Classic Italy

•   25 meals (13 breakfasts, 4 lunches & 8 dinners), service charges, gratuities to local guides, admission fees, taxes and porterage

Day 1: Arrive in Naples and head to Sorrento
A transfer is included from Naples International Airport to Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria. Tauck's Classic Italy tour begins in the southern resort town of Sorrento, where your hotel overlooks the beautiful Bay of Naples and powerful Mt. Vesuvius. Get to know your fellow travelers at a welcome cocktail reception and dinner.
Overnight: Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria, Sorrento, Italy
Meals Included: Dinner

Day 2: Amalfi Coast drive – a southern Italy tour highlight
Drive along the Amalfi Coast, one of Europe's most dramatic shorelines. Stop for visits in Amalfi with some houses dating to the 10th century, and Ravello, perched on towering cliffs above the sea. Explore Sorrento’s piazzas as you please upon your afternoon return.
Overnight: Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria, Sorrento, Italy
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch

Day 3: Explore Pompeii, then on to the Eternal City of Rome
Your Tauck Italy tour next explores the excavated ruins of Pompeii, buried in volcanic ash when Mt. Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD. Walk through city streets with a local expert, where you'll discover remarkably preserved ancient architecture. The next three nights are spent at The Westin Excelsior, Rome, one of the most prestigious addresses on the famed Via Veneto.
Overnight: The Westin Excelsior, Rome, Italy
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 4: Tauck Exclusive – Private after-hours Vatican Museums visit
Sightseeing in Rome is highlighted by a special Tauck Exclusive – an after-hours guided visit to the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel (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. This is certain to one of the most memorable days on your Italy tour, one that you'll remember forever.
Overnight: The Westin Excelsior, Rome, Italy
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 5: A day in Rome of the Caesars
A sightseeing excursion begins the day. In Rome, first capital of ancient Italy tour the Colosseum; see Circus Maximus, the 4th-century BC stadium where chariot races were held, and the ruins of the Imperial Palace. View the Roman Forum from above, then return to the microstate of Vatican City for a tour of St. Peter's Basilica to view the art and architecture, and explore St. Peter's Square. Pursue your own passions in Rome during the afternoon. You'll get a real taste of Italian cuisine this evening when you dine at a traditional restaurant.
Overnight: The Westin Excelsior, Roma, Italy
Meals Included: Breakfast, dinner

Day 6: Your Italy tour continues with a Duomo and a wine tasting
Journey to Orvieto, set on a 984-foot plateau overlooking vineyards below. Visit the Duomo of Orvieto, a notable Romanesque-Gothic cathedral built over a span of 300 years. After a trattoria lunch near the Piazza del Duomo, continue through the wine-producing regions of Umbria. Arrive in Torgiano, a small village in the Tiber Valley. Hotel Le Tre Vaselle, your home for the next two nights, is a 17th-century country house hotel with its own private vineyard - an opportunity to experience Italy's privileged country life. Tonight you'll attend a wine tasting and sample the vineyard's grapes in the wine museum / osteria.
Overnight: Hotel Le Tre Vaselle, Torgiano, Italy
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 7: Step back in time in medieval Assisi – and a chef "shares"
Drive to Assisi, a well-preserved medieval town designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its art and architecture. Visit the Basilica di San Francesco, the burial place of St. Francis, the beloved patron saint of animals. Gaze at the impressive 13th- and 14th-century frescoes, some of Italy's finest, and enjoy some free time in the center of town. This evening, you'll discover the secrets of great Italian cuisine from an Umbrian chef who shares insights into the nuances of Italian cooking at a demonstration. This special Tauck Italy tour highlight is truly memorable!
Overnight: Hotel Le Tre Vaselle, Torgiano, Italy
Meals Included: Breakfast, dinner

Day 8: Traces of Italy's medieval days
In the hilltop town of San Gimignano, see 13 medieval towers that were built in the 12th century by the nobility as both private fortresses and symbols of wealth. Stroll along the narrow streets and visit Piazza della Cisterna, one of Italy's most picturesque town squares. Continue your travels through lush Tuscan landscapes to the seaside resort town of Viareggio, where you'll dine à la carte this evening.
Overnight: Grand Hotel Principe di Piemonte, Viareggio, Italy
Meals Included: Breakfast, dinner

Day 9: Cinque Terre storybook villages
Visit Cinque Terre, accessible only by sea for hundreds of years. Journey by train through the mountains to one of the villages for a look at daily life in this remote part of Italy. You'll have time to yourself to wander through the town's cobblestone streets, where you'll experience daily life – from colorful fishing boats home from the sea to the wine, olives and citrus fruit produced locally. Cruise along the Mediterranean shores of the Italian Riviera aboard a private boat – views of these centuries-old villages, set on rocky bluffs hemmed in by steep cliffs, are a knockout! Journey on to the Renaissance city of Florence for a three-night stay at one of Italy's finest hotels, a Luxury Collection Hotel by Starwood.
Overnight: Grand Hotel, Florence, Italy
Meals Included: Breakfast, dinner

Day 10: Become an art aficionado in Florence
Experience Florence, where the arts flourished between the 13th and 16th centuries. Learn about art history from a local art history lecturer, then take a walking tour of Florence. A guided tour of the Galleria dell'Accademia introduces you to some of the world's great art treasures, including Michelangelo's marble statue of David. You'll have time on your own in Florence this afternoon; your hotel is right in the heart of the city, which makes it easy to explore!
Overnight: Grand Hotel, Florence, Italy
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 11: Masterpieces of the Uffizi
Join a local expert for a guided tour of the Uffizi Gallery, Italy's extraordinary art museum. Admire some of the world's greatest art masterpieces, including works by Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Michelangelo, Botticelli, and more. The remainder of the day is as you please; you may want to visit the Pitti Palace, the Medici Chapels or stroll across the Ponte Vecchio to the lovely Boboli Gardens.
Overnight: Grand Hotel, Florence, Italy
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 12: Rail trip to Venice and a serenade aboard a gondola
Tauck's Classic Italy tour continues with a journey by the sleek, fast Eurostar train to Venice. Built on 118 small islands traversed by a canal network, Venice is a protected UNESCO World Heritage Site. After lunch, head to St. Mark's Square, the heart of Venice, with a local guide for a walking tour. Visit St. Mark's Basilica, one of the greatest buildings in Europe, featuring exquisite mosaics and detailed carvings; and the Doges' Palace, a pink marble Gothic masterpiece. Take a canal cruise by gondola, complete with a serenade by local musicians, to round out a busy day. Dinner is on your own tonight – from fine dining to intimate trattorias, dining in Venice on your Italy tour is a pure pleasure!
Overnight: The Westin Europa & Regina, Venice, Italy
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch

Day 13: The romance of Venice
The day is open so you can take in the sites you choose. Perhaps tour the Galleria dell'Accademia or the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, or take a boat ride to islands in the lagoon. Share favorite Italy tour highlights with travel companions at the farewell reception and dinner.
Overnight: The Westin Europa & Regina, Venice, Italy
Meals Included: Breakfast, dinner

Day 14: Ciao – Tauck's Italy tour concludes
Tauck's two-week Italy tour ends in Venice. Fly home anytime; a transfer is included from The Westin Europa & Regina to Venice's Marco Polo Airport. You should allow a minimum of 2 1/2 hours for flight check-in.
Overnight:
Meals Included: Breakfast

Don't miss our current specials: Tauck Tour Deals Traveling with a group of friends or family can add to the joy of any journey. Book a group of 10 on any Tauck land journey or cruise and the 11th guest travels FREE. Book a group of 8 on any Tauck Bridges family adventure and the 9th guest travels FREE Tauck Single Specials For those seeking singles tours, we are pleased to offer special values on select departures to our guests who choose to travel solo. You can travel with peace of mind, knowing that you are among like-minded travelers and will have all the day-to-day details handled for you! While everyone is welcome, on these select dates we offer special arrangements to those traveling solo at a reduced cost. Tauck Single Specials in North America Best of the Canadian Rockies Michigan's Lakes & Mackinac Island Charleston/Savannah Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia San Fransisco, Sonoma & Napa Valleys Tauck Single Specials in Europe A Week in Ireland A Week in Spain Mediterranean Discovery Istanbul and the Black Sea Treasure of the Mediterranean Cruising Mediterranean Shores The Blue Danube Holland Belgium in Spring Strasbourg to Prague Serenade The Rhine and Moselle Budapest to Amsterdam by Riverboat Budapest to the Black Sea Classic Italy Bellissima Northern Italy Italian Lakes, Venice, Florence and Rome A Week in Paris and Provence Tauck Singles Specials in Latin America Panama Canal & Costa Rica
Touring Date	Land Only	Land + Air	Single (Land Only)	Single (Land + Air)
8/18/2010 - 9/1/2010	$5,990
9/1/2010 - 9/15/2010	$6,990
9/8/2010 - 9/22/2010	$6,990
9/13/2010 - 9/27/2010	$6,990
9/15/2010 - 9/29/2010	$8,330
9/18/2010 - 10/2/2010	$6,990
9/22/2010 - 10/6/2010	$6,990
9/27/2010 - 10/11/2010	$6,990
9/29/2010 - 10/13/2010	$6,990
10/6/2010 - 10/20/2010	$8,330
10/13/2010 - 10/27/2010	$6,990
10/20/2010 - 11/3/2010	$6,490
10/27/2010 - 11/10/2010	$6,490
Airfare Disclaimer A NOTE ABOUT AIRFARE: We encourage you to buy your airfare from the tour operator, because if your tour cancels then your airlines tickets will be covered. Purchasing flights separately at a lesser rate and incorporating it with a Non-Guaranteed Departure Date can result in loss of total cost of your flight investment. Depending on the fare rules, flights may be Non-Refundable and/or Non-Transferable. Neither the tour operator and/or Atlas Cruises & Tours will be held responsible for loss if a tour is cancelled for Lack of Participation. If you would like to check for discounted fares on Guaranteed Departures or for competitive pricing on air and hotel packages, we invite you to follow this link. Documents TRAVEL DOCUMENTS: Necessary Travel Documents such as Passports and Visas is the responsibility of the traveler. Passports must be valid six months from your return travel date.

Sorrento ~ Amalfi Coast ~ Pompeii ~ Rome ~ Umbria ~ Tuscany ~ Cinque Terre ~ Florence ~ Venice

Tauck Tour Deals

Tauck Single Specials

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