Monday: ROME
- Arrival at Rome airport/train station. Group transfer to the hotel in Rome. Overnight at the hotel.
Tuesday: COLOSSEUM, ROMAN FORUM AND PALATINE HILL (INCLUDED)
- Breakfast at the hotel before embarking on a day of exploration. Today you will visit the COLOSSEUM, the ROMAN FORUM and PALATINE HILL. Transfer to the meeting point is included, where you will meet your guide, receive headphones, and have access to the Colosseum without having to queue. Inside the Flavian Amphitheater, you will walk through the same places where ancient Romans gathered to watch various events, such as gladiator fights and animal hunts. You will also learn how the Romans spent their leisure time. Afterwards, you will explore Palatine Hill, the birthplace of Rome and the ancient residence of Roman emperors, offering a spectacular view. Then you will visit the Roman Forum, the lively center of life in ancient Rome, where well-preserved ruins from that era can still be seen. Overnight at the hotel.
*For Colosseum bookings, it is mandatory to provide the date of birth of each guest.
Wednesday: VATICAN MUSEUMS (OPTIONAL)
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Breakfast at the hotel. Today you have the freedom to visit Rome on your own, or, if you prefer, you can book an OPTIONAL excursion to the Vatican Museums and St. Peter's Basilica. In this case, you will enjoy a guided tour with an expert guide, skipping the line with a fast-track entrance ticket to the Vatican Complex.
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Optional excursion: VATICAN MUSEUMS with guide. Optional shared transfer (group) from the hotel to the meeting point.
After meeting your guide, you will be provided with a headset and accompanied to the entrance of the Vatican Museums. You will visit the gallery, admiring the main points of interest you have heard about, such as the Gallery of Maps, the Gallery of Tapestries, and the Borgia Apartments. The guide will provide information about the Raphael Rooms and their extraordinary frescoes, including the School of Athens. Afterwards, you will be taken to the Sistine Chapel, whose ceiling is considered one of the fundamental works of Renaissance art. The visit would not be complete without a stop at St. Peter's Basilica, the largest church in the world, housing masterpieces such as the baldachin designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini and Michelangelo's Pietà. To conclude the tour, you can admire the majestic St. Peter's Square, an open space redesigned by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, considered an architectural masterpiece of the Baroque era. The afternoon is free.
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In the afternoon, we suggest a walk starting with a visit to the parks of Villa Borghese and reaching the Pincian Hill viewpoint, which offers a fantastic view over Rome. After a photo stop, continue to Piazza del Popolo and Via Margutta (famous for being one of the locations of the film 'Roman Holiday' with Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn), then proceed to Piazza di Spagna until you reach the Trevi Fountain. The Colonna Gallery is worth a visit, as is the inner courtyard of the Sciarra Gallery, the Church of Sant'Ignazio, the Elephant Obelisk in Piazza della Minerva, and the Pantheon. Next to the Pantheon, the Giolitti family has been producing artisanal ice cream for three generations, and it is highly recommended to try it. Afterwards, head to Piazza Navona, famous for Bernini's fountain, and Ponte Sant'Angelo, decorated with 10 statues of angels pointing the way to Castel Sant'Angelo. Finally, stroll along Via della Conciliazione to the majestic and immense St. Peter's Square. Overnight at the hotel.
*For Vatican Museums bookings, it is mandatory to provide the date of birth of each guest.
Thursday: TRAIN TO NAPLES - POMPEII (OPTIONAL)
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Breakfast at the hotel. Shared transfer (group) to the train station for departure by train to Naples. Transfer to the hotel in the Sorrento area; optional excursion to Pompeii or free afternoon.
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Optional excursion: Pompeii. Don’t miss the opportunity to visit the famous archaeological site of Pompeii with the entrance ticket included to enter the ruins! Pompeii was buried under a torrent of lava and mud during the eruption of Vesuvius and remained hidden until excavations began in the 18th century... many treasures are still waiting to be uncovered. Walk along the ancient “cardines” and “decumani” and explore the remains of the prosperous Romans. Overnight in the Sorrento area.
Friday: POSITANO AND AMALFI (INCLUDED)
- Breakfast at the hotel. Today you will spend the day on the Amalfi Coast, one of the most spectacular coasts in Europe. You will be picked up at the hotel by a minivan and enjoy the Amalfi Coast, probably the most beautiful and exciting road in the world. The driver will provide general information during the trip, including how to spend your free time at each of the 3 scheduled stops:
Positano is a true paradise, developed vertically within an intricate overlay of streets, alleys, and shops displaying the colorful Positan fashion known worldwide. In the town center is the Parish Church of Santa Maria Assunta, featuring its large dome covered with majolica tiles and housing some precious works such as the polychrome marble altars. It is lovely to get lost in Positano. To fully appreciate the beauty of the town, it is perhaps best to wander without a specific destination; you can enjoy the streets, shops, restaurants, monuments, churches, and beaches.
Amalfi, a picturesque maze of alleys and staircases overlooking the sea with all its extraordinary colors reflecting the enchanting landscape of Amalfi, the city that gives its name to the entire coast. Dominated by the majestic Cathedral dedicated to Saint Andrew, Amalfi offers countless testimonies of its glorious past as a Maritime Republic.
Ravello, another gem of the coast, is an elegant and refined village, immersed in greenery and characterized by luxurious villas. Ravello is famous worldwide for its Festival, held in the garden of Villa Rufolo, where a suggestive setting and the emotion of listening to great music create an experience of extraordinary intensity. The heart of Ravello is represented by Piazza Vescovado, framed by the architecture of Palazzo Rufolo and the Cathedral with its magnificent portal (the first ever made with this innovative casting technique) and the 10-meter high bell tower. Dinner and overnight.
Saturday: CAPRI (OPTIONAL)
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Breakfast at the hotel. Today you have the freedom to visit Sorrento on your own, or, if you prefer, you can book an OPTIONAL boat excursion to Capri.
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Optional excursion: CAPRI BOAT CLASSIC. Today you will enjoy a full-day excursion to Capri. No holiday in Sorrento would be complete without a trip to the evocative Island of Capri. Sail through the Bay of Naples to start an unforgettable day.
Pick-up at the hotel, transfer to the port, and departure for Capri, sailing along the Sorrentine Coast. On board our comfortable boats, we offer you an unforgettable and personalized journey to discover the splendid island of Capri. Your English-speaking Captain will provide general information during the trip, including how to spend your free time on the Island of Capri. Along the way, you will admire: the ancient fishing village of “Marina Grande,” the ruins of a Roman villa near the “Baths of Queen Giovanna,” and its interesting coastal attractions. Arrival at Capri and island tour (weather permitting) by boat with the possibility to admire the Wonderful Grotto, the White Grotto, the Green Grotto; along the route, you will see the Natural Arch, Villa Curzio Malaparte, the Faraglioni rocks, and the Punta Carena Lighthouse. Disembark at Marina Grande in Capri with 5/6 hours of free time to visit the island. Dinner and overnight.
Sunday: DEPARTURE FOR THE TAORMINA AREA
- Breakfast at the hotel, group transfer to the train station and departure for Taormina. Transfer to the hotel in the Taormina area. Dinner and overnight.
Monday: ETNA (INCLUDED) & TAORMINA WALKING TOUR (OPTIONAL)
- Breakfast at the hotel and departure with the escort for Mount Etna, the highest peak in Sicily and the most active volcano in Europe. The area surrounding the volcano constitutes the “Etna Park,” one of the largest protected areas in Italy. You will be amazed by the great variety of vegetation and landscapes encountered along the route before arriving at the “Silvestri Craters” (about 1,900 m). From here, you have the option of a jeep and cable car excursion (extra charge). After tasting some local Sicilian specialties, return to the hotel.
- Alternatively, you can choose to take a walking tour of Taormina on your own (or with a guide, minimum 12 people) to discover the extraordinary city, listening to stories about the history and evolution of Sicilian culture. You will pass by beautiful ancient buildings, including the 15th-century Corvaja Palace and an ancient Greco-Roman theater, the second-largest classical theater in Sicily (entrance not included). You will discover the medieval area of the city with its narrow streets and historic shops. Overnight at the hotel.
Tuesday: SYRACUSE (INCLUDED)
- Breakfast at the hotel and departure for Syracuse, one of the most interesting archaeological sites on the island with its Archaeological Park, the Roman Amphitheater, the Greek Theater, the Ear of Dionysius, the Cordari Cave, the Island of Ortigia, the oldest part of the city with its splendid cathedral. Entrance tickets are not included. Return to the hotel in the late afternoon. Dinner and overnight.
Wednesday: DEPARTURE
- Breakfast at the hotel, group transfer to Catania airport and end of our services, or possibility to continue to Palermo or Naples/Rome (on request).
- Group transfer from Rome Fiumicino airport/train station to the hotel and vice versa, with a maximum waiting time of 40 minutes (airport) and 20 minutes (train station)
- 3 nights on BB basis in a 4-star hotel in Rome
- 3 nights on HB basis in a 4-star hotel in the Sorrento area
- 3 nights on BB basis in a 4-star hotel in the Taormina area
- 1 excursion to the COLOSSEUM, ROMAN FORUM, AND PALATINE HILL with guide + entrance ticket and one-way transfer from the hotel. If the guest wishes to change the Colosseum excursion to a Vatican Museums excursion, it will be possible with a supplement of €50 per person.
- 1 excursion “Positano & Amalfi”
- Shared transfer (group) from the hotel in Rome to the Rome train station
- Train/bus from Rome to Naples train station
- Shared transfer from Naples station to the hotel in the Sorrento area
- Train from Naples to Taormina
- Shared transfer from Taormina train station to the hotel in the Taormina area
- 1 excursion “Etna”
- 1 excursion “Syracuse”
- Multilingual local guide (English, German; other languages on request)
(*) For organizational reasons and/or possible closures, the order of visits may be changed, while still respecting what is indicated in the program.
- On request, possibility to have a Pre/post tour
Optional transfers (min. 2 pax):
- From the hotel to the excursion meeting point "Vatican Museums" € 35 per person per trip
Optional excursions:
- Vatican Museums with entrance ticket and audio guide from € 40.00 per person (*)
- Vatican Museums and St. Peter's Basilica with entrance ticket and guide from € 120.00 per person (*)
- Capri € 90.00 per person (*) Transfer included
- Pompeii € 85.00 per person
- Taormina Walking Tour with guide € 29.00 per person (min. 10 people)
(*) It is recommended to book the optional excursions at the time of booking.
- Rome: Hotel Pineta Palace or similar (*)
- Sorrento Area: Panorama Palace Hotel or similar (*)
- Taormina area: Antares Complex or similar (*)
(*) The indicated hotels may be replaced with others of the same category. Accommodations are located in the indicated cities or in different cities where it will be possible to carry out the program.
