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Splendors Of Italy



Tour Description:

Discover remarkable Venice by canal or on foot. Travel along the route of the Brenta Canal to Bologna, a fascinating city with its own "leaning towers." Explore Ravenna, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with sixth-century mosaics. Drive the stunning Amalfi Coast. Design Your DaySM options include a visit to Capri or a tour of Ravello.

Dates & Pricing



ITINERARY

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