Treasures of Italy

Refer to the "Arrival Instructions" for directions on where and when to meet your Tour Manager. Transfer to your hotel in the Italian Lake District to check in and freshen up. Get to know your fellow tour members at the "Welcome to Italy" dinner at the hotel.

This morning begins with a visit to Milan’s center, where the Galleria (the world’s oldest shopping mall) and the Duomo dominate the main square. Following an interior visit of the Duomo, your Tour Manager will direct you toward high-fashion shops and noteworthy sights, such as La Scala Opera House. Along the way, a gelateria will tempt you with Italian ice cream. This afternoon, return to your Lake District hotel for dinner.

Your first destination today is Lake Garda. Stroll along the lake front, browse the quaint markets, or take in the scene from one of the many sidewalk cafés. From Garda, it’s a short ride to Verona, famous for Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet.” Your Tour Manager will offer a walk through the medieval center of the city. The focal point of Verona is the Arena, which is still used for outdoor opera performances every summer. Sample authentic Italian dishes during an independent dinner in Verona before transferring to your hotel.

Today features a full day visit to the romantic city of Venice, known for its characteristic canals, colorful gondoliers and magnificent St. Mark’s Square. All transportation is done over water, so like the Venetians, you will take a boat ride to the center of this "floating city." A guided walking tour follows, ending with a visit to a glass-blowing workshop where highly-skilled artisans craft everything from delicate figurines to grand chandeliers. If you have your heart set on a gondola ride through the canals, the cost is about €45 per person based on up to six people sharing a gondola. The day provides ample time to marvel at the architecture of the San Marco Basilica, the Doge’s Palace, and the Clock Tower. Have dinner at a pizzeria or join your Tour Manager at a classic Venetian restaurant for the optional Venice Dinner excursion. After a memorable day of sightseeing, return to your Verona area hotel.

A morning drive takes you south through the Apennine Mountains and into Tuscany. Stop in the medieval center of Lucca before continuing to Pisa and its Leaning Tower. Work on this unique structure began in 1174, and it had already begun to tilt by the time the second floor was complete! The cathedral complex consists of the Duomo, baptistery and bell tower. Set against the Field of Miracles (an expansive green lawn), these three white marble buildings are an impressive sight. This evening, pastel-tinted buildings on palm tree-lined streets welcome you to the spa resort town of Montecatini-Terme, your home for the next three nights.

This day is devoted to the art and architecture of Florence. During the guided walking tour see the Duomo, the renowned bronze baptistry doors by Ghiberti, and Giotto’s Campanile (bell tower). The rest of the day is yours to explore at your own pace. Admire the piazzas, shop the open-air markets, visit an art gallery, or enjoy gathering with Florentines and visitors alike on the Ponte Vecchio. Depending on availability, your Tour Manager may arrange for an optional Accademia Gallery excursion to admire Michelangelo's "David." Return to Montecatini-Terme, where you can dine "al fresco" on one of the sidewalk terraces.

Spend a leisurely day enjoying the shops, cafés, spas and parks of Montecatini-Terme. Take the funicular up to the old town of Montecatini Alto, and sip a cappuccino as you take in the panoramic view of the Tuscan countryside. Consider using the convenient train service to return to Florence for further exploration. Another choice for today is the optional Siena & Vineyard Dinner excursion.

Your final impressions of Tuscany take you past olive groves and rolling hills to a morning stop in a charming provincial village. This afternoon, continue south towards your hotel in the area of Pompeii, where dinner will be served upon arrival.

Transfer to nearby Sorrento for a full day to explore at your leisure. Wander through the narrow streets and alleyways in Old Sorrento, sit at a sidewalk café at the Piazza Tasso, and walk among the frescoes in the Sorrento Duomo. Another option is to board a 25-minute ferry to Capri, and spend the day investigating this beautiful Island. Or, perhaps you have decided to join the optional Amalfi Coast excursion.

A local guide will join you for an educational visit to the ruins of Pompeii. Buried under thick ash after Mt. Vesuvius erupted in 79 A.D., Pompeii was discovered during an excavation in 1748. Since then, large sections have been unearthed providing extraordinary insight into the life of a city at the height of the Roman Empire. On the way from Pompeii to the “Eternal City” of Rome, stop for an included dinner of homemade specialties at a countryside farm. Afterwards, continue to your Rome area hotel.

Today is devoted to the wonders of Rome, crowned by the Colosseum which dates back to 80 A.D. During a panoramic tour, the local guide will introduce you to some of the most famous landmarks. This afternoon, continue with a walking tour including the Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, Piazza Navona and more. Top off the day with an independent dinner at one of Rome’s many restaurants or sidewalk cafés before returning to your hotel this evening.

This morning, transfer to the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls. A guided visit provides insight into the history of Christianity in Rome. The Basilica is built upon the grave of the Apostle Paul who came to Rome in 61 A.D. for his trial by the Roman court which condemned him to death as a Christian. His tomb became a place of veneration for the faithful, and throughout the centuries, the simple memorial chamber was expanded into an enhanced and embellished basilica. This afternoon, continue your guided experience by joining the optional Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel excursion or spend the afternoon exploring the area around the Vatican City on your own. Return to your hotel this evening for a "Farewell Dinner."

Your final day in Rome provides the opportunity for independent exploration. Transfer to the area around the Colosseum where you can wander the shops, visit the Capitoline Museums, and admire artwork and artifacts from the ancient Roman world. Or, simply relax with a cappuccino at a sidewalk café. This afternoon, your Tour Manager will offer the optional Colosseum excursion for a guided tour through the interior of this colossal structure and the Roman Forum. Savor your final Italian meal of the tour during an independent dinner or join the optional Rome Dinner excursion.

Transfer to the Rome Fiumicino Airport for your return flight home