PROPOSED TOUR IN APRIL 2009 WILL BE TO ROME AND NORTHERN ITALY ONLY

DAY 1 Sunday 20th APRIL, DEPART AUSTRALIA

 Arrival in Rome. We will be transferred to our hotel in central Rome.

DAY 2 Monday 21st APRIL, ROME (B/L/D)

Today we discover the major sights of Rome. We will walk the ancient stones through the Forum and the Colosseum. After lunch, we tour the Vatican and see the treasures of St Peters Cathedral and the Vatican Museum. In the evening we enjoy dinner in an open air restaurant near the Spanish Steps.

DAY 3 Tuesday 22nd APRIL, ROME (B/L)

This morning begins with a leisurely walk to the Trevi Fountain (where you must throw in a coin) we continue on foot to see the architectural and sculptural splendours of Piazza Navona and the Pantheon. A late lunch is planned, then remainder of the afternoon is yours to enjoy.

DAY 4 Wednesday 23rd APRIL, ROME - SORRENTO (B/D)

Morning at leisure. At 1pm we depart for the town of Sorrento located at the end of the Amalfi Peninsula.

Dinner on arrival.

DAY 5 Thursday 24th APRIL, SORRENTO (B/L/D)

After breakfast we drive to Pompeii at the foot of Mt Vesuvius and walk thorough the ruins of the ancient city to discover the life of its inhabitants. We lunch at a local winery sampling the wines and delightful local fare. We return to Sorrento with time for some shopping and dinner.

DAY 6 Friday 25th APRIL, SORRENTO - CAPRI (B/L/D)

This morning we take the ferry to the Isle of Capri and tour the 19th Century Villa San Michele, a beautifully preserved Roman Villa. We take a cable car to the top of the island for some breathtaking views. After lunch we will discover charming shops and chic boutiques. We will point out some very special shops and leave you to meander and find that special something. Dinner is at our hotel that has views of the beautiful coast line.

DAY 7 Saturday 26th APRIL, CAPRI - CINQUE TERRE (B/D)

An early start for that special boat trip to the island’s famous Blue Grotto (weather permitting). Inside the Grotto the magnificent blue colour seems to be lit from underwater. It was once used as a private bath by the Roman Emperors who had villas on Capri. We return to the mainland and continue up the coast by scenic rail to Cinque Terre and arrive for a late supper at our hotel in Portovenere.

DAY 8 Sunday 27th APRIL, CINQUE TERRE (B/L)

Morning at leisure. In the afternoon we indulge in a cooking class at The Grand Hotel and we will eat the fruits of our labours. Seafood, foccacia and pesto are the specialities of the area.

DAY 9 Monday 28th APRIL, CINQUE TERRE (B/L)

A full day of touring the five villages of Cinque Terre, Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore .This is on the Unesco World Heritage list. We will travel by boat, rail and on foot to truly explore all this area has to offer. We will enjoy a picnic lunch enroute.

DAY 10 Tuesday 29th APRIL, CINQUE TERRE - TUSCANY (B/L/D)

Morning at leisure . We depart by coach to Tuscany with lunch enroute. In the afternoon we arrive in our Tuscan base, a picturesque villa set in the Tuscan hills. The family run villa is surrounded by vineyards, olive trees and cypress woods.

Enjoy a typical Tuscan dinner served in the garden with the local Chianti.

DAY 11 Wednesday 30th APRIL, TUSCANY (B/D)

We take a trip to the village of San Gimagano, a medieval walled town set amidst the beautiful Tuscan hills. San Gimagano is famous for its fourteen medieval stone towers that line the ramparts of the town. We enjoy a leisurely walk through the narrow lanes and squares and visit the food markets and specialty shops.

We return in the late afternoon for dinner.

DAY 12 Thursday 1st MAY, FLORENCE (B/L/D)

Today a trip into Florence is planned. We will visit the Academia of Fine Arts and see Michelangelo’s David and unfinished works. We see the Duomo and the famous “Gates of Paradise” of the Baptistry. We will walk the side streets seeing historic cafes, shops from the 1700’s. In the afternoon we visit the Pitti Palace, one of Florence’s finest architectural masterpieces, which was built in the 1460s. It is the largest museum complex in Florence and contains exquisite treasures and furnishings. (Visit to the Uffizzi Gallery – Florence’s most famous art museum).

Late afternoon we indulge in some hands-on pizza making at the best pizzeria in town and then enjoy the wood fire pizza made by you with some Tuscan wine before returning to our villa.

DAY 13 Friday 2nd MAY, TUSCANY (B)

Day at leisure to enjoy the Villa.

DAY 14 Saturday 3rd MAY, TUSCANY- VENICE (B/L)

Time to say goodbye to Tuscany as we travel north to Venice. We travel by water taxi from Piazzale Roma to our hotel. Lunch at the hotel then a small siesta (as the Italians will be having one). Afterwards, we begin a walking tour of Venice with an evening Gondola ride.

DAY 15 Sunday 4th MAY, VENICE (B/D)

A free day to explore and do your last minute shopping.

Final farewell dinner at a well-known local restaurant.

DAY 16 Monday 5th MAY, VENICE (B)

After breakfast you are transferred by Vaporetto to the airport.

END OF TOUR.

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