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Discover Italy Tour: Italy from North to South
Tour Features: Stay and Visit ® Italy – Orofino Tours presents an unforgettable tour of Italy from top of the boot all the way down to Sicily. Let us whisk you away on this luxury tour with excursions to the Lake Region, Milan, Venice, Cinque Terre, Florence, Rome, Sorrento, Amalfi Coast, Sicily and many more! You will live the "dolce vita" while in our beautiful, hospitable and centrally located four-star hotels. Your lunches (L) and dinners (D) will include house wine and mineral water at the Grand Hotel**** Ischia & Lido Resort & SPA. Breakfasts (B) will be continental style buffets. Day 1 - Depart from your city to Milano Day 4 – Milan - A full day visit to Milan one of the most highly-developed cities of fashion and Italian commerce. In the morning we will visit the unique spire Duomo, famous throughout the world for its' significance in the promulgation of the Christian faith, the Last Supper a 15th century mural painted by Leonardo da Vinci, La Scala, one of the world's most famous opera houses that hosted the first production of many famous operas. In the afternoon we will have the opportunity to shop in Milan's famous and elegant Via Montenapoleone before returning to Cernobbio. (B & D) Day 5 – Sirmione & Abano Terme - Today we will visit the picturesque town of Sirmione, noted for its turreted castle and its splendid position on the lake. Spend an enjoyable afternoon in Sirmione and then we will continue to our hotel in Abano Terme, a famous town since the Roman Empire for its well known spas and located a short distance from Venice. (B & D)
Day 7 – Italian Riviera - Transfer from Abano Terme to the Italian Riviera. The rest of the day is at leisure before continuing our long trip down the Italian peninsula. We are going to discover a land that, apart from bathing tourism, offers a lot more! It is, in fact, land and sea. Villages where time has stopped for centuries, forests of chestnut trees, taste of rich regional dishes prepared with typical products of the region. Liguria is a region that enhances your feelings and emotions, a land to love! (B & D) Day 8 – Cinque Terre - To Cinque Terre ….the picturesque fishing villages along the coast near Portovenere, connected by cliff-side paths through olive groves and vineyards. Recognized as a National Park in 1999 and UNESCO protected territory since 1997 as a system of naturalistic environmental interest. In the morning we will visit Riomaggiore, Manarola and Monterosso, the capital of Cinque Terre, with a sandy beach and quaint alleys to explore. In the afternoon, weather and time permitting, we will tour the charming village of Vernazza, with its rocky harbor dominated by its Castello. (B & D) Day 9 – Portofino - This morning we will visit the playground of the rich and famous, the beautiful village of Portofino. A small Italian fishing village located in the province of Genoa on the Italian Riviera. The crowded and small harbor is considered to be among the most beautiful Mediterranean ports. We will have time to relax along the harbor side and enjoy the view of anchored yachts and colorful fishing boats. There will be plenty of time for shopping in the many fashionable shops. (B & D) Day 10 – Carrara & Montecatini - We leave the Italian Riviera and will visit the marble capital of Italy: Carrara. It was here that Michelangelo selected the marble block for his masterpiece: David. We will arrive in Montecatini Terme and check into our hotel. This afternoon we will take the funicular to Montecatini Alto. (B & D)
Day 12 – Pisa & Lucca - Today we will see Italy's most photographed attraction, the Leaning Tower Day 13 – San Gimignano & Volterra - Today we will see first hand why the scenery of Tuscan countryside is so famous. We will visit the multi-towered town of San Gimignano that rises on a hilltop and Volterra, one of the finest and lesser known hilltop towns in the heart of Tuscany. Day 14 – Siena, Cortona & Gubbio - This morning we will visit Cortona & Siena, a flamboyant medieval mélange of palaces and towers, olive groves and orchards. The history of Siena has been made on the Piazza del Campo where they organized the Palio. We then continue to Gubbio. The remainder of the evening is free to enjoy the picturesque views of Gubbio. (B & D) Day 15 – Gubbio - Guided tour of Gubbio. We will explore the tiny streets, squares, churches, museums, boutiques, cathedrals and learn about legendary mysteries of this medieval old town. The historical center of Gubbio is of decidedly medieval aspect; the town is austere in appearance because of the dark grey stone, narrow streets and Gothic architecture. The main monuments of the city include: The Roman Theater, the massive Palazzo dei Consoli, Duomo, Palazzo Ducale, Church of S. Francesco. The rest of the day is at leisure. (B & D) Day 16 – Assisi & Spello - The day begins with a visit to the mystical town of Assisi. You will see one of the two churches of St. Francis Basilica, a massive structure containing magnificent frescoes attributed to Giotto, crypt where St. Francis (founder of the Franciscan order) ashes are buried. The town is dominated by two medieval castles. UNESCO collectively designated the major monuments and urban fabric of Assisi as a World Heritage Site. From Assisi we will journey to Spello, considered one of the best areas for Italy's wines. (B & D)
Day 18 – Rome - Morning at leisure. This afternoon we will have a tour of Imperial Rome. One of the symbols of Rome is the Coliseum, the largest amphitheatre ever built in the Roman Empire and used for gladiatorial combat. The Roman Forum was the central area around which ancient Rome developed. The Spanish Steps is a set of steps climbing a steep slope between the Piazza di Spagna and Piazza Trinità dei Monti. It is named after the nearby Embassy of Spain (1653). The famous Scalinata is without a doubt the longest and widest staircase in Europe. The Trevi Fountain is the largest and most ambitious of the Baroque fountains in Rome. This fountain was immortalized by films such as “Three coins in the Fountain, Roman Vacation, La Dolce Vita“. (B & D)
Other places of interest worth visiting on your own are: Piazza del Popolo with the church of Santa Maria where masterpieces of Pinturicchio, Raphael, Caravaggio and Bernini can be admired; Piazza Navona it is considered the most beautiful baroque square in Rome; The Pantheon is still the biggest concrete dome in the world (27 B.C.); Borghese Museum and Gallery with Bernini’s masterpieces “Apollo and Daphne”, “The Rape of Persephone“; Piazza Venezia with the monument to Italy‘s king Vittorio Emanuele (The Wedding Cake); Trastevere where the locals enjoy their favorite dishes of “abbacchio and spaghetti a’ matriciana”. (B & D) Day 20 – Pompeii & Ischia - Morning departure to the beautiful island of Ischia in the Bay of Naples. On the road we will stop in Pompei mainly famous for the ruins of the ancient city of Pompeii, destroyed during a catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius. A professional guide will give insights of life during Roman times. Arrival at the Grand Hotel**** Ischia Lido Resort & SPA in the afternoon. (B & D) Day 21 – Capri - Mini-cruise to the island of Capri. A funicular carries us up to Piazza Umberto I, the world famous '' Piazzetta'', lined with luxury boutiques, expensive restaurants and paparazzi chasing celebrities. Features of the island are the Marina Piccola, Belvedere of Tragara which is a highly panoramic promenade lined with villas, Faraglioni (rugged rocks jutting up from the sea), Anacapri, the Blue Grotto and the ruins of the Imperial Roman villas. (B & D) Day 22 – Sorrento - A short walk to the port and… mini-cruise on our way to the best-loved resorts: Sorrento, the lemon-scented jewel of the peninsula. Free full day in Sorrento to shop for the local specialty inlaid carving (intarsia), to enjoy the best views of the enchanting bay of Naples or to have lunch and wine in a local trattoria. Back to Ischia for a quick swim or relaxation in the spa before dinner at the hotel. (B & D)
Day 24 – Taormina - Today we will have a very early departure from Ischia to Naples and continue all the way down to Taormina with a dominating view of Mt. Etna in the foreground. After a late check-in we will have free time to relax and, perhaps, have a "limoncello" or two. This lovely resort town has been described as a Sicilian Monte Carlo without the casino or royal family. It was here, in romantic Taormina, that D.H. Lawrence was inspired to write Lady Chatterly's Lover, one of the most passionate and erotic love stories of its era. Taormina has endlessly winding medieval streets and tiny passages, each with its own secrets, great restaurants, cafés and ice cream bars. Some of these intriguing places are secluded gardens hidden by stone walls others are set on terraces overlooking the coast or in more public but equally pleasant squares. Taormina is beautiful by day but in the evenings its atmosphere is simply enchanting, whether you stroll the illuminated streets or indulge in the view of the coast over a delicious dinner. Then there's the spectacle of Mount Etna's nocturnal fires as lava flows along the snow-covered slopes of Europe's greatest natural wonder, leaving a stream of steam and light in its wake. The afternoon is free to explore,d shop, visit Giardini Naxos and/or Castelmola. (B & D) Day 25 - Taormina - After such a long journey we will have the morning free to recover and relax. In the afternoon we will have a guided tour of the town and its lovely streets and buildings as well as the imposing Greco-Romano theater with its view of Mt. Etna, Roman bath and Gothic church of St. Agostino. The Theater is mostly built out of bricks and is probably of Roman date even though the plan and arrangement are in accordance with those of Greek. It is frequently used for operatic and theatrical performances and concerts. (B & D) Day 26 – Piazza Armerina & Agrigento - We will get an early start driving across the interior of the island and to the southern coast. On our way to Agrigento we will stop in Piazza Armerina and Villa Romana del Casale with its remarkably well-preserved Roman mosaics. Agrigento is a dense town on the southern coast of Sicily founded on a plateau overlooking the sea. Ancient Akragas covers a huge area but is exemplified by the famous Valle dei Templi. (B & D) Day 27 – Agrigento - In the morning we will visit the Valley of the Temples where we will encounter some of the best preserved Greek temples in the world, remains of the city called the most beautiful city of the mortals by the Greek poet Pindar. Valle dei Templi is a large sacred area on the south side of the ancient city where seven monumental Greek temples in the Doric style were constructed during the 6th and 5th centuries BC. The best preserved temples are two very similar buildings traditionally attributed to the goddesses Juna Lacinia and Concordia. The latter temple is remarkably intact. The other temples are much more fragmentary, while the largest by far is the Temple of Olympian Zeus, it is believed to have been the largest Doric temple ever built. After our visit we will then en-route to Palermo. (B & D) Day 28 – Palermo - In the morning we will tour the exotic city of Palermo. We will visit the majestic Duomo, the Palatine Chapel rich with its spectacular mosaics, the richly decorated Church of San Giovanni and Piazza Pretoria with its ornate 16th century fountain. In the afternoon we will go to the hill town of Monreale with spectacular views of Palermo and the sea. The Duomo is world famous for its intricate, breathtaking mosaics and its peaceful cloister enclosed by 228 decorated columns. (B & D) Day 29 – Palermo - Transfer to Palermo Airport, have a safe return home, treasure the memories and… grazie and arrivederci a presto! (B) We reserve the right to change the itinerary and schedule times for logistic reasons. Departures from North America
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Day 6 – Venice - An early morning departure for a full day in 
Day 11 – Florence - A full day in 
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Day 19 – Rome - Morning tour of 
Day 23 – Amalfi & Positano - A short walk to the port and… on our way to the enchanting 
