Itinerary

Day 1

(Thu.) Board your overnight transatlantic flight.

Day 2Arrival in Rome

Saint Peter's Square in Rome

, Italy

(Fri.) Time to rest or start exploring the Eternal City. At 6 p.m. meet your Tour Director and traveling companions, and leave the hotel for a special welcome dinner with wine in one of Rome’s lively restaurants. (D)

Day 3Rome

(Sat.) Sightseeing with your Local Guide starts with a visit to the VATICAN MUSEUMS

Story aboutVatican Museums "In the early 1500s, Rome was full of neglected ruins from the days of the ancient Empire, which still contained artworks buried amongst the rubble. The Renaissance had seen a sudden growth of interest in all things classical, and the popes – cultivated men who were in touch with the intellectual currents of the day – were the richest art collectors in Italy. They began offering substantial cash rewards for any sculptures, until Rome was scoured by freelance treasure hunters on the hunt for pagan masterpieces. The most dramatic discovery occurred in 1506, when a Roman father-and-son team of excavators reported a promising find near the ruined Baths of Titus. The artist Michelangelo himself excitedly hurried over to help with the work, followed by the pope’s official agent, Guiliano da Sangallo. When the excavators brushed away the dirt of 1,000 years, they found an enormous marble sculpture, perfectly intact, of a muscular Trojan hero being attacked by giant snakes. Guilano cried out in amazement, “This is the very Laocoön described by (the ancient Roman author) Pliny!” The sculpture was carted off to the Vatican Museum."

and SISTINE CHAPEL

The Sistine Chapel is world famous for Michelangelo’s ceiling paintings

, world famous for Michelangelo’s ceiling paintings and The Last Judgement. Continue to monumental ST. PETER’S SQUARE and BASILICA. Cross the Tiber and visit the COLOSSEUM

Story aboutThe Colosseum "Thanks to Hollywood recreations such as Gladiator, nothing symbolizes the cruelty of Imperial Rome as much as the Colosseum. In truth, the games held there were even more extreme and theatrical than modern film directors dare to suggest. A day at the Empire’s most famous arena was a total entertainment package, mixing bouts of savage violence with solemn religious pageantry, sexual titillation, slapstick comedy and kitschy stage shows."

and the ROMAN FORUM

Story aboutThe Roman Forum "Visitors can be a little confused by the Roman Forum; at first glance, it is a rather lifeless array of marble fragments. But we must remember that in ancient times, this space was far more than the temples and monuments whose ruins we can explore today. It was filled with bustling, noisy life as the popular crossroads of the city – the predecessor, in fact, of the modern Italian piazza. Every morning at dawn, average Romans would escape their cramped, dark apartment blocks (called insulae, or “islands”) and spent their days outdoors. "

, where Roman Legions marched in triumph. Time for independent activities and exciting optional excursion possibilities. (BB)

Day 4Rome–Capri–Sorrento

(Sun.) South on the Highway of the Sun to lively and colorful Naples, before embarking for your included trip to the Isle of Capri

Story aboutCapri "Rising like a whale from the ocean, the spectacular island of Capri has held a particular attraction for celebrities trying to “get away from it all” over the centuries. In former times, it lured the writers Goethe, Oscar Wilde and Graham Greene; these days, it attracts American stars like Leonardo di Caprio, Harrison Ford and Mariah Carey. But Capri first became famous in 26 AD, when the Roman Emperor Tiberius “dropped out” here to escape the political in-fighting in Rome. For 16 years, he ruled the Empire from his luxurious cliff-side palace – flashing his orders to the mainland via a lighthouse. Protected by 500 foot cliffs, Capri had only one landing point, and his villa, located on a remote headland offered sweeping 300 degree views of the ocean. B"

, an ancient retreat for Roman emperors and renowned ever since that time for its beauty. Sightseeing with Local Guide includes a visit to VILLA SAN MICHELE in Anacapri. Later cross the bay again to the charming resort of Sorrento

Story aboutSorrento "Italian movie stars and pop idols are still snapping up real estate around the seaside town of Sorrento – Siren’s Point – unaware that 2,000 years ago it was also the very heart of the ancient Romans’ favorite holiday destination. In fact, the entire sun-drenched coastline from the Bay of Naples south to the precipitous Amalfi Coast has always been lined with sumptuous luxury villas, qualifying it as the Hamptons of Antiquity. Aristocrats would flock here in summer to relax by the beach, swim in marble pools, sail to nearby islands in their silk-canopied yachts and enjoy seafood banquets al fresco beneath the stars. "

. Time to check out the local shops and discover its lively center. (BB,D)

Day 5Sorrento–Taormina

(Mon.) A scenic drive to the toe of the Italian boot in Calabria, where you will board a FERRY to cross the Straits of Messina to Sicily, the largest of the Mediterranean islands. Tonight you are in Taormina, a beautiful resort overlooking the sea and facing Mount Etna. (BB,D)

Day 6At Leisure in Taormina

(Tue.) All day to explore at your own pace. Why not sign up for an optional excursion to Mount Etna in the morning? Afterwards shop for hand embroidery and local goods, live it up in one of Europe’s most popular beach resorts, or simply relax. (BB)

Day 7Taormina. Excursion to Syracuse

(Wed.) Syracuse, birthplace of the mathematician Archimedes and once a powerful Greek port whose fleet was feared throughout the Mediterranean Old World, attracted visitors such as the philosopher Plato and later the Apostle Paul who converted its citizens to Christianity. A Local Guide will take you into the ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE which includes a visit to the 5th-century B.C. sparkling white Greek Theater that could seat up to 16,000 people, the Garden of Paradise, the Ear of Dionysus with its extraordinary acoustics, the Altar of Hieron II, the Roman Amphitheater, and the Cordmaker’s Cave. (BB,D)

Day 8Taormina–Agrigento

(Thu.) A day devoted to the scenic beauty and ancient Greek treasures of southwest Sicily. This morning focus on the 4th-century ROMAN VILLA OF CASALE near Piazza Armerina. Its colorful and perfectly preserved mosaics depict mythological themes and hunting scenes. Enjoy the everchanging landscapes of the interior as you drive to Agrigento where a Local Guide will walk with you through the breathtaking VALLEY OF TEMPLES. Even travelers having visited Athens and Delphi are awed by the gigantic yet graceful Greek structures that miraculously survived 24 centuries of tormented history. (BB,D)

Day 9Agrigento–Selinunte–Palermo

(Fri.) This morning visit the impressive Dorian Temples and Acropolis in Selinunte. Built on a natural balcony overlooking the sparkling Mediterranean, these accomplishments of an ancient civilization may prompt you to think about the quality of human progress since those days of Greek splendor. On to Palermo for your two-night stay. (BB)

Day 10Palermo

(Sat.) Sightseeing with a Local Guide includes the ornate Piazza Bellini, the CATHEDRAL, and the Arab-Norman PALATINE CHAPEL in the Royal Palace. Then drive up to Monreale for a panoramic view of the Conca d’Oro and a visit to the 12th century NORMAN CATHEDRAL, famous for its 50,000 square feet of precious Byzantine mosaics. This evening an included farewell dinner celebrates the success of your Sicilian vacation. (BB,D)

Day 11

(Sun.) Homebound flight. (BB)