Wonders of Italy

Day 1: Arrive Rome

Your trip starts today with your arrival in Rome, Italy’s capital and one of the great cities of the world. No activities are planned so you may arrive at any time. Please make your own way to the joining hotel (details are in your travel documents). Whilst at your discretion, we recommend arriving by train where possible within Europe due to this method of transports minimal carbon emissions. There is so much to see and do in Rome, so we recommend arriving a few days early to really make the most of this great city. In the evening we meet our tour leader and our fellow travelling companions at a Welcome Meeting (this is usually at 6pm, but you will be advised as to the exact time and place in a notice, located near the reception at our hotel), where our leader will give us a briefing on what lies ahead on our tour. This evening we will enjoy a group dinner together at a local restaurant in Rome. Meals included: 1 dinner

Day 2: Rome

Rome is a truly unique city like no other, once the capital of the world, traces of bygone empires and eras are still very present today. An intoxicating mix of piazzas, churches, grand monuments, heaving crowds, modern day Romans going about their daily lives and pockets of tranquility in hidden away squares and city gardens. We explore the treasures of Rome on a guided walking tour. Our exploration includes a visit to the Colosseum, one of the most outstanding buildings of the Roman Empire. Built in 72 AD and completed in 80 AD, the ancient stadium could fit an audience of 50,000 and was used for public events such as gladiator fights, executions, animal hunts, spectacles re-enacting battles and plays. We also discover the Roman Forum, built in the valley between Palatine hill and Capitoline hill; it was once an important centre of social and political activity, trading and government. After our wander through Rome, the remainder of the day is at leisure to make your own discoveries. Meals included: 1 breakfast

Day 3: Rome - Blera - Tarquinia - Tuscania

We farewell Rome today and drive further north into the Lazio region to discover Italy’s Etruscan heritage with visits to the towns of Blera, Tarquinia and Tuscania. In Blera, we encounter a natural landscape scattered with ancient Etruscan ruins and in Tarquinia, the capital of Lazio’s Etruscan civilisation, we discover its beautifully painted tombs and an evocative medieval town centre. Our final destination for the day and our evening stop is the small fortified town of Tuscania, another important Etruscan town because of its strategic position. The town’s relatively intact ancient city walls were built during the medieval ages and the San Pietro church, originally built in the 8th century is considered one of the most beautiful churches in the Lazio region. Meals included: 1 breakfast

Day 4: Montalcino - San Quirico

Today we drive into iconic Tuscany; one of the most beautiful and loved regions of Italy. Our focus is the Val d’Orcia; a distinctive and harmonious landscape of green rolling hills, isolated hilltop villages, old farmhouse, expansive olive grove and vineyards, rows of cypress trees and medieval towns. We visit the delightful town of Montalcino, famous for its Brunello red wine production. The dominating feature of the fortified old town centre is the Rocca (fortress) which was built in 1361. On foot we wander through the labyrinth of stone streets and soak up the medieval atmosphere of the town. The hilltop location provides us with stunning views over the rich green valley below; this is best enjoyed in one of the town’s cafes, restaurants or wine bars whilst sampling a local glass of Brunello. After our visit of Montalcino, we drive to the charming town of San Quirico d’Orcia, our base for the next two nights. One of the most interesting towns of the Val d’Orcia, an impressive medieval wall has protected the town for centuries and today four gateways into the town remain. The beautiful old town is home to a wonderfully restored Romanesque church and the 15th century Palazzo degli Amergihi. Meals included: 1 breakfast

Day 5: San Quirico – Pienza – Montepulciano – San Quirico d’Orcia

Today we get out and amongst the beautiful landscapes of the Val d’Orcia on a morning walk to the charming village of Pienza. The views from Pienza’s city walls are quite simply spellbinding. This town has an interesting history as a place where the first concepts of Renaissance town planning where put into practice when Pope Pius II decided to transform the look of his birth town through the help of architect Bernaddo Rossellio. The beautiful Piazza Pio II and its surrounding structures is a perfect example of their vision. We have plenty of time to explore Pienza before we make our way to Montepulciano, one of Tuscany's most attractive hill towns. We enjoy a sightseeing tour of the town’s labyrinthine maze of alleyways and laneways and imposing defensive walls. This afternoon we travel back to San Quiricio where the rest of the day is at leisure. Meals included: 1 breakfast

Day 6: San Quirico – Siena – Florence

This morning we visit the celebrated medieval town of Siena. Its heart, in every sense, is the famed 'Piazza del Campo', a grand fan-shaped piazza built on the site of the old Roman forum. Bordering the southern flank of the square is the 14th century Palazzo Pubblico, with some fine early Renaissance frescoes. Also of interest is the fine main church, the Duomo, a wonderful mixture of Gothic and Romanesque architecture, with a particularly splendid façade. Our guide shows us the most interesting monuments as well as the hidden corners of this 'red city'.Next we travel to travel to San Gimignano. We take an afternoon walk to explore this romantic old town with towers that remain from medieval times. The town once had 52 of these towers (today there are now less than a dozen). Wealthy, prominent families would use the height of these towers to distinguish themselves, and the towers also served to alert the inhabitants of this walled town of approaching friends and foes. After our day of exploration we transfer to beautiful Renaissance city of Florence, our base for the next two nights. Tonight we go we go out for a group dinner together. Meals included: 1 breakfast, 1 dinner

Day 7: Florence

After breakfast, we head out to explore the treasures of Florence, one of Italy’s most enchanting cities. From our hotel we walk into the heart of Florence with our tour leader and take some time to explore the outstanding works of art preserved over the centuries in this captivating city. Florence is considered the birthplace of Renaissance, as well as the cradle of the Italian language. We will stroll along its fascinating streets, and enjoy the essence of Italian history and culture. We will pass along the Ponte Vecchio Bridge, visit Piazza della Signoria and gaze up at the landmark of Florence, the Duomo. The rest of the day is free to make your own discoveries. Meals included: 1 breakfast

Day 8: Florence – Perugia – Assisi – Spoleto

We farewell Tuscany today and drive into the neighbouring region of Umbria – known as the ‘Green Heart of Italy’, it is one of the smallest regions in the country and the only that doesn’t border the sea but what it lacks in coast it makes up for in stunning countryside, marvelous architecture and first class cuisine. The first place we will stop and explore is Umbria’s capital, the lively university town of Perugia, one of the best preserved cities of its kind in all of Italy. Our next stop is Assisi, a tranquil town but one of important religious pilgrimage. It is here that St Francis was born and preached. We visit to the Basilica of San Francesco d'Assisi with its wonderful frescos by Giotto, a World Heritage Site. This afternoon we transfer to the town of Spoleto, our base for the next two nights. Meals included: 1 breakfast

Day 9: Spoleto – Monteluco - Spoleto

This morning we explore the historical town centre of Spoleto and its fortress. We then walk across the impressive ‘Ponte delle Torri’ bridge to the other side of the valley and on to the hill of Monteluco. From here we take a pleasant round walk through the forested hills, with wonderful views on Spoleto and its surroundings. The hill of Monteluco is known to be a ‘holy mountain’ and many of the trails are linked to the spiritual history of the area. Here we discover the ‘holy forest’ with its many grottoes and wander along medieval chapels through a pleasant wooded landscape. We then descend back into the valley of Spoleto and along the medieval chapel of San Pietro before returning to the old town. This evening we can re-visit the impressive Ponte delle Torri, which is most impressive when illuminated at night. Meals included: 1 breakfast

Day 10: Spoleto – Naples

After our exploration of central Italy it’s time to head to the south for a completely different perspective of the country. This morning, we drive to Naples, a chaotic city with a hidden charm. We discover the wonderful historical centre of Naples, a major European cultural capital since the time of the Greeks, and also a very colourful and lively city. We then pay a visit to the amazing Royal Palace of Caserta and its gardens. This exquisite building was the largest palace erected in Europe in the 18th century. It was built for the Bourbon King Charles 3rd who envisioned another Versailles and the structure took 22 years to fully complete. Today we also explore the Catacombs of San Gennaro, an interesting underground paleo-Christian burial site. Meals included: 1 breakfast

Day 11: Naples - Pompeii – Mt Vesuvius – Amalfi

Today we head to the stunning Amalfi Coast. En route we drive to Mt Vesuvius, where we climb to the top of the crater to see where the famous eruption that wiped out the town of Pompeii occurred. We them travel to Pompeii– without question some of the world’s most fascinating and preeminent ruins. Due to its fine state of preservation the excavations give us an extraordinarily real image of daily life in a Roman city, with villas, temples, theatres and bustling markets. We walk along chariot-marked streets where a bustling city once nestled complacently under the shadow of Vesuvius until the fatal eruption in 79AD. We then travel to the town of Amalfi, where the drive along the edge of winding cliff faces offers spectacular scenes are every turn. Amalfi will be our base for the next three nights. Meals included: 1 breakfast

Day 12: Amalfi – Scala – Ravello - Amalfi

This morning we take a local bus up to the ancient hilltop town of Scala, the oldest town on the Amalfi coast which sits 400m above sea level. Legend states the town was founded by a group of shipwrecked Romans in 4th century AD who were on their way to Constantinople. Whist here we visit the beautiful Duomo (church) and take in the beautiful views and the tranquil village atmosphere, quite different to other towns on the coast. We then take a local bus to Ravello - another highlight of the Amalfi Coast. The French novelist, André Gide, once described this dominating town as being ‘closer to the sky than the seashore’. For centuries, its lofty position and sunny, dry climate has made it an appealing place for writers, artists, musicians and travellers. Boccaccio, DH Lawrence and Richard Wagner are among the more notable guests who have succumbed to its charms. Ravello also boasts magnificent villas –we explore the beautiful Villa Cimbrone, a sumptuous 19th Century mansion with fabulous gardens and unequalled views over the Gulf of Salerno. This evening we enjoy a group dinner together. Meals included: 1 breakfast, 1 dinner

Day 13: Amalfi - Capri - Amalfi

Today is dedicated to the rightly famous Isle of Capri - a place where Roman emperors used to come as tourists! Since Roman times it has remained a popular travel destination drawing visitors to its shores with its myriad of scenic attractions top of which is its own natural beauty. We sail from Amalfi to Capri by boat, following the beautiful coastline and passing the islands of the mythical sirens, mentioned in Homer's Iliad and the Odyssey. As we draw nearer it is inspiring to see Capri’s dramatic coastline in all its glory - mighty cliffs and shard-like rock formations cascading down into crashing blue seas. Have your cameras to hand on this short cruise. In Capri we not only see the popular sights, but also enjoy a beautiful circuit walk that takes us past a continuous stream of natural and cultural highlights. On our splendidly scenic walk we pass Villa Jovis (the ruins of the most impressive Roman villa on the island, once home to the Emperor Tiberius), view an historic monastery and explore the snaking and winding alleyways of the charming village of Capri. Part of our walk follows untouched coastline and passes many impressive grottos with time too to dip our feet should we choose. Our walk can be extended or shortened in many ways today based on the tastes of the group. Late in the afternoon we travel by boat back to Amalfi together Meals included: 1 breakfast

Day 14: End Amalfi

Our journey ends this morning after breakfast in Amalfi. From here it is easy to arrange onward connections. You may wish to board one of a number of ferries that sail from Amalfi to Salerno or Naples as an interesting method of departure. Alternatively there are local SITA buses that run to Sorrento, Salerno or Naples from where you can rendez-vous with onward rail connections. There is also a private coach that can be arranged locally (at an additional cost), depending upon the number of participants planning to travel back to any one destination. Your tour leader may be able to assist you with arranging any ongoing travel. Arrivederci! Meals included: 1 breakfast