Sun, Mar 15

UNITED STATES TO VENICE
Depart your hometown and take an overnight flight across the Atlantic. Enjoy in-flight entertainment and meal service as you travel to start your vacation.

Mon, Mar 16

VENICE ARRIVAL & FREE TIME
After landing at Venice Airport, complete customs and immigration formalities. Then your driver/guide will welcome you to Italy and escort you and your luggage to the motor launch. Transfer to your hotel and check in. After you settle into your room you may like to rest or explore some of the city on your own. Venice is the city of myth and magic, of indolence and pleasure, a world half real and half dream, attracting with its picturesque carnival, colorful pageants, music festivals, theatres and gambling houses visitors from all over the world. In the evening join your fellow travelers for dinner. DINNER & OVERNIGHT: HOTEL BELLINI, VENICE

Tue, Mar 17

VENICE HIGHLIGHTS & DOGE’S PALACE
Today embark on a walking tour to see the main sights of this exciting city, starting with Piazza San Marco, Venice’s hub of activity. The world-famous marble square, which is lined with galleries, luxury shops and charming cafés is dominated by the magnificent Basilica San Marco, whose mixture of styles reflect the history of Venice.  Marvel at the shimmering mosaics encrusted on it interior walls, the precious sculptures, and rare marbles. Admire the beautiful ‘Campanile’, it’s simple lines contrasting sharply with the sumptuous décor of the church and the Clock Tower whose famous ‘Moors’ have been striking the hours for over 500 years. Next visit Doge’s Palace, or Palazzo Ducale, a Gothic palace, which was the residence of the Doge up until the fall of the Venetian Republic in I797. Enjoy the splendid Renaissance paintings by Titian, Veronese, and Tintoretto. Afterwards cross the Bridge of Sighs, which passes over the Rio di Palazzo and connects the old Piombi prisons to the interrogation rooms in the Doge's Palace. Made of white marble with stone bar windows, the bridge was built in the 16^th century and only given the name Bridge of Sighs in the 19^th century, by Lord Byron. The name comes from the suggestion that prisoners would sigh at their final view of beautiful Venice out the window before being taken down to their cells. After your tour, enjoy the balance of the afternoon and evening at leisure for independent activities and dining.
BREAKFAST & OVERNIGHT: HOTEL BELLINI, VENICE

Wed, Mar 18

VENICE AT LEISURE
Today is completely at leisure in Venice where you can choose from a wide variety of pursuits. Venice is the city of myth and magic, of indolence and pleasure, a world half real and half dream, attracting with its picturesque carnival, colorful pageants, music festivals, theatres and gambling houses visitors from all over the world. In the evening you are free to choose from the many restaurants and cafés that Venice has to offer to enjoy dinner on your own.
BREAKFAST & OVERNIGHT: HOTEL BELLINI, VENICE

Thu, Mar 19

VENICE TO FLORENCE
Depart Venice and travel south through the town of Bologna and the Italian countryside toward Tuscany, the trendiest destination in Italy, consisting of rolling hills covered in olive groves and grapevines, bright yellow fields of sunflower and inviting cobblestone streets. Stop in Ravenna for a rustic lunch and view its splendid 6^th century Byzantine mosaics made out of gold in San Vitale Church. Continue into Florence, the cradle of the Renaissance and an imposing city of old stone, among the cypress, pine, and olive trees of the surrounding hills from which the ever-changing Arno flows. Upon arrival check into your hotel and enjoy some time to relax and freshen up before dinner. In the evening join your fellow travelers for dinner.
BREAKFAST, LUNCH, DINNER & OVERNIGHT: HOTEL CAROLUS, FLORENCE

Fri, Mar 20

FLORENCE SIGHTSEEING 
Set off on a city sightseeing tour of Florence, a city of artistic wealth and beauty. Start your tour at the beautiful Piazza Del Duomo to see the patterned green, white, and pink Cathedral of Santa Maria Del Fiore, crowned by Brunelleschi. See Giotto’s Bell Tower and the Romanesque Baptistery of St. John with the exquisite bronze doors by Ghiberti (referred to as ‘The Gates of Paradise’ by Michelangelo). Then visit the Accademia Museum, one of the best-known museums in Florence. Founded in 1784, it hosts a collection of sculptures and paintings. One of the most important works on display at the museum is ‘David’ by Michelangelo (completed around 1504), which was moved there in 1873. The gallery is also home to another remarkable work by Michelangelo, the unfinished piece entitled 'Slaves', and there are large picture galleries as well as other works of sculpture to be seen. Return to your hotel and enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure for independent activities and dining. BREAKFAST & OVERNIGHT: HOTEL CAROLUS, FLORENCE

Sat, Mar 21

SIENA & ASSISI
Head out of Florence and drive through the beautiful countryside of Tuscany and Umbria to reach the medieval city of Siena, the pearl of Tuscany. Enjoy a walking tour of the city to see the principal sights and learn some of its interesting history. Notice the medieval ramparts where you are greeted with the Latin inscription ‘Cor Magis Tibi Sena Pandit’ which means Siena opens it’s heart to you. Siena is a mystical, gentle, and passionate art center. Walk to the Piazza Del Campo where the famous `Palio Horse Race' is held twice a year. Stop for lunch in the Chianti area and enjoy wine tasting before continuing your drive to Assisi, the birthplace of Saint Francis. Upon arrival join a local guide for a walking tour of this charming city, which is built of pink stone and is prettily spread in a fan shape on the slopes of Mt. Subasio. The narrow streets are lined with old facades whose flower decked balconies make delightful pictures. The town is still enclosed by ramparts and has hardly changed since the Middle Ages. Check into your hotel and enjoy some time to relax before dinner. BREAKFAST, LUNCH, DINNER & OVERNIGHT: HOTEL GIOTTO, ASSISI

Sun, Mar 22

NAPLES & SORRENTO
Depart Assisi and travel south through the scenic Italian countryside to the town of Naples and enjoy a panoramic tour to see the principal sights and learn some of the exciting history. Magnificently set, enjoy blue skies, clear air and Vesuvius as a backdrop. Neapolitans are reputed to have the qualities of theatricality, irony, festivity, and discontent. This may explain why Naples has produced many of Italy's great thinkers and philosophers. The city is lively and colorful, with magnificent museums, the San Carlo opera house, countless churches, and corners full of character hidden away on the sea front, around the harbor and in the heart of the city. Drive a few miles to Sorrento, a town of beautiful gardens and sunsets, sung by poets and writers. Here luxuriant plantations of orange and lemon trees are the pride of the people of Sorrento. Check into your hotel and enjoy some time to relax and settle in before joining your group for dinner. BREAKFAST, DINNER & OVERNIGHT: HOTEL CESARE AUGUSTO, SORRENTO

Mon, Mar 23

EXCURSION TO THE AMALFI COAST
Today motor east to admire the beautiful Amalfi Coast. The Amalfi Coast, or Costiera Amalfitana in Italian, is a stretch of coastline on the southern side of the Sorrentine Peninsula extending from Positano in the west to Vietri sul Mare in the east. Experience the small town of Positano, nestled in the Lattari Mountains where the buildings cling in tiers to the rock face forming a perfect canvas for the bright flowers which decorate the houses. Next, visit Scala, a small town located on a rocky hill 400 meters over the sea level. According to an ancient and unproven tradition, it was founded by Roman shipwrecks traveling to Constantinople. Lastly stop at St, Andrews Cathedral or Duomo Sant'Andrea in Amalfi. Originally built in the 9th century and remodeled in 1203. The front was restored in 1890 and decorated with modern mosaic. Inside there are ancient columns of Paestum, supporting the choir. The crypt contains the remains of the Apostle St Andrew, brought here in the 13th century. In the portico, the entrance to the cloister, contains ancient sarcophagi, marble, and mosaics. After your visit, stop for lunch at a local restaurant along the coast before returning to Sorrento in time to relax and freshen up before dinner. BREAKFAST, LUNCH, DINNER & OVERNIGHT: HOTEL CESARE AUGUSTO, SORRENTO

Tue, Mar 24

POMPEII & ROME
This morning depart Sorrento and drive a short distance for sightseeing of splendid and fascinating Pompeii, the ancient city where, 20 centuries ago, the volcano Vesuvio erupted. You will be amazed as you walk through the Roman Forum, the Market Place and Home of the Vetti. The narrow streets and luxurious villas of this sumptuous town are literally frozen in time. After spending some time at leisure in Pompeii drive northwest through the scenic Italian countryside to Rome. Upon arrival enjoy a panoramic tour of the city before checking into your hotel. Enjoy the balance of day free to acquaint yourselves with the Eternal City, where both glorious success and shameful defeat have left visible traces throughout. In the evening you are free to choose from the many restaurants and cafés that Rome has to offer. BREAKFAST & OVERNIGHT: HOTEL PALATINO, ROME

Wed, Mar 25

VATICAN MUSEUM & SISTINE CHAPEL TOUR
Today enjoy a sightseeing tour of the Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel, which is one of the most splendid museums in all the world. Begin your visit with the Corte della Pigna where your expert guide will introduce you to the history and beauty of the Sistine Chapel. Continue your tour to see the hall featuring Greco-Roman sculptures, the Hall of Tapestries, featuring magnificent 16th century Flemish tapestries executed from Raphael’s designs; and the Maps Gallery, a 120-foot long gallery, hung with interesting ancient maps. The completion of the tour occurs in the Sistine Chapel, the Pope’s official private chapel where election conclaves are held. In order to respect its reverence, the Vatican has requested silence during your visit. Be sure to view Michelangelo’s ‘Creation” and the famous ‘Last Judgment’ before leaving the Chapel. Enjoy the afternoon at leisure for independent activities before joining your fellow travelers for a farewell dinner. BREAKFAST, DINNER & OVERNIGHT: HOTEL PALATINO, ROME

Thu, Mar 26

RETURN TO THE UNITED STATES
Sadly, today your Italian vacation has come to its final day. Transfer to Rome Airport in good time to check in for your flight. You may do some last minute shopping at the duty free stores. Then clear U.S. Immigration before boarding your aircraft and flying back to the United States. BREAKFAST