Southern Italy & Sicily featuring Taormina, Amalfi Coast and Rome

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Tour Operator

Collette Vacations

Offer

Offer valid through 12/31/2009

Duration

11 Days

Itinerary

Day	Destination	Description
Air 1	Overnight Flight	Overnight Flight : Join Collette Vacations in exploring the hidden treasures of southern Italy and Sicily. Enjoy breathtaking scenery, historic cities, centuries old hilltop villages, and wonderful cuisine. Your journey begins with an overnight flight to Palermo.
Day 2	Palermo	Palermo, Sicily - Tour Begins : Your tour begins in Palermo, the capital of Sicily. This evening, join your fellow travelers for a special welcome dinner at a local restaurant featuring traditional Sicilian cuisine.
Day 3	Agrigento	Palermo - Monreale - Agrigento : LANGUAGE DISCOVERY: Today, your Tour Manager will help you discover the origin and history of the language(s) you will experience on your tour along with key words and phrases that will help you communicate with the locals. A Palermo cultural tour features the lovely squares of Quattro Canti, Piazza Pretoria and Piazza Bellini. Note the exotic mixture of Moorish, Norman and Spanish Baroque styles that make this city special. You also see the Palace of the Normans, La Martorana Church, and the Cathedral, which houses the Imperial Crown of Constance of Aragon in its treasury. In the nearby town of Monreale, visit the 12th century Cathedral with its dazzling interior of multicolored marbles, paintings, mosaics and cloisters. Depart Palermo for Agrigento later this afternoon.
Day 4	Agrigento	Agrigento : Start your day at the stunning Valley of the Temples, one of the most important archeological sites in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage site. From ancient times to the present day, the Valley of the Temples' ruins, landscape and colors have inspired poets, writers and painters. Here you get an up-close view of the temples of Juno, Concordia, Hercules and Jupiter. Learn about ancient Greek cultures when you visit the Archeological Museum, known for its extensive collection of Greek vases, statues and other important artifacts.
Day 5	Giardini-Naxos	Agrigento - Piazza Armerina - Mt. Etna - Giardini-Naxos : Depart Agrigento today and travel to the central part of Sicily, arriving in the town of Piazza Armerina. Here you pay homage to the Roman past at Villa Casale, which houses one of the most incredible collections of ancient mosaics in the world. Later, visit Mt. Etna Volcano National Park to see the spectacular landscapes sculpted by nature. Arrive in Giardini Naxos, the "garden of Sicily" and your home for the next two nights.
Day 6	Giardini Naxos	Giardini Naxos - Taormina - Giardini Naxos : This morning you visit beautiful Taormina, known for its charming atmosphere, significant monuments and flowering gardens. Enjoy viewing the Greek Amphitheater, Corso Umberto and the bountiful Public Gardens. Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure to further explore this delightful town.
Day 7	Salerno	Giardini Naxos - Salerno : Today, travel to Messina where you will take a short ferry to Villa San Giovanni on the mainland of Italy. Travel northward through the beautiful and unspoiled region of Calabria and into Campania, arriving later this afternoon in the seaside town of Salerno, famous for its Allied landings during WWII.
Day 8	Salerno	Salerno - Sorrento - Amalfi Coast - Salerno : Begin your day exploring the popular seaside resort town of Sorrento. Visit local artisans and watch them demonstrate the art of inlaid wood making. Next, travel the breathtaking Amalfi Coast, where the Mediterranean Sea and mountains meet. Upon arriving in Amalfi, you will have free time to explore the town square, ceramic shops and cafes. Enjoy a visit to one of the coast's family-owned Limoncello factories to learn how this lemon-flavored liqueur is made and to sample the delicious results.
Day 9	Rome	Salerno - Pompeii - Rome : Travel towards the Bay of Naples and experience the excavated ruins of Pompeii at the foothills of Mount Vesuvius. Soak in the history of the preserved original buildings of a typical Roman town 2,000 years ago. A local guide will provide an in-depth view of this remarkable archeological sight. Later, travel to Rome, the magnificent capital of Italy.
Day 10	Rome	Rome : Begin your day with an optional tour to the "Magnificent Treasures of the Vatican Museums." Later, enjoy a tour of Classical Rome featuring the Piazza Venezia, the Roman Forum, the Circus Maximus, the Colosseum, and the Arch of Constantine. Contemporary Rome is also highlighted through the famous Trevi Fountain. Tonight you will celebrate the end of your journey with a farewell dinner at a popular local restaurant.
Day 11	Depart for Home	Rome - Depart for Home : Your tour ends today, leaving you with many pleasant memories of a wonderful vacation.

Dates/Pricing

Lodging

	Grande Albergo Sole		Centrale Palace Hotel
	Hotel Della Valle		Hellenia Yachting Hotel
	Hotel Giardino dei Greci		Grand Hotel Salerno
	Nova Domus Hotel		Hotel Cardinal St. Peter's

Disclaimer

Note
Tour prices are Land Only rates based on per person double occupancy. Please call your Travel Agent for triple or child occupancy rates. Taxes and fees are additional for tours that feature a cruise; port taxes are not included in the prices shown. Some dates may feature various changes in hotels, sightseeing and inclusions. Please confirm your specific itinerary at the time of booking.