Country Roads of Italy - 16 days

Between the major cities, you’ll find little-known gems like Orvieto, Assisi and Perugia, Tuscan hill towns, Etruscan tombs, a formidable abbey and Italy’s finest coastline

Included Premium Highlights

    * Join a local guide for a walking tour through the cobbled streets of Pompeii
    * Cruise to the island of Capri & ascend to Capri town by funicular railway
    * In Ravenna, witness some of the finest mosaics in Europe
    * Drift through the romantic canals of Venice by traditional gondola
    * Visit Florence's Academy Gallery to see Michelangelo's original 'Statue of David'
    * Explore the wonders of ancient Rome as you visit the Colosseum & overlook the Forum
    * Visit Florence's Academy Gallery to see Michelangelo's original 'Statue of David'

Included Personal Insights

    * As night falls, join us in the Italian social ritual of 'La Passeggiata'
    * Enjoy a short tutorial about the world famous Chianti wines of Tuscany

Included Other Excursions & Sights

    * Visit the hill-top Abbey of Monte Cassino, scene of bitter fighting during WWII
    * Visit Cassino's peaceful Commonwealth War Cemetery
    * Enjoy a beautiful drive along the famed Amalfi coast to Positano
    * See the Pope's residence in Castel Gandolfo & visit the wine town of Frascati
    * Visit Orvieto's majestic Piazza del Duomo to admire the famous facade of the Cathedral
    * See the Priors' Palace, Great Fountain & Collegio del Cambio in Perugia
    * Assisi excursion including St Francis Basilica, St Mary of the Angels & St Clare's church
    * Venice cruise to see St Mark's Basilica, Doges' Palace & Bridge of Sighs
    * See Giambologna's Neptune Fountain, Piazza Nettuno & the old town in Bologna
    * Visit the 'Gates of Paradise', Michelangelo's tomb & Signoria Square in Florence
    * See the towers of San Gimignano
    * Visit Siena's Campo Square, fountain & Cathedral
    * Excursion to hilltop Montepulciano with its beautiful Old Town
    * Visit Tarquinia's Archeological Museum & ancient Etruscan tombs
    * Tour St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican City to see Michelangelo's 'Pieta'
    * Visit Tarquinia's Archeological Museum & ancient Etruscan tombs
    * Sorrento 'Intarsio', Florentine leather-work & Venice glass blowing demonstrations

Included First Class Services

    * Escorted by a professional Tour Director
    * Headsets for all guided visits & walking tours
    * Luxury air-conditioned 40 seat coach with extended leg room & on-board restroom
    * Insight Hotels include all service charges, taxes & porterage
    * Overnight ferry from Palermo to Naples
    * Insight Traveller document wallet, map book journal & information pack
    * Airport arrival & departure transfers at scheduled times on Day 1 & Day 16
    * Should your flights not coincide with these arrival & departure transfers, please make your own way to/from the airport

Included Quality Dining

    * Choose from a selection of restaurants in Sorrento on your Dine-Around evening (DA)
    * 15 Buffet Breakfasts (BB), 5 three-course table d'hôte Dinners, or Buffets, plus tea or coffee (D)
 

ITINERARY Insight Vacations - Country Roads of Italy

Tour Pace

This tour is well paced with an exceptional three night stay in Sorrento at the start of the tour and two night stays in all other cities except Orvieto. The majority of the driving days are not too long with convenient stops at places of interest along the way, for both refreshment and sightseeing.

Day 1 - ROME AT LEISURE

Welcome to Rome! On arrival at Rome's Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci Airport, your airport transfers leave for the tour hotel at 09:30, 12:30 & 15:30. Then there is time to relax & begin to enjoy La Dolce Vita (the sweet life). Later, join your Tour Director & fellow passengers for a Welcome Drink.

Hotel: Sheraton Rome

Day 2 - ROME - SORRENTO

Travel south to visit the formidable mountain top Abbey of Monte Cassino, rebuilt after the epic battle of 1944. Stop at the Commonwealth War Cemetery before continuing on to ill-fated Pompeii for a guided tour through the cobbled streets. A scenic cliff-top drive leads you to Sorrento. Sunday evenings are popular for the traditional ritual of passeggiata, a pre-dinner promenade, to 'see & be seen'.

Hotel: La Favorita (BB,D)

Day 3 - AMALFI COASTAL DRIVE

Travel along Italy's finest coastline, the Amalfi Coast. Stop for a bird's-eye view of the terraced houses of Positano before boarding minibuses to explore the heart of the town. There's time to be tempted by the boutiques before returning to your hotel. (BB)

Day 4 - ISLE OF CAPRI EXCURSION

For 2,000 years, Capri has beckoned visitors from Tiberius Caesar to Gracie Fields. Arriving at the Marina Grande by boat, ascend to Capri Town by funicular railway. Browse in the elegant shops & enjoy the views before returning to Sorrento. Tonight, choose from a selection of local restaurants for your dining pleasure. (BB,DA)

Day 5 - SORRENTO - ORVIETO

Travel north to the celebrated wine town of Frascati & continue to Castel Gandolfo to see the Pope's summer residence. Then to the hilltop town of Orvieto where an orientation tour shows you the Cathedral with its richly decorated façade.

Hotel: Aquila Bianca (BB)

Day 6 - ORVIETO - ASSISI - PERUGIA

Cross the River Tiber to arrive at St Mary of the Angels Basilica, erected where St Francis died. Continue on to hill-top Assisi to visit the Basilica. Stroll down the Via San Francesco to St Clare's church, then see the Cathedral with its baptismal font where St Francis was christened. Stay in beautiful Perugia tonight.

Hotel: Sangallo Palace (BB,D)

Day 7 - PERUGIA SIGHTSEEING

Your sightseeing begins on foot in the main street of Perugia's Old Town. See the Collegio del Cambio, the splendid Priors' Palace, the Cathedral and the finely sculptured Great Fountain. Later there is time at leisure in this beautiful, historic town. (BB)

Day 8 - PERUGIA - SIENA - SAN GIMIGNAN0 - FLORENCE

Stroll through the narrow cobbled streets of Siena with a local guide to the vast Campo Square. See Della Quercia's 'Fonte Gaia', then continue to the zebra striped cathedral. Follow the Tuscan country roads to San Gimignano to admire the Salucci Towers, Chigi Towers and Cathedral. A delightful drive through cypress and olive groves brings you to Florence.

Hotel: Londra (BB,D)

Day 9 - FLORENCE SIGHTSEEING

With a local guide, admire the original statue of David in the Academy Gallery. Continue to see the marble clad Cathedral, bell tower & the Gates of Paradise on the Baptistery before walking to Signoria Square. Visit the Basilica of Santa Croce, to see Michelangelo's tomb & finish with a Florentine leather-work demonstration. (BB)

Day 10 - FLORENCE - BOLOGNA - VENICE

Through the Appenine mountains to stop in Bologna - gastronomic capital of Italy. Here your guided tour includes Giambologna's Neptune Fountain and the Old Town. Time to savour the local specialties in the many trattorias and ristoranti before continuing across the fertile plains to Venice. Your beautiful and tranquil hotel is on Giudecca Island, opposite Piazza San Marco.

Hotel: Bauer Palladio (BB,D)

Day 11 - VENICE

Only minutes away by private launch is St Mark's Square. See Lord Byron's Bridge of Sighs connecting the Doges' Palace to the Prisons, before admiring the Byzantine Basilica and belltower. A glass-blowing demonstration is followed by a Highlight gondola ride through the canals. The rest of the day is at leisure in this remarkable city. (BB)

Day 12 - VENICE - RAVENNA - CHIANCIANO TERME

Stop on the outskirts of Ravenna this morning to visit the church of St Apollinaris in Classe which houses some of the finest mosaics in Europe. Continue into the Appenines to the spa town of Chianciano Terme.

Hotel: Grande Albergo Fortuna (BB)

Day 13 - MONTEPULCIANO EXCURSION

Embark on an excursion to beautiful Montepulciano, one of Tuscany's highest hill towns, its fortifications offering broad views over Umbria & Southern Tuscany. En route, there is an informative tutorial about the famous Chianti wines that make this region so famous. After some free time return to your hotel. (BB,D)

Day 14 - CHIANCIANO TERME - TARQUINIA - ROME

Visit Tarquinia's Archeological Museum & view the Etruscan tombs on the return journey to Rome. The rest of the day is at leisure.

Hotel: Cicerone (BB)

Day 15 - ROME SIGHTSEEING

With your local guide, visit the Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel. Next door, tour St Peter's Basilica, seeing Michelangelo's Pieta. Cross the Tiber to visit the Colosseum & see the Forum. There is time in the afternoon to relax or explore. (BB)

Day 16 - ROME

Arrivederci Roma!. Departure transfers arrive at Rome's Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci Airport at 07:00 & 09:30. (BB)

Your Insight tour already includes a host of bonus highlights and comprehensive sightseeing. However, there is an exciting array of optional excursions which will turn an already amazing experience into the trip of a lifetime! These are entirely optional and can be booked through your Tour Director/Local Representative at the commencement of your tour. All prices are quoted in local currency. Payment can be made in cash or by Visa, Mastercard or American Express. To help your pre-tour budgeting we suggest you allow approximately EURO 45 per person per day for optional excursions.

SRR07 - ANACAPRI, WHITE CRUISE & AUGUSTUS GARDENS
First we cruise around the island visiting the White Grotto (weather permitting). Then utilising minibuses, we take the spectacular Corniche road to Anacapri with its stunning views. Here we have free time to stroll amongst the elegant shops before enjoying a light lunch. Our tour ends in Capri town at the beautiful Augustus Gardens with picture postcard views of the Faraglioni rocks and Marina Piccola. (This excursion may be operated without lunch at EURO 39). EURO 52

SRR12 - DELIGHTS OF THE BAY OF NAPLES
Tucked away amongst the lemon and olive groves of Sorrento is a small family farm where we see how mozzarella is made! Then we enjoy some of these locally produced specialties, pasta, and finish with the famous Limoncello!. EURO 31

SRR03 - SORRENTO EVENING
A chance to enjoy a delicious dinner of local specialities. We arrive at one of the area's top local restaurants for an incredible dining experience featuring some of the famous dishes of this region! EURO 57

PER02 - CORTONA UNDER THE TUSCAN SUN
Visit this Tuscan hilltop town dating back 2,500 years and enjoy views that inspired 'Under The Tuscan Sun'. A panoramic drive shows us a recently unearthed Etruscan Temple, the actual house of author Francis Mayes followed by a guided walk in the historic centre of Cortona. The views inspired native son Luca Signorelli to become a genius of the Renaissance. EURO 31

PER03 - UMBRIAN DINNER
The beautiful region of Umbria awaits us as we drive into the countryside for a fabulous and memorable dinner of local cuisine. Wine is included. EURO 53

VCE06 - MAGICAL VENICE
This evening we board our private boats for a cruise down the famous "Grand Canal", past illuminated palazzi and twinkling chandeliers, to the romantic St Mark's Square. We have reservations in a famous cafè where we sit under the stars listening to the orchestra play some of Italy's best loved music (One drink is included). EURO 45

VCE02 - BURANO EXCURSION & LUNCH
Explore the Venetian lagoon on our cruise around the islands including the colourful island of Burano - a photographer's paradise and famous for its lace. Then enjoy a superb lunch sampling the local specialities. An excursion not to be missed! Lunch may be replaced with a dinner. EURO 65

VCE09 - HIDDEN VENICE
An historical walk, with a local guide, through some of the lesser known quarters of Venice. Discover some of the secrets of other quarters of the Venetian labyrinth. Your experience will be enhanced by the use of individual headsets. EURO 26

FLO08 TUSCAN COUNTRYSIDE & WINE TASTING
We drive into the beautiful Tuscan countryside, the epitome of picture postcard Italy. Along the way we pass beautiful old farmhouses, olive groves and the famous Chianti vineyards. Here we visit a winery to taste some of the most famous products of Tuscany. EURO 33

FLO03A - DINNER IN TUSCANY
A fabulous dinner of Tuscan specialties awaits you. We drive into the hills surrounding Florence for a fabulous meal and Chianti wine! A great evening of food, wine and fun! (On certain occasions a visit to the Monastery will be included before the dinner Euro 62). EURO 57

CHI01 - BAGNO VIGNONI & PIENZA
We travel through the beautiful Italian countryside to explore the medieval spa town of Bagno Vignoni, renowned for its mineral rich thermal baths, before our journey continues on to the 'model' renaissance town of Pienza. EURO 30

CHI02 - A TASTE OF TUSCANY
Enjoy an authentic Tuscan feast in a traditional farmhouse. EURO 57

ROM16 - PIAZZA & FOUNTAINS
This walking tour takes you to the Trevi Fountain and Piazza Navona with its pavement cafes, 17th century fountains and architecture. Perhaps have your portrait painted by one of the street artists! This tour is conducted by a local guide and you will utilise personal headsets. EURO 32

ROM18 - ILLUMINATIONS DRIVE & PIZZA DINNER
Tonight we have a pizza dinner in a typical Roman restaurant before enjoying an illuminations drive which shows us Piazza Venezia, the Forum, the Colosseum and the Campidoglio. EURO 46

ROM04A - ROMAN DINNER PARTY
Enjoy an evening of delicious Roman cuisine with drinks, music and a great Italian ambience. EURO 57