Compare Cinque Terre, Carrara and Medieval Hill Towns by Road Scholar vs ITALY IN 10 DAYS - LUXURY TOUR - Venice, Florence, Rome and Amalfi Coast by Vitor Italy Tours

Day 1 In Transit to Program In Flight

Day 2 Arrivals, Neighborhood Walk, Welcome Reception Lerici

Hotel check in 3:00 p.m.

After checking in to the hotel and getting your room assignment, take some time to freshen up. We will meet back in the hotel lobby at 4:00 p.m. for an introductory walk with our Group Leader in the neighborhood to identify ATMs, pharmacies, stores, restaurants, etc. Walking in and around the seaside town of Lerici, we’ll have spectacular views of the castle from the outside courtyard. Our short walk will circle back to the hotel where we will gather for a welcome drink.

At leisure. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day tomorrow.

At the restaurant in the lobby of the hotel.

Day 3 Orientation, Walk to San Terenzo, Welcome to Liguria Lerici

Walking 1 mile each way to San Terenzo along uneven sidewalk along the seafront.

Orientation. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. We will review COVID-19 protocols and will adhere to local COVID-19 guidelines and requirements throughout the program. Included meals will feature regional cuisine. Water will be included with all meals. Transportation for program-related activities will be via motorcoach unless specified otherwise. Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding. Next, we’ll set out on a walking field trip with our Group Leader in Lerici. Among the highlights we will see are the outer courtyard of the massive castle that dates from 1241. The castle is perched on a bay that is part of the Golfo della Spezia (Gulf of La Spezia), also known as the Golfo Poeti (Gulf of Poets) for the writers and poets who have found this a treasured spot for centuries, including Dante, Petrarch, Byron, and Shelley. We will enjoy beautiful views of the bay before returning to the hotel.

Returning to the hotel, we will be joined by a local expert who will give us an introduction to the region of Liguria, addressing its geography, history as a maritime power, role in the World War II resistance movement, and UNESCO World Heritage sites. From the UNESCO inscription: “The Ligurian coast between Cinque Terre and Portovenere is a cultural landscape of great scenic and cultural value. The layout and disposition of the small towns and the shaping of the surrounding landscape, overcoming the disadvantages of a steep, uneven terrain, encapsulate the continuous history of human settlement in this region over the past millennium.”

At leisure.

At the hotel.

At a restaurant along the seaside promenade in San Terenzo.

At a pizzeria on the waterfront in Lerici.

Day 4 Boat to Cinque Terre, Monterosso al Mare, Portovenere Lerici

Getting on/off a private boat; riding approximately 1 hour each way. Walking up to 3 miles throughout the day; stone pavement with inclines, unavoidable stairs, some with no handrail. Elective, challenging 3-mile hike from Monterosso to Vernazza, approximately 2.5 hours; dirt and gravel trail, uneven footpath with steep inclines (up to 920 feet overall), stone steps, no railings.

We will walk with our Group Leader from the hotel to the dock and board our private boat for the ride to Monterosso al Mare, marveling at the sight of the rocky coast and terraced vineyards of the Cinque Terre. In Monterosso, the northernmost village, a local expert will lead a walking field trip as we explore the beachfront and inner narrow streets lined with colorful houses and shops. An elective hike will be offered for those who wish to undertake a physical challenge. Those who elect to hike along the scenic park path between Monterosso and Vernazza will be accompanied by another local expert. Hiking the Cinque Terre Park trails can be fun if you know what to expect. Every step requires concentration for the uneven terrain and for the care needed while passing hikers moving in the opposite direction on the narrow trail. The trail has elevations up to 920 feet with many uneven steps — approximately 200 steps up/down — along dirt and gravel paths. There are no fountains or places to replenish water. Good hiking shoes, a water bottle, backpack, hat and walking sticks are highly recommended. Those who elect to hike this trail will rendezvous with the rest of the group in Vernazza. NOTE: In case of inclement weather or dangerous sea conditions, the Group Leader will make every effort to switch the date of the boating field trip.

We will regroup at a designated time and place to board the boat for Vernazza. We will have some independent time there to visit the small natural harbor/marina or climb the steps to the lookout tower. The town has one main road and a large square at the marina. You might like to explore the rocky fortress at the top of the town or relax at a café. Next, the entire group will board the boat to Lerici with a final stop in Portovenere. our local expert will lead our exploration as we stroll along the tightly stacked houses, colorful and tall, that were constructed in a row as an impenetrable fortress. We will have some independent time to visit the 12th-century chapel set on the promontory that juts out into the sea. The heart of Portovenere is closed to traffic and has a mix of art galleries, cafés, and more. We’ll then rendezvous at the dock at a designated time for the boat ride across the bay back to Lerici and return to our hotel.

At leisure. You might enjoy a walk along the seafront.

At the hotel.

On your own to have what you like in Monterosso. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. There are numerous cafés, foccacerie, and trattorie.

At a waterfront restaurant in Lerici.

Day 5 Poets of the Gulf, Village of Tellaro Lerici

Getting on/off a public bus; riding about 2 miles, 1/4 hour. Walking up to 4 miles; paved country road (not a busy thoroughfare), no sidewalks, inclines, unavoidable steps, some with no handrail. Elective walk is along a 2.5 mile paved road with no sidewalks, but light traffic and pedestrian-friendly. The elective walk takes about an hour including stops to enjoy panoramic vistas of the sea below.

Our local expert will give us a presentation on English poets and writers who lived around the Gulf of La Spezia, and for whom the natural harbor is called the “Gulf of Poets.” After a short break we'll ride the public bus to Tellaro, a colorful village on the eastern end of the Gulf of La Spezia. Tellaro is designated as one of the “Borghi più belli d’Italia” — most beautiful villages in Italy. With our local expert we'll take a leisurely stroll along the narrow paved path that winds down to the marina and the small church dedicated to St. George. One of the local legends is that in 1660, a giant octopus saved the village from marauding Saracen pirates by ringing the church bell to warn the people. Our exploration of Tellaro will end up at our lunch venue.

With our Group Leader we will walk back to the hotel along the 2.5 mile paved road that connects Tellaro and Lerici. There are no sidewalks but the traffic is light and pedestrian-friendly. Those who prefer not to walk may ride the public bus with the local expert and meet back at the hotel. Later in the afternoon we’ll gather in the meeting room for a presentation by a local expert on culinary traditions of Liguria and Lunigiana.

At leisure.

At the hotel.

At a local restaurant.

On your own.

Day 6 Lunigiana Agriturismo, Cooking Demonstration, Castle Lerici

Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 61 miles throughout the day, approximately 2 hours total riding time; winding, hilly, country roads. Walking about 2 miles throughout the day; uneven sidewalks paved with cobblestones, unavoidable stairs from road to castle entrance.

We’ll gather in the hotel meeting room for a presentation by a local expert to learn about the traditions of booksellers and pilgrim routes in Lunigiana that date back to the Middle Ages and how they are still flourishing today. After a short break we’ll board a motorcoach and ride to an agriturismo in the Lunigiana hills amid the Tuscan-Emilian National Apennine Park. An agriturismo is an independently-owned farm that offers accommodations and meals as an adjunct to farming. Montagna Verde, a working organic farm, is set in 1,500 acres of reserve land at the foot of the Apennine Mountain range. Our hosts will welcome us and lead a cooking demonstration. We will then set out on a walking field trip in the medieval hamlet of Apella, where we will peek into a traditional chestnut-drying room. These typically consist of two levels in which the chestnuts above are dried slowly by chestnut wood burning below. The dried chestnuts are ground into flour used in many kinds of dishes.

We will reboard the motorcoach and ride to a hamlet once dominated by the Malaspina family. Its medieval castle that was a fortress is now a residence. The owner will lead our exploration. We’ll then ride back to Lerici.

At leisure.

At the hotel.

At the agriturismo.

On your own to have what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.

Day 7 Riomaggiore, Manarola, Vineyard Walk, Wine Tasting Lerici

Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 20 miles throughout the day, approximately 1 hour riding time. Walking up to 3 miles; steep inclines, uneven pavement, steps without handrails. From motorcoach drop-off point in Volastra, elective short walk; very narrow, uneven path to terraced vineyard; single file, no railings, bench available for anyone not electing to do the vineyard walk.

We’ll board a motorcoach with a local expert to explore more of the Cinque Terra, riding up into the hills above the Gulf of La Spezia to Riomaggiore, where we will explore the village. We’ll then board the train for Manarola, the second village of the Cinque Terre. We’ll set out on a walking field trip that will take us to the marina and around the promontory with excellent photo opportunities of the colorful village and terraced vineyards. Next, we’ll walk to the summit of the hill town of Manarola, reboard our motorcoach, and ride further up into terraced hills to the hamlet of Volastra. Our local expert will lead an elective walk in the vineyard where we will learn how the terraces were built centuries ago so that local people could make a living from the rocky mountainside.

Re-boarding the motorcoach, we’ll ride back to Lerici. The remainder of the afternoon will be free.

At leisure.

At the hotel.

A light lunch in the winery's tasting room.

On your own.

Day 8 Filetto, Pontremoli, Ancient Monoliths, Winery Lerici

Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 50 miles throughout the day, approximately 1 hour riding time. Walking up to 3 miles; traffic-free center, uneven terrain, inclines paved with cobblestones, unavoidable steps including some without handrail. Elective walk about 2 miles, approximately 1 hour; uneven dirt path, steep incline.

We’ll board a motorcoach and ride to Filetto, near Villafranca. A local expert will lead our exploration of this walled hamlet. For those with stamina and a taste for adventure, our local expert will lead an elective trek along a section of the Via Francigena — the Pilgrim’s Path — that connects Canterbury in the UK to Rome. The footpath segment to Virgoletta/Bagnone is uneven with a steep hill to climb. The Group Leader will accompany those who prefer not to take the elective walk and ride to Bagnone in our coach. When the entire group is together again, we will ride Pontremoli, a medieval town in Lunigiana.

We will start our exploration of Pontremoli with a walking field trip in this traffic-free town. A local expert will provide historical background, apparent in its medieval bridges, baroque residences, and elegant coffee shops. Our walk will end at the edge of town with a stunning panorama of the surrounding countryside. There in Pontremoli, we will explore the 11th-century Castle of Piagnaro that houses the recently renovated Museum of Statue Stele, prehistoric monoliths of human figures found in the area. We will reboard the motorcoach and ride back to Lerici after our field trip.

At leisure.

At the hotel.

At a characteristic trattoria in Pontremoli.

At a local restaurant.

Day 9 Life in Italy Today, Free Time, Winery Dinner Lerici

Getting on/off coach, riding 40 minutes. Walking up to 1 mile at the winery.

We will be joined by a local expert for a presentation on institutions and traditions that prevail in Italy today. Among the topics we’ll learn about are the education system, health care, and the role of the family, plus Q&A.

Free time. This period of time has been set aside for your personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. Please refer to the list of Free Time Opportunities. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Please note that the period scheduled for free time is subject to change depending on local circumstances and opportunities for independent exploration.

Returning to the hotel by coach, be sure to prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.

At the hotel.

On your own to have what you like.

We'll board a motorcoach for dinner at a local winery.

Day 10 Carrara Marble Quarries, Transfer to Pisa Pisa

Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 63 miles throughout the day on steep, narrow, winding road, approximately 1.5 hours riding time. Walking up to 4 miles throughout the day; extended standing during field trips, dirt and loose stone path at quarry. Elective walk to/from hotel to Leaning Tower in Pisa 1 mile each way; city sidewalks, mostly flat, some uneven paving stones.

A local expert will give us a presentation on Michelangelo and Carrara marble. That great artist — who considered himself primarily a sculptor rather than a painter — traveled to the quarries of Carrara dozens of times during his lifetime to select the blocks of characteristic white marble he wanted. We will check out of the hotel, board a motorcoach, and ride to Carrara at the foot of the Apuan Alps. We’ll visit a sculptors’ workshop (work schedules permitting). With a local expert, we’ll ride on to the still active marble quarries and learn about the fascinating technique of modern stone excavation. In recent years, nearly a million tons of marble have been removed annually, resulting in a battle between environmentalists and companies that extract the stone.

A local expert will lead us on a walking field trip through Carrara’s main square where we will see historic as well as modern marble monuments. We’ll then reboard the motorcoach and ride to our hotel in Pisa for a late afternoon check-in.

At leisure. Prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.

At the hotel.

At a wine bar/restaurant in the heart of Carrara.

At a local restaurant. Share favorite experiences with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner and bid “arrivederci Italia!”

Day 11 Program Concludes In Flight

Hotel check out 11:00 a.m. See your program’s GETTING THERE information regarding transfers.

If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!

At the hotel. For those with early morning departures, the hotel will prepare a bag breakfast to take away. This concludes our program.

DAY 1 – VENICE
Welcome to the “unique” Venice, the “city on the lagoon”! You will be astonished by its beauty and charm!

You will start your visit with Piazza San Marco (St. Mark’s Square) and the interior of the Basilica, a 900 years old marvel of architecture! The church is unique in Italy for its golden Byzantine and Medieval mosaics, its intricate stone and marble traceries and exuberant Middle Eastern domes. Near St. Mark’s Basilica is Palazzo Ducale, the most impressive secular building in Venice and once the official residence of the supreme authority of Venice, the “Doge”. A masterpiece of Gothic architecture, the Doge’s Palace is an impressive structure composed of layers of building elements and ornamentation, from its 14th and 15th-century original foundations to the significant Renaissance and opulent Mannerist adjunctions.

Then you may visit Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari (Saint Mary’s of Friars), striking for its huge size and for the quality of its works of art, including masterpieces by Titian, Giovanni Bellini and Donatello, and several grandiose tombs. Also, you may explore the streets and savour everyday life in an intricate maze of ancient narrow alleyways, lively squares with magnificent buildings and meandering canals, and finally walk on the Rialto Bridge, the busy "heart" of Venice. Last but not least, you will enjoy a Gondola ride on the city’s canals: a jump back in time, when Venetians moved only on the water.

At lunch, relax by tasting wine and savouring delicious ”cicheti”, the Venetian version of finger food. There is tremendous variety, and options include anything from simple cheese or salami to almost any kind of seafood, fried and grilled vegetables, sweet and sour sardines, creamy codfish and much, much more!

Rich in traditions, Venice presents a wide selection of unique artisan products. In the city of the Italian carnival, the typical Venetian masks are a must. The cost of the original ones is relatively high, but it is really worth it! Also, don’t miss an authentic Murano glass object: each product is made and painted by hand, but be sure you buy an original product from Murano, guaranteed by a label or a signature (and the seller), not a Chinese copy!

A must-see is the fruit and vegetable Mercato di Rialto, the Rialto fish Market in Venice! The market is buzzing with life. Scour the stalls of the Pescaria for glistening mountains of moscardini (baby octopus), moeche (soft-shell crabs), and inky seppie (squid) and take as many pictures as you want! Those who love sweets can go to a bakery and buy the famous Carnival “fritole”, “baicoli” or “spuncioti de caramel”.

Venice
At dinner, you will be delighted by the flavours of the regional cuisine of Veneto, boasting delicious recipes such as“Sarde in saor”, Risotto with seafood, the typical “Baccala' mantecato”, to finish with a fantastic “Bussolà” (for an overview of the regional cuisine of Veneto see the article in our BLOG).

DAY 2 – MODENA
Modena is renowned worldwide for the famous people - Enzo Ferrari and Luciano Pavarotti above all - who were born and lived here, and for some of its gastronomical products. The city is the capital of the so-called “Motor Valley”: actually the factories of the famous Italian sports car makers Ferrari, De Tomaso, Lamborghini and Maserati are located here.

In Maranello, you will visit Museo Ferrari, not just a collection of the past, but an extraordinary experience of the world of Ferrari and sports car racing! How exciting to see the most beautiful cars in the world, exceptional artworks made by modern mechanic artisan masters.

Afterwards, you will move to the estate of a Balsamic Vinegar of Modena Producer to delight in the unique, enticing taste of traditional balsamic vinegar. Balsamic Vinegar of Modena is obtained from partially fermented, cooked and concentrated grape must. The grapes come exclusively from the area's vines, and the most critical processing phase is refinement, inside containers of fine wood, such as oak, chestnut, oak, mulberry and juniper. Want to know more about this unique delicacy? Read the article in our BLOG.
Maranello

DAY 3 – FLORENCE
Welcome to Florence, the symbol of the Italian Renaissance!

Despite its international fame and greatness, Florence is also a small city, whose history has been interwoven with that of its passionate citizens for more than one thousand years

In Piazza Duomo you will be astonished by the Duomo, with the incredible Brunelleschi’s cupola, a masterpiece of art and architecture whose building techniques building are still covered with a veil of mystery. Beside it, Giotto’s Campanile (Belltower) and the Baptistery, one of the oldest buildings in the city, with its famous bronze doors made by Pisano and Ghiberti in the 14th and 15th centuries. In Piazza della Signoria we will walk in the middle of bronze and marble masterpieces by Giambologna and Cellini inside the marvellous Loggia dei Lanzi, and will admire the imposing Palazzo Vecchio, one of the symbols of Florence and still the seat of government of the city. We may also spare some time to relax, visiting a typical market for shopping, strolling through the pedestrian streets of the city and crossing the oldest bridge in Florence, “Ponte Vecchio” (Old Bridge), rich of jewellery shops.

Your itinerary will include Galleria dell’Accademia, hosting Michelangelo's David, the most famous sculpture in the world. The David was uncovered and shown to the Florentines on September 8, 1504, and with its height of 4 meters, the impeccable physical features and the political significance that the iconography of David had taken over the previous century left the Florentines of the time speechless and has done the same ever since with visitors from all over the world.

Florence is also the main Italian centre for the production of high-quality leather goods. The Florentine artisans are so famous that many fashion brands have opened their factories in the city or close to it, due to the high skill of the artisans involved and to the continuous inspiration that designers take from the town’s masterpieces. The area around Piazza Santa Croce, in particular, hosts numerous leather shops and workshops.

Thanks to the tradition of Tuscan tanneries, there is no better place to find shoes for all tastes than Florence: from the creations, designed and produced by hand by skilled craftsmen, to the large collections available in stores, renewed every season. Above all, for refinement and elegance, Ferragamo (also worth seeing the museum), Gucci and Prada. If you prefer a simpler style, across the river Arno there are many shops specialized in handmade shoes and sandals.

At dinner, taste the simple yet unforgettable recipes of the Tuscan tradition, such as "Crostini", "Panzanella" and "Peposo". And remember, Florence is the home of "Fiorentina" steak! In case you are a vegetarian, don’t worry: Tuscan cuisine offers tasty alternatives like “Pappa al Pomodoro” or “Ribollita” (for an overview of Tuscan cuisine see the article in our BLOG).

Florence

DAY 3 – PISA
Pisa is famous all over the world for its “Torre Pendente” (the Leaning Tower), but its wonderful square, Piazza dei Miracoli, set over an ample green field, hosts three other whiter-than-white masterpieces of grandiose Medieval art: the renowned Leaning Tower (also the Bell Tower), the Camposanto (or graveyard), the Baptristy and the Cathedral itself. They are so unique that their creation gave origin to a new style, "Pisan Romanesque".

This area was chosen to construct the Duomo of Santa Maria Assunta exactly for its centrality; founded in 1064, it was intended to celebrate the grandeur of Pisa during the Marine Republic’s epoch of power. "The temple of marble white as the snow" is how the structure is described on the gravestone of its architect, Buscheto di Giovanni Giudice. Consisting of five naves with its transept divided into three naves, it is surmounted by a splendid dome encircled by a loggia. The Duomo’s façade and exterior lateral sections feature elaborate decoration in marble (which can also be seen on its interior), mosaics, and bronze.

In front of the Cathedral stands the Baptistry, also in a particular version of the Romanesque style. Initiated in 1152 by Diotisalvi, the Baptistry was finally completed in the 14th century; at that point, Gothic elements were also added. Of cylindrical form and circled by arcades of columns, this structure in white marble even boasts amazing acoustics.

The Camposanto closes the northern end of the piazza in which the complex lies. This monumental cemetery, begun in 1278, is bordered by a fence of marble and houses a cloister at its centre. The majority of the frescoes that once coloured its walls were, unfortunately, destroyed in a fire in 1944 during the battle for Pisa.

Ultimately, the real symbol of Pisa is the Campanile, that is the Leaning Tower, that completes the image of this city. Because of land sinkage beneath it, the Tower stands at a significant incline – this sinkage impeded its very construction to a great extent. It was started in 1173, taken up again in 1275, and not completed until the second half of the 1300s. In cylindrical form, the blind arcades of its lower part mutate into six floors of loggias, repeating motifs from the Duomo. Inside, a spiral staircase of 294 steps leads to the heights of one of the most famous towers in the world, where the lovely belfry and a spectacular view of the surrounding landscape await.

Pisa

DAY 4 – SIENA & SAN GIMIGNANO
In Siena, the city of the Palio, you will walk on the famous Piazza del Campo, the concave square where horses run twice a year in a dangerous race that symbolizes the city’s freedom. On the days of the Palio, the whole town goes crazy; read about it in our article in our BLOG).

But, maybe, the thing that you are going to remember better is the colour of frontages and roofs, the renowned colour “Sienna”, a pigment first produced during the Renaissance, that makes the city lovely and warm. And don’t forget to taste the Senese sweets: “cantucci” (biscuits with toasted almonds), “ricciarelli” (soft biscuits with icing sugar), “panforte” (cake with fruit nuts and spices) and “cavallucci” (biscuits with honey, walnut, candied fruits and spices. Travellers who love dessert will be delighted!

Siena
In the afternoon, you will stroll with our head upwards along the streets of one of the most beautiful cities in Tuscany, San Gimignano, also known as the "Medieval Manhattan", thanks to its very old and impressive 14 towers that dominate the town skyline. Originally the towers were 72, built by patrician families probably to demonstrate their wealth and power. Seven of San Gimignano's towers are around Piazza del Duomo, the tallest one is Torre Grossa, 54 meters high, dating back to 1298.

San Gimignano

DAY 5 – VAL D’ORCIA
Val d’Orcia is one of the most fascinating places in Italy, included by UNESCO in the list of World Heritage Sites. The landscape of Val d’Orcia is a part of the agricultural hinterland of Siena, redrawn and developed when it was integrated into the territory of the city-state in the 14th and 15th centuries to reflect an idealized model of good governance and to create an aesthetically pleasing picture. The landscape’s distinctive aesthetics, flat chalk plains out of which rise almost conical hills with fortified settlements on top, inspired many artists. Their images have come to exemplify the beauty of well-managed Renaissance agricultural landscapes.

In Montepulciano, our friend Francesca will lead you to discover this beautiful town full of stories, legends and thousand flavours. She will walk with you in the historical centre to find its origin and products with itinerant tastings of olive oil, pecorino cheese and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano.

Then, you will get to Montalcino, one of the prettiest hill towns in Tuscany. Around the village, rows of olive trees, precious grapevines and yellow fields create an enchanting landscape. Here you will visit a Brunello di Montalcino winery, to taste the most famous Supertuscan wine, probably the best Italian red!

Val d'Orcia
Finally, you will stop in Bagno Vignoni, a tiny and charming village where the main square is a pool 49 meters long and 29 wide. Several hot springs, whose therapeutic quality has been renowned since antiquity, bubble up from its bottom! All this creates such a pleasant sensation; it will be hard to leave!

DAYS 6 & 7 – ROME
Here you are in Rome, a place where ancient history, excellent art and religious icons mix in a unique blend!

You will will start from the 2,000-year-old Colosseum, the most famous amphitheatre in the world, and the Imperial Forums, the administrative and monumental centre of the Roman Empire. On the Palatine Hill, the grandiose ruins of the Palaces of Augusto, Tiberius and Domiziano still dominate the Circus Maximus valley, 50-meter-high structures giving a unique view of the city.

Walking from the Colosseum to Piazza Venezia, on our right we may reach the Church of San Pietro in Vincoli, hosting the famous sculpture of Moses by Michelangelo.

From Piazza Venezia, you will head inside “Baroque” Rome, starting with the Pantheon, dedicated to the worship of every god (Pan-every Theon-divinity), now the memorial chapel of great Italian people of the past. After that, you should not miss the Church of St. Louis of the French, famous for the cycle of paintings of the great Caravaggio at the end of the 16th century. Then, Piazza Navona, the splendid oval area corresponding to the underground Domitianus’ Stadium, with the gorgeous Fountain of the Four Rivers by Lorenzo Bernini in the centre of the Piazza. And finally Fontana di Trevi, the biggest and most famous fountain of the city, a Rome icon known all over the world: here statues of travertine marble stand over the cliff and the wide basin, in an epic representation of the Kingdom of the Oceans.

Your Roman experience will include a Roman Cooking Class; here, you will learn the secrets of the typical Roman pasta, fettuccine and bucatini!

At the end of the day, sit down at a local "trattoria" or "fiaschetteria", the typical home-style restaurant, to taste the true Roman cuisine in a popular and cheerful atmosphere (for an overview of Roman cuisine see the article in our BLOG).

Colosseum

DAY 7 – VATICAN CITY
On the other side of River Tevere, Vatican hill is the home of the tiny state of Vatican City. The immense St. Peter’s Basilica dominates the extraordinary Piazza framed by the magnificent four column-deep colonnades, designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini. The Basilica itself is an extraordinary casket for some of the most beautiful works of art in the world, such as Michelangelo’s “La Pietà” and Bernini’s “Baldacchino”, along with works of the most important artists of the Renaissance, from Raphael to Canova.

Inside the Vatican Museums, you will be astonished by the exquisite and unique Sistine Chapel, the sancta sanctorum of the Roman Catholic Church, where cardinals gather to elect the new Pope! The Sistine Chapel takes its name from Pope Sixtus IV della Rovere (pontiff from 1471 to 1484) who had the old Cappella Magna restored between 1477 and 1480. The decoration of the walls was executed by a team of painters, Pietro Perugino, Sandro Botticelli, Domenico Ghirlandaio and Cosimo Rosselli, assisted by their respective shops. Julius II della Rovere (pontiff from 1503 to 1513), the nephew of Sixtus IV, decided to partly alter the decoration, entrusting the work in 1508 to Michelangelo Buonarroti, who painted the Ceiling and, on the upper part of the walls, the lunettes. The nine central panels show the Stories of Genesis, from the Creation to the Fall of man, to the Flood and the subsequent rebirth of mankind with the family of Noah. Again, towards the end of 1533, Clement VII de' Medici (pontiff from 1523 to 1534) asked Michelangelo to paint the Last Judgement on the altar wall. How could he refuse? And, in fact, he did not, but painted his vision of the Judgement, with a powerful and irate Jesus Christ.

To make the most of your visit, you have an exclusive chance to enjoy the Vatican Museums before the crowds. This Vatican Museums guided tour includes VIP early entry before regular ticket holders are allowed inside. You'll wander the almost empty halls and marvel at the Sistine Chapel, with an expert guide to fill you in on the cultural and religious context of the Vatican's famous treasures. Then, as the first regular visitors begin to stream into the museums, you will enjoy a rich American breakfast in the evocative atmosphere of the Cortile della Pigna.

Vatican

DAYS 8 & 9 – AMALFI COAST
Costiera Amalfitana, "La Costiera", is widely considered Italy's most scenic stretch of coastline, a landscape of pastel-coloured villages terraced into hillsides, steep panoramic roads, luxuriant gardens and enchanting vistas over turquoise waters and green mountains. Considered by UNESCO "an outstanding example of a Mediterranean landscape, with exceptional cultural and natural scenic values," the coast has been a World Heritage Site since 1997. You may go from town to town at the discovery of Amalfi, Positano, and Ravello, three of the most beautiful villages in Southern Italy, world-famous for their charm and colourful architecture.

Amalfi has a typically Mediterranean architecture, made up of lanes and characteristic white houses piled one upon the other. In the Middle Ages, it was of Italy's four powerful maritime republics (with Venice, Pisa, and Genoa). All sea trade in the Mediterranean was once governed by the 12th century “Tavole Amalfitane”, one of the world's oldest maritime codes. A must-see in Amalfi is the Duomo di Sant'Andrea, fronted by an intricately patterned façade, redone in the 19th century. Founded in the 9th century, the cathedral's subsequent alterations have spared its principal glory, the main portal's 11th century Byzantine bronze doors. Next to the church lies the Chiostro del Paradiso (1268), or Cloister of Paradise, whose serious Romanesque tone is enlivened by the Arab elements in its sinuous columns. To escape the bustle of Amalfi, let’s take the popular walk along the “Valle dei Mulini”, a steep-sided valley dotted with ruined watermills – “i mulini” - once used to make paper, an industry for which Amalfi was, and still is, famous.

Positano sits in a splendid panoramic position on one of the most beautiful stretches of coastline. Its enchanting town centre of delightful pastel-coloured houses surrounds the parish church of Santa Maria Assunta; its streets are lined with quaint, colourful shops and its numerous beaches are world famous.

Ravello is situated in a more elevated position than the other pearls of the Amalfi Coast, boasting exceptional views of the coast and its marvellous villas and gardens which, according to French novelist André Gide, are “closer to the sky than the sea”. Here you may visit Villa Rufolo, built in the 13th century, which hosted popes and kings, as well as Richard Wagner, who composed part of his opera Parsifal here in 1880. Views from its idyllic gardens are magnificent!

A stop in Cetara is an absolute must. The village is renowned for a particular gourmet speciality, “colatura di acciughe” (anchovy sauce), produced according to an ancient procedure for generations. Spaghetti with colatura di alici is the typical recipe of the place, a dish which you will remember forever. Discover the secrets of the liquid gold of the Coast in the article in our BLOG).

Pompei
At dinner, taste Spaghetti with clams in olive oil and garlic sauce, or Seafood Risotto, with a glass of excellent Greco di Tufo white wine.

DAY 10 – POMPEI
Pompei, the Roman city excavated from the ashes of the Vesuvius, has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997!

In 62 A.D. the city was partially destroyed by an earthquake, and as its reconstruction was still ongoing, on August 24, 79 A.D. the eruption of Mount Vesuvius covered the city and its suburban villas with a thick layer of stones, ashes and lapilli (thick, glassy lava). Herculaneum, on the other hand, disappeared beneath a flood of volcanic mud.

The ruins of the ancient Roman cities offer an unparalleled window into the quotidian life of classical antiquity. Here you can understand how the Romans of the 1st century AD lived: from the brothels and lavatories to the posh dining rooms and the bathing establishments which included modern spas, health clubs and gym. The eruption of Mount Vesuvius destroyed the town in 79 AD and more than 3,000 people were covered by the debris from the volcano.

Due to its healthy climate and pleasant scenery, Pompeii was a holiday resort for rich Romans. It is now famous for its civic buildings lining the streets that are still intact today. Some of these include the Surgeon’s House, as well as those of the Faun and the Chaste Lovers, which are exceptional examples of the epoch’s architecture. Another remarkable construction is the House of Mysteries, which derives its name from the murals depicting the initiation rites (i.e., the mysteries) of the Dionysian cult. A peculiar characteristic of Pompeii is the florid graffiti covering the walls in just about every building; this is because when the volcanic eruption happened, Pompeii was set to carry out elections in the days ahead – hence the writings and ideograms, which feature both political and sexual content.

Pompei
The tour is over, but the memories of a fantastic journey will accompany you for a lifetime!

Arrivederci with another tour at the discovery of Italy with VITOR, Visit Italy on the Road.