Highlights of Italy Tour

Tour #13

Rome/Florence/Venice/Amalfi Coast

November 21-December 1, 2008

March 12-22, 2009

For several years, this has been one of our most popular tours as it includes traveling to four of the most romantic cities in Italy. Besides 2,000 years of history and Italy’s beautiful countryside, there will be time to shop and taste some great Italian cuisine. You will be amazed how our tour escort, who has been to Italy many times, will help you see the maximum of everything in a minimum amount of time. One of the highlights will be visiting the Rome Bethel Home and a Kingdom Hall in Florence. Best of all, we are able to obtain special group rates for both dates. Since each year this tour is sold out months in advance, with a waiting list, we suggest making your reservations early to avoid disappointment.

DAY 1 Depending on your departure city, everyone will fly overnight on various flights to Rome. Enjoy dinner and a movie as you cross the Atlantic Ocean to one of the most exciting countries in Europe.

DAY 2 This morning you will meet our tour escort at the airport and then you’ll be transferred to your hotel. Balance of the day is at leisure with information on all the things that have been planned for you on this special tour.

DAY 3 After breakfast, the first highlight will be a tour to Pompeii, a city buried beneath the volcanic lava for 2000 years. See the incredibly preserved temples, homes, bath houses and gardens buried by lava flows from Mt. Vesuvius in A.D. 79. (Read 9/8/96 Awake, p. 22) Next, travel along the coastline on one of the most breathtaking winding roads in the world. Your hotel is located here on this famous Amalfi Coast. Its spectacular views are a photographers dream, your home for two nights including a delicious Italian dinner each evening.

DAY 4 Today you will take a short boat ride across the Bay of Naples to the charming “Isle of Capri”. Here you can stroll through Caesar’s Gardens and have a cappuccino before returning by boat to Sorrento. Next, visit a woodworking factory to see how inlaid wood tables and music boxes are made.

DAY 5 Drive by the Bay of Naples and the scenic hills of Tuscany to Florence, the cradle of the renaissance in time for an optional “Medici Palace Feast”. You will not forget this delightful feast with singers and dancers.

DAY 6 A fun day of sightseeing and shopping. Don’t miss Michelangelo’s sculpture of “David” or one of the famous museums with artists like Botticelli and Donatello. Take an optional tour to the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa, or have a free afternoon to walk through the narrow streets of Florence. Your escort knows where to find bargains on leather goods, jewelry or anything else in the market of San Lorenzo. Tonight dinner is included at the hotel. You can also attend a meeting at the Kingdom Hall with your tour escort.

DAY 7 You may begin the morning shopping before leaving Florence. Crossing the Apennine Mountains, you’ll arrive in charming Verona, Shakespeare’s city of “Romeo and Juliet”. Photograph her balcony and then continue to Venice, the most romantic city in the world! This evening you can take an optional gondola ride. While being serenaded, you’ll glide through tiny canals, past century old buildings. It’s an experience you will long remember as there is no other city in the world like Venice. Dinner is again included.

DAY 8 Imagine a city built on 114 islands surrounded by canals and gondolas, the only place in the world without roads or cars. Instead, there are more than 150 canals used as streets. Gondolas and motor boats are used for taxis, making everyone simply fall in love with Venice. You’ll begin the morning by taking a ferry from the mainland to the islands of Venice. At St. Mark’s Square, you may see the “Divine Name” in the cathedral. Nearby is Doges’ Palace with its famous Bridge of Sighs. (Read Awake, 5/22/04, p.16) Next, visit a Venetian glass blowing factory. Balance of day free to shop or take in a museum or classical concert. Dinner is included at the hotel.

DAY 9 Depart Venice for a scenic drive to Rome passing vineyards, olive groves and mountain villages. Before entering Rome, we will tour the Bethel Home, where you can stroll around the outside model of Jerusalem, located in their beautiful gardens. Spend the last two nights in this exciting city. Tonight, another dinner is included.

DAY 10 You can sleep in or take the optional Vatican museum Sistine Chapel tour, including the catacombs and the Appian Way.(See WT, 10/15/06, p. 14) These tours bring biblical history to life. Later, there will be a tour of Rome, including St. Peter’s Square and Basilica, the largest church in Christendom, where you will be shown the “Divine Name” three times. (Awake 7/8/01, p. 14) Next, you will see the magnificent sculptures, arches and ruins including the Roman Forum, the magnificent Colosseum, site of gladiator fights and the Circus Maximus, where “Ben Hur” chariot style races were once held. Tonight you may want to dress up for an optional “Farewell to Rome” dinner show, with Italian opera singers at a fine restaurant.

DAY 11 Arrivederci Roma as you depart to the U.S.A. As you can see, a lot of extras are included plus some surprises, making this a great trip!