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17 Days Grand Tour of Italy Tour Package
Duration: 17 Days / 16 Nights
Priced From: $3,375 pp dbl. occ.
Dates: Apr - Oct
Travel through the top, toe and heel of Italy and experience an Italian holiday like no other. Brush up on your Italian language skills and visit mountain ranges, lakes, historical cities and smaller regions - all on one vacation with Trafalgar!
Tour Itinerary
Day 1 - Depart USA
Overnight flight to Rome
Day 2 - Arrive Rome (2 nights)
Welcome to Rome, the capital of Italy, and the Eternal City! After check-in, there’s time to unwind before meeting your Tour Director for a Welcome Drink with your fellow travelers.
Hotel: Ateneo Garden Palace (2 nights)
Day 3 - Rome sightseeing and at leisure
Our sightseeing begins with a visit to St. Peter’s Basilica and then we cross the Tiber to ancient Rome where we overlook the Forum and the Circus Maximus, renowned for chariot races, and we visit the mighty Colosseum to relive the stories of the gladiators! Later we have free time to explore or relax in a sidewalk café and watch Rome go by! (Buffet breakfast)
Day 4 - Sistine Chapel – Gargano Peninsula
First we enjoy a guided visit of Michelangelo’s miraculous Sistine Chapel, then we leave Rome and drive eastwards through the Abruzzi Mountains to the Adriatic coast. We reach the Gargano peninsula before arriving at our hotel, where we dine tonight (Buffet breakfast / Dinner)
Hotel: Manfredi Regio
Day 5 - Gargano Peninsula – Alberobello – Lecce
This morning, a drive along the coast takes us to the region of the Trulli – strange white dry-stone structures with conical roofs. We visit the unique town of Alberobello en route to beautiful Lecce. Here our guided sightseeing tour shows us this delightful city including the stunning basilica and its monumental Piazza del Duomo. (Buffet breakfast / Dinner)
Hotel: President
Day 6 - Lecce – Sorrento (2 nights)
Today our Tour Director will show us a Hidden Treasure, but first we drive to Bari and along the autostrada taking us to the Gulf of Salerno and on to Sorrento. Here orientation shows us the Piazza Tasso and Corso Italia with its boutiques and cafés. Tonight, we enjoy dinner in our hotel. (Buffet breakfast / Dinner)
Hotel: Parco Del Sole (2 nights)
Day 7 - Isle of Capri Excursion
This morning we will visit an inlaid wood workshop where we see a demonstration of this local craft. Then we cruise across to the beautiful Isle of Capri for the day. Here orientation takes us up to Capri town where we enjoy a walking tour using our audio system to admire views of the Faraglioni Rocks and Marina Piccola. Then we visit the Piazzetta where the rich and famous sip their cappuccinos – followed by free time to perhaps ascend to Anacapri. At the end of the afternoon we cruise back to Sorrento. Tonight we drive out by minibus to a unique family run restaurant, perched high above the Bay of Naples, surrounded by lemon groves and enjoy a delicious dinner of home cooked local produce. (Buffet breakfast / 'Be My Guest' Dinner)
Day 8 - Sorrento – Pompeii – Assisi
It’s a short drive to Pompeii for a guided walking tour with our audio system of the excavations of the town petrified by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79. Then we drive through Campania, stopping at Monte Cassino to visit the Commonwealth War Cemetery. Next on through the hills of Frascati and Umbria en route to Assisi, St. Francis’ town. (Buffeet breakfast / Dinner)
Hotel: Grand Hotel Assisi
Day 9 - Assisi – Ravenna – Venice (2 nights)
Our morning walking tour with audio equipment in Assisi includes the upper and lower basilicas with their Giotto frescoes plus we see the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli. From here we travel through the Apennines stopping to visit the Church of St. Apollinaris in Classe to admire the mosaics. Then we continue on to the magical city of Venice. (Buffet breakfast / Dinner)
Hotel: NH Laguna Palace (2 nights)
Day 10 - Venice sightseeing and at leisure
Today we savour the sights and sounds as we cruise to St. Mark’s Square on our private launch, seeing the Bridge of Sighs, Doge’s Palace and St. Mark’s Basilica which is adorned with magnificent and colorful glass mozaics. Afterwards, we visit a Murano glass-blowing workshop for a demonstration of this craft. At leisure maybe enjoy a local seafood lunch on the Island of Burano. (Buffet breakfast)
Day 11 - Venice – Cortina d'Ampezzo
Today through the Veneto plains to world-famous Cortina d’Ampezzo located in the Dolomites, it is a popular winter sport resort and hosted the Winter Olympic Games in 1956. Here we will see the Olympic ski-jump before checking-in to our hotel and enjoying time at leisure in the clear mountain air. (Buffet breakfast / Dinner)
Hotel: Ancora
Day 12 - Cortina D' Ampezzo – Milan
This morning we enjoy a scenic drive, as we eventually descend to the great northern plain. Soon we arrive in Milan – home to the Italian fashion gurus. A walking tour using audio system with our local guide here shows us the Duomo, the Galleria, and the world famous La Scala Opera House. Later, perhaps visit one of the museums or shop in the boutiques! (Buffet breakfast)
Hotel: Atahotel Quark
Day 13 - Milan – Pavia – Santa Margherita (2 nights)
We stop at Pavia to enjoy a guided visit of the Carthusian Abbey by one of the monks (when available). Next we pass Genoa, Columbus’ birthplace, en route to the Italian Riviera. On arrival in Santa Margherita we cruise to nearby Portofino (weather permitting), an internationally loved resort, before returning to our hotel. (Buffet breakfast / Dinner)
Hotel: Park Hotel Suisse (2 nights)
Day 14 - Santa Margherita at leisure
Today is free to enjoy this famous Ligurian resort or to take an excursion to the beautiful Cinque Terre, traveling by boat and train as we visit this unique area. (Buffet breakfast)
Day 15 - Santa Margherita - Florence
Today we drive inland to the magnificient Renaissance city of Florence. Our guided walking tour includes the Duomo, Giotto’s Bell Tower, the Baptistery and the Ponte Vecchio. Later you may wish to stop for fine quality leather and 18-carat gold designer jewelry for which this city is so famous! (Buffet breakfast Dinner)
Hotel: Grand Hotel Mediterraneo
Day 16 - Florence – Siena – Rome
Our day begins with a drive through the Chianti vineyards to the medieval city of Siena. Here an orientation includes the Piazza del Campo, scene of the annual Palio horse races, and the cathedral. The horse races are held twice a year on July 2 and August 16, in which ten horses and riders represent ten of the seventeen city wards. A magnificent pageant precedes the race, which attracts the spectators from around the world. Time at leisure maybe to shop for beautiful ceramic pottery before we return to the ‘Eternal City’, Rome. This evening we enjoy a Farewell Dinner with our Tour Director and fellow travelers. (Buffet breakfast / Farewell dinner)
Hotel: Sheraton Golf
Day 17 - Rome - USA
This morning we bid farewell to our Tour Director and touring friends as our Italian vacation comes to an end. There are airport transfers available. (Buffet breakfast)
Highlights:
Rome
Alberobello
Lecce
Sorrento
Isle of Capri
Pompeii
Monte Cassino
Assisi
Ravenna
Venice
Cortina d'Ampezzo
Milan
Pavia
Portofino
Florence
Siena
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Contact: Travelwizard.com
Phone: 1-800-330-8820 or 1-415-446-5252
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