"New" 12 Day Italian Fantasy - A taste of South to North - private 8 pax minivan

From USD $3,399.00
  • Duration: 10 Days (approx.)
  • Location: Venice
  • Product code: PL0XYU

ITINERARY

DAY 1, - USA – NAPLES: Overnight flight to Naples. 

DAY 2, - NAPLES / Pompeii / SORRENTO: Arrival into Naples Airport., Prior to transferring to our hotel in Sorrento, we visit the ancient town of Pompeii. You will have lunch, tasting the real Neapolitan pizza! After lunch, you will enter one of the most important archaeological sites in the world: a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the ruins of Pompeii, with Skip the Line entrance and a guided tour. Visit the haunting ruins of Pompeii, traveling back in time to the tragic days in 79AD when the silent Mount Vesuvius suddenly erupted, covering the prosperous Roman city in deadly volcanic ashes and poisonous gases, leaving this prosperous city crystallized until our days. You will learn how people lived at that time, visiting houses and “bars” of the time, admiring frescoes and mosaics to imagine how rich and prosperous was the city before the dreadful day. Next stop Sorrento with early afternoon arrival. Check-in at our hotel with the rest of the day at your leisure.  

DAY 3, SORRENTO / Capri / SORRENTO: After breakfast, get ready for an exciting excursion to the island of Capri: one of the most exclusive summer destinations of the Mediterranean! Depending on weather and sea conditions, you will admire the dreamy Blue Grotto on a small rowboat. Afterward, enjoy lunch at a local restaurant and then roam the island at your own pace. Once back on the mainland explore the town of Sorrento prior to returning to our hotel for the evening. (B, L)

DAY 4, SORRENTO / Amalfi Coast: This morning, enjoy a panoramic tour of the Amalfi coast. Will be passing the town of Positano continuing to Amalfi. Leisure over a delicious, Southern Italian light lunch (own expense) and take in the unique Mediterranean atmosphere. Free time to enjoy the town at your own pace. Try their famous Gelato or sip on a local favorite – limoncello. Next, we continue to Ravello with their stunning gardens and views down and across the whole bay, shop and explore…before we journey back to our hotel in Sorrento. (B)   

DAY 5, SORRENTO / Pompeii / ROME: Mid-morning, we depart for Rome with early afternoon arrival. Check-in at our hotel with the rest of the day at your leisure to explore the city using your 48-hour Hop-On Hop-Off pass.  (B, L) 

DAY 6, HIGHLIGHTS OF ROME:  Early breakfast prior to meeting with your local guide for your Skip-the-Line Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel Group Tour. Pass through a private entrance into St. Peter’s Basilica, the biggest church in the world. Enjoy free time in the afternoon to explore Rome on your own by using your 48-hour pass. Tonight, dinner with wine in a lovely local Roman trattoria. (B, D)

DAY 7, ROME / Tuscany Wine Region (Montepulciano) /Siena /FLORENCE: After breakfast, we depart Rome heading to Tuscany, world-known for its landscapes, its churches and castles and its delicious wines. You will proceed to Val di Chiana with a stop in Montepulciano, a medieval town rich in history and art. Known for its “Nobile” wine, on purchase in local wine houses, Montepulciano also hosts an annual Jazz and Wine Festival every July. Continue to Siena, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, world-known for the Paleo, the historical horse race around the shell-shaped town square: Piazza del Campo. You will have two hours to explore the sites prior to continuing to Florence, where you will check in at your hotel for a 2-night stay. (B)

DAY 8, FLORENCE: You will spend the day venturing around beautiful Florence, the “Cradle of Renaissance”, where, with the help of Michelangelo, Italian art reached its pinnacle. You will meet your guide for a walking tour of Florence and its sites. The end of the tour will bring you to the Academia Gallery to see Michelangelo's original "David" statue, continue to Giotto's Bell Tower, the Baptistry with its "Gates of Paradise" doors, Signoria Square and Santa Croce Church. Rest of the day at your leisure to visit the sights at your own pace. Dinner at local Tuscan trattoria. (B, D)  

DAY 9, FLORENCE / Pisa / Bologna / VENICE: Mid-morning we have a panoramic tour of Pisa, one of the four main historical marine republics of Italy. It’s also the home to the gleaming white monuments of Piazza dei Miracoli (square of miracles) which houses the Duomo, the leaning tower, and the baptistery. The most famous is the Leaning Tower of Pisa, an iconic UNESCO site, which is recognized around the world. Pose for photos outside the tower and see Pisa Baptistery and Pisa Duomo.  Later in the afternoon we continue on a panoramic tour of Bologna. There, you will discover the elegant city center with its “porticos”, it is shopping streets and so on. From Piazza Malpighi you will walk to Piazza del Nettuno and Piazza Maggiore (Neptune square and Major square) in the heart of the city, then King Renzo’s Palace; Palazzo Podestà and the basilica of San Petronio, one of the biggest in the world. Early evening arrival into Venice-Mestre for dinner and overnight stay. (B, D)  

DAY 10, VENICE: This afternoon you will meet your guide for a 3-hour walking tour of Venice. Delve into Venetian history on this tour that showcases two of the city's most iconic structures and sheds light on the stories behind them both. Enjoy skip-the-line access to both popular attractions. Your first stop is legendary St. Mark's Basilica. Wander around the mosaic-covered interior and Byzantine treasures while a local guide fills you in on how this collection came to be. Then continue to the Doge’s Palace to explore the former political heart of Venice. Visit the opulent apartments and the Hall of the Great Council at Doge's Palace. Take a walk over the Bridge of Sighs Enjoy special access to the first-floor terrace of St. Mark's for panoramic views over the city. Rest of the day at your leisure. Take an optional Gondola ride or ask your guide for suggestions on restaurants in the area.  (B)

DAY 11, VENICE: Venice is a city built on water, and the Grand Canal (Canale Grande) is its bustling main street. Lined with sumptuous Venetian palaces and crowded with gondolas, water taxis, and vaporetti (public ferries). Today is a leisure day for you to explore the many sites that you may have missed. Optional tours such as the Murano and Burano Boat Tour or cross the Canal Grande on a gondola, admiring the unique views of Rialto are available to you. Spend the afternoon roaming along Venice’s canals at your leisure and then return to the hotel and overnight.  (B)

Day 12 VENICE / USA: Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to Marco Polo International Airport for your flight home bringing many wonderful memories to share with your family and friends.  (B)

NOTE:  Sunday Departures - South to North            Wednesday Departures - North to South 

 Package Includes:

§ Transportation via air-conditioned 9 pax minivan or 18 pax minibus.

§ Professional guides per itinerary

§ Ten nights First-Class hotel accommodations

§ Meals as per itinerary

§ 15 Meals: 10 breakfasts, 2 Lunches, 3 Dinners

§ Airport Transfers throughout; Naples Airport to Sorrento & Mestre Venice hotel to Venice Airport 

§ Sightseeing & entrance fees per itinerary

§ Pompeii Entrance tickets and local guide

§ Day cruise to Capri includes lunch 

§ 48 hr. Hop on Hop off pass to explore the city of Rome

§ Vatican Skip the Line sightseeing tour includes Sistine Chapel and Vatican Museum

§ Skip the Line tickets to St. Marks Basilica in Venice

§ English speaking local guides included per itinerary.

§ 1 25-inch piece of luggage per person

§ Porterage and service charges included.

§ All hotel taxes and service charges except Hotel Local City Tax.


Please note: Rates do not include city taxes. City tax will be paid directly at the reception hotel desk at the arrival or at the checkout according to the local city board procedure. City tax will change according to hotel category (3 - 6euros/ per day)

Hotels are subject to availability at time of booking. In the rare event that the mentioned hotel is unavailable, you will be accommodated in another centrally located hotel of the same star rating.

Extend your stay with a Pre or Post accommodations. Please call us directly at 1.800.385.3650.

TRANSFERS: Airport transfers are included per itinerary only when airfare is purchased from Classic Holidays. Taxi service or private ground transfers are available for those purchasing their airfare elsewhere at additional cost.

Price Excludes: Airfare & airport taxes (except those which are specified), passports & visas, laundry, telephone calls, drinks, food not indicated in the itinerary, expenses of a personal nature, excess luggage and transfer of the same, optional excursions & excursions during the cruise, gratuities of any kind, Personal expenses, Customary tips to your drivers, guides and escorts