Grand Italy Tour with Sicily

Rome, Assisi, Siena, Florence, Bologna, Padova, Venice, Montepuciano, Naples, Pompeii, Sorrento, Capri, Palermo, Monreale, Erice, Agrigento, Siracusa, Taormina

16 days/15 nights   #14   Period of Mar 25 – Oct 14 2013

Trip from Rome to Florence,Venice , South Italy and Sicily   

Departure dates: Mar 25, Apr 29, May 13, 27, Jun 10, Aug 19, Sep 1, 6, 30, Oct 14 2013 
ITINERARY

Day 1 Rome – Assisi – Siena – Florence
Departing at 7.15am from hotel Diana by deluxe coach to Assisi, where you can explore this tiny town, surrounded by walls built in the center 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 . Overnight.
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 center Ages as a free “comune” and was further refined by the Renaissance. You will be fascinated by its numerous monuments, churches, and buildings, AS Santa Maria del Fiore, more commonly referred to as The Duomo. On your visit, you will be amazed by its magnificent dome built by Filippo Brunelleschi. Cross a small piazza to see the Campanile tower (partly designed by Giotto) 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 asPalazzo 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 (optional), one of the four main historical Marine Republics of Italy. There, you will visit 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 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 lagoon 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 you leisure and then return to the hotel for dinner and relaxation.
Day 5 Venice – Montepulciano/Tuscany – Rome
Nonce 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 07.45/08.00am, depart from the hotel after breakfast to walk this famous city, taking in the sights of its artistic beauties such as St. Peter’Square, Navona Square, the Pantheon (visit inside), Trevi Fountain. Explore the rest of the city at your own leisure until you decide that you cant 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 07.00am, 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 sightseeing such as the Mergellina neoghborhood, castel dell’Ovo, Plebiscito Square,
theRoyal 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 wether and sea conditions, you will enter the infamous
Blue Grotto in a small rowboat. After, enjoy lunch at a local restaurant and then roam the island at your pace. Return to
the mainland for dinner and your last overnight in Sorrento.
Day 10 Sorrento – Naples – overnight on 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 fro Monreale, an ancient royal town. Back in Palermo, visit the Cathedral and some of the city’s
other main attractions. Spend the afternoon exploring Palermo at your leisure and the return to your hotel for dinner and an overnight.
Day 13 Palermo – Erice – Marsala – Mazara del Vallo – 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 until getting 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 chebce to climb to the summit (1800mts). 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 program comes to an end.

PRICES 2013:

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 -Escort in English and Spanish
Accommodation in a 4 star or 3 star Hotels as chosen
Meals as per itinerary . Panoramic Visit  as per itinerary with local guides

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 Ambasciatori , Grand Hotel Capodimonte , Del La Ville or similar(4star)
Hotel Mercure or similar – Palermo
Hotel Della Valle or similar – Agrigento
Hotel Ceaser Palace 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 Ambasciatori , Grand Hotel Capodimonte , Del La Ville or similar(4star)
Palermo/Agrigent/Taormina – hotel on REQUEST