Country Roads of Italy 16 Day tour from $3320 an Insight Vacations luxury tourclick to enlarge mapTour Highlights Hotels This tour has a selection of both modern and traditional hotels. Both the Sheratons in Rome & Florence are excellent examples of modern Italian design, whereas the Aquila Bianca is a beautifully restored traditional hotel in the heart of historic Orvieto, one of the stunning hilltop towns of Umbria. Fellow Passengers This tour appeals to all lovers of Italy who wish to really delve deeply into the historic and artistic heritage of this fascinating country. It would also be perfect for the art history student coming to Italy for the first time, with the chance to witness the landscape which inspired the great masters of the Renaissance. Highlights The classic highlights of Rome, Venice & Florence are all included but the less well known highlights of the smaller towns are also to be found on this tour β like actually staying overnight in the hilltop town of Orvieto and spending hours exploring the medieval jewels of Assisi and Perugia. Excursions & Sights - See the Pope's residence in Castel Gandolfo & visit the wine town of Frascati
- Guided tour of Pompeii
- Beautiful Amalfi coast drive to Positano
- Cruise to the Isle of Capri with a funicular ride to Capri Town
- Visit the hill-top Abbey of Monte Cassino, scene of bitter fighting during WWII
- Visit Cassino's peaceful Commonwealth War Cemetery
- Visit Tarquinia's Archeological Museum and ancient Etruscan tombs
- Visit Orvieto's majestic Piazza del Duomo to admire the famous facade of the Cathedral
- See the Priors' Palace, Great Fountain & Collegio del Cambio in Perugia
- Assisi excursion including St Francis Basilica, St Mary of the Angels & St Clare's church
- See the dazzling mosaics in the Basilica of St Apollinaris in Classe
- Venice cruise to see St Mark's Basilica, Doges' Palace & Bridge of Sighs
- Visit the 'Gates of Paradise', Michelangelo's tomb &Β Signoria Square in Florence
- See the towers of San Gimignano
- Visit Siena's Campo Square, fountain & Cathedral
- Excursion to hilltop Montepulciano with its beautiful Old Town
- Visit St Peter's Basilica, Colosseum and see the Forum in Rome
- Sorrento 'Intarsio', Florentine leather-work & Venice glass blowing demonstrations
Guided City Tours In depth sightseeing tours in Pompeii, Tarquinia, Perugia, Assisi, Florence, Siena & Rome Orientation tours in Sorrento, Orvieto, Venice, San Gimignano & Montepulciano Insight's First Class Services - Escorted by a professional Tour Director
- Luxury air-conditioned coach with onboard toilet
- First Class hotels with all service charges, taxes and porterage
- Complimentary arrival transfer on Day 1 and departure transfer on Day 16
Quality Dining Highlight Dinner of local cuisine with entertainment in Rome 15 buffet breakfasts and 6 three course table d'hote dinners, or buffets, plus tea or coffee.
Tour Itinerary Tour Pace This tour is well paced with an exceptional three night stay in Sorrento at the start of the tour and two night stays in all other cities except Orvieto. The majority of the driving days are not too long with convenient stops at places of interest along the way, for both refreshment and sightseeing. DAY 1 SAT - ROME AT LEISURE On arrival at Rome's Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci Airport, there are complimentary transfers to the hotel. Then time to relax and begin to enjoy La Dolce Vita (the sweet life)! Tonight, join your Tour Director and fellow passengers for a Welcome Drink. Hotel: Sheraton Roma. DAY 2 SUN - ROME - SORRENTO We travel south to Castelli Romani where we stop at Castel Gandolfo to see the Pope's summer residence. Then on to the celebrated wine town of Frascati. Now to Pompeii where our local guide walks us through the streets of this Roman resort. A cliff top drive now brings us to Sorrento. Hotel: Grand Hotel la Pace. (BB,D) DAY 3 MON - AMALFI COASTAL DRIVE Plenty of photo opportunities today as we travel along Italy's finest coastline - the Amalfi Coast. We stop for a birds-eye view of the terraced houses of Positano before boarding minibuses to take us into the heart of town. There's time to be tempted by the boutiques before we head back to Sorrento for a relaxing afternoon. Maybe dine at one of Sorrento's top restaurants tonight? (BB) DAY 4 TUE - ISLE OF CAPRI EXCURSION For 2,000 years, Capri has beckoned visitors from Tiberius Caesar to Gracie Fields! Arriving at the Marina Grande by boat, we ascend to Capri Town by funicular railway. Time now to browse through the elegant shops and enjoy the fabulous views. Perhaps join an optional excursion to Anacapri before returning to Sorrento? (BB) DAY 5 WED - SORRENTO - ORVIETO This morning we visit the formidable Abbey of Monte Cassino, dominating surrounding countryside from its mountain-top site. Later, we stop at the nearby Commonwealth War Cemetery. Then it's on to visit Tarquinia's Archeological Museum and view the Etruscan tombs. We continue to our hotel tonight in the hilltop townof Orvieto. Hotel: Aquila Bianca. (BB) DAY 6 THU - ORVIETO - PERUGIA This morning we enjoy an orientation tour of Orvieto, seeing the Cathedral, with its richly decorated facade. Now there is free time to shop before we continue to the lovely city of Perugia. Here our walking tour shows us the Exchange Building, Priors' Palace,Great Fountain and Cathedral. We stay in the historic town centre for the next two nights. Hotel: San Gallo Palace. (BB,D) DAY 7 FRI - ASSISI EXCURSION Crossing the River Tiber we arrive at the St Mary of the Angels Basilica, erected where StΒ Francis died. Now we continue to hilltop Assisi where we visit the Basilica. We stroll down the Via San Francesco to St Clare's church. Next we see the Cathedral with its baptismal font where St Francis was christened. The energetic may climb to the medieval Castle for panoramic views! (BB) DAY 8 SAT - PERUGIA - VENICE We travel through the Apennines to the Adriatic coast. Near Ravenna we visit the church of St Apollinaris in Classe, to see the mosaics. Then we continue to the magical city of Venice. Hotel: Sant Elena. (BB,D) DAY 9 SUN - VENICE AT LEISURE By private launch we cruise to St Mark's basin, seeing the Bridge of Sighs and Doges' Palace. We stroll to St Mark's Square to admire the Byzantine Basilica, and then watch a glass-blowing demonstration. Now we enjoy a highlight gondola ride through the canals. The rest of the day is at leisure. (BB) DAY 10 β MON β VENICE β FLORENCE This morning we journey to the cradle of the Renaissance β Florence. On our walking tour we see the marble clad Cathedral, Giotto's belltower and the Gates ofParadise on the Baptistery before continuing to SignoriaSquare. We then visit the Basilica of Santa Croce to see Michelangelo's tomb and finish with a Florentine leatherwork demonstration. Hotel: Sheraton. (BB,D) DAY 11 TUE - FLORENCE SIGHTSEEING With our local guide we admire some of Michelangelo's work in the Academy Gallery including his original statue of David and the half completed Four Slaves. Afterwards, time to relax, shop or continue sightseeing? (BB) DAY 12 WED - FLORENCE - CHIANCIANO TERME A delightful drive brings us to San Gimignano. We admire the Salucci Towers, Chigi Towers and Cathedral before continuing to Siena. We stroll the cobbled streets with a local guide to the Campo Square where we see the 'Fonte Gaia', then continue to the zebra striped cathedral. Now we follow the country roads to the spa town of Chianciano Terme. Hotel: Majestic. (BB) DAY 13 THU - MONTEPULCIANO EXCURSION Today we visit beautiful Montepulciano, one of Tuscany's highest hill towns, it's fortifications offering broad views over Umbria and Southern Tuscany. (BB,D) DAY 14 FRI - CHIANCIANO TERME - ROME We return to Rome today to visit the vast collection of ancient and Renaissance art in the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel, glorious masterpiece of Michelangelo's fresco skills. The rest of the day is at leisure. Hotel: Cicerone. (BB) DAY 15 SAT - ROME SIGHTSEEING With our local guide we visit the Colosseum and see the Forum. On the opposite side of the Tiber, we tour StPeter's Basilica, seeing Michelangelo's masterpiece, the 'Pieta', as well as the dome, completed after his death. There is time at leisure this afternoon. Tonight we ensure our return to Rome at the Trevi Fountain, then enjoy a highlight dinner including wine. (BB,HD) DAY 16 SUN - ROME After breakfast, there are transfers to Rome's Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci Airport. (BB)
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