Visit some of Italy’s most iconic, romantic, and stunning locations on your escorted tour of Italy: from legendary Venice to Florence, Rome, and Sorrento. With fewer crowds and lower pricing, you’ll enjoy your time in Italy even more. What better way to start your Escape than with a delicious welcome dinner in Venice? Your Venetian experience also includes a private boat ride, a guided walking tour; a visit to St. Mark’s Square, its byzantine Basilica, the Doges’ Palace, and the Bridge of Sighs. Also witness the age-old art of glassblowing by a local artisan. Travel to Pisa—home of the famous leaning tower—before continuing on to Florence, considered the “Cradle of the Renaissance”. Florence is an art-lovers dream, and your sightseeing highlights this and includes Michelangelo’s David in the Academy of Fine Arts. You’ll also travel to Assisi to visit the Basilica of St. Francis—named after the saint who sought the virtues of humility, forgiveness, simplicity, and best known for his love of God’s creatures.

Spend two nights in Rome. Your Local Guide takes you to the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel, where you will see Michelangelo’s The Last Judgment. You’ll visit St. Peter’s Square and Basilica—with the artists’ marble-sculpted masterpiece, The Pietà. Drive to the Imperial Roman Forum area to see the Colosseum—ancient arena of the gladiators, and be treated to dinner in a local restaurant. Journey along the Highway of the Sun to Pompeii—the legendary city both destroyed and preserved by erupting Mt. Vesuvius. Get a sense of life during Rome’s ruling era with your expert Local Guide, then, continue to Sorrento for two nights. You’ll enjoy a full day of leisure in this charming bayside resort. Your Tour Director will share suggestions for spending free time in Sorrento. This is one vacation you’ll remember not for the crowds, but for the ease of discovering these beautiful cities and sites of Bella Italia and Sorrento!

City Highlights

VENICE Welcome dinner at a local restaurant; private boat ride; guided walking tour, visit St. Mark’s Square, Doges’ Palace and the Bridge of Sighs; glassblower’s demonstrationPISA Marvel at the legendary Leaning TowerFLORENCE Guided walking tour, visit Michelangelo’s David and Signoria SquareASSISI [LF] Visit the Basilica of St. Francis with a friarROME Guided sightseeing, visit the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel, St. Peter’s Square and basilica; dinner at a local restaurantPOMPEII Guided walking tour of the excavationsSORRENTO Farewell dinner

Meals

Full buffet breakfast daily; 4 three-course dinners with wine including a welcome dinner in Venice at a local restaurant and a farewell dinner in Sorrento

Notes

Hotels listed may occasionally be substituted with alternative hotels of equivalent standard.

Transportation

Motorcoach; private boat ride in Venice. Free wi-fi available on your motorcoach and in most hotel lobbies