the itinerary B = Breakfast included, L = Lunch included, D = Dinner included.

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1 the itinerary Note: B = Breakfast included, L = Lunch included, D = Dinner included. Day 1 -- Sunday 25 th September We ll gather together at our Rome hotel in the late afternoon. There will be a brief welcome and orientation session. After that (weather permitting) we will do a relaxed walk through some of the most famous piazzas of Rome. We ll be having dinner at a very popular Roman-style restaurant. Then we ll drop in for a gelato at a famous gelateria near the Pantheon. Rome overnight. (D) Day 2 -- Monday 26 th September A relaxed start today. We ll board our coach mid-morning, and transfer to the beautiful Sorrentino Winery at the foot of Vesuvius. There, we ll do a winery tour, and lunch. After lunch we ll continue on to our Sorrento hotel. Sorrento overnight. (B, L) Day 3 -- Tuesday 27 th September Today, a half-day excursion to the ancient city of Pompeii. We ll return to Sorrento in time for lunch, and the rest of the day is yours. If you prefer you can stay at Pompeii to explore some more, returning to Sorrento by train. Dinner will be in a friendly local restaurant. Sorrento overnight. Day 4 -- Wednesday 28 th September A fun excursion to the island of Capri, crossing to the island by hydrofoil, and then enjoying a boat ride right around the island, with an opportunity for swimming at the Green Grotto. Afterwards, you can spend more time on the island, exploring, swimming, dining or relaxing as the mood takes you. You will have a return ticket so you can get back to Sorrento by hydrofoil at whatever time you choose. The jetty at Sorrento is within walking distance of our hotel. Other options are the very cheap local buses which run frequently, and the taxis. Sorrento overnight. (B)

2 Day 5 -- Thursday 29th September We ll transfer by coach to Rome, stopping at Herculaneum on the way. Like Pompeii, the life of this town came to an end on 24th August, 79AD with the colossal eruption of Mt Vesuvius. It is a much smaller site than Pompeii but still fascinating. Herculaneum was a resort town for wealthy Romans, and as such is quite different to Pompeii which was a working port city. Before arrival in Rome you will receive your 3-day RomaPass, which will make getting around easy and cost-free. Rome overnight. (B) Day 6 -- Friday 30th September A relaxed start today. In the morning there will be time for you to do your own thing. In the early afternoon we ll set out for Vatican City, and we ll do a tour of the amazing Vatican Museums (including the Sistine Chapel), and St Peter s Basilica. After this we ll stroll across the Tevere (River Tiber), to Campo de Fiori which is an excellent place to find dinner (not included). A mini-bus will take us home to our hotel after dinner. However, if you prefer to dine in a different area, you could return to the hotel afterwards using public transport with your RomaPass. Rome overnight. (B) Day 7 -- Saturday 1 st October Today we ll visit the Colosseum and the Roman Forum in the morning. You will have the afternoon free to explore Rome some more. Your RomaPass will give you reduced admission to most museums and galleries. In the evening, we ll enjoy a group dinner at a very popular Rome taverna. On the way to dinner we ll call in to see something special that most visitors to Rome don t even know is there! Rome overnight. Day 8 -- Sunday 2 nd October We ll travel by coach to Perugia, stopping en route for a lunch-break and individual sight-seeing at the picturesque hill town of Todi. After arriving in Perugia, there will be time to rest and freshen up, before an evening walk around the historic centre. Perugia overnight. (B)

3 Day 9 -- Monday 3 rd October An excursion to Assisi, the resting-place of St Francis, and a destination for pilgrims even now. The current Pope took St Francis name when he became Pope. After our walking tour of the town, we ll have lunch together at the well-known La Stalla restaurant, sampling local Umbrian cuisine. We ll return to Perugia by mid-afternoon. Perugia overnight. (B, L) Day Tuesday 4 th October This is a free day. You will be able to spend time exploring Perugia further, or go ahead and visit one of the many Umbrian hill towns, as Perugia is very well-placed and well-provided with public transport for visiting other towns, such as Gubbio, Spoleto, Spello, and Deruta. There are too many to name them all in fact. Perugia overnight. (B) Day Wednesday 5 th October We ll be transferring to Florence, via Siena. In Siena there ll be some time for sight-seeing, before lunch. For lunch, you are offered a choice between the Savor Siena Walk which is a progressive wine and food tasting experience, or lunch in a restaurant for an opportunity to try some local specialities, with wine included. In Florence, an evening walk to the historic centre will be offered. Alternatively, a very good evening meal can be had right near the hotel. Florence overnight. (B, L) Day Thursday 6 th October A morning visit to the Accademia Museum, home of the original David of Michelangelo. The afternoon will be free for you to explore Florence. If you prefer, you could travel by train or interurban bus to one of the other towns of Tuscany. Florence overnight. (B) Day Friday 7 th October Today we ll visit the Uffizi Gallery, which has a fabulous collection of Renaissance paintings by artists including Leonardo, Botticelli, Michelangelo, Raphael, and Titian. A highlight is Botticelli s Venus. In the afternoon you will have free time. Florence overnight. (B)

4 Day Saturday 8 th October In the morning we ll set off for Cinque Terre, stopping at Pisa on the way to see the remarkable Leaning Tower. You will have enough time to go inside the tower if you wish to (ticket not included in tour price). Monterosso al Mare (Cinque Terre) overnight. (B) Day Sunday 9 th October Today is a free day, and you will have plenty of options on how to enjoy it. You can travel to other Cinque Terre villages by train or boat (note, on some days the boat does not run due to choppy seas). Alternatively, you can hike between the towns on the well-known paths, or simply relax and do some poking around in Monterosso al Mare which is a charming town with a nice beach. Monterosso al Mare overnight. (B) Day Monday 10 th October We will transfer to Bologna today. There will be time for sight-seeing in Bologna in the afternoon. In the evening, a group dinner to sample some of the local cuisine. Bologna is renowned for its food. Bologna overnight. Day Tuesday 11 th October To Venice by rail. On arrival in Venice you will receive your 72-hour vaporetto pass, which will enable you to take the vaporetti (water-buses) as many times as you want, for the whole of your stay. In the evening, an outing to Campo Santa Margherita will be offered. The Campo is full of life in the evenings, as it has a range of good-value dining options (very rare in Venice). Venice overnight. (B) Day Wednesday 12 th October In the morning we will visit the Rialto market, after which a tour of the Clock Tower in St Mark s Square. In the afternoon, with your vaporetto pass you can sightsee around Venice, the Lido, Murano and Burano, all at no cost. Venice overnight. (B)

5 Day Thursday 13th October Today we ll visit St Mark s Basilica, which is the resting place of St Mark the Apostle, and we ll do a guided tour of the Doge s Palace, including the Secret Itineraries tour, which will enable you to see places which are not accessible to most visitors. This tour is fascinating, especially for anyone who is interested in history and enjoys it. In the evening we ll kick our heels up at a festive end-of-tour group dinner. Venice overnight. Day Friday 14th October This morning we say arrivederci and go our separate ways. Your tour leaders can give information on the options for getting to the airport, railway station and bus station. (B)