crumbly, it is produced in a traditional method imported from the New World by Sicily’s Spanish overlords. After a chocolate tasting session at one of the most prestigious chocolate makers, we continue to the enchanting island of Ortigia, the old town center of Syracuse. Highlights of Ortigia are the cathedral square with its church built over an ancient Greek temple and the beautiful promenade with its panorama over the sea and the natural bay of the town. Dinner and overnight at hotel. (B,D)

17. WED I TAORMINA/GIARDINI NAXOS I SAVOCA I D’AGRO VALLEY I TAORMINA/GIARDINI NAXOS

    This morning, enjoy a walking tour of Taormina’s charming city center including the Greek/ Roman amphitheater with breathtaking views looking over the bay of Naxos. In the afternoon, enjoy a once in a lifetime experience: the “Godfather” tour. See the real Sicily while exploring Savoca and D’Agro Valley, the towns and area that served as location when filming the “The Godfather” trilogy. (B)

18. THU I TAORMINA/GIARDINI NAXOS

    Today, you are at leisure to relax, or to take an optional excursion to the slopes of Mt. Etna, the largest active volcano in Europe. In the evening, bid arrivederci to your travel companions during a festive farewell dinner with delectable cuisine and sparkling wine in a fashionable restaurant. (B,D)

19. FRI I TAORMINA/GIARDINI NAXOS I CATANIA TO USA (OR EXTEND YOUR STAY)

    Morning transfer to Catania Airport for your return flight home. (B)