Best of Italy and Greece

16 Days
Featuring: Rome, Venice, Florence, Assisi, Sorrento, Isle of Capri, Olympia, Delphi, Athens

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Day 1  Depart USA Overnight flight to Rome.

Day 2  Arrive Rome (2nights) You are met at Rome airport you are transferred to your hotel. Time to relax before meeting your Tour Director this afternoon for a welcome drink. Tonight, why not join in with the Romans on their evening 'passegiata'?

Day 3  Rome sightseeing & at leisure Morning sightseeing includes the Forum with views over the Colosseum, a guided visit to the Sistine Chapel and to St. Peter's Basilica. We also make a stop at the Circus Maximus, scene of 'Ben Hur' style chariot races in Roman times. Tonight, why not try out some Spaghetti a la Carbonara - a Roman Speciality? (Buffet Breakfast)

Day 4  Rome - Brenta Canal - Venice (Mestre) (2nights) Today we travel into the hills of the Umbria past hilltop Orvieto. Next over the Apennine Mountains we pass Bologna to the Veneto Plains. Then via Padua, a scenic drive take us along the Brenta Canal, lined with Palladian villas, to magical Venice. (Buffet Breakfast/ Dinner)

Day 5  Venice sightseeing & at leisure We enjoy a scenic cruise by private launch to St. Mark's Square to see the golden-globed customs house and the church of Santa Maria della Salute, plus the Bridge of Sighs. Then, we stroll through St. Mark's Square to view the Doges' Palace and St. Mark's Basilica. Later, we will enjoy a demonstration of Murano glass-blowing before free time to explore and maybe head to Burano for lunch. (Buffet Breakfast/ Dinner)

Day 6  Venice (Mestre) - Ravenna - Florence We drive along the Adriatic Coast past the Abbey of Pomposa to Ravenna, to visit the Church of St. Apollinaris in Classe. Into the Apennine Hills to Renaissance Florence. Here our sightseeing on foot shows us the Piazza della Signoria, the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore and Baptistry, and visits the Santa Croce Basilica. This area is ideal for bargains in leather and gold. Tonight, we enjoy dinner in a local trattoria.
(Buffet Breakfast/ Restaurant dinner in Florence)

Day 7  Florence - Assisi Our first stop is at the American Cemetery and Memorial in the heart of the Chianti Hills before enjoying a scenic drive past Lake Trasimeno, famous for its olive oil, to mystical Assisi. Here we stroll through the medieval streets up to the Basilica of St. Francis. Time to visit the upper basilica with Giotto's 14th century paintings. Later, we visit Santa Maria degli Angeli, where St. Francis established the Franciscan fraternity of monks. (Buffet Breakfast/ Dinner)

Day 8  Assisi - Pompeii - Sorrento (2nights) Today we pass by Deruta and Terni to rejoin the sunshine highway. On through the Campania to Pompeii where a local guide shows us how ancient Roman life was literally 'petrified' by the eruption of Vesuvius in AD 79. Later, we continue to Sorrento for dinner and our overnight stay. (Buffet Breakfast/ Dinner )

Day 9  Sorrento - Isle of Capri Excursion First we witness one of the area's most popular crafts – the art of inlaid woodwork. Next we enjoy a cruise to the Isle of Capri. On arrival we ascend by funicular to Capri town, with its famous Piazzetta. Our local expert takes us on a walk through the gardens and we'll view the Faraglioni Rocks. Then free time to shop or perhaps take a ride on the Chairlift at Anacapri. Later we descend to the Marina by minibus through orange and lemon groves before our cruise 'back to Sorrento'. Tonight after dinner, perhaps join our Tour Director for an evening stroll. (Buffet Breakfast/ Dinner)

Day 10  Sorrento - Bari - At Sea This morning after breakfast, we travel past Salerno and Potenza, before continuing eastward to Bari. Here we'll board our overnight ferry for the sea-crossing to Patras in Greece. (Buffet Breakfast/ Dinner)

Day 11  At Sea - Patras - Olympia This morning we cross the Ionian Sea, arriving in the Greek port of Patras. From here we continue by coach to Olympia for dinner and overnight stay.
(Buffet Breakfast/ Dinner)

Day 12 Olympia sightseeing - Delphi Today we will visit the world's oldest Olympic Stadium, where the first Olympic games took place in 776 B.C., plus the Temples of Zeus and Hera on our visit of this Archaeological site. Later, back to Patras for a ferry to mainland Greece. Then it's a pretty drive to Delphi. This evening, we will dine at our hotel. (Buffet Breakfast/ Dinner)

Day 13  Delphi sightseeing - Athens (3nights) This morning perhaps consult the famous Oracle and predict the future! Then walk the Sacred Way to the Sanctuary of Apollo and visit the Archaeological site. From here we continue past Thebes, birthplace of Oedipus and on to Athens for our three-night stay. (Buffet Breakfast)

Day 14  Athens sightseeing Our morning sightseeing tour includes the Acropolis and Parthenon. We also visit the Acropolis Museum, and view the Agora where Socrates taught, plus see the Royal Palace, Temple of Zeus and Hadrian's Arch, before heading to the stadium built for the first modern Olympic games in 1896. The rest of your day is at leisure. (Buffet Breakfast)

Day 15  Athens at leisure A full day at leisure to explore this exciting city. You may wish to enjoy lunch by the harbour, stroll around Constitution Square or take an excursion to one of the nearby islands. Tonight, why not enjoy an excursion to Cape Sounion and feast on Mediterranean dishes in an atmospheric setting? (Buffet Breakfast)

Day 16  Athens - USA After breakfast bid farewell to new-found friends as we transfer you to the airport for your return flight to America. (Buffet Breakfast)