The Best of Italy with Sorrento & the Amalfi Coast

Your exciting Best of Italy tour begins as you board an overnight flight to Venice, Italy.

*Passengers who did not purchase flights will join the tour in Venice on Day 2.

Welcome to beautiful Italy! After landing at Venice Airport, we’ll be met and escorted to our hotel, located along the water on the Venice Lido. This evening, our Tour Director hosts an orientation, followed by a welcome dinner with wine.

Hotel Le Boulevard (2022) or Hotel Riviera (2022) or Hotel Carlton on the Grand Canal (2023) or similar | Dinner

First, embark on a boat tour to the island of Murano, world-renowned for its long tradition of glass craftsmanship. Back in Venice, a local guide will bring this remarkable city to life as you explore on foot Piazza San Marco (St. Mark’s Square); the golden, Byzantine Basilica di San Marco (Saint Mark’s Basilica); the lavish Doge’s Palace; and the famous Bridge of Sighs. This afternoon, lose yourself in Venice as you explore cobblestone streets, marveling at attractions and shopping for unique crafts and souvenirs. Don’t miss the chance to take an optional gondola ride. See Optional Tours for details.

| Breakfast

Today, travel south to Pisa, and view the famous Piazza dei Miracoli (Square of Miracles) and the amazing Leaning Tower of Pisa, that legendary Pisa Cathedral bell tower with its around 4-degree slant. Then, we’ll visit a Tuscan countryside farm for a wine tasting and sampling of local specialties. Later, arrive in Florence, the splendid capital of Tuscany.

Hotel Croce Di Malta or similar | Breakfast

This morning’s tour of Florence, the cradle of the Renaissance, starts with an incredible, panoramic vista from Michelangelo Square. Proceed to the Galleria dell’Accademia (Accademia Gallery of Fine Arts), which houses Michelangelo’s iconic marble statue, David. We’ll also enjoy sculpture-filled Piazza della Signoria (Signoria Square), the magnificent Duomo (cathedral) and Ponte Vecchio, the “Old Bridge,” lined with craft shops. Your afternoon is at leisure to check out local museums or stroll along the scenic Arno River. Tonight, a special treat awaits. We’ll head to the hills surrounding Florence to savor a typical dinner, complete with wine and local entertainment, at a picturesque Tuscan villa.

Breakfast, Dinner

Travel through the stunning landscapes of Tuscany and Umbria to the wonderfully preserved medieval hill town of Assisi, the birthplace of Saint Francis, founder of the Franciscan religious order. We’ll see fabled pilgrimage site the Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, where he is interred, and elaborate frescoes from artist Giotto. Late afternoon, arrive in Rome, “The “Eternal City,” and settle into your centrally located hotel.

Hotel Imperiale Roma or similar | Breakfast, Dinner

In the morning, dig up and in to Imperial Rome. Listen to the echoes of centuries of gladiatorial combat and public spectacles in the Colosseum. Walk under the Arch of Constantine, and marvel at the ruins of the Roman Forum, the day-to-day heart of ancient Rome. Your afternoon is at leisure to explore the city’s elaborate piazzas and fountains on your own.

Breakfast

Experience one of Christendom’s most sacred places this morning: the Vatican. Visits include awe-inspiring St. Peter’s Basilica (erected over the apostle’s tomb), the gloriously painted Sistine Chapel and the Vatican Museum (abundant with priceless collections of art and treasures). In the late afternoon you will experience a culinary walking tour in Trastevere area, where you will have the opportunity to chat with our expert foodie guide in order to gain a better understanding of Italian culture and traditions and experience life as a Roman and to do as the Romans do on a typical evening out. Tonight, you are our guest at a lavish gala dinner at a typical Roman restaurant, complete with wine and entertainment. Cap your evening with an included tour of illuminated Rome by night.

Breakfast, Dinner

Leaving Rome, we’ll pass Mount Vesuvius, en route to the Bay of Naples. Visit Pompeii, the town frozen in time by the ashes of this volcano’s explosive eruption in AD 79. See the Temple of Apollo and the Temple of Jupiter, important Pompeii monuments dedicated to those ancient gods. Your final destination today: the pretty resort town of Sorrento, perched high on the cliffs overlooking the sparkling Bay of Naples.

2023 Departures: After our visit to Pompeii, we will visit a family-run winery located at the foot of Mt. Vesuvius with a view that stretches across the vineyards to the Bay of Naples. Here we will enjoy a wine tasting with local snacks, including tarallucci cookies.

Art Hotel Gran Paradiso or Hotel Isabella Sorrento or similar | Breakfast, Dinner

Sorrento is world-renowned for its scenic splendor, woodworking and lace-making, horse-drawn carriages and relaxing atmosphere. Your whole day is at leisure to enjoy this delightful town independently. Perhaps, take our Full-Day Capri Excursion. Please refer to “Optional Tours” for more details. This evening, celebrate with your fellow travelers at dinner in a famous local restaurant. 

Breakfast, Dinner

Cruising along the rugged Amalfi Coast will surely take your breath away, with its dramatic landscapes and awe-inspiring panoramas. You’ll cherish the scenic mountains plunging into the sea, as well as the idyllic villages and lush forests clinging to them. Drive through Positano, the coast’s most exclusive town, and spend some free time in Amalfi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Later, head back to Sorrento for an evening at leisure. 

Breakfast

Following breakfast, transfer to Naples Airport and board your return flight to the U.S., arriving back the same day.

*The tour will end for passengers who did not purchase flights today, on Day 12, in Sorrento.

Breakfast