Italy - Classic Italy

Day 1: Arrive in Rome and travel to Sorrento
The Tour Operators comprehensive Italy tour departs at 10:00 AM from Rome's Leonardo da Vinci Airport in Fiumicino. Travel through the Campania countryside to the southern resort town of Sorrento, where your hotel overlooks the beautiful Bay of Naples and powerful Mt. Vesuvius. Get to know fellow travelers at a welcome cocktail reception and dinner.
Meals: Lunch, dinner
Lodging: Grand Hôtel Excelsior Vittoria / Hilton Sorrento Palace, Sorrento, Italy

Day 2: Amalfi Coast drive – a southern Italy tour highlight
Drive along the Amalfi Coast, one of Europe’s most dramatic shorelines. Stop for visits in Amalfi with some houses dating to the 10th century, and Ravello, perched on towering cliffs above the sea. Explore Sorrento’s piazzas as you please upon your afternoon return.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch
Lodging: Grand Hôtel Excelsior Vittoria / Hilton Sorrento Palace, Sorrento, Italy

Day 3: Explore Pompeii, then on to the Eternal City of Rome
Your Italy tour next explores the excavated ruins of Pompeii, buried in volcanic ash when Mt. Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD. Walk through city streets with a local expert to discover the way of life in ancient Italy. Visit the temple, the forum, and a home adorned with frescoes. The next three nights are spent at The Westin Excelsior, Rome, one of the most prestigious addresses on the famed Via Veneto.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: The Westin Excelsior, Rome, Italy

Day 4: Visit the Vatican
Visit Vatican City, where an early arrival means you avoid the long lines found later in the day; a Italy tour advantage! Explore the rich treasures in the Vatican Museums – and in the Sistine Chapel, gaze in amazement at Michelangelo’s masterpiece. Tour St. Peter's Basilica to view the art and architecture, and explore St. Peter's Square. Choose to see more in Vatican City in the afternoon, or visit other attractions in the city. Dine at a traditional restaurant in the evening.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Lodging: The Westin Excelsior, Rome, Italy

Day 5: A day in Rome of the Caesars
In Rome, capital of Italy tour the Colosseum; see Circus Maximus, the 4th-century BC stadium where chariot races were held, and the ruins of the Palace of Caesar. View the Roman Forum from above, and see Michelangelo's statue of Moses at San Pietro in Vincoli. Pursue your own passions in Rome during the afternoon.
Meals: Breakfast
Lodging: The Westin Excelsior, Rome, Italy

Day 6: Your Italy tour continues in Orvieto – and with a wine tasting
Journey to Orvieto, set on a 984-foot plateau overlooking vineyards below. Visit the Duomo of Orvieto, a notable Romanesque-Gothic cathedral built over a span of 300 years. After a trattoria lunch near the Piazza del Duomo, continue through the wine-producing regions of Umbria. Arrive in Torgiano, a small village in the Tiber Valley. Hotel Le Tre Vaselle, your home for the next two nights, is a 17th-century country house hotel with its own private vineyard - an opportunity to experience Italy's privileged country life. Tonight you'll attend a wine tasting and sample the best from their vineyards.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Hotel Le Tre Vaselle, Torgiano, Italy

Day 7: Step back in time in medieval Assisi – and a chef "shares"
Drive to Assisi, a well-preserved medieval town designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its art and architecture. Visit the Basilica di San Francesco, the burial place of St. Francis, the beloved patron saint of animals. Gaze at the impressive 13th- and 14th-century frescoes, some of Italy’s finest, and enjoy some free time in the center of town. This evening, you'll discover the secrets of great Italian cuisine from an Umbrian chef who shares insights into the nuances of Italian cooking at a demonstration. This is a special Italy tour highlight that you'll long remember.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Lodging: Hotel Le Tre Vaselle, Torgiano, Italy

Day 8: Towers of San Gimignano
In the hilltop town of San Gimignano, see 13 medieval towers that were built in the 12th century by the nobility as both private fortresses and symbols of wealth. Stroll along the narrow streets and visit Piazza della Cisterna, one of Italy’s most picturesque town squares. Drive by Pisa where you'll catch a glimpse of the famous Leaning Tower, and arrive in the seaside resort town of Viareggio for the night.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Lodging: Grand Hotel Principe di Piemonte, Viareggio, Italy

Day 9: Cinque Terre villages
Visit Cinque Terre, accessible only by sea for hundreds of years. Journey by train to one of the villages for a look at daily life in this remote part of Italy. You'll have time to yourself to wander through the cobblestone streets of one of these towns, perhaps sampling the unique flavors of the local cuisine. Aboard a private boat, cruise along the Mediterranean shores the Italian Riviera for an extraordinary view of these centuries-old villages set on rocky bluffs, hemmed in by steep cliffs. Journey on to the Renaissance city of Florence for a three-night stay at one of Italy's grand hotels.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Lodging: Grand Hotel, Florence / Hotel Helvetia & Bristol, Florence, Italy

Day 10: Become an art aficionado in Florence
Experience Florence, where the arts flourished between the 13th and 16th centuries. Learn about art history from a local university professor who is an art expert, then take a walking tour of the Galleria dell’Accademia, home of Michelangelo’s marble statue of David. You'll have time on your own in Florence this afternoon; your hotel is right in the heart of the city, which makes it easy to explore!
Meals: Breakfast
Lodging: Grand Hotel, Florence / Hotel Helvetia & Bristol, Florence, Italy

Day 11: Masterpieces of the Uffizi
Join a local expert for a guided tour of the Uffizi Gallery, Italy’s extraordinary art museum. Admire some of the world’s greatest art masterpieces, including works by Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Michelangelo, Botticelli, and more. The remainder of the day is as you please; you may want to visit the Pitti Palace, the Medici Chapels or stroll across the Ponte Vecchio to the lovely Boboli Gardens.
Meals: Breakfast
Lodging: Grand Hotel, Florence / Hotel Helvetia & Bristol, Florence, Italy

Day 12: Rail trip to Venice and a serenade aboard a gondola
Italy travel by rail is fast; arrive in Venice, built on 118 small islands traversed by a canal network – and it's a UNESCO World Heritage Site. After lunch, head to St. Mark’s Square, the heart of Venice, with a local guide for a walking tour. Visit St. Mark’s Basilica, one of the greatest buildings in Europe, featuring exquisite mosaics and detailed carvings; and the Doges’ Palace, a pink marble Gothic masterpiece. Take a canal cruise by gondola, complete with a serenade by local musicians, to round out a busy day. Dinner is on your own tonight – from fine dining to intimate trattorias, dining in Venice is an Italy tour pleasure.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch
Lodging: The Westin Europa & Regina, Venice, Italy

Day 13: The romance of Venice
The day is open so you can take in the sites you choose. Perhaps tour the Galleria dell'Accademia or the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, or take a boat ride to islands in the lagoon. Share favorite Italy tour highlights with travel companions at the farewell reception and dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Lodging: The Westin Europa & Regina, Venice, Italy

Day 14: Ciao – Italy tour concludes
This two-week Italy tour ends at 7:30 AM at Venice Marco Polo Airport, If you are departing at other times, you must secure your own transportation to the airport. You should allow a minimum of 2 1/2 hours for flight check-in.
Meals: Breakfast

Night 1 & 2:
Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria
Sorrento, Italy

The Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria perches majestically high on a cliff overlooking the blue waters of the Bay of Naples in the midst of the historic center of the beautiful town of Sorrento. Since 1834, its lovely entrance gardens have led crowned heads, heads of state and international celebrities to its elegant and impeccably maintained lounges, parlors and restaurants. The splendors of an age gone by are seen in its original antique furniture and genteel ambiance. Its terraces provide sweeping views of the Bay and Mount Vesuvius, while its five-acre gardens invite one to stroll peacefully at leisure – and the beautiful swimming pool set amidst the gardens beckons.

*Hilton Sorrento Palace
Sorrento, Italy

The magnificently modern Hilton Sorrento Palace is very close to the center of charming Sorrento, overlooking the town and the Bay of Naples beyond. The sleek, well-appointed guest rooms feature air-conditioning and open onto a balcony or terrace. The Hilton Sorrento Palace boasts what are thought to be the best leisure facilities in town, to include two swimming pools, one being an indoor pool, as well as a gym and a tennis court.

**Hotel Bellevue Syrene
Sorrento, Italy

The majestic Hotel Bellevue Syrene sits high above the Gulf of Naples in Sorrento, offering picture-postcard views of mighty Mt. Vesuvius. Built in 1750 as a lavish patrician villa, today the hotel evokes images of the lavish lifestyle of the time. Charming guestrooms feature air conditioning, satellite TV, direct-dial telephone, mini-bar, Internet wireless access and hair dryer. You might enjoy relaxing on the hotel’s private sunbathing deck by the sea, which is reached by elevator or by ancient steps carved from the cliff itself. The Beauty Centre entices with face and body treatments and massages. Dine al fresco on the terrace of La Pergola overlooking the Gulf of Naples and linger a while as it is transformed into a romantic piano bar.

*Most departures will stay at either the Hilton Sorrento Palace or The Grand Hôtel Excelsior Vittoria nights 1 and 2.

**Tours of September 17, 22, and 24 will stay at the Hotel Bellevue Syrene nights 1 and 2

Night 3, 4 & 5:
The Westin Excelsior, Rome
Rome, Italy

Located on the most fashionable street in the Eternal City, Via Veneto, between the famous Piazza Barberini and Villa Borghese and close to many of Rome’s must-see sights, The Westin Excelsior Rome is a monument to the very best of turn-of-the-century style and grace. Furnished with Renaissance, Imperial and Biedermeir reproductions, each sumptuous guest room features Westin’s signature Heavenly Beds® and lovely decorative touches. The new fitness center is state-of-the-art and features an indoor swimming pool. The readers of Condé Nast Traveler and Travel + Leisure agree that the Westin Excelsior Rome is among the 500 best hotels in the world.

Night 6 & 7: Hotel Le Tre Vaselle
Torgiano, Italy

Set like a jewel in the lush Umbrian landscape just outside the ancient village of Torgiano, the converted 17th-century manor that has become Hotel Le Tre Vaselle pours forth a warm welcome. Many consider the “Le Melograne” restaurant, which offers creative cuisine that faithfully interprets the traditional and seasonal fare of the region, to be the centerpiece of this lovely, classic hotel. The leisure facilities include an outdoor swimming pool, an indoor counter-current swimming pool and a small fitness center. The spacious, comfortable guest rooms enhance the aura of peace and tranquility that permeates Hotel Tre Vaselle.

Night 8: Grand Hotel Principe di Piemonte
Viareggio, Italy

Set beside the sea in Viareggio, Grand Hotel Principe di Piemonte is an intriguing blend of different styles, which come together to create a delightful ambience. Guest room décor ranges from international, art deco, colonial and empire to modern, with each floor reflecting a different period influence. A beautiful, heated sunken swimming pool, with Hydro and waterfall massage graces the top floor of the hotel and joins the Restaurant Bar in offering stunning views of the Apuane Mountains and the sea. Dining venues include Il Piccolo Principe.

*Night 9, 10 & 11:
Grand Hotel, Florence
Florence, Italy

This 18th-century palace turned grand hotel, which sits facing a Renaissance square overlooking the Arno River in the midst of Florence close to many of the museums for which Florence is famous, is a landmark of history and tradition. Known for its fabulous stained-glass ceilings, frescoes, exquisite marble inlays and antique décor, the Grand Hotel, Florence, richly deserves the term “masterpiece.” Spacious guestrooms, which celebrate Florence’s glorious past, are equipped with every modern comfort and amenity. The recently opened Restaurant InCanto offers the opportunity to dine al fresco in good weather in the midst of one of the city’s most beautiful squares with views of the Ponte Vecchio, the Belevedere and the Chiesa del Cestello. A member of The Luxury Collection, the Grand Hotel, Florence, is considered one of the “Top 75 Hotels in Europe” by Condé Nast Traveler and has appeared on the publication’s prestigious Gold Lists in 2005 and 2006.
Hotel Helvetia & Bristol
Florence, Italy

This posh Belle Epoque beauty is set amidst the historic center of Florence, close to the Duomo and the Uffizi Gallery. Everywhere one looks, there are touches of a gracious time gone by as seen in lovely antiques, 17th-century paintings and exquisite detailing. The individually and beautifully decorated guest rooms are sanctuaries of comfort and grace. The Hotel Helvetia & Bristol is a truly classic old-world hotel offering modern amenities and exemplary service.

*Departures will stay at either the Grand Hotel, Florence or the Hotel Helvetia & Bristol nights 9, 10 and 11

Night 12 & 13: The Westin Europa & Regina
Venice, Italy

Truly a Venetian landmark, the five beautiful baroque palaces that now comprise The Westin Europa & Regina sit regally overlooking the Grand Canal close to St. Mark’s Square. While the building may date from a time long ago, today’s guests enjoy plush accommodations with every modern convenience, to include Westin’s signature Heavenly Bed®. Sip a cocktail as you watch life on the Grand Canal unfold before you at Bar Tiepolo or dine in style at La Cusina overlooking the most famous waterway in Venice. The readers of Travel + Leisure have named the Westin Europa & Regina one of the 500 best hotels in the world.