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Classic Italy is not being offered this year. A variety of other spectacular tours to see Europe by rail are currently available for travel.
Discover Bella Italia on one of the most comprehensive Italy tours - in the country, on visits to scenic Tuscan hill towns,
in centuries-old cities and countryside villages, and along the Amalfi Coast. Experience the rich history of the Vatican and the
Roman Empire. Art is the focus in the beautiful city of Florence, which is an Italy tour highlight. A lecture by a university
professor who is an art historian precedes a visit to Galleria dell'Accademia, where you'll see masterpieces such as Michelangelo’s
statue of David.
You'll also tour the magnificent Uffizi Gallery, accompanied by a local guide. Cruise by private boat along the shores of Cinque
Terre villages clinging to coastal mountains, and stay at a 17th-century country house hotel in Torgiano where you'll share the
secrets of great Italian cooking with an Umbrian chef. Historic sights in Pompeii, a two-night stay in magical Venice, and visits
to the hill towns of Orvieto, Assisi, and San Gimignano complement a three-night stay in Rome.
- Hotel accommodations for all nights
- Motor coach transportation
- First Class train ride from Florence to Venice
- 25 Meals as specified in the itinerary
- Special dinners
- Sightseeing
- Admissions
- Luggage handling
- Airport transfers
- Services of local guides and drivers
- All gratuities for restaurant and hotel staff and local guides
Night 1 & 2:
Grand Hôtel Excelsior Vittoria
*Hilton Sorrento Palace
Night 3, 4 & 5:
The Westin Excelsior, Rome - Rome, Italy
Night 6 & 7:
Hotel Le Tre Vaselle - Torgiano, Italy
Night 8:
Grand Hotel Principe di Piemonte - Viareggio, Italy
Night 9, 10 & 11:
Grand Hotel, Florence - Florence, Italy
Night 10 & 11:
Hotel Imperial - Vienna, Austria
Night 12 & 13:
The Westin Europa & Regina - Venice, Italy
Day 1: Arrive in Naples and head to Sorrento
This comprehensive Italy tour begins at 6:00 PM at Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria or Hilton Sorrento Palace. A transfer
is included from Naples International Airport to Grand Hôtel Excelsior Vittoria or Hilton Sorrento Palace. The Classic
Italy tour begins in the southern resort town of Sorrento, where your hotel overlooks the beautiful Bay of Naples and
powerful Mt. Vesuvius. Get to know your fellow travelers at a welcome cocktail reception and dinner.
Meals: Dinner
Lodging: Grand Hôtel Excelsior Vittoria / Hilton Sorrento Palace, Sorrento, Italy
Day 2: Amalfi Coast drive – a southern Italy tour highlight
Drive along the Amalfi Coast, one of Europe’s most dramatic shorelines. Stop for visits in Amalfi with some houses dating to the
10th century, and Ravello, perched on towering cliffs above the sea. Explore Sorrento’s piazzas as you please upon your afternoon
return.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch
Lodging: Grand Hôtel Excelsior Vittoria / Hilton Sorrento Palace, Sorrento, Italy
Day 3: Explore Pompeii, then on to the Eternal City of Rome
Your Italy tour next explores the excavated ruins of Pompeii, buried in volcanic ash when Mt. Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD.
Walk through city streets with a local expert, where you'll discover remarkably preserved ancient architecture. The next three
nights are spent at The Westin Excelsior, Roma, one of the most prestigious addresses on the famed Via Veneto.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: The Westin Excelsior, Rome, Italy
Day 4: Private after-hours Vatican Museums visit
Spend some time enjoying Rome as you wish, then join the rest of the tour group for a private after-hours visit to the Vatican
Museums (day of the tour may vary). This private visit means you'll avoid the long lines found earlier in the day, as well as the
massive crowds. You'll have an extraordinary experience when you explore the rich treasures in the Vatican Museums at your own pace;
see the Candelbra Gallery, Map Gallery, and the Tapestries. In the Sistine Chapel, you'll gaze in amazement at Michelangelo’s
masterpiece ceiling – and be able to contemplate all that you see in quieter conditions. This is certain to be a highlight of your
Italy tour, one that you'll remember forever.
Meals: Breakfast
Lodging: The Westin Excelsior, Rome, Italy
Day 5: A day in Rome of the Caesars
A sightseeing excursion begins the day. In Rome, first capital of ancient Italy tour the Colosseum; see Circus Maximus, the
4th-century BC stadium where chariot races were held, and the ruins of the Imperial Palace. View the Roman Forum from above,
then return to the microstate of Vatican City for a tour of St. Peter's Basilica to view the art and architecture, and explore
St. Peter's Square. Pursue your own passions in Rome during the afternoon. You'll get a real taste of Italian cuisine this evening
when you dine at a traditional restaurant.
Meals: Breakfast
Lodging: The Westin Excelsior, Rome, Italy
Day 6: Your Italy tour continues with a Duomo and a wine tasting
Journey to Orvieto, set on a 984-foot plateau overlooking vineyards below. Visit the Duomo of Orvieto, a notable Romanesque-Gothic
cathedral built over a span of 300 years. After a trattoria lunch near the Piazza del Duomo, continue through the wine-producing
regions of Umbria. Arrive in Torgiano, a small village in the Tiber Valley. Hotel Le Tre Vaselle, your home for the next two nights,
is a 17th-century country house hotel with its own private vineyard - an opportunity to experience Italy's privileged country life.
Tonight you'll attend a wine tasting and sample the vineyard's grapes.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Hotel Le Tre Vaselle, Torgiano, Italy
Day 7: Step back in time in medieval Assisi – and a chef "shares"
Drive to Assisi, a well-preserved medieval town designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its art and architecture. Visit the
Basilica di San Francesco, the burial place of St. Francis, the beloved patron saint of animals. Gaze at the impressive 13th and 14th
century frescoes, some of Italy’s finest, and enjoy some free time in the center of town. This evening, you'll discover the secrets
of great Italian cuisine from an Umbrian chef who shares insights into the nuances of Italian cooking at a demonstration. This is a
special tour highlight that you'll long remember.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Lodging: Hotel Le Tre Vaselle, Torgiano, Italy
Day 8: Traces of Italy's medieval days
In the hilltop town of San Gimignano, see 13 medieval towers that were built in the 12th century by the nobility as both private
fortresses and symbols of wealth. Stroll along the narrow streets and visit Piazza della Cisterna, one of Italy’s most picturesque
town squares. Drive by Pisa where you'll catch a glimpse of the famous Leaning Tower, and arrive in the seaside resort town of
Viareggio for the night.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Lodging: Grand Hotel Principe di Piemonte, Viareggio, Italy
Day 9: Cinque Terre storybook villages
Visit Cinque Terre, accessible only by sea for hundreds of years. Journey by train through the mountains to one of the villages
for a look at daily life in this remote part of Italy. You'll have time to yourself to wander through the cobblestone streets of
one of these towns, perhaps sampling the unique flavors of the local cuisine. Cruise along the Mediterranean shores of the Italian
Riviera aboard a private boat – views of these centuries-old villages, set on rocky bluffs hemmed in by steep cliffs, are a knockout!
Journey on to the Renaissance city of Florence for a three-night stay at one of Italy's finest hotels, a Luxury Collection Hotel
by Starwood.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Lodging: Grand Hotel, Florence, Italy
Day 10: Become an art aficionado in Florence
Experience Florence, where the arts flourished between the 13th and 16th centuries. Learn about art history from a local university
professor who is an art expert, then take a walking tour of the Galleria dell’Accademia, home of Michelangelo’s marble statue of
David. You'll have time on your own in Florence this afternoon; your hotel is right in the heart of the city, which makes it easy to
explore!
Meals: Breakfast
Lodging: Grand Hotel, Florence, Italy
Day 11: Masterpieces of the Uffizi
Join a local expert for a guided tour of the Uffizi Gallery, Italy’s extraordinary art museum. Admire some of the world’s greatest
art masterpieces, including works by Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Michelangelo, Botticelli, and more. The remainder of the day is as
you please; you may want to visit the Pitti Palace, the Medici Chapels or stroll across the Ponte Vecchio to the lovely Boboli
Gardens.
Meals: Breakfast
Lodging: Grand Hotel, Florence, Italy
Day 12: Rail trip to Venice and a serenade aboard a gondola
Italy travel by rail is fast; arrive in Venice, built on 118 small islands traversed by a canal network – and it's a UNESCO World
Heritage Site. After lunch, head to St. Mark’s Square, the heart of Venice, with a local guide for a walking tour. Visit St. Mark’s
Basilica, one of the greatest buildings in Europe, featuring exquisite mosaics and detailed carvings; and the Doges’ Palace, a pink
marble Gothic masterpiece. Take a canal cruise by gondola, complete with a serenade by local musicians, to round out a busy day.
Dinner is on your own tonight – from fine dining to intimate trattorias, dining in Venice is an Italy tour pleasure.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch
Lodging: The Westin Europa & Regina, Venice, Italy
Day 13: The romance of Venice
The day is open so you can take in the sites you choose. Perhaps tour the Galleria dell'Accademia or the Peggy Guggenheim Collection,
or take a boat ride to islands in the lagoon. Share favorite Italy tour highlights with travel companions at the farewell reception
and dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Lodging: The Westin Europa & Regina, Venice, Italy
Day 14 - Italy tour concludes in Venice.
Fly home anytime; a transfer is included from The Westin Europa & Regina to Venice's Marco Polo Airport. You should allow a
minimum of 2 1/2 hours for flight check-in.
Meals: Breakfast
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