On arrival you are met and transferred to your elegant hotel, poised
along the Grand Canal. This afternoon is at leisure to enjoy the
beautiful setting of the hotel or for independent exploration. This
evening join fellow travellers for welcome drinks followed by a
welcome dinner.
Bauer Il Palazzo D
Day 1: USA or Canada/Venice, Italy
As you wander through the narrow streets that front winding
canals, your specialist local guide points out the sights of this
astonishingly beautiful city. Gaze at St. Mark's Basilica, a fine
example of Byzantine architecture that rests on St. Mark's Square
and is adjacent and connected to the Doge's Palace.
Go inside to
discover the opulent design and gilded mosaics that mark its status
as a symbol of Venetian wealth and power. See the Bell Tower and
visit the Gothic Doge's Palace, the residence of the Doge of Venice
(chief magistrate). After an afternoon at leisure, go on a romantic
gondola ride through the canals and later dine ? la carte at a
traditional local restaurant.
Bauer Il Palazzo B D
Day 2: Venice
Depart Venice this morning and travel to Bologna following the
route of the Brenta Canal, once a main thoroughfare between
Venice and Padua. Observe the exquisite villas built by Venetian
nobles that line its shores and stop to visit one of these Palladian
residences.
After lunch in a local restaurant, continue with a walking
tour of Bologna. One of Italy's best-preserved historic centers,
Bologna has beautiful churches, squares and palaces, including
the 14th-century Basilica of San Petronio and the church complex
of Santo Stefano. Admire also, Bologna's own medieval "leaning
towers," the Torre degli Asinelli and Torre Garisenda, which leans
an alarming seven and a half feet from the perpendicular.
Dinner this evening is ? la carte at your hotel.
Grand Hotel Baglioni B L D
Day 3: Venice
Drive to Ravenna, an area of rolling farmland with fruit groves,
lagoons and canals. It was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site
because of its remarkable mosaics. Visit the sixth-century octagonal
Cathedral of San Vitale, one of the most important sites of early
Christian art in Italy. In nearby Classe, stop at the exquisite Basilica
of Sant' Apollinare, also known for its beautiful mosaics. After
lunch return to Bologna for an afternoon at leisure.
Dine ? la carte at your choice of A&K recommended restaurants.
Grand Hotel Baglioni B L D
Day 4: Venice/Bologna
Fly from Bologna to Naples, where you join a specialist local
guide for a brief panoramic tour of the city. Explore the National
Archaeological Museum, which houses many of the priceless
artifacts found in Pompeii and Herculaneum as well as other
artistic treasures. Then drive to Pompeii itself. Once a busy trading
town, Pompeii was covered in stone and ash in AD 79 when nearby
Mount Vesuvius erupted.
On a guided walking tour see some of
the famous monuments, such as the patrician villa of the House of
Vetti, the wonderful mosaics of the House of Faun and remnants
of the everyday life of the city. Continue to picturesque, hillside
Ravello overlooking the scenic Amalfi coast.
Dinner is ? la carte at
your hotel.
Hotel Caruso B L D
Day 5: Bologna/Ravenna/Bologna
Drive along the beautiful Amalfi Coast, offering spectacular views
across the Tyrrhenian Sea and the Gulf of Salerno. Stop in Amalfi
to visit the 10th-century cathedral of Saint Andrew that reflects
the maritime power of this city in medieval times. Then continue
to picturesque Positano, perched on the cliffs overlooking the sea.
After lunch, wander the winding lanes, shop in its boutiques or
relax in a seaside caf?. Return to Ravello, where this evening you
join fellow travellers for a farewell dinner at the hotel.
Hotel Caruso B L D
Day 6: Bologna/Naples/Ravello
Today you are free to DESIGN YOUR DAY.
DESIGN YOUR DAY &mdash Ravello: Choose a full day excursion
to Capri including a visit to the famed Blue Grotto and the
Villa San Michele in Anacapri. Alternatively, join a local guide for a
morning sightseeing tour of Ravello, including the beautiful 11th-century
cathedral and the splendid Villa Rufulo and Villa Cimbrone followed by
an afternoon of leisure to relax in the excellent facilities and charming
surroundings of the hotel.
Farewell drinks this evening mark the end of this remarkable trip.
Hotel Caruso B L
Day 7: Ravello/Amalfi Coast/Ravello
After breakfast, transfer to Naples Airport to board a homebound
flight.
B
Day 8: Ravello
Day 9: Ravello/Naples