$8948 Per Person Share Twin
7th—25th October 2018, Sydney to Sydney

VISITING: Rome, Lucca, Cinque Terre, Pisa, Siena, San Gimignano, Florence, Verona, Venice, Ravenna, Assissi, Orvieto, Naples, Pompeii, Sorrento, Amalfi and Capri

Includes: Sightseeing throughout with inside visits as shown in UPPERCASE in the tour description, including admission charges where applicable. Airport transfers; private, deluxe, air-conditioned coach while touring; ; internal flights. 4 star hotels as stated or similar. 17 breakfasts, 2 lunches and 9 dinners. Fully Guided with Escort  ex-Sydney based on 16 Travellers. International Air with Thai Airways including taxes , surcharges and fees.

Just For Us! Extending our tour to the south we will take in the historic Pompeii, the fantastic sights of the island of Capri and the Amaflfi Coast, we also have an optional visit to the Borghese Gardens included and a fantastic Italian Cooking Class!

Itinerary:

Day 1: Depart Australia: Depart Australia on Thai Airways bound for Rome .

Day 2:  Arrive In Rome, Italy: Welcome to Rome! Transfer to the hotel where you have the opportunity to join a BORGHASE GARDENS & GALLERY visit before returning to your hotel for an afternoon check-in. At 5 pm, meet your Tour Director and travelling companions, then leave the hotel for a special welcome dinner with wine at one of Rome’s lively restaurants. (D)

Day 3: Rome.  Globus’ unique guided sightseeing includes inside visits to the VATICAN MUSEUMS and SISTINE CHAPEL with Michelangelo’s ceiling paintings and The Last Judgment, and monumental ST. PETER’S SQUARE and BASILICA to admire Michelangelo’s Pieta. Then, drive to the Roman Forum and visit the amazing COLOSSEUM, where gladiators once fought. An optional walking tour with a Local Guide is available to further explore famous sites for those who wish to see it all. (B)

Day 4: Rome – Lucca Head north and arrive in medieval Lucca, completely surrounded by the original medieval wall, and enjoy a walk through the quaint medieval town centre. An optional dinner at a local agriturismo farm is available. (B)

Day 5: Lucca Excursion To Cinque Terre & Pisa Drive to La Spezia on the Mediterranean Coast and enjoy your excursion to CINQUE TERRE, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, including a BOAT RIDE (departures 0403-1023, weather permitting) with a Local Guide. The name dates back to the 15th century and is derived from five little medieval villages standing on stony spurs along 8 kilometres (5 miles) of the rocky coastline: Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza, and Monterosso. Then, a TRAIN RIDE returns you to La Spezia. Stop in Pisa and take the traditional picture pushing back the amazing Leaning Tower, 55 metres (180 feet) high and no less than 3.5 metres (12 feet) out of the perpendicular, before returning to Lucca. (B/D)

Day 6: Lucca – Siena – San Gimignano – Florence A scenic day in Tuscany. This morning, visit Siena and walk through ancient narrow lanes to beautiful PIAZZA DEL CAMPO, theatre of the biannual Palio, Siena’s spectacular medieval-style horse race. Continue to hilltop San Gimignano, the most picturesque of Italy’s perfectly preserved medieval towns. In the afternoon, drive along the Chianti Road leading north to Florence. Next is the highlight of the day: stop at splendid VERRAZZANO CASTLE to hear about the fine art of blending four types of grapes to obtain the famous Chianti. Enjoy a WINE TASTING and an early dinner with local specialties. (B/D)

Day 7: Florence During your walking tour with a Local Guide, visit the ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS to see Michelangelo’s celebrated David. Admire the magnificent marble cathedral, Giotto’s Bell Tower, the Baptistry’s heavy bronze “Gate of Paradise,” and sculpture-studded SIGNORIA SQUARE. Time to explore this fascinating city so beautifully filmed in movies like Room with a View and Tea with Mussolini, and to browse through the shops. Leather goods and gold jewellery sold by the ounce are attractive buys. To make the most of your stay, join our optional excursions to the magnificent Uffizi Gallery and a dinner outing to try out the culinary delights of a fine Tuscan restaurant. (B)

Day 8: Florence – Verona – Venice Island. Stop in Verona, setting of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Take pictures of Juliet’s balcony and rub the shining breast on her statue for good luck. Next, admire the Arena, an incredibly well-preserved pink marble Roman amphitheatre. Built in the 1st century AD/ it was the place where gladiators once fought. Today, it is the magical venue for world-famous opera performances. Arrive in Venice, a powerful magnet for romantics and art lovers from around the globe. Enter in style by PRIVATE BOAT. Tonight is your chance to join an optional gondola ride and to sample the city’s fine restaurants. (B)

Day 9: Venice Island Enjoy morning sightseeing with your Local Guide. Visit ST. MARK’S SQUARE and the byzantine BASILICA, lavish DOGES’ PALACE and the world-famous BRIDGE OF SIGHS. Also watch a skilled GLASSBLOWER fashion delicate objects in an age-old traditional manner. An optional boat ride is available to the picturesque island of Burano. (B)

Day 10: Venice Island – Ravenna – Assisi.  Follow the Adriatic coastline to Ravenna. Here, see the famous mosaics in the 6th-century BASILICA of ST. APOLLINARIS IN CLASSE. Next is peaceful Assisi. During your walking tour with a Local Guide, visit ST. CLARE’S CHURCH and ST. FRANCIS’ BASILICA, the hub of a religious order devoted to the ideals of humility, forgiveness, simplicity, and love for all God’s creatures. Hear about monastic life and admire the priceless frescoes adorning the walls of the church. (B/D)

Day 11: Assisi – Orvieto – Rome Following the Tiber Valley, reach Orvieto, perched high atop a volcanic rock. Here, you have a chance to taste local pastries at renowned Caffe Montanucci, a historic pasticceria for more than 100 years. Time to browse through tempting shops in the lanes off Piazza del Duomo, and to visit the fabulous gothic CATHEDRAL with its San Brizio Chapel. In the afternoon, return to Rome. This evening, a special farewell dinner with wine and opera entertainment awaits you at Tanagra restaurant. (B/D)

Day 12: Rome. Today we travel to Naples for a short panoramioc tour with an afternoon visit to the ruins of POMPEII before continuing onto our accommodation in Sorrento. (B,D)

Day 13: Sorrento – Capri – Sorrento. Enjoy an excursion to the Island of Capri including (weather permitting)  a boat trip through the splendid BLUE GROTTO (B,L,D)

Day 14: Sorrento – Amalfi. Continue down the Coast visiting picturesque villages and sights on the road to Amalfi (B,D)

Day 15: Amalfi. Today is a day a liesure in the incredible village of Amalfi, time for you to explore and discover the highlights of southern Italy. (B,D)

Day 16: Amalfi to Rome. Today we begin the long hike back to Rome, where we have the last few nights of our voyage.

Day 17: Rome. This morning we head out to local markets and grocery stores in preperation for a hands on demonstration where you will learn the sectrets of Italian Cuisine in an incredible COOKING LESSON & GROCERY TOUR.

Day 18: Depart Rome. Today is free until transferring to the airport for your flight home.

Day 19: Arrive Sydney: Transferring via Bangkok we arrive in Sydney late this evening where our tour programme ends.

For more information on this programme, please contact My Travel Expert on (02) 4421 5577, email us on nowra@mytravelexpert.com.au or fill in the below form: