Insight's First Class Services

• Escorted by a professional Tour Director
• Luxury air-conditioned 40 seat coach with onboard toilet
• Insight Hotels include all service charges, taxes and porterage
• Insight Traveler document wallet, map book journal and information pack
• Complimentary arrival transfer on Day 2 and departure transfer on Day 14

Quality Dining

• Highlight Dinner of local cuisine with entertainment in Rome (HD)
• 12 Buffet Breakfasts (BB) and 6 three-course table d’hôte Dinners,or Buffets, plus tea or coffee (D)

14 Days ~ Italy ~ Switzerland

Tour Pace
This is a perfectly paced tour with two-night stays in Rome, Florence, the Italian lakes, Venice and Sorrento, and one-night in Assisi. All travelling days are of a reasonable length with interesting stops en route for refreshments & photo opportunities.

DAY 1 – DEPART USA
Overnight flight to Rome.

DAY 2 – ROME AT LEISURE
Welcome to Rome, one of the greatest centres of Western Civilisation, thickly studded with ancient monuments. On arrival at Rome’s Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci Airport, there are complimentary transfers to your tour hotel. Relax or spend the rest of the day exploring this wonderful city. As evening falls, join your Tour Director and fellow passengers for a Welcome Drink.
Hotel: Radisson SAS/Grand Beverly Hills.

DAY 3 – ROME SIGHTSEEING
With a local guide, visit the Vatican Museums, the treasure house of the Catholic faith with vast collections of ancient and Renaissance art. Continue to the Sistine Chapel, a masterpiece of Michelangelo’s fresco skills. Then enter St Peter’s Basilica to see Bernini’s ‘Popes’ Altar’ above the spot where St Peter is reputed to have been crucified. Afterwards, cross the River Tiber to ancient classical Rome and visit the world’s largest Roman arena, the Colosseum, the scene of many gladiatorial contests, and overlook the Forum, the centre of ancient public life. The afternoon sees time set aside for sightseeing at your own pace. As night falls, why not enjoy a night out with splendid Italian food and wine. (BB)

DAY 4 – ROME – FLORENCE
Travel north to the picturesque medieval town of Siena and stroll through its cobbled streets to the vast Campo Square, where the Palio horse race takes place amid great festivities. See the ‘Fountain of Joy’ and then walk up to the black and white striped cathedral. After some free time, continue through the cypress clad hills and vineyards of Tuscany to Florence.
Hotel: Sheraton. (BB,D)

DAY 5 – FLORENCE SIGHTSEEING
A guided tour takes you inside the Academy Gallery to see Michelangelo’s original statue of David, then continue to the Cathedral to see Giotto’s belltower and the ‘Gates of Paradise’ adorning the Baptistery. Visit the political stage of Florence, Signoria Square, filled with works of art, and finally see the tombs of Galileo and Michelangelo in Santa Croce Basilica. After watching a leatherwork demonstration, you have spare time to shop or continue sightseeing. (BB)

DAY 6 – FLORENCE – ITALIAN LAKES
Travel to Pisa to see the famous Leaning Tower, the white marble cathedral and Baptistery before heading north to Milan to admire the Gothic Cathedral and famous La Scala Opera House. After some time here, head to the beautiful Italian Lake District for a two-night stay at a lakeside holiday resort on Lake Maggiore.
Hotel: Simplon. (BB,D)

DAY 7 – ITALIAN LAKES AT LEISURE
The day is set aside to relax and enjoy all the fantastic sights this beautiful lakeland area has to offer. Why not take a cruise over to Isola Bella, one of the picturesque Borromean Islands? (BB,D)

DAY 8 – ITALIAN LAKES – VENICE
Briefly enter Switzerland to visit the mountain ringed resort of Lugano. Take time to stroll by the lake’s shores and shop for watches or fine chocolate. Continue to Verona to see Juliet’s balcony and the ancient Roman Arena. Then it’s off to romantic Venice, 'Queen of the Adriatic'.
Hotel: Continental/Dei Dogi. (BB,D)

DAY 9 – VENICE SIGHTSEEING
What better way to see Venice than from our private launch, cruising past palazzos and churches to St Mark’s Square? See the Basilica, the Doges’ Palace and Bridge of Sighs. Watch a demonstration of glass-blowing before enjoying a highlight ride by traditional gondola along the picturesque canals. Spend time at leisure exploring at your own pace. As night falls, why not enjoy a traditional Venetian dinner with music? (BB)

DAY 10 – VENICE – ASSISI
Skirt the Venetian Lagoon and cross two of Italy’s most important rivers, the Adige and Po, before approaching the city of Ravenna. Stop to visit the Church of St Apollinaris in Classe with its dazzling mosaics. Then the scenery changes dramatically as you drive through the Apennines to Assisi to see the Church of St Mary of the Angels and enjoy a guided visit inside the Basilica of St Francis.
Hotel: Grand Hotel/Subasio. (BB,D)

DAY 11 – ASSISI – SORRENTO
Drive past the vineyards of Frascati and Castelli Romani to the Commonwealth Cemetery in the shadow of the brooding hilltop monastery of Cassino. Continue along the clifftops to the picturesque holiday resort of Sorrento, which bustles with life until late each night.
Hotel: Corallo/Crowne Plaza di Stabiae (Pozzano). (BB)

DAY 12 – ISLE OF CAPRI EXCURSION
Visit Sorrento’s Piazza Tasso and watch the art of ‘intarsio’ wood inlaying. Cruise to the island of Capri and ascend to Capri town by funicular railway. There is time to explore before returning to Sorrento. (BB,D)

DAY 13 – SORRENTO – ROME
Drive to the ancient Roman city of Pompeii, eerily preserved by the eruptions of Mount Vesuvius in AD79. Walk with a local guide through cobbled streets to explore some of the shops, villas and temples. Return to Rome where you enjoy a last night celebration Highlight Dinner including pasta, wine and music.
Hotel: Marriott Park/Radisson SAS/Tiberio. (BB,HD)

DAY 14 – RETURN TO USA
The tour ends with complimentary transfers to Rome Airport. (BB)

Hotels
There is a diverse mix of hotel styles, with the modern Sheraton in Florence contrasting with the Venice Continental, built on the Grand Canal in the 15th century, and the tranquil setting of the Simplon hotel overlooking Lake Maggiore.

Fellow Passengers
This popular itinerary suits both the first-time traveler looking for a well-paced and comprehensive tour of mainland Italy, and the seasoned traveler who wishes to really concentrate on one country. It also suits lovers of history, art and architecture.

Highlights
There are many highlights: walking through the cobbled streets of Pompeii; the ancient and religious history of Rome; the artistic heritage of Florence; the beauty of the Italian Lakes; the waterscape of Venice; and the stunning beauty of Assisi and Capri.

Enjoy our Premium Highlights plus these extra tour features

Excursions & Sights

• Tour St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican City
• See Siena’s striped cathedral, Fountain of Joy & vast Campo Square
• See Florence’s Duomo, ‘Gates of Paradise’ & Signoria Square
• Visit the tomb of Michelangelo in the Church of Santa Croce, Florence
• See the Leaning Tower of Pisa and the equally impressive cathedral & baptistery
• See La Scala Opera House and Gothic cathedral in Milan
• Visit the Swiss lakeside resort of Lugano
• See Juliet’s Balcony and the ancient Roman Arena in Verona
• Venice cruise to St Mark’s Square to see the Basilica, Bridge of Sighs & Doges’ Palace
• Visit the mosaics of St Apollinaris in Classe
• Guided visit to Assisi’s Basilica of St Francis & see the Church of St Mary of the Angels
• Visit the Commonwealth War Cemetery at Cassino
• Demonstration of Venetian glass-blowing
• Demonstration of traditional leatherwork in Florence
• Demonstration of ‘Intarsio’ inlay woodwork in Sorrento
• Scenic drives – Apennine Hills, Italian Lake District, Cliff top drive to Sorrento

Guided City Tours

• In-depth sightseeing tours with audio headsets where appropriate in Rome, Florence, Assisi & Pompeii
• Orientation tours in Siena, Milan, Lugano, Verona, Venice & Sorrento

Insight's First Class Services

• Escorted by a professional Tour Director
• Luxury air-conditioned 40 seat coach with onboard toilet
• Insight Hotels include all service charges, taxes and porterage
• Insight Traveler document wallet, map book journal and information pack
• Complimentary arrival transfer on Day 2 and departure transfer on Day 14

Quality Dining

• Highlight Dinner of local cuisine with entertainment in Rome (HD)
• 12 Buffet Breakfasts (BB) and 6 three-course table d’hôte Dinners,or Buffets, plus tea or coffee (D)