Greeks to Italy

Itinerary

• Day 1: Overnight Flight

  Board your overnight flight, bound for Italy. Get ready to eat spaghetti on penne on linguine on fettuccine on gnocchi on ravioli on chocolate gelato (not literally, but maybe literally).

• Day 2: Arrive in Venice + Welcome Dinner

  Welcome to Venice! Situated on 118 islands, intersected by 175 canals and spanned by more than 400 bridges, this city has had more praise showered upon it from travelers, writers and artists than any other city in the world.

  In the evening, enjoy a Welcome Dinner of local cuisine and drinks with fellow travelers at an authentic local spot. Afterwards, you’re free to take the party elsewhere!

  Today's highlights:

  • Arrive at the airport—your Tour Director will be waiting to show you how to get around the city.
  • Venture into Venice proper or see the area surrounding your accommodation.
• Day 3: Tour Venice

  Head to St. Mark’s Square to begin your sightseeing with a local guide.

  Today's highlights:

  • See several historic churches and amble through picture-perfect piazzas.
  • Follow the winding Grand Canal through the heart of Venice.
  • See the historic Rialto bridge, the oldest in the city.
• Day 4: Travel to Florence via Emilia Romagna

  Head further down the boot that is Italy and add two more cities to your ‘been there, done that’ list. Watch the hills and trees of the countryside slip by out the window of your private coach before reaching your final destination for the evening and deciding what’s for dinner (pizza is never not an option).

  Today's highlights:

  • Break up your trip to Tuscany with a stop in the Emilia Romagna region for some lunch and time to explore.
  • Check in to your accommodations in Florence and see what the place has to offer.
  • Get the scoop on the area you’re staying on a short walk with your Tour Director.
• Day 5: Tour Florence

  Get up, grab a cappuccino, and step out in the beautiful city of Florence. Join a local guide as you walk to some of the most famous sights in the city while taking mental notes of the best smelling restaurants you pass for later. After all, it is Italy and food is kind of a big deal.

  Today's highlights:

  • Stroll the Piazza della Signoria, home to Florence’s seat of power, the Palazzo Vecchio, as well as several intricate sculptures.
  • March your way across Ponte Vecchio, a medieval stone bridge with shops built along it (formerly butchers, now jewelers and souvenir shops).
  • Visit the final resting place of some of the most illustrious Italians such as Michelangelo, Galileo, and Machiavelli at the Basilica di Santa Croce.
• Day 6: Free Day in Florence + Optional Italian Riviera & Cinque Terre

  Enjoy a full free day in Florence to explore on your own or join an optional excursion.

  Today's highlights:

  • Get in touch with your artsy side at the Uffizi museum. The Medici Family’s art collection makes up one of the best art museums in the world.
  • Stop and smell the flowers in the Boboli gardens, and keep an eye out for 16th century sculptures (you can stop and smell those, too, but it might attract strange looks).
  • Snap the perfect picture of Florence’s skyline after hiking up to San Miniato al Monte. Then reward yourself with some gelato.
  • Shop till you drop; the area between Ponte Vecchio and the Duomo is our favorite.

  Italian Riviera & Cinque Terre (extra cost)

  Note: This excursion is seasonal and only runs from May through September. Availability is subject to your tour’s departure date.
  
  Lay your eyes on the most beautiful coastal scenery anywhere, Cinque Terre. Discover mountainside villages, iconic colorful seaside buildings, and spend the rest of your day enjoying the pebble beaches of Monterosso.
  
  Why wait? Save money by booking this optional excursion before your trip departs.

• Day 7: Travel to Rome + Pasta Making Class

  Board your private coach bound for Rome. Along the way, you’ll stop in Tuscany and sample some of the wines this vineyard-rich region is famous for.

  Today's highlights:

  • Look out at the cypress-dotted hills of Tuscany and enjoy a wine tasting.
  • Arrive in Rome, surrounded by art, ruins, and 2.9 million people.
  • Delve into a pasta dinner you made from scratch.
• Day 8: Tour Rome + Optional Vatican

  Time travel with your local guide to the beginning of democracy and gladiator fights. Feel the history as you explore the ruins of the ancient civilization. Don’t forget your tunic!

  Today's highlights:

  • Tour the city with a local guide who will show you why Rome is one of the most legendary cities in Europe.
  • Gather at the Roman Colosseum where bloody fights, battle re-enactments and many forms of entertainment used to take place.
  • Experience the heart of ancient Rome with a visit to the Forum, once a hub of activity for the city.
  • See the ruins of several Roman temples, including the Temple of the Vestal Virgins.
  • Enjoy an Optional excursion to the legendary Vatican.

  A Visit to the Vatican (extra cost)

  Visit the Pope’s house: Vatican City. Take a guided tour of the Vatican Museum and St. Peter's Basilica, and get your dose of art history up close and personal—viewing Michelangelo's famed Sistine Chapel frescoes.
  
  This excursion is pre-book only; if your trip is less than twenty days away, please call 800-766-2645 to purchase.

• Day 9: Travel to Naples Region via Pompeii

  As you make your way to the Naples Region, join a local guide for a walking tour of the ancient city of Pompeii, which stands frozen in time after Mt. Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD, completely destroying the town.

  Today's highlights:

  • Travel back to imperial Roman times and learn about Pompeii, the city covered in volcanic ash.
  • Look up at Mt. Vesuvius, the deadly volcano that annihilated this city almost 2,000 years ago.
  • Experience the buildings, artifacts and even people that have been extremely well preserved over the years.
• Day 10: Free Day in Naples Region + Optional Capri Trip

  The day is yours to do as you wish, like enjoying the thing that Naples is known for: that bready, cheesy, tomato sauce topped stuff we call pizza. Or join your Tour Director for an excursion to Capri. Trust us, you haven’t lived lavishly until you’ve cruised around the island of Capri.

  Capri Cruisin' (extra cost)

  Ferry across the Bay of Naples then around the Isle of Capri, gawking at the incredible Arco Naturale and the famous Faraglioni rocks. Then travel by funicular railway to the ancient mountaintop island resort.
  
  Why wait? Save money by booking this optional excursion before your trip departs.

• Day 11: Visit Positano

  Positano’s known as the “vertical city” for a reason. The stacks of pastel-colored buildings emerging from the lush cliffsides are a sight to behold, and the sprawling views out towards the bright blue Mediterranean Sea aren’t too shabby either.

  Farewell Dinner
  Return to the Naples Region, where you’ll share some last laughs (and maybe shed a few tears) at an included farewell dinner with the group.

  Today's highlights:

  • Journey to Positano and navigate the city’s many staircases and terraces.
  • Wander your way down some of the most popular shopping streets of the Amalfi Coast.
• Day 12: Fly Home

  Arrivederci, amici!
  Translation: Goodbye, friends. Your next destination awaits—home. Before you head to the airport, enjoy your last few moments together. Take one more group photo. Grab that final drink. (Fine, maybe a couple of drinks.) But this isn’t goodbye. It’s “See you later.” The only question is, where?

  –OR–

  EXTEND YOUR TRIP 2 WAYS

  1. Double the fun
  A lot of our trips line up back to back! Give us a call—we can help you add another and save big while you're at it.

  2. Go ahead or stay behind
  Extending your trip is easy! During checkout, you'll have the option to fly to (or from) the gateway of your choice for an additional fee. We'll adjust your flights accordingly, but you'll be responsible to take care of your transportation, hotels, and other logistics outside of tour.

  Note: Depending on your desired gateways, additional fees may apply.