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Italia Magnifico
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Highlights:
If you have been dreamed of visiting Italy a good part of your life but never found the time to fit it in, take advantage of a retirement, sabbatical or extended vacation to cover Italy in one trip from top to north to south.
While the trip will be tailored exactly to your wishes, this suggested program starts with a decadent adjustment period (repeat after me, Domani) on Lake Como in the North and offers a finale on the Amalfi Coast.
The places you visit in between these cities will allow you to experience the treasures of Italian history, romance, cooking, culture and great people. Go ahead, give us a call; you know you want to do this.
If you have been dreamed of visiting Italy a good part of your life but never found the time to fit it in, take advantage of a retirement, sabbatical or extended vacation to cover Italy in one trip from top to north to south.
While the trip will be tailored exactly to your wishes, this suggested program starts with a decadent adjustment period (repeat after me, Domani) on Lake Como in the North and offers a finale on the Amalfi Coast.
The places you visit in between these cities will allow you to experience the treasures of Italian history, romance, cooking, culture and great people. Go ahead, give us a call; you know you want to do this.
SKU:
Explore: Magnificent Italy
Customizable Itinerary - 21 Days
Day 1: Depart USA
This is the day when you board your aircraft for the overnight flight to Milan and the beginning of your love affair with Italy
Day 2: Arrival in Milan
You arrive in Milan, the fashion capital of Italy and are met by an Ultitude driver who will take you on a scenic drive to the shores of Lake Como where you have three nights to adjust to the time change and the culture change (can you say Domani?). Your “adjustment” should start at the spa then a swim in the pool overlooking Lake Como
Day 3: Visiting the Neighbors
On this free day you might want to take advantage of the lake steamers, the charming transportation service that takes customers from port to port around the lake. As you can imagine, the scenery is fantastic
Breakfast
Day 4: The Town of Como
Lake Como gets its name from the town that is the centre of the country’s silk industry. You can visit the Museo Didattico della Seta to get an understanding of the Italian Silk industry. Take the funicular to the hilltop village of Brunati enjoying spectacular lake views on the way up and from the village.
Breakfast
Day 5: Lake Como to Milan
Spend the morning relaxing by the pool or visiting the spa. In the afternoon you will be transferred to Milan and your centrally located hotel. Nearby are sidewalk cafes which make a delightful location for people watching and, later, an alfresco dinner
Breakfast
Day 6: Milan and Verona
In the morning you get a tour of the highlights of Milan. You will start at Castello Sforzeco which was built in the 14th Century. With its red brick walls, it reminds some people of the Kremlin. You ten go to Santa Maria delle Grazie church made immortal by DaVinci’s fresco Masterpiece “The Last Supper”. You then visit Santa Maria Nascente which is the Cathedral of Milan also known as the Duomo. You take an elevator to the roof from some attractive views of the Piazza del Duomo which is the main gathering place of the city and lined with sidewalk cafes. Your last visit is to Galleria Vittorio Emmanuelle II which was the first mall. After a chance to have lunch you will meet your driver for the transfer to the city of Verona which Shakespeare liked so much he based two plays there. While in Verona you will see the famous house that belonged to the family of Juliet and the well-preserved amphitheater which would have looked the same in the time of Romeo and Juliet.
Breakfast
Day 7: Padua and Venice
You will leave Verona and make your way to Venice stopping at the university town of Padua on the way. Arriving in Venice you board a water taxi which will take you to your hotel Breakfast
Day 8: Classical Venice
In the morning you meet your guide for a walking tour of Classical Venice including St. Mark’s Square, the Bridge of Sighs and the Doges Palace. After your tour, take time to visit the Rialto Bridge which crosses the Grand Canal. Make sure to check the shops located on the bridge and the nearby Rialto market
Breakfast
Day 9: Murano, Burano and Torcelli
Today you will take a boat tour of the lagoon visiting the islands of Burano, Murano and Torcelli. Murano is famous for its glass blowing and you can see how it is done. Torcelli is currently unoccupied but is the oldest settlement of Venice
Breakfast
Day 10: Venice to Florence
In the morning you will be transferred to Santa Lucia Station where 1st class seats will be reserved to take you to the Renaissance city of Florence. Upon arrival you will be met and taken to your hotel. In the evening you participate in a cooking class focused on Tuscan cuisine which you get to enjoy along with wine
Breakfast and Dinner
Day 11: Florence and the Renaissance
Today you will be taken on a walking tour. You will visit Piazza del Duomo and learn the history of the dome created by Brunelleschi and the nearby bell tower by Giotto. A visit to the Ponte Vecchio will be followed by a tour of Franciscan Santa Croce church and its masterpieces by Giotto, Donatello and Brunelleschi. Within its walls are the burial sites of Michelangelo, Galileo and Machiavelli. You complete your tour in the Piazza della Signoria, one of the most beautiful squares in the world. The afternoon is at leisure and you might want to take a trip to Pisa to view the famous leaning tower. Just let us know and we will arrange it.
Breakfast
Day 12: The Florentine Art Experience
Florence was the center of the Renaissance especially in art and through its galleries it remains so today. Start you day by meeting your guide who will first take you to the Accademia where you will see Michelangelo’s masterpiece, ‘David” along with some of his other sculptures. You then go to the Uffizi which was created by the Medicis to allow the public the chance to see their great pieces of Art. Your guide will show you some of the highlight pieces including Botticelli’s “The Birth of Venus”. Your guide will then leave you but you have the afternoon to explore on your own if you so choose
Breakfast
Day 13: Into the Tuscan Countryside
In the morning a driver will be waiting to take you into the countryside to a charming village located between Tuscany and Umbria. The family owned Agriturismo will be your home for the next two nights. Upon arrival you will have lunch at the nearby vineyard owned by the family. You will then get a tour of the vineyard along with tastings from some of their vintages. Nearby is the Relais where you will spend the night and enjoy a home cooked dinner with wine.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 14: At Leisure in Tuscany
You have a day to relax. You can visit the spa, swim in the pool, play tennis or go horse riding. If you wish we can arrange a trip to nearby hill towns like Siena or Montalcino. In the evening enjoy another dinner which can be alfresco with views over the valley
Breakfast and Dinner
Day 15: Rome…Eternal
You will be transferred to the station where you board a train for the Eternal City of Rome. Upon arrival you will be met and taken to your centrally located hotel. In the evening you will have dinner and then a tour of illuminate Rome to allow you to enjoy seeing the Colosseum, St. Peter’s and the Piazza Navona all lit up. Finish at the Trevi fountain.
Breakfast
Day 16: Ancient Rome
After breakfast you meet your guide for a discovery tour of Ancient Rome. You will visit the Roman Forum where Julius Caesar met his demise. You will visit the Aurelian walls, built by Marcus Aurelius and the last remaining sections of the ancient walls surrounding Rome, and get fast access into the Colosseum with your guide
Breakfast
Day 17: Treasures of the Vatican
After an early breakfast you meet your guide and make your way to the Vatican. By special arrangement we will take you into the Sistine Chapel before it opens to the general public. This allows you to admire Michelangelo’s masterpiece with a limited number of people versus the thousands later in the morning. You then make your way to the Vatican Museum including the Raphael Rooms which your guide will explain in depth. You then enter the basilica of St. Peter’s with the world’s largest Cupola built over the crypt where Popes going back to St. Peter are interred. The Vatican itself is a trove of art masterpieces including Michelangelo’s Pieta. After your tour you exit into St. Peter’s Square where the Pope delivers his major blessings. The rest of the day is left open
Breakfast
Day 18: Pompeii and Positano
In the morning you will be transferred to the station where you board a train for Naples. When you arrive in Naples, a driver will meet you to drive you to Positano. On the way you will stop in Pompeii where a guide will be waiting to take you on a tour of this Roman town buried in ash from an eruption by Mount Vesuvius in 79AD. Arrive in Positano and enjoy the view from the pool of your hotel and also from the candlelit restaurant where you will have dinner
Breakfast and Dinner
Day 19: A Visit to Capri
Today you can take a trip to the beautiful island of Capri, home to roman emperors and contemporary luminaries. Your high speed jetfoil will whisk you across to the island and you can wander around the paths aided by cable cars and funiculars. Spend time in the main town, Capri and the hill top town of Anacapri and then return to the mainland
Breakfast and Dinner
Day 20: Relaxing on the Amalfi Coast
By now you should be completely relaxed and there is no better place to finish up a trip than Positano. Walk into town and do a little shopping. Sit at one of the outdoor cafes on the harbour (Reputedly where Keith Richards and Mick Jagger wrote “Midnight Rambler” aided by a couple of bottles of wine) and reminiscence about the experiences you have had starting in the Alps and finishing on the shores of the Mediterranean. For some in Italy, Domani (tomorrow) never comes but for you it is time to head home
Breakfast and Dinner
Day 21: Return to USA
You will be transferred from the hotel to Naples Airport to begin your return journey home where you arrive back the same afternoon.
Breakfast
This is the day when you board your aircraft for the overnight flight to Milan and the beginning of your love affair with Italy
Day 2: Arrival in Milan
You arrive in Milan, the fashion capital of Italy and are met by an Ultitude driver who will take you on a scenic drive to the shores of Lake Como where you have three nights to adjust to the time change and the culture change (can you say Domani?). Your “adjustment” should start at the spa then a swim in the pool overlooking Lake Como
Day 3: Visiting the Neighbors
On this free day you might want to take advantage of the lake steamers, the charming transportation service that takes customers from port to port around the lake. As you can imagine, the scenery is fantastic
Breakfast
Day 4: The Town of Como
Lake Como gets its name from the town that is the centre of the country’s silk industry. You can visit the Museo Didattico della Seta to get an understanding of the Italian Silk industry. Take the funicular to the hilltop village of Brunati enjoying spectacular lake views on the way up and from the village.
Breakfast
Day 5: Lake Como to Milan
Spend the morning relaxing by the pool or visiting the spa. In the afternoon you will be transferred to Milan and your centrally located hotel. Nearby are sidewalk cafes which make a delightful location for people watching and, later, an alfresco dinner
Breakfast
Day 6: Milan and Verona
In the morning you get a tour of the highlights of Milan. You will start at Castello Sforzeco which was built in the 14th Century. With its red brick walls, it reminds some people of the Kremlin. You ten go to Santa Maria delle Grazie church made immortal by DaVinci’s fresco Masterpiece “The Last Supper”. You then visit Santa Maria Nascente which is the Cathedral of Milan also known as the Duomo. You take an elevator to the roof from some attractive views of the Piazza del Duomo which is the main gathering place of the city and lined with sidewalk cafes. Your last visit is to Galleria Vittorio Emmanuelle II which was the first mall. After a chance to have lunch you will meet your driver for the transfer to the city of Verona which Shakespeare liked so much he based two plays there. While in Verona you will see the famous house that belonged to the family of Juliet and the well-preserved amphitheater which would have looked the same in the time of Romeo and Juliet.
Breakfast
Day 7: Padua and Venice
You will leave Verona and make your way to Venice stopping at the university town of Padua on the way. Arriving in Venice you board a water taxi which will take you to your hotel Breakfast
Day 8: Classical Venice
In the morning you meet your guide for a walking tour of Classical Venice including St. Mark’s Square, the Bridge of Sighs and the Doges Palace. After your tour, take time to visit the Rialto Bridge which crosses the Grand Canal. Make sure to check the shops located on the bridge and the nearby Rialto market
Breakfast
Day 9: Murano, Burano and Torcelli
Today you will take a boat tour of the lagoon visiting the islands of Burano, Murano and Torcelli. Murano is famous for its glass blowing and you can see how it is done. Torcelli is currently unoccupied but is the oldest settlement of Venice
Breakfast
Day 10: Venice to Florence
In the morning you will be transferred to Santa Lucia Station where 1st class seats will be reserved to take you to the Renaissance city of Florence. Upon arrival you will be met and taken to your hotel. In the evening you participate in a cooking class focused on Tuscan cuisine which you get to enjoy along with wine
Breakfast and Dinner
Day 11: Florence and the Renaissance
Today you will be taken on a walking tour. You will visit Piazza del Duomo and learn the history of the dome created by Brunelleschi and the nearby bell tower by Giotto. A visit to the Ponte Vecchio will be followed by a tour of Franciscan Santa Croce church and its masterpieces by Giotto, Donatello and Brunelleschi. Within its walls are the burial sites of Michelangelo, Galileo and Machiavelli. You complete your tour in the Piazza della Signoria, one of the most beautiful squares in the world. The afternoon is at leisure and you might want to take a trip to Pisa to view the famous leaning tower. Just let us know and we will arrange it.
Breakfast
Day 12: The Florentine Art Experience
Florence was the center of the Renaissance especially in art and through its galleries it remains so today. Start you day by meeting your guide who will first take you to the Accademia where you will see Michelangelo’s masterpiece, ‘David” along with some of his other sculptures. You then go to the Uffizi which was created by the Medicis to allow the public the chance to see their great pieces of Art. Your guide will show you some of the highlight pieces including Botticelli’s “The Birth of Venus”. Your guide will then leave you but you have the afternoon to explore on your own if you so choose
Breakfast
Day 13: Into the Tuscan Countryside
In the morning a driver will be waiting to take you into the countryside to a charming village located between Tuscany and Umbria. The family owned Agriturismo will be your home for the next two nights. Upon arrival you will have lunch at the nearby vineyard owned by the family. You will then get a tour of the vineyard along with tastings from some of their vintages. Nearby is the Relais where you will spend the night and enjoy a home cooked dinner with wine.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 14: At Leisure in Tuscany
You have a day to relax. You can visit the spa, swim in the pool, play tennis or go horse riding. If you wish we can arrange a trip to nearby hill towns like Siena or Montalcino. In the evening enjoy another dinner which can be alfresco with views over the valley
Breakfast and Dinner
Day 15: Rome…Eternal
You will be transferred to the station where you board a train for the Eternal City of Rome. Upon arrival you will be met and taken to your centrally located hotel. In the evening you will have dinner and then a tour of illuminate Rome to allow you to enjoy seeing the Colosseum, St. Peter’s and the Piazza Navona all lit up. Finish at the Trevi fountain.
Breakfast
Day 16: Ancient Rome
After breakfast you meet your guide for a discovery tour of Ancient Rome. You will visit the Roman Forum where Julius Caesar met his demise. You will visit the Aurelian walls, built by Marcus Aurelius and the last remaining sections of the ancient walls surrounding Rome, and get fast access into the Colosseum with your guide
Breakfast
Day 17: Treasures of the Vatican
After an early breakfast you meet your guide and make your way to the Vatican. By special arrangement we will take you into the Sistine Chapel before it opens to the general public. This allows you to admire Michelangelo’s masterpiece with a limited number of people versus the thousands later in the morning. You then make your way to the Vatican Museum including the Raphael Rooms which your guide will explain in depth. You then enter the basilica of St. Peter’s with the world’s largest Cupola built over the crypt where Popes going back to St. Peter are interred. The Vatican itself is a trove of art masterpieces including Michelangelo’s Pieta. After your tour you exit into St. Peter’s Square where the Pope delivers his major blessings. The rest of the day is left open
Breakfast
Day 18: Pompeii and Positano
In the morning you will be transferred to the station where you board a train for Naples. When you arrive in Naples, a driver will meet you to drive you to Positano. On the way you will stop in Pompeii where a guide will be waiting to take you on a tour of this Roman town buried in ash from an eruption by Mount Vesuvius in 79AD. Arrive in Positano and enjoy the view from the pool of your hotel and also from the candlelit restaurant where you will have dinner
Breakfast and Dinner
Day 19: A Visit to Capri
Today you can take a trip to the beautiful island of Capri, home to roman emperors and contemporary luminaries. Your high speed jetfoil will whisk you across to the island and you can wander around the paths aided by cable cars and funiculars. Spend time in the main town, Capri and the hill top town of Anacapri and then return to the mainland
Breakfast and Dinner
Day 20: Relaxing on the Amalfi Coast
By now you should be completely relaxed and there is no better place to finish up a trip than Positano. Walk into town and do a little shopping. Sit at one of the outdoor cafes on the harbour (Reputedly where Keith Richards and Mick Jagger wrote “Midnight Rambler” aided by a couple of bottles of wine) and reminiscence about the experiences you have had starting in the Alps and finishing on the shores of the Mediterranean. For some in Italy, Domani (tomorrow) never comes but for you it is time to head home
Breakfast and Dinner
Day 21: Return to USA
You will be transferred from the hotel to Naples Airport to begin your return journey home where you arrive back the same afternoon.
Breakfast