Italian Mosaic

Day 1

ARRIVE IN ROME, ITALY Welcome to Rome! At 5 pm, meet your Tour Director and travel companions for a welcome dinner at a local restaurant. (D)

Day 2

ROME Roman Holiday ROME Guided sightseeing includes the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, St. Peter’s Square and see the Basilica. Visit the Colosseum and see the Roman Forum. Free time this late afternoon and evening. (B)

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
LEGENDARY LIVES Stand in awe and wonder amid one of mankind’s greatest artistic achievements in the Sistine Chapel. Hear how in 1508, a young Michelangelo was commissioned by Pope Julius II to decorate the chapel’s ceiling – a request not welcomed by the 33-year-old sculptor Michelangelo’s 4-year project was indeed one of physical pain and psychological distress, while painting from scaffolds high above the sanctuary floor. Nevertheless, he created what is considered the most famous ceiling in the world, depicting the Creation of Adam in striking fresco style.

Day 3

ROME–PISA–FLORENCE The Tilted Tower PISA See the Leaning Tower en route to Florence. (B)
298 mi / 480 km

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
HISTORIC SPOT See architecture gone askew from the viewpoint of the Piazza dei Miracoli in Pisa. Take the ultimate selfie in front of the Leaning Tower with a tilt of the head or other popular poses to commemorate your visit to the site of medieval art in this beautiful piazza.

Day 4

FLORENCE Fine Art in Firenze FLORENCE Guided sightseeing includes Michelangelo’s masterpiece, David, at the Academy of Fine Arts, Giotto’s Bell Tower, the Baptistry’s heavy bronze “Gates of Paradise,” Signoria Square and Ponte Vecchio. Free time to explore. (B)

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
ART & ARCHITECTURE Those lucky enough to visit the Tuscan capital are witness to some of the world’s most magnificent art. Home to a wealth of Rennaissance masterpieces, Florence is famous for Michelangelo’s Marble Masterpiece, David, standing ready for battle in the Academy of Fine Arts. Outside, Piazza del Duomo and Signoria Square offer spectacular sights of Florentine Gothic and Renaissance art, architecture, and monuments.

Day 5

FLORENCE–CINQUE TERRE–LAKE MAGGIORE Italian Treasures FLORENCE Take a scenic drive en route to Cinque Terre.
CINQUE TERRE [LF] Take a guided boat ride (weather permitting). Free time before boarding your train to Sestri Levante. (B,D)
298 mi / 490 km

LOCAL FAVORITE
EPIC RIDE Take a stunning cruise on the coast of Cinque Terre for an exquisite look at sea, sky, and centuries-old seaside villages on the rugged Italian Riviera coastline.

Day 6

LAKE MAGGIORE. EXCURSION TO ISOLA BELLA AND ISOLA MADRE Island Beauties LAKE MAGGIORE Boat ride with an [LF] exclusive early guided visit to Isola Bella Palace, followed by refreshments and a visit to the Botanical Garden on Isola Madre. (B)

LOCAL FAVORITE
PICTURE PERFECT Isola Bella, together and the nearby Isola Madre are the starring beauties of the Borromean Islands and transport those who cross Lake Maggiore into a reverie of Baroque palazzos and perfect gardens. Amid the obelisks, statues, and sauntering peacocks, the magnificent features of the palace grounds at Isola Bella Palace evoke a sense of earthly paradise from another era. On Isola Madre, a showcase of exotic botanical beauty surrounds the 16th-century Palazzo Borromeo with magnificent magnolias, myrtles, wisteria, and citrus groves.

Day 7

LAKE MAGGIORE–LUGANO, SWITZERLAND–VENICE ISLAND, ITALY Swiss Views & A Scenic Cruise LUGANO Enjoy an orientation tour and free time.
VENICE ISLAND Take a private boat ride on the canals. (B)
295 mi / 475 km

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
CITY SIGHTS Discover the city of Lugano to see its mix of Italian and Swiss, style and culture reflected in its architecture and cuisine. Standing on the Lake northern shore, the city is surrounded by mountain peaks. Piazza della Riforma and pastel palazzos share the ambience of this lovely Swiss city with impressive architecture and bold and innovative street art.

Day 8

VENICE ISLAND Benvenuti a Venezia VENICE ISLAND Guided walking tour includes St. Mark’s Square and Basilica, Doge’s Palace and the Bridge of Sighs followed by a glassblowing demonstration. Free time this afternoon and evening. (B)

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
HISTORIC SPOT Locals simply call Piazza San Marco “la piazza.” As paired with the smaller Piazzetta, it forms the social, religious, and political hub of Venice, which Napoleon called “the drawing room of Europe.” St. Mark’s Basilica dominates the square, offering visitors a spectacular view of the great arches, marble embellishments, and the Romanesque carvings of its façade. Also gracing the square is Doge’s Palace – a masterpiece of Venetian Gothic architecture. The enclosed Bridge of Sighs, connecting the palace with the prison, is named for the prisoners breathing in their last view of the Rio di Palazzo on their walk to the prison’s interrogation rooms.

Day 9

VENICE ISLAND–ASSISI Medieval Marvels ASSISI A guided walking tour includes St. Clare’s Church and St. Francis’ Basilica. (B,D)
261 mi / 420 km

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
ICONIC FOOTSTEPS Walk in the footsteps of St. Francis of Assisi with a visit to the Basilica named after the deacon, friar, and mystic, who became one of the most venerated religious figures in Christianity. Revered for his love of the Eucharist and the Earth, Francis found communion with God through nature here in this Italian village where he lived and died. Marvel at the magnificent frescoes by Italian master Giotto that adorn the Basilica where the Saint is buried.

Day 10

ASSISI–SORRENTO Italian Vistas Depart for a scenic drive to Sorrento. (B)
267 mi / 430 km

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
PICTURE PERFECT Join the ranks of holiday-goers on the sun-kissed cliffs of Sorrento, where literati like Byron, Goethe, Dickens, and Tolstoy soaked in the sun and took their inspiration from atop the gateway to the Amalfi Coast. Here, in the town of lemons, you can give in to the sweet temptations of lemon gelato and limoncello to toast the coast of the Tyrrhenian Sea.

Day 11

SORRENTO. EXCURSION TO CAPRI Coves, Cliffs & The Clear Blue Sea SORRENTO Jetfoil ride to Capri.
CAPRI Take a funicular ride from the harbor to the village for guided sightseeing, including [LF] Augustus Gardens and a granita (semi-frozen drink) tasting. Free time for lunch.
SORRENTO Free time this afternoon and evening. (B)

LOCAL FAVORITE
NATURAL WONDERS Nestled high above the sea on the island of Capri lie the exquisite Gardens of Augustus. This natural paradise promises 180-degree panoramic views and a kaleidoscope of botanical brilliance on the cliffs overlooking the island and the sapphire sea below. Toast the view with a glass of granita for a frozen treat amid the sun-washed monuments and mesmerizing vistas.

Day 12

SORRENTO–POMPEII–ROME Time Standing Still in Pompeii POMPEII Take a guided walking tour of the excavations, followed by free time for lunch.
ROME Enjoy a farewell dinner at a local restaurant this evening. (B,D)
193 mi / 310 km

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
LEGENDS & LORE The fascinating archaeological site of Pompeii is a treasured glimpse into Roman life near the Bay of Naples. This once thriving and sophisticated Roman city was consumed by the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D., with its residents and structures buried beneath inescapable ash and stone. See the preserved site of excavated ruins that reveal remarkable frescoes, artwork, and artifacts within its streets and dwellings of the people who perished here.

Day 13

ROME Safe travels until we meet again! Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B)