14 Day Italy’s Best

Check into your hotel in Rome. The rest of the day is free for you to explore this ancient capital. This evening, meet your Tour Director and travel companions.  

The “Eternal City” is steeped in history, vibrantly alive and exciting, and absolutely unique! Start the included introduction to Rome’s landmarks from St. Peter’s Square with a Local Guide. Enjoy a drive along the iconic landmarks of the city: the Tiber River, the Caius Cestius Pyramid, the Aurelian Walls, and the Caracalla Baths. Complete the experience with a walk back in time from the Circus Maximus to the Arch of Constantine and to the fascinating Colosseum, a symbol of the Roman Empire. * (B)  
* For operational reasons, changes to the Rome program cannot be excluded.  
 

Vistas of rolling hills, rows of cypress trees, terraced vineyards, olive groves, and rural villages form the backdrop of your journey through beautiful Tuscany. Stop in Pisa and take a mini-train ride to the Square of Miracles with the amazing Leaning Tower. Arrive in Montecatini. Everything tastes better in Tuscany! See for yourself with an optional culinary experience in the Tuscan countryside to indulge in authentic traditional dishes—with wine, of course! (B)  

Today, enjoy an included excursion to Florence. Your Local Guide will show you the city highlights on the walking tour. See the unique Duomo with Giotto’s Gothic Bell Tower, the Baptistry’s ornate bronze door known as the “Gate of Paradise” and the world-famous Signoria Square.  
(B,D)  
 

Reach La Spezia and join a guided boat ride (weather permitting) to admire the dramatic scenery along the Cinque Terre coast. Arrive in Monterosso, one of the 5 villages, for some free time before boarding a train to continue your journey. Later, re-join the coach and head towards Genoa, birthplace of explorer Christopher Columbus.   
(B)  
 

Today’s included guided tour is an excellent introduction to Genoa. A maze of squares and alleys, the city grew around the port, a natural inlet, and boasts the largest medieval historical district in Europe. Then, continue to Lake Maggiore.   
(B)  
 

Time to relax and get to know Lake Maggiore, one of Italy’s largest lakes, located on the very edge of Alpine Switzerland. On clear days, you can see the peaks of the Alps. Take advantage of the included excursion to visit Lugano in the Italian-speaking Swiss Canton Ticino.   
(B)  
 

Travel across the fertile Po River plain. Stop in the romantic city of Verona for some time at leisure. Admire the Roman Arena, perfectly preserved and still hosting concerts and festivals during the summer. Take time to shop or taste some of the excellent local wines. Continue to the Venice area. Do you believe in magic? An optional evening boat ride on Giudecca Canal with dinner in a local restaurant, and St. Mark’s Square at night will remove all doubt!   
(B)  
 

Venice is more like a romantic film set than a real-life city, with its crisscrossing canals, gondolas and water buses, arched bridges, palaces, and piazzas. The included orientation starts with a boat ride to St. Mark’s Square and is followed by time at leisure and a chance to watch Venetian glassblowers fashion their delicate objects as they did centuries ago. O Sole Mio! Don’t miss out on the optional gondola trip, gliding along the picturesque canals with a local troubadour to serenade you. (B,D)  

Enjoy an interesting drive southward right across the Po Delta, through the Emilia-Romagna region to Assisi, enclosed by ramparts and little changed since the Middle Ages. This is the town of the deeply mystical and poetic St. Francis. See the Basilica of St. Francis with its famous frescoes by Giotto, and experience history brought to life by a Local Guide.  
(B,D)  
 

Travel to Pompeii, where time stopped for the rich, aristocratic town with the terrible eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD. On the included guided visit of the archaeological site, see the remains of luxurious villas, temples, theatre, and forum. Carry on to Sorrento, set on a plateau above the waters of the Bay of Naples. Wander the winding streets lined with shops and stalls and relax, absorbing the easy-going lifestyle of this charming resort.  
(B)  
 

Enjoy a day trip to the legendary island, surrounded by a rocky coastline where the crashing sea has formed awe-inspiring caves. The town with its pretty “piazzetta,” maze of streets, fashionable boutiques, and inviting restaurants, is a mecca for the jet set. Explore on your own or take an optional island tour. (B,D)  

Today, enjoy time at leisure or step into a picture-perfect postcard with an optional excursion to Positano to be amazed at the Amalfi Coast as it follows the curves of the coastline, dotted with colourful clifftop villages. Return to Rome.   
(B)  
 
 

Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B)