ODISSEA ITALIANA TOUR I 
16 DAY • 15 ROME
4 STAR HOTELS • FRIDAY DEPARTURES
………………………ROME • MONTEPULCIANO • PIENZA • SIENA • SAN GIMIGNANO • TAVERNELE CHIANTI AREA • LUCCA • PISA • LA SPEZIA • PORTOVENERE • CINQUE TERRE CARRARA MARBLE CAVES • MONTECARLO DI LICCA • ROME • NAPLES • POMPEI CAPRI • SORRENTO • PALERMO • MONREALE • ERICE • MARSALA AGRIGENTO • NOTO • SIRACUSA • TAORMINA (GIARDINI NAXOS)
INCLUSIONS:
- ARRIVAL TRANSFER FROM AIRPORT IN ROME
- TRANSPORTATION BY DELUXE MOTOR COACH
- FERRY TRANSPORTATION FROM NAPLES TO PALERMO
- MULTILINGUAL TOUR ESCORT
- LOCAL ENGLISH SPEAKING GUIDE WHERE APPLICABLE
- ACCOMMODATION IN 4* HOTEL
- MEALS AS PER ITINERARY
- PANORAMIC VISITS AS PER ITINERARY
NOT INCLUDED:
- TIPS, DRINKS, PORTAGE, EXTRAS
- ENTRANCE FEES TO MONUMENTS OR MUSEUMS
- EVERYTHING THAT IS NOT MENTIONED UNDER “INCLUSIONS”
ITINERARY:
DAY 1 – ROME
Welcome to Rome! After a meet & greet at the airport, you will be transferred to your hotel. Day on your own to discover ancient Rome, perhaps ask for an additional tour to the colisseum, or the Vatican with reserved front-of the linke tickets (inquire for more info). Overnight.
DAY 2 – ROME
American buffet breakfast at the hotel. In the morning you will enjoy a 3 hrs “Discovering Rome”, walking tour (English only). You will be picked up at your hotel at about 9.00am. The tour will start from Largo Argentina and continue to Campo de’ Fiori, Piazza Farnese, Piazza Navona, Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, Spanish steps. Rest of the day at leisure and overnight. Dinner is not included.
DAY 3 – MONTEPULCIANO/ PIENZA/ SIENA
American buffet breakfast. Pickup at 7.00am at the hotel. Meet your multilingual tour leader and start a delightful trip through the rolling hills of the Chianti Region. Will reach the hilltop town of MONTEPULCIANO, an ancient village rich of medieval and Renaissance buildings, famous for producing one of the oldest wines of Italy, the “Nobile di Montepulciano”. You will stop for a visit to a wine cellar and experience a tasting of wines and local products like ham, cheese, and salami. Proceed to PIENZA, the Renaissance town built under Pope Pius II and alsowell-known for its pecorino cheese. The tour will proceed to SIENA, where you will enjoy a visit of the old city centre. You will be walking along the medieval streets admiring splendid palaces. The sightseeing tour will end in the Piazza del Campo with its spectacular Cathedral. This is one of the most beautiful squares in the world and site of the famous 600 years old horse-race, called “Il Palio”. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
DAY 4 – SIENA/ SAN GIMIGNANO/ TAVERNELLE/ CHIANTI AREA/ LUCCA/ PISA/ LA SPEZIA
After breakfast at the hotel, departure to San Gimignano, a tiny city that has remained intact through the centuries; situated on a hilltop and famous for its numerous towers, frescoes and other art treasures. You will then proceed to Tavernelle Val di Pesa located within the Chianti Classico “Gallo Nero” region, where we will make a stop at a farmhouse to enjoy an excellent wine tasting with light lunch. The tour continues onto Lucca, where you will have free time for lunch. Our expert tour leader will also take you for a pleasant walk into the enchanting historical centre, where you will admire the Anfiteatro Square, the Guinigi Tower, the San Martino Dome and the typical antique shops. In the early afternoon, you will then proceed to Pisa, Upon arrival you will have a walking tour of the Piazza dei Miracoli, with its famous Leaning Tower (exterior visit). The Baptistery (exterior visit) and other beautiful monuments. Proceed to La Spezia. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
DAY 5 – LA SPEZIA/ PORTOVENERE/ THE POET’S GULF/ CINQUE TERRE/ LA SPEZIA
After breakfast, departure by boat for an unforgettable day dedicated to the discovery of one of the most amazing and enchanting landscape in the World. The five villages, “CINQUE TERRE” is an area suspended between sea and land, hanging from sheer cliffs surrounded by hills and vineyards. You will enter into a little piece of heaven. By touring the coast line by boat, you will have the possibility to admire this amazing landscape from the seaside *, like in a postcard. *In the event of rough sea, the visit will be done partly by coach and partly by train.During the tour, the boat will reach Portovenere and the most important villages. You will be able to stop at Portovenere, Vernazza, Monterosso and visit them at leisure.
DAY 6 – LA SPEZIA/ CARRARA MARBLE CAVES/ MONTECARLO DI LUCCA/ ROME
After breakfast at the hotel, the tour will take you to Carrara for a visit of the impressive marble quarries carved deep into the mountain. This is where Miche- langelo took the raw material to create his superb masterpieces. By visiting the quarry museum you will admire ancient tools, some sculptures and the quarryman’s house. Continue to Montercarlo di Lucca, a lovely town located on the hills around Lucca. This territory is ideal for the production of top quality wine and extra virgin olive oil. We will stop and visit a farmhouse where the owners will have you taste delicious Tuscan food specialities, from olive oil to cheese, from bread to wine and of course pasta, which you will taste with different wines. Proceed to Rome and arrival in the evening. Overnight at the hotel. Dinner is not included.
DAY 7 – ROME
A day to venture off into the ancient city, or perhaps ask your Alitours representative to organize an additional excursions, city tour outisde Rome on the beachside, or visit the countryside with its noble villas and ancient castles. For those wishing to further explore the eternl city, they can enjoy a full day of tstrolling the streets, shopping, and sipping cappucino’s in the piazza’s. Whatever your desire – this day is for you to explore in your own way. Enjoy!
DAY 8 – ROME/ NAPLES/ POMPEII/ SORRENTO
After breakfast at your hotel, a coach bus will depart at 7:00am, taking the highway “of the sun”through the regions of Lazio and Campania, where you will see a picturesque view of the abbey of Montecassino. Upon arriving in Naples, you will go on a short panoramic walking tour, seeing si- tes such as the Mergellina neighborhood, castel dell’ovo, Plebiscito square, the Royal palace, Maschio Angioino, and the port. Have lunch in a restaurant en route to Pompeii and then visit the excavations of the famous roman city, des- troyed by the eruption of mount Vesuvius in 79 a.D. Leaving Pompeii, you will drive along the Sorrentine coast, arriving in Sorrento for dinner and an overnight in your new hotel.
DAY 9 – SORRENTO/ CAPRI/ SORRENTO
Board a boat for the island of Capri after breakfast. Depending on weather and sea conditions, you will enter the infamous blue grotta in a small rowboat. After, enjoy lunch at a local restaurant and then roam the island at your own pace. Return to the mainland for dinner and your last overnight in Sorrento.
DAY 10 – SORRENTO/ PALERMO (Overnight on ferry)
Spend a leisurely morning eating breakfast at your hotel and then exploring Sorrento. That afternoon, depart for Naples harbor, where you will board the Tirrenia/Snav ferry to Palermo. Let the waves rock you to sleep. Please note, dinner and breakfast are not included on the boat.
DAY 11 – PALERMO
Arrive in Palermo and check in to your hotel before spen- ding the day at your own leisure. Come back to your hotel for dinner and your first overnight in Sicily
DAY 12 – PALERMO/ MONREALE
After breakfast, depart for Monreale, an ancient royal town. Back in Palermo, tour the cathedral and some of the city’s other main attractions. Spend the afternoon exploring Palermo at your leisure and then return to your hotel for dinner and an overnight.
DAY 13 – PALERMO/ ERICE/ MARSALA/ AGRIGENTO
A full day awaits you after breakfast. First depart for Erice, a small mountain top medieval village in western Sicily that has changed little since sixth century bc. Next, visit Marsala. There, you will have free time to explore this se- aside town known for its wine. Heading south, you’ll pass by Mazara del Vallo, a fishing port overlooking the strait of Sicily and the city closest to Africa unil getting to Agrigento, your next, exciting stop. Here you’ll visit the valley of the temples (admission included), which includes the temple of Juno, the temple of Concorde, the temple of Hercules, and the temple of Jupiter, one of the largest doric-style buil- dings. (If the weather doesn’t permit, you will get a chance to visit the valley of temples the following morning). Check in to your new hotel and have a glass of wine with dinner.
DAY 14 – AGRIGENTO/ NOTO/ SIRACUSA/ TAORMINA (GIARDINI NAXOS)
Following breakfast in your hotel, you will depart for Noto, a city that will astonish you with its recently renovated ca- thedral and baroque architecture. Next, you will arrive in Siracusa, where you will visit the greek amphitheatre, the ear of dionysus, and the roman theater (admission tickets included). Next, cross one of three bridges to the island of Ortigia, also rich in baroque and medieval palaces and churches. That afternoon, arrive in Taormina, where you will check in to your hotel and enjoy dinner.
DAY 15 – TAORMINA (GIARDINI NAXOS)
Eat breakfast at your hotel and then head off to Mount Etna, the largest active volcano in Europe and one of the highest mountain in Italy. If the weather cooperates, you will have a chance to climb to the summit (1800 m). After, re- turn to Taormina, the beautiful and romantic town located on Mount Tauro. Relax over dinner and then get some well deserved rest.
DAY 16 – TAORMINA (GIARDINI NAXOS)
Enjoy one final breakfast before the tour comes to an end. Grazie & Arrivederci!
Ask your representative about special discounts on additional nights prior or after your tour and/or inquire about including a departure transfer.
NOTE: Participants must bring with them only 1 piece of luggage (which will be stowed in the bottom compartment of the coach bus, during check-in and check-out from accommodation) Only one carry-on or purse is permitted on board.
Select Sunday Departure(s)
MONTH (2016)
APRIL 25
MAY 09 23
JUNE 06 20
JULY 04 18
AUGUST 01 15
SEPTEMBER 12 26
OCTOBER 10
FRIDAY DEPARTURES from MAY 17, 2015 to OCTOBER 18, 2015:
*Please call for more info – rates are being updated.
DOUBLE: Based on 2 adults sharing one room (1 Queen/King -OR- 2 Individual Single/Twin Beds as per clients request)
TRIPLE: Based on 3 persons sharing one room (1 Queen with 1 Single Bed OR 3 Individual single beds as per clients request, confirmed at the time of booking)
SINGLE: Based on 1 person sharing the room (1 Single Individual bed OR 1 Double Bed depending on availability)
Hotels used on Tour or Similar
ROME: HOTEL MEDITERRANEO, OXFORD OR MORGANA 4*
SORRENTO: HOTEL GRAN VESUVIUS, CAPODIMONTE 4*
PALERMO: HOTEL MERCURE, 4*
AGRIGENTO: HOTEL DELLA VALLE 4*
TAORMINA: HOTEL VILLA DIODORO 4*
TAORMINA: HOTEL PRINCIPE 4*
Hotels listed are based on availability, and are confirmed at the time of booking.
Terms & Conditions:
Terms and conditions apply as published catalog tour. Click here for full booking details, policies and terms and conditions.