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JEWELS OF ITALY - 2010
16 days incl. air,
or 15 days from Rome to Rome (CO-6370)Return
to Italy Vacations & Tours
 Return to
France, Spain, Portugal and Morocco Vacations & Tours Vacation
Overview
This exciting vacation
covers the main sights of Italy, but with a special focus on the green,
hilly landscapes of Tuscany. Your trip sets off from your starting point
in Rome. Then stop in Orvieto, an Umbrian town with a beautiful
cathedral, and reach Poggibonsi, your base for exploring Tuscany. Join
the included excursion to Florence for a walking tour of the city’s
highlights. Discover renaissance masterpieces such as Piazza Signoria,
Palazzo Vecchio, and the Duomo complex. You also have an excursion to
Pisa to see its Square of Miracles and famed Leaning Tower. Experience
two less known but equally interesting cities of the Veneto Region—Verona
and Padua—as well as the unique beauty of Venice with its maze of canals.
Your sightseeing tour in Verona includes Juliet’s balcony. In Padua,
experience the city famous for its university. After Venice, stop in
Ravenna, known for its Byzantine mosaics, and overnight in San Marino,
one of the smallest countries of the world. Dedicate one day to Italy’s
Umbria region with visits to Urbino, Gubbio, Assisi, and Foligno. Cross
the Apennines, see the Benedictine Abbey of Montecassino, and spend three
nights in Naples. Enjoy included excursions to the beautiful Isle of
Capri, the fascinating archaeological site of Pompeii, and the lively
resort town of Sorrento. On your tour of Pompeii, see the rich,
aristocratic town buried in the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD. Spend two
more nights in Rome with an included sightseeing tour of the “Eternal
City” that features the Colosseum and the Roman Forum. Italy is a country
full of charm, historic ruins, and beautiful scenery. On this vacation,
you see Italy’s highlights and experience its majestic character! An
unforgettable trip!
Itinerary
Day
1 Sat. BOARD YOUR OVERNIGHT TRANSATLANTIC FLIGHT
Day
2 Sun. ARRIVAL IN ROM, ITALY
Check
into your hotel. The rest of the day is free for you to explore Italy’s
ancient capital. Tonight, meet your Tour Director and fellow travelers.
Day
3 Mon. ROME-ORVIETO-TUSCANY Tuscany
This
morning, start your journey northwards to Orvieto in the province of
Umbria to visit its black basalt and yellow limestone cathedral. Next,
enjoy the beauty of the Tuscan countryside with its hillside towns and
villages that skirt the Chianti wine-growing region of Castellina.
Overnight in Poggibonsi, situated in the heart of Tuscany almost halfway
between Pisa and Siena and next door to San Gimignano. No better place
than this to easily get around in Tuscany. (B,D)
Day
4 Tue. TUSCANY
Take
advantage of today’s optional excursion to San Gimignano, one of Italy’s
best-preserved medieval towns. Admire its 14 towers and the countryside
dotted with vineyards and olive trees. Next is Siena, rightly considered
the jewel of Tuscany. The Piazza del Campo is quite unique in shape and
setting, and famous the world over for the Palio horse racing
event. Tonight, join the optional Tuscan dinner. (B)
Day
5 Wed. TUSCANY. EXCURSION TO FLORENCE Visit stunning Florence and the Ponte Vecchio
A
full day is dedicated to the city that’s known as the “Cradle of the
Renaissance.” Wander at leisure and admire the city’s timeless beauty.
The included walking tour with a Local Guide will introduce you to most
of the city’s highlights. (B,D)
Day
6 Thu. TUSCANY. EXCURSION TO PISA
This
morning, enjoy the short drive to Pisa to see its world-famous Square of
Miracles and Leaning Tower. Take a stroll down the busy Via Santa Maria,
perhaps Pisa’s most typical street. Plenty of time this afternoon at
leisure or join one of the optional excursions available. (B,D)
Day
7 Fri. TUSCANY-VERONA-PADUA-VENICE AREA
A
comfortable drive north today, first through more of Tuscany, then into
the flatlands of the Po Valley and across its river to Verona on the
banks of the Adige River. Get to know more about this enchanting city on
your included sightseeing tour that will take in all the highlights and,
of course, the famous balcony of Romeo and Juliet. Continue to
Padua, famous for its university and the great Basilica of St. Anthony.
Later, a short drive to your overnight hotel in the Venice area. (B)
Day
8 Sat. VENICE
Venice
is a city of unparalleled beauty and a feast of wonderful sights. View
the delightful criss-crossing canals, the gondolas, water buses, arched
bridges, palaces, and quiet little piazzas. Enjoy the included
orientation, which starts with a boat ride and is followed by time at
leisure and a visit to a typical Venetian glassblowing workshop. In the
afternoon, join one of the many optional excursions. (B,D)
Day
9 Sun. VENICE AREA-RAVENNA-SAN MARINO
South
today to Ravenna, at one time an imperial city known as the “Byzantium of
the West.” After a short stop here, continue to the tiny hilltop Republic
of San Marino, one of the smallest in the world. (B,D)
Day
10 Mon. SAN MARINO-URBINO-GUBBIO-ASSISI AREA
First
to Urbino with its magnificent Ducal Palace towering over the town. Then,
on to medieval Gubbio, where a superb view of the rooftops of the town
from the Consul’s Palace is a must. Continue on to Foligno in the Assisi
area for an overnight. (B,D)
Day
11 Tue. ASSISI AREA-MONTECASSINO-NAPLES
Start
the day in Assisi by visiting the Basilica of St. Francis with its famous
paintings by Giotto dating back to the 1300s. Travel south across the
Apennines into the province of Latium for a stop in Montecassino, known for
its Benedictine Abbey. Next, continue to the shores of the Mediterranean
for three overnights in Naples, rightly known as Italy’s most colorful
city. (B,D)
Day
12 Wed. NAPLES. EXCURSION TO CAPRI
Cross
the blue sea to Capri. This legendary island, surrounded by rose-tinted
rocks, has incredibly beautiful coves of translucent blues and greens.
The town, with its pretty piazza, maze of streets, fashionable
boutiques, and smart restaurants, is a mecca for the jet set. An optional
tour takes you round the island with its steep roads and panoramic views.
(B,D)
Day
13 Thu. NAPLES. EXCURSION TO POMPEII Pompeii
This
morning, get to know more about lively, bustling, and mind-boggling
Naples on the included orientation drive. Next, Pompeii, where time
stopped for the rich, aristocratic town with the terrible eruption of
Vesuvius in 79 AD. Continue to Sorrento to spend a leisurely evening in
this easy-back town with views over the Gulf of Naples. Return to Naples
for overnight. (B)
Day
14 Fri. NAPLES-ROME
North
this morning back to the “Eternal City” with plenty of time to enjoy one
of the optional excursions, to do last-minute shopping, or maybe sip a
drink in Piazza Navona and watch the world go by. (B)
Day
15 Sat. ROME
This
city is 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.
Then, some more time to do just as you please. (B)
Day
16 Sun. YOUR HOMEBOUND FLIGHT ARRIVES THE SAME DAY
(B)
AIRPORT
TRANSFERS
Airport transfers
may be included when you make your international flights arrangements.
Dates
and Prices
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Departure
Details
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Departure
Date
|
Tour
Start Date
|
Return
Date
|
Land/Cruise
Price Only
|
Status
|
|
Popular
Departure
|
4/10/2010
|
4/11/2010
|
4/25/2010
|
$1,845.00
|
Available
|
|
Popular
Departure
|
4/17/2010
|
4/18/2010
|
5/2/2010
|
$1,845.00
|
Available
|
|
Popular
Departure
|
4/24/2010
|
4/25/2010
|
5/9/2010
|
$1,875.00
|
Available
|
|
Popular
Departure
|
5/1/2010
|
5/2/2010
|
5/16/2010
|
$1,875.00
|
Available
|
|
Popular
Departure
|
5/8/2010
|
5/9/2010
|
5/23/2010
|
$1,875.00
|
Available
|
|
5/15/2010
|
5/16/2010
|
5/30/2010
|
$1,875.00
|
Available
|
|
Popular
Departure
|
5/22/2010
|
5/23/2010
|
6/6/2010
|
$1,875.00
|
Available
|
|
5/29/2010
|
5/30/2010
|
6/13/2010
|
$1,875.00
|
Available
|
|
Popular
Departure
|
6/5/2010
|
6/6/2010
|
6/20/2010
|
$1,875.00
|
Available
|
|
6/12/2010
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6/13/2010
|
6/27/2010
|
$1,875.00
|
Available
|
|
Popular
Departure
|
6/19/2010
|
6/20/2010
|
7/4/2010
|
$1,875.00
|
Available
|
|
6/26/2010
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6/27/2010
|
7/11/2010
|
$1,875.00
|
Available
|
|
7/3/2010
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7/4/2010
|
7/18/2010
|
$1,875.00
|
Available
|
|
Popular
Departure
|
7/10/2010
|
7/11/2010
|
7/25/2010
|
$1,875.00
|
Available
|
|
7/17/2010
|
7/18/2010
|
8/1/2010
|
$1,875.00
|
Available
|
|
Popular
Departure
|
7/24/2010
|
7/25/2010
|
8/8/2010
|
$1,855.00
|
Available
|
|
7/31/2010
|
8/1/2010
|
8/15/2010
|
$1,855.00
|
Available
|
|
8/7/2010
|
8/8/2010
|
8/22/2010
|
$1,855.00
|
Available
|
|
8/14/2010
|
8/15/2010
|
8/29/2010
|
$1,855.00
|
Available
|
|
8/21/2010
|
8/22/2010
|
9/5/2010
|
$1,875.00
|
Available
|
|
Popular
Departure
|
8/28/2010
|
8/29/2010
|
9/12/2010
|
$1,875.00
|
Available
|
|
Popular
Departure
|
9/4/2010
|
9/5/2010
|
9/19/2010
|
$1,875.00
|
Available
|
|
Popular
Departure
|
9/11/2010
|
9/12/2010
|
9/26/2010
|
$1,875.00
|
Available
|
|
9/18/2010
|
9/19/2010
|
10/3/2010
|
$1,875.00
|
Available
|
|
9/25/2010
|
9/26/2010
|
10/10/2010
|
$1,875.00
|
Available
|
|
Popular
Departure
|
10/2/2010
|
10/3/2010
|
10/17/2010
|
$1,875.00
|
Available
|
|
10/9/2010
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10/10/2010
|
10/24/2010
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$1,849.00
|
Available
|
|
10/16/2010
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10/17/2010
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10/31/2010
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$1,849.00
|
Available
|
|
10/23/2010
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10/24/2010
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11/7/2010
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$1,805.00
|
Available
|
|
10/30/2010
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10/31/2010
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11/14/2010
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$1,805.00
|
Available
|
Popular Departure - due
to itinerary and time of year, this departure historically sells out quickly.
Early booking is encouraged.
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