| Italian Escapade - Itinerary
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DAY
1 – UK – ROME
Welcome to Rome, one of the greatest centres of Western Civilisation,
thickly studded with ancient monuments. After your scheduled flight to Rome’s Fiumicino Leonardo
da Vinci Airport, there are complimentary transfers to your tour hotel at 09.30, 12.30 & 15.30hrs.
Relax or spend the rest of the day exploring this wonderful city. As evening falls, join your Tour Director
and fellow passengers for a Welcome Drink. Hotel: Radisson SAS/Grand Beverly Hills. |
DAY
8 – VENICE SIGHTSEEING
What better way to see
Venice than from our private launch, cruising past palazzos
and churches to St Mark’s Square? See the Basilica, the Doges’
Palace and Bridge of Sighs. Watch a demonstration of glass-blowing
before enjoying a highlight ride by traditional gondola along
the picturesque canals. Spend time at leisure exploring at
your own pace. As night falls, why not enjoy a traditional
Venetian dinner with music? (BB) |
DAY
2 – ROME SIGHTSEEING
With a local guide,
visit the Vatican Museums, the treasure house of the Catholic
faith with vast collections of ancient and Renaissance art.
Continue to the Sistine Chapel, a masterpiece of Michelangelo’s
fresco skills. Then enter St Peter’s Basilica to see Bernini’s
‘Popes’ Altar’ above the spot where St Peter is reputed to
have been crucified. Afterwards, cross the River Tiber to
ancient classical Rome and visit the world’s largest Roman
arena, the Colosseum, the scene of many gladiatorial contests,
and overlook the Forum, the centre of ancient public life.
The afternoon sees time set aside for sightseeing at your
own pace. As night falls, why not enjoy a night out with splendid
Italian food and wine. (BB) |
DAY
9 – VENICE - ASSISI
Skirt the Venetian Lagoon and cross two of Italy’s most important
rivers, the Adige and Po, before approaching the city of Ravenna. Stop to visit the Church of
St Apollinaris in Classe with its dazzling mosaics. Then the scenery changes dramatically as you drive
through the Apennines to Assisi to see the Church of St Mary of the Angels and enjoy a guided visit
inside the Basilica of St Francis. Hotel: Grand Hotel/Subasio. (BB,D) |
DAY
3 – ROME – FLORENCE
Travel north to the
picturesque medieval town of Siena and stroll through its
cobbled streets to the vast Campo Square, where the Palio
horse race takes place amid great festivities. See the ‘Fountain
of Joy’ and then walk up to the black and white striped cathedral.
After some free time, continue through the cypress clad hills
and vineyards of Tuscany to Florence. Hotel: Sheraton (BB,D) |
Day
10 – ASSISI - SORRENTO
Drive past the vineyards of Frascati and Castelli Romani to the Commonwealth Cemetery in the shadow of the brooding hilltop monastery of Cassino. Continue along the clifftops to the picturesque holiday resort of Sorrento, which bustles with life until late each night. Hotel: Corallo/Crowne Plaza di Stabiae (Pozzano).
(BB) |
DAY
4 – FLORENCE SIGHTSEEING
A guided tour takes
you inside the Academy Gallery to see Michelangelo’s original
statue of David, then continue to the Cathedral to see Giotto’s
belltower and the ‘Gates of Paradise’ adorning the Baptistery.
Visit the political stage of Florence, Signoria Square, filled
with works of art, and finally see the tombs of Galileo and
Michelangelo in Santa Croce Basilica. After watching a leatherwork
demonstration, you have spare time to shop or continue sightseeing.
(BB) |
Day
11 – ISLE OF CAPRI EXCURSION
Visit Sorrento’s Piazza
Tasso and watch the art of ‘intarsio’ wood inlaying. Cruise
to the island of Capri and ascend to Capri town by funicular
railway. There is time to explore before returning to Sorrento.
(BB,D) |
DAY
5 – FLORENCE - ITALIAN LAKES
Travel to Pisa to see
the famous Leaning Tower, the white marble cathedral and Baptistery
before heading north to Milan to admire the Gothic Cathedral
and famous La Scala Opera House. After some time here, head
to the beautiful Italian Lake District for a two-night stay
at a lakeside holiday resort on Lake Maggiore. Hotel: Simplon.
(BB,D) |
Day
12 – SORRENTO - ROME
Drive to the ancient Roman city of Pompeii, eerily preserved
by the eruptions of Mount Vesuvius in AD79. Walk with a local guide through cobbled streets to explore
some of the shops, villas and temples. Return to Rome where you enjoy a last night celebration
Highlight Dinner including pasta, wine and music. Hotel: Marriott Park/Radisson SAS/Tiberio. (BB,HD) |
DAY
6 – ITALIAN LAKES AT LEISURE
The day is set aside to relax and enjoy all the fantastic sights this beautiful lakeland area has to offer. Why not take a cruise over to Isola Bella, one of the picturesque Borromean Islands? (BB,D) |
Day
13 – ROME – UK
The tour ends with complimentary transfers to Rome Airport at 07.00 & 09.30 hours.
(BB) |
DAY
7 – ITALIAN LAKES - VENICE
Briefly enter Switzerland to visit the mountain ringed
resort of Lugano. Take time to stroll by the lake’s shores and shop for watches or fine chocolate.
Continue to Verona to see Juliet’s balcony and the ancient Roman Arena. Then it’s off to romantic
Venice, 'Queen of the Adriatic'. Hotel: Continental/Dei Dogi. (BB,D) |
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