VACATION OVERVIEW
Italy is a country with so much to offer—amazing scenery, ancient ruins, a rich history, sumptuous cuisine, architectural treasures, splendid art, designer shops, and friendly people. On this tour through Italy, you’ll experience some of Italy’s most popular cities and historic sights, including Rome, Florence, Venice, Assisi, Pompeii, Sorrento, and Taormina. You’ll also take an overnight ferry from Naples to Sicily.
Tour highlights include Agrigento, where you’ll see ancient Greek structures that have survived for 2,400 years! Also visit Taormina, where you’ll see the 3rd-century BC Greek Amphitheater, the second largest of its kind in Sicily. Photos and words cannot adequately capture these sights—you must visit them in person! Your time in Sorrento includes a visit to the Isle of Capri with a boat ride across the Bay of Naples and funicular ride to Capri village.
If art is your focus, you’ll be delighted by Michelangelo’s David in Florence. Completed in 1504, the artist worked over thirty months for a mere 400 florins (roughly $50,000 today). He worked even longer on the ceiling paintings in the Sistine Chapel in Rome (painted from 1508 to 1512), which you’ll also see on this tour. Watch glassblowers in action as they create their beautiful art in Venice. Or if historical churches interest you, you’re sure to be delighted by the 12th-century Norman Cathedral in Monreale, famous for its 50,000 square feet of precious byzantine mosaics; St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome; the 13th-century Basilica of St. Francis in Assisi, where St. Francis is buried; Ravenna’s 6th-century Basilica of St. Apollinaris in Classe, famous for its mosaics; and more.
These are just a few of the many highlights on this vacation through the best of Italy and Sicily. So if you want to see Italy, let Globus handle the details and focus your energy on experiencing this marvelous country.
INCLUDED FEATURES
Rome
Welcome and farewell dinners at a local restaurant; guided sightseeing, visit the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel, St. Peter’s Square and Basilica, the Colosseum and Roman Forum
Florence
Guided walking tour, visit Michelangelo’s David and Signoria Square
Venice
Private boat ride; guided walking tour, visit St. Mark’s Square and Basilica, Doges’ Palace and the Bridge of Sighs; glassblowers’ demonstration
Ravenna
Orientation, visit St. Apollinaris in Classe
Assisi
Visit St. Francis’ Basilica
Pompeii
Guided walking tour of the excavations
Naples-Sicily
Overnight cruise in two-berth cabins with private facilities
Palermo
Guided sightseeing, visit the cathedral, the Palatine Chapel, the Norman Cathedral in Monreale, and Mondello
Marsala
Visit a salt mill
Agrigento
Guided walking tour of the Valley of Temples
Taormina
Visit the Greek Amphitheater
Strait of Messina
Ferry crossing
Sorrento-Capri
By jetfoil
Capri
Guided visit of Capri village, including a funicular ride
Headsets throughout the tour
Itinerary
DAY 1 Arrive in Rome, Italy
Time to rest or start exploring the “Eternal City.” At 5 pm, meet your Tour Director and traveling companions and leave the hotel for a special welcome dinner with wine at one of Rome’s lively restaurants. (Dinner)
DAY 2 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. (Breakfast)
DAY 3 Rome–Florence
A smooth drive past the Chianti hills takes you to Florence, capital of Tuscany and “Cradle of the Renaissance.” Afternoon at leisure to shop for Florentine leather goods and gold jewelry or to visit one of Florence’s many museums. (Breakfast)
DAY 4 Florence–Venice
During your walking tour with a Local Guide, visit the ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS with Michelangelo’s celebrated David. Admire the magnificent cathedral, Giotto’s Bell Tower, the Baptistry’s heavy bronze “Gate of Paradise,” and sculpture-studded SIGNORIA SQUARE. Then, head across the wooded Apennine Mountains to Venice. Enter in style by PRIVATE BOAT. Tonight is your chance to sample Venetian fare. (Breakfast)
DAY 5 Venice
Highlights of your guided walking tour this morning are ST. MARK’S SQUARE and the byzantine BASILICA, lavish DOGES’ PALACE and the BRIDGE OF SIGHS. Also watch skilled GLASSBLOWERS fashion their delicate objects in an age-old traditional manner. Afterwards, enjoy Venice at your own pace or join an optional gondola ride. (Breakfast)
DAY 6 Venice–Ravenna–Assisi
Along the coastline of the Adriatic Sea to Ravenna. Here, see the famous mosaics in the 6th-century BASILICA OF ST. APOLLINARIS IN CLASSE. In the afternoon, arrive in Assisi and visit the massive 13th-century lower BASILICA OF ST. FRANCIS built above the Saint’s grave. Time to enjoy the peaceful town at your own pace. (Breakfast, Dinner)
DAY 7 Assisi–Pompeii–Naples. Overnight Cruise to Palermo
Meet your Local Guide and enter POMPEII, the Roman city both destroyed and preserved by an eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. See patrician houses, public baths, and commercial districts strikingly recalling day-to-day life when Rome was at the apex of her power. Tonight, board your FERRY in Naples for the overnight cruise to Sicily. (Breakfast)
DAY 8 Palermo
After disembarkation, start your sightseeing with a Local Guide. Visit the ornate Piazza Bellini, the CATHEDRAL, and the Arab-Norman PALATINE CHAPEL in the Royal Palace. After lunch, drive up to Monreale for a panoramic view of the Conca d’Oro and a visit to the 12th-century NORMAN CATHEDRAL, famous for its 50,000 square feet of precious byzantine mosaics. Your first day in Sicily ends with a visit to the typical and picturesque village of Mondello before returning to Palermo. (Breakfast, Dinner)
DAY 9 Palermo–Marsala–Agrigento
Along the western coast of Sicily all the way down to the saltbeds, famous since Roman times. Near Marsala, stop to visit a SALT MILL. Then, continue to Agrigento, where your Local Guide will take you for a spectacular walk through the VALLEY OF TEMPLES. Even travelers who have visited Athens and Delphi are awed by the gigantic yet graceful Greek structures that miraculously survived 24 centuries of tormented history. (Breakfast, Dinner)
DAY 10 Agrigento–Taormina Area
Enjoy the scenic beauty and treasures of the island’s heart on your way to the Taormina area. Later, focus on the 3rd-century GREEK AMPHITHEATER, the second largest of its kind in Sicily. Situated above the city, it affords spectacular views of the bay and Mount Etna. (Breakfast)
DAY 11At Leisure in Taormina Area
In the morning you may wish to join the half-day optional excursion to Mount Etna. Afternoon is at leisure to relax or for individual activities. (Breakfast, Dinner)
DAY 12 Taormina Area–Sorrento
Today, board a FERRY and cross the Strait of Messina to land at the toe of the Italian boot in Calabria. Tonight, you are in the charming resort of Sorrento, delightfully situated on the Bay of Naples. (Breakfast)
DAY 13 Sorrento. Excursion to Capri
Speed across the Bay of Naples by JETFOIL to the Isle of Capri, an ancient retreat for Roman emperors and renowned ever since that time for its beauty. Ride the FUNICULAR to Capri village for a guided visit of this pretty town. Free time to explore the little shops on the Piazzetta before returning to Sorrento. The remainder of the day is at leisure. (Breakfast)
DAY 14 Sorrento–Rome
Return to Rome. This evening, enjoy a farewell dinner with wine in a local restaurant to celebrate the success of your vacation. (Breakfast, Dinner)
DAY 15 Rome
Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (Breakfast)
First-Class (F) Hotels used:
ROME
Albani (F),
FLORENCE
Starhotels Tuscany (F),
VENICE ISLAND
Ca’ Alvise (F),
ASSISI
Giotto (F),
PALERMO
NH Palermo (F),
AGRIGENTO
Della Valle (F),
TAORMINA AREA
Caesar Palace (F) at Giardini Naxos,
SORRENTO
Michelangelo (F),
ROME
Villa Pamphili (F)
THE BEST OF ITALY & SICILY – 16 DAYS - G.
Dates and Prices
Prices below do not include airfare. We will be glad to help you find the least
expensive airfare,
or you can use mileage if desired. When you Book Online
please enter your departure city
on the "SPECIAL REQUESTS" field and we will
get back to you immediately with an air quote.
If you book your air with us, airport transfers at destination will be included.
Otherwise we can provide them for you at a fee of $50 per person round-trip,
as long as you let us know your flights in advance. Thank you.
| Depart Date |
Vacation Start Date |
Return Date |
Price Without Air |
| 3/10/12 |
3/11/12 |
3/25/12 |
$3,599.00 |
| 3/17/12 |
3/18/12 |
4/1/12 |
$3,629.00 |
| 3/24/12 |
3/25/12 |
4/8/12 |
$3,629.00 |
| 3/31/12 |
4/1/12 |
4/15/12 |
$3,629.00 |
| 4/7/12 |
4/8/12 |
4/22/12 |
$3,629.00 |
| 4/14/12 |
4/15/12 |
4/29/12 |
$3,629.00 |
| 4/21/12 |
4/22/12 |
5/6/12 |
$3,629.00 |
| 4/28/12 |
4/29/12 |
5/13/12 |
$3,629.00 |
| 5/5/12 |
5/6/12 |
5/20/12 |
$3,629.00 |
| 5/12/12 |
5/13/12 |
5/27/12 |
$3,629.00 |
| 5/19/12 |
5/20/12 |
6/3/12 |
$3,629.00 |
| 5/26/12 |
5/27/12 |
6/10/12 |
$3,629.00 |
| 6/2/12 |
6/3/12 |
6/17/12 |
$3,629.00 |
| 6/9/12 |
6/10/12 |
6/24/12 |
$3,629.00 |
| 6/16/12 |
6/17/12 |
7/1/12 |
$3,629.00 |
| 6/23/12 |
6/24/12 |
7/8/12 |
$3,629.00 |
| 6/30/12 |
7/1/12 |
7/15/12 |
$3,629.00 |
| 7/7/12 |
7/8/12 |
7/22/12 |
$3,629.00 |
| 7/14/12 |
7/15/12 |
7/29/12 |
$3,629.00 |
| 7/21/12 |
7/22/12 |
8/5/12 |
$3,629.00 |
| 7/28/12 |
7/29/12 |
8/12/12 |
$3,629.00 |
| 8/4/12 |
8/5/12 |
8/19/12 |
$3,579.00 |
| 8/11/12 |
8/12/12 |
8/26/12 |
$3,579.00 |
| 8/18/12 |
8/19/12 |
9/2/12 |
$3,579.00 |
| 8/25/12 |
8/26/12 |
9/9/12 |
$3,579.00 |
| 9/1/12 |
9/2/12 |
9/16/12 |
$3,779.00 |
| 9/8/12 |
9/9/12 |
9/23/12 |
$3,779.00 |
| 9/15/12 |
9/16/12 |
9/30/12 |
$3,779.00 |
| 9/22/12 |
9/23/12 |
10/7/12 |
$3,779.00 |
| 9/29/12 |
9/30/12 |
10/14/12 |
$3,779.00 |
| 10/6/12 |
10/7/12 |
10/21/12 |
$3,629.00 |
| 10/13/12 |
10/14/12 |
10/28/12 |
$3,599.00 |
|
|
|
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| Prices based on double room occupancy. |
|
| Single room supplement: $766 |
|
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| Triple room reduction per person: $115 |
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| Extra nights per person in Rome: |
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| in single room $226, in twin room $165, in triple room $138 |
Sun Holidays Discount Policy (Club Members Only)
- 5% Automatic Club Member Discount.
- 3% Additional Early Bird Discount available.*
- Special offers and additional discounts when you join our mailing list.
To qualify, please. Thank you.
| Club Membership Fees and Related Info |
| Join the Sun Holidays Travel Club & Save up to 8%! |
| Membership Fees |
| Option 1 |
1 year-membership |
$25 per household ($12.50 for singles) |
| Option 2 |
2 year-membership |
$35 per household ($17.50 for singles) |
| Option 3 |
3 year-membership |
$50 per household ($25 for singles) |
| Includes you and your spouse, or domestic partner, and any unmarried children under the age of 18 living at home and traveling with you. Membership fees for singles are half of the fees for households. |
* Additional 3% Early Bird discount available when paying in full at least 120 days before departure.
Note: Discounts are applicable to the base package price only. Not combinable with any other offers or discounts.
