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
Italian Escapade
This is a perfectly paced tour with two-night stays in Rome, Florence, the Italian lakes, Venice and Sorrento, and one-night in Assisi. All travelling days are of a reasonable length with interesting stops for refreshments and photo opportunities.
|
|
|
|
Package Inclusions
- 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 14
- Included Quality Dining: Highlight Dinner of local cuisine with entertainment in Rome, 12 Buffet Breakfasts and 6 Dinners
- Vatican
- Rome
- Florence
- Venice
- Ravenna
- Capri
- Pompeii
- Siena
- Pisa
- Milan
- Lugano
- Verona
- Venice
- Assisi
- Sorrento
Insight Vacations
Insight Vacations offers premium escorted tours throughout Europe, North America & the Eastern Mediterranean. In the Golden Age of Travel (a period from the early 1890s up to the Second World War) travellers expected and received impeccable personal service, they enjoyed well planned itineraries and stayed in good quality, well located hotels. They travelled in small, select friendly groups and no attention to detail was spared. Insight itineraries today are planned with exactly these same ideals. We invite you to discover the Insight difference with more legroom, smaller groups, quality hotels in desirable locations, more included sightseeing and delicious dining with the new 'Dine-Around Options'.
- Day 1 Depart Canada: Board your overnight flight.
- Day 2 Rome: Welcome to Rome, once the hub of a vast empire that spread from Britain to the Persian gulf and from Africa to Germany. 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. Relax or spend the rest of the day exploring this wonderful city. As evening falls, join your Tour Director and fellow passengers for a Welcome Drink.
- Day 3 Rome: With a local guide, visit the Vatican Museums, the treasure house of the Catholic faith with vast collections of ancient and Renaissance art. Continue to the Sistine Chapel, a masterpiece of Michelangelo's fresco skills. Then enter St Peter's Basilica to see Bernini's 'Popes' Altar' above the spot where St Peter is reputed to have been crucified. Afterwards, cross the River Tiber to ancient classical Rome and visit the world's largest Roman arena, the Colosseum, the scene of many gladiatorial contests, and overlook the Forum, the centre of ancient public life. The afternoon sees time set aside for sightseeing at your own pace. As night falls, why not enjoy a night out with splendid Italian food and wine.
- Day 4 Rome/Siena/Florence: Travel north to the picturesque medieval town of Siena and stroll through the winding stone paved streets to the vast Campo Square, where the Palio horse race takes place amid great festivities. See the 'Fountain of Joy' and then walk up to the amazing hilltop cathedral, striped with black and white marble. After some free time, continue through the cypress clad hills and vineyards of Tuscany to Florence, jewel of the Renaissance. En route, hear an informative tutorial about the famous Chianti wines that make this region so famous.
- Day 5 Florence: A guided tour takes you inside the Academy Gallery to see Michelangelo's original statue of David, then continue to the Cathedral to see Giotto's belltower and the 'Gates of Paradise' adorning the Baptistery. Visit the political stage of Florence, Signoria Square, filled with works of art, and finally see the tombs of Galileo and Michelangelo in Santa Croce Basilica. After watching a leatherwork demonstration, you have spare time to shop or continue sightseeing.
- Day 6 Florence/Pisa/Milan/Italian Lakes: Travel west towards the Mediterranean and stop at Pisa to see the famous Leaning Tower in the 'Field of Miracles', and the 11th century Cathedral and Baptistry. Continue north to Milan to admire the Gothic Cathedral and famous La Scala Opera House. After some time here, head to the beautiful Italian Lake District for a two-night stay at a lakeside holiday resort on Lake Maggiore.
- Day 7 Italian Lakes: The day is set aside to relax and enjoy all the fantastic sights this beautiful lakeland area has to offer. Perhaps take a cruise over to Isola Bella, one of the picturesque Borromean Islands? As night time draws in, why not work up an appetite before dinner with a traditional evening stroll (passeggiata) - it's a time to 'see and be seen'.
- Day 8 Italian Lakes/Lugano/Verona/Venice: Briefly enter Switzerland to visit the mountain ringed resort of Lugano. Take time to stroll by the lake's shores and shop for watches or fine chocolate. Continue to Verona to see Juliet's balcony and the ancient Roman Arena. Then it's off to romantic Venice, 'Queen of the Adriatic'.
- Day 9 Venice: What better way to see Venice than from our private launch, cruising past palazzos and churches to St Mark's Square? See the Basilica, the Doges' Palace and Bridge of Sighs. Watch a demonstration of glass-blowing before enjoying a highlight ride by traditional gondola along the picturesque canals. Spend time at leisure exploring at your own pace. As night falls, why not savour the magic of St. Mark's square with its orchestras and al-fresco cafes.
- Day 10 Venice/Ravenna/Assisi: Skirt the Venetian Lagoon and cross two of Italy's most important rivers, the Adige and Po, before approaching the city of Ravenna. Stop to visit the Church of St Apollinaris in Classe with its dazzling mosaics. Then the scenery changes dramatically as you drive through the wild Apennines. Your destination is the stone built hill-town of Assisi, home of St Francis. See the Church of St Mary of the Angels and enjoy a guided visit inside the Basilica of St Francis.
- Day 11 Assisi/Sorrento: Drive southwards, joining the Highway of the Sun, past the vineyards of Frascati and Castelli Romani to the Commonwealth Cemetery in the shadow of the hilltop monastery of Cassino. Continue along the clifftops to the picturesque holiday resort of Sorrento, which bustles with life until late each night.
- Day 12 Isle of Capri: Visit Sorrento's Piazza Tasso and watch the art of 'intarsio' wood inlaying. Now cross the Bay of Naples to the magical island of Capri. Ascend to Capri Town where there is time to browse among the shops and boutiques before returning to Sorrento.
- Day 13 Sorrento/Rome: Drive to the ancient Roman city of Pompeii, eerily preserved by the eruptions of Mount Vesuvius in AD79. Walk with a local guide through cobbled streets to explore some of the shops, villas and temples. Return to Rome where you enjoy a last night celebration Highlight Dinner including pasta, wine and music.
- Day 14 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.
 |
 |
