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Rome, Assisi, Siena,
Florence, Bologna, Padova, Venice, Montepuciano, Rome, Naples, Pompeii,
Sorrento, Capri, Palermo, Monreale, Erice, Agrigento, Siracusa, Taormina
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Grand Italy Tour with
Sicily
16Days/15nights
May 7 - Oct 15 2012
Tour Italy from Rome to Florence,Venice and
South Italy with Sicily
Tour#18 |
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Tour Departure dates from Rome: May 7, 21, 28, Jun 18, 25, Jul 9, Aug 20, Sep
3, 17, Oct 1, 15 2012
ITINERARY FOR GRAND TOUR OF ITALY WITH SICILY
DAY 1: ROME, ASSISI, SIENA, FLORENCE
DEPARTING AT 7:15AM FROM THE HOTEL DIANA BY A DELUXE COACH, YOU WILL ARRIVE
IN ASSISI, WHERE YOU CAN EXPLORE THIS TINY TOWN, SURROUNDED BY WALLS BUILT
IN THE MIDDLE AGES, AT YOUR OWN LEISURE. MAKE TIME TO VISIT THE BASILICA OF
ST. FRANCIS, WHERE YOU WILL SEE MASTERPIECES BY GIOTTO AND CIMABUE, AND TO
HAVE LUNCH (NOT INCLUDED). BOARD THE BUS FOR SIENA, A MEDIEVAL TOWN
SURROUNDED BY ANCIENT WALLS THAT IS KNOWN FOR THE PALIO, AN ANNUAL
SUMMERTIME HORSE RACE AROUND THE SHELL-SHAPED TOWN SQUARE, PIAZZA DEL CAMPO.
NEXT, YOU WILL CONTINUE ON TO FLORENCE, WHERE YOU WILL CHECK IN TO YOUR
HOTEL BEFORE ENJOYING DINNER AND A WELL-EARNED NIGHT OF REST.
DAY 2: FLORENCE
AFTER BREAKFAST, YOU WILL SPEND THE DAY VENTURING AROUND BEAUTIFUL FLORENCE,
THE CRADLE OF RENAISSANCE WHERE WITH THE HELP OF MICHELANGELO ITALIAN ART
REACHED ITS PINNACLE. BASED ON ETRUSCAN ROMAN ORIGINS THE CITY FLOURISHED IN
THE MIDDLE AGES AS A FREE COMMUNE AND WAS FURTHER REFINED BY THE
RENAISSANCE. YOU WILL BE FASCINATED BY ITS NUMEROUS MONUMENTS CHURCHES
AND BUILDINGS. ON YOUR VISIT YOU WILL BE AMAZED BY ITS MAGNIFICENT DOME
BUILT BY FILIPPO BRUNEILESCHI. CROSS A SMALL PIAZZA TO SEE THE CAMPANILE
TOWER AND THE BAPTISTERY WITH ITS BRONZE DOORS THAT MICHELANGELO DUBBED THE
GATES OF PARADISE. IN THE HEART OF THE CITY YOU WILL SEE PIAZZA DELLA
SIGNORIA PALAZZO DELLA SIGNORIA ALSO KNOWN AS PALAZZO VECCHIO AND THE
BASILICA OF SANTA CROCE. SPEND THE AFTERNOON
STROLLING THE COBBLESTONE STREETS OF FLORENCE ON YOUR OWN OR TAKE A SHORT
TRIP TO PISA PISA(OPTIONAL), ONE OF THE FOUR MAIN HISTORICAL MARINE
REPUBLICS OF ITALY. THERE, YOU WILL TOUR THE SQUARE OF MIRACLES, WHICH
HOUSES THE DUOMO, THE LEANING TOWER, AND THE BAPTISTRY. FLORENCE DINNER AND
OVERNIGHT STAY.
DAY 3: FLORENCE, BOLOGNA, PADOVA, VENICE
DEPART FOR BOLOGNA AFTER BREAKFAST IN FLORENCE. THERE, YOU WILL WANDER
THROUGH THE CITY’S 38 KILOMETERS WORTH OF ELEGANT ARCADES (OR PORTICOS), FOR
WHICH BOLOGNA IS FAMOUS. FROM PIAZZA MALPIGHI, WE WILL WALK TO PIAZZA DEL
NETTUNO AND PIAZZA MAGGIORE (NEPTUNE SQUARE AND MAJOR SQUARE) IN THE HEART
OF THE CITY, WHERE YOU WILL FIND NEPTUNE FOUNTAIN; KING RENZO PALACE;
PODESTÀ PALACE; AND THE BASILICA OF SAN PETRONIO, ONE OF THE BIGGEST IN THE
WORLD. IN THE AFTERNOON, CONTINUE TOWARD PADOVA, WITH ITS ORIGINAL
SANT’ANTONIO BASILICA. LATER, YOU WILL ARRIVE IN VENICE, WORLD-RENOWNED FOR
ITS CLASSIC GONDOLA BOATS AND ITS ELEGANT, REFINED ART. CHECK IN TO YOUR
HOTEL AND ENJOY YOUR FIRST VENETIAN DINNER AND OVERNIGHT STAY.
DAY 4: VENICE
HIT THE WATER AFTER BREAKFAST AS YOU BOARD A PRIVATE WATER BUS TO ENJOY AN
OUTSTANDING CRUISE THROUGH THE LGGON OF VENICE BEFORE STOPPING AT MURANO.
THE ANCIENT ART OF GLASS BLOWING IS STILL CARRIED ON IN THE TOWN, THANKS TO
A FEW « MAESTRI » LEFT ON THE ISLAND. THAN ON TO ST. MARK’S SQUARE, EXTERIOR
VISIT OF THE SPLENDID CATHEDRAL , THE DOGI PALACE, A SYMBOL OF THE GLORY AND
AUTHORITY OF VENICE AS IT HOUSED THE SEAT OF THE GOVERNMENT AND THE COURT OF
JUSTICE. NEARBY YOU WILL SEE THE LEGENDARY BRIDGE OF SIGHT. SPEND THE
AFTERNOON ROAMING ALONG VENICE’S CANALS AT YOUR LEISURE AND THEN RETURN TO
THE HOTEL FOR DINNER AND RELAXATION.
DAY 5: VENICE, MONTEPULCIANO (TUSCANY), ROME
ONCE YOU EAT BREAKFAST, DEPART FROM PIAZZALE ROMA TO TUSCANY, KNOWN FOR ITS
ROMANTIC CHURCHES AND CASTLES AND ITS INFAMOUS WINES. YOU WILL PROCEED TO
VAL DI CHIANA WITH A STOP IN MONTEPULCIANO, A MEDIEVAL TOWN RICH WITH
HISTORY AND ART. KNOWN FOR ITS “NOBILE” WINE, WHICH CAN BE PURCHASED IN WINE
HOUSES IN TOWN, MONTEPULCIANO IS ALSO THE HOST OF AN ANNUAL JAZZ
AND WINE FESTIVAL EVERY JULY. SPEND THE AFTERNOON GETTING TO KNOW
MONTEPULCIANO AT YOUR OWN PACE AND TASTING THE LOCAL WINES. THAT EVENING,
YOU WILL CHECK IN TO YOUR NEW HOTEL IN ROME.
DAY 6: ROME
BETWEEN 7:45 - 8:00AM, DEPART FROM THE HOTEL AFTER BREAKFAST TO WALK THIS
FAMOUS CITY, TAKING IN THE SIGHTS OF ITS ARTISTIC BEAUTIES SUCH AS ST.
PETER’S SQUARE, NAVONA SQUARE, THE PANTHEON (VISIT INSIDE), TREVI FOUNTAIN
(REGULAR TOUR N°1 – TOUR ENDS IN THE CITY CENTRE). EXPLORE THE REST OF THE
CITY AT YOUR OWN LEISURE UNTIL YOU DECIDE THAT YOU CAN’T DO ANY MORE
WALKING. RETURN TO THE HOTEL TO GIVE YOUR FEET SOME REST.
DAY 7: ROME
BE SURE TO EAT BREAKFAST AT YOUR HOTEL BEFORE SPENDING THE DAY EXPLORING
ROME ON YOUR OWN OR DURING AN INDEPENDENT DAY EXCURSION. RETURN TO THE HOTEL
FOR YOUR LAST OVERNIGHT IN ROME.
DAY 8: ROME, NAPLES, POMPEII, SORRENTO
AFTER BREAKFAST AT YOUR HOTEL, A COACH BUS WILL DEPART AT 7:00AM, TAKING THE
HIGHWAY “OF THE SUN”THROUGH THE REGIONS OF LAZIO AND CAMPANIA, WHERE YOU
WILL SEE A PICTURESQUE VIEW OF THE ABBEY OF MONTECASSINO. UPON ARRIVING IN
NAPLES, YOU WILL GO
ON A SHORT PANORAMIC CITY TOUR, SEEING SITES SUCH AS THE MERGELLINA
NEIGHBORHOOD, CASTEL DELL’OVO, PLEBISCITO SQUARE, THE ROYAL PALACE, MASCHIO
ANGIOINO, AND THE PORT. HAVE LUNCH IN A RESTAURANT EN ROUTE TO POMPEII AND
THEN VISIT the EXCAVATIONS OF THE FAMOUS ROMAN CITY, DESTROYED BY THE
ERUPTION OF MOUNT VESUVIUS IN 79 A.D. LEAVING POMPEII, YOU WILL DRIVE ALONG
THE
SORRENTINE COAST, ARRIVING IN SORRENTO FOR DINNER AND AN OVERNIGHT IN YOUR
NEW HOTEL.
DAY 9: SORRENTO, CAPRI, SORRENTO
BOARD A BOAT FOR THE ISLAND OF CAPRI AFTER BREAKFAST. DEPENDING ON WEATHER
AND SEA CONDITIONS, YOU WILL ENTER THE INFAMOUS BLUE GROTTA IN A SMALL
ROWBOAT. AFTER, ENJOY LUNCH AT A LOCAL RESTAURANT AND THEN ROAM THE ISLAND
AT YOUR OWN PACE. RETURN TO THE MAINLAND FOR DINNER AND YOUR LAST OVERNIGHT
IN SORRENTO.
DAY 10: SORRENTO, PALERMO (OVERNIGHT ON FERRY BOAT)
SPEND A LEISURELY MORNING EATING BREAKFAST AT YOUR HOTEL AND THEN EXPLORING
SORRENTO. THAT AFTERNOON, DEPART FOR NAPLES HARBOR, WHERE YOU WILL BOARD THE
TIRRENIA/SNAV FERRY TO PALERMO. LET THE WAVES ROCK YOU TO SLEEP. PLEASE
NOTE, DINNER AND BREAKFAST ARE NOT INCLUDED ON THE BOAT.
DAY 11: PALERMO
ARRIVE IN PALERMO AND CHECK IN TO YOUR HOTEL BEFORE SPENDING THE DAY AT YOUR
OWN LEISURE. COME BACK TO YOUR HOTEL FOR DINNER AND YOUR FIRST OVERNIGHT IN
SICILY.
DAY 12: PALERMO, MONREALE
AFTER BREAKFAST, DEPART FOR MONREALE, AN ANCIENT ROYAL TOWN. BACK IN
PALERMO, TOUR THE CATHEDRAL AND SOME OF THE CITY’S OTHER MAIN ATTRACTIONS.
SPEND THE AFTERNOON EXPLORING PALERMO AT YOUR LEISURE AND THEN RETURN TO
YOUR HOTEL FOR DINNER AND AN OVERNIGHT.
DAY 13: PALERMO, ERICE, MAZARA DEL VALLO, MARSALA, AGRIGENTO
A FULL DAY AWAITS YOU AFTER BREAKFAST. FIRST DEPART FOR ERICE, A SMALL
MOUNTAIN TOP MEDIEVAL VILLAGE IN WESTERN SICILY THAT HAS CHANGED LITTLE
SINCE SIXTH CENTURY BC. NEXT, VISIT MAZARA DEL VALLO. THERE, YOU WILL HAVE
FREE TIME TO EXPLORE THIS SEASIDE TOWN KNOWN FOR ITS WINE. HEADING SOUTH,
YOU’LL PASS BY MAZARA DEL VALLO, A FISHING PORT OVERLOOKING THE STRAIT OF
SICILY AND
THE CITY CLOSEST TO AFRICA UNIL GETTING TO AGRIGENTO, YOUR NEXT, EXCITING
STOP. HERE YOU’LL VISIT THE VALLEY OF THE TEMPLES (ADMISSION INCLUDED),
WHICH INCLUDES THE TEMPLE OF JUNO, THE TEMPLE OF CONCORDE, THE TEMPLE OF
HERCULES, AND THE TEMPLE OF JUPITER, ONE OF THE LARGEST DORIC-STYLE
BUILDINGS. (IF THE WEATHER DOESN’T PERMIT, YOU WILL GET A CHANCE TO VISIT
THE VALLEY OF TEMPLES THE FOLLOWING MORNING). CHECK IN TO YOUR NEW HOTEL AND
HAVE A GLASS OF WINE WITH DINNER.
DAY 14: AGRIGENTO, NOTO, SIRACUSA, TAORMINA (GIARDINI NAXOS)
FOLLOWING BREAKFAST IN YOUR HOTEL, YOU WILL DEPART FOR NOTO, A CITY THAT
WILL ASTONISH YOU WITH ITS RECENTLY RENOVATED CATHEDRAL AND BAROQUE
ARCHITECTURE. NEXT, YOU WILL ARRIVE IN SIRACUSA, WHERE YOU WILL VISIT THE
GREEK AMPHITHEATRE, THE EAR OF DIONYSUS, AND THE ROMAN THEATER (ADMISSION
TICKETS INCLUDED). NEXT, CROSS ONE OF THREE BRIDGES TO THE ISLAND OF ORTIGIA,
ALSO RICH IN BAROQUE AND MEDIEVAL PALACES AND CHURCHES. THAT AFTERNOON,
ARRIVE IN TAORMINA, WHERE YOU WILL CHECK IN TO YOUR HOTEL AND ENJOY DINNER.
DAY 15: TAORMINA (GIARDINI NAXOS)
EAT BREAKFAST AT YOUR HOTEL AND THEN HEAD OFF TO MOUNT ETNA, THE LARGEST
ACTIVE VOLCANO IN EUROPE AND THE HIGHEST MOUNTAIN IN ITALY. IF THE WEATHER
COOPERATES, YOU WILL HAVE A CHANCE TO CLIMB TO THE SUMMIT (1800 M). AFTER,
RETURN TO TAORMINA, THE BEAUTIFUL AND ROMANTIC TOWN LOCATED ON MOUNT TAURO.
RELAX OVER DINNER AND THEN GET SOME WELL-DESERVED REST.
DAY 16: TAORMINA (GIARDINI NAXOS)
ENJOY ONE FINAL BREAKFAST BEFORE THE TOUR COMES TO AN END.
PRICES
2012:
Italy City taxes payable
locally at each hotel (2-4Euro per night) - Rome/Venice/Florence
4
STAR HOTELS
EURO
2557- per person based on double occupancy
EURO 3359 -per
person based on single occupancy
EURO
2501- per person based on triple occupancy
3
STAR HOTELS:
EURO 2280 - per person based on double occupancy
EURO 3017 -per person based on single
occupancy
EURO
2215- per person based on triple occupancy
no child discount / child has to pay triple occupancy rate
PRICE
INCLUDES:
Transportation
by deluxe motorcoach
Multilingual Tour-Escort in English and Spanish
Accommodation in a 4 star or 3 star Hotels as chosen
Meals as per itinerary (13 dinners). Panoramic Visit
as per itinerary
PRICE DOES
NOT INCLUDE:
Drinks
, Porterage, City taxes
Entrance Fees to Monuments and Museums
Tips, extras and everything
that is not mentioned in the paragraph “Price includes”
Hotels used on the First Class Tour:
Rome: Hotel Oxford (4star) or Hotel Diana(4star) or Hotel Beverly
Hills(4star) or similar
Florence: Hotel Raffaello (4star) or Hotel Mediterraneo (4star ) or similar
Venice: Hotel Carlton Grand Canal (4star) or similar
Sorrento: Hotel Michelangelo or similar(4star)
Hotel Mercure or similar - Palermo
Hotel Della Valle or similar - Agrigento
Hotel Ceaser Palaca or similar - Taormina area
Hotels used on the Standard Tour:
Rome: Hotel Corona (3star) or Hotel Constanza (3star) or similar
Florence: Hotel Raffaello (4star) or Hotel Mediterraneo (4star ) or similar
Venice: HOtel Delfino (Mestre / 4star) or similar
Sorrento:Hotel Michelangelo(4star) or similar
Palermo/Agrigent/Taormina - hotel on REQUEST
Extra nights in Rome before
or after the tour - 2011/2012
| Hotel |
Per person based
on double |
Per person based on single |
Per person based on triple |
First Class
Hotel Diana
|1Nov-28Dec'11/2Jan-15Mar'/1-31Aug'12 |
58 |
90 |
52 |
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16Mar-31Mar'12/1-31Jul'12 |
63 |
95 |
57 |
29Dec'11-1Jan'12
1Apr-30Jun/1Sep-31Oct'12 |
99 |
133 |
84 |
Standard
Hotel San Remo
1Apr-30Jun/1Sep-31Oct'12 |
76 |
103 |
65 |
| 1Jul-31Aug'12 |
60 |
85 |
56 |
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For additional hotels, extra nights
before and after the tour or city package with tours in
Rome
please visit our Rome
City package page
Shuttle service (Itinerari Express) from
Fiumicino Airport to hotels in Rome or v.v.:
Euro 17 per person
meeting point: Terminal T3 Itinariweb.com desk / arrivals
terminal B
Departures 8am-8pm every 20-30 minutes / pick up at hotels
3hours prior departure
Private transfer from Fiumicino airport to hotels or V.V
one way (1hour service length):
Euro 55 per car for 1-3 passengers
Private transfer from railstation to hotels or v.v. one
way:
Euro 38 per car for 1-3 passengers
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