Experience Italy & Sicily 16 Days 4 Star Tour

Experience Italy & Sicily 16 Days 4 Star

NEW LOWER PRICE! A journey through Northern Italy, Southern Italy and Sicily. This tour features of all of the major sites and areas of Northern Italy, Southern Italy and Sicily in 16 days. This tour features the major cites of Venice, Florence, Rome as well as the highlights of the Amalfi Coast such as Sorrento, Capri, Pompeii; as well as the major highlights of Sicily. A fantastic value! Departure Date : April-October 2011 Valid till : 10 October 2011 Days / Nights : 16 Days/ 15 Nights Hotels : 4 Star & 3 Star Superior Hotels Price: see the price in USD* also in Euro, GBP, CAD and YEN Countries : Italy Cities : Rome, Assisi, Siena, Florence, Tuscany, Bologna, Padova, Venice, Chianti, Montepulciano, Naples, Pompeii, Amalfi Coast, Sorrento, Capri, Palermo, Erice, Marsala, Agrigento, Noto, Siracusa Taormina

Itinerary

Experience Italy & Sicily 16 Day, 4 Star

Customer Experience: (5 out of 5)

Customer Review: "When I was with Italy 4 Real I felt I was being escorted personally by an old family friend to favorite sites and restaurants. We felt comfortable and pampered. Superb hosts!" - Scott W.

Departure Dates 2011: April 04 18 May 02 16 30 June 13 july 04 18 25 august 08 22 september 05 19 26 october 10

This tour begins in Rome and ends in Taormina, Sicily

Day 1 Highlights: Arrival to Rome, Welcome to Italy, Relax & Unpack!

DAY 1: Arrival to Rome – Welcome to Italy!

Welcome to Italy! Arrive to your hotel or add the optional airport transfer. Check into your hotel and relax. The first day in Europe is what we call the “Jetlag Day” where all you are to do is unpack and relax. Today is your day to arrive, get over the long flight and just enjoy the fact that you have just begun your well needed vacation to Italy. Stroll the streets around your hotel for a cocktail, find a local artist studio to look over the latest Roman art or just find a piazza and people watch; the choice is yours!

Day 2 Highlights: Assisi, Basilica of St. Francis, Siena, Piazza del Campo, Florence

DAY 2 – Umbria to Tuscany

+ Included: Breakfast, Sightseeing and Dinner

Fuel your full day of sightseeing with pastries, juice, authentic italian espresso and more at your hotel’s included continental breakfast. Then board your deluxe motor coach for the scenic drive to Assisi, with time at leisure to explore this medieval city. It is the birthplace of St. Francis and is still surrounded by its ancient walls. We suggest you visit the Basilica of Saint Francis with its early Renaissance masterpieces by Giotto and Cimabue. Lunch is at your leisure. You will then proceed to Siena to take in views of the town square, Piazza del Campo, where the world-famous horse race, the Palio, takes place every year. Also see the elegant Palace and the Cathedral. Reach your hotel in glorious Florence, the capital of Tuscany, in time for an included, multi-course dinner featuring Italian specialties—an ideal time to get to know your fellow travelers.

Day 3 Highlights: Florence, The Duomo, Campanile Tower, Santa Croce

Day 3 – The City of Art – Florence!

+ Included: Breakfast, Sightseeing and Dinner

Today’s sightseeing tour is dedicated to exploring Florence, the cradle of the Renaissance. Visit the beautiful Piazza del Duomo, the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, Giotto’s Bell Tower, the Baptistery of St. John, Campanile Tower, and Santa Croce, the 13th-century Franciscan church with Cimabue’s famous crucifix just to name a few. Lunch is on your own; perhaps sit at an outdoor café for a typical Italian mid-day meal. Be sure to save room for some exquisite gelato! With your afternoon at leisure, you may want to check out the many shops and stalls at the Ponte Vecchio, where you can browse for Italian leather goods and other souvenirs. Your afternoon is free or you may join an optional tour to see Pisa. Meet back at your conveniently located hotel for an included dinner tonight.

Day 4 Highlights: Bologna, Padova, Venice

Day 4 – Tuscany, Heartland and Venice

+ Included: Breakfast, Sightseeing and Dinner

Enjoy your breakfast and prepare for a full day of exploring. It’s on to Bologna for a visit to the city. Visit the city’s historical center, Neptune Square and Major Square, King Renzo’s Palace , Podesta Palace and The Basilica of San Petronio to name a few. Lunch is at your leisure and the afternoon is yours to explore. Later we will continue Padova for a visit to the Basilica of Saint Antonio and then on to the city of bridges; Venice, with its romantic canals, in time for dinner at your hotel.

Day 5 Highlights: Venice, St Marks Square, Doges Palace, Glass Factory

Day 5 – The City of Bridges – Venice!

+ Included: Breakfast, Sightseeing and Dinner

Good morning! As you rise and shine in Venice, the smell of fresh espresso and pastries fill the air. Today you get to learn about glorious Venice, with its 177 islands, 150 canals and 400 bridges. Venice is your playground this morning; sightseeing includes the famous St. Mark’s Square (watch out for pigeons!) and the ornate Doge’s Palace (outside), once home to the aristocrats of Venice, Bridge of Sighs and more! Also stop at a glass factory where authentic, hand-blown Murano glass is made. Centuries ago, the glassmakers who lived on the small island of Murano were known the world over for their art, even rising to Venice’s upper-class because of their extraordinary talents. With the afternoon at leisure, you may want to linger over lunch at a sidewalk café—be sure to try some gelato! Or perhaps take a ride in a traditional, hand-built gondola—after all; an authentic gondola ride on Venice’s canals just may be a once-in-a-lifetime experience! Don’t forget dinner is included tonight as well.

Day 6 Highlights: Tuscany, Chianti, Montepulciano, Rome

Day 6 – Tuscan Wine Country

+ Included: Breakfast, Sightseeing

Enjoy your breakfast and prepare for your departure to the heart of Tuscany’s wine country. First stop of the day is the Chianti region. Chianti is world known for its landscape and wine. Located between Siena and Florence, Chianti is synonymous to fine Tuscan wines. The town we choose to visit in Chianti is Montepulciano which is widely known for its famous Brunello red. You will have plenty of time to visit the local wine shops for tastings, photos of the wine barrels and rolling Tuscan countryside. Later in the afternoon we continue to the capitol of Italy; Rome! This tour includes our free TRIP PAK which has over $50 in free maps, sightseeing, dining and regional guides. Your TripPak will show you plenty of things to do during your free time when you arrive to Rome!

Day 7 Highlights: Rome, Piazza Navona, Pantheon, Trevi Fountain

Day 7 – All Roads Lead to Rome!

+ Included: Breakfast, Sightseeing

Sip your espresso, take another bit of the fresh fruit and enjoy your breakfast because today you will walk the capital city and learn firsthand the history of Rome. A walking tour of the city will introduce you to Piazza di Spagna, Fontana di Trevi, Pantheon , Piazza Navona and end in San Pietro Basilica. Now that you have a basic understanding of the layout of the historical center, the remainder of the day and evening are yours to explore, relax and soak it all in. Ask your Travel Expert about some of the great optional tours you can experience while in Rome such as renting a Vespa scooter or wine tasting at the International Academy of Wine. Italy4Real has dozens of great things to do!

Day 8 Highlights: Naples, Pompeii, Amalfi Coast, Sorrento

Day 8 – Bay of Naples, Pompeii & The Amalfi Coast!

+ Included: Breakfast, Sightseeing and Dinner

Board your coach this morning as it whisks you south along the “sun route” motorway, driving through the regions of Lazio and Campania—you’ll have a great view of the Abbey of Montecassino along the way. Upon arrival in Naples, take a short panoramic coach tour of this city rich in history. You’ll see the fishing port of Mergellina; Castel dell’Ovo (“Egg Castle”), built in the 1st century; Piazza del Plebiscito, the main square in Naples; the 18th-century Royal Palace; and the Maschio Angioino, also known as the Castel Nuovo (“New Castle”), a 13th-century home for royalty. Stop for lunch on your way to Pompeii to visit the excavations of the Roman city that was destroyed by the eruption of the volcano Vesuvius in 79 A.D. It was covered in ash for hundreds of years until the ancient city was uncovered in 1748. Because the city was so well preserved, it gives archeologists—and visitors—an unusual peek into the daily life of Romans in the 1st century. Leave Pompeii and drive along the coast to arrive in Sorrento in time for dinner. Once you arrive to Sorrento you have made it to the crown jewel of the Amalfi Coast. Take a stroll to Piazza Tasso and have a cocktail!

Day 9 Highlights: Capri, Blue Grotto, Rome

Day 9 – The Amalfi Island - Capri

+ Included: Breakfast and Sightseeing

After you enjoy a wonderful breakfast, board a ferryboat to the lovely resort island of Capri, where, weather and sea conditions permitting, you’ll visit the Blue Grotto in small rowing boats. This sea cave appears to be lit from the bottom of the ocean, and gives off a mystical fluorescent-blue hue. Eat lunch with the group, and then it’s time to explore Capri on your own. You may want to visit San Michele’s gardens, for a bird’s-eye-view of the island. In the late afternoon, return to your lovely hotel in Sorrento. The evening is yours in Sorrento.

Day 10 Highlights: Sorrento, Ferry to Sicily

Day 10 – To Sicily by Sea

+ Included: Breakfast, Ferry Tickets

Enjoy your breakfast at leisure because today you take to the seas for a wonderful journey across the ocean to Sicily. You will have the morning to explore Sorrento, take that last photo or send another postcard before you transfer to Naples harbor to board the ferry to Palermo. The ferry will travel through the night to arrive in Palermo the next morning. You will enjoy standard seating for the journey and the boat has full dining and bar service for dinner at your leisure during the journey.

Day 11 Highlights: Port of Palermo, Palermo, Sicily

Day 11 – The Capital of Sicily - Palermo

+ Included: Transfer from Port to hotel and dinner

As the sun rises over the sea and the island of Sicily your ferry docks at Palermo’s port where you will be transferred to your hotel. It’s time to check in, relax and prepare to explore the vibrant city of Palermo. Today is yours to do as you wish but tonight don’t forget to return for your dinner of the specialties of Sicily.

Day 12 Highlights: Palermo, Monreale Cathedral, Cloister

Day 12 – Palermo's Ancient Past

+ Included: Breakfast, Sightseeing and dinner

Experience the best Italian espresso as you fuel your body for the days adventure. In the morning visit of the historical past of Palermo that includes: the Palatine Chapel, the Cathedral of Palermo. Continue to Monreale to visit the Cathedral and its Cloister. Lunch and the afternoon, time at leisure to enjoy the Sicilian capital. The outdoor markets are an amazing place to people watch and see the vendors sell their items the same way they did hundreds of years ago. Dinner at your hotel this evening.

Day 13 Highlights: Palermo, Erice, Mazzara del Valle, Marsala, Agrigento, Valley of the Temples

Day 13 – Sicilian Cites of the Ancient Past

+ Included: Breakfast, Sightseeing with entrance tickets and dinner

After a relaxing night’s sleep and a hearty breakfast you will depart for the ancient town of Erice. This town is frozen in time and still today it looks as it did in the 11th century. Explore the town’s narrow streets and admire it’s amazing views of the sea. Later you will visit the fishing port Mazara del Vallo which has more astonishing views of the sea. Then on to Marsala which is just off the African continent. Plenty of free time to explore this ancient seaside village. Make sure to grab a bite during your free time because there is more to see. Next you will continue on to Agrigento and the amazing Valley of the Temples. Concorde, Hercules, Jupiter and Juno are just a few of the temples you will see. After a full day you will be taken to your hotel in the city of Agrigento where you can unpack and relax. Dinner and free time for a night cap later.

Day 14 Highlights: Agrigento, Modica, Siracusa, Church of St. George, Greek Amphitheatre

Day 14 – Sicilian & Greek Art and History

+ Included: Breakfast, Sightseeing with entrance tickets and dinner

After a breakfast at leisure you will be taken to the island of Modica. Modica is a magical place of buildings in the baroque style and done in rich dark brown colors. A special treat will be visiting the Church of St. George. After time for photos and postcards you will continue towards Siracusa and the island of Ortigia. A stop in Siracusa for a visit to the main church or Duomo. Photos of the Greek Amphitheatre will amaze you. The views of the sea from the ruins of the Amphitheatre will be what you remember for long after the tour has ended. Visits to the Roman Theatre are also included in today’s adventure. In the afternoon you will be taken to Taormina for check into your hotel and a relaxing dinner.

Day 15 Highlights: Mt. Etna, Taormina

Day 15 – Sleeping Volcanoes

+ Included: Breakfast, Sightseeing and dinner

Get your fill at breakfast because today you journey to the peak of Mt. Etna. Etna is still an active volcano and the largest in all of Europe. If weather permits you will hike to the summit area for amazing photos and vistas of the island. In the afternoon you return to Taormina for dinner at the hotel and a relaxing evening to reflect on the amazing sights of the last nine days.

Day 16 Highlights: Taormina

Day 16 – Taormina Farewell

+ Included: Breakfast

The end must arrive and the memories of the journey must carry you through your next visit with us in Italy. The tour ends after breakfast. Your Italy 4 Real Travel Expert can assist you with optional transportation back to Rome or on to other European destinations. Note: This tour ends in Taormina

This tour includes the following extras at no charge!

Our Exclusive TRIP PAK that contains over $50 in maps, local and regional travel guides, travel tips, city information, dining suggestions, sightseeing suggestions and more all developed by our staff of Travel Experts and guides to make your trip more enjoyable.

Access to our 24 hour CRS System (Client Response System) where you will have access to your personal Travel Expert for questions or assistance during your trip.

The price of the tour includes:

4 & 3 Star hotels for 15 nights Transport by modern European coaches All breakfasts are included 13 meals All taxes included! Tour host for duration of tour Fantastic Sightseeing Tours are guaranteed in English but may also include other languages to accommodate passengers of other nationalities. Group Size: Med-Lg. Minimum: 2 Average: 20 The tour does not include: airfare, tips, baggage handling Local assistance 24 hours from Italy 4 Real Taxes and services TripPak - Over $50 in free travel maps, guide books and information CRS System - 24 Hr Travel Support Hotline During Your Trip All tours are governed by the Terms & Conditions The tour does not include Airfare, or Anything that is not mentioned in the paragraph “the tour includes *Travelling alone? Single supplements available for this trip.

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