TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS: Arrival. Transfer to the hotel. Welcome to Europe. Upon arriving at the airport, we will be waiting to transfer you to your hotel. You can enjoy free time until your tour starts. Please, check the informative posters placed at the hotel reception area which have all the information about your upcoming services such as meeting place, time and the guide’s name.
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT: Lakes region. Mountain landscapes, alpine lakes, villages of great beauty. Today we see one of the most beautiful scenic areas of Europe, the region of the Italian lakes. Firstly, we will travel to LAKE ORTA in ORTA DE SAN GIULIO, a well-preserved medieval city. We take a train ride to reach the centre of the medieval town, and then a boat to the ISLAND OF SAN GIULIO, a little island on the lake with a monastery. After this we go on to LAKE MAGGIORE, stopping in STRESA, where we have the option to visit the Borromean Islands, and especially ISOLA BELLA with its gardens and palace (closed in the winter). Time for lunch. After lunch, we go on to VERONA.
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT: Visit of Venice. Murano glass factory in Venice. We will have time to see Verona, the city of Romeo and Juliet before leaving for VENICE, where we arrive at about 13.00. We include a boat trip to the area of St Mark’s Square, with a local guide we take a stroll around the City of Canals. There will also be a chance to admire the glasswork of Murano. Afterwards enjoy some leisure time, maybe a trip in a gondola? Accommodation in the Mestre district.
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT: San Marino and its fortress. Beautiful landscapes crossing the Apennines. Today we leave for Padua, the destination of many pilgrims, where we will see the Saint’s Basilica. Then we will go on to the Adriatic coast to see SAN MARINO, a small independent country on top of a strongly fortified mountain. Time for lunch. We travel on through pretty mountain countryside, crossing the Apennines to GUBBIO, a marvelously well-preserved town in which the Palace of Consuls and the 12th century cathedral stand out. Continuing to PERUGIA.
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT: Umbria region. PERUGIA is a historic city also name as the city of chocolate, and we will see it with a local guide, climbing its ramps that cross the rocky outcrop, and we will be surprised by its squares and stone streets. After this we travel to ASSISI, where we will have time for lunch and to see the Basilica of St Francis. In the afternoon, we travel to NAPLES. Arrival at the end of the day.
Free time to stroll around NAPLES before boarding. Boat trip to the ISLE OF CAPRI included. You may take a boat to the Blue Grotto or the cable car to Capri city. We will get on board again and continue to SORRENTO, a charming, tourist town at the foot of a cliff. Free time to stroll around. We will continue to the Gulf of Salerno. Dinner included and sojourn in SALERNO.
We will go to POMPEII, where you will have an opportunity to admire the remains of this Roman city which was covered by the ashes from Mount Vesuvius (guided tour and entrance included). We will continue to CASSINO after lunch where you will visit its huge abbey where one of the cruelest World War II battles took place. We will visit CASTEL GANDOLFO on our way back, a lovely medieval town located in a beautiful lake area which belongs to the VATICAN and serves as the Pope’s summer residence. We will resume our trip to ROME. Late afternoon arrival. End of our services. Please, check the time of your flight in case you might need an additional night. We transfer you to the airport for your return flight.
