Classic Italy

•   TAUCKS YELLOW ROADS! Encounter spectacular scenery around every bend on a drive along the celebrated Amalfi Coast the perfect blending of earth, sea and sky!

Day 1: Arrive Naples / Sorrento
Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria. A transfer is included from Naples International Airport to the Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria. Your hotel is one of Italy’s “grand hotels,” family owned and run since it opened in 1834; it overlooks the beautiful waters of the Bay of Naples. Join us for a welcome cocktail reception and dinner tonight.
Overnight: Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria, Sorrento, Italy
Meals Included: Dinner

Day 2: Discover the Amalfi Coast
Rise early for an unhurried drive along the Amalfi Coast, one of the most spectacular drives in the world! Fantastic rock formations drop vertically into the sea; sub-tropical vegetation on the hillsides, together with colorful Mediterranean flora, create bewitching landscapes. Stop for visits in the seaside villages of Amalfi, with its many medieval antiquities, and Ravello, known for its dramatic villas; savor the panoramic views of the coast and sea. Return to Sorrento in the afternoon to explore its charming piazzas and small alleys; the historic center of town, and the old Roman streets, are fascinating.
Overnight: Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria, Sorrento, Italy
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch

Day 3: Pompeii / Rome
Travel to Pompeii, a prosperous city of 27,000 until it was frozen in time at the moment it was completely buried by volcanic ash from the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 AD. Excavations began in the 18th century and are still in progress today. Walk through the ruins of Pompeii with a local expert to discover the way life was in Italy in the 1st century AD – visit the temple, the forum and a home adorned with frescoes. Arrive late afternoon in Rome, where you’ll spend the next three nights. Your hotel is located on the fashionable Via Veneto, close to historic and cultural attractions.
Overnight: The Westin Excelsior, Rome, Italy
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 4: Afte-Hours Vatican Museums Visit
Sightseeing in Rome is highlighted by a Tauck Exclusive – an after-hours tour of the Vatican Museums (day of the tour may vary). No trip to Rome would be complete without a visit to the Vatican, a state and city all in one; see the Candelabra Gallery, Map Gallery and the Tapestries, home to a vast collection of art treasures. Enter the Sistine Chapel to view the artist Michelangelo’s famous frescoes adorning the chapel’s ceiling – without the usual crowds!
Overnight: The Westin Excelsior, Rome, Italy
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 5: Rome of the Caesars
Rome sightseeing includes the ruins of the Imperial Palace and Circus Maximus; a tour of St. Peter’s Basilica plus an opportunity to see St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City; and a view of the Roman Forum from above. A visit to the Colosseum, the 2,000-year-old amphitheatre in the heart of Rome that was once used for gladiator contests and public events, will certainly be one of the highlights! You’ll get an authentic taste of Italian cuisine tonight when you dine family style at a local restaurant in Rome.
Overnight: The Westin Excelsior, Roma, Italy
Meals Included: Breakfast, dinner

Day 6: Orvieto and Torgiano
Arrive in Orvieto, set high on a hill volcanic in origin, overlooking the vineyards below. Visit the Duomo, one of Italy’s greatest cathedrals; the façade is a visual treat, a blend of sculpture and mosaic splashed with a palette of colors and magnificent bronze doors. Inside, view inspiring frescoes created by renowned artists. Following a traditional trattoria lunch near the Piazza del Duomo, continue through Umbria, a wine-producing region. Arrive in Torgiano, a small Tiber Valley village, to experience Italian country life for the next two nights. Your accommodation is a 17th-century patrician home featuring wooden beams, terra-cotta floors, and a private winery, whose product you’ll sample at a wine tasting in the wine museum / osteria.
Overnight: Hotel Le Tre Vaselle, Torgiano, Italy
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 7: Explore Historic Assisi
Take a short drive to Assisi, a well-preserved medieval hillside town spread across the slopes of a mountain. Assisi was the home of St. Francis, who left a position of wealth and turned to a life of poverty, chastity and obedience, founding the order whose followers became known as Franciscans. St. Francis Basilica, built by the people, today houses some of Italy’s great 13th- and 14th-century frescoes. Enjoy some free time in the center of town, then return to Torgiano for the evening. Join us tonight for a cooking demonstration by an Umbrian chef, where you’ll discover the nuances of Italian cuisine.
Overnight: Hotel Le Tre Vaselle, Torgiano, Italy
Meals Included: Breakfast, dinner

Day 8: Under the Tuscan Sun
Tuscany is an enchanting region, where for centuries the beauty of nature has blended with the ingenuities of mankind; your travels through the rolling Tuscan hills take you through golden landscapes dotted with olive and fig trees. Arrive in the hilltop town of San Gimignano, one of its gems. Medieval towers, built in the 12th century by the nobility, are visible from afar. Stroll along the quaint streets and visit Piazza della Cisterna, one of Italy’s most picturesque town squares. Continue your journey through lush Tuscan countryside to the seaside resort town of Viareggio for an overnight stay.
Overnight: Grand Hotel Principe di Piemonte, Viareggio, Italy
Meals Included: Breakfast, dinner

Day 9: Cinque Terre / Florence
Cinque Terre was accessible only by sea for hundreds of years, five picture-book fishing villages nestled between the Mediterranean’s blue waters and the rugged coastal mountains. Travel by train through the mountains to one of the villages, where you’ll experience daily life – from colorful fishing boats home from the sea, to the wine, olives, and citrus fruit produced locally. You’ll have some time to explore the cobblestone streets and alleyways, perhaps sampling the unique flavors of the local cuisine for lunch. Aboard a private boat, cruise the shores of the Italian Riviera for unparalleled views of this dramatic coast. Journey to the Renaissance city of Florence, where art and architecture whisper the history of the ages.
Overnight: Grand Hotel, Florence, Italy
Meals Included: Breakfast, dinner

Day 10: Experience Florence
A briefing by an art history lecturer precedes a walking tour of Florence and a guided visit through the collections of works by many of the greatest artists of the 14th and 15th centuries – including Michelangelo’s famous sculpture of David and paintings by Botticelli, Uccello, Ghirlandaio, del Sarto and others – at Galleria dell’Accademia. Flourishing for more than four centuries, the world-renowned institution was established in 1563 as the first art school in Europe. The rest of the afternoon and evening is free.
Overnight: Grand Hotel, Florence, Italy
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 11: Treasures of the Uffizi Gallery
Join a local expert for a guided tour of Florence’s inspiring Uffizi Gallery. Originally a suite of offices, it began being used to display some of the Medici family’s private art treasures in 1581 – thereby making it the oldest art gallery in the world. Its vast collection includes some of the most revered works of the Renaissance, such as Botticelli’s The Birth of Venus, Michelangelo’s The Holy Family, da Vincis unfinished Adoration of the Magi, Bellini’s Allegory and Raphael’s Madonna of the Goldfinch.
Overnight: Grand Hotel, Florence, Italy
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 12: Ride the Eurostar to Venice
The high-speed Eurostar train takes you to Venice, traversed by some 100 canals. Transfer by canal boat to your hotel, conveniently located near St. Mark’s Square; after lunch, embark on a walking tour. Visit St. Mark’s Basilica as well as the sumptuous Doges’ Palace, once the official residence of the elected officials of the Venetian Republic. Indulge in the quintessential Venetian experience – a serenade aboard a gondola on the canals. Dinner tonight is on your own in Venice, a city well-known for its restaurants!
Overnight: The Westin Europa & Regina, Venice, Italy
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch

Day 13: Venice at Leisure
The entire day is free to do as you please in Venice. You’ve got lots to choose from – perhaps visiting the museums, walking along the narrow streets and lanes, or taking a tour of the islands. Join us this evening for a farewell cocktail reception and dinner.
Overnight: The Westin Europa & Regina, Venice, Italy
Meals Included: Breakfast, dinner

Day 14: Journey Home
Tour ends: Venice. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from The Westin Europa & Regina to Marco Polo Airport. Allow 2 1/2 hours for flight check-in.
Overnight:
Meals Included: Breakfast

Don't miss our current specials: Tauck Tour Deals Traveling with a group of friends or family can add to the joy of any journey. Book a group of 10 on any Tauck land journey or cruise and the 11th guest travels FREE. Book a group of 8 on any Tauck Bridges family adventure and the 9th guest travels FREE Tauck Single Specials For those seeking singles tours, we are pleased to offer special values on select departures to our guests who choose to travel solo. You can travel with peace of mind, knowing that you are among like-minded travelers and will have all the day-to-day details handled for you! While everyone is welcome, on these select dates we offer special arrangements to those traveling solo at a reduced cost. Tauck Single Specials in North America Best of the Canadian Rockies Michigan's Lakes & Mackinac Island Charleston/Savannah Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia San Fransisco, Sonoma & Napa Valleys Tauck Single Specials in Europe A Week in Ireland A Week in Spain Mediterranean Discovery Istanbul and the Black Sea Treasure of the Mediterranean Cruising Mediterranean Shores The Blue Danube Holland Belgium in Spring Strasbourg to Prague Serenade The Rhine and Moselle Budapest to Amsterdam by Riverboat Budapest to the Black Sea Classic Italy Bellissima Northern Italy Italian Lakes, Venice, Florence and Rome A Week in Paris and Provence Tauck Singles Specials in Latin America Panama Canal & Costa Rica
Touring Date	Land Only	Land + Air	Single (Land Only)	Single (Land + Air)
9/10/2010 - 9/24/2010	$6,990
9/11/2010 - 9/25/2010	$8,330
9/13/2010 - 9/27/2010	$8,330
9/14/2010 - 9/28/2010	$8,330
9/15/2010 - 9/29/2010	$8,330
9/17/2010 - 10/1/2010	$8,330
9/18/2010 - 10/2/2010	$8,330
9/20/2010 - 10/4/2010	$8,330
9/22/2010 - 10/6/2010	$8,330
9/24/2010 - 10/8/2010	$8,330
9/25/2010 - 10/9/2010	$8,330
9/27/2010 - 10/11/2010	$8,330
9/29/2010 - 10/13/2010	$8,330
10/1/2010 - 10/15/2010	$8,330
10/2/2010 - 10/16/2010	$8,330
10/4/2010 - 10/18/2010	$8,330
10/6/2010 - 10/20/2010	$8,330
10/9/2010 - 10/23/2010	$8,330
10/11/2010 - 10/25/2010	$8,330
10/13/2010 - 10/27/2010	$6,990
10/20/2010 - 11/3/2010	$6,490
10/27/2010 - 11/10/2010	$6,490
Airfare Disclaimer A NOTE ABOUT AIRFARE: We encourage you to buy your airfare from the tour operator, because if your tour cancels then your airlines tickets will be covered. Purchasing flights separately at a lesser rate and incorporating it with a Non-Guaranteed Departure Date can result in loss of total cost of your flight investment. Depending on the fare rules, flights may be Non-Refundable and/or Non-Transferable. Neither the tour operator and/or Atlas Cruises & Tours will be held responsible for loss if a tour is cancelled for Lack of Participation. If you would like to check for discounted fares on Guaranteed Departures or for competitive pricing on air and hotel packages, we invite you to follow this link. Documents TRAVEL DOCUMENTS: Necessary Travel Documents such as Passports and Visas is the responsibility of the traveler. Passports must be valid six months from your return travel date.

1. Arrive Naples / Sorrento Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria. A transfer is included from Naples International Airport to the Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria. Your hotel is one of Italy’s “grand hotels,” family owned and run since it opened in 1834; it overlooks the beautiful waters of the Bay of Naples. Join us for a welcome cocktail reception and dinner tonight. Meals D   2. Discover the Amalfi Coast Rise early for an unhurried drive along the Amalfi Coast, one of the most spectacular drives in the world! Fantastic rock formations drop vertically into the sea; sub-tropical vegetation on the hillsides, together with colorful Mediterranean flora, create bewitching landscapes. Stop for visits in the seaside villages of Amalfi, with its many medieval antiquities, and Ravello, known for its dramatic villas; savor the panoramic views of the coast and sea. Return to Sorrento in the afternoon to explore its charming piazzas and small alleys; the historic center of town, and the old Roman streets, are fascinating. Meals BL   3. Pompeii / Rome Travel to Pompeii, a prosperous city of 27,000 until it was frozen in time at the moment it was completely buried by volcanic ash from the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 AD. Excavations began in the 18th century and are still in progress today. Walk through the ruins of Pompeii with a local expert to discover the way life was in Italy in the 1st century AD – visit the temple, the forum and a home adorned with frescoes. Arrive late afternoon in Rome, where you’ll spend the next three nights. Your hotel is located on the fashionable Via Veneto, close to historic and cultural attractions. Meals BLD   4. After-Hours Vatican Museums Visit Sightseeing in Rome is highlighted by a Tauck Exclusive – an after-hours tour of the Vatican Museums (day of the tour may vary). No trip to Rome would be complete without a visit to the Vatican, a state and city all in one; see the Candelabra Gallery, Map Gallery and the Tapestries, home to a vast collection of art treasures. Enter the Sistine Chapel to view the artist Michelangelo’s famous frescoes adorning the chapel’s ceiling – without the usual crowds! Meals B   5. Rome of the Caesars Rome sightseeing includes the ruins of the Imperial Palace and Circus Maximus; a tour of St. Peter’s Basilica plus an opportunity to see St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City; and a view of the Roman Forum from above. A visit to the Colosseum, the 2,000-year-old amphitheatre in the heart of Rome that was once used for gladiator contests and public events, will certainly be one of the highlights! You’ll get an authentic taste of Italian cuisine tonight when you dine family style at a local restaurant in Rome. Meals BD   6. Orvieto and Torgiano Arrive in Orvieto, set high on a hill volcanic in origin, overlooking the vineyards below. Visit the Duomo, one of Italy’s greatest cathedrals; the façade is a visual treat, a blend of sculpture and mosaic splashed with a palette of colors and magnificent bronze doors. Inside, view inspiring frescoes created by renowned artists. Following a traditional trattoria lunch near the Piazza del Duomo, continue through Umbria, a wine-producing region. Arrive in Torgiano, a small Tiber Valley village, to experience Italian country life for the next two nights. Your accommodation is a 17th-century patrician home featuring wooden beams, terra-cotta floors, and a private winery, whose product you’ll sample at a wine tasting in the wine museum / osteria. Meals BLD   7. Explore Historic Assisi Take a short drive to Assisi, a well-preserved medieval hillside town spread across the slopes of a mountain. Assisi was the home of St. Francis, who left a position of wealth and turned to a life of poverty, chastity and obedience, founding the order whose followers became known as Franciscans. St. Francis Basilica, built by the people, today houses some of Italy’s great 13th- and 14th-century frescoes. Enjoy some free time in the center of town, then return to Torgiano for the evening. Join us tonight for a cooking demonstration by an Umbrian chef, where you’ll discover the nuances of Italian cuisine. Meals BD   8. Under the Tuscan Sun Tuscany is an enchanting region, where for centuries the beauty of nature has blended with the ingenuities of mankind; your travels through the rolling Tuscan hills take you through golden landscapes dotted with olive and fig trees. Arrive in the hilltop town of San Gimignano, one of its gems. Medieval towers, built in the 12th century by the nobility, are visible from afar. Stroll along the quaint streets and visit Piazza della Cisterna, one of Italy’s most picturesque town squares. Continue your journey through lush Tuscan countryside to the seaside resort town of Viareggio for an overnight stay. Meals BD   9. Cinque Terre / Florence Cinque Terre was accessible only by sea for hundreds of years, five picture-book fishing villages nestled between the Mediterranean’s blue waters and the rugged coastal mountains. Travel by train through the mountains to one of the villages, where you’ll experience daily life – from colorful fishing boats home from the sea, to the wine, olives, and citrus fruit produced locally. You’ll have some time to explore the cobblestone streets and alleyways, perhaps sampling the unique flavors of the local cuisine for lunch. Aboard a private boat, cruise the shores of the Italian Riviera for unparalleled views of this dramatic coast. Journey to the Renaissance city of Florence, where art and architecture whisper the history of the ages. Meals BD   10. Experience Florence A briefing by an art history lecturer precedes a walking tour of Florence and a guided visit through the collections of works by many of the greatest artists of the 14th and 15th centuries – including Michelangelo’s famous sculpture of David and paintings by Botticelli, Uccello, Ghirlandaio, del Sarto and others – at Galleria dell’Accademia. Flourishing for more than four centuries, the world-renowned institution was established in 1563 as the first art school in Europe. The rest of the afternoon and evening is free. Meals B   11. Treasures of the Uffizi Gallery Join a local expert for a guided tour of Florence’s inspiring Uffizi Gallery. Originally a suite of offices, it began being used to display some of the Medici family’s private art treasures in 1581 – thereby making it the oldest art gallery in the world. Its vast collection includes some of the most revered works of the Renaissance, such as Botticelli’s The Birth of Venus, Michelangelo’s The Holy Family, da Vincis unfinished Adoration of the Magi, Bellini’s Allegory and Raphael’s Madonna of the Goldfinch. Meals B   12. Ride the Eurostar to Venice The high-speed Eurostar train takes you to Venice, traversed by some 100 canals. Transfer by canal boat to your hotel, conveniently located near St. Mark’s Square; after lunch, embark on a walking tour. Visit St. Mark’s Basilica as well as the sumptuous Doges’ Palace, once the official residence of the elected officials of the Venetian Republic. Indulge in the quintessential Venetian experience – a serenade aboard a gondola on the canals. Dinner tonight is on your own in Venice, a city well-known for its restaurants! Meals BL   13. Venice at Leisure The entire day is free to do as you please in Venice. You’ve got lots to choose from – perhaps visiting the museums, walking along the narrow streets and lanes, or taking a tour of the islands. Join us this evening for a farewell cocktail reception and dinner. Meals BD   14. Journey Home Tour ends: Venice. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from The Westin Europa & Regina to Marco Polo Airport. Allow 2 1/2 hours for flight check-in. Meals B

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