2016 Italy tour – September 25 to October 14
the itinerary
Note:
B = Breakfast included, L = Lunch included, D = Dinner included.
Day 1 -- Sunday 25th September
We’ll gather together at our Rome hotel in the late afternoon. There will
be a brief welcome and orientation session. After that (weather
permitting) we will do a relaxed walk through some of the most famous
piazzas of Rome. We’ll be having dinner at a very popular Roman-style
restaurant. Then we’ll drop in for a gelato at a famous gelateria near the
Pantheon. Rome overnight. (D)
Day 2 -- Monday 26th September
A relaxed start today. We’ll board our coach mid-morning, and transfer to
the beautiful Sorrentino Winery at the foot of Vesuvius. There, we’ll do a
winery tour, and lunch. After lunch we’ll continue on to our Sorrento
hotel. Sorrento overnight. (B, L)
Day 3 -- Tuesday 27th September
Today, a half-day excursion to the ancient city of Pompeii. We’ll return to
Sorrento in time for lunch, and the rest of the day is yours. If you prefer
you can stay at Pompeii to explore some more, returning to Sorrento by
train. Dinner will be in a friendly local restaurant. Sorrento overnight.
(B, D)
Day 4 -- Wednesday 28th September
A fun excursion to the island of Capri, crossing to the island by hydrofoil,
and then enjoying a boat ride right around the island, with an opportunity
for swimming at the Green Grotto. Afterwards, you can spend more time
on the island, exploring, swimming, dining or relaxing as the mood takes
you. You will have a return ticket so you can get back to Sorrento by
hydrofoil at whatever time you choose. The jetty at Sorrento is within
walking distance of our hotel. Other options are the very cheap local buses
which run frequently, and the taxis. Sorrento overnight. (B)
Amici Tours – go touring with friends
2016 Italy tour – September 25 to October 14
Day 5 -- Thursday 29th September
We’ll transfer by coach to Rome, stopping at Herculaneum on the way.
Like Pompeii, the life of this town came to an end on 24th August, 79AD
with the colossal eruption of Mt Vesuvius. It is a much smaller site than
Pompeii but still fascinating. Herculaneum was a resort town for wealthy
Romans, and as such is quite different to Pompeii which was a working
port city. Before arrival in Rome you will receive your 3-day RomaPass,
which will make getting around easy and cost-free. Rome overnight. (B)
Day 6 -- Friday 30th September
A relaxed start today. In the morning there will be time for you to do your
own thing. In the early afternoon we’ll set out for Vatican City, and we’ll
do a tour of the amazing Vatican Museums (including the Sistine Chapel),
and St Peter’s Basilica. After this we’ll stroll across the Tevere (River Tiber),
to Campo de’ Fiori which is an excellent place to find dinner (not
included). A mini-bus will take us home to our hotel after dinner.
However, if you prefer to dine in a different area, you could return to the
hotel afterwards using public transport with your RomaPass. Rome
overnight. (B)
Day 7 -- Saturday 1st October
Today we’ll visit the Colosseum and the Roman Forum in the morning.
You will have the afternoon free to explore Rome some more. Your
RomaPass will give you reduced admission to most museums and
galleries. In the evening, we’ll enjoy a group dinner at a very popular
Rome taverna. On the way to dinner we’ll call in to see something special
that most visitors to Rome don’t even know is there! Rome overnight.
(B, D)
Day 8 -- Sunday 2nd October
We’ll travel by coach to Perugia, stopping en route for a lunch-break and
individual sight-seeing at the picturesque hill town of Todi. After arriving
in Perugia, there will be time to rest and freshen up, before an evening
walk around the historic centre. Perugia overnight. (B)
Amici Tours – go touring with friends
2016 Italy tour – September 25 to October 14
Day 9 -- Monday 3rd October
An excursion to Assisi, the resting-place of St Francis, and a destination for
pilgrims even now. The current Pope took St Francis’ name when he
became Pope. After our walking tour of the town, we’ll have lunch
together at the well-known La Stalla restaurant, sampling local Umbrian
cuisine. We’ll return to Perugia by mid-afternoon. Perugia overnight.
(B, L)
Day 10 -- Tuesday 4th October
This is a free day. You will be able to spend time exploring Perugia further,
or go ahead and visit one of the many Umbrian hill towns, as Perugia is
very well-placed and well-provided with public transport for visiting other
towns, such as Gubbio, Spoleto, Spello, and Deruta. There are too many to
name them all in fact. Perugia overnight. (B)
Day 11 -- Wednesday 5th October
We’ll be transferring to Florence, via Siena. In Siena there’ll be some time
for sight-seeing, before lunch. For lunch, you are offered a choice between
the ‘Savor Siena Walk’ which is a progressive wine and food tasting
experience, or lunch in a restaurant for an opportunity to try some local
specialities, with wine included. In Florence, an evening walk to the
historic centre will be offered. Alternatively, a very good evening meal can
be had right near the hotel. Florence overnight. (B, L)
Day 12 -- Thursday 6th October
A morning visit to the Accademia Museum, home of the original David of
Michelangelo. The afternoon will be free for you to explore Florence. If
you prefer, you could travel by train or interurban bus to one of the other
towns of Tuscany. Florence overnight. (B)
Day 13 -- Friday 7th October
Today we’ll visit the Uffizi Gallery, which has a fabulous collection of
Renaissance paintings by artists including Leonardo, Botticelli,
Michelangelo, Raphael, and Titian. A highlight is Botticelli’s Venus. In the
afternoon you will have free time. Florence overnight. (B)
Amici Tours – go touring with friends
2016 Italy tour – September 25 to October 14
Day 14 -- Saturday 8th October
In the morning we’ll set off for Cinque Terre, stopping at Pisa on the way
to see the remarkable Leaning Tower. You will have enough time to go
inside the tower if you wish to (ticket not included in tour price).
Monterosso al Mare (Cinque Terre) overnight. (B)
Day 15 -- Sunday 9th October
Today is a free day, and you will have plenty of options on how to enjoy it.
You can travel to other Cinque Terre villages by train or boat (note, on
some days the boat does not run due to choppy seas). Alternatively, you
can hike between the towns on the well-known paths, or simply relax and
do some poking around in Monterosso al Mare which is a charming town
with a nice beach. Monterosso al Mare overnight. (B)
Day 16 -- Monday 10th October
We will transfer to Bologna today. There will be time for sight-seeing in
Bologna in the afternoon. In the evening, a group dinner to sample some
of the local cuisine. Bologna is renowned for its food. Bologna overnight.
(B, D)
Day 17 -- Tuesday 11th October
To Venice by rail. On arrival in Venice you will receive your 72-hour
vaporetto pass, which will enable you to take the vaporetti (water-buses)
as many times as you want, for the whole of your stay. In the evening, an
outing to Campo Santa Margherita will be offered. The Campo is full of life
in the evenings, as it has a range of good-value dining options (very rare in
Venice). Venice overnight. (B)
Day 18 -- Wednesday 12th October
In the morning we will visit the Rialto market, after which a tour of the
Clock Tower in St Mark’s Square. In the afternoon, with your vaporetto
pass you can sightsee around Venice, the Lido, Murano and Burano, all at
no cost. Venice overnight. (B)
Amici Tours – go touring with friends
2016 Italy tour – September 25 to October 14
Day 19 -- Thursday 13th October
Today we’ll visit St Mark’s Basilica, which is the resting place of St Mark
the Apostle, and we’ll do a guided tour of the Doge’s Palace, including the
Secret Itineraries tour, which will enable you to see places which are not
accessible to most visitors. This tour is fascinating, especially for anyone
who is interested in history and enjoys it. In the evening we’ll kick our
heels up at a festive end-of-tour group dinner. Venice overnight. (B, D)
Day 20 -- Friday 14th October
This morning we say ‘arrivederci’ and go our separate ways. Your tour
leaders can give information on the options for getting to the airport,
railway station and bus station. (B)
Amici Tours – go touring with friends