Highlights of Italy

Tour #22

Rome/Venice/Florence/Sorrento

March 25 - April 4, 2011

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 the 2,000 years of history and Italy’s beautiful countryside, there will be plenty of time to shop in elegant boutiques and taste some great Italian cuisine and wines. 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. Best of all, we are able to obtain a special group rate for this tour. Since each year this tour is sold out months in advance, we suggest making your reservations early to avoid disappointment.

March 25 Depending on your departure city, everyone will fly overnight on various flights to Rome. Dinner will be served and then you can get some sleep so that you wake up rested in Rome.

March 26 This morning you will meet our tour escort at the Rome Airport and transfer to your hotel. Balance of the day is at leisure to begin exploring this ancient city. You will also be informed of all the exciting things that
have been planned for you on this special tour.

March 27 Today you will see the highlights of Rome including a visit of the Sistine Chapel inside the Vatican Museum. You'll also walk through 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, see the Roman Forum, the magnificent Colosseum, site of gladiator fights and Circus Maximus, where “Ben Hur” chariot style races were once held. Tonight there will be a Welcome drink with your tour director.

March 28 This morning's highlight will be touring the Watchtower Branch Office and to stroll around the gardens to see the unique model of Jerusalem. You will then board our motorcoach and travel through the Italian farmlands with views of the Apennine Hills passing several medieval hilltop towns before reaching the region of Tuscany. Here you will see the Chianti vineyards and
the olive groves as we begin to enter the romantic city
of Venice that’s built on 114 islands in the sea. This
city of canals and gondolas is the only city without
cars, since there are more than 150 canals used as
streets. Gondolas and motorboats are used for taxis,
making everyone simply fall in love with Venice. You
may want to take an optional gondola ride where
you’ll be serenaded as you pass the Palaces of the
Grand Canal. This is an experience you will long
remember. There is no other city like Venice which will
be your home for two nights including dinner at the
hotel each evening.

March 29 Begin your tour on a ferry boat ride to St.
Mark’s Square to see the “Divine Name.” See the
magnificent Doges’ Palace with its famous Bridge of
Sighs. (Awake 5/07, P. 23) Next, visit a glass factory
to view a Venetian glass blowing demonstration. Balance of the day is free to walk and shop through the narrow alleyways and water canals. Dinner is again included or you may want to attend a classical concert. Whatever you do, there is no other city in the world like Venice.

March 30 Depart Venice to Verona, Shakespeare’s city of “Romeo and Juliet.” Photograph her balcony and also the largest Roman arena in the world.After driving through the Apennine Mountains, you’ll arrive in Florence for a walking tour of the “City of Flowers.” Tonight, a special Italian dinner is included.

March 31 Another exciting and fun day in Florence for sightseeing and shopping. Don’t miss Michelangelo’s sculpture of “David” or one of the many famous museums with artists like Botticelliand Donatello. Your tour escort will have suggestions on where to find beautiful handmade Florentine leather goods, silk, 18-carat gold jewelry or anything else in the Santa Croce district where fine craftsmen have worked for centuries. In the afternoon you may want to take an optional excursion to Pisa, famous for its Leaning Tower. Tonight you will have an opportunity to enjoy the restaurant of your choice that features a variety of Italian specialties.

April 1 Today we will travel through the Chianti Hills passing the Bay of Naples and Mt. Vesuvius. Finally you will take a breathtaking coastal drive high above the cliffs to the resort town of Sorrento including dinner at the hotel.

April 2 Another unforgettable day as you board a catamaran and sail across the Bay of Naples to the Isle of Capri. After touring this world famous island, you will return to Sorrento to visit a wood working factory to see how inlaid wood tables and music boxes are made. Tonight there will be a surprise dinner.

April 3 This morning you will tour Pompeii, a city buried beneath the volcanic lava for 2,000 years. See the incredibly preserved temples, bathhouses, and gardens buried by lava flows from Mt. Vesuvius in A.D. 79. (Read 9/8/96 Awake, p. 22) You will then return to Rome for the last night of your Italian Odyssey for a “Farewell Dinner” with all the friends on this tour.

April 4 Arrivederci Roma as you depart to the airport. Enjoy lunch and a movie on the return flight to your hometown. As you can see, a lot of extras are included making this a great trip that you do not want to miss!