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 2005 The Essence of Italy with Trafalgar Tours

 12 days from A$2969

Dates & Prices
HIGHLIGHTS

Sightseeing Highlights

Rome Rome sightseeing with a special audio system includes views of the Forum and Colosseum plus visits the Vatican with the Basilica of St. Peter's and the 'Pieta' by Michelangelo . An evening drive which ends at Piazza Navona and enjoy homemade Italian ice-cream or a drink.
Isle of Capri Orientation includes views of the Faraglioni Rocks  and Capri town.
Sorrento Enjoy a short lesson in the Italian language. Visit a mozzarella farm, see how the cheese is made and taste some of the many types. We learn to make some of Italy's greatest dishes at our included lunch.
Paestum Stop at the Greek Temples and stop at the excavations.
Taormina Orientation tour includes the upper city.
Syracuse Visit the celebrated archeological sites, including the Greek Theatre, Roman amphitheatre and more. Plus visit Ortygia island.
Piazza Armerina Visit the Roman Villa of Casale.
Agrigento Visit the Valley of the Temples.
Selinunte Visit the Dorian Temples.
Palermo Sightseeing including the Norman Cathedral, Monreale and  Mondello.
Palermo Experience Visit a local market to purchase various ingredients  to use at our cooking lesson in a restaurant, accompanied by a local chef with our participation in preparing our midday meal. Visit a wine estate.
Ustica Cruise to this volcanic island and see the Grotta Azzurra and Grotta Pastizza.
Scenic drives through the rolling scenery of the Campania, across the Bay of Naples, along the Sorrento Peninsula and through the vineyards of the Southern Hills.

Dining Highlights

A welcome drink with your Tour Director in Rome

11 Buffet breakfasts (BB)

2 speciality restaurant lunches, learn about the preparation of  lunch in Sorrento and participate in the preparation of lunch in a Villa near Palermo  (HL)

1 lunch on the island of Ustica (L)

4 three-course dinners in hotels (D)

3 local speciality restaurant dinners at a Roman Trattoria, a  Pizza at Vico Equense and Taormina (HD)

21 meals in total (see day-by-day itinerary)

First Class Travel Highlights

The services of one of Trafalgar's top professional multi-lingual  Tour Directors.

A qualified local city guide in Rome and Syracuse, Agrigento and Palermo.

Chauffeur driven on Trafalgar's luxury air-conditioned motorcoaches  with reclining seats and washroom.

Cruise to the Isle of Capri.

Ferry across the Straits of Messina from mainland Italy to Sicily.

Return Hyrofoil or ferry from Sicily to Ustica.

Internal flight Palermo to Rome, including airport transfers.

Rome Fiumicino Airport Transfers are provided on Days 1 and 12.

A stylish travel bag and wallet containing tour documents and  helpful information.

First Class Hotels

You'll stay in twin-bedded rooms with private facilities at these  superb hotels:

Rome (2): Regent
Sorrento (2): La Pace
Taormina (3):  San Alphio Garden
Agrigento: Grand dei Templi
Palermo (3): Excelsior  Palace

All hotel service charges and tips, baggage handling fees and  local taxes included.

ITINERARY

 DAY 1 Arrive Rome (2)

On arrival at Rome Fiumicino Airport you are met and transferred to your hotel. After check-in at the hotel, there is time this afternoon perhaps to explore the streets of the medieval quarter or simply relax and unwind with a cappuccino at a pavement cafe. Tonight, you'll meet up with your Tour Director and fellow travelling companions for a welcome  drink and local dinner in a typical trattoria - a great way to get to know each other! (HD)

DAY 2 Rome sightseeing & at leisure

This morning, we join  our local guide and with the use of an audio system we begin  to explore the highlights of this 'Eternal City'. First we head to the area of the Vatican with the Basilica of St. Peter's and the moving statue of the 'Pieta'  by Michelangelo as well as, the site of ancient Rome at the Colosseum and the Forum. Later with time on your own you may wish to visit the Sistine  Chapel or shop in this city's elegant boutiques. Tonight we delight in an evening drive to the PiazzaNavona where we'll enjoy a drink or a homemade Italian  ice cream with our group. Then you're free to try out the culinary delights  of this exciting and proud city at one of the many restaurants. (BB)

DAY 3 Rome - Isle of Capri - Sorrento (2)

This morning our drive takes us into the rolling scenery of the Campania and into  the shadow of Mount Vesuvius - the now dormant volcano, which erupted in AD 79 to the great astonishment of the inhabitants of the town of Pompeii. Today we cross  the Bay of Naples and soon arrive on the Isle of Capri. Here we will enjoy a short tour of the island featuring Capri town with its famous piazzetta and views of the Faraglioni Rocks. Then there's time on your own to shop in the chic boutiques before we cruise to Sorrento. On arrival, we check-in at our hotel where this evening we will be given a short lesson in the Italian language which will help to prepare us for tomorrow's cookery lesson! Dinner is served at  our hotel tonight. (BB D)

DAY 4 Mozzarella Farm & Cookery Lesson

After breakfast we are off on an exciting day which will begin at a Mozzarella farm where we see how this cheese is produced and to taste some of the many types of Mozzarella.  Just before an included lunch we arrive at our restaurant where we learn  how to make some of Italy's greatest dishes and then of course, how to eat them! This evening order your pizza by the metre as we dine at Vico Equense,  the place where pizza was invented! (BB) (HL HD)

DAY 5 Sorrento - Paestum - Taormina (3)

Our first  stop this morning is at the Greek Temples at nearby Paestum,  these being the only well-preserved Greek site north of Sicily, as they were hidden away by thick forests for centuries before being discovered. Here we will make a stop at the excavations and then continue our journey south through Calabria to board our ferry and cruise across the Straits of Messina. On our arrival we rejoin our coach and drive to Taormina, Sicily's most exclusive  resort, where we spend the first night of our three-night stay. (BB D)

DAY 6 Taormina orientation & at leisure

After breakfast  this morning, we will start the day with an orientation tour of the  upper city. After, the remainder of your day is at leisure. You may wish to either laze on the beach, go shopping for hand-made lace on the Corso or take an optional  excursion to visit Mount Etna – yet another not so dormant volcano! Your evening  is free to do as you please, your Tour Director will be happy to assist and advise  you of the best places for dinner. (BB)

DAY 7 Syracuse Excursion

Today's journey takes us to Syracuse where we enjoy a guided visit of the celebrated archeological sites, including  the Greek Theatre, the Roman amphitheatre and more. Later, we walk on the so-called Ortygia Island before returning to our hotel at Taormina. Tonight, we get together to enjoy a delicious dinner at a typical restaurant. (BB) (HD)

DAY 8 Taormina - Enna - Agrigento

Our day starts with a drive via Enna and on to the scenic splendour of Piazza Armerina.  From here we continue our journey through the vineyards of the southern hills to visit the Roman Villa of Casale with its splendid mosaics. Finally, we make our way to our hotel at Agrigento for the night. Here we visit the nearby Valley of the Temples dating from the 6th century BC! (BB D)

DAY 9 Agrigento - Selinunte - Palermo (3)

After  breakfast this morning, we make our way to Selinunte where we visit  the Dorian Temples. Next we will continue our drive on to Palermo,  Sicily's capital, for our three-night stay. On our arrival a guided sightseeing tour includes the Norman Cathedral, Monreale and Mondello. Dinner will be served at our hotel this evening. (BB D)

DAY 10 Palermo Experience

This exciting day begins with a drive  to a local market where we buy the various ingredients that  will go into making our lunch - all with the help of a professional chef! Then we're off to a beautiful villa set amid vineyards, where we can all participate in the preparation of today's meal. Those who prefer to learn  about the wine of this area, can opt to visit a 'cantina' or two on the nearby estates - but we will all get together for a hopefully delicious lunch  with wine in the gardens of this elegant private home. The rest of the day is at leisure. (BB) (HL)

DAY 11 Palermo - Island of Ustica Excursion

Today we cruise  over to the nearby volcanic island of Ustica covered with abundant wild flora and fauna. We will visit the island's coastline by boat and we  will be able to admire the 300 foot long Grotta Azzurra and Grotta Pastizza.  Next we enjoy a delicious lunch and some free time in Ustica town - where the brightly painted houses are covered with murals and a Saracen castle dominates  the landscape. We return to Palermo late in the afternoon. (BB L)

DAY 12 Palermo - Depart Rome

This morning we transfer to Palermo Airport to board our flight to Rome. You will arrive  at Rome Fiumicino airport aproximately 08.00am to connect with your return flight home. Please do not schedule flights before 10.00am. (BB)

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