Tour Overview
Welcome to Italy! Join us on this 9-day exploration of Rome and Southern Italy. Start off in Rome, the Eternal City, one of the most exhilarating and romantic travel destinations in the world. Then, join the group and visit Naples and the most famous and impressive ancient remains in the world- Pompeii. Continue along the coast to Sorrento, the jewel of the Sorrentine Peninsula. Explore the Isle of Capri, known as “a piece of heaven fallen from the skies”. Depart for Amalfi via the breathtaking Amalfi Coast, seeing picturesque fishing villages along the way. Here you are free to discover the beauty of this wonderful coastal resort.Day by Day Itinerary
Day 1: RomeWelcome to Rome! Today when you arrive at the airport, you will be met and driven to your hotel. Your hotel will be confirmed upon availability, but please let your Adventure Consultant know your preference at the time of booking and we will do our best to accommodate your request. Polo Hotel: Known for its ambiance and luxury, this property is an ideal accommodation spot in Rome for all types of travelers. Located in an exclusive Parioli Area of the Eternal City, the Polo Hotel Rome is close to the Via Veneto, Galleria Borghese as well as the Parco della Musica. The hotel offers 66 comfortable guestrooms that are elegantly designed and well appointed with a host of modern amenities to make your stay a memorable one. Hotel Executive Roma: Hotel Executive is a prestigious property opened in 1990, boasting about their superb interiors and modern facilities. The Hotel Executive is centrally located, just a short walk from Via Veneto on the boundaries of the Borghese gardens, in the heart of the banking and financial area. The original and charming 1920's exterior has been preserved while the interior has been renovated to adapt itself to the specific needs of a demanding clientele. Hotel Rivoli: The Hotel is located in one of the most exclusive areas of the city, the Parioli Hill. The Best Western Hotel Rivoli is set only a few steps from Villa Borghese, Via Veneto and the Modern Art Gallery and is well linked to all the main tourist attractions of the city. Thanks to its favorable location, this property offers a quiet, relaxing and elegant atmosphere and is surrounded by greenery. Rome, the Eternal City, is one of the most exhilarating and romantic travel destinations in the world. Rome grew to rule a vast empire and as that empire began to divide, the region became the center of the Christian world. Artists and architects flocked to the city to work for the popes and their families, notably in the Renaissance and Baroque periods when significant architectural works were created. The legacy of this uninterrupted history can be seen all over the city. The remainder of the day is free for you to explore and enjoy the Eternal City as you see fit.
Polo Hotel or Hotel Executive Roma or Hotel Rivoli Day 2: Rome
After breakfast at your hotel this morning, you will be picked up at the hotel to join a half-day tour of the Vatican.
Created as a result of the Lateran Treaty of 1929 between Pope Pius XI and the Italian government, the Vatican is the smallest independent state in the world. You will visit the Vatican Museums and a large part of the Vatican City, situated on the Vatican Hill in the west-central part of Rome; its borders closely follow the city wall constructed to protect the Popes from outside attack. Leaving the Piazza San Bernardo, adorned by Moses Fountain, continue passing by Via Bissolati, Via Veneto and the Villa Borghese. After this ample panoramic view, we will visit the Vatican Museums and the Vatican Galleries. There you will admire the modern entrance built for the Jubilee 2000, the Galleries of the Chandeliers, the tapestries, geographical maps, the Sobiesky Hall and the Immaculate Conception Hall. We will then stop to visit the Sistine Chapel, seat of the conclave, with the famous frescoes of Michelangelo. Passing through the Vatican Museums we will arrive into the Basilica of Saint Peter, commonly called St. Peter’s Basilica. It is the most prominent building inside the Vatican City and is built on the ruins of Old St. Peter’s Basilica. Note: on Wednesdays, due to the Papal audience, the Church of St. Peter will be visited only from outside. Breakfast
Polo Hotel or Hotel Executive Roma or Hotel Rivoli Day 3: Rome
Today after breakfast you will be picked up at the hotel to join a half-day tour of Eternal Rome. We head to Piazza della Repubblica, also known as Piazza Esedra. The Fontana delle Naidai (Fountain of the Naiads) in the center of the square causes quite a stir when it was unveiled at the turn of the last century because of the so-called obscene postures of the nymphs. We continue towards Via Sistina where we’ll start our walk “through the ages”, starting from the Spanish Steps and reaching Piazza di Spagna, with the famous fountain “la Baraccia” realized from Pietro Bernini. Then, the guided tour will lead you to the Trevi Fountain, a baroque jewel, and to the Pantheon (meaning “Temple of all the Gods”), a building that was originally built as a temple to the seven deities of the seven planets in the state religion of ancient Rome. It is the best preserved of all the Roman buildings, and perhaps the best-preserved building of its age. At the end of the tour we will reach the gorgeous Piazza Navona, built on the ruins of the Domitian’s Circus, adorned by the famous Fountains of the Four Rivers masterpiece by Gian Lorenzo Bernini from 1651. The afternoon and evening are at your leisure.
Breakfast
Polo Hotel or Hotel Executive Roma or Hotel Rivoli Day 4: Rome- Naples- Pompeii- Sorrento
This morning you will be picked up at your hotel to join the group tour. Depart for Naples. Upon arrival enjoy a panoramic city tour including Mergellina, Castel dell’ Ovo and the Royal Palace. Mergellina is a bustling fishing community and the terminus for hydrofoils to the offshore islands. Mergellina was home to the poet Jacopo Sannazaro whose verses in Italian are part of the body of literature that helped form the Italian language in the Middle Ages. His Latin works, primarily De partu Virginis, though little read today, earned him the nick-name of "the Christian Virgil”. A main square, one block from the harbor, is named for him. Then visit the Castel dell’Ovo, a medieval castle built of tuff and is steeped in more legends than all of Naples’ other castles combined. Afterwards, we will continue on to Pompeii. The Roman town of Pompeii has been described as the Hiroshima of the ancient world. In fact, as the destruction of Pompeii was the result of a natural disaster and not the work of man, this is a misleading description. One thing, however, is sure- the ruins of Pompeii are the most famous and most impressive ancient remains in the world. After lunch at a typical restaurant, you will enjoy a short visit to a cameo factory before proceeding along the coast to Sorrento, a jewel of the Sorrentine Peninsula, famous for the cultivation or orange, lemon and olive trees. Dinner (beverages not included) and overnight in Sorrento. The Grand Hotel Vesuvio, built and furnished in a modern style, is located in a charming position, overlooking the enchanting Bay of Naples and right opposite Vesuvius. It offers: large swimming pools with separate section for children, gardens, extensive lemon and orange groves, wide lounges, conference rooms, garage, parking, solarium, children's playground, free shuttle bus into town, restaurant and bar.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Grand Hotel Vesuvio Day 5: Sorrento- Capri- Sorrento
Today offers an excursion to Capri to discover the beauty of this wonderful island. The island of Capri is known as “a piece of heaven fallen from the skies”. Legend has it that Capri is the paradise Lucifer stole and transplanted in Italy. Weather permitting, we will visit the Blue Grotto, or Grotta Azzurra, a sea cave on the coast of the island. Sunlight, passing through an underwater cavity and shining through the seawater, creates a blue reflection that illuminates the cavern. The beauty of the Blue Grotto was described in 1826 by the German writer August Kopisch. Since then the Blue Grotto has become the emblem of the island of Capri. The grotto was known by the Romans, as proved by the antique statues which were found in the Grotto. This discovery, the remains of an ancient landing place and the work on an underground tunnel, create an image of a natural cavern adorned by statues. The grotto was known to the locals under the name of Gradola, after the nearby landing place of Gradola, but it was avoided because it was said to be inhabited by witches and monsters. The Blue Grotto was used by the emperor Tiberius as his private swimming pool. After lunch at a local restaurant we will visit Anacapri, the rival center to Capri. Anacapri has a more rustic atmosphere and a stark Moorish presence. You will have some time at leisure here to stroll the charming streets before returning to Sorrento by ferry.
Dinner and overnight.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Grand Hotel Vesuvio Day 6: Sorrento- Amalfi
This morning we depart for Amalfi via the breathtaking Amalfi Coast. En-route you will see Positano and other picturesque fishing villages. Enjoy leisure time in Amalfi. Dinner and overnight in Amalfi. The Grand Hotel Excelsior is located in the captivating scenery of the Amalfi Coast and in a marvelous position dominating Amalfi only 10 minutes away from the city center. The sea in this area is calm and clean, inviting you to spend the whole day bathing and tanning. You might also choose to simply laze all day by the pool as the sun slowly sets over the nearby rugged mountains. The dining facilities make sure that all your needs are met in a welcoming environment: you can then enjoy the pleasure of a nice company or the solemn formality of more serious events, but always offering the possibility to taste a cuisine which is able to evoke new and exceptional sensations using the very best of natural ingredients mixed with the several local traditions, leaving every guest in no doubt that they are experiencing the very best of the Italian cuisine.
Breakfast, Dinner
Grand Hotel Excelsior Day 7: Amalfi
Today is free to discover the beauty of this wonderful coastal resort or to explore the area independently. Perhaps take a local bus and visit Positano or Ravello, or take time to relax and plunge into the water of the Mediterranean Sea.
Breakfast, Dinner
Grand Hotel Excelsior Day 8: Amalfi- Pompeii- Rome
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel and the morning at leisure. Early this afternoon you will be driven to Pompeii where you will join the tour bus to start your trip back to Rome. Traffic permitting, estimated time of arrival is approximately 9:30pm. Upon arrival in Rome you will be dropped off at your hotel.
Breakfast
Polo Hotel or Hotel Executive Roma or Hotel Rivoli Day 9: Depart Rome
Today you will be privately transferred to the Rome airport.
Breakfast
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