|
|
|
|
Home > Winter Europe and Eastern Mediterranean
Italian Splendours
See history embodied in the streets of Pompeii and the antiquities of Rome. Experience the artistic heritage of Florence, the unique waterscape of Venice and the natural beauty of the Italian Lakes, Assisi and Capri.
| Summary |
Highlights |
Itinerary |
Prices & Dates |
Savings & Discounts |
Optionals |
Conditions |
|
~ ITALY
Italy's idyllic landscapes are captured here; majestic lakes, fertile river plains,
Venetian canals, rolling Tuscan hillsides, sparkling seas, imposing volcanoes, all
bathed in a golden light that adds to the charm.
Tour Pace
This is a perfectly paced tour with two-night
stays in the cities of Rome, Sorrento, Florence, Milan and Venice. All travelling days
are of a reasonable length with interesting stops en route for refreshments,
sightseeing or photos.
Hotels
Enjoy a range of hotels from the comfortable Cicerone
in Rome to the Hotel Principe on the broad Grand Canal in Venice and the NH Touring
Hotel in Milan ideally located near the magnificent cathedral.
Fellow Passengers
This popular itinerary suits those looking
for a well-paced, comprehensive tour of mainland Italy. It focuses on the fascinating
history, art, and architecture from Roman times through to the golden age of the 15
& 16C.
Insight Fact
Statue of David: Michelangelo's Renaissance
masterpiece was sculpted from 1501 to 1504. The 5.17 meter (17 ft) marble statue
portrays the Biblical King David in the nude. Proportionally, it is not quite true to
human form, with the hands and upper body being larger than expected, suggesting it was
intended to be viewed from some distance below. In Victorian London, a replica cast of
David was required to have a detachable plaster fig leaf, which was strategically
placed for Royal visits.
|
Included Premium Highlights
- Discover the wonders of ancient Rome as you overlook the Forum and visit the
Colosseum
- Tour the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel, a masterpiece ofMichelangelo's
fresco skills
- Glimpse a moment of every day Roman life, as you tour the excavations of
Pompeii
- Cruise to Capri, the Island of Dreams, and ascend to Capri town by funicular
railway
- Visit Florence's Academy Gallery to see Michelangelo's original 'Statue of
David'
Included Personal Insights
- In Verona the tale of Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet is brought to life.
Included Additional Excursions & Sights
- Guided visit of St Peter's Basilica- mother church of the Catholic faith
- Visit Sorrento's Piazza Tasso and watch the art of 'intarsio' wood inlaying
- See the Cathedral, belltower and 'Gates of Paradise' on the Baptistery in
Florence
- Visit the statue lined Piazza della Signoria, political stage of Florence
- Watch a demonstration of leatherwork in the Santa Croce district
- See the leaning Tower of Pisa
- See the Cathedral, Sforza Castle and La Scala Theatre in Milan
- Cruise through the canals of Venice by private launch
- See the Doges' Palace, Bridge of Sighs, Campanile and St Mark's Basilica
- Venetian glass-blowing demonstration
Included First Class Services
- Escorted by a professional Tour Director
- Luxury air-conditioned 40 seat coach with extended leg room and onboard
restroom
- First Class hotels with all service charges, taxes and porterage
- Insight Traveller document wallet, map book journal and information pack
- Airport Shuttle arrival and departure transfers at scheduled times on Day 1 and
Day 12. (Should your flights not coincide with these arrival and departure transfers,
please make your own way to/from the airport or you can purchase a
transfer)
Included Quality Dining
- Highlight Dinner of Italian cuisine in Rome (HD)
- 11 Buffet breakfasts (BB), 4 three course table d'hôte dinners, or buffets,
plus tea or coffee (D)
- Departures on tour for Christmas & New Year's Eve, enjoy a festive
celebration dinner
Festive highlights
- New Year's Eve celebration dinner included
|
Day 1 - ARRIVE ROME
|
|
Welcome to the 'Eternal City' of Rome- once hub of the vast Roman Empire. The airport shuttle service to your Insight tour hotel departs Rome's Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci Airport at 09.30, 12.30 & 15.30 hours. Later, join your fellow guests and Tour Director for a Welcome Drink.
Hotel: Cicerone.
|
|
Day 2 - ROME SIGHTSEEING
|
|
Meet your guide in the Vatican State, for a visit to the superb Vatican Museums. Browse through the vast art collection before emerging into the Sistine Chapel, immortalised by Michelangelo's painted ceiling. Your tour continues inside St Peter's Basilica, designed by some of history's greatest architects. Another highlight takes you inside the Colosseum, scene of great excitement in imperial times. Then look out over the Forum- once the religious, political and commercial heart of the Roman Empire. (BB)
|
|
Day 3 - ROME- POMPEII- SORRENTO
|
|
Travel south to Pompeii, the incredibly preserved Roman city, destroyed by an eruption of Vesuvius (still one of Europe's few active volcanos) in 79 A.D. Walk with a local guide through cobbled streets to explore some of the shops, villas and temples, then continue along the Bay of Naples to the cliff-top resort of Sorrento. Why not dine at one of Sorrento's top restaurants tonight?
Hotel: Grand Hotel Flora. (BB)
|
|
Day 4 - SORRENTO- CAPRI EXCURSION
|
|
Visit Sorrento's Piazza Tasso and watch the art of 'intarsio' wood inlaying. Cruise to the island of Capri and ascend to Capri town by funicular railway. There is time to explore before returning to Sorrento. (BB,D)
|
|
Day 5 - SORRENTO- FLORENCE
|
|
You pass beneath the hilltop monastery of Monte Cassino today, before continuing northwards to the hilly region of Umbria and on to the unique landscape of Tuscany and the city of Florence.
Hotel: Hotel Londra. (BB,D)
|
|
Day 6 - FLORENCE SIGHTSEEING
|
|
Join a local guide for a walking tour and highlight visit to the Academy Gallery to see Michelangelo's monumental figure of David. Continue to the multi-coloured marble Cathedral to see Giotto's belltower and 'Gates of Paradise' before visiting the Piazza della Signoria, still the political heart of Florence. Finally watch a demonstration of leatherwork in the area around Santa Croce Basilica. The rest of the day is at leisure, with free time to shop for Florence's finest or continue sightseeing. (BB)
|
|
Day 7 - FLORENCE- PISA- MILAN
|
|
Travel to Pisa to see the famous leaning tower, the white marble cathedral and magnificent baptistery. Then follow the coastal route, past Carrara, before heading inland to the great northern city of Milan.
Hotel: NH Milano Touring. (BB,D)
|
|
Day 8 - MILAN SIGHTSEEING
|
|
Join your local guide for a city sightseeing tour which features the stunning cathedral, its marble facade bristling with 135 pinnacles and over 2000 statues. See the massive Sforza Castle and world famous La Scala Theatre before enjoying free time to explore or shop. (BB)
|
|
Day 9 - MILAN- VERONA- VENICE
|
|
Today, drive eastwards to the elegant city of Verona. See the ancient Roman arena, venue for the opera each summer, and visit the courtyard of the Capulet home to see Juliet's balcony. Then on to romantic Venice, a glorious city of quaint bridges, ornate palaces and gondolas.
Hotel: Principe/Amadeus. (BB,D)
|
|
Day 10 - VENICE SIGHTSEEING
|
|
Venice- a living treasure! What better way to see it than from a private launch? Cruise past Palladian churches and 13th century palaces to St Mark's Square. See the Doges' Palace, connected to the prisons by the Bridge of Sighs. It was from here that Casanova made his daring escape! Now turn the corner, and the gilded regalia of St Mark's Basilica comes into view. Finally, watch one of the few remaining masters blow molten glass into a unique creation at a Venetian glass-blowing factory. (BB)
|
|
Day 11 - VENICE- ROME
|
|
Take the spectacular highway over the wild Apennines, continuing south to the valley of the River Tiber, its course leading back to Rome. This evening, join your fellow passengers for a farewell highlight dinner of pasta, wine and music.
Hotel: Sheraton Roma. (BB,HD)
|
|
Day 12 - ROME
|
|
Sadly, your tour comes to an end today. Airport shuttle service from the hotel arrives at Rome's Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci Airport at 07.00 & 09.30 hours. (BB)
|
OPTIONAL SIGHTSEEING
& EXCURSIONS The list of Optional Excursions is not available at this time.
|
TWITTER 
FACEBOOK 
INSIGHT'S TRAVEL FORUM
Bookmark
Email
Delicious
Facebook
Google
Yahoo
;)