Portrait of Italy

Today, we depart the U.S. for Europe with a connecting flight to Naples.

We arrive in Naples and travel to our hotel, which sits just a short drive from the town of Amalfi (note: hotel check-in is at 2:00 p.m.). Along the way, we get our first glimpse of the glorious southern Italian coast. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997, the Amalfi Coast is one of the most popular and beautiful destinations in Italy. Tonight, we enjoy dinner together at our hotel, as we will throughout our stay here.

Overnight: Hotel San Francesco

Meals: D

We begin our day with an exploration of the town of Amalfi. Weather permitting, we experience this famed coast by sea as we cruise either to or from the town via boat. We pass by the Duomo (cathedral), which dominates the main piazza, and then are free to wander as we please through Amalfi’s atmospheric waterfront or browse in the small shops that surround the square. 

Legend has it that the Greek demigod Hercules built this coastal town above the place where he buried Melphe, the nymph whom he loved. In 830 CE, Amalfi became one of Italy’s four Maritime Republics, assuming an autonomous status which helped transform it into a wealthy trade center. As the town gained renown, however, it became a target for pirates and neighboring states, and many locals were forced to vacate their homes. It wasn’t until the mid-19th century that tourism helped to rebuild this once-thriving town, and today its beauty inspires those who visit. 

After time for lunch on our own in Amalfi, we continue on to hilltop Ravello, once described as being “closer to the sky than the seashore” by French author André Gide. It’s widely agreed that, at 1,100 feet above sea level, the view from Ravello is stunning; we can see a splendid panorama of the entire Amalfi Coast. We return to our hotel late this afternoon.

Overnight: Hotel San Francesco

Meals: B, D

Today’s full-day excursion begins in Pompeii, the wonderfully preserved Roman town that tells a tale both tragic and fascinating. Just before Mt. Vesuvius erupted in 79 CE, many citizens of Pompeii heeded the warning signs and fled the town. But some 2,000 remained and were caught in the wake of the eruption, which engulfed them in volcanic ash. The ash literally “froze” the town in time, leaving exquisite ruins that show us how these ancient Romans lived, including vivid frescoes, a forum, and one of the largest surviving Roman amphitheaters in existence. After a walking tour of this incredible site, we enjoy lunch on our own. 

Then, we embark on a breathtaking drive along the winding Amalfi Coast road, high above the azure Tyrrhenian Sea. This 31-mile stretch of coastline from Sorrento to Salerno has inspired movies, music, and books; indeed, it is one of the most glorious drives in Europe – or anywhere, for that matter. During our leisurely excursion, we make several photo stops and also stop in Sorrento. After our day of touring, we return to our hotel late this afternoon. 

Overnight: Hotel San Francesco

Meals: B, D

A day-long transfer takes us to noble Rome. On the way, we pay a brief visit to the town of Montecassino, whose abbey is the mother church of the Benedictine order and a center of medieval art. A German stronghold during World War II, the hilltop abbey was destroyed by Allied bombing and then rebuilt as a replica of the 17th-century original. After a tour of the abbey, we continue on to Rome, arriving mid-afternoon. We check in at our well-located hotel and then take an informal walking tour of the surrounding neighborhood, led by our tour director. Dinner tonight is on our own and, as we’re in one of the world’s great food cities, the options are endless.

Overnight: Monti Palace Hotel

Meals: B

From St. Peter’s Square to the Spanish Steps, the Forum to the Trevi Fountain, Rome is filled with some of the most significant monuments, museums, and ruins in Western civilization. This morning’s half-day tour, which involves considerable walking, takes us to the ancient city to explore the 55,000-seat Colosseum, completed in 72 CE, and to the temples of the Forum, once the seat of Rome’s political power. This afternoon is free to do as we please: perhaps to visit the Spanish Steps or Trevi Fountain; walk through the Jewish Quarter with its wonderful synagogue; or learn more about Rome’s ancient history at the Museo di Roma. The choice is entirely ours, as is the selection of wonderful restaurants for lunch and dinner on our own today.

Overnight: Monti Palace Hotel

Meals: B

On this morning’s half-day tour, we visit monumental St. Peter’s Basilica, located inside Vatican City and regarded as the most important church in all Christendom. Here, we see Michelangelo’s Pieta, considered one of the greatest sculptures of all time. Another highlight is our visit to the Vatican Museums and the splendidly restored Sistine Chapel, whose ceiling is another Michelangelo masterpiece (for the best views, remember to bring your binoculars). The afternoon is free to experience Rome’s myriads of delights as we wish. For solitude, the grounds of the Villa Borghese offer a brief respite from the bustle of the city. For shopping, fabulous designer stores (and great people watching!) can be found the famed Via Veneto or the Via del Corso. And lovely Piazza Navona is the perfect spot to sit at a sidewalk café and soak up the vibrant atmosphere of this incredible city. Lunch and dinner today are on our own.

Please note: The order of sightseeing during your stay in Rome may vary; however, please be assured that we will visit all the above-noted highlights. 

Overnight: Monti Palace Hotel

Meals: B

Leaving Rome after lunch on our own, we travel north through a pastoral landscape of gentle agricultural land bounded by mountain wilderness and dotted with traditional villages and medieval hill towns. This is Umbria, known as the “green heart of Italy.” Our first in-person look at this agricultural haven comes at dinnertime, when we visit a family-owned farm for a cooking demonstration followed by dinner. We then head to Orvieto, perched atop a volcanic butte above a vineyard-clad plain, and check in at our hotel in the heart of the city’s medieval quarter. 

Please note: Due to the unique nature of this historic town, motorcoach service directly to the hotel is not available. Our motorcoach must park in a designated area, after which we will take an elevator to the center of town and walk to the hotel. Your luggage will be transported to and from the hotel on your behalf at the start and end of your stay.

Overnight: Grand Hotel Italia

Meals: B, D

This morning, we embark on a guided walking tour of this dramatically set city. We start with a visit to the medieval Duomo, featuring a frescoed chapel by the “Angelic Painter” Fra Angelico as well as Luca Signorelli’s masterpiece The Last Judgment. According to legend, the communion bread of a skeptical 13th-century priest bled onto the altar cloth in a nearby town, inspiring the pope to commission this magnificent cathedral to commemorate the miracle. 

Next, we explore the once-secret passages of Parco delle Grotte, a labyrinth of underground caves used since Etruscan times for such varied purposes as wine and olive oil storage, wells, and World War II bomb shelters. The remainder of the day is free for independent exploration in this city known for its classic Orvieto white wine and its ceramics traditions dating back to the early medieval era. Today, we can sample Orvieto’s Umbrian cuisine with lunch and dinner on our own. 

Overnight: Grand Hotel Italia

Meals: B

Today’s full-day excursion takes us through lovely scenery on our way to Assisi, where Saint Francis was born in 1182. Though the town itself is stunning with its inviting plazas and narrow streets, the highlight of our day is a tour of the famed Basilica of St. Francis, which has been fully restored after an earthquake caused serious damage to the upper church in 1997. Fortunately, the lower church and much of the art, including priceless frescoes by Giotto and Cavellini, were not damaged. Most dazzling of all is a series of Giotto frescoes depicting the life of St. Francis. We then have the opportunity to stroll Assisi’s fountain-splashed piazzas and enjoy local specialties for lunch on our own before we return to the hotel late this afternoon. Dinner tonight is on our own.

Overnight: Grand Hotel Italia

Meals: B

We continue our journey through Italy with a walking tour of walled Siena, another gem of Tuscany with well-preserved ochre-colored city walls, ancient ramparts, and splendid architecture. On our tour, we encounter the lively Piazza del Campo, one of Europe’s greatest public squares, and take an inside visit to the extraordinary Duomo, featuring masterpieces by Donatello and Michelangelo. We then have time for lunch and to further explore Siena on our own before we continue on to our lodging in the Tuscan countryside. We dine together tonight at our hotel. 

Please note: In Siena, we must leave the bus outside the historic city center and walk into town, and walk back to the bus after our touring.

Overnight: Villa San Filippo

Meals: B, D

An hour’s drive this morning brings us to Florence, the city of Renaissance artists and thinkers filled with extraordinary art treasures, splendid churches, smart boutiques, and an deeply fascinating history. Since buses are not allowed in the historic city center, we start our walking tour a distance away, giving us an appreciation for the city’s highly walkable layout. This star-studded stroll brings us face to face with the soaring Duomo with the dome by Brunelleschi, and the Piazza della Signoria, Florence’s ancient main square. 

We then have time at leisure for lunch and exploring on our own. Shopping, of course, is a popular activity here; leather goods and gold jewelry count among Florence’s modern-day treasures. The city also has an abundance of museums and churches at which to admire stunning art. After our free time, we gather at the Gallerie dell'Accademia to begin our visit to this world-renowned gallery featuring works such as Michelangelo’s David.

We walk back to the bus for the return journey to our hotel, where we dine together tonight. Be aware that our motorcoach must park in a designated area outside of Florence’s historic city center, requiring a long walk to and from our touring locations.

Please note: If you plan to visit the Uffizi Gallery during your free time, we highly recommend that you reserve your tickets as far in advance as possible for between 11:30 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. on the date we visit Florence. This very popular museum often is sold out and it may not be possible to obtain tickets onsite that afternoon. You can reserve tickets online; see the museum’s website for details. Also note that the Uffizi is quite large and contains many of the most famous Renaissance artworks in the world, so a visit could easily occupy all of your free time today.

Overnight: Villa San Filippo

Meals: B, D

Comfortable shoes are again a must today as we visit the hill town of San Gimignano. We have free time to explore this well-preserved medieval town and enjoy lunch on our own here. The city’s 13 remaining tower houses have left the 8th-century skyline nearly unchanged since medieval times. Following our visit, we drive to a local winery where we taste several vintages served with the appropriate hors d’oeuvres. This region is best known for the Vernaccia di San Gimignano, a white wine made from grapes grown around Tuscany, and for the most well-known of all Italian wines, Chianti. Tonight we dine at a local restaurant. 

Please note: In San Gimignano, we must leave the bus outside the historic city center and walk into town, and then walk back to the bus at the end of our touring.

Overnight: Villa San Filippo

Meals: B, D

This morning, we bid farewell to Tuscany as we travel through the Veneto region to Venice, city of drama and doges, canals and Canaletto. After our early afternoon arrival, the remainder of the day and evening is free to begin our explorations of this wondrous city, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the world’s most atmospheric destinations. For dinner on our own tonight, we may wish to sample the seafood dishes for which Venice is known. 

Overnight: Carnival Palace Hotel

Meals: B

This morning’s guided walking tour reveals a host of Venetian delights: Piazza San Marco (St. Mark’s Square), with its fantastic Basilica; the romantic Bridge of Sighs; and the Rialto district with its bustling market, among many others. Our afternoon is at leisure to enjoy this timeless city as we wish. Venice is an eminently walkable city filled with cafes and shops to explore and laced with its trademark canals. Options include taking the Vaporetto – Venice’s public waterbus system – or a gondola ride, enjoying some gelato after a lunch of Venetian seafood dishes, or simply reveling in wandering around this world-class floating city. This evening, we gather at a local restaurant for a farewell dinner to bid “arrivederci” to Italy and to our fellow travelers.

Overnight: Carnival Palace Hotel

Meals: B, D

We depart Venice for our connecting flight to the United States.

Meals: B