Beginning June 2007, we’ll begin  offering Fully Escorted, Independent and Customized Bus, Drive & Train Tours, allowing you the flexibility to see what is important to you, stay as long as you like, and travel at a pace that suits your lifestyle.

 

ITALY MY WAY TOURS PRESENTS

 

*** Fully Escorted Group Tours 22 guests maximum

Italy My Way Signature Tour – 14 Days 12 Nights (3) Sorrento (3) Rome (3) Tuscany (3) Venice

 

*** Independent Driving Tours

Great Italian Cities Driving Tour – Same as The Italy My Way Signature Tour except your means of transportation will be a rental car. Tour pricing will be based on the type of car rented, number of passengers and the length of the rental period.  

 

*** Independent Train Tours

Great Italian Cities Train Tour – Same as The Italy My Way Signature Tour except your means of transportation will be by train. Tour pricing will be based on First or Second Class Ticketing and eligibility for special youth or senior discounts.    

 

*** Customized Personal Fully Escorted Tours

Choose your dream cities including Amalfi, Assisi, Capri, Castellina in Chianti, Civita di Bagnoregio, Cortona, Florence, Ischia, Lucca, Milan, Orvieto, Parma, Portofino, Positano, Rome, San Gimignano, Santa Margarita, Sorrento, Stresa, Venice, Verona and Vinci.

 

*** Customized Independent Driving / Train Tours

Choose your dream cities including Amalfi, Assisi, Capri, Castellina in Chianti, Civita di Bagnoregio, Cortona, Florence, Ischia, Lucca, Milan, Orvieto, Parma, Portofino, Positano, Rome, San Gimignano, Santa Margarita, Sorrento, Stresa, Venice, Verona and Vinci.

 

 

 

Italy My Way Signature Tour – 14 Days, 12 Nights (3) Sorrento (3) Rome (3) Tuscany (3) Venice

 

Day 1 Saturday

Your day begins with last minute packing, dropping the pets off at the kennel, and final instructions to whomever will be in charge of the house while you’re away. With transportation arranged, you arrive at the airport in anticipation of boarding your transcontinental flight to Italy.

 

Day 2 Sunday

The next morning you land at an airport outside of Sorrento, Italy, where you’ll be met by your driver to take you to the City of Sirens, Sorrento. Once checked into your room, take a moment to enjoy the view of the Bay of Naples standing on your private balcony suspended over the crystal blue water, in awe of the looming Mount Vesuvius in the distance.

That evening, enjoy dinner and wine in a quaint little trattoria, literally feet from the waters of the Sea where Neapolitan children play soccer along the sandy beach. Or, choose to explore and dine on your own.

 

Day 3 Monday

After breakfast you’re whisked off to the romantic Island of Capri and arrive at Marina Grande where you can decide how you would like to spend your day. Guides are available to take you to the Blue Grotto, weather permitting, or if staying on land is more your style you can take the Funicular up to the Town of Capri and into the Piazza Umberto for breathtaking views of the island. If you’re feeling more adventurous than take the shuttle buses up to Capri’s other town, Anacapri, and experience a ski lift ride over the olive trees and colorful gardens below. Shopping abounds for those who feel the need or you can just sit in the piazza and enjoy the sights.

Early afternoon, we head back to our hotel for siesta.

This evening we stroll the hundreds of shops in Sorrento on our way to Franco’s Trattoria for his feast of Ala Sorrentina Cuisine and vino. If you wish, you may choose to do dinner on your own.

 

Day 4 Tuesday

Finish your cappuccino and board the bus for a ride along the Almafi Coast on a road originally built for goats and mules. You will literally feel as though you’re hanging on the edge of the cliffs! First stop, Positano, where houses look like they’re holding on to the steep cliff to stop themselves from sliding into the sea. John Steinbeck, a famous writer, called Positano his home for some time. You’ll find the narrow, winding streets filled with trendy shops. Don’t forget to stop at Luigi and Mario’s Shoe Shop at the foot of the Basilica to pick up a pair of handmade Italian shoes.

Next stop, what else, lunch at a restaurant high above Positano with breathtaking views below.  

This evening’s dinner is yours to enjoy on your own.

 

Day 5 Wednesday

This morning we head to romantic Rome. On the way we’ll pay a visit to Pompeii, a city buried in ashes from the Mount Vesuvius eruption of 79 A.D. that claimed the lives of all its residences. There we find our private guide ready to help us through the maze of preserved structures and artifacts found unearthed when excavation began in 1748. That afternoon, we arrive in Rome and begin with a tour of the city form the comfort of our air conditioned bus, passing the Colosseum, Baths of Caracala, Circus Maximus, Capitoline and Palatine Hill before arriving at our hotel in the heart of Ancient Rome.

This evening, we step outside our hotel and stroll leisurely to dinner, passing Piazza Campo de Fiori, host during the day to a famous outdoor market and a gathering place at night for many to enjoy what this city has to offer. Tucked in a corner of a nearby piazza, we find our outdoor tables waiting for us to dine on true Roman dishes, fried stuff zucchini blossoms has remained one of my favorites. With literally hundreds of Roman Trattoria and restaurants to choose from, your guide will have no problem recommending another selection that will please you palate.

 

Day 6 Thursday

This morning breakfast at your hotel or al fresco in Piazza Campo de Fiori, watching the street vendors setting up their wares; when in Rome do as the Romans do. Later on we meet up with our tour guide for our tour of the The Vatican, Saint Peter’s Basilica, the Sistine Chapel and the Vatican Museum. Regardless of your religious beliefs, this truly is one of the great wonders of the world. However, Rome is a virtual candy store with no shortage of sweet surprises. You may plan this day on your own if you wish.

This evening we visit Piazza Navona, once playing host to ancient chariot races, it’s now filled with local artists. One piazza over, we find Piazza della Rotonda. This famous piazza boasts the home of the Pantheon built in 27 A.D. by Emperor Agrippa and the final resting place of the artist Raphael.

Around the corner we find Armando signaling us that our tables are ready; I’m having the risotto with truffles. If another restaurant is on your list, then meet us for dessert at a famous gelato Mecca just around the corner. 

 

Day 7 Friday

This morning breakfast at your hotel or try that other place in the Piazza Campo de Fiori you didn’t go too yesterday. Then, board the bus for a quick (5 min.) ride to the Colosseum and the Roman Forum, birthplace for many modern governments. Whatever you choose to explore, your guides won’t miss any details in this 2,000 year old ancient city as you walk the same streets as gladiators once did on their way to battle. Stroll the Via Sacra, the sacred road used by the Romans when they returned home to Rome after concurring empires as they headed to Capitoline Hill, the ancient cities capitol.

Tonight we say hello to the Trevi Fountain. As tradition goes, you must throw 3 coins into the fountain to ensure you will return to what we now refer to as Roma.

Dinner tonight is around the corner from our hotel and just down the street from where Julius Cesar was assassinated. If you’re still full from a late lunch, we’ll meet you back at the hotel.

 

Day 8 Saturday

Before we board the bus to Tuscany, breakfast will be at our hotel giving you plenty of time to finish packing. Tuscany is a region of Italy, comprised of many cities including Florence, Cortona, San Gimignano, Greve in Chianti, Castelina in Chianti, Panzano, all of which will be visited during our stay. First stop Cortona, made famous in Francis Mayes Book Under the Tuscan Sun. This town sits on top of a mountain with a breathtaking view of the valley floor below and small shops abound, filled with local items. Take your time shopping or just find a table and enjoy the people watching.

Later that afternoon we arrive at our hotel in the heart of Tuscany and the Region known as Chianti, where wines from this region get their name. Our hosts at our hotel, a converted palazzo in the center of town, welcome us as if we were their own family. Unpack and soak up the smell of fresh lavender drifting through the open windows.

Tuscan food is heartier than what we found in Southern Italy and Rome, offering more meat and wild game dishes. Don’t worry about what to order, our restaurateur will be more than happy to explain the local dishes. There is no shortage of specialty food and wine shops if you decide to pack a picnic for dinner!

 

Day 9 Sunday

If it’s genuine 18 carat Italian gold you crave then follow me to Florence. If art is your passion, then come with me to see Michelangelo’s David at the Accademia Gallery. Today we visit Florence and her Duomo, Ponte Vecchio and Piazza della Signoria, the historic center of Florence and its political center. The puritanical Dominican friar Savanorola who preached against worldly excesses outraged Florentines in the late 15th century and it was here that the famous Bonfire of the Vanities took place as Savanorola ordered the burning of fine cloths, art and books. A few years later he was burned at the stake and a bronze plate embedded in the cobblestone marks the spot. Today this remarkable city is packed with shops and restaurants and the street are adorned with beautiful statues and fountains.  

This evening’s dinner will offer relaxation and an opportunity to share our Florentine experiences.

 

Day 10 Monday

Enjoy your breakfast served in the main dining room of our palazzo before we head to the Tuscan City, San Gimignano, the city of towers. In the 13th century, feuding noble families built these tall towers to stage their battles. Later, these towers were used to hang and dry dyed fabric supporting a booming fabric business. Today it’s the quintessential Tuscan hill town, perfectly preserved and busting at the seams with shops, shops, and more shops.

Tonight we dine with a panoramic view of Tuscany sites and smells.

 

Day 11 Tuesday

After breakfast we head for Venice along Tuscany’s roads that make you feel like you’re in the picture, not looking at it. Before leaving Tuscano, we’ll stop in Siena, Florence’s rival city and home of the Palio horse race staged twice a year in ll Campo, Siena’s giant amphitheater shaped piazza and the heart of this city. The culmination of the color of the buildings and the tuscan sun mirror the color of the soil found all over Tuscany; to artists it’s known as “Burnt Sienna.” Relax in ll Campo or stroll the pedestrian only streets that flow into it. 

We arrive this afternoon in Venice and say goodbye to cars and traffic, boats will be our main form of transportation in this city. Our water taxi’s are waiting to take us to our waterfront hotel situated minutes from Piazza San Marco, Venice’s center and home of Saint Mark’s Basilica and the Doge’s Palace.

Napoleon called Piazza San Marco “The Living Room of the World” and someone once said if you sit in this piazza long enough, you will see the entire world go by. Earnest Hemmingway called Venice home and you will soon agree that this city of 400 islands connected by hundreds of bridges, where walking and boats are the only form of travel truly make this the “City of Love.”

After settling into your rooms, we’ll hop on a boat and head over to the island of Murano, famous for its many glass blowing factories. All the glass factories were moved to Murano for fear that a fire on the main island of Venice would burn down the city. Once on the island, you’ll visit a traditional glass blowing factory and watch as glass blowers hand blow glass using the same methods they’ve been using since 1291.

Tonight we dine at a local Venetian Trattoria back on the Island of Venice. If you’re staying on Murano for dinner, we’ll see you at breakfast.

 

Day 12 Wednesday

You’ll want to stay at breakfast overlooking the Grand Canal but Venice is waiting. Our guide has prepared a walking tour of St. Mark’s Basilica and the Doge’s Palace. The Basilica was built in the 11th century and boasts 43,000 square feet of Byzantine gold and colored mosaics.

The Doge’s Palace, home of the ruling elite, was built to show off Venice’s wealth and power in Europe which was held for 400 years; you’ll agree that this building certainly accomplishes that! From the living quarters on the upper floor, you will cross over the famous Bridge of Sighs that connects the palace with the prison on the other side. Justice in Venice was swift and the Bridge of Sighs gets its name from the prisoners looking out the tiny window on the bridge and sighing at their last glimpse of freedom.

This afternoon try to get lost in Venice. You really can’t, it’s an island and boasts their low crime rate. Navigate by landmarks noted on the sides of buildings, reading street signs is an exercise in futility.

Tonight we experience a Stand-up Venetian Pub Crawl, visiting what are called Cicchetti bars displaying showcases of finger foods and oh yes, local house wines. We sample and drink and then move on to another. Take notes, you may want to return to your favorite. For those diners who want to take the road less traveled, enjoy dinner on the water at our hotel.

 

Day 13 Thursday

Wake up late and take your time at breakfast, our boat will wait. Venice is the city of Palaces and many are on the Grand Canal Boat Tour we are taking this morning. The Grand Canal is Venice’s two mile long by 150 foot wide “Main Street” and home to dozens of palaces and points of interests. We will make some stops along the way to stretch our legs and explore before we return to our hotel.

Tonight we take a gondola ride before heading to dinner at one of Venice’s well known trattoria.  

 

Day 14 Friday

There will be plenty of time for breakfast at your hotel before any last minute packing and trying to stuff all the souvenirs you collected into your luggage. Don’t worry; our private boat to take us to Venice’s Marco Polo Airport will wait at our hotel until we are all ready. You’ll enjoy the relaxing 35 minute ride to the airport where you’re dropped off at the dock for your flight back home, well rested and already dreaming of your next vacation to Italy.

 

Italy My Way Signature Tour Rates (Per person)

 

Departure Date                June 23, 2007

Land Only                   $2,530.00

Meal Plan                   $   780.00

Sightseeing Plan         $   490.00

Airfare [Estimated]      $   975.00

 

Land Only includes;

  • 24 hour Italy My Way Guide
  • 12 nights accommodation in city center, including breakfast (Rates are per person, sharing a double room)
  • All tips & services charges
  • All land transportation by air conditioned bus, beginning at Sorrento hotel, from Sorrento to Rome, Rome to Tuscany, including Cortona, Florence, San Gimignano and Siena and Tuscany to Venice. Note; Bus will be substituted with a car if taking the Driving Tour or by train if taking the Train Tour.
  • Transportation in Venice by water taxi to Venice hotel and from hotel to Venice’s Marco Polo Airport.
  • Tours of Pompeii, Rome City Bus Tour, Rome Walking Tour of Piazza Navona & Pantheon, Cortona, Florence, San Gimignano and Siena. Note; Depending on your preference, tours are subject to change if taking the Driving or Train Tour.

 

Meal Plan Includes;

12 dinners All meals include wine  Note; If you wish to dine on your own, your tour guide will assist you in making reservations. Meals can be added individually to your Land Package.

 

Note; Meal Plan is not offered if taking the Driving or Train Tour. Visit Italy My Way will provide a list of suggested dining options.

 

Sightseeing Plan includes;

  • The Capri Tour, including Blue Grotto weather permitting, if not, Funicular up to the Piazza Umberto or shuttle bus up to Anacapri and ski lift ride
  • The Amalfi Coast Tour to Positano, including lunch
  • The Vatican Tour, including Saint Peter’s Basilica, the Sistine Chapel and the Vatican Museum
  • The Colosseum and the Roman Forum Tour
  • The Nighttime Trevi Fountain Tour
  • The Walking Tour of Florence and the Accademia Gallery
  • The Murano Boat Tour to glassblowing factory.
  • The St. Mark’s Basilica and the Doge’s Palace Tour
  • The Venice Grand Channel Tour

Note; If you wish to take any of these tours on your own, your tour guide will assist you in making reservations. Tours can be individually added to your Land Package.

 

Note; Sightseeing and tours are subject to change if taking the Driving Tour or Train Tour.

 

Airfare [Estimated]

Note; Airfare is estimated and can’t be priced until booking. Estimated amount based on departures from New York or Boston, with at least 1 connecting flight.

 

Italian – English Dictionary

Ala Sorrentina             Cooked in the style of Sorrento

Basilica                        Church           

Baths of Caracalla      Ancient Roman Bath House

Capitoline                   Capitol

Cicchetti bars             Small eateries specializing in finger foods & drinks

Circus Maximus          Ancient Chariot Track

Doge’s                         Head of Power           

Duomo                         Dome

Funicular                    Vertical cable car                   

Gelato                         Italy’s version of ice cream    

Palazzo                        Palace

Palio                            Famous Horse Race found only in Siena

Piazza                          A square of gathering place

Ponte                           Bridge

Restaurante                 Italian eatery offering a wide variety of food from all over Italy

Roma                           Rome in Italian

Trattoria                     Italian eatery specializing in regional cuisine

Tuscano                       Tuscany in Italian

Vino                             Wine

Venezia                        Venice in Italian

 

                                                                                                                                                Updated 12/15/06

 

 

 

All Content Property of Visit Italy My Way