Monday: ROME
Tuesday: COLOSSEUM, ROMAN FORUM & PALATINE HILL (OPTIONAL)
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before embarking on a day of exploration. Today, you will visit the COLOSSEUM, ROMAN FORUM & PALATINE HILL. Your transfer to the meeting point is included, where you will meet your guide, receive earphones, and have access to the Colosseum without waiting in line. Inside the Flavian Amphitheater, you will walk through the same places where Ancient Romans once gathered to watch various events, such as gladiatorial contests and animal hunts. You will also learn about how Romans spent their leisure time. Afterward, you will explore the Palatine Hill, the birthplace of Rome and the former residence of Roman emperors, offering a spectacular view. You will then visit the Roman Forum, the bustling center of ancient Roman life, where well-preserved ruins from that era can still be seen. Overnight at the hotel.
*For reservations at the Colosseum, it is compulsory to provide the date of birth for each guest.Wednesday: VATICAN MUSEUM* (OPTIONAL)
Breakfast at the hotel. Today you are free to visit Rome, or if you prefer, you can book an OPTIONAL excursion to the Vatican Museums and St. Peter's Basilica. In this case, enjoy a guided tour with an expert guide, skipping the line with a fast entry ticket to the Vatican Complex.
Optional excursion: VATICAN MUSEUM with guide. Optional shared (grouped) transfer from hotel to meeting point. After meeting your guide, you will be given a headset and taken to the entrance of the Vatican Museums. You will tour the gallery, visiting all the main spots you've heard about such as the Gallery of Maps, the Gallery of Tapestries, and the Borgia Apartments. The guide will provide you with information about the Raphael Rooms and their exceptional frescoes, including The School of Athens. They will then lead you to the Sistine Chapel, where the ceiling is considered one of the cornerstones works of High Renaissance art. The tour would not be complete without a visit to St. Peter's Basilica, the largest church in the world, which houses several pieces of fine art such as the canopy designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini and the Pietà by Michelangelo. To end the tour, you will be able to admire the majestic St. Peter's Square, an open space redesigned by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, considered an architectural masterpiece of the Baroque age. The afternoon is free.
In the afternoon, we suggest a walking tour starting with a visit to the parks of Villa Borghese and up to the Pincio belvedere, offering a fantastic view of Rome. After a photo stop, continue towards Piazza del Popolo and Via Margutta (famous for being featured in the film 'Roman Holiday' starring Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn), then proceed to Piazza di Spagna until you reach the Trevi Fountain. The Galleria Colonna is worth a visit, as well as the inner courtyard of the Galleria Sciarra, the Church of Sant'Ignazio, the Elephant Obelisk in Piazza della Minerva, and the Pantheon. Next to the Pantheon, the Giolitti family has been making homemade ice cream for three generations, which I highly recommend. Then head to Piazza Navona, famous for Bernini's fountain, and Ponte Sant'Angelo, adorned with 10 statues of angels pointing the way to Castel Sant'Angelo. Finally, walk down Via della Conciliazione to the majestic and immense Piazza San Pietro. Overnight at the hotel.
*For reservations at the Vatican Museums, it is compulsory to provide the date of birth for each guest.
Thursday: TRAIN TO NAPLES - POMPEII (OPTIONAL)
Breakfast at hotel. shared (grouped) transfer to the train station for departure to Naples by train. Transfer to a hotel in the Sorrento area; an optional excursion to Pompeii or free afternoon.
Optional Excursion: Pompeii. Don’t miss the opportunity to visit the famous archaeological site of Pompeii with the entrance Ticket included to get inside the ruins! Pompeii has been submerged by a torrent of lava and mud during the explosion of the Volcano Vesuvius and remained hidden till the beginning of the excavations in the XVIII century... many treasures are still awaiting to be unerthed. Walk along the ancient “cardini” and “decumani” and explore the remainings of the prosperous Romans. Overnight in the Sorrento area.
Friday: POSITANO & AMALFI (INCLUDED)
Saturday: CAPRI (OPTIONAL)
Breakfast in the hotel. Today you are free to visit Sorrento on your own, or if you prefer, you can book an OPTIONAL excursion to Capri by boat.
Optional excursion: CAPRI BOAT CLASSIC. This day you will enjoy a full day excursion in Capri. No holiday here in Sorrento would be complete without a trip to the evocative Island of Capri. Sail across the Bay of Naples for the start of an unforgettable day. Pick-up from hotel, transfer to the port and departure to Capri, sailing along the Sorrento Coast. On board of our comfortable boats, we offer you an unforgettable and personalized trip discovering the beautiful island of Capri. Your English-speaking Captain, along the journey, will give you general information including how to spend your free time on Capri Island. Along the way you will admire: the ancient fishermen village of “Marina Grande”, the ruins of a roman villa near “Bagni della Regina Giovanna”, her interesting attractions along the coast. Arrival to Capri and tour of the island (If the weather conditions permit) by boat with the possibility to admire the Marvellous Grotto, the White Grotto, the Green Grotto; along the way you will admire the Natural Arch, the Villa Curzio Malaparte, the Faraglioni rocks and the Lighthouse of Punta Carena. Disembark at Marina Grande in Capri with 5/6 hours free time to visit the island. Dinner and Overnight
Sunday: DEPARTURE TO TAORMINA AREA
Monday: ETNA (INCLUDED) & TAORMINA WALKING TOUR (OPTIONAL)
Breakfast in the hotel and departure with the tour escort to the Mt. Etna, the highest peak of Sicily and the most active volcano in Europe. The territory surrounding the volcano constitutes the “Park of Etna”, one of the largest protected areas in Italy: You will be astonished about the great variety of vegetation and landscapes that we will meet along the way before arriving at the “Silvestri Craters” (about 1.900 mt). From here on you will have the optional excursion by jeep and cableway (extra cost). After having tasted some local Sicilian speciality come back in hotel. Or have an optional walking tour in Taormina alone (or with a guide min. 12 pax) discovering the amazing town, hear tales about the history and the evolution of Sicilian culture. Pass by beautiful old buildings, including the 15th-century Palazzo Corvaja and an ancient Greek Roman theatre the 2nd largest classical theatre in Sicily (Admission fee not included). Discover the medieval area of the town with its narrow streets and old shops. Overnight in hotel.
Tuesday: SYRACUSE (INCLUDED)
Wednesday: CATANIA AIRPORT AND DEPARTURE
(*) For organisational reasons and/or possible closures, the order of the visits may be changed, always respecting what is indicated in the program
Optional Transfers (min. 2 pax):
Optional Excursions:
(*) It is advisable to book optional excursions when booking
(*) The hotels indicated may be replaced with others of the same category. Accommodations are located in the indicated towns or in a different cities where will be possible to realize the program