Start in Rome for this unforgettable 12-day vacation. Visit the excavations of Pompeii with a Local Guide, drive to the charming resort of Sorrento, and sail to the Isle of Capri where your two-night stay includes guided sightseeing with a visit to Villa San Michele in Anacapri. Next enjoy an orientation of Naples before continuing through the Apennine Mountains to St. Francis’ Assisi. Along the Adriatic coast drive to Ravenna, to visit the Basilica of St. Apollinaris in Classe. In Venice visit St. Mark’s Basilica and lavish Doges’ Palace with a Local Guide, and watch Venetian glassblowers at work. Continue to Pisa, to take pictures of the Leaning Tower, and to Tuscany. Your walking tour through Florence includes visits to the cathedral and the Academy of Fine Arts to admire Michelangelo’s David. Via Siena back to Rome where highlight visits are St. Peter’s Square and Basilica, the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel, the Colosseum and the Roman Forum.

ROME - Welcome dinner at a local restaurant; guided sightseeing including headsets, visit the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel, St. Peter’s Square and Basilica, the Colosseum and Roman Forum
POMPEII - Guided visit of the excavations including headsets
SORRENTO-CAPRI-NAPLES - By jet/hydrofoil
CAPRI - Guided sightseeing, visit Villa San Michele in Anacapri
ASSISI - Guided sightseeing, visit St. Francis’ Basilica
RAVENNA - Visit the Basilica of St. Apollinaris in Classe
VENICE  - Private boat ride; guided sightseeing including headsets, visit St. Mark’s Square and Basilica, Doges’ Palace and the Bridge of Sighs; glassblowers’ demonstration
PISA - Picture stop at the Leaning Tower
FLORENCE - Guided sightseeing including headsets, visit Michelangelo’s David, the cathedral, and Signoria Square
SIENA - Orientation including the Piazza del Campo

-MEALS:  10 buffet breakfasts (BB); 5 three-course dinners (D), including a special welcome dinner with wine in Rome
-AIRPORT TRANSFERS Airport transfers may be included when you make your flight arrangements with Globus
-INSIDE VISITS are shown in UPPERCASE in the tour description, including admission charges when applicable
-Hotel Accommodations Twin-bedded rooms with private bath or shower, hotel taxes, service charges, and tips for baggage handling
ROME Crowne Plaza St. Peter's (F) or Cicerone (SF) or Jolly Villa Carpegna (F), CAPRI La Palma (F) or La Residenza (F), ASSISI Grand Hotel Assisi (F), VENICE Plaza (F) at Mestre, TUSCANY Settentrionale Esplanade (F) at Montecatini, ROME Visconti Palace (F)
-Professional Tour Director while touring, cruise director on River cruises, host services on Independent Vacations, and 50 hosts in London alone to assist you at airports and hotels
-Private deluxe motorcoach with air-conditioning, extra leg room, and emergency washroom while touring
-Globus travel bag and travel documents

Day 1  Board your overnight transatlantic flight.

Day 2  Arrival in Rome, Italy. Time to rest or to start exploring the eternal City. at 6 p.m. meet your Tour Director and traveling companions and leave the hotel for a special welcome dinner with wine in one of Rome's lively restaurants. (D)

Day 3  Rome-Pompeii-Sorrento-Capri. South on the highway of the Sun to POMPEII. Meet your Local guide and start your highlight visit of this roman city both destroyed and preserved by an eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 a.D. See a patrician home, public baths, and shops that give a striking picture of what day to-day life was like in rome at its apex of power. Then on to the charming resort of Sorrento. Time to stroll around and check out the local shops before crossing the blue bay to the beautiful isle of Capri, an ancient retreat for roman emperors and renowned ever since for its beauty. (BB,D)

Day 4  Capri. This morning enjoy sightseeing with a Local guide. Highlight is a visit to VILLA SAN MICHELE in Anacapri. afternoon and evening are at leisure to stroll around and discover the beauty of this famous island. (BB)

Day 5  Capri-Naples-Assisi. Speed across the bay to naples for an orientation drive of this lively and colorful city. a smooth drive north through the apennine Mountains brings you to peaceful assisi. Visit the massive 13th-century lower BASILICA OF ST. FRANCIS built above the Saint’s grave. (BB,D)

Day 6  Assisi-Ravenna-Venice. A scenic drive to Ravenna to visit the 6th century BASILICA OF ST. APOLLINARIS IN CLASSE. Arrive in Venice, a powerful magnet for romantics and art lovers from around the globe. (BB)

Day 7  Venice. Enter in style by PRIVATE BOAT to meet your Local guide. Highlights of your walking tour are ST. MARK’S SQUARE and its BYZANTINE BASILICA, lavish DOGES’ PALACE and the BRIDGE OF SIGHS. also watch skilled GLASSBLOWERS fashion their delicate objects in an age-old traditional manner. Then enjoy Venice at your own pace or join an optional excursion to the island of Burano. (BB,D)

Day 8  Venice-Pisa-Tuscany. A comfortable morning drive to Pisa. Admire the Square of Miracles and take your pictures of the amazing Leaning Tower, 180 feet high and no less than 12 feet out of the perpendicular. next a short drive following the valley of the arno river to the spa-resort of Montecatini. (BB)

Day 9  Tuscany. Excursion to Florence. all day dedicated to the cradle of the renaissance, Florence. guided sightseeing includes a visit to Michelangelo’s David in the ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS and the magnificent CATHEDRAL, Giotto’s Bell Tower, the Baptistry’s heavy bronze “Gate of Paradise,” and sculpture-studded Signoria Square. afternoon for independent sightseeing and browsing through the many shops. Florentine leather goods and gold jewelry sold by the ounce are attractive buys. (BB,D)

Day 10  Tuscany-Siena-Rome. Drive through the Chianti wine area to Siena. Walk through ancient, narrow lanes to beautiful PIAZZA DEL CAMPO, site of the biannual Palio, Siena’s spectacular medieval-style horse race. Time on your own before continuing to rome. Why not join an optional dinner tonight in one of rome’s fine restaurants? (BB)

Day 11  Rome. Sightseeing with your Local guide starts with a visit to the VATICAN MUSEUMS and SISTINE CHAPEL, world famous for Michelangelo’s ceiling paintings and The Last Judgement. Continue to monumental ST. PETER’S SQUARE and BASILICA. Cross the Tiber and visit the COLOSSEUM and the ROMAN FORUM, where roman Legions marched in triumph. Then time for independent activities and exciting optional excursion possibilities to celebrate the success of your vacation. (BB)

Day 12  Your homebound flight arrives the same day. (BB)