Ten Day Private Tour: discover the wonders of Italy
Visits: Rome 3 days, Castel Gandolfo, Pompeii, Amalfi Coast, Orvieto, Siena, Chianti region, Florence 2 days, Lucca, Pisa, San Gimignano, Bologna, Padua, Venice 2 days, Ravenna, Assisi, Tivoli, Rome 2 days.
Day 1: Rome
Morning, pick up from the Airport and check into your hotel; lunch in a typical restaurant.
Then we'll start to discover Rome, by a 4-hour van and walking tour with a local guide including Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, Catacombs, Piazza Navona and Pantheon. Van and driver/tour manager at your disposal for sightseeing and shopping. Overnight in Rome.
Day 2: Rome and Castel Gandolfo
Full day van and walking tour with a local guide including Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, St. Peter's Basilica, Colosseum and Roman Forum. Overnight in Rome.
Day 3: Rome to Pompeii
Full day private tour from Rome to Pompeii, Positano, and back to Rome;
Van and walking tour to the discovery of the most preserved archaeological area in the world and of the spectacular Amalfi coast.
After a pleasant driving along the mountainous landscape of Latium and Campania we will reach Pompeii. Set to the SW of Mt. Vesuvius no far from the gulf of Naples, Pompeii is known throughout the world for its tragic destruction, in AD 79 by the eruption of the Vesuvius volcano, and for its miraculous discovery in the 18th century.
In few other excavations in Italy does one have as clear an idea as one has in Pompeii of just how the ancient Romans organized a city, a particularly complete example of a market town, with a clear distinction between quarters serving a public function and residential areas.
During the walk among the well preserved buildings you will be lectured on daily life, religious beliefs and government organization in ancient Pompeii; 2 hour private tour with a local guide.
After a spectacular driving along the Sorrentina and Amalfi coasts we'll reach Positano, where the mountain spurs, covered by terraced white houses, run down to the harbour of this old fishing village. Van and driver/tour manager at your disposal for sightseeing and shopping.
Overnight in Rome.
Day 4: full day tour on the route between Rome and Florence
We'll first stop in Orvieto, a picturesque hill town in Umbria that has preserved its medieval appearance with its beautiful Romanesque and Gothic buildings, also famous for its wine, pottery and artisan shops; 2 hour private tour with a local guide.
We'll then drive to Siena, the second most interesting town in Tuscany after Florence, lunch in a typical restaurant; we'll continue our tour through the Chianti district, Tuscany's most famous wine-making zone, wine tasting on the way; we'll then reach you hotel in Florence. Van and driver/tour manager at your disposal for sightseeing and shopping. Overnight in Florence.
Day 5: Florence
Full day van and walking tour with a local guide including the Cathedral, Accademia Gallery, Piazza Signoria, Uffizi Gallery, and Ponte Vecchio. Van and driver/tour manager at your disposal for sightseeing and shopping. Overnight in Florence.
Day 6: Full day private tour from Florence to Lucca, Pisa, San Gimignano and back to Florence
After a nice driving in the Tuscany country side we'll reach Lucca, one of the most beautiful small towns in Tuscany, surrounded by magnificent 16th -17th century ramparts which are its most remarkable feature; it conserves much of its Roman street plan, and is especially rich in Romanesque churches; 2 hour tour with a local guide.
Next stop will be Pisa, a beautiful town, standing on the Arno a few miles from its mouth, famous for its Piazza del Duomo, with the Cathedral, Leaning Tower, and Baptistery, splendid monuments begun in the 11th and 12th century when Pisa was a great maritime Republic.
On our way back to Florence we'll stop in San Gimignano, a charming hill town which has preserved its medieval appearance more completely than any other town in Tuscany; the town is famous for its numerous towers which make it conspicuous from a great distance and provide one of the most remarkable views in Italy; it is surrounded by rich agricultural land, famous for its wine (notably the Vernaccia) which was already renowned in the 14th century.Overnight in Florence.
Day 7: full day tour on the route between Florence and Venice
We'll first stop in Bologna, 2 hour tour with local guide, lunch in a typical restaurant.
We'll then drive to Padua, among its art treasuries are Giotto frescoes in the Scrovegni Chapel, Donatello work at the "Santo", and work by young Titian at the Scuola del Santo, all masterpieces of Italian art history; after a short driving we'll be in Venice. Driver/tour manager at your disposal for sightseeing and shopping. Overnight in Venice.
Day 8: Venice
Morning, 4-hour walking tour with a local guide including the St. Mark's Basilica, Doge Palace and Rialto Bridge; lunch in a typical restaurant, we'll then reach the Murano Island to visit a glass factory and to learn about the art of blowing glass. Driver/tour manager at your disposal for sightseeing and shopping. Overnight in Venice.
Day 9: Full day tour on the route between Venice and Rome
After a nice drive along the Adriatic coast we'll reach Ravenna, 2 hour walking tour with a local guide.
We'll then drive to Assisi, a preserved medieval town in Umbria, has always been considered one of the most beautiful sights of Italy; entering the town one inevitably breathes a Franciscan atmosphere, fed in part by literature, which has always considered this small town "the city of St. Francis" who was born and grew up here.
We'll then reach your hotel in Rome; driver/tour manager at your disposal for sightseeing and shopping. Overnight in Rome.
Day 10: Tivoli
Full day van and walking tour to the discovery of the Roman Villa Adriana and the Renaissance Villa D'Este, two splendid villas from two different ages. Driver/tour manager at your disposal for sightseeing and shopping. Overnight in Rome.
Day 11: Rome
Driver/tour manager at your disposal for sightseeing and shopping. Overnight in Rome.
Transfer from Rome hotel to Rome airport. In the morning we'll pick you up from your hotel to transfer you to Leonardi Da Vinci Airport.
