International Embassies & Iconic Estates Enlightenment
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International Embassies & Iconic Estates Enlightenment & Romanticism in Southern Italy Rome Naples n Pompeii Sorrento Capri Palermo Cefalu Tindari Messina Taormina Siracusa Caltanissetta Agrigento Marsala Trapani 14 Days – 12 Nights Day One Day Four – Naples, Rome, Boscotrecase, Pompeii & Sorrento International Flight to Italy Enjoy breakfast at the hotel this morning prior to departing Day Two - Rome for a tour of Pompeii. Pompeii has been a popular tourist destination for over 250 years; it is by far one of the most Arrive at Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport. Rome and popular tourist sites in Italy. It is part of a larger Vesuvius take local transport, with English-speaking assistant, to National Park and was declared a World Heritage Site by Hotel. Enjoy a free afternoon at leisure, with lunch on own. UNESCO in 1997. Pompeii’s history reads like a Greek Check in to and enjoy dinner at your local area hotel for the tragedy. Settlers originally flocked to the site of the Roman evening. (D) port city because of its fertile soil—the product of volcanic ash from nearby Mount Vesuvius. Yet that very same volcano would erupt and doom the city of 10,000 to 20,000 Day Three – Rome & Naples inhabitants in A.D. 79. Enjoy lunch on own today before a Enjoy breakfast at the hotel this morning prior to departing tour and tasting at Sorrentino Wines, on the slopes of Mt. for Naples. First settled by Greeks in the second millennium Vesuvius, in the little town of Boscotrecase, 300 years ago BC, Naples is one of the oldest continuously inhabited urban was born a welcoming cottage where for five generations areas in the world. The city was an important part of Magna the roots of agricultural tradition and Vesuvian wine-making Graecia, played a major role in the merging of Greek and has made possible the production of the legendary Lacryma Roman society and a significant cultural center under the Christi Wine. Depart for dinner this evening on own in Romans. Upon arrival enjoy lunch on own before embarking Sorrento, a small resort with a big reputation, Sorrento is a on a guided tour of the Old City. The most prominent forms town of lemons, high-pedigree hotels and plunging cliffs that of architecture visible in present-day Naples are the cut through the heart of the historical core of Southern Italy. Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque styles. Naples has a Check in to your local area hotel for the evening. (B) total of 448 historical churches (1000 in total, making it one of the most Catholic cities in the world in terms of the Day Five – Sorrento, Capri & Naples number of places of worship. In 1995, the historic center of Naples was listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, a Enjoy breakfast at the hotel this morning prior to departing United Nations program which aims to catalogue and for Capri, via Hydrofoil opening the door of what has been conserve sites of outstanding cultural or natural importance considered by many, the most beautiful island in the world. to the common heritage of mankind. Check into your local In Roman times, emperors noticed the paradise-like beauty area hotel this evening and enjoy dinner included. (B, D) of Capri and decided to build villas and majestic palaces on the island. After thousands of years, the charm of Capri has remained intact as if time never eroded the beauties of a wooden rowboat, lay back, and let yourself be carried across the lower slopes of the mountain and the broad Plain through a tiny stone portal to another world by your able of Catania to the south. In June 2013, it was added to the list skipper, who navigates seamlessly under the meter-high of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Your excursion will include cave mouth into the Blue Grotto. Inside, pass from complete a visit to the extinct crater "crateri silvestri", located on the darkness into a sparkling cavern, lit by azure blue light, while south side of the mountain, near the village of Nicolosi. You the sounds of ancient Neapolitan song echo along the stone will arrive at the Rifugio Sapienza station, 6200 feet above walls. The Blue Grotto is a natural sea cave, 60 meters long sea level where you will board a cable car for a birds-eye and 25 meters wide. During the reign of Tiberius in Roman view of the crater. Enjoy lunch on own today, before times, the grotto was used as a marine temple, and ancient departing down the mountain to Taormina, for a wine Roman statues found here are now on display at the Casa tasting at Al Grappolo D'uva where generous glasses of Rossa in Anacapri. Enjoy lunch on own at a local restaurant delicious Sicilian wine, blend with a charming, rustic in Capri before joining your ferry for your overnight trip to ambiance. Dinner included at Cantina San Michele before Palermo. (B) heading back to your hotel for the evening. (B, D) Day Six – Palermo, Cefalù, Tindari, Messina & Taormina Day Eight – Taormina & Siracusa Enjoy breakfast on board ship this morning prior to arriving Enjoy breakfast at the hotel this morning before departing to Palermo and meeting your guide for a tour of Cefalù. for Siracusa, and a half day sightseeing tour. Since 2005, the Cefalù is notable for beautiful sunsets, unpretentious charm, entire city of Siracusa, along with the Necropolis of Pantalica and a very appealing blend of ingredients for an Italian which falls within the province of Syracuse, were listed as a seaside holiday. Sandy beaches, a picturesque historic town World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The monuments and on a rocky headland, some high culture in the shape of a fine archeological sites situated in Siracusa are the finest Norman cathedral, decent transport links, Sicilian food and examples of outstanding architectural creation spanning sunshine all adds up to make the town one of Italy's most several cultural aspects; Greek, Roman and Baroque and are attractive seaside destinations. Next stop will be for lunch on all directly linked to events, ideas and literary works of own in Tindari. The town was founded in 396 BC by the outstanding universal significance. Today you will visit the Tyrant of Siracusa, Dionysius I, and soon became one of the most important archeological sites including Latomie Del most important Greek centres in Sicily. In 254 BC it changed Paradiiso, Ear of Denyse, AnfiTeatro Romano & Greek hands and became a Roman outpost for several centuries. Theatre. Enjoy dinner on own this evening before checking With the arrival of Christianity, Tindari assumed a certain in to your local area hotel. (B) religious renown and an abbey was built. This afternoon you will tour Tindari’s most revered site, the Sanctuary of the Day Nine –Siracusa Black Madonna of Tindari. The Black Madonna’s arrival in Tindari is the stuff that legends are made of. According to Enjoy breakfast at the hotel this morning before day two of local tradition, the statue, which is certainly of Byzantine your Siracusa adventure commences with a visit to Paolo origin, was one of many works of art smuggled out of Orsi. The Museo Archeologico Regionale Paolo Orsi of Constantinople in the 8th and 9th Centuries during the Siracusa is one of the principal archaeological museums of period of Iconoclasm initiated by Emperor Leo III. A storm Europe. Sited in a then undeveloped part of Siracusa, the forced the ship carrying the Black Madonna into the port of museum is the focal point of a territory of great Tindari, where the sailors deposited their load at the local archeological importance, including the Neapolis Park with abbey for safekeeping. From Tindari you will travel to its Greek theatre and Hieron altar, the Roman amphitheater Messina, for a tour of the city. Messina is known as the door and the immense catacombs. Following your visit the rest of of Sicily. With its port, shaped like a sickle, it has always been the afternnon is free for you to enjoy lunch on own and a trading city. Situated close to the Peninsular, there has explore Siracusa at your leisure. Return to your hotel this been busy thoroughfare between Messina and the evening for dinner on own. (B) Mainland, over the centuries. You will Visit a local winery for a tour and tasting before checking into your local hotel and Day Ten - Siracusa, Caltanissetta & Agrigento enjoying your included dinner this evening. (B, D) Enjoy breakfast at the hotel this morning before departing Day Seven – Taormina & Mount Etna for Caltanissetta. The city is located in an area surrounded by rolling hills and smaller cities and villages. Caltanissetta is Enjoy breakfast at the hotel this morning before departing a major hub for transport and trade in the region and has for a full day excursion to Mount Etna. Mount Etna is one of had a long impressive history. The origins of the city can be the world’s most active volcanoes and is in an almost traced back to 406 BC when a fort was built here by Admiral constant state of activity. The fertile volcanic soils support Nicia. Caltanissetta can be easily explored on foot since extensive agriculture, with vineyards and orchards spread there are many pedestrian only streets. The streets here are picturesque and so walking around the city is a truly Day Twelve – Palermo enjoyable experience. This afternoon you will board your motor coach and travel to Agrigento and check into your Enjoy breakfast at the hotel this morning before departing hotel and enjoy dinner on your own in the bustling medieval for a city tour of Palermo.