Day 1   Arrive in Tripoli
 
Arrive in Tripoli, Libya. Transfer to our hotel. GROUP VISA APPLICATION PROCEDURES NECESSITATE THAT YOU WILL BE WITHOUT YOUR PASSPORT FOR APPROXIMATELY 6 WEEKS BEFORE DEPARTURE. DO NOT PLAN ANY TRAVEL THAT REQUIRES A PASSPORT DURING THIS TIME. YOUR PASSPORT WILL BE RETURNED ONE WEEK BEFORE TOUR START DATE. Overnight in Tripoli. Dinner if required. 
  
Day 2   Tripoli & Sabratha
 
We spend the morning visiting the Jamahiriya Museum of Tripoli, which contains an impressive collection from all eras of Libyan history, from the Neolithic to the present. Located in a castle built into the southeast corner of the city wall overlooking the harbour, the main complex is Ottoman, with a mosque, harem and many courtyards, though the castle is undoubtedly built on the foundations of earlier fortresses. The intricate network of paths within the castle reflects the style of winding arcaded streets seen in the old city. This afternoon we visit Sabratha,* located one hour's drive to the west of Tripoli, spectacularly overlooking the shores of the Mediterranean sea. The city was originally built by the Phoenician (the Canaanites) in the 6th century BC as a trading post. As was the case with other cities of Tripolis, Sabratha was under the domination of Carthage; the main Phoenician settlement in Tunisia till 146 BC. Even though much of the city was destroyed by earthquakes during the 4th century, the Punic city, the Museum of Bes, and the Great Theatre, the Temples of Isis, Hercules, and Sirapis, Liber Pater, the Mosaics of Jason Magnus, the Capitolium, the public baths are still outstanding and provide the most prominent features of the city during the Roman times. The most spectacular site in Sabrata is the theatre, probably built during the reign of the Emperor Commodus (161-192 AD), with its three-storey backdrop of columns. Overnight in Tripoli. Breakfast and dinner. 
  
Day 3   Tripoli - Qasr Al Haj - Nalut - Ghadames
 
Today we travel by road to Ghadames, located near the Libya-Tunisia-Algeria frontier. En route we stop at the ancient granary at Qasr al-Haj before continuing to Nalut, a small town on the top of a mountain, about 800 m above sea level. Here we can visit the old part of the town where you can get an impression of how the people lived some 800 years ago. We continue to Ghadames, situated within an oasis, and located approximately 340 miles in the south west of Tripoli near the borders to Algeria and Tunisia. The oasis has a population of 7000, among Berbers and some Tuareg. The old part of the town, which is surrounded by a wall, has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Each of the seven clans that used to live in this part of the town had its own district, of which each had a public place where festivals could be held. In the 1970s, the government built new houses outside of the old part of the town. However, many inhabitants return to the old part of the town during the summer, as its architecture provides better protection against the heat. The first records about Ghadames exist not before the Roman period, when there where troops in the town from time to time. During the 6th century, a Bishop lived in the oasis, after the population have been converted to Christians by the people of the Byzantine Empire. During the 7th century, Ghadames was ruled by the Muslim Arabs. The population quickly converted to Islam. Ghadames has played an important role as base for the Trans-Saharan trade until the 19th century. Overnight in Ghadames. Breakfast and dinner. 
  
Day 4   Ghadames
 
Today we have a tour of the highlights of Ghadames. The architecture here is Saharan in design and has been uniquely preserved. The local people have been able to use all the resources available in a poor environment to create perfect living conditions in a harsh climate. The local houses are built from mud, lime, palm tree trunks and leaves--the only available building materials. The result, however, is most impressive. Elegant and stylish, the local homes are fittingly perfect into the harsh desert environment. The Ghadames region features full integration of the vegetation and cultivable land within the residential part of the town. Low-lying gardens line the streets in order to be closer to the water table. A sense of coolness given by the running water and the shade of the palm trees makes the heat bearable, even in the hot summer months. Overnight in Ghadames. Breakfast and dinner. 
  
Day 5   Ghadames - Yefren
 
Departing early this morning for our drive north to the small town Yefren via Kabaw where we see some ghurfas, grain stores built by the local Berbers and located at the very summit of the village. In older days, grain was almost as important to protect as water, therefore the position. This area is one of strong impressions and colours, with fresh red soil, and thriving agriculture. To some extent, even the modern village of Yefren is worth a visit, as the people adorn their house doors and walls. Overnight in Yefren. Breakfast and dinner. 
  
Day 6   Yefren - Tripoli - Benghazi
 
Today we travel to Tripoli's domestic airport and fly to Benghazi, ancient capital of Cyrenaica. Situated on the eastern edge of the Gulf of Sirte, Benghazi ranks as the second largest city in Libya and a major commercial centre. Overnight in Benghazi. Breakfast and dinner. 
  
Day 7   Benghazi - Cyrene - Apollonius
 
This morning we visit Cyrene, founded in the seventh century BC and under different influences, from the Carthaginians, Greeks, Egyptians and then Roman. The site at Cyrene has yet not been fully excavated but some remarkable finds from the Graeco-Roman period can be seen; Cyrene ranks as the best-preserved of the Greek cities of Cyrenaica, with its temples, tombs, agora, gymnasium and theatre originally modeled on those at Delphi. Its location high on a bluff overlooking the sea is stunning. From the southern entrance of the ruins, the first monument is the agora. An agora was the principal square of a Greek city, corresponding to the Roman forum. Most of the important civic buildings were around this area and the space would probably also have been used as a market. Following the Sacred Way down to the lower levels of the city, we pass caves in which the sacred virgins bathed before entering the sanctuary. On the lower levels of the city is the Sanctuary of Apollo. This is part of a cluster of temples and other later buildings, including Roman baths. We also have a tour of the site of Apollonius, a well-preserved Hellenistic city centred around a shrine to Apollo, the mausoleum of Battus, and a great temple to Zeus. Overnight at Apollonius. Breakfast and dinner. 
  
Day 8   Apollonius - Tobruk - Apollonius
 
Today we travel to Tobruk. We will have sightseeing in this famous World War II city, including Rommel's HQ, the Knightsbridge, and the remains of the tragic Lady-Be-Good airplane. We'll learn about the titanic and bloody clash of forces that marked the turning point of World War II, and pay a moving visit to the cemeteries where lie the dead from both sides. Return to Apollonius. Overnight in Apollonius. Breakfast and dinner. 
  
Day 9   Apollonius - Benghazi - Tripoli
 
Today we drive to Benghazi from where we fly back to Tripoli. This evening you may want to explore the old walled city of Tripoli, the Medina, one of the classical sites of the Mediterranean. The basic street plan was laid down in the Roman period when the walls were constructed on the landward sides against attacks from the interior of Tripolitania. The high walls survived many invasions, each conqueror restoring the damage done. In the 8th century the Muslim ruler built a wall on the sea-facing side of the city. Overnight in Tripoli. Breakfast and dinner. 
  
Day 10   Tripoli - Leptis Magna - Tripoli
 
Today we visit Leptis Magna, one of the great cities of Roman Africa. We will see the early forum, the theatre and Hadrianic baths as well as the great basilica and forum complex built by Emperor Septimus Severus. Leptis Magna is probably the most extensive and impressive archaeological site in the Mediterranean. Leptis was similar in status to that of Palmyra in Syria and Ephesus in Turkey: a provincial city with a rural role as were the other two cities of Tripolitania of Sabrantha and Ocea, now Tripoli. The city has remained largely intact in that for centuries it was covered in sand, and today a total of thirty major monuments can be observed. Hundreds of statues and mosaics have been transferred to museums in Tripoli. Leptis reached the height of its glory when Septimus Sevrus became emperor and its decline started with the invasion of the Vandals in 429. We enter the site and the first thing we will encounter is the Severan Arch which was erected in honour of Emperor Septimus Severus' visit to his hometown in AD 203. Not far off are the marble and granite panelled Hadrianic Baths, the largest outside Rome. We continue to explore and discover the partially covered nymphaeum, a shrine dedicated to the worships of nymphs; a pair of massive forums, similar in design and gradiosity to the imperial forum in Rome; the extraordinarily detailed basilica and theatre; and the circus and amphitheatre where chariot races and similar spectacles were held for the locals' amusement. Overnight in Tripoli. Breakfast and dinner. 
  
Day 11   Tripoli, Libya - Malta
 
Today we fly from Tripoli to Malta and transfer to our hotel. Overnight in Sliema (or Tripoli). Breakfast and dinner. 
  
Day 12   Valletta: Harbour Cruise & Walking Tour
 
Today we will witness Malta's gallant past and sail the routes of the Knights of St John and the great Ottoman fleets of Suleyman the Magnificent. We will depart from Sliema and take a guided cruise of the two natural harbours surrounding the city of Valletta. During the cruise, Malta's rich history will unfold, from the occupation of the Knights of St John to World War II. The "Three Cities" and the Marsamxett and Grand Harbour once witnessed the two Great Sieges of 1565 and 1942. The fortifications and bastions, Fort St Elmo, and monuments surrounding the creeks are only fully appreciated from the sea. We will then walk through Valletta, the capital of Malta, and visit the Barracca Gardens. This colonnaded public garden on top of St Peter's and St. Paul's was once a covered play area for the boisterous Italian knights. The gardens offer a magnificent view of the harbour. From the gardens we will visit the Great Hospital of the Order or the "Sacra Infirmeria". The hospital was built before 1575, and was placed on the south-east seafront, so that patients, landed from ships at the mouth of the harbour, could be carried in by an underground passage below the sea wall, "without making a tedious and dangerous circuit of the streets." In winter it was hung with 131 pieces of woolen tapestry, and in summer, with 85 paintings by Mattia Preti. The hospital also cared for the insane and destitute children. Overnight in Sliema. Park Hotel or similar. Breakfast and dinner. 
  
Day 13   Valletta - Marsaxlokk - Ghar Dalam - Hagar Qim
 
We will return to Valletta to view its most important historical monuments. The Grand Master's Palace is a magnificent building and houses Malta's House of Representatives, the office of the president, several state rooms, and the Gobelins Tapestry. We will also visit the National Museum of Archaeology, one of the finest and most comprehensive museums in Malta. We then head to the southern part of the island to witness some of the prehistory of Malta. Our first stop is Marsaxlokk, perhaps the most picturesque fishing village in all of Malta. The decoration and form of the bright multi-coloured fishing boats which fill the harbour can be traced back to the age of the Phoenicians. We also visit the underground cave of Ghar Dalam ("The Cave of Darkness") which served as the abode of the first neolithic settlers of these islands about 6,000 years ago. Excavations carried out between 1933 and 1937 yielded an enormous quantity of animal bone deposits from the lower strata of the cave's subsoil which confirmed that the Maltese Islands at one time formed part of the European mainland. We will also visit the Tarxien Temple complex, one of the finest megalithic sites excavated to date. This is considered one of the most elaborate groups of megalithic remains, both for its architecture and its internal decoration. Our last stop is the Neolithic temples of Hagar Qim, from 300 BC, and some of the oldest human-made structures in the world. Reminiscent of England's Stonehenge, the temples are built of limestone rock, some towering six metres (20 ft) high and weighing several tonnes. The complex is an impressive maze of corridors, chambers, niches and altars, all carved out of stone using flint. Overnight in Sliema. Park Hotel or similar. Breakfast and dinner 
  
Day 14   Gozo
 
Today we travel by ferry to Gozo, the second largest island of the Maltese archipelago, separated from Malta by a 8km (5 mi) wide channel. Gozo is an island of green hills surrounded by blue sea, where tranquil villages are set onto the sides of the fertile and flat-topped hills. We visit the citadel where we can enjoy a wonderful panorama of Gozo. This citadel dates back to the second century AD, when the Romans once occupied this area. We will visit the capital, Victoria, and its grand Cathedral. In 1897 the capital of Gozo had its name changed from Rabat to Victoria to celebrate Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee. While on Gozo we will visit Xaghra, meaning "a large open space", with the most enchanting village square on Gozo. We will also see the temple at Ggantija, the most impressive of all Maltese Copper Age monuments. According to legend, the huge monolithic stones of the temple were carried great distances on the head of a female giantess. We return via ferry to Malta. Overnight in Sliema. Park Hotel or similar. Breakfast and dinner. 
  
Day 15   Mosta - Mdina - Rabat - Dingli Cliffs - Blue Grotto
 
Our journey today takes us to the 19th century parish church of St Mary's in Mosta. The church boasts the third largest unsupported dome, rivaled only by the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul and St Peter's in Rome. Among some of the marvelous interior decorations are the murals painted by Guiseppe Cali. During WWII, a bomb fell through the dome but did not explode; this bomb (defused, of course) is preserved and displayed as a sign of this miraculous occurrence. We will also see some of the finest examples of silver workmanship which testify to the fame of Maltese gold and silversmiths. We will visit one of the smallest and most compact of historic cities, Mdina, (from the Arabic word for "walled city"). Mdina's zenith was during the darker medieval times of the Normans and Spanish. It is truly a Maltese city with the knights' influence restricted to a few fine buildings. Today Mdina has the smallest population in Malta with 420 people. We will visit the Cathedral and Roman Villa, in which a number of beautiful floor mosaics were discovered. Walking through the winding streets we come to the city of Rabat, just outside the walls and separated by a moat from Mdina. We will explore the early Christian Catacombs dating as far back as the 8th century. These Catacombs emerged because of a Roman law that prohibited the burial of the dead within the city limits; for Christians cremation was not acceptable. We continue on to the Dingli Cliffs and Dingli village, the highest on the island on cliffs 260m (858 feet) above the sea. Our journey continues to the Blue Grotto which we will explore by small boat. Legend has it that the Blue Grotto was home to the sirens, the sea nymphs, who serenaded sailors to their destination with soft verse. Later we return to our Sliema hotel. Overnight in Sliema. Park Hotel or similar. Breakfast and dinner. 
  
Day 16   Valetta, Malta - Palermo, Sicily, Italy
 
An early flight takes us to Palermo--capital of the island of Sicily. The balance of the day is free to explore the lanes of the traditional quarter of this attractive town. Overnight in Palermo. Breakfast and dinner. 
  
Day 17   Palermo : City Tour - Segesta - Erice
 
We begin our day with a walk through the narrow streets of the Vucceria outdoor market. Here we feel the very pulse of the city's daily life, passing stalls where fishmongers display whole sword fish and tuna, and several varieties of squid and octopus. Sicily is agriculturally rich and here some of the island's excellent produce is displayed: apples from the slopes of Mount Etna; oranges and lemons, introduced to Sicily by the Arabs; cactus pears, fresh figs and grapes, fat olives, fresh capers, zucchini blossoms, fresh ricotta and pungent pecorino cheese. A short walk brings us to the Piazza Praetoria with its voluptuous 16th century Florentine fountain, decked with renaissance nudes and animal heads. At its unveiling, centuries ago, locales named it "the fountain of shame". Nearby is the baroque Quattro Canti, the 17th century crossroads that divides the old city into four, and the Municipio, a 15th century palazzo that is Palermo's city hall. On the Piazza Bellini, we step inside the Martorana Church; a 12th century building that is a jewel of Arab-Norman architecture, and its interior encrusted with byzantine mosaics. And no visit to Sicily would be complete without a stop at Monreale, the Royal Mountain. It was here, at the end of the 12th century, that the Norman king, William II had a great cathedral built to reflect the sophistication and wealth of his kingdom. Byzantine and Greek artisans were employed to cover almost every surface of its interior with costly golden mosaics depicting Christ the Pantocrator, the apostles, and cycles form the Old and New Testaments. Next door, we walk through the cloister of the Benedictine abbey. Here, no two of the exquisite capitals on over 200 twin column are the same. En route to Erice we stop at Segesta to see the picturesque Doric temple. Sicily was part of ancient Magna Graecia. In the 8th century BC, with population rising dramatically in mainland Greece, land became expensive and resources scarce. This led to an exodus of Greeks in search of new lands. Sicily and southern Italy were to Ancient Greece what the Americas were to 16th century European explorers: the great unknown; a land of possibilities, riches and great dangers. Segesta was a successful colony, which fought with its rival Selinunte, to the south. We continue the short distance to Erice, our final destination today. Overnight in Erice. Breakfast and dinner. 
  
Day 18   Erice: Walking Tour - Selinunte - Agrigento
 
Erice sits dramatically on a promontory at over 600m (2,000 feet) above the sea. The ancients considered it a sacred place; the Arabs called it Jebel Hamid, or Blessed Mountain. The city was widely respected as the centre of worship for the goddess Astarte, and later Aphrodite whom the Romans knew as Venus. It is claimed that Erice was built by descendents of the Trojans. This morning we take a walking tour through this picturesque town, which reminds one of a northern Italian hill town with its cobbled, narrow streets. We enter the Carthginian Porta Trapani, passing the Chiesa Matrice, a beautiful Normanesque Gothic church built in the 15th century. Near the main square you might like to sample some Sicilian sweets at a local shop where they are made to order. The Arabs are credited with the introduction of the local fondness of desserts, including gelato for which Sicily is famous. Farther along we come to the site where once the temple of Venus Erycina stood. From the Norman castle, now standing in its place, the views out to sea are splendid. On a clear day, we might even see the coast of Tunisia, 145km distant. Erice is home today to an important scientific institute where international conferences and symposiums are held year round, giving Erice the sobriquet, "City of Science". We depart Erice for Agrigento via the town of Marsala, a Arabic name meaning "Harbour of God". Here, in 1860, Garibaldi landed with his army of a thousand redshirts to take Sicily from the Spanish Bourbon rulers. In the previous century an Englishman named John Woodhouse saw the potential for a lucrative export, fortified wine, which became all the rage, especially after Admiral Nelson supplied it to his sailors instead of rum. You may like to sample some Marsala, this sweet dessert wine, at one of the local cantinas. In the setting of a vaulted 19th century winery, there is a museum housing a remarkable find: a Carthaginian galley. This warship, manned by 68 stores, was rammed and sunk off shore near Marsala in a sea battle in the 3rd century BC during the second Punic War. With the Roman victory over the Carthaginians at the end of this war, Sicily became Rome's first overseas province in 210 BC. Further along the southern coast we stop at Selinunte where a series of Greek temples stand. One of these was one of the largest of the ancient world. Today its colossal ruins remind one that civilization can so easily be toppled by conquest and earthquakes, humbled by the events of time and history. We continue our journey through the highly productive agricultural lands of southern Sicily, passing olive groves and vineyards, arriving in Agrigento later this afternoon. Overnight in Agrigento. Breakfast and dinner. 
  
Day 19   Agrigento - Magna Graecia - Syracuse
 
Our journey through the lands of Magna Graecia takes us this morning to the magnificent series of temples at Agrigento. The five elevated temples are a picture-perfect tribute to the indomitability of paganism. Time, earthquakes, vicious Punic Wars, and the rise of Christianity have taken their toll, and the temples have been named official World Heritage landmarks. The nearby Museo Nazionale Archeologico di San Nicola has a fabulous collection of red and black figureware vases, terra-cotta votive figures, and funerary vessels from the area's necropolis. The newly renovated interior boasts an upright telamon, as well as model projections of how a completed Tempio di Giove may have looked. Leaving behind the ancient Greek world, we drive inland across the island. Near the town of Piazza Armerina we explore the remarkable ruins of a Roman villa. Built at the end of the 4th century AD, this vast complex which includes extensive baths, reception rooms, and private apartments may have been an imperial villa of Diocletian's co-emperor, Maximianus. The villa contains some of the most beautiful and extensive Roman mosaics to be found anywhere, including detailed and colourful hunting scenes, images from mythology, and a charming sequence of bikini-clad ladies doing aerobics! After lunch we drive onward towards the eastern side of the island, coming within sight of the slopes of Mount Etna. At 3313 m (10,866 feet), Etna is one of the earth's most active volcanoes--both a blessing and a curse for the local people. The surrounding lands are extremely fertile, but there looms the constant possibility of an eruption. The nearby city of Catania was almost completely buried by lava flows in 1669. We arrive at Syracuse later this afternoon. Overnight in Syracuse. Breakfast and dinner. 
  
Day 20   Syracuse: City Tour - Taormina: Walking Tour - Giardini-Naxos
 
This morning we tour Syracuse. The city was founded in 735 BC by settlers from Corinth, Greece who took over from the native Sikels. In time it grew to become the largest city on Sicily, so important that Athens grew jealous and sent an invasion force in 415 BC. Syracuse became Roman; Rome declined, the Vandals and the Osrogoths took over. Belisarius of Byzantium conquered the city and from 878 to 1038 it was the Saracens who ruled Sicily. Then came the turn of the Normans, and in 1105 Count Roger incorporated Arab Sicily in his county. We continue to Taormina and on arrival have a leisurely walking tour of the town, starting with the almost perfectly preserved Greco-Roman amphitheatre, Taormina's greatest treasure. In ancient days, the 3rd-century cliffside arena seated 5,000 spectators, with Mount Etna framed perfectly as a backdrop to the 1800 year old stage. We see also the Palazzo Corvaia with its blend of Arab, Norman, and Catalan elements where, in 1410, Sicily's first parliament was convened. The Corso Umberto I is a charming pedestrian street that runs the length of town. There are many shops and boutiques along the way and at the Piazza IX Aprile, there are lovely views of Naxos harbour and the Italian mainland across the straits. Perched on a peak above the town is the medieval fortress. In the Piazza del Duomo where Taormina's 15th century basilica/cathedral stands, there is a fountain topped by the symbol of the town: the statue of a female centaur. We spend the night 10 minutes away in Giardini-Naxos. The name of this pretty seaside town derives from Sicilian "Giardini" meaning "citrus orchards". The addition "Naxos" derives from the name of the first Greek colony in Sicily. Overnight in Giardini-Naxos. Breakfast and dinner. 
  
Day 21   Giardini-Naxos (Sicily) - Paestum (Italian mainland)
 
This morning we take a short ferry ride from Sicily to the Italian mainland and then proceed by motor coach to Paestum. The three Doric Greek temples of Paestum are among the best preserved in the world, even rivaling those of Sicily and Athens. Originally built without any mortar or cement (they were simply covered by roofs of terra-cotta tiles supported by wooden beams) the temples remained standing even after the great earthquake of AD 69 reduced Pompeii's streets to a pile of rubble. After a period of native Italian control in the 5th and 4th centuries BC, it fell to the Romans in 273 BC and was renamed Paestum, remaining a Roman town until the deforestation of nearby hills turned the town into a swampy mush. Plagued by malaria and syphilitic pirates, Paestum's ruins lay relatively untouched until they were rediscovered in the 18th century. Overnight in Paestum. Breakfast and dinner. 
  
Day 22   Paestum - Pompeii & Herculaneum - Sorrento
 
Today we travel from Paestum to Sorrento. En route we make an excursion to Pompeii, dug out from the inundation of volcanic ash and pumice stone that covered it by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79. The entire area is a fantastic record of how ordinary Romans lived their lives. We will see the House of Vetti, the most elegant of the Pompeii villas and we also look at the House of Mysteries. The nearby House of Faun takes up a city block and has four different dining parlours and two spacious gardens. Nearby Herculaneum was a small town that was buried under Vesuvius' lava. Our tour here will include the baths, which were built during the reign of Agustus. An outstanding example of how the aristocracy lived is provided at the Casa dei Cervi. We continue to Sorrento, the place where the Greeks placed the legendary abode of the Sirens, those wicked mermaids who lured seamen to their deaths with their sweet songs. The Sorrento Peninsula, a finger of land curling around the Bay of Naples, is beautiful with its soaring mountains and colourful flora. Overnight in Sorrento. Breakfast and dinner. 
  
Day 23   Sorrento - the Amalfi Coast & National Archaeological Museum - Sorrento
 
Today we drive along the famous Amalfi Coast on a winding road carved out of the rock in the mid-19th century. This scenic and unforgettable drive takes us to Amalfi, a resort town on the peninsula of the same name where we take a walking tour of the city. We will see the beautiful Duomo cathedral with its 13th century bell tower, the main square of the town, and the Cloister of Paradise. Continuing to Naples, we pass by the 14th-century Duomo, the colourful harbour front, and the Castel dell'Ovo, a 12th-century fortress built on the ruins of an ancient villa, before our visit to the National Archaeological Museum. This impressive facility houses one of the world's most comprehensive collections of Greek and Roman antiquities. The museum stands on top of Santa Teresa Hill and was originally built as a military barrack later transformed into a university campus. It was remodeled in 1790 to receive the treasures of Pompeii and Herculaneum. Return to Sorrento. Overnight in Sorrento. Breakfast and dinner. 
  
Day 24   Sorrento - Monte Cassino - Rome
 
Today's journey takes us to north to Rome via Monte Cassino. During the Roman Empire, the abbey located here was one of the great European centres of Christendom and one of the largest repositories of ancient learning. In 1944, Monte Cassino was destroyed by the Allied forces who suspected that it was occupied by German troops. The military cemetery on the nearby hill contains the graves of 1,100 Polish soldiers who lost their lives in the final assault. Later we continue to Rome. Overnight in Rome. Breakfast and dinner. 
  
Day 25   Rome: City Tour
 
We begin our guided tour of Rome at the 2,000 year old colosseum. Built to seat 55,000 spectators, this arena staged Rome's most brutal gladitorial combats. Next we walk throught the Roman Forum where we will see the Curia, the Rostra, the Temple of Vesta, the Basilica of Constantine, and the Arch of Titus. Continuing onwards and upwards we reach the Campidoglio (Capitoline Hill), seat of the Roman Senate since the 12th century and the original citadel of the city. This beautiful square was redesigned by Michelangelo in the 16th century. Our lunch break is spent close to Largo Argentina, the site of the assasination of Julius Caesar. After lunch we continue our tour focusing on Baroque Rome. In Piazza Navona we can admire the impressive Fountain of the Four Rivers, with detailed figures representing the Nile, Ganges, Danube and Palata rivers. We will also visit the famous Trevi Fountain, designed by Nicholas Salvi in 1732. It's water was supplied by one of Rome's earliest aquaducts. Throwing a coin into the fountain ensures your safe return back to Rome. We pass the temple-turned church called the Pantheon, and have the opportunity to admire its perfect proportions on our way to the Spanish steps, where we finish our tour. Balance of the day at leisure. Overnight in Rome. Breakfast and dinner. 
  
Day 26   Rome: the Vatican Museums
 
Today we begin our visit to Vatican City with a guided tour through the immense Vatican Museums.* This amazing collection houses some of the most important Greek and Roman sculptures, Rennaissance paintings, Flemish tapestries and mosaics in the world. Understandably this collection is visited by more than 3 million people a year. We also visit Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel to take in the breathtaking frescoes. Heading into the cavernous interior of St. Peter's Basilica we can appreciate it's many treasures including Michelangelo's Pieta. At the end of the tour we visit the elegantly symmetrical Piazza St. Pietro. The Vatican is a sovereign state with its own post office, broadcasting service and newspaper. *NOTE: The timing of today's sightseeing can vary depending on seasonality. Early spring and late fall tours can often begin in the morning due to lighter crowds at these times of year. Busier times often dictate an afternoon visit in order to avoid morning crowds. Weather may also be a consideration. Your Tour Leader will advise further upon your arrival in Rome. Overnight in Rome. Breakfast and dinner. 
  
Day 27   Departure
 
Departure from Rome. Breakfast. VIAGGIO BUONO!

4/09