Small Group Classic Italy

•   SMALL GROUP DEPARTURES averaging 24 Tauck guests! A small group size means a more personal travel experience highlighted by stays at chic smaller hotels in fabulous locations

Day 1: Arrive Naples, then cocktails in Sorrento
A transfer is included from Naples International Airport to Grand Hotel La Favorita in Sorrento. Surrounded by gardens and perched atop a cliff overlooking the blue waters of the Gulf of Naples in Sorrento’s historic center, your landmark hotel has a rooftop restaurant and poolside terrace with stunning panoramic views. Classic Italy Small Groups gets underway with a welcome cocktail reception and dinner.
Overnight: Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria, Sorrento, Italy
Meals Included: Dinner

Day 2: Winding along the 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 and small alleys.
Overnight: Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria, Sorrento, Italy
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch

Day 3: Pompeii, an up-close look, then 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. A walk through the ruins of Pompeii with a local expert reveals what life was like in Italy in the 1st century AD – visit the temple, the forum and a home adorned with frescoes. Arrive late af­ter­noon in Rome, for the next three nights; your chic small hotel is at the top of the Spanish Steps, close to historic and cultural sites.
Overnight: The Westin Excelsior, Rome, Italy
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 4: The Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel – After Hours
No trip to Rome would be complete without a visit to the Vatican, a state and city all in one... and your small-group sightseeing is highlighted by a Tauck Exclusive – an 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). See the Candelabra Gallery, the Map Gallery and the Tapestries, and enter the Sistine Chapel to view Michelangelo’s famous ceiling frescoes – all without the usual crowds!
Overnight: The Westin Excelsior, Rome, Italy
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 5: Discovering the Rome of the Caesars
Seeing the sights of Rome, accompanied by a local guide, is a highlight of this trip. See the ruins of the Imperial Palace and Circus Maximus; tour St. Peter’s Basilica with an opportunity to see St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City; and view the Roman Forum from above. A visit to the Colosseum, the 2,000-year-old amphitheatre in the heart of Rome that was once used for gladiator contests and public events, will certainly be one of the highlights! You’ll get an authentic taste of Italian cuisine tonight when you dine family style at a local restaurant in Rome.
Overnight: The Westin Excelsior, Rome, Italy
Meals Included: Breakfast, dinner

Day 6: Orvieto, a wine tasting and a villa
Arrive in Orvieto; visit the Duomo, one of Italy’s greatest cathedrals; 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 created by renowned artists. Following a traditional trattoria lunch near the Piazza del Duomo, continue through Umbria, a wine-producing region. Arrive in Torgiano, a small Tiber Valley village, to experience Italian country life for the next two nights. Your accommodation is a 17th-century patrician home featuring wooden beams, terra-cotta floors, and a private winery, whose product you’ll sample at a wine tasting in the wine museum / osteria.
Overnight: Hotel Le Tre Vaselle, Torgiano, Italy
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 7: Historic Assisi plus a cooking demonstration
Take a short drive to Assisi, a well-preserved medieval hillside town spread across the slopes of a mountain; the town has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its significant art and architecture. Assisi was the home of St. Francis; visit St. Francis Basilica, 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 Torgiano for the evening. Please join us tonight for a cooking demonstration by an Umbrian chef, where you’ll discover some of the nuances – and perhaps some of the secrets – of great Italian cuisine.
Overnight: Hotel Le Tre Vaselle, Torgiano, Italy
Meals Included: Breakfast, dinner

Day 8: The towers of Tuscany
In Tuscany, the beauty of nature has blended with the ingenuities of mankind for centuries; your travels through the rolling Tuscan hills take you through golden landscapes dotted with olive and fig trees. Arrive in the hilltop town of San Gimignano; the town’s famous medieval towers, built in the 12th century by the nobility, are visible from afar. Stroll along the quaint streets and visit Piazza della Cister­na, one of Italy’s most picturesque town squares. Continue your journey through lush Tuscan countryside to the seaside resort town of Viareggio for an overnight stay.
Overnight: Grand Hotel Principe di Piemonte, Viareggio, Italy
Meals Included: Breakfast, dinner

Day 9: A day in Cinque Terre and on to Florence
Cinque Terre was ac­ces­si­ble only by sea for hun­dreds of years, five picture-book fishing villages nestled between the Medi­ter­ra­nean’s blue waters and the rugged coastal moun­tains. Travel by train through the mountains to one of the villages, where you’ll experience daily life – from colorful fishing boats home from the sea, to the wine, olives, and citrus fruit produced locally. You’ll have some time to explore the cobblestone streets and alleyways, perhaps sampling the unique flavors of the local cuisine for lunch, before a cruise along the shores of the Italian Riviera for unparalleled views of this dramatic coast. Journey to Florence for a three-night stay in the heart of the city.
Overnight: Grand Hotel, Florence, Italy
Meals Included: Breakfast, dinner

Day 10: The Art of Florence, revealed
Art and architecture whisper the history of the ages in Florence, the birthplace of the Renaissance. Tauck’s 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. The rest of the afternoon and evening are free.
Overnight: Grand Hotel, Florence, Italy
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 11: Masterpieces of the Uffizi Gallery
Join a local expert for a guided tour of Florence’s inspiring Uffizi Gallery. 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.
Overnight: Grand Hotel, Florence, Italy
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 12: Venice – Doge’s Palace, After Hours
The high-speed Eurostar train whisks you from Florence to Venice, traversed by some 100 canals. Transfer by canal boat to your hotel, conveniently located near St. Mark’s Square; after lunch, embark on a walking tour. Visit St. Mark’s Basilica then explore this romantic city on your own. Later, join us for another Tauck exclusive: an after-hours guided tour of the Doge’s Palace – with its lavishly decorated rooms and Venetian masterpieces – including the legendary Bridge of Sighs, and the palace prison.
Overnight: The Westin Europa & Regina, Venice, Italy
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch

Day 13: As You Like It, Venetian Style
The entire day is free in Venice. 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, indulge in the quintessential Venetian experience – a serenaded gondola ride on the canals – before joining us for a farewell cocktail re­cep­tion and dinner.
Overnight: The Westin Europa & Regina, Venice, Italy
Meals Included: Breakfast, dinner

Day 14: Journey Home
Tour ends: Venice. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from BAUERs L’Hotel to Marco Polo Airport; you should allow a minimum of 3 hours for flight check-in at the airport.
Overnight:
Meals Included: Breakfast

Touring Date	Land Only	Land + Air	Single (Land Only)	Single (Land + Air)
5/27/2012 - 6/10/2012	$8,790
6/10/2012 - 6/24/2012	$8,990
6/24/2012 - 7/8/2012	$8,790
7/8/2012 - 7/22/2012	$7,890
8/5/2012 - 8/19/2012	$7,690
8/19/2012 - 9/2/2012	$7,690
9/2/2012 - 9/16/2012	$7,690
9/9/2012 - 9/23/2012	$9,190
9/16/2012 - 9/30/2012	$9,190
9/23/2012 - 10/7/2012	$9,190
9/30/2012 - 10/14/2012	$9,190
10/7/2012 - 10/21/2012	$9,190
10/14/2012 - 10/28/2012	$9,190
Note: Departures appearing above in green are guaranteed to operate by the tour operator.
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.

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