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THE BEST OF ITALY May 10-20, 2012
BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND FOLLOWING A SOLS OUT OCTOBER 2011 TRIP,-WE HAVE TEAMED AGAIN WITH PERILLO TOURS, AMERICA’S #1 SPECIALIST IN ESCORTED TOURS OF ITALY TO PROVIDE A CUSTOMIZED SINGLES TOUR OF ITALY UNMATCHED ANYWHERE. JOIN US FOR A TOUR OF THE MOST SCENIC, DRAMATIC AND HISTORIC SIGHTS OF ITALY. WE WILL ENJOY 2 NIGHTS 1ST CLASS ACCOMMODATIONS ON THE AMAZINGLY BEAUTIFUL AMALFI COAST. WE WILL TOUR THE RUINS OF HISTORIC POMPEI & EXPLORE THE GORGEOUS ISLAND OF CAPRI. WE WILL BE AMAZED BY THE AMAZING CLIFFS OF POSITANO AND VISIT THE QUAINT TOWN AND ITS CHARMING SHOPS. NEXT IT’S ON TO ROME, WHERE WE WILL ENJOY 3 DAYS AND NIGHTS. WE WILL TOUR THE COLOSSEUM, THE ROMAN FORUM AND THE ARCH OF CONSTANTINE. TWO FULL FREE DAYS FOLLOW, GIVING ALL THE OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT ST. PETER’S BASILLICA, THE SISTENE CHAPEL, TREVI FOUNTAIN AND SO MUCH MORE IN THE ETERNAL CITY, AT THEIR LEISURE. WE CONTINUE TO FLORENCE FOR A 3 NIGHT STAY, WITH GUIDED TOURING OF THIS MAGNIFICENT CITY. ENJOY A FULL FREE DAY TO EXPLORE FLORENCE AT LEISURE OR CHOOSE A HALF DAY OF INCLUDED TOURING, VISITING THE SCENIC TOWN OF ASSISI IN THE TUSCANY COUNTRYSIDE AND AN INCLUDED WINE TASTING UNDER THE TUSCAN SUN AT A CHARMING TUSCAN WINERY AND SAVOR THE FINE ITALIAN WINES AN OPTIONAL COOKING DEMONSTRATION WITH AN ITALIAN CHEF ADDS A LITTLE EXTRA ZESTY SPICE TO YOUR TUSCAN VISIT AN OPTIONAL TUSCAN COOKING CLASS WITH A LOCAL CHEF IN FLORENCE ADDS A ZESTY AND EVER SO TANTALYZING SPICE TO OUR STAY “UNDER THE TUSCAN SUN” ENJOY ANOTHER FREE DAY TO EXPLORE FLORENCE OR A FULL DAY INCLUDED TOUR FEATURING THE LEGENDARY LEANING TOWER OF PISA AND THE AMAZING WATERFRONT VILLAGES OF THE CINQUETERRA. FINALLY, WE WILL MAKE OUR WAY TO VENICE, WHERE WE WILL ENJOY A WALKING TOUR PLUS FREE TIME TO EXPLORE BY FOOT THIS MAGICAL CITY. AN INCLUDED GONDOLA RIDE THROUGH THE FABLED CANALS OF VENICE AND AN INCLUDED FAREWELL DINNER AT A LOCAL RESTAURANT ALONG HER FABLED WATERWAYS, PROVIDE A MEMORABLE FINISH TO OUR BEST OF ITALY TOUR.
D A Y B Y D A Y I T I N E R A R Y (B,L,D) - INCLUDED BREAKFAST, LUNCH, DINNER)
UNLIKE MANY TOUR COMPANIES OFFERING TRIPS TO ITALY, OUR TOURING IS ON AIR CONDITIONED TOUR COACHES CHARTERED JUST FOR OUR SINGLES GROUP WITH OUR OWN DEDICATED BI-LINGUAL ITALIAN TOUR MANAGER
DAY 01 MAY 10TH (THU.) USA
Day 02/ MAY 11TH(FRI) / AMALFI COAST Our local Perillo Tours escort and will be with us for our entire tour, available to answer any questions about the history, romance or other aspects of the sites along our tour. We will be taken from the Naples airport to our hotel in Sorrento, the Hotel Plaza . The Hotel Plaza is ideally located just a short walk from the charming cafes and shops in the center of Sorrento. All rooms are stylishly furnished and equipped with all modern comforts and of the highest quality standards; Dual line telephones, satellite TV, safe deposit boxes for laptops, mini bar, flat panel LCD TV, hypo allergenic mattresses and 2 different types of hypo allergenic pillows, sound proof windows and walls 40 years of experience in the art of hospitality have ensured that the Plaza Hotel located in a quiet corner steps away from Sorrento’s main square “Piazza Tasso”, has become a home away from home for many travelers and a must in your trip to Sorrento. Today, enjoy Free time at leisure to relax and walk into the town square to explore the quaint shops at your leisure. Late this afternoon, around 4:30pm, we will enjoy a visit to the picture postcard Amalfi coast village of Positano. We will be taken to Positano by boat, enjoy amazing scenery along the water. Towering cliffs make the seascape along Positano a favorite among amateur and professional photo bugs. We will enjoy free time to wander the chic shops of this famed seaside village before our boat takes us back to Sorrento with the backdrop of the brilliant setting sun against the Amalfi coast waters. We will be transferred back to our hotel where the evening is at leisure to relax. Enjoy a walk into the town square and savor Italian cuisine like it is meant to be. Try a glass of Italian wine if you wish – after all – this is the start of your dream vacation to explore the wonders of Italy.
SCENES OF THE AMAZING AMALFI COAST
Day 03 MAY 12TH (SAT) AMALFI COAST / POMPEII / CAPRI
ruins of Pompeii
Upon arrival in Rome, we will enjoy a guided walking tour of Imperial Rome, including the exterior of the: Coliseum, the Trevi Fountain (where passengers can enjoy the tradition of throwing a coin in the Trevi fountain) and other sites of Imperial Rome. 1)
At the end of our tour we will check into our centrally located 4 star hotel for the next 3 nights The Hotel Massimo D’ Azeglio. Its centrally located position is an easy walk to the National Museum of Rome, the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, the Trevi Fountain, the Coliseum, Imperial Forums, and the Opera House, making the hotel an ideal base for sightseeing Rome at leisure.
Today enjoy another full free day in Rome to visit the city at your own pace.
Day 8/ MAY 16TH(WED) FLORENCE (B) Following our tour, we will check in to our hotel for the next three nights, Florence: NH Anglo American
Recently refurbished, the ample and elegant NH Anglo American boasts antique furniture and impressive paintings from the Florentine school of 1800, which creates a private and elegant atmosphere for our clients. NH Anglo American is set in a quiet yet central location in Florence, between the Lungarno area and Borgo Ognissanti. The classically-styled hotel preserves all of its unique original features and reflects a fascinating age of the city. The hotel is near the waterfront of the Arno river and an easy walk to the center of the Ponte Vechio, making it ideally located for exploring Florence for sightseeing by foot. Rooms have mini bars and bathrooms have hairdryers for your convenience. Then hotel has 3 bars and offers a convenient laundry/dry cleaning service. Reviews of the hotel on Yahoo.
The remainder of the afternoon is free to enjoy at leisure the sights of Florence. Visit Michelangelo’s towering statue of David, walk along the quaint shore of the River Arno and of course, enjoy many shopping opportunities for fine Italian goods.
At the end of the afternoon, if you wish, join us for an optional Tuscan Cooking Class.(B) See a local Italian chef demonstrate some of the secrets of authentic Tuscan cooking.
IMAGES OF FLORENCE
Day 08/ MAY 17TH (THU) FLORENCE / ASSISI / TUSCAN WINERY (B)
Our day’s tour begins with a coach drive from Florence to Siena. Here we will explore one of the best preserved Tuscan villages, steeped in history and fabulous architecture. After our visit to Siena we will “head to the hills”, that is the hills of Tuscan wine, where we will visit a traditional Tuscan winery nestled in the Tuscan countryside. We will enjoy an included wine tasting of classic Tuscan Italian wines. We will depart the winery and head back to Florence for the balance of the afternoon and the evening at leisure. Overnight in Florence
TODAY CHOOSE BETWEEN A FREE DAY TO EXPLORE FLORENCE AT YOUR LEISURE OR AN INCLUDED FULL DAY TOUR TO VISIT THE FAMED LEANING TOWER OF PISA AND THE STUNNINGLY BEAUTIFUL WATERFRONT VILLAGES OF CINQUE TERRE. Our Tour will begin with our chartered coach taking us to the charming town of La Spezia. La Spezia is a surprisingly elegant city best seen on foot. Exotic palm-studded gardens line the sea front before giving way to the magnificent nineteenth-century gardens and the airy shaded arcades of the Via Chiodo. The classical architecture, wide avenues and arcades in turn give way to the old town centre. Today the centre of the town is a pedestrian area. The bustling Via del Prone is lined with small shops and stalls whilst the elegance of the Piazza Sant' Agostino speaks of an earlier time
La Spezia is also very convenient for access to The Cinque Terre by local train. Trains depart La Spezia approx. every 15 minutes and you are whisked away to the 1st of the Cinqueterra villages, arriving in approx. 15 to 20 mins. Spend as much time as you wish exploring La Spezia and then boarding any of the frequent trains to the villages of the Cinqueterra. In La Spezia you may get the train to visit the Cinque Terre. It works as "hop on and off" accordingly to a timetable they provide when you buy the ticket. That way you can spend as much time as you want in any of the villages. (The unlimited local train ticket from La Spezia is approx. 10 euros round trip, or approx. $15.) Each of the 5 villages has its own charm and flair, each unique in its own right. The trains runs continuously from one village to the next, so you can spend as much time as you wish in each village and hop onto any of the frequent trains from one village to the next, as all the villages are only 10 to 15 mins from each other by train. We will enjoy approx. four hours to explore the Cinqueterra at leisure and then we will meet back in La Spezia at a meeting point which your local tour manager will show you this morning. Cinque Terre is a rugged portion of coast on the Italian Riviera The Five Lands" comprises five villages: Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore. The coastline, the five villages, and the surrounding hillsides are all part of the Cinque Terre National Park and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Cinque Terre is noted for its beauty. Over centuries, people have carefully built terraces on the rugged, steep landscape right up to the cliffs that overlook the sea. Part of its charm is the lack of visible "modern" development. Paths, trains and boats connect the villages, and cars cannot reach it from the outside. It is a very popular tourist destination. In 1998 the Italian Ministry for the Environment set up the protected natural marine area Cinque Terre to protect the natural environment
Upon our meeting back in La Spezia , following our exploration of Cinqueterra at leisure, we will be taken by our chartered coach to Pisa.
The Leaning Tower of Pisa is one of the most famous monuments in the world. Free time will be given to explore by foot, the grounds of what is reffered to as “Miracle Square”. The grassy square where the tower is located. \ You will see many people relaxing along the square and admiring the tower or taking photos. The top of the Leaning Tower can be reached by climbing the 294 steps which rise in the form of a spiral on the inner side of the tower walls. Entrance to climb the town can be purchased at a booth near the tower for those wishing to climb.
After our visit to Pisa we will be taken back to Florence for a final night to enjoy its charms.
Day 10/ MAY 19TH (SAT) FLORENCE / VENICE (B,D) Each gondola has a professional Italian Gondolier that paddles in a seemingly effortless manner, as we sit back and relax, enjoying the sights along the many canals, including the famed Grand Canal. Our gondolas will glide under the famed Bridge of Sighs and other smaller quaint bridges as we gaze out at the marvelous sights of this magical city built on the water. If you are lucky, you may hear your gondolier sing an Italian melody as he guides you through the waterways. Following our gondola ride we will enjoy the balance of the day to explore Venice at leisure. Venice is a city to be explored by foot, as there are no cars on the island. You can walk across her many footbridges and be entranced by her marvelous waterways as you walk across these bridges. If you wish, take the elevator to the top of the bell tower called the campanile, for a panoramic view of Venice , or visit a glass blowing factory to watch the amazing glass blowers make their crafts before your eyes. Along St. Mark’s square and throughout Venice you will find the famed Murano Glass on display at countless galleries, shops and boutiques inviting you to window shop or when you spot the piece that catches your eye, make a purchase to admire in your own home for years to come. This evening we will enjoy a farewell dinner at a local restaurant along one of the scenic waterways of Venice, providing the perfect way to end our tour of the Best of Italy. After dinner we will be transferred to our hotel for the final night of our tour, the Holiday Inn Venice Mestre.
Day 10/ MAY 20TH (Sun) VENICE- / DEPARTURE (B) This morning we are transferred by our private coach to the airport for our flight back to New York. We arrive into NY-JFK at 1:55pm the same day.
Our Tour of The Best of Italy MAY 10-20, 2012 includes:
Pompeii
Optional single supplement for anyone not wishing to take advantage of our free roommate matching service: $689 A $200 DEPOSIT IS DUE WITHIN 7 DAYS OF MAKING YOUR RESERVATION. YOU WILL RECEIVE AN EMAIL CONFIRMATION WITHIN ONE BUSINESS DAY OF MAKING YOUR ONLINE RESERVATION AND WITHIN ONE BUSINESS DAY OF MAKING YOUR ONLINE DEPOSIT. DEPOSITS ARE REFUNDABLE IF CANCELLED BY DECEMBER 20TH, 2011 AND NON REFUNDABLE THEREAFTER. BALANCE PAYMENTS ARE DUE FEB. 1ST, 2012 AND ARE NON REFUNDABLE. TRAVEL INSURANCE IS RECOMMENDED. ASK FOR RATES AND COVERAGES.
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