day 1
- Private transfer by car from Rome Airport to hotel in Rome
- 3 overnights including breakfast at hotel in Rome
day 2
*Includes half-day guided tour with English speaking tour guide, private transfers and entrance fee for the Coliseum.
The tour includes visit of Imperial Rome with the Coliseum, the Roman Forum, the Circus Maximus and Capitol Hill.
Description : This tour explores the area of Rome from where the power and the glory of the Great Roman Empire developed and extended. Your guide will take you through the enchanting ruins of the Imperial-era.; passing by Piazza Venezia and its impressive monument dedicated to King Victor Emanuel II and the Unknown Soldier, you then continue on foot to the famous Piazza del Campidoglio designed by Michelangelo, from where you will have a breathtaking view of the Roman Forum. The Roman Forum (Forum Romanum) was the political and economical centre of Rome during the Republic. The importance of the Forum area is indicated by the presence of many of the central political, religious and judicial buildings in Rome. The Regia was the residence of the kings, and later of the rex sacrorum and pontifex maximus; the Curia, was the meeting place of the Senate; and the Comitium and the Rostra, where public meetings were held. Major temples and sanctuaries in the Forum include the Temple of Castor and Pollux, the Temple of Saturn and the Temple of Vesta. Commercial and judicial activities took place in the basilicas, the two remaining are the Basilica Aemilia and the Basilica Julia. Through the evocative ruins of the Forum, you will have a chance to learn from your guide, the history, anedoctes, lectures on social and political life of Rome, from its origin to the glorious days of the Great Roman Empire. Proceed with the visit of the imposing Coliseum, iconic symbol of Imperial Rome, and probably the most impressive building of the Imperial-era.
The Colosseum or Coliseum, originally called Flavian Amphitheatre is an elliptical amphitheatre, the largest ever built in the Roman Empire. It is one of the greatest works of Roman architecture and Roman engineering. Originally capable of seating around 80,000 spectators, the Colosseum was used for gladiatorial contests and public spectacles. As well as the gladiatorial games, other public spectacles were held there, such as mock sea battles, animal hunts, executions, re-enactments of famous battles, and dramas based on Classical mythology. The building ceased to be used for entertainment in the early medieval era. It was later reused for such purposes as housing, workshops, quarters for a religious order, a fortress, a quarry, and a Christian shrine.
day 3
* Includes half-day guided tour with English speaking tour guide, private transfers and entrance fee at Vatican Museum.
The tour includes visit of the Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel and Saint Peter’s Basilica.
The visit starts from Vatican Museums, the tour will highlight ordinary minor roman sculpture, the Tapestry Gallery, the Geographical Maps gallery and overall the Sistine Chapel with its wonderful ceiling, on which Michelangelo Buonarroti painted The Last Judgement, and the wall frescoes where artists such as Botticelli, Perugino, Rosselli, Ghirlandaio and Signorelli depicted the lives of Jesus and Moses. The Last Judgment was commissioned from Michelangelo bylement VII (1523-1534) shortly before his death. His successor, Paul III Farnese (1534-1549). forced Michelangelo to a rapid execution of this work, the largest single fresco of the century.
The tour will continue with the visit of St. Peter's Basilica. Ancient tradition has it that St. Peter's Basilica was built at the place where Peter, the apostle who is considered the first pope, was crucified and buried; his tomb is under the main altar. Other popes are also buried in and below the basilica. The current location of St. Peter's Basilica is the site of the Circus of Nero in the first century AD. After Emperor Constantine officially recognized Christianity he started construction (in 324) of a great basilica in this exact spot, which had previously been a cemetery for pagans as well as Christians.
The interior of St. Peter's is impressive and every bit of space is used to display the finest Renaissance monuments and employing the talents of great artists such as Michelangelo and Bernini: the Pieta, the lateral altars, the abse with the Glory of the Holy Spirit, the allegorical throne of St. Peter's , the main Canopy by Bernini; the memorial to Pope Alexander VII by Bernini, he oldest memorial in the Church by Pollaiolo, the Memorial to Pope Joahnnes XXIII, the Memorial to the Stuarts family, the mummified bodies of the beatified and canonized Popes; the Baptismal Fountain. If opened Vatican Grottoes can be visited.
The tour proceed from the outside, in St. Peter’s square, enclosed in Bernini's magnificent colonnade, for lectures and descriptions on St. Peter's facade and square and the papal residence.
day 4
- Private transfer by car from hotel in Rome to Rome train station
- 1st class train ticket from Rome to Naples
- Private transfer by car from Naples rail station to hotel in Sorrento
At your arrival in Naples, your driver and guide will pick you up at Naples train station and start your Naples Tour. After the tour, quick time to eat lunch, after then ahead to your hotel in Sorrento.
Private half-day Naples tour (max 3 hrs)
* Includes half-day guided tour with English speaking tour guide and private transfer. The tour includes an orientation tour of Naples.
Description : This morning enjoy a panoramic tour of the wonderful city of Naples. The city, originally founded by the Greeks, then conquered by the Romans in the 4th century B.C. lies halfway between two volcanic areas, the volcano Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, sitting on the coast by the Gulf of Naples. Rich inhabitants of Rome like Virgil, Augustus, Tiberius, Nero used to spend the winter there, but the Neapolitans themselves retained the Greek language and customs until the decline of Empire.
The French Revolution brought here troops and a Parthenopaen Republic was set up. A French kingdom was created next under Napoleon’s brother Joseph Bonaparte. In the modern days, the historic centre of the city is listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. The metropolitan area of Naples is the second most populated in Italy and one of the largest in all of Europe. Your private driver and your guide will meet you at your hotel from where you will depart on a suggestive drive along the typical colourful areas of this unique city. The tour proceeds with a nice drive to one of the most popular squares of Naples, Piazza del Plebiscito, hosting many of the most impressive and famous monuments that characterize the city: the Royal Palace on the east of square, older Spanish viceroyal residence from the early 16th century. The 17th century palace visible today is, however, the result of numerous additions and changes, including some by Luigi Vanvitelli in the mid-18th century. On the west side of the square lies the church of San Francesco di Paola The church, with its 53 metres high dome, is reminiscent of the Pantheon in Rome and has a nice façade fronted by a portico; the inside of the church is circular with two side chapels. Nearby is the Teatro di San Carlo, which is the oldest and largest opera house on the Italian peninsula. Directly across from San Carlo is Galleria Umberto, a shopping centre and active centre of Neapolitan social life. Continue to see the famous Piazza Municipio with its huge medieval castle, Castel Nuovo, one of the most notable construction of the city, mostly known as “Maschio Angioino". Comfortable shoes and dresses are highly recommended for this type of tour. At the end of the tour, you will be dropped off at your hotel.
4 overnights including breakfast at hotel in Sorrento
day 5
*Includes full-day private transportation with English speaking driver.
+ Stop at winery for visit and lunch supplement.
Description : Depart by private transportation from Sorrento for an enchanting drive on the scenic Amalfi coast, one of the most beautiful coastlines in the world, often called “Divina” (divine). The breathtaking scenery, characterised by mighty cliffs, little bays and natural coves, that vertically drop into the sea, this site has been selected by writers, artists and singers as inspiration for some of their most famous masterpieces.
We begin our tour from the enchanting Positano; most of this charming small town sits in an enclave in the hills leading down to the coast; prosperous port of the Amalfi Republic in the 16th and 17th centuries, it began to attract large numbers of tourists in the 1950s, especially after John Steinbeck published his essay about Positano in Harper's Bazaar in May, 1953. The town presents a typical architecture that reflects Moorish inspiration, and the typical narrow streets, highlighted by small boutiques and arched porticos. On the main square of Positano is the church of Santa Maria Assunta, with its dome made of coloured majolica tiles as well as a 13th Byzantine century icon of a black Madonna. Positano has been featured in several films, including Only You (1994), and Under the Tuscan Sun (2003).
Continue along the coastline towards Amalfi. Situated 24 miles southeast of Naples, Amalfi lies at the mouth of a deep ravine, at the foot of Monte Cerreto (1,315 meters 4,314 feet), surrounded by dramatic cliffs and an impressive coastal scenery. The town of Amalfi was the capital of The Maritime Republic of Amalfi, an important trading power in the Mediterranean between 839 and around 1200 and it’s the main town of the Costiera Amalfitana. This small town, included in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites is characterized by medieval architecture; the cathedral of Sant' Andrea, of the eleventh century, the campanile, the convent of the Cappuccini represent the tendency to blend the Byzantine style utilizing the forms and sharp lines of the northern architecture.
The Catholic Encyclopedia notes that Saint Andrew's relics were brought from Constantinople to Amalfi in Campania, by the Amalfitan Pietro, cardinal of Capua, in 1210 after the completion of the town's cathedral; part of the relics are still buried here.
The tour continues towards Ravello; this elegant resort, with its unique landscapes, has been for years the preferred destination and source of inspiration for artists, musicians, and writers, Richard Wagner, Giovanni Boccaccio, Virginia Woolf, Gore Vidal, and Sara Teasdale to name a few. Ravello is a quiet and chic town, with its wonderful panoramic terraces, such as Villa Rufolo and Cimbrone, and its wonderful belvederes, the city looks like a marvellous terrace over the sea. Return by private car to Sorrento where you will be dropped off at your hotel.
day 6
* Includes half-day guided tour with English speaking tour guide, private car/minivan and entrance fee at Pompeii. The tour includes visit of the Pompeii excavations.
+ Stop at winery for visit and lunch supplement.
Description : This morning you will be picked up at your hotel in Sorrento by a private English speaking driver and transferred by private car to the ancient city of Pompeii, located approximately 30 km from Sorrento. Pompeii holds an intense fascination for visitors today. Following the eruption of the Volcano Mount Vesuvius in the year 79 AD, Pompeii lay buried and forgotten for hundreds of years. The town is high on the list of Wonders of the World and the excavations which began in the 18th Century are still being carried out today. Upon arrival at Pompei excavations, you will meet your private local guide and start the guided tour of the ruins. The guided tour begins with a visit to the forum and its majestic temples.
It continues all along the main street flanked by different kind of shops, thermal baths , patrician dwellings embellished with wall-paintings and mosaic floors , as well the striking plaster-casts of human bodies, victims of the tragic eruption of the 79 A.D. The Amphitheatre, the Palestra, Casa dei Fuggiaschi, Casa del Menandro, Teatro Grande e Piccolo, Palestra dei Gladiatori, Lupanare, Il Faro, Casa dei Vetti, Casa del Fauno, Casa del Poeta Tragico, Villa dei Misteri are few of the wonders that will be highlighted during our visit.
Comfortable shoes and dresses are highly recommended for this type of tour. At the end of the tour, you will board your private car with driver and transfer back to Sorrento, where you will be dropped off at your hotel.
day 7
* Includes full-day English speaking local tour guide, private transfer from hotel/Sorrento pier/hotel, jetfoil tickets Sorrento/Capri/Sorrento, private vehicle with driver for tour in Capri (pier/Anacapri/Capri/pier).
Description : This morning you will be transferred by private car and driver to Sorrento pier to board the Jetfoil to Marina Grande, port of Capri. The trip from Naples to Capri lasts approx. 45 minutes. Upon arrival in Capri, you will meet your private driver and private guide and depart for a magical tour of this enchanting island. With the scent of island flowers and lemon trees, spectacularly beautiful scenery, numerous signs of a truly ancient past and a deeply pervasive sensation of tranquility, this magical island has become a living legend. The excursion includes Marina Grande, then Anacapri, the highest part of the island of Capri: the natural beauty of Anacapri is one of the most appealing attractions of the area, the flora, that consists in a vast number of plant species, both indigenous and imported, including subtropical species as agave and euphorbia. The tour continues with Capri center, starting from the famous "Piazzetta" which, from the white columned terrace of the funicular railway, opens out on to a fabulous view of Monte Solaro.
The Piazzetta is the center of the island of Capri for tourists and locals alike. All those arriving in Capri have to pass through the narrow passages left between the tables outside the various bars, where the locals meet for lunch or simply to chat, guaranteed a little privacy by the umbrellas supposedly used to protect customers from the sun. From the Piazzetta of Capri, pass under the archway leading to Via Vittorio Emanuele, lined with the luxury boutiques of the Capri shopping scene, all displaying high fashion labels and designer clothing to reach Augustus Gardens. The Gardens were commissioned in the nineteen thirties by the German industrialist Friedrich Alfred Krupp; visitors to the gardens are greeted by a display of island flora planted on terraces boasting splendid panoramas. Here, one can relax and read on any of the benches placed in proximity of the view points, or simply while away the hours day dreaming. The Gardens of Augustus offer a fabulous view over the Charterhouse of St Giacomo, the Faraglioni rocks, Monte Tuoro, the bay of Marina Piccola and Monte Solaro. At the end of the tour, you will be transferred back to the port of Marina Grande, to board the jetfoil back to Sorrento, where a private car with driver will escort you back to your hotel.
If weather conditions permits, during the visit of the islands, you will be taken by a particular small rowing boat to see the famous Blue Grotto. Capri’s Blue Grotto is known throughout the world for its size, the intense blue tones of its interior and the magical silvery light which emanates from the objects immersed in its waters. In order to enter the Grotta Azzurra visitors climb aboard small rowing boats, with a capacity for two, maximum three, passengers and, lying on the bottom of the boat, enter the low and narrow mouth of the cave. Entrance to the cave is not possible in the presence of south westerly and mistral winds.
The entrance to the Grotta Azzurra is formed by a small natural opening in the rocky wall, roughly 2 meters wide and 2 meters high. The roof of the entrance is situated approximately 1 meter above the level of the sea and, for this reason, passengers are obliged to lie down in the boat whilst passing in to the cave. The boatman sets down his rows and maneuvers the boat inside with the aid of a chain attached to the vault of the entrance.
The interior is effused with magnificent blue tones. The vault, known as the Duomo Azzurro, has an average height of 7 meters rising to 14 towards the back of cave.
day 8
- Private transfer from hotel in Sorrento to Naples rail station
- 1st class train ticket from Naples to Rome
- Private transfer from Rome train station to hotel in Rome
- 2 overnights including breakfast at hotel in Rome
day 9
* Includes half-day guided tour with English speaking tour guide and transfers.
The tour includes visit of Repubblica Square, Trevi Fountain, Montecitorio Square, Pantheon, Navona Square, Spanish Step's and Piazza del Popolo.
Description : This itinerary, realized partially by car and partially on foot, is specially designed to highlight Rome's classical monuments.
Starting from Piazza della Repubblica, once called Piazza Esedra, located in front of Diocleziane Baths, the square hosts in its center the famous Naiad's Fountain, realized in 1901 by Mario Rutelli, whose waters come from the acquedotto of Acqua Marcia, one of the most important and famous in Rome. The tour continues with a nice stroll towards the historical center; we reach the famous Trevi Fountain, one of Rome's most famous landmark. The water movement that is audible in the nearby streets as you approach the Piazza, exalts Nature's constant flow in an incessant play of dynamic effects. Your guide will take you to Piazza Colonna, whose name is due to the presence of the marble column of Marco Aurelio that is sheltered in this place since ancient times. The north side of the square hosts Palazzo Chigi, now a seat of the Italian government. In the east side you can admire the Galleria Colonna. Walk towards the Pantheon, originally built as a temple dedicated to the seven deities of the seven planets in the state religion of Ancient Rome. The generic term pantheon is now applied to the monument in which illustrious dead are buried. Continue to Piazza Navona. The piazza follows the plan of an ancient Roman circus, the 1st century Stadium of Domitian. Piazza Navona is the pride of Baroque Rome and shelters numerous sculptural and architectural creations, the famous Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, among the others. The tour will then take you to Piazza di Spagna (Spanish Steps), with Trinita' dei Monti steps, one of the most famous square of the world. The square hosts the peculiar fountain of Barcaccia, masterpiece by Pietro Bernini, father of the most famous Gian Lorenzo Bernini. Proceed with the visit of Piazza Santa Maria del Popolo that hosts in its center, the second greatest obelisk in Rome (the egyptian obelisk). The square hosts numerous other treasures: the Church of Santa Maria del Popolo, that shelters works by Pinturicchio and Caravaggio; the so called "Chiese Gemelle" Santa Maria in Montesanto and Santa Maria dei Miracoli, realized in the XVI century by Gian Lorenzo Bernini.
day 10
Private transfer from hotel in Rome to Rome Airport
