Arrival in Rome and transfer to our Hotel. Our first; Day is dedicated to the guided visit of city center to admire the famous squares, baroque buildings and the magnificent fountains: Navona Square, Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, Pantheon, Campo de’ Fiori, Farnese Square. We will have dinner at our hotel in the evening.
After breakfast we depart for our guided tour of ancient Rome, including Colosseum and Roman Forum. We recommend you read about this area before your trip as it is packed with ancient history especially the Roman Forum, think of it as main street Rome of ancient times!
We spend our afternoon ona tour of visit Vatican City and the Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter Basilica. The tour starts from Vatican Museums entering the Pinecone Courtyard, crossing the collection of Greek and Roman sculpture, where we can admire the famous statue of Apollus, the Laocoon and the Belvedere Torso, the statues of animals, the Coffins of St. Helen and St. Constance, the Galleries of Tapestries and the frescoed Maps of all Italy painted in 1585. We will pass through rooms painted by Raphael and his pupils, ending with the amazing Michelangelo’s Sixtine Chapel!
We visit the highest temple of Christendom: St. Peter’s Basilica with the Pietà by Michelangelo, the Jubilee Gate, Bernini’s main altar, the staircase enlightened by eternal lamps leading to the tomb of Saint Peter.
In the evening we have dinner in a local Trastevere resturant.
After breakfast we depart to Naples. On arrival we have a guided visit of the “Partenopea” city and its historical centre to admire Plebiscito Square, the Royal Palace, the Gallery of Umberto I, and the San Carlo Opera House. You have the opertunity to have lunch in a typical “Pizzeria” so we can taste the real Napolitan pizza!
After lunch we depart to Pompeii, for our guided visit of the excavations of this ancient Roman city which was destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvio in 79 b.C. and buried under 4 to 6 meters of ash and stones. We than go to Sorrento, a charming town on the Sorrentine Peninsula famous for the cultivation of oranges, lemons and olives trees.
After breakfast, we have a guided tour exploring the Amalfi coast, enjoying magnificent views of Positano and other picturesque fishing villages. In Amalfi we enjoy a walking tour through its pretty streets arriving to the 10th-century Duomo with its colorful facade. Our panoramic tour proceeds to Ravello so we can admire the ancient fortified castle, Piazza Vescovado, Cathedral and take pictures of the beautiful views along Amalfi Coast.
No schedules tours/guides today for a day of leisure, shopping and exploring Sorento. Our Day to explore Sorrento, or for some, a day of relaxation enjoying our destination hotel and local amenities.
Today we depart for an unforgettable excursion to Capri Island by boat, a full day visiting and admiring the natural beauty and the charming atmosphere: the Augustus Gardens, the famous Piazzetta and more. We have a guided tour by mini-bus on the island.
In the afternoon-evening, we check-in to our Naples hotel where our luggage will be waiting for us (transferred while we are on our tour of Capri).
After breakfast we depart to Caserta for a guided visit of the Royal Palace and its gardens, a Unesco World Heritage site.
Enjoy dinner at a local restaurant in Rome.
SUNDAY; Day 8: Rome Departure
After breakfast, we will get our coach to the airport and check-in for our flights. Those leaving us today will arrive back in the USA same day, Sunday evening.
SUNDAY - WEDNESDAY; Day 8-11: 3-night Trip Extension Options
You are welcome to tour independently any area and/or revisit your favorites as Rome has great public transportation options including high speed rail links. These are some group options:
Rome:
Many sights including the Colosseum, Roman Forum, Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel, St Peter's Basilica, The Pantheon , Piazza Navona, Trevi Fountain, Palatine Hill, Galleria Borghese, Castel Sant'Angelo, Trastevere, Appian Way and Acqueduct Park.
Hop-on-off bus tour of Rome
Cycling & Segway tours
Cooking class, always a favorite!
Wine tasting excursion
Guided walking tours of the old city, Vatican city and modern Rome
Rooftop dinner option overlooking the Vatican
Tour of Florence: High speed (90 min) train Florence <-> Rome
Hop-on-off bus tour
Strongly recommended: The Duomo, Baptistery & the markets!
Michelangelo's David, Uffizi Gallery, Palazzo degli Uffizi, Brunelleschi's Dome, Piazza della Signoria, Palazzo Vecchio, Duomo of Florence, Giotto's Bell tower, Loggia del Mercato Nuovo, Church of Orsanmichele, Accademia Gallery, Basilica of San Lorenzo, Cappelle Medici, San Lorenzo market, The Baptistery, Piazza della Repubblica and many, many more sights!
Guided walking tours of Florence and it's highlights (a few options, highlights tour recommend)
Quick Facts:
Rome, Italy’s capital, is a sprawling, cosmopolitan city with nearly 3,000 years of globally influential art, architecture and culture on display. Ancient ruins such as the Forum and the Colosseum evoke the power of the former Roman Empire. Vatican City, headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church, has St. Peter’s Basilica and the Vatican Museums, which house masterpieces such as Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel frescoes.
Naples, a city in southern Italy, sits on the Bay of Naples. Nearby is Mount Vesuvius, the still-active volcano that destroyed nearby Roman town Pompeii. Dating to the 2nd millennium B.C., Naples has centuries of important artRome, Italy’s capital, is a sprawling, cosmopolitan city with nearly 3,000 years of globally influential art, architecture and culture on display. Ancient ruins such as the Forum and the Colosseum evoke the power of the former Roman Empire. Vatican City, headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church, has St. Peter’s Basilica and the Vatican Museums, which house masterpieces such as Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel frescoes. and architecture. The city's cathedral, the Duomo di San Gennaro, is filled with frescoes. Other major landmarks include the lavish Royal Palace and Castel Nuovo, a 13th-century castle.
Pompei is a city in southern Italy’s Campania region overlooked by the active volcano at Vesuvius. It’s known for its ancient city, Pompeii, which was buried by the 79 A.D. eruption of Mount Vesuvius. Ruins here include the frescoed Villa of the Mysteries and the city's amphitheater. In town, the Catholic pilgrimage site of the Sanctuary of the Madonna of the Rosary has mosaics and a grand cupola .
Sorrento is a coastal town in southwestern Italy, facing the Bay of Naples on the Sorrentine Peninsula. Perched atop cliffs that separate the town from its busy marinas, it’s known for sweeping water views and Piazza Tasso, a cafe-lined square. The historic center is a warren of narrow alleys that's home to the Chiesa di San Francesco, a 14th-century church with a tranquil cloister.
Capri Island with resorts, shops & restaurants, offering mountaintop scenery & the famous Blue Grotto.
Amalfi is a town in a dramatic natural setting below steep cliffs on Italy’s southwest coast. Between the 9th and 11th centuries, it was the seat of a powerful maritime republic. The Arab-Norman Sant'Andrea cathedral at the heart of town, with its striped Byzantine facade, survives from this era. The Museo Arsenale Amalfi is a medieval shipyard-turned-exhibition space.
Caserta is a city in southern Italy. It's known for the baroque Royal Palace of Caserta, with its fountain-filled gardens. North, the Monumental Complex Belvedere San Leucio was built as a model town, with a silk factory and workers’ houses. East, the imposing Carolino Aqueduct is an 18th-century structure. West, in Santa Maria Capua Vetere, are the ruins of the Anfiteatro Campano, which once hosted gladiator fights.
Check-in with our Club Trip Leader at 3 pm, Saturday, September, 7th. in front of the Air France desk LOGAN AIRPORT TERMINAL E
DEPARTURE:
AF 333 Saturday BOSTON PARIS 06:05 PM 07:00 AM
AF 1104 Sunday PARIS ROME 10:30 AM 12:40 PM Sunday Arrival
RETURN:
KL 1602 Sun/Wed ROME AMSTERDAM 12:40 PM 3:10 PM
KL 617 AMSTERDAM BOSTON 5:00 PM 6:30 PM Sun/Wed Home