Highlights of Italy & Amalfi Coast

Highlight’s of Italy & Amalfi Coast – Luxury – 14 nights

Day 1: Venice – 20min boat ride                  

Arrival at international airport Marco Polo.  Welcome by your tour escort.
Transfer by private water taxi to the hotel located on the Grand Canal.
Orientation tour nearby your hotel given by your tour escort. Rest of day at leisure.
Dinner in a traditional local restaurant. (B,D)

Day 2: Venice

After breakfast, meet your tour guide and take a cruise to the Island of Murano.
You will enjoy a nice cruise along the Venetian Lagoon. Visit to a Murano glass blowing factory* including a demonstration work where you will see how they make unique glass objects. Continue by boat to Venice, meet you local guide for a walking tour of the city. 

Visit Piazza San Marco, the St. Mark Basilica, the Campanile and the Doge’s Palace. Conclude the tour with a gondola serenade if you wish. Rest of day free. (B)
*Vetreria Ferro-Lazzarini in Murano island
 

Day 3: Venice – Bologna – Florence (266km-3h) with confort stops in between

Departure transfer to your Hotel in Florence. Stop on route in Bologna.
Bologna is considered the seat of the oldest Universities of Europe. Visit the faculty of Medicine and the Torre degli Asinelli. Shopping under the “portici bolognesi” and enjoy the magnificent Piazza Maggiore with the Neptune fountain. Free time for lunch.
Continue to Florence, the city of the Renaissance, check-in at the Hotel.
Dinner at local restaurant and evening at leisure. (B)

Day 4:  Florence – Accademia
Meet your local guide at your hotel to start your tour of Florence. Visit at the Accademia Gallery to see Michelangelo’s masterpiece, The David. Continue to the Duomo, than reach Piazza della Signoria, the most elegant square of Florence embellished with statues, where you will admire Palazzo Vecchio. Stop to see Ponte Vecchio, filled with artisan jewelry shops and finish your tour at Santa Croce Square, where you can shop for leather manufactures. Free time for lunch. (B)

Day 5: Florence – Uffizi gallery and Chianti Classico winery

9.00 Morning visit at the Uffizi gallery.
11.30am Meet your driver at your hotel and drive on the “Strada del Vino” (road of the wine) through the hills of Tuscany to San Gimignano, Italy’s most beautiful medieval city. Once inside the city walls make your way to the stunning 12th-century Duomo and continue though the winding streets to Piazza della Cisterna. (B)
*** (Wine tasting with light lunch and tour of the historical cellar at famous Chianti Winery included – Castello di Verrazzano or similar)

Day 6: Florence – Castello di Oliveto cooking class* – Siena

10.00am Departure to Castello di Oliveto in the heart of the tuscan countryside. Hands-on lesson with our chef Donatella. Lunch based on your cooking class including selection of Chianti DOC Wines. Continue to to Siena. It is set high above the valley with extraordinary views from every direction and crowned by the Duomo with its beautiful façade. Stroll through the center to Piazza del Campo. Return to Florence
*Cooking class cost 110€ – including lunch, wine, winery visit and historical rooms

Day 7: Florence – Pisa – Lucca

En route stop in Lucca, one of the best quality life’s town in Italy! Walking tour of the historical center, see Giacomo Puccini’s house (the famous Maestro of Italian Opera),  the Duomo and the amphitheater. Free time for shopping and for lunch.

Continue to Pisa for a visit at the famous leaning tower that stands proudly on Piazza Campo dei Miracoli (Miracles Field). (B)

Day 8: Florence – Assisi – Rome – (280km-3h15) with confort stops in between

Meet your driver at your hotel and be ready for your transfer to Rome. En route visit to the ancient Umbrian hill town of Assisi.  It is set high above the valley with extraordinary views from every direction and crowned by the Basilica with its beautiful façade, a charming town known for its art history and for given to the Country of Italy its saint patron, Saint Francis of Assisi. Enjoy the hidden secrets of Rome and walk to Spanish Square, enjoy Shopping and la “Dolce Vita”. (B)

Day 9:  Rome – Ancient Rome

In the morning meet driver at your hotel for your transfer to the site of Ancient Rome for a guided visit of the Roman Forum, the Coliseum and the Capitoline Hill. Time for lunch at restaurant near the Colosseum called Trattoria – Pizzeria Luzzi 
Walking tour of Trevi fountain, Spanish steps, Navona square.
Dinner suggested at local restaurant in Trastevere. (B)

Day 10: Rome & Vatican City

Morning on your own, so you can spend time to enjoy the atmosphere of the Roman lifestyle. After lunch, Guided tour of the Vatican Museum, the Sistine Chapel and the Basilica of Saint Peter.  Rest of the day at leisure (time to explore the fashion avenues of Rome!). Enjoy dinner out with family and friends in one of the most beautiful square of Rome (B)

Day 11: Rome – Pompei – Sorrento (280km-3h15) with confort stops in between

Private transfer to your hotel in Sorrento. Drive along the spectacular coast road of the Bay of Naples to Sorrento. Stop on route to visit the ancient roman city of Pompei. Visit the highlights of this unique archeological UNESCO site. Check in at your hotel.
Dinner at traditional Neapolitan restaurant. (B,D)

Day 12: Sorrento – Amalfi Coast 

Full day on the Amalfi coast, a natural Unesco Site, known worldwide for its breathtaking road on high cliffs overlooking the sea. Stop in Amalfi, visit St Andrew’s Church and the maritime Museum of Ancient Republic of Amalfi. Do not miss the chance to get the famous Amalfi paper as souvenir. Taste some “Limoncello” at one of local small factory.

Continue to the village of Ravello, famous for the music festival. Suggested visit to the wonderful gardens of Villa Cimbrone and its amazing view of the coastline.
Lunch suggested in Ravello at Ristorante “Da Salvatore”. (B)

Day 13: Sorrento-Capri Island 

The island of Capri is one of the most famous tourist destinations in the world, rich of natural beauty and breathtaking panoramic views. You will sail across the Tyrrhenian sea by hydrofoil, having the chance to cherish the view of Li Galli islands.
Approaching the pier of Capri you will surround and admire the massive cliffs from the bottom and appreciate the crystalline water of the island. You will dock at Marina Grande, than take the funicular to the famous Piazzetta, center of town.
Walking along the narrow streets you will reach the Caesar Augustus Gardens.
Get your kodak moment of “I FARAGLIONI”. Free time for lunch and shopping before returning to the pier by funicular to board the hydrofoil back to Positano. (B)

Day 14: Sorrento Rome airport – (248km-2h50min)

This morning transfer to Rome at Hotel Hilton Garden Inn nearby the Airport.

Day 15: Rome airport – (248km-2h50min)

This morning shuttle service to the terminal T3. Ciao Ciao Italy!

Venice

Doge Palace

St Mark Evangelist and its golden Basilica

Rialto bridge

Canareggio Jewish ghetto

Murano and its blooming glass factory

Florence:

PonteVecchio

Piazza della Signoria

Piazza del Duomo

Accademia Gallery, see Michelangelo’s masterpiece, The David

Open-air market of San Lorenzo

Artisan jewelry shops & leather factory

The elegant shopping avenue of Via Tornabuoni

Pisa

the Duomo

the Baptister

the leaning Tower of Pisa

road of the Chianti Classico wine

San Gimignano and Tuscan landscape

Orvieto

The Duomo with its beautiful façade

Local souvenirs: woodcarvings and pottery

Taste local umbriachelli nudels with delicious truffles

Rome

The Spanish Steps and Spanish square

Trevi Fountain

the Pantheon

Piazza Navona and its majestic fountain of four rivers

Ancient Rome

visit of the Roman Forum – the Coliseum and the Capitoline Hill

Vatican City

Vatican Museums

the Sistine Chapel

St Peter’s Basilica