Tour highlights:
- Amalfi;
- Rome;
- Todi;
- Florence;
- Venice; with visits to: Capri, Pompeii, Orvieto Siena.
Your Itinerary
Day 1 - Amalfi
Arrive Naples Capodichino airport in the early afternoon where you are met by your Bella Italia Tours director. An easy drive to the breathtaking Amalfi Coast and to our beautiful 4-star hotel right on the water. Later, we’ll go and visit ancient Amalfi with its steep terraces and amazing 12th century Norman cathedral. Tonight, welcome-to-Italy dinner with specialties of the Amalfi Coast and fresh fish of the Tyrrhenian Sea. Includes: (D)
Day 2 - Amalfi
This morning our motorcoach will take everyone to nearby Amalfi from where we'll take a very nice boat ride (incl.) along the Amalfi Coast to the famous and beautiful Isle of Capri. After a very enjoyable day on this blessed island we’ll return to Amalfi in late afternoon. Another delicious dinner tonight. Includes: (B) (D)
Day 3 - Rome
An easy drive north, early this morning, and we'll soon stop to visit Pompeii. This is an amazing experience! It’s like traveling back in time. We’ll have a local guide, an archaeologist, to guide us and give us some excellent inside information. With our "whispersystem" (earphones for all) used throughout the tour, everyone will be able to understand clearly all the wonderful information delivered by the guide. We’ll then resume our trip north to Rome where we'll check in at our select 3-star hotel close to the main train station. Later a very nice "Fountain walk" during which we'll see the "Triton Fountain" by Bernini, the famous "Trevi Fountain" (where you'll do the "coin thing" to assure your return to the Eternal City), the awesome "Pantheon", and Piazza Navona where three other beautiful 17th century fountains are located, including the "Fountains of the Rivers", also by Bernini. Free evening. Includes: (B)
Day 4 - Rome
This morning a short private bus ride to the Vatican Museums (entrance incl.) for an extensive visit which includes Raphael’s rooms, Michelangelo’s frescoes in the Sistine Chapel & much, much more. Then it’s on to St. Peter’s Basilica, where we’ll admire the Pietà, the Baldacchino (canopy) by Bernini & more. Free evening. Return to hotel independently. Some of you however (with directions from your tour director) may decide to continue walking and sightseeing: Castel Sant’Angelo? The Spanish Steps? The Jewish Quarter? (the oldest in Europe), Trastevere? Free evening. Includes: (B)
Day 5 - Todi
This morning we’ll load our luggage in the bus and we'll soon get to the start of our walking tour, during which, with a specialized local guide, we’ll see (among others) the Arch of Constantine, the Colosseum (entrance incl.), the Roman Forum, the Campidoglio with its architecture & piazza by Michelangelo, the monument to king Vittorio Emanuele II, Piazza Venezia (from where Mussolini delivered some of his most notorious speeches) & Emperor Trajan's Column. Then we’ll drive north to beautifully medievally preserve "Etruscan" Todi situated on a hill where we'll check in at our very charming 4-star hotel with beautiful views of the Umbrian hills. Relax, swim in the pool and, later, an excellent dinner with specialties of the region of Umbria. Includes: (B) (D)
Day 6 - Florence
This morning we'll drive to the wonderful city of Siena:: the Piazza del Campo (where the famous Palio takes place), the Gothic Duomo (cathedral), the Torre del Mangia, and more. Later motor-coach to Firenze (Florence) and check in at our select 3-star hotel by the Arno river. Free evening. Includes: (B)
Day 7 - Florence
After breakfast, first a nice walking tour (the Baptistery and Duomo, Campanile, Piazza della Signoria, Ponte Vecchio, and more) to get acquainted with this amazing city, the seat of the Renaissance. Later, we'll proceed to the Accademia to see Michelangelo's David (entrance incl.) and his unfinished “Prisoners”. (Because we'll have booked "timed-entrances" we won't have to stand in line for hours.) Rest of day is free. Mystic Gregorian chanting in San Miniato al Monte? Includes: (B)
Day 8 - Venice
A drive over the mountains, this morning, and check-in at our charming 3-star hotel. Then we'll meet our specialized local guide and begin our Venetian adventure by taking a spectacular vaporetto (waterbus) ride (72-hour pass included) on the Grand Canal, a walk around Piazza San Marco, the Basilica, Bridge of Sighs, the Campanile (bell tower). Then we'll continue walking and sightseeing until we get to a quiet "secret" neighborhood where we'll have a very nice welcome-to-Venice dinner with local specialties. Another vaporetto ride will take us back to our hotel later that evening. Includes: (B) (D)
Day 9 - Venice
Today, with our local guide, first we'll visit the very interesting and huge basilica of the Frari (entrance incl.) to enjoy the architecture, the history, and some of the best masterpieces by Tiziano Vecellio (Titian), Tintoretto, Donatello, Bellini & others. Then, a very nice stroll to the Ponte di Rialto (the Rialto Bridge) where we'll take a good break to admire this beautiful construction and to enjoy the interesting "mixed" market around it. Then a short walk to San Marco where we’ll take a break for lunch. Later, we’ll take a trip to the fabled island of Murano for a good look at how they make beautiful glass. At this point the guided activities are over but you can take another trip to the island of Burano for the local lace, or to the secluded island of Torcello where Ernest Hemingway wrote one of his famous books. Includes: (B)
Day 10 - Venice
Today is a free day to conclude your shopping and/or to enjoy to the fullest this incredible and amazing “floating” city. Farewell dinner tonight with Venetian specialties. Includes: (B) (D)
Day 11 – Your flight home
After breakfast we'll transfer a public shuttle bus to Venice Marco Polo airport. Includes: (B)
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
- 10 nights lodging, double occupancy;
- 10 breakfasts (buffet style);
- 5 dinners with regional specialties (all with wine and/or mineral water);
- Airport transfers by bus and airport shuttle;
- 1 round-trip vaporetto (water bus) ride;
- "Basic" tips to waiters, porters, guides, driver;
- 1 round-trip funicolare & bus ride in Orvieto;
- 1 round-trip boat ride Amalfi-Capri-Amalfi;
- 1 round-trip funicolare ride in Capri;
- 5 entrance fees: Pompeii excavations, the Accademia (David), in Florence; Colosseum, Vatican Museums, in Rome; Basilica dei Frari, in Venice;
- Optional, round-trip flight (for the extra cost of $1300) by our Preferred Carrier – Lufthansa- Denver – Frankfûrt – Munich – Naples & Venice – Frankfûrt – Denver.
Cost of the tour does not include:
- Personal expenses & Additional meals - Gratuities to tour director & hotel staff;
- Anything not expressly mentioned under “Cost of the tour includes”.
Also see tour packages in:
Europe
Italy
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