Splendors of Italy | 2024
Join us on a journey to discover the Splendors of Italy starting at $4598 on the dates below from New York. You will see Milan, Lake Garda, Verona, Venice, the Piazza San Marco, the Basilica of St. Mark, the famous Bell Tower and the Clock Tower, Doges’ Palace, Pisa, the famous Leaning Tower, Lucca, Florence, enjoy beautiful gardens, stroll through the open-air markets, the Piazza della Signoria, Neptune Fountain, Vecchio Palace, the Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral, San Gimignano, Siena, and much more!
Departure dates
March 5, 2024
July 30, 2024
November 5, 2024
Contact: Judy Holiday
What's Included
- All Inclusive Pricing
- First Class Hotels
- Breakfast and Dinner Daily
- Deluxe A/C Motor Coaches
- Fuel Surcharges and Gov't Taxes
- Entrance and Program Fees
- Guided Tours
- International Airfare from NY
- Overseas Airport Transfers
- Guided Sightseeing with Top Guides
- Gratuities
- Administrative Fee
- Hotel Gratuities
Additional Baggage and Optional fees may apply.
Call: 619-345-0900 · Email: judy@judyholidaytravel.com
Daily Itinerary
Day 1 Depart Home
Your Italian adventure begins as you depart on your international flight.
Day 2 Arrive in Milan
Our representative will meet you at the airport in Milan. Then, begin your time in Italy with a stop overlooking Lake Garda, Italy’s largest lake. Continue to Verona, home to Roman ruins and Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Finish the day at your hotel in Verona.
Day 3 Venice
Travel by boat to the magical city of Venice. Rising between sea and sky, this fascinating city boasts waterways and boats instead of roads and cars, it comprises 118 islands separated by more than 150 canals. Stand in the Piazza San Marco, bordered on three sides by palatial arcades in two tiers and faced on the other by the Basilica of St. Mark, one of the world’s most magnificent churches. Tour the Basilica with its treasure of marble and gold background mosaics. From the square, you can see the famous Bell Tower and the Clock Tower, as well as the charming pink and white Doges’ Palace. After seeing the romantic Bridge of Sighs, enjoy free time to explore on your own. You can shop, stroll along the bridges and canals, or even indulge in a gondola ride along the Grand Canal. Return to your hotel in Verona for dinner and your overnight stay.
Day 4 Pisa and Lucca
Travel to Pisa and snap your photo in front of the famous Leaning Tower. This 180-foot-tall round tower is over 10 degrees out of perpendicular. Originally designed to stand straight, it began to lean during its construction in 1173 and corrective efforts failed. Even without its tilt, the building would still be one of the most remarkable bell towers in all of Europe. Wander the medieval walled city of Lucca, the birthplace of Puccini. Each of the walls is lined with a different species of tree, and together they encompass a town full of medieval churches. Check into your hotel in Montecatini Terme for three nights.
Day 5 Florence
The elegant city of Florence is nestled between a line of hills and the banks of the Arno River. During your visit to Florence, enjoy the beautiful gardens and a leisurely stroll through the open-air markets. Every street, square and winding alley is a showcase for Romanesque, Gothic, and Renaissance grandeur. Among Florence’s masterpieces, you’ll see the Piazza Della Signoria with its Neptune Fountain and Vecchio Palace, the Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral, which houses Michelangelo’s unfinished Pietá, the Baptistry, which features Ghiberti’s famous Gates of Paradise, and the Academy, where you can view some of Michelangelo’s finished and unfinished work, including the awe-inspiring David.
Day 6 San Gimignano & Siena
This morning, travel to one of the most charming and picturesque of all the Tuscan hill towns, San Gimignano. Magical medieval towers dominate the town, once numbering more than 70, only 14 towers remain today. Beautiful Siena is built across several hills and valleys. The focal point of the city is the shell-shaped town square, which is both a meeting place and marketplace. It is also the venue for the town’s famous horse race known as the “Palio.”
Day 7 Assisi
Your journey continues as you travel to Assisi, the charming medieval town once home to Saint Francis. Just two years after his death, the large Basilica was started in his memory. At one time, the land on which the church now stands was an execution ground for condemned criminals. In his humility, Saint Francis asked to be buried there, and it became known as the Hill of Paradise. The church contains his tomb and many great works of art. Finish your day by checking into your hotel in Rome for your three-night stay.
Day 8 Ancient Rome
History is woven through the streets and neighborhoods of Rome as in no other place on earth. Explore the many wonders of ancient Rome as you visit the magnificent Colosseum and the Pantheon. From the most sacred hill of ancient Rome, Campidoglio, view the Forum. See the Circus Maximus, the Arch of Titus, the famous Baths of Caracalla, the Arch of Constantine, and the Victor Emanuel Monument. View the Monti Region, Rome’s most ancient neighborhood, which spreads over three of her seven hills. In the afternoon, explore the romance of Rome as you climb the graceful Spanish Steps and stop at the famous Trevi Fountain. Legend says those who toss a coin into the fountain will one day return to Rome to toss another into the waters of Trevi.
Day 9 Vatican City & Christian Rome
Experience the glory of Christian Rome today as you visit the Vatican, home to one of the greatest museums in the world. And, of course, tour St. Peter’s Basilica and the Sistine Chapel with Michelangelo’s frescoes, now restored to their full, colorful glory. Tour the Catacombs of St. Sebastino and see some of the only surviving examples of early Christian art. In the 1840s, Pope Gregory XVI took steps to preserve the catacombs and their treasures. Visit the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, which stands over the place where Constantine built the first church (over St. Paul’s grave), before returning to your hotel to begin packing for your return journey home.
Day 10 Return Home or Enjoy the Optional Amalfi Coast Extension
Return home with memories to share or continue your Italian experience on the Amalfi Coast Extension.
Enhance Your Journey
Amalfi Coast
5-Days | Starting at $1,799*
Day 10 - Sorrento
Travel to Castel Gandolfo, the Pope’s summer residence. The Romans also preferred this area in the summer to get out of the heat. Enjoy the incredible beauty of this region as your bus travels to Sorrento. You will be in awe of the dramatic cliff-top drive that leads to your hotel. During your three-night stay, you’ll have time to discover the colorful ambiance of this delightful town and enjoy the view of Mt. Vesuvius.
Day 11 - Amalfi Coast
The Amalfi Coast is considered to be one of Italy’s finest! You will be enchanted by the rich hues of the blue-green sea, the tiny mystical islands, and the pastel colored cottages gathered around tiny harbors! Have your camera ready to capture one breathtaking view after another! Snap a photo of the famous village of Positano, which has graced a thousand postcards and charmed at least three generations of travelers. Visit the town of Amalfi, a must for every visitor! A glorious maritime republic from the 9th to 12th centuries, the town is famous as the place where the compass was invented and boasts a splendid Duomo in Arab-Norman style. Time permitting, you’ll stop at the village of Vietri Sul Mar, home of Amalfi Coast ceramic factories which produce the colorful tiles that decorate every church tower in the area.
Day 12 - Capri
Enjoy a boat ride to the lovely Isle of Capri which has enticed visitors for thousands of years. Today you will have the opportunity to savor its beauty and be captivated by the fabulous views and elegant shops.
Day 13 - Pompeii
You will visit the spectacular ruins in Pompeii, which were covered by the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 A.D. The city remained buried and undiscovered for almost 1,500 years until 1748. Excavations continue today and provide insight into life during the Roman Empire. Continue to the Rome area for dinner and overnight.
Day 14 - Return Home
Departure Dates
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Tuesday, November 5, 2024From $4798