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Vacation Overview
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Explore Italy’s most famous cities on this unique vacation. Start in romantic Venice and enjoy a welcome dinner at a local restaurant, guided sightseeing including visits to St. Mark’s Basilica and Doges’ Palace with its Bridge of Sighs, and a glassblower demonstration. On the way to Florence, enjoy a Leonardi Acetaia vinegar tasting near Modena. In Florence, admire Michelangelo’s David and sculpture-filled Signoria Square. In Siena, visit the impressive Piazza del Campo, and enjoy an exclusive lecture by a Contrada representative about the biannual, medieval-style Palio horse race. Via Pienza, continue to Rome, where guided sightseeing includes a visit to the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel, St. Peter’s Square and Basilica, the Colosseum and the Roman Forum. Next is Pompeii, where a guided walk takes you through the excavations of the Roman city both destroyed and preserved by an eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. End your vacation in the charming resort of Sorrento, where you will stay for two nights and enjoy an excursion to the Isle of Capri, and a special farewell dinner at a lemon farm.
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To know more about the visas for this vacation, click
here
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DAY
1
Arrive in Venice Island, Italy.
Welcome to Venice! At 6 pm, meet your Tour Director and traveling companions for a special welcome dinner with wine at a local restaurant. (D)
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DAY
2
Venice Island.
Highlights of your walking tour with a Local Guide are ST. MARK’S SQUARE and the Byzantine BASILICA, lavish DOGES’ PALACE and the BRIDGE OF SIGHS. Also watch skilled GLASSBLOWERS fashion their delicate objects in an age-old traditional manner. To enhance your stay, choose from our optional activities: a serenaded gondola ride or an excursion to the picturesque island of Burano. (B)
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DAY
3
Venice Island–Modena–Florence.
Enjoy a special treat today: a [LF] Leonardi Acetaia VINEGAR TASTING near Modena. Continue through the fertile Po area and the Apennine Mountains into Italy’s most popular province, Tuscany, and arrive in Florence, “Cradle of the Renaissance.” Time for independent sightseeing and browsing through the shops. Florentine leather goods and gold jewelry sold by the ounce are attractive buys. Tonight is your chance to join an optional dinner to try out Tuscan specialties. (B)
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DAY
4
Florence–Siena.
This morning, follow your Local Guide to the ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS to see Michelangelo’s celebrated David. Also admire the magnificent marble cathedral, Giotto’s Bell Tower, the Baptistry’s heavy bronze “Gate of Paradise,” and sculpture-studded SIGNORIA SQUARE. Next is Siena, Italy’s best-preserved medieval town, enjoy an exclusive [LF] LECTURE by a Contrada representative, one of the city subdivisions that regularly competes in the biannual Palio, held in the center of town. Lively stories of past races will bring this one-of-a-kind event to life! (B)
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DAY
5
Siena–Pienza–Rome.
Your guided walking tour takes you inside its historic ramparts to the duomo and to the PIAZZA DEL CAMPO, where the Palio is held. Next, join the Via Cassia, named after the antique road leading to Rome, and stop in Pienza, famous for pecorino cheese. This picturesque town has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, thanks to a member of the Piccolomini family who became Pope Pius II in the 15th century and redesigned the town in perfect renaissance style. Tonight, in the “Eternal City,” an optional dinner with local specialties is available at one of Rome’s famous restaurants. (B)
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DAY
6
Rome.
Morning guided sightseeing features visits to the VATICAN MUSEUMS and SISTINE CHAPEL, world famous for Michelangelo’s ceiling paintings; monumental ST. PETER’S SQUARE and BASILICA; and the COLOSSEUM and ROMAN FORUM, where Roman legions marched in triumph. To make the most of your stay, join our optional Roman Highlights excursion, and see the sites and squares of medieval Rome made famous in the movie Angels and Demons. (B)
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DAY
7
Rome–Pompeii–Sorrento.
A scenic drive southwards along the Highway of the Sun. Arrive in fascinating POMPEII, the Roman city both destroyed and preserved by an eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. Your Local Guide will walk you past patrician homes, public baths, and commercial districts that strikingly recall day-to-day life when Rome was at the apex of her power. Overnight in the charming, bayside resort of Sorrento. (B)
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DAY
8
Sorrento. Excursion to Capri.
Speed across the glittering bay by JETFOIL to the world-famous Isle of Capri. Ride the FUNICULAR to Capri village for a guided visit of this beautiful town. Free time to explore the little shops on the pretty piazzetta before returning to Sorrento. The remainder of the day is at leisure, and this evening, a [LF] special farewell dinner with wine at a local agriturismo has been arranged to celebrate the success of your Italian vacation. (B,D)
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DAY
9
Sorrento.
Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning (the nearest airport is Naples). (B)
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INCLUDED FEATURES
VENICE
Welcome dinner with wine at a local restaurant; guided walking tour, visit St. Mark’s Square and Basilica, Doges’ Palace and the Bridge of Sighs; glassblower demonstration
MODENA
[LF] Leonardi Acetaia balsamic vinegar tasting
FLORENCE
Guided walking tour, visit Michelangelo’s David and Signoria Square
SIENA
[LF] Lecture on the Palio; guided walking tour, admire the Duomo and visit Piazza del Campo
PIENZA
Visit this UNESCO World Heritage Site
ROME
Guided sightseeing, visit the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel, St. Peter’s Square and Basilica, the Colosseum and the Roman Forum
POMPEII
Guided walking tour of the excavations
SORRENTO–CAPRI–SORRENTO
By jetfoil
CAPRI
Funicular ride; guided sightseeing
SORRENTO
[LF] Special farewell dinner with wine at a lemon farm
Headsets throughout the tour
INSIDE VISITS
Inside visits and special features are shown in the description, including admission
charges when applicable.
STANDARD INCLUDED FEATURES
Learn about Standard Included Features.
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Full buffet breakfast daily (B); 2 three-course dinners (D): a special welcome dinner with wine in Venice and a special farewell dinner with wine in Sorrento
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VENICE ISLAND Palazzo Selvadego (F)FLORENCE Grand Hotel Mediterraneo (F)SIENA Garden (F)ROME NH Villa Carpegna (F)SORRENTO Michelangelo (F)
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Four Ways Globus Eliminates the Hassles
VIP Access
Skip the lines and get special treatment at the must-see attractions.
Perfect Hotels
We’ve done the work to find just the right hotels in just the right locations.
Tour Directors
Take your heads out of the guidebook and let expert guides make every destination
fascinating.
Transportation
Leave the navigating to us – and just sit back and enjoy the ride.
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