Day 1   Arrive in Rome
 
Today we arrive in Rome and transfer to our hotel. Few cities in the world are as beautiful as Rome, and few are as glamorous. The Eternal City's ancient monuments and spectacular galleries--over the centuries a major draw on the international tourism map--are looking more magnificent than ever after an extensive restoration programme. A NOTE ON SUITABILITY: Though we do not rate this tour "strenuous", it is a busy programme with numerous city / town walking tours featuring uneven surfaces, inclines and / or stairs. You must be able to spend several hours on your feet per day, walking at a leisurely pace. There may not be porters available in all locations. If you are unsure of your suitability for this trip, please contact one of our destination specialists. Overnight in Rome. Dinner if required.

Day 2   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 which is 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 3   Rome - Portoferraio (Elba)
 
Travelling northward from Rome we pass through traditional Italian towns on our motor coach. We board our hour-long ferry to Portoferraio, the main port of Elba, an island that at one point was attached to the Italian mainland. Elba is the largest of the Tuscan Archipelago with an area of 225 sq km (87 sq miles). NOTE: Ferry schedules can change without notice; some itinerary adjustments may be necessary at the discretion of your Tour Leader. Uncontrollable factors such as weather may result in delays; a flexible attitude will enhance the enjoyment of your adventure. PORTERS ARE GENERALLY NOT AVAILABLE AT HOTELS OR ON FERRIES. You MUST be able to carry / wheel your baggage on and off ferries. Overnight in Portoferraio. Breakfast and dinner. 
 
Day 4   Portoferraio: Tour - Pisa: Town Tour
 
Portoferraio is a fortified sixteenth century town built by the Medici Grand Duke Cosimo I. Pink and green are the predominant colours on this island of over 150km (93 miles) of beaches: green because Elba is heavily forested; pink because of the granite mountains grouped around Monte Capanne. Today we visit the Palazzina Napoleonica dei Mulini, Napoleon's house, designed to reflect his simple taste. Inside the dwelling we can see Napoleon's books, other writings and the flag, embroidered with three golden bees, later bestowed to the Elbans. Later we will visit the quiet village of Marciana. In the afternoon we travel back to the mainland and onwards to Pisa. Upon arrival in Pisa we make our way to the Campo dei Miracoli (Field of Miracles), where we visit the Duomo church and Baptistry. Situated near the mouth of the Arno River, Pisa was a great sea-faring power from the ninth until the thirteenth century. The magnificent cathedral the Pisans commissioned took nearly two centuries to build. The marble pulpit, completed in the early fourteenth century, is considered a masterpiece of Italian Gothic sculpture. It was from the famous "Leaning Tower" that Galileo carried out his experiments into the speeds of falling objects. We will take ample time to view and photograph the tower from the outside (to climb the tower requires advance reservations and a considerable amount of time to queue for entry; time constraints make this impractical for our tour). Overnight in Pisa. Breakfast and dinner.

Day 5   Pisa - Livorno, Italy - Bastia, Corsica, France - Ajaccio
 
We continue our journey to Livorno where we catch our ferry to Bastia, Corsica, arriving four hours later. On arrival we proceed by road to Ajaccio. Corsica comprises two Departementes Metropolitan du France, and is an integral part of that country. Over 160km (100 miles) in length, much of Corsica is mountainous, covered with a tangle of scrubby 'Maquis' undergrowth whose fragrance carries far out to sea. Napoleon is said to have declared, "I would recognise Corsica blindfolded, by her scent alone." This aromatic vegetation mantle consists of holmoak, juniper, gorse, cistus, lentisk, buckthorn, rosemary, privet, laurel, heather, blackberry, lavender and myrtle. Maquis is accompanied by a host of other scented herbs and ground plants used by villagers for cooking and curative purposes. Overnight in Ajaccio. Breakfast and dinner. 
 
Day 6   Ajaccio: City Tour
 
Corsica's history is a succession of colonisations, occupations, and foreign military intervention. First there was Phoenicia, then came Carthage and Rome, followed by the Vandals, the Lombards, Byzantium, and later Pisa and Genoa, who held portions of the island for over 300 years despite periodic uprisings led by local patriots such as Pasquale Paoli and Sampiero Corso. Corsica was ceded to France in 1768, but with the help of the British, Paoli expelled the French in 1793 and, in 1794, Corsica voted for union with the British Crown. The French recovered Corsica in 1796 and French possession was guaranteed by the Congress of Vienna in 1815. More recently, Corsica was occupied by Italian and German troops during WWII. In late 1943 the Corsicans revolted and the island was liberated on 04 October 1943. Our Ajaccio sightseeing today includes the Musee Napoleonien which contains portraits of the Bonaparte family. In the Maison Bonaparte we see the couch on which Napoleon was born. Our local guide today is able to give us an in-depth narration of the life and times of France's most famous son. We also visit the Musee Fische. Overnight in Ajaccio. Breakfast and dinner.

Day 7   Ajaccio - Sartene - Bonifacio
 
Today we travel from Ajaccio into the Corsican countryside, or compagne. We will travel into the mountainous area of the island with its charming villages. Corsica consists of heaths, forests, granite, snow, sand beaches and orange trees. En route we stop in Sartene. We walk up to main square, visit the Church and walk again through the narrow streets of the fortified old town. This is a fascinating little place where a Procession of Christ that takes place every year. The cross and photos can be seen inside the church off the main square. The square itself is a relaxing place for a coffee; the narrow streets around the square make for great exploring and photo opportunities. We continue to spectacular Bonifacio and have a leisurely walking tour upon arrival. We explore the haute ville from the inside, head up montee Rastello, the steep, wide staircase halfway down the port, which gives excellent views of the harsh cliffs stretching east from Bonifacio. We continue up to the lookout at Porte de Genes, constructed with a drawbridge in 1588 to be the town's only entrance. Eager to overthrow the colonizing Italians, Corsican nationals joined forces with King Henri II to besiege the town. After successfully destroying the Genoese fortress, the triumphant rebels rebuilt a more elaborate one on the ruins of the original. The Porte de Genes and the Bastion de L'Etendard next door are built in French military style rather than that of the hated Genoese--the first hint of Corsica's future encroachers. After soaking up all this history, we head left to pl. du Marche for the best views of Bonifacio's cliffs and limestone formation, Grain de Sable. The little mound just out of reach is Sardinia, 12km away. We turn right on rue Cardinal and then left on rue du Sacrement to reach the Eglise Ste-Mairie-Majeure, Bonifacio's oldest building. This 12th-century church guards one of the town's most important objects: a morsel of the true cross, stripped from a shipwreck. Overnight in Bonifacio. Breakfast and dinner. 
 
Day 8   Bonifacio, Corisca (France) - Castelsardo, Sardinia (Italy)
 
Today we travel by ferry to Sardinia, the second largest of Italy's islands. If there is one characteristic that dominates the history and geography of Sardinia--its isolation. In fact Sardinia is closer to North Africa than mainland Italy, and has hence developed its own unique culture which dates back before Roman times. The low scrub vegetation we pass is called "garriga" and the forests are confined to elevations above 800 m (2,625 feet). Above all, Sardinia is a land of shepherds: their flocks, constantly on the move, are visible almost everywhere. Sardinia has a unique, wild, barren landscape. DH Lawrence summed it up in Sea and Sardinia: "A savage, dark-bushed, sky-exposed land, forsaken to the sea and the sun... with no life in sight, even no ships on the pale blue sea." Our destination today is Castelsardo, located on the height of a narrow promontory. Renowned across the island for its beauty, the town was once described by a Sardinian poet as, "a flower of light that smiles from the top of a sharp promontory upon the glimmering sea." A large, well-preserved, and well-situated castle crowns the village. Overnight in Castelsardo. Breakfast and dinner.

Day 9   Castelsardo - Sassari - Alghero
 
We depart Castelsardo and travel to Alghero via Sassari, Sardinia's second largest city. In Sassari we visit the Museo Giovanni Antonio Sanna, which has a lovely rose garden in front and houses nuraghi models, Sardinian paintings, skulls with holes drilled into them, and petrified tree stumps. We will also see the Sassari's duomo, Cattedrale di San Nicolo. This 15th-century Gothic Catalan-style structure has a Baroque facade. Renovations have uncovered early frescoes. We continue to Alghero. Overnight in Alghero. Breakfast and dinner.

Day 10   Alghero - Cape Caccia - Alghero
 
The Cape Caccia region around Alghero is beautiful as it is rugged. We visit the Nuraghedi di Palmavera, one of the 7,000 cone-shaped buildings thought to have served as fortresses throughout Sardinia. The main nuraghe is constructed of stone stacked without the aid of mortar and sits in the center of the site. This nuraghe, and the site in general, is interesting because it exhibits two distinct building styles and is thought, therefore, to have been rebuilt around 880 BC, toward the end of the nuraghe civilization (1500-500 BC). The coastline southwards to Bosa is stunning with rugged cliffs falling down to isolated beaches; this is one of the last habitats of the griffon vulture. We stop at Bosa and walk into town and along the main street for a break for lunch and a chance to explore the labrinth of streets and the citadel for fabulous views of the town. Odd that a town with a 12th-century castle perched atop a hill overlooking the sea could remain largely untouristed--but sleepy Bosa remains refreshingly untouched. We return to Alghero. Overnight in Alghero. Breakfast and dinner.

Day 11   Alghero: Day at Leisure
 
Today you are free to enjoy this Medieval town with its towering walls and narrow cobblestone streets. An optional possibility is a three hour boat excursion boat visit to Grotto Neptune, an underwater cavern. A leisurely walk through Alghero's centro storico reveals tiny alleyways, half-hidden churches, and the ancient town walls. Don't leave without seeing Alghero's Chiesa di San Francesco. From P. Sulis, take V. Carlo Alberto to the intersection with V. Machin. The heavy, 14th-century Neoclassical facade of this church conceals a graceful Gothic presbytery. Alghero's duomo, on V. Roma, was begun in 1552 and took 178 years to construct, resulting in a motley Gothic-Catalan-Renaissance facade. Rebuilt in the 19th century, the cathedral has Gothic choirs and a mosaic of John the Baptist. Your Tour Leader can help you plan your day. Overnight in Alghero. Breakfast and dinner. 
 
Day 12   Alghero - Cagliari, Sardinia - Overnight Ferry to Sicily
 
Leaving this morning we travel to Cagliari; on arrival we visit the Roman amphitheatre constructed in the third century. The theatre is one of the most striking reminders of Imperial Rome to be found in Sardinia. We can see the underground passages, corridors for the wild animals. After the theatre we visit the Archaeological Museum, the Duomo and the Bastion of San Remy with its superb views of the city and port. This evening we board our overnight ferry to Sicily, the largest of the Italian islands. Our ferry is equipped with comfortable cabins, dining facilities, bars and lounges. Overnight ferry. Breakfast and dinner.

Day 13   Arrival in Palermo, Sicily - Segesta - Erice
 
Early this morning we arrive in Palermo. 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, locals 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, its interior encrusted with byzantine mosaics. And no visit to Sicily would be complete without a stop at Monreale, the Royal Mountain. Here, at the end of the 12th century, 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. No two of the exquisite capitals on over 200 twin columns 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 that 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 14   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 15   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 16   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 17   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 18   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 19   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 20   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 21   Departure
 
Departure from Rome. Breakfast. VIAGGIO BUONO! 

9/09