“TASTE OF ITALY”

Pompeii - Naples - Sorrento - Rome - Sienna - Pisa - Lucca - Florence - Bologna  Verona Mestre - Venice

DAY 1 – ARRIVAL BARI - VISIT SOUTHERN ITALY

(Bari is reachable by ferry-boat from Patras-Greece and other EU ports)

Arrive in Bari at 8:30a.m. Meet the local guide and travel to the region of Naples. We will walk the streets of the ancient cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum. In the afternoon, we will explore Naples and one of the world’s most important archaeological museums, the Museo Archeologico Nazionale. We will spend the evening in Sorrento. Overnight at hotel in Sorrento.

DAY 2 - ROME

Morning drive to Rome where we enjoy our full day tour to visit St Peter’s Basilica, the Sistine Chapel, The Vatican Museum, St. Paul “Fuoni le Mura”, Palatine Hill, St. Peter in Chains (Michelangelo’s Moses), Government Hill, Temple of Juno, and the houses of Romulus and Remus. In the afternoon check-in at hotel in Rome. Overnight.

DAY 3 - ROME

Visit the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, the Arch of Constantine and the Arch of Titus (Menorah relief), Circus Maximus, Callisto Catacombs and the Mamertine Prison. Overnight at hotel in Rome. (B,L)

DAY 4 – ROME (DAY AT LEISURE)

You may want to shop, take a walking tour to the Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, Pantheon, Borghese Museum. Optional bus trip out of the city to the Mediterranean coast, lunch included, to sightsee, swim, or relax. Overnight in Rome.

DAY 5 - TUSCANY CITIES (SIENNA – ST. GIMIGNIANO - PISA – LUCCA)

We will travel to the medieval-walled city of Sienna with its magnificent Piazza del Campo, one of Europe’s greatest medieval squares. We will also have the opportunity to experience the Palio, the famous bareback horse race first recorded in 1283. From there we will travel to St. Gimigniano and the Etruscan city of Volterra. Then we will visit Pisa with its Leaning Tower, and spend the night in Lucca. Overnight at hotel.

DAY 6 – LUCCA - FLORENCE

This former Roman colony boasts of the San Michele in Foro, a 14th church, the home of Puccini, and numerous shops. Leave Lucca and travel to Florence to visit the Piazza de la Signoria, Duomo, Baptistry, Santa Croce church and Accademia, featuring Michelangelo’s David. Overnight at hotel in Florence.

DAY 7 – FLORENCE – BOLOGNA

Enjoy a morning walk to Ponte Vecchio, the oldest surviving bridge in the city. Explore the Ufizzi Museum. In the afternoon we leave Florence and drive towards Bologna with its medieval palaces, the churches of San Petronio and San Domenico, and the University of Bologna, the oldest in Europe. Overnight at hotel in Bologna.

DAY 8 – VERONA – MESTRE - VENICE

From Bologna, we will travel north to Verona. Here we will explore the Roman Arena. Verona is also the setting for the tragic story of Romeo and Juliet. Continue on to Mestre, near Venice, where we spend the night at hotel.

DAY 9 – VENICE – MESTRE

We will travel to Venice via a vaporetto. Full-day tour of Venice exploring St. Marks, the Bridge of Sighs, and the Doge’s Palace. Spend the rest of the afternoon exploring, shopping and/or taking a gondola ride. Overnight at hotel in Mestre. (B)

DAY 10 – VENICE DEPARTURE

Early morning breakfast and drive to Venice airport for departure flight.

Please contact us for more information: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it