Italy’s Great Cities with Sicily 2012

Tours | Globus family of brands | Rome | Florence | Venice | Europe | Italy | Sicily

Itinerary:

Day	Description	View All +
Day 1	Arrive in Rome, Italy Time to rest or start exploring the “Eternal City.” At 5 pm, meet your Tour Director and traveling companions and leave the hotel for a special welcome dinner with wine at one of Rome’s lively restaurants. (D)	View Details +
Day 2	Rome Sightseeing with your Local Guide starts with a visit to the VATICAN MUSEUMS and SISTINE CHAPEL (arranged next morning if closed today), 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 and the ROMAN FORUM, where Roman legions marched in triumph. Then, time for independent activities and exciting optional excursion possibilities. (B)	View Details +
Day 3	Rome–Pisa–Florence Follow the Aurelian Way along the Tyrrhenian coast to Pisa. Here, take your pictures of the amazing Leaning Tower, 180 feet high and no less than 12 feet out of the perpendicular. Then, on to Florence, the splendid capital of Tuscany. You may wish to join an optional dinner outing to a fine Tuscan restaurant. (B)	View Details +
Day 4	Florence Follow your Local Guide to the ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS with Michelangelo’s celebrated David and the magnificent cathedral. Admire Giotto’s Bell Tower, the Baptistry’s heavy bronze “Gate of Paradise,” and sculpture-studded SIGNORIA SQUARE. The afternoon is free. Florentine leather goods and gold jewelry sold by the ounce are attractive buys. (B)	View Details +
Day 5	Florence–Verona–Venice North to Verona, medieval setting of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. See Juliet’s balcony and the well-preserved Arena. Stroll around the picturesque market square. Arrive in Venice, a powerful magnet for romantics and art lovers from around the globe. Tonight is your chance to sample the city’s fine restaurants. (B)	View Details +
Day 6	Venice Start the day in style by PRIVATE BOAT to meet your Local Guide. Highlights of your walking tour are ST. MARK’S SQUARE and the byzantine BASILICA, lavish DOGES’ PALACE and the BRIDGE OF SIGHS. Also watch skilled GLASSBLOWERS fashion their delicate objects in an age-old traditional manner. Afterwards, enjoy Venice at your own pace or join an optional cruise to the charming island of Burano. (B)	View Details +
Day 7	Venice–Ferrara–Rome A scenic drive today through the lush plains of the mighty River Po to Ferrara. Stroll past imposing Este Castle to the marble cathedral before continuing to Rome across the wooded Apennine mountain range, and past the vine- and olive-clad Tuscan Hills, home of the popular Chianti wines. This evening, enjoy a farewell dinner with wine at a local restaurant to celebrate the success of your vacation. (B,D)	View Details +
Day 8	Rome–Sicily You will be transferred by AIR and coach to your hotel in Giardini Naxos. The remainder of the day is at leisure. (B)	View Details +
Day 9	Sicily Morning guided sightseeing includes a walking tour of picturesque Taormina and a visit to the GREEK-ROMAN AMPHITHEATER. (B)	View Details +
Day 10	Sicily Full day at leisure. Ask your Local Host for suggestions. (B)	View Details +
Day 11	Sicily Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning (the nearest airport is Catania). (B)	View Details +

Highlights: RomeWelcome and farewell dinners at a local restaurant; guided sightseeing, visit the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel, St. Peter’s Square and Basilica, the Colosseum and Roman ForumPisa Marvel at the legendary Leaning TowerFlorenceGuided walking tour, visit Michelangelo’s David, and Signoria SquareVeronaWalking tour including Juliet’s balcony and the ArenaVenicePrivate boat ride; guided walking tour, visit St. Mark’s Square and Basilica, Doges’ Palace and the Bridge of Sighs; glassblowers’ demonstrationFerraraWalk along Este Castle to the cathedralRome-SicilyBy airSicilyGuided walking tour of Taormina, visit the Greek-Roman AmphitheaterHeadsets throughout the tourNotes: PRICE DETAILS: Dates and prices do not include international air travel. When planning your trip, allow one extra day before tour date for travel between the USA and Europe.Prices based on double room occupancy.Single room supplement: $475 (March 24), $545 (March 31-June 16 and September 8-October 6), $542 (June 23-September 1)Triple room reduction per person: $76 (March 24-June 16 and September 8-October 6), $79 (June 23-September 1)Extra nights per person in Rome:in single room $226, in twin room $165, in triple room $138Extra nights per person in Sicily (Giardini Naxos):in single room $156, in twin room $94, in triple room $84July 1-September 15: in single room $177, in twin room $115, in triple room $1052013 departures are subject to itinerary and price modification. Details will be available in Sept. 2012.What's Included: MEALS: Full buffet breakfast daily (B); 2 three-course dinners (D): special welcome and farewell dinners with wine in RomeHOTELS: Full buffet breakfast daily (B); 2 three-course dinners (D): special welcome and farewell dinners with wine in Rome