ITALYS BEST (63902010)

Guides
Local Guides for city sightseeing in Rome, Florence, Pompeii. Services of a professional Tour Director while touring.

Hotels


Rome
Pineta Palace (F),

Florence
Holiday Inn (F),

Lake Maggiore
Simplon (F) at Baveno or Splendid (F) at Baveno,

Venice Area
Poppi (F) at Mira,

Perugia
Holiday Inn (F) or Ilgo (ST),

Sorrento
Rivage (ST)

Meals
Buffet breakfast (B); 4 dinners (D)

Day 1:
Mon. BOARD YOUR OVERNIGHT TRANSATLANTIC FLIGHT.

Day 2:
Tue. ARRIVE IN ROME, ITALY. Check into your hotel. The rest of the day is free for you to explore this ancient capital. This evening, meet your Tour Director and fellow travelers.

Day 3:
Wed. ROME. The ”Eternal City”—a city steeped in history, vibrantly alive and exciting and absolutely unique! Included sightseeing with a Local Guide starts in St. Peter’s Square, followed by a visit to the Roman Forum and the mighty Colosseum. (B)

Day 4:
Thu. ROME–PISA–FLORENCE. This morning, vistas of undulating hills, austere rows of cypress trees, terraced vineyards, olive groves, and rural villages form the backdrop of your journey through beautiful Tuscany. Stop in Pisa for a visit and see the Square of Miracles and the amazing Leaning Tower. Arrive in Florence for overnight. (B)

Day 5:
Fri. FLORENCE. Today, enjoy the included walking tour with a Local Guide, featuring most of the city highlights. You will see the Piazza Santa Croce; the beautiful Piazza Signoria; the Palazzo Vecchio and its courtyard; the Loggia dei Lanzi; and, to top it all, the Piazza del Duomo and its cathedral with the Giotto Campanile, and the magnificent East Door of the Baptistry known as the “Gate of Paradise.” (B,D)

Day 6:
Sat. FLORENCE–MILAN–LAKE MAGGIORE. This morning, leave hilly Tuscany to travel north into the plains of Lombardy, crossing the great River Po with new and quite different scenery as you approach Milan for a stop to see its great Duomo. Overnight in Baveno in the Lake Maggiore area. (B)

Day 7:
Sun. LAKE MAGGIORE. EXCURSION TO LUGANO. Time to relax and get to know the area. Lake Maggiore is one of Italy’s largest lakes and is located on the very edge of Alpine Switzerland. In fact, on clear days you can see the peaks of the Swiss Alps. Take advantage of the included excursion to visit Lugano and its lake in Switzerland. (B)

Day 8:
Mon. LAKE MAGGIORE–VERONA–VENICE AREA. Travel across the Po river plain and stop in the romantic city of Verona to see Romeo and Juliet's balcony, and enjoy some time at leisure before reaching the Venice area. (B)

Day 9:
Tue. VENICE. Venice is more like a marvelous film set than a real live city, with its criss-crossing canals, gondolas and water buses, arched bridges, palaces, and little quiet piazzas. The included orientation starts with a boat ride and is followed by time at leisure and a chance to watch Venetian glassblowers fashion their delicate objects as they did centuries ago. Don’t miss out on the optional gondola trip, gliding along the picturesque canals with a local troubadour to serenade you. (B,D)

Day 10:
Wed. VENICE AREA–RAVENNA–ASSISI–PERUGIA. An interesting drive southwards right across the Po Delta to Ravenna. In the afternoon, journey to Assisi, enclosed by ramparts and little changed since the Middle Ages. This is the town of the deeply mystical and poetic St. Francis—see the Church of St. Clare, founder of the Order of Poor Clares, the medieval castle, and cathedral. Overnight in beautiful nearby Perugia, capital of Umbria. (B,D)

Day 11:
Thu. PERUGIA–POMPEII–SORRENTO. Drive south on the autostrada to Pompeii. Time stopped for the rich, aristocratic town of Pompeii with the terrible eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD. On the included visit you can see the remains of luxurious villas, temples, theater, and forum. Next, Sorrento, set on a plateau above the waters of the Bay of Naples. Wander the winding streets lined with shops and stalls, and sit with a glass of wine absorbing the easygoing life of this charming resort. (B)

Day 12:
Fri. SORRENTO. BOAT TRIP TO CAPRI. This legendary island is surrounded by rocky coastline where the crashing sea has formed awe-inspiring caves. The town with its pretty piazza, maze of streets, fashionable boutiques, and smart restaurants is a mecca for the jet set. An optional island tour is available. (B,D)

Day 13:
Sat. SORRENTO–ROME. A comfortable drive northwards this morning for arrival in Rome, well in time to enjoy most of the afternoon and evening. (B)

Day 14:
Sun. YOUR HOMEBOUND FLIGHT ARRIVES THE SAME DAY. (B)

Touring Date	Land Only	Land + Air	Single (Land Only)	Single (Land + Air)
8/2/2010 - 8/15/2010	$1,815
8/9/2010 - 8/22/2010	$1,815
8/16/2010 - 8/29/2010	$1,815
8/23/2010 - 9/5/2010	$1,815
8/30/2010 - 9/12/2010	$1,815
9/6/2010 - 9/19/2010	$1,815
9/13/2010 - 9/26/2010	$1,815
9/20/2010 - 10/3/2010	$1,815
9/27/2010 - 10/10/2010	$1,815
10/4/2010 - 10/17/2010	$1,815
10/11/2010 - 10/24/2010	$1,815
10/18/2010 - 10/31/2010	$1,715
10/25/2010 - 11/7/2010	$1,715
11/1/2010 - 11/14/2010	$1,685
11/8/2010 - 11/21/2010	$1,685
11/15/2010 - 11/28/2010	$1,685
11/22/2010 - 12/5/2010	$1,685
11/29/2010 - 12/12/2010	$1,665
12/23/2010 - 1/5/2011	$1,725
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.

City Highlights
Visits to Pisa, Milan, Lake Maggiore, Lugano, Verona, Venice, Ravenna, Assisi, Sorrento, Capri

Scenic Highlights
Tuscany, Italian Lake District, Bay of Naples

Price Details US
Single room supplement: $600No triple room reduction.

Related Tours
6370|Jewels of Italy

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