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Classica Italia, Small Groups
Tour Description:
Small, intimate groups... stays at some of the world's favorite hotels... a journey through Italy, unlike any other where you'll experience the best of Italy in destinations with names that include Amalfi Coast, Sorrento, Tuscany, Cinque Terre, Rome, Venice and the birthplace of the Renaissance, Florence...
As you contemplate Michelangelo's vast painted drama on the Sistine Chapel ceiling... drive along the blue Mediterranean on the incomparable Amalfi Coast... wander the lavish halls of the Doge's Palace on an after-hours visit... explore the haunting ruins of ancient Rome at the Colosseum or Pompeii, where time stands eternally still... consider the passion of the Renaissance in the art masterpieces of the Uffizi... cross cobblestone piazzas under the Tuscan sun... savor your first taste of Umbrian cuisine... you'll be personally inspired by the art of traveling "small"...
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Dates & Pricing
| Monday 06 May 24 — Sunday 19 May 24 | Starting at $14,290 |  SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Wednesday 08 May 24 — Tuesday 21 May 24 | Starting at $14,290 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Friday 06 Sep 24 — Thursday 19 Sep 24 | Starting at $14,290 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Monday 16 Sep 24 — Sunday 29 Sep 24 | Starting at $14,290 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Monday 23 Sep 24 — Sunday 06 Oct 24 | Starting at $14,290 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Monday 30 Sep 24 — Sunday 13 Oct 24 | Starting at $14,290 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Wednesday 09 Oct 24 — Tuesday 22 Oct 24 | Starting at $14,290 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
Disclaimer: Prices listed are per person, based on double occupancy, and in USD. All promotions are valid for new bookings only, capacity controlled and valid on select dates and departures. Individual Terms and Conditions will apply to all promotions. Any promotion can be withdrawn at any time without notice. Please speak with your Pavlus Travel Planner for complete vendor terms and conditions, including eligible tour and cruise dates.
Destination & Sightseeing
Destination & Sightseeing
Small, intimate groups... stays at some of the world's favorite hotels... a journey through Italy, unlike any other where you'll experience the best of Italy in destinations with names that include Amalfi Coast, Sorrento, Tuscany, Cinque Terre, Rome, Venice and the birthplace of the Renaissance, Florence...
As you contemplate Michelangelo's vast painted drama on the Sistine Chapel ceiling... drive along the blue Mediterranean on the incomparable Amalfi Coast... wander the lavish halls of the Doge's Palace on an after-hours visit... explore the haunting ruins of ancient Rome at the Colosseum or Pompeii, where time stands eternally still... consider the passion of the Renaissance in the art masterpieces of the Uffizi... cross cobblestone piazzas under the Tuscan sun... savor your first taste of Umbrian cuisine... you'll be personally inspired by the art of traveling "small"...
Highlights
Premier Accommodations – Stay at Italy's premier hotels, renowned for gracious hospitality, design, and superb locations in the heart of the places you explore
Tauck Exclusive – After-hours guided visit to the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel, without the crowds – see the Vatican treasures at your own pace
Tauck Exclusive – After-hours guided visit to the Uffizi, home to many of the world's renowned art masterpieces
Private music recital in Venice
Highlights
Premier Accommodations – Stay at Italy's premier hotels, renowned for gracious hospitality, design, and superb locations in the heart of the places you explore
Tauck Exclusive – After-hours guided visit to the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel, without the crowds – see the Vatican treasures at your own pace
Tauck Exclusive – After-hours guided visit to the Uffizi, home to many of the world's renowned art masterpieces
Private music recital in Venice
ITINERARY
ITINERARYArrive in Naples... and cocktails in Sorrento
Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria. A transfer is included from Naples International Airport or Naples Train Station to Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria in Sorrento. Surrounded by gardens and perched atop a cliff overlooking the Gulf of Naples in Sorrento's historic center, your landmark hotel has stunning views. Join us for a welcome cocktail reception at the hotel, followed by dinner at a nearby local restaurant. Note: For guests who pre-stay or arrive early in Sorrento an optional daytime sightseeing tour from Sorrento to the island of Capri on Day 1 is available at additional cost; see Pricing & Availability for details or ask at booking.
Winding along the fabulous Amalfi Coast
Rise early for an unhurried drive along the Amalfi Coast, one of the most spectacular drives in the world! Fantastic rock formations drop vertically into the sea; sub-tropical vegetation on the hillsides, together with colorful Mediterranean flora, create bewitching landscapes. Stop for a visit in the seaside cathedral town of Amalfi on the Bay of Salerno, with its many medieval antiquities. Continue winding through vine-draped hills to Ravello, a "terrace over the sea" known for its dramatic villas; its panoramic views of the coast offer a picture-perfect backdrop for a lunch of local specialties. Return to Sorrento in the afternoon to explore its charming piazzas, small alleys, historic center and old Roman streets on your own this evening.
A guided tour of Pompeii and on to Rome
Travel from Sorrento to Pompeii, a prosperous Roman city of 27,000 until it was frozen in time at the moment it was completely buried by volcanic ash from the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 AD. The doomed city lay undisturbed for more than 1,700 years, until excavations began in the 18th century and are still in progress today. Most Italy vacations include a visit to Pompeii – but with Tauck, a walk through the ruins of Pompeii with a local expert provides a special connection as you learn what life was like in Italy in the 1st century AD. Arrive late afternoon in Rome, where you'll spend the next three nights.
A Day in Imperial Rome
Explore the glories of "eternal" Rome – once the virtual capital of the ancient world, and now Italy's capital city – with a local guide who knows them best. See the ruins of the Imperial Palace; the Circus Maximus, the 4th-century BC stadium where chariot races were held; and the Forum, best known as the location for important political, social and religious activities in ancient Rome. The rest of the afternoon and evening are free for you to pursue what interests you most in Rome on your own.
St. Peter's & after-hours at the Vatican Museums
No trip to Rome would be complete without a visit to the Vatican, a state and city all in one. First, your small-group sightseeing is highlighted by a visit to St. Peter's Basilica and St. Peter's Square... then, following an afternoon at leisure, a Tauck Exclusive after-hours tour of the Vatican Museums, home to a vast collection of art treasures (subject to availability and day of the tour may vary). This after-hours visit means you'll avoid the long lines and the usual crowds found earlier in the day; the experience is rich when you explore the treasures in the Vatican Museums at your own pace. See the Candelabra Gallery, Map Gallery, and the Tapestries; in the Sistine Chapel, gaze in amazement at Michelangelo's masterpiece ceiling – and be able to contemplate all that you see in quieter surroundings. It's a highlight that makes Classica Italia, Small Groups one of Tauck's most memorable Italian vacations... one that you'll remember forever.
Orvieto's Duomo
Journey to Orvieto, set on a 984-foot-high plateau overlooking vineyards below. Visit the Duomo of Orvieto, a notable Romanesque-Gothic cathedral built over a span of 300 years. The façade is a visual treat, a blend of sculpture and mosaic splashed with a palette of colors and magnificent bronze doors. Inside, view inspiring frescoes by renowned artists. After a trattoria lunch near the Piazza del Duomo, continue through the wine-producing regions of Umbria to your hotel in Brufa.
Old Assisi
Take a short drive to Assisi, a well-preserved medieval hillside town spread across the slopes of a mountain. Assisi was the home of St. Francis, who left a position of wealth and turned to a life of poverty, chastity and obedience, founding the order whose followers became known as Franciscans. The town has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its significant art and architecture. You'll visit St. Francis Basilica, built by the people, which today houses some of Italy's great 13th- and 14th-century frescoes, as well as the final resting place of Assisi's beloved favorite son, the patron saint of animals. Enjoy some free time in the center of town, then return to your hotel for the evening.
The Tuscan countryside to Lucca
Depart Umbria and traverse Tuscany's lush, rolling landscapes; the beauty of nature has blended with the ingenuity of mankind for centuries – your travels through the rolling Tuscan hills take you through landscapes dotted with olive and fig trees that produce delectable local food products. Arrive at your hotel late afternoon.
A storybook day in Cinque Terre and on to Florence
Travel this morning to lovely Cinque Terre. For hundreds of years, Cinque Terre was accessible only by sea – five picture-book fishing villages nestled between the Mediterranean's blue waters and the rugged coastal mountains. Cruise along the Italian Riviera (weather permitting) for unparalleled views of this dramatic coast en route to the village of Vernazza for free time and lunch as you please. Experience a taste of daily life as you stroll the cobblestone streets and alleyways, stopping to sample locally produced wine, olives, and citrus fruit. Get a different perspective of the scenery as you travel back to La Spezia by train. Journey to Florence for a three-night stay in the heart of the city.
The art of Renaissance Florence, revealed today
Art and architecture whisper the history of the ages in Florence, the birthplace of the Renaissance. Your in-depth exploration of this beautiful city begins with a briefing by an art history lecturer, whose insights prepare you for a guided walking tour of Florence's Renaissance heart. Then enjoy a guided visit through the collections of works by many of the greatest artists of the 14th and 15th centuries – including Michelangelo's famous sculpture of David and paintings by Botticelli, Uccello, Ghirlandaio, del Sarto and others – at the inimitable Galleria dell'Accademia. Flourishing for more than four centuries, this world-renowned institution was established in 1563 as the first art school in Europe. After a guided walking tour and lunch at a local restaurant, the rest of the day and evening are yours to enjoy as you wish in Florence.
Masterpieces of the Uffizi Gallery and more in Florence
Today, Florence is yours to explore as you please. Tonight, you're in for a treat as you join our local expert for a guided tour of Florence's inspiring Uffizi Gallery, a highlight of Tauck's Italy vacations. Originally a suite of offices, it was first used to display the Medici family's private art treasures in 1581 – thereby making it the oldest art gallery in the world. Its vast collection includes some of the most revered works of the Italian Renaissance, such as Botticelli's The Birth of Venus, Michelangelo's The Holy Family, da Vinci's unfinished Adoration of the Magi, Bellini's Allegory and Raphael's Madonna of the Goldfinch.
On to Venice for the Doge's Palace & more
Your journey continues as a high-speed train whisks you from Florence to Venice. Built on 118 small islands traversed by a canal network, this extraordinary city is a protected UNESCO World Heritage Site. Transfer by canal boat to your hotel, conveniently located near the Rialto Bridge and St. Mark's Square (Piazza San Marco); after lunch at your hotel, you'll indulge in the quintessential Venetian experience, a serenade aboard a gondola on the canals followed by an afternoon to explore Venice as you wish. Join us tonight for a farewell dinner at a local restaurant.
Venice as you please and a private Venetian music recital
This morning, enjoy a guided tour with your local guide through St. Mark's Square and an inside visit of the Doge's Palace, with its lavishly decorated rooms and Venetian masterpieces – including the legendary Bridge of Sighs, and the palace prison. The day is free to do as you please in Venice – and to say that you have a lot to choose from is an understatement. There's visiting the museums, an eclectic group housing some of the world's most famed art; strolling the winding, narrow streets that lead to countless bridges; taking a boat to one of the islands in the Venetian Lagoon such as Murano, Burano or Torcello where the arts, centuries-old crafts, and a kaleidoscope of color wait. This evening, join us for a farewell cocktail reception at the hotel, followed by a private Venetian music recital.
Journey Home
Tour ends: Venice. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from Hotel Monaco & Grand Canal to Marco Polo Airport and/or Santa Lucia (only) Train Station; you should allow a minimum of 3 hours for flight check-in at the airport.
Disclaimer: Prices listed are per person, based on double occupancy, and in USD. All promotions are valid for new bookings only, capacity controlled and valid on select dates and departures. Individual Terms and Conditions will apply to all promotions. Any promotion can be withdrawn at any time without notice. Please speak with your Pavlus Travel Planner for complete vendor terms and conditions, including eligible tour and cruise dates.
