Day 1: Overnight Flight
Join Collette Vacations in exploring the hidden treasures of southern
Italy and Sicily. Enjoy breathtaking scenery, historic cities,
centuries old hilltop villages, and wonderful cuisine. Your journey
begins with an overnight flight to Rome, "The Eternal City."
Day 2: Arrive Rome, Italy
Enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure.
Day 3: Rome
Your tour begins today in "The Eternal City" as you
join your fellow travelers for a special welcome dinner at a popular
local restaurant featuring regional delicacies and fine Italian
wines. (B, D)
Day 4: Rome
Start your day in the Italian capital with a sightseeing tour
of Classical Rome, featuring the Piazza Venezia, the Roman Forum,
the Circus Maximus, the Colosseum, and the Arch of Constantine.
The beauty of contemporary Rome is highlighted through the Spanish
Steps and the famous Trevi Fountain. Enjoy time later in the day
to continue exploring Rome at leisure. (B)
Day 5: Rome - Pompeii - Amalfi Coast
Begin your day with an optional tour of the "Magnificent Treasures
of the Vatican Museums," Later, leave Rome and travel south
to experience the excavated ruins of Pompeii at the foothills of
Mount Vesuvius. A local expert explains the history of this remarkable
Roman city, preserved by a volcanic eruption 2,000 years ago. The
forms of people who died in Pompeii are evident and cast an insight
into how they lived. (B, D)
Day 6: Sorrento - Amalfi Coast
Begin your day exploring the popular seaside resort town of Sorrento.
Visit local artisans and watch them demonstrate the art of inlaid
wood making. *Travel the Amalfi Drive where stunning views exist
around every bend in the road.* En route, view picturesque Positano
before arrival in Amalfi, where you have free time to explore the
town square, ceramic shops and cafes. (B)
Day 7: Amalfi Coast - Giardini Naxos, Sicily
Travel down through the region of Campania to one of the least discovered
and most beautiful regions of Italy, Calabria. In Villa San Giovanni
take a short ferry over to Messina, Sicily. Arrive in Giardini Naxos,
known as "the garden of Sicily." (B, D)
Day 8: Giardini-Naxos - Taormina - Giardini-Naxos
This morning you tour beautiful Taormina, known for its charming
atmosphere, significant monuments and flowering gardens. Join a
local guide on a walking tour that features the Greek Temples, Corso
Umberto and the beautiful Public Gardens. The rest of the day is
at leisure for you to further explore this beautiful resort town.
(B)
Day 9: Giardini-Naxos - Piazza Armerina - Agrigento
Begin your day with an excursion to Mt. Etna Volcano National Park
to see the spectacular landscapes sculpted by nature. Later, cross
the central part of Sicily to the town of Piazza Armerina. Here
you pay homage to the Roman past at the Villa Casale, which houses
one of the most incredible collections of ancient mosaics in the
world. Continue to the western coastal city of Agrigento, your home
for the next two nights. (B, D)
Day 10: Agrigento
*Learn about ancient Greek cultures when you visit the Archeological
Museum, known for its extensive collection of Greek vases and mosaics.*
Then, proceed to the stunning Valley of the Temples, one of the
most important archeological sites in the world and a UNESCO world-heritage
site. From ancient times to the present day, the Valley of the Temples'
ruins, landscape flora and colors have inspired poets, writers and
painters. Here, get an up-close view of the temples of Hercules,
June, Dioscuris, Vulcan and Olympian Zeus. (B, D)
Day 12: Palermo - Monreale - Palermo
A Palermo cultural tour features the lovely squares of Quattro Canti,
Piazza Pretoria, and Piazza Bellini. Note the exotic mixture of
Moorish, Norman, and Spanish Baroque styles that make this city
special. You also see the Palace of the Normans, La Martorana Church,
and the Cathedral, which houses the Imperial Crown of Constance
of Aragon in its treasury. *In the nearby town of Monreale, visit
the 12th century Cathedral with its dazzling interior of multicolored
marbles, paintings, mosaics and cloisters.* Celebrate the end of
a wonderful trip with a delightful farewell dinner. (B, D)
Day 13: Palermo
Your tour ends in Palermo today. Enjoy your day at leisure to explore
on your own. (B)
Day 14: Palermo - Depart for Home (B)
For more information contact Pascal Ryffel Poles Apart Travel (780) 387-5256 or Get A Quote...!
