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.

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• Hotel accommodations for all nights
• Motor coach transportation
• First Class train ride from Florence to Venice
• 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 Hotel Excelsior Vittoria - Sorrento, Italy
*Hilton Sorrento Palace - Sorrento, Italy
**Hotel Bellevue Syrene - Sorrento, Italy

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
Hotel Helvetia & Bristol - Florence, Italy

Night 10 & 11:
Hotel Imperial - Vienna, Austria

*Most departures will stay at either the Hilton Sorrento Palace or The Grand Hôtel Excelsior Vittoria nights 1 and 2.
**Tours of September 17, 22, and 24 will stay at the Hotel Bellevue Syrene nights 1 and 2
***Departures will stay at either the Grand Hotel, Florence or the Hotel Helvetia & Bristol nights 9, 10 and 11

Day 1: Arrive in Rome and travel to Sorrento
This comprehensive Italy tour departs at 10:00 AM from Rome's Leonardo da Vinci Airport in Fiumicino. Travel through the Campania countryside to the southern resort town of Sorrento, where your hotel overlooks the beautiful Bay of Naples and powerful Mt. Vesuvius. Get to know fellow travelers at a welcome cocktail reception and dinner.

Meals: Lunch, 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 to discover the way of life in ancient Italy. Visit the temple, the forum, and a home adorned with frescoes. The next three nights are spent at The Westin Excelsior, Rome, one of the most prestigious addresses on the famed Via Veneto.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: The Westin Excelsior, Rome, Italy

Day 4: Visit the Vatican
Visit Vatican City, where an early arrival means you avoid the long lines found later in the day; an Italy tour advantage! Explore the rich treasures in the Vatican Museums – and in the Sistine Chapel, gaze in amazement at Michelangelo’s masterpiece. Tour St. Peter's Basilica to view the art and architecture, and explore St. Peter's Square. Choose to see more in Vatican City in the afternoon, or visit other attractions in the city. Dine at a traditional restaurant in the evening.

Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Lodging: The Westin Excelsior, Rome, Italy

Day 5: A day in Rome of the Caesars
In Rome, capital of Italy tour the Colosseum; see Circus Maximus, the 4th-century BC stadium where chariot races were held, and the ruins of the Palace of Caesar. View the Roman Forum from above, and see Michelangelo's statue of Moses at San Pietro in Vincoli. Pursue your own passions in Rome during the afternoon.

Meals: Breakfast
Lodging: The Westin Excelsior, Rome, Italy

Day 6: Your Italy tour continues in Orvieto – and with 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 best from their vineyards.

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: Towers of San Gimignano
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 villages
Visit Cinque Terre, accessible only by sea for hundreds of years. Journey by train 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. Aboard a private boat, cruise along the Mediterranean shores the Italian Riviera for an extraordinary view of these centuries-old villages set on rocky bluffs, hemmed in by steep cliffs. Journey on to the Renaissance city of Florence for a three-night stay at one of Italy's grand hotels.

Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Lodging: Grand Hotel, Florence / Hotel Helvetia & Bristol, 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 / Hotel Helvetia & Bristol, 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 / Hotel Helvetia & Bristol, 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 - Your two-week Italy tour ends at 7:30 AM at Venice Marco Polo Airport
If you are departing at other times, you must secure your own transportation to the airport. You should allow a minimum of 2 1/2 hours for flight check-in.

Meals: Breakfast