Expert Travel Advice
For assistance with all of your travel needs, call us at...
1-866-286-9323
or visit one of our many
CAA Store locations.
 |
||||||||||
|
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
Travel
Best of Italy
This tour has a well balanced pace with two-night stays in three of the five centers: Rome, Tuscany and Sorrento and overnight stays in Assisi and Venice. The driving days are of a comfortable length with several stops en route
|
|
|
|
Package Inclusions
- Tour St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican City
- Visit the Basilicas of St Francis and St Mary of the Angels in Assisi
- Cruise, with commentary, to St Mark's Square in Venice
- See the Bridge of Sighs, Doges' Palace and St Mark's Basilica
- Scenic Brenta Canal drive past the summer mansions of the Venetian nobility
- See the Cathedral, Baptistery and famous 'Leaning Tower of Pisa'
- See Florence's Cathedral, bell tower, 'Gates of Paradise' and visit Signoria Square
- Visit the Commonwealth Cemetery at Cassino
- Demonstration of traditional Florentine leather-work,
- Demonstration of 'Intarsio' marquetry inlay woodworking in Sorrento
- Demonstration of traditional glass-blowing in Venice
- Scenic Apennine Mountains drive
- Cliff-top drive from Sorrento to Naples overlooking the Bay of Naples
- Included First Class Services
- Escorted by a professional Tour Director
- Luxury air-conditioned 40 seat coach with onboard restroom
- Insight Hotels include all service charges, taxes and porterage
- Insight Traveler document wallet, map book journal and information pack
- Airport Shuttle arrival and departure transfers at scheduled times on Day 2 and Day 11
-
Highlights:
- Visit the superb Vatican Museums and admire Michelangelo's ceiling in the Sistine Chapel
- Explore the wonders of ancient Rome as you visit the Colosseum and overlook the Forum
- Drift through the romantic canals of Venice by traditional gondola
- Visit Florence's Academy Gallery to see Michelangelo's original 'Statue of David'
- Cruise to Capri, the Island of Dreams, and ascend to Capri town by funicular railway
- Glimpse a moment of every day Roman life, as you tour the excavations of Pompeii
Insight Vacations
Insight Vacations is the world leader of premium escorted tours to Britain, Ireland, Europe, Scandinavia, the Eastern Mediterranean and North America. From the moment you begin your journey, you will notice the Insight difference. Insight's vast selection of itineraries are planned embracing their unique 'small group' philosophy and are perfectly paced for your complete satisfaction.
- Day 1 Depart Canada: Board your overnight flight.
- Day 2 Rome: Welcome to Rome, a glorious city filled with Classical antiquities, medieval buildings, Renaissance palaces and baroque churches. On arrival at Rome's Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci Airport, your airport shuttle service leaves for the tour hotel at 09:30, 12:30 & 15:30. After checking in, enjoy your hotel's wonderful facilities and beautiful grounds. As night falls, meet your Tour Director and fellow travellers for a Welcome Drink.
- Day 3 Rome: Enjoy an in-depth sightseeing tour with a local guide who will take you inside the Vatican Museums to gaze upon the treasures of the Popes. Enjoy clear commentary via your audio headset as you admire Michelangelo's famous ceiling inside the Sistine Chapel. Now enter St Peter's Basilica to wonder at another of his works, the emotive 'Pieta'. Then cross the Tiber to visit the Colosseum, scene of many gladiatorial contests. After seeing the Roman Forum, the rest of the day is yours to sightsee or shop.
- Day 4 Rome/Assisi: Leave Rome and follow the valley of the River Tiber to the hills of Umbria, which form part of the Apennines. Your destination is the peaceful hill-top town of Assisi, the home of St Francis. Visit the Basilica of St Mary of the Angels, built on the site of the original Porziuncule Chapel foundations, then continue up Mount Subasio to the town. Step inside the huge Basilica, built in the 13th century after St. Francis' death, where the frescoes by Giotto heralded a new era in Italian art.
- Day 5 Assisi/Venice: A pleasant drive leads to the romantic city of Venice, and 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 admire the mosaics of the Basilica and watch one of the few remaining masters blow molten glass into a unique creation at a Venetian glass-blowing factory. Relax and enjoy the atmosphere as you cruise along the Venetian canals by gondola.
- Day 6 Venice/Tuscany: Bid farewell to magical Venice, and drive along the scenic Brenta Canal with its magnificent Palladian villas, once the summer residences of Venetian nobility. Cross the plain of the Po River and traverse the Apennines, the hilly backbone of Italy, to reach the Arno valley. En route, hear an informative tutorial about the famous Chianti wines that make this region so famous. Then follow the river westwards to the coastal town of Pisa to see the famous Leaning Tower, where elaborate steps have been taken to prevent this landmark from falling over. Time also to admire the marble cathedral and Baptistery before continuing to the Tuscan spa resort of Montecatini for a two-night stay. Why not immerse yourself in the Italian culture and work up an appetite on a traditional evening stroll (passeggiata) - it's a time to 'see and be seen'.
- Day 7 Florence: Drive to the Tuscan capital, Florence, and 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 of Santa Maria dei Fiore to see Giotto's bell tower and 'Gates of Paradise' before visiting the Piazza della Signoria, still the political heart of Florence. The area around Santa Croce Basilica is famous for the quality of its luxury goods; see a demonstration of leatherwork in the very place this craft first established itself. Then, there's free time to shop for Florence's finest or continue sightseeing.
- Day 8 Tuscany/Sorrento: Take the smooth motorway south through the rich volcanic hills of Frascati to Cassino and visit the Commonwealth Cemetery, overlooked by the austere monastery of Montecassino - headquarters of the Benedictine order. Take the clifftop road to your hotel in the picturesque resort of Sorrento.
- Day 9 Isle of Capri: Spend the morning being shown the art of 'intarsio' or marquetry wood inlaying before cruising to the sun-drenched island of dreams, Capri - a rock rising from the Mediterranean. Take the funicular train up to the main village (Capri Town), then spend time exploring the narrow alleyways, browse in the exclusive boutiques and enjoy the fabulous views over the Mediterranean Sea. Perhaps join an optional tour to Anacapri to visit Villa San Michele before returning to your hotel for some relaxation time.
- Day 10 Sorrento/Pompeii/Rome: Only a short drive from the hotel lies Pompeii, the opulent Roman town which was preserved by layers of ash from the disastrous eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD79. A walking tour with a local guide through the cobbled streets and extensive excavations reveals the daily life of ancient Roman civilisation. Afterwards, the smooth motorway leads back to the 'Eternal City' of Rome. Tonight, join your fellow passengers for a last night celebration Highlight Dinner of local cuisine, complete with wine and entertainment.
- Day 11 Return to Canada: Arrivederci Roma! Sadly, your tour comes to an end after breakfast. Departure transfers arrive at Rome's Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci Airport at 07:00 & 09:30.
For reservations or additional information, call 1-866-286-9323 to speak with an experienced travel consultant.
 |
 |
