Best of Italy & Sicily

16 Days
Featuring: Rome, Pisa, Florence, Venice, Ravenna, Assisi, Pompeii, Naples, Palermo, Agrigento, Taormina, Sorrento, Isle of Capri

---

Day 1  Depart USA Overnight flight to Rome.

Day 2  Arrive Rome (2nights) You are met at Rome airport and transferred to your hotel. The rest of your day at leisure. This afternoon, enjoy a welcome drink with your Tour Director.

Day 3  Rome sightseeing & at leisure The main highlight of our day is a guided visit of the Sistine* Chapel in the Vatican Museums followed by a fascinating tour of St. Peter's Basilica. From here we cross the Tiber into ancient Rome stopping in the Forum to admire the mighty Colosseum. Finally our sightseeing ends with a visit to the Palatine Hill to see the Circus Maximus, the stadium which in Roman times, was used for 'Ben Hur' style chariot racing. Then there's time to sightsee further - 'Roma non basta una vita' - a lifetime is not enough to see all Rome has to offer!
(Buffet breakfast)

Day 4  Rome - Pisa - Florence This morning we leave the 'Eternal City', on our way to Pisa to view the famed Leaning Tower. From here we continue on to Florence, cradle of the Renaissance and capital of Tuscany. The balance of the day is free perhaps to take a walk along the River Arno to the Ponte Vecchio and across to the Pitti Palace. (Buffet breakfast)

Day 5  Florence - Venice (Mestre) (2nights) Our sightseeing tour on foot features a visit to Signoria Square, and the Santa Croce Basilica. We also admire the panoramic view from Piazzale Michelangelo. Later, we drive to the floating city of Venice and our hotel. Tonight, why not experience this city from an elegant gondola? (Buffet Breakfast/ Dinner)

Day 6  Venice sightseeing & at leisure We savour the sights and sounds of this serene city on an included canal cruise by motor launch to St. Mark's Square. We view the Bridge of Sighs and Doges' Palace before a visit to a glass-blowing factory. Then free time to shop or sightsee. Why not discover Burano in the Venetian Lagoon and enjoy a seafood lunch? (Buffet Breakfast)

Day 7  Venice (Mestre) - Ravenna - Assisi Today's drive takes us cross the Apennine Mountains to Ravenna, famous for its wonderful mosaics. Next on to the pink-stoned city of Assisi, where sightseeing highlights St. Francis' Basilica. Then there's also time to visit the Church of St. Clare and explore this tranquil magical place. (Buffet Breakfast/ Dinner)

Day 8  Assisi - Pompeii - Naples - At Sea Our morning drive takes us through Umbria to Pompeii, the town buried by the eruption of Vesuvius in AD 79, for a guided tour of the excavations. On to nearby Naples, where we board our steamer for the overnight crossing to Palermo, Sicily's capital. (Buffet Breakfast/ Dinner)

Day 9  At Sea - Palermo After our morning arrival in Palermo a sightseeing tour with a local guide includes the Piazza Bellini. Then we stop to admire the view of the Conca d'Oro from Monreale, and visit the 12th century Norman Cathedral. Next, we visit the fishing village of Mondello before returning to Palermo for the night. (Buffet Breakfast/ Dinner)

Day 10  Palermo - Selinunte - Agrigento Our first stop is at Selinunte, to visit the Dorian Temples and the Acropolis. Then with a local guide, we make our way to Agrigento where we visit the nearby Valley of Temples. Dating from the 6th century B.C., they rival those of Athens in their Grecian grandeur! Later, on to our hotel for dinner and our overnight. (Buffet Breakfast/ Dinner)

Day 11  Agrigento - Piazza Armerina - Enna - Taormina (2nights) Today we travel through the vineyards of the Southern Hills to enjoy an included visit to see the colourful mosaics of the 4th century Roman Villa of Casale. Then we are off to the scenic splendour of Piazza Armerina before stopping to view the fortress town of Enna. Soon we arrive in the seaside resort, Taormina. (Buffet Breakfast/ Dinner)

Day 12  Taormina at leisure A full day to relax in this fun-loving Sicilian resort. Perhaps swim and sunbathe or shop for hand-made lace on the Corso. There's also a chance to visit the Castle of San Pancrazio or take an excursion to the crater of Sicily's active volcano, Mount Etna. This evening, dinner is at a local restaurant. (Buffet Breakfast/ Speciality Dinner)

Day 13  Taormina - Sorrento (2nights) Today begins with a drive along the coast where we board our ferry across the Straits of Messina to mainland Italy. Next we continue through the rustic simplicity of Calabria driving via Salerno - landing place of the Allied Armies in U.S. 1943 - to clifftop Sorrento. Here orientation shows us the Piazza Tasso, with its many cafés, plus the Corso Italia with its shops and boutiques! (Buffet Breakfast/ Dinner)

Day 14  Sorrento - Isle of Capri Excursion First we witness the art of inlaid wood-working, one of the crafts of the Sorrento Peninsula. Next we board our ferry for a short cruise across the Bay of Naples to the charming Isle of Capri. On our arrival we are taken to Capri town where we enjoy views across the sea to the Faraglioni Rocks and Marina Piccola. Then free time to explore further or perhaps take a trip to the Blue Grotto. We return to Sorrento for dinner and overnight.
(Buffet Breakfast/ Dinner)

Day 15  Sorrento - Rome We enjoy a spectacular drive along the Bay of Naples, before we drive north to view the Abbey of Monte Cassino. Later, we return to Rome with the rest of your day at leisure, perhaps shop for souvenirs. (Buffet Breakfast)

Day 16  Rome - USA 'Buon viaggio' to Italy on our return flight to America. (Buffet Breakfast)