Best of Italy & Greece & 3-day Aegean cruise
Day 1 - Depart USA Overnight flight to Rome.
Day 2 - Arrive Rome (2 nights) On arrival, you are met and transferred to your hotel. After check-in, time to relax and unwind before enjoying a Welcome Dinner of pasta and wine with your Tour Director and fellow travellers. (Welcome Dinner)
Day 3 - Rome sightseeing & at leisure This morning we enjoy a sightseeing tour with a local guide using our audio system and taking in the Vatican Museums to see the Sistine Chapel, visiting St. Peter's Basilica and then crossing the Tiber for a walking tour from the Forum to the Colosseum, as well as the Circus Maximus where "Ben Hur" style chariot races used to take place. This evening, why not try out some "Spaghetti a la Carbonara" — a Roman speciality" (Buffet Breakfast)
Day 4 - Rome — San Marino — Venice (Main.) (2 nights) Today we head north through Tuscany crossing the Apennine hills to reach the world's smallest Republic, San Marino. Time to shop for souvenirs before continuing along the coast, across the Po Delta, to Venice. (Buffet Breakfast / Dinner)
Day 5 - Venice sightseeing & at leisure We enjoy a scenic cruise by private launch to St. Mark's Square to see the customs house, the church of Santa Maria della Salute and the Bridge of Sighs. We stroll through St. Mark's Square to see the Doges' Palace and St. Mark's Basilica. We enjoy a demonstration of Murano glass-blowing before free time to maybe head to Burano for lunch. (Buffet Breakfast)
Day 6 - Venice (Main.) — Brenta Canal — Florence A scenic drive takes us along the Brenta Canal, via Padua and towards Bologna. Then into the Apennine Hills to Florence. Here our walking tour with a local guide and audio system shows us the main sights. This evening, we enjoy dinner in a local trattoria. (Buffet Breakfast / Highlight Dinner)
Day 7 - Florence — Assisi First stop is at the American Cemetery and Memorial before enjoying a scenic drive to Assisi. A guided walking tour with audio equipment takes us to the Basilica of St. Francis with time to see Giotto's 14th century paintings. Later, we visit Santa Maria degli Angeli, where St. Francis established the Franciscan fraternity of monks. (Buffet Breakfast / Dinner)
Day 8 - Assisi — Pompeii — Sorrento (2 nights) Our first stop is at the Commonwealth Cemetery of Montecassino. Then, through the Campania to Pompeii where a local guide on our walking tour enhanced by our audio system, shows us these famous excavations. Later, we make our way to Sorrento for dinner and our overnight stay. (Buffet Breakfast / Dinner)
Day 9 - Sorrento — Isle of Capri Excursion Our day begins with a demonstration of the art of inlaid woodwork. Then a highlight cruise to the Isle of Capri. We ascend by funicular to Capri town where our local expert takes us on a walking tour with audio system through the gardens and we'll view the Faraglioni Rocks. Then free time to shop. Later we cruise back to Sorrento. This evening after dinner, perhaps join our Tour Director for an evening stroll. (Buffet Breakfast / Dinner)
Day 10 - Sorrento — Bari — At Sea This morning after breakfast, we travel past Salerno and Potenza, before continuing eastward to Bari. Here we'll board our overnight ferry for the sea crossing to Patras in Greece. (Buffet Breakfast / Dinner)
Day 11 - At Sea — Patras — Olympia We cross the Ionian Sea, arriving in the Greek port of Patras. We disembark and continue our journey by coach to Olympia where we will visit the world's oldest Olympic Stadium, where the first Olympic games took place in 776 B.C., plus the Temples of Zeus and Hera on our visit of this archaeological site. On to our hotel for dinner and overnight stay. (Buffet Breakfast / Dinner)
Day 12 - Olympia — Delphi We make our way back to Patras for a ferry to mainland Greece. Then we drive to Delphi where as part of our guided walking tour we consult the famous Oracle and predict the future! Then walk the Sacred Way to the Sanctuary of Apollo and visit this archaeological site. Then on to our hotel for dinner. (Buffet Breakfast / Dinner)
Day 13 - Delphi — Athens (3 nights) This morning we journey past Thebes and on to Athens for our three-night stay. On arrival our sightseeing tour includes a walking tour with audio system of the Acropolis and Parthenon. We visit the Acropolis Museum and view the Agora where Socrates taught, plus see the Royal Palace, Temple of Zeus and Hadrian's Arch, before heading to the stadium built for the first modern Olympic games. (Buffet Breakfast)
Day 14 - Athens — Piraeus — Mykonos Free time today to explore the city further. Next we will transfer to Piraeus. Here we board our ship and sail to Mykonos. Enjoy a few hours at leisure on this cosmopolitan island before continuing our cruise. (Lunch / Dinner)
Day 15 - Rhodes Morning arrival at beautiful Rhodes. There's time to take an excursion to the Old town or Lindos. (Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner)
Day 16 - Patmos — Kusadasi An early morning arrival at Patmos. Time to take an excursion to the Byzantine Fortress and Monastry before we continue our cruise to Turkish Kusadasi. A visit to the incredible ruins of Ephesus is a must. (Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner)
Day 17 - Disembarkation — Athens An early morning arrival at Piraeus port. We transfer to our hotel in Athens. Time to relax or maybe do some souvenir shopping. (Breakfast)
Day 18 - Athens — USA Farewell as we transfer you to the airport for your return flight to America. (Breakfast)
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