Eternal Rome & Beautiful Sorrento

The arrival is scheduled in the morning at Roma Fiumicino airport, where you will be welcomed by our representative who will be with you during your entire stay. Then, you will be transferred by coach to your preferred hotel for overnight stay.

In the afternoon, after lunch you will start a sightseeing tour of Rome, the Eternal City. Rome is the capital and largest city of Italy and the fourth-most populous city in the European Union. Throughout the years, Rome has also been the setting of many unforgettable movies like: Roman Holidays, with Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn, La Dolce Vita (The Good Life) by Federico Fellini and Three Coins in the Fountain. Rome has been the capital of one of the globe’s greatest civilizations ever, the Roman one. This population has extended its cultural, religious and economical influence over the Western World for almost two and a half thousands of years. In addition, Rome hosts the Vatican City and it is also the capital of the Catholic religion. You will be accompanied for a walk through the ruins of the magnificent ancient Rome where you will have the chance to visit: i Fori Imperiali (The Imperial Fora), a series of monumental ruins which represent the old center of the Roman Empire, the Colosseum, an elliptical amphitheatre symbol of the powerful Roman domination where gladiatorial shows and hunts of wild animals took place, the Arch of Constantine, a triumphal arch that was built by the first Christian emperor Constantine I to celebrate his victory over Maxentius at the Battle of Milvian Bridge, and the Capitoline Museums, Renaissance palaces which host many historical and archeological exhibits celebrating the Roman civilization. After the excursion, you will return to the hotel for overnight stay.

After breakfast, you will meet with our representative who will take you on a sightseeing tour of the Christian part of Rome. You will be accompanied for a walk through the Vatican City where you will be able to visit: Saint Peter’s Basilica, one of the holiest Catholic sites where the tomb of Saint Peter, one of the twelve apostles of Jesus and first Bishop of Rome, is located; the Vatican Museums, one of the best museums in the world which displays the vast collection of Renaissance treasures and classical sculptures of the Roman Catholic Church; and the Sistine Chapel, famous for its architecture and its frescos painted by some of the best Renaissance artists like Michelangelo whose Last Judgment on ceiling fully describes the genius of his works.

In the afternoon, after a short break for lunch you will be headed towards Sorrento. Along the way, you will stop in Cassino where you will be able to visit the Abbey. The Benedictine Monastery is located on the top of a high hill in the heart of the Appennines mountainous range and it is famous for its libraries which contain a relevant patrimony of archives and manuscripts dating back to the Medieval times. Cassino is also known for the Battle of Monte Cassino during World War II. After the long-lasting bombing of the Allies against the German Nazis and the Italian Fascists, the old town got almost completely destroyed. Many military cemeteries can be found in the area in memory of this fierce battle. After this quick visit, you will continue your journey to Sorrento. You will be enchanted by the stunning panoramic view of the Gulf of Naples and its surroundings.

In the evening, you will arrive at the hotel in Sorrento for overnight stay.

After breakfast, you will be transferred by minibus to the port of Sorrento where a ferry will take you to the romantic isle of Capri. Once arrived, you will be led by minibus to Villa San Michele in Anacapri. The villa was the dream home of the Swedish physician, Axel Munthe who first came to Capri in 1885. He built his villa on the ruins of an ancient Chapel dedicated to San Michele, following a series of sketches made on a wall. After Munthe’s death the villa has been converted into a beautiful museum which displays ancient artifacts collected by Munthe throughout the years.

You can admire a wide range of sarcophaguses, busts, a Greek tomb, a granite Sphinx, Roman pavements, marble statues and columns, which have been found around the island by the physician or donated by friends from around the world.

In the afternoon after ashort break for lunch in Anacapri, you can choose to take a local bus from Piazza Vittoria, the main square of Anacapri that will take you to the Blue Grotto or explore the exclusive center of Capri. The Blue Grotto is an optional excursion which is not included in the price of the tour.

The Blue Grotto is one of the most outstanding natural attractions of the isle whose interior can be explored only by small rowing boats. The sunlight, passing through an underwater cavity and shining through the seawater, creates a blue and silver reflection that illuminates the cavern. This breathtaking natural effect of the waters is greatly combined with the amusing and lovely singing of the local boatmen.

In Capri you will be taken for a tour where you will visit the Gardens of Augustus, a complex of panoramic flowered terraces overlooking the Faraglioni and the Bay of Marina Piccola. After this quick visit, you will have some free time to fully discover the precious heart of Capri.
You can go shopping for souvenirs along the quaint narrow streets around the isle where crafty local products are sold, window shop along via Cammarelle, where all the high fashion brand name boutiques are located, relax for a cup of coffee at the Piazzetta, its famous main square and meeting point of the Caprese Good Life or enjoy a stunning panoramic view of the Faraglioni from via Tragara.

In late afternoon you will meet at the port of Capri and return by ferry to Sorrento for overnight stay.

After breakfast, you will be driven on the Amalfi coast, one of the most charming touristic attractions of the Italian territory. A 25 mile double lane road runs across the high cliff rocky coastline which offers breathtaking views of the Bay of Salerno. You will soak into the delicate perfume of the oleanders and get charmed by the sparkling blue waters. You will pass by Positano, a quaint small village whose colourful box shaped houses were gradually erected on the rocky sides of the coast.

The place is worldwide known for its crafts, fashion clothing lines and for being the setting of many famous movies. The most recent was the 2003 Under the Tuscan Sun movie with Diane Lane. You will end your journey in Amalfi, one of the four powerful Maritime Republics who ruled the Mediterranean trades during the Middle Ages.

You will visit the main square where the statue of Flavio Gioa, inventor of the compass, is placed, Saint Andrew’s Cathedral, a stunning combination of Romanesque, Byzantine, Gothic and Baroque architectural elements which dates back to the 11th century and the Lungomare (the Boardwalk) where many souvenir shops are located. You will have lunch during the excursion.

In the afternoon you will leave for Pompei, where our representative will lead you through the excavations of this ancient Roman city. Together with Herculaneum, Pompei was partially destroyed by the lava and buried under volcanic rocks and ashes during the eruption of the Vesuvius in 79 AD. The city was then discovered by the king of Naples Charles of Bourbon in 1748. You will meet with a local guide who will take you visiting all the main sights of this outstanding Roman city. In the evening you will return to the hotel in Sorrento for overnight stay.

After breakfast, you leave Sorrento and its charming Peninsula to go to the Fiumicino airport for your departure.