Italian Splendours - Winter departures

Italy's idyllic landscapes are captured here; majestic lakes, Venetian canals, rolling Tuscan hillsides, sparkling seas, imposing volcanoes, all bathed in a golden light that adds to the allure.

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 of Michelangelo'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'
    * Drift through the romantic canals of Venice by traditional gondola

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
 

Tour details based on Nov 2011 - Apr 2012 departures.

Day 1 - ROME AT LEISURE

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: 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: Sant Elena (BB,D)

Day 10 - VENICE SIGHTSEEING

Venice - 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. Then relax and enjoy the atmosphere as you cruise along the canals by Gondola. (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 - DEPART 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)

The optional excursions for this tour are not available at this time.