Italia Bella Grand

Ontario Sarracini’s original tour of Italy is perfect for discovering both popular postcard destinations as well as Italy’s hidden cultural and spiritual treasures. On this sixteen-day tour spanning twenty-three locations, you’ll experience the Italy that’s on everyone’s wish list – including Venice, Milan, Florence, Rome, Naples, and Capri as well as the Italy that should be on everyone’s list – but isn’t yet! We make sure you don’t miss smaller gems like the Borromean Islands, Agrigento and its 2,500 year old Valley of the Temples, Verona’s famous balcony, and Sicily’s Mt. Etna

Itinerary

Day 1: VENICE – PADUA – CASTELFRANCO
Welcome to Venice. Our first stop will be at St. Anthony’s Basilica in Padua. Continue to Castelfranco Veneto. (L/D)

Day 2: CASTELFRANCO – VENICE – CASTELFRANCO
Explore the maze of islands, canals, and bridges of the Giudecca canal before our tour guide takes us to St. Mark’s Square, the Bridge of Sighs, and to see Venetian glass blowers. (B/D)

Day 3: CASTELFRANCO – VERONA – MILAN – STRESA
First stop is Verona, a unesco World Heritage site famous for it’s Roman theatre and the balcony dedicated to Romeo and Juliet. Continue to Milan for an afternoon guided tour before our arrival in Stresa. (B/L/D)

Day 4: STRESA
Today we tour the Borromean Islands of Isola Bella and Isola Pescatori, where we will enjoy lunch. (B/L/D)

Day 5: STRESA – PARMA – MONTECATINI
We stop in Parma, known for its famous cheese and prosciutto. After lunch and leisure time, we will leave for Montecatini, Tuscany. (B/L/D)

Day 6: MONTECATINI – FLORENCE – MONTECATINI
“The Divine” tour of Florence includes Giotto’s Bell Tower and the Ponte Vecchio followed by free time to shop the artisinal boutiques. (B/D)

Day 7: MONTECATINI – ASSISI – ROME
After our visit of the famous Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi we continue toward the ‘eternal city’ of Rome. (B/L/D)

Day 8: ROME
The Forum, Coliseum and St. Peter’s Basilica are a few of the attractions included in our city tour today. Explore Rome in the afternoon at your leisure. (B/D)

Day 9: ROME – MONTECASSINO – POMPEI – OVERNIGHT TO PALERMO
Our trip continues to Naples with a brief lunch stop in Montecassino to visit the Abbey. After a tour in Pompeii we travel to the port of Naples for our overnight
ferry crossing into Palermo. (B/L)

Day 10: PALERMO – Monreale – Palermo
After docking in Palermo enjoy a guided tour of Palermo and Monreale. Following lunch, we will visit the Sanctuary of Saint Rosalia. (L/D)

Day 11: PALERMO – AGRIGENTO − CALTAGIRONE
After visiting the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento, which dates back 2500 years, we continue to Caltagirone. Afternoon city tour featuring the monumental staircase of Santa Maria del Monte. (B/L/D)

Day 12: CALT AGIRONE – SIRACUSA – CATANIA – ACIREALE
Today we visit the archaeological park of Neapolis and Ortigia in Siracusa. After lunch we continue to Catania to see the elephant fountain at the Piazza del Duomo. Evening in Acireale. (B/L/D)

Day 13: ACIREALE – MT. ETNA – TAORMINA – ACIREALE
At Mt. Etna, we will visit the “Silvestri” craters from 1983 followed by lunch in a farmhouse serving superb family dishes. An excursion to Taormina will follow. (B/L/D)

Day 14: ACIREALE – SORRENTO
Experience the mountainous scenery of Italy’s southern region as we drive through Calabria. Lunch at an “Autogrill” en route to Sorrento. (B/L/D)

Day 15: SORRENTO – CAPRI – SORRENTO
Today’s highlight: a trip to Capri, an island famous since Roman times. If weather permits, enjoy an optional excursion to the Blue Grotto before returning to Sorrento. (B/L/D)

Day 16: SORRENTO – ROME
Homebound passengers will board their flight. Those who remain in Italy, have a pleasant stay. (B)

Breakfast (B), Lunch (L), Dinner (D)

Includes

Tour Includes:
- Hotel accommodation
- Deluxe motorcoach transportation
- Meals per itinerary
- Wine and mineral water at dinner
- Multilingual tour escorts
- Guided city tours as per itinerary
- Admission fees as per itinerary
- These lead-in rates are land-only (do not include airfare)

Essential Information

$3,195 Double
$3,095 Triple
$3,995 Single
$2,795 Child (5-11 yrs)
(all taxes included)