Itinerary

1. Overnight Flight

   Ciao, Italy!

   Accommodation: Grand Hotel Palatino

2. Rome, Italy

   Welcome to the “Eternal City” of Rome. As arrival times will vary, there is no scheduled sightseeing today. Spend the day as you wish, exploring the city independently. Tonight, join your fellow travelers for a welcome dinner featuring regional delicacies and Italian wines.

   Meal included: Dinner
   Accommodation: Grand Hotel Palatino

3. Rome

   This morning, discover Italy’s capital city during an extensive walking tour. Visit the Colosseum,* where your guide recounts its rich history. Meander through Rome’s Renaissance district for a peek at the mythic Pantheon and the oval-shaped Piazza Navona, adorned with Baroque fountains. Spend the evening at leisure. Perhaps you’ll head to the medieval Monti neighborhood where cobblestoned streets are lined with antique shops, independent boutiques and local restaurants.

   Meal included: Breakfast
   Accommodation: Hotel Michelangelo

4. Rome

   Enjoy a full day at leisure to explore Rome’s cultural treasures. Your Tour Manager will be on hand to offer suggestions. Consider an optional trip to Vatican City to tour the Vatican Museums** and St. Peter’s Basilica. The evening is yours. Perhaps you will join an optional food tour and taste your way around Rome’s bohemian Trastevere district.

   Meal included: Breakfast
   Accommodation: Hotel Michelangelo

5. Rome - Sorrento

   Journey to the brilliant Bay of Naples, where charming villages are built into hillsides above the blue sea. Along the way, pause in nearby Gragnano for lunch and visit to a pasta factory. Continue to the scenic resort town of Sorrento, where you'll enjoy free time to explore before settling in for a two-night stay in a hotel located either in Sorrento or along its picturesque coast.***

   Meal included: Breakfast & Lunch
   Accommodation: Grand Hotel Baglioni

6. Sorrento

   Today, sail to the enchanting Isle of Capri.**** Upon arrival, admire the island’s iconic scenery on a panoramic cruise,**** passing by the steep cliffs, endless small caves, and the famous Faraglioni rocks, jutting out of the water. Spend time in Capri town with its world-famous piazzetta and explore this island paradise of chic boutiques, lush vegetation, and outdoor cafés. Return to the mainland for an evening at leisure.

   Meal included: Breakfast & Dinner
   Accommodation: Grand Hotel Baglioni

7. Sorrento - Pompeii - Florence

   Start your day in Pompeii, where it’s your choice! Soak in 2,000 years of history at your own pace. Pick between a leisurely paced tour of the highlights -OR- a faster paced visit of Pompeii's off-the-beaten-path gems. Spend the rest of the day relaxing on the bus while you head to Tuscany, with its landscape of vineyards and olive groves. Late this afternoon, arrive in Florence, the “Cradle of the Renaissance.” Home to Italy’s best art and architecture, begin your exploration with an evening stroll to dinner at a local restaurant.

   Meal included: Breakfast & Dinner
   Accommodation: NH Venezia Santa Lucia

8. Florence

   This morning, embark on a guided walking tour of Florence. Along the way, admire the cathedral’s iconic dome and the Baptistery’s famous Gates of Paradise. Stroll through the historic Piazza della Signoria and stand in awe before the imposing Palazzo Vecchio. The rest of the day is yours. Consider an optional excursion to the 14th-century Certosa monastery, featuring an after-hours tour and dinner in a popular Tuscan restaurant.

   Meal included: Breakfast
   Accommodation: NH Venezia Santa Lucia

9. Florence - Pisa - Venice

   Visit the ancient maritime Republic of Pisa to discover the Piazza dei Miracoli and the famous Leaning Tower. A special stop is made at a Tuscan winery and farm to enjoy lunch and sample local wines and specialties. Next, cross the Apennine Mountains en route to Venice, where 117 islands are connected by a latticework of 150 canals and 400 bridges.

   Meal included: Breakfast & Lunch
   Accommodation: Regina Palace Hotel

10. Venice

    Embark on a boat trip to Murano Island for a glass-blowing demonstration. When you return, step off the beaten path and see for yourself how the locals live. Explore the Castello district with a local expert, walking canal by canal through the narrow streets all the way to St. Mark’s Square. Admire the stunning Basilica and the ornate façade of the Doge’s Palace. The remainder of the day is at leisure. Consider an optional gondola cruise to experience Venice’s most famous pastime.

    Meal included: Breakfast
    Accommodation: Regina Palace Hotel

11. Venice - Verona - Stresa, Lake Maggiore

    Depart Venice for Verona and stroll the streets that were the backdrop for Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. Arrive in the resort town of Stresa in the breathtaking Italian Lakes District, your home for the next two nights, and admire the beautiful views of Lake Maggiore.

    Meal included: Breakfast & Dinner

12. Stresa

    Today, it’s your choice! Take a boat across Lake Maggiore to Isola Bella, where you’ll join an expert guide and venture into the Borromeo Palace and gardens***** -OR- cross into Switzerland as your motor coach climbs up the Simplon Pass for a taste of the Swiss Alps. Enjoy an afternoon at leisure in Stresa, a town long-favored by European aristocracy because of its blend of elegant belle-époque mansions, fragrant gardens and charming views. Tonight, travel by boat to Isola dei Pescatori****** for a farewell dinner surrounded by beautiful scenery.

    Meal included: Breakfast & Dinner

13. Stresa - Tour Ends

    Your Italian adventure comes to a close today.

    Meal included: Breakfast