Best of Italy & Greece 2009

Thrills abound for lovers of history and art! The immense Colosseum, St. Peter's Basilica and Renaissance Florence await in Italy, while the original Olympic Stadium, the Sanctuary of Apollo and the Acropolis are but a few of Greece's highlights.

Highlights

  • Rome
  • Venice
  • Florence
  • Assisi
  • Monte Cassino
  • Pompeii
  • Sorrento
  • Isle of Capri
  • Olympia
  • Delphi
  • Athens

    Whats Included

    Sightseeing Highlights

  • Rome: Views of the Forum and Circus Maximus plus visits to St. Peter's Basilica, the Sistine Chapel and the Colosseum.
  • Venice: Canal cruise viewing St. Mark's Square, Bridge of Sighs and Doge's Palace. Visit a glass-blowing factory. Travel along the Brenta Canal seeing the Palladian villas.
  • Florence: See the Baptistery, Piazza della Signoria, Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, and visit Santa Croce Basilica. Views from Piazzale Michelangelo.
  • Assisi: Orientation including Santa Maria degli Angeli and a visit to St. Francis Basilica.
  • Monte Cassino: Visit the Commonwealth cemetery.
  • Pompeii: A guided tour of the excavations.
  • Sorrento: Orientation tour, plus witness the art of inlaid woodwork.
  • Isle of Capri: Orientation of this charming isle includes the Piazzetta and funicular to Capri town.
  • Olympia: Visit the Olympic Stadium and Temples of Zeus and Hera.
  • Delphi: Visit the home of the Oracle.
  • Athens: See the Acropolis and Parthenon plus the Royal Palace and Hadrian's Arch.

    Dining Highlights

  • 14 hot buffet breakfasts.
  • 5 three-course dinners.
  • 1 dinner on overnight cruise.
  • Local highlight restaurant dinner with wine in Florence.
  • "Be My Guest" local speciality dinner of local produce with wine in restaurant on working lemon farm.
  • Farewell Dinner with wine in Athens.

    23 meals in total (see day-by-day itinerary)

    First Class Travel Highlights

  • All hotel service charges and tips, baggage handling fees and local taxes included.
  • Touring by luxury air-conditioned coach with reclining seats and a washroom onboard.
  • The services of one of Trafalgar's top professional multi-lingual Tour Directors.
  • A qualified local city guide in Rome, Florence, Assisi, Pompeii, Olympia, Delphi and Athens.
  • Cruise to the Isle of Capri and overnight cruise from Bari to Patras.
  • You'll stay in twin-bedded rooms with private facilities.
  • Airport transfers are provided on Day 1 and Day 15.
  • A stylish wallet, tour documents and map book journal.

    • Call 800-747-0368 for more information or to book today! Mention code 8202367

    Tour Operator
    Trafalgar Tours
    Duration
    16 Days
    Escorted
    Escorted - Yes
    DayDestinationDescription
    Day 1Depart USADepart USA :
    Overnight flight to Rome..
    Day 2RomeArrive Rome (2 nights) :
    Welcome to Rome, the Eternal City! Later enjoy a Welcome Drink with your Tour Director and fellow travelers.

    Hotel: Aran Mantegna (2 nights)
    Day 3RomeRome sightseeing and at leisure :
    Our guided tour includes the Vatican Museums to see the Sistine Chapel, St. Peter's Basilica and then crosses the Tiber to overlook the Forum and the Circus Maximus, and to visit the mighty Colosseum. (Buffet breakfsast)
    Day 4VeniceRome - Brenta Canal - Venice (MESTRE) (2 nights) :
    We head through Umbria and Tuscany, cross the Apennine Mountains and reach the Veneto Plains. We drive along the Brenta Canal, lined with Palladian villas, before arriving in Venice. (Buffet breakfast / Dinner)

    Hotel: Novotel Mestre (2 nights)
    Day 5VeniceVenice sightseeing and at leisure :
    We enjoy a scenic cruise by private launch to St. Mark's Square and see the Church of Santa Maria della Salute, the Bridge of Sighs, the Doge's Palace and St. Mark's Basilica. We enjoy a demonstration of Murano glass-blowing before free time. (Buffet breakfast)
    Day 6FlorenceVenice (mestre) - Florence :
    We drive south across the broad flat plain of the River Po. Then into the Apennine Hills to Florence where we enjoy a guided walking tour. This evening, we enjoy a Highlight Dinner. (Buffet breakfast / Highlight dinner)

    Hotel: Astoria
    Day 7AssisiFlorence - Assisi :
    We drive to Assisi where a guided walking tour takes us to the Basilica of St. Francis and later we see Santa Maria degli Angeli where St. Francis established the Franciscan fraternity of monks. (Buffet breakfast / Dinner)

    Hotel: Giotto
    Day 8SorrentoAssisi - Pompeii - Sorrento (2 nights) :
    Our first stop is at the Commonwealth Cemetery of Monte Cassino. Then, through the Campania to Pompeii where a local guide shows us these famous excavations. Later, we make our way to Sorrento. (Buffet breakfast / Dinner)

    Hotel: Johanna Park (2 nights)
    Day 9SorrentoSorrento - Isle of Capri Excursion :
    We enjoy a demonstration of the art of inlaid woodwork. Then a highlight cruise to Capri. We ascend by funicular to Capri town where our local expert takes us on a walking tour. Later we cruise back to Sorrento where our Tour Director will show us a Hidden Treasure and tonight we enjoy a home-cooked dinner in a restaurant surrounded by lemon groves! (Buffet breakfast / 'Be My Guest' Dinner)
    Day 10At SeaSorrento - Bari - At Sea :
    We travel past Salerno before continuing eastward to the port of Bari. Here we'll board our overnight ferry for the sea crossing to Patras in Greece. (Buffet breakfast / Dinner)
    Day 11OlympiaAt Sea - Patras - Olympia :
    We disembark in Patras and drive to Olympia where we will visit the world's oldest Olympic Stadium, where the first Olympic games took place in 776 B.C, and we also visit the Temples of Zeus and Hera, before continuing to our hotel. (Buffet breakfast / Dinner)

    Hotel: Amalia
    Day 12DelphiOlympia - Delphi :
    We travel to Delphi where we consult the famous Oracle and walk the Sacred Way to the Sanctuary of Apollo. Then on to our hotel. (Buffet breakfast / Dinner)

    Hotel: Amalia
    Day 13AthensDelphi - Athens (3 nights) :
    On arrival in Athens our sightseeing tour includes a walking tour of the Acropolis and Parthenon. We see the Agora where Socrates taught plus we see the Royal Palace, Temple of Zeus and Hadrian 's Arch, before heading to the stadium built for the first modern Olympic Games. (BB)

    Hotel: Zafolia (3 nights)
    Day 14AthensAthens at leisure :
    Today there is free time today to explore the city further. Later, you may wish to take a 3-day or 7-day Aegean cruise, see itineraries on this page. (Buffet breakfast)
    Day 15AthensAthens at leisure :
    Today you have a full day at leisure to explore this exciting city. This evening, enjoy a Farewell Dinner with your Tour Director in a local restaurant. (Buffet breakfast / Farewell dinner)
    Day 16Return USAAthens - USA :
    This morning after breakfast bid farewell to our Tour Director and new-found friends as our vacation comes to an end. There are Athens airport transfers available, conditions apply. (Buffet breakfast)
    Dates/Pricing

    Click Quote or call 800-747-0368 to get additional information on your chosen travel date. Special offers or competitive pricing may be available!

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    Disclaimer
    ** This list indicates brochure rates and dates.
    ** For single travellers purchasing the twin-share option, please note that there is a no smoking policy in all shared rooms.
    For details on discounts that apply to this tour please refer to a brochure or see your Travel Agent.
    The displayed prices are based on twin-share accommodation. A single supplement price is available on request.

    - These prices are correct at the time of the website going live, however are subject to confirmation at the time of booking.
    - All tour information is correct at time of tours going live, however is subject to change, please confirm all details at time of booking.
    - For full terms and conditions, please refer to our Conditions page.