Italy
Rome, Pompeii
Day 1: After arriving in this ancient and powerful city, check into your hotel, where you will stay for the duration of the trip, and then get a grand view of the city from Capitoline Hill, designed by Michelangelo. In the evening, tour the nearby Trajan’s Column and Forum, which are always open. Day 2: Start your day with a tour of the mighty Colosseum and then marvel at the great triumphs of Rome displayed on the Arch of Constantine. Afterwards, climb the Palatine Hill for some expansive views and to see the ruins. In the afternoon, wander through some important remains of the great city at the Roman Forum. Day 3: Get up early and get in line for your tour of the impressive Vatican Museum and its famous art collections, including the awe-inspiring Sistine Chapel. Afterwards, tour one of the world’s greatest houses of worship, St. Peter’s Basilica, including a grand view from the roof of Bernini’s Piazza San Pietro (St. Peter’s Square). In the early evening, take an enchanting night walk through the old streets of the city starting at the always popular Trevi Fountain and then winding your way to the Pantheon (make sure to arrive before it closes) and ending at the Piazza Navona and its beautiful fountains. Get a scoop of gelato as you wind down at the end of a busy, yet rewarding day. Day 4: Another early and busy day awaits as you board the train for Naples and then change trains to the volcanically preserved city of Pompeii. Spend your day wandering through the ruins of the once fine city in the shadow of the ominous Mount Vesuvius. Then ride the train back to Rome. Day 5: As you depart the eternal city, remember that wish you made at the Trevi Fountain and promise yourself that you will return. |
Pisa, Cinque Terre, Milan, Lake District, Dolomites, Verona
Day 1: Upon arriving at the Pisa Airport, take the train into town and then stash your bags at the station for a quick trip to the Field of Miracles, a collection of Pisa’s greatest treasures. If you are short on time, you can take a taxi or a nice 30-minute walk across town from the train station. When you arrive, go to the ticket office and select a package (at a minimum, we recommend seeing the tower, cathedral, and baptistry). Everyone loves the famous tower, but it is perhaps underappreciated for its artistic beauty. In the 11th Century, when construction here first began, the Duomo and its planned tower were the cutting edge of Romanesque architecture and later were even given their own recognized style, Pisan Romanesque. Even if you have seen many churches, we promise that the cathedral has an interior that you will not soon forget with its unique styled nave of many arches. The baptistry, the largest in Italy, is also widely admired for its acoustics and beautifully crafted font and pulpit. After a quick trip through Pisa’s greatest monuments, make your way back to the station and take the train to Monterosso al Mare, in the Cinque Terre, where you will check in to your hotel and get dinner.
Day 2: After breakfast, take an early morning hike during the cool of the day to the nearby town of Vernazza along the famous coastal trail. If you have the stamina, continue hiking to Corniglia along another scenic stretch of the trail. The towns have no must-see sights, so just enjoy wandering the colorful alleyways. After your hike, get lunch in whichever town you are in and then either take the train, a boat, or a hike back to Monterosso. In the afternoon, tour Monterrosso’s delightful Romanesque Church of St. John the Baptist and, next to it, the darker Oratory of the Dead. As the sun gets lower and the crowds thin, cool off at Monterrosso’s beach and relax there until you are ready for dinner. After eating, take a walk up the Switchbacks of the Friars (Zii di Frati) to enjoy a look at the twinkling lights of all 5 Cinque Terre towns in the distance.
Day 3: After packing your luggage, take the train to Milan and its massive Central Station. From there, check in to your hotel and grab some lunch. After lunch, head to Milan’s impressive duomo, where awestruck travelers crowd the piazza gawking at the huge ornate structure. It will take a few hours to really appreciate the cathedral, so take your time walking around, gazing up at the fine craftsmanship. Leave plenty of time for the interior and the climb to the roof to get a closer look at the amazing statuary. Next, step into the nearby Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II for a stroll on your way to Sforza Castle. Built in the 14th Century, this castle has guarded Milan through the ages. Within the courtyard are a few museums to explore until you feel ready for dinner.
Day 4: Plan today around your reservation to see Da Vinci’s The Last Supper (reservations are hard to get and must be made months in advance; however, there are more expensive options for those who arrive without reservations). While getting in to see The Last Supper can be expensive and a hassle, it all seems worth it when you are finally able to stand before the great masterpiece. Before or after your visit, make sure to also tour the Basilica di Sant’Ambrogio, a 12th-Century medieval marvel, and the wonderfully frescoed Church of San Maurizio. Afterward, if you have the time, visit one of the city’s fine art museums or just take a stroll through the town on your way to dinner.
Day 5: Today, get out of the city and take a daytrip to Italy’s fabulous Lake District. From Milan’s Central Station, catch the train to Varenna on beautiful Lake Como and then take the ferry to Lenno, where you will disembark and walk to your first stop, the Villa del Balbianello. This villa and, especially its wonderfully manicured gardens, were made famous as the setting for the love scenes in Star Wars between Padme and Anakin. Afterward, take the return trip on the ferry back toward Varenna and, if you haven’t had your fill of villas and gardens, stop at Villa Carlotta for a stroll through its grounds. All the walking has probably given you an appetite, so either stop for a bite near the villa or continue on the ferry toward Varenna. If you like, on the way you can stop to eat and a stroll through elegant Belaggio. When reaching the end of your cruise at Varenna, take time to amble through the very quaint town with its romantic promenade and main piazza. There aren’t any real sights to see here, but it makes a wonderful place for a meal before you take the train back to Milan.
Day 6: After breakfast, pack your bags and board the train at the Central Station for a trip to the Italian Alps. Your first stop will be at the town of Bolzano, where (after leaving your bags at the station) you can visit one of the world’s more unusual museums. The South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology houses the well-preserved corpse of Otzi, a man born over 5,000 years ago. In the 90s, some hikers found his body in a melting glacier, and now Otzi resides in this museum for all to see. After meeting Otzi, get some lunch in town and then head to the bus station for the trip up higher in the mountains to the town of Castelrotto. Check into your lodging and then explore the alpine town before dinner. There aren’t any must-see sights, but do make sure to climb the hill above town for remarkable views of the town, its dominating bell tower, and the soaring peaks in the distance.
Day 7: You’ll want to get an early start today for your all-day hike in the Italian Alps, but make sure to power up first with a good breakfast and pack water and some snacks. From town, catch a bus to the cable car station, which will whisk you up the mountains to the Alpe di Siusi, a large high meadow, for your hike. From the next station (Compatsch), there are many options for hikers of all levels as well as lifts and buses to take you closer to your departure point and away from the crowds. Enjoy the day on the well-maintained trails and gorgeous scenery as you trod into hiking heaven. If you didn’t bring lunch, choose a route that has a hut serving meals for hungry hikers. Take your time and enjoy the day, but take note of when the lifts and cable cars shut down, so you don’t get stuck taking a longer hike than you planned. When you finish your hike, return to Castelrotto for the night.
Day 8: After a day of hiking, you might feel like you need to take a day off, but we have one last destination on your trip. So pull yourself out of bed and take the bus back down to Bolzano, where you can catch the train to Verona. At the train station, catch a bus or taxi to drop off your luggage at your hotel, and then get some lunch to power you through the rest of the day. Start your tour of the city in Piazza Bra and its ancient Roman era arena, one of the largest in Italy and constructed of pink marble. Spend the rest of your day strolling through Verona’s interesting market square, Piazza Erbe, then to the quieter Piazza dei Signori and the courtyard of Palazzo della Ragione. Afterward, see some of the wonderful medieval churches in the city by first visiting Sant’Anastasia and then Verona’s Duomo, which also encompasses ruins of older churches including some 4th-Century mosaic floors. If you have time, you can also consider a visit to Castelvecchio, Verona’s castle, or the very popular, but unlikely, House of Juliet. After dinner, slow down and enjoy wandering the lovely city on your last night in Italy.
Day 9: Unfortunately, your trip through beautiful northern Italy is at an end, but Italy is full of many wonderful places to explore, so make a promise to come back soon to this amazing country.
Orvieto, Siena, Florence, Pisa, Volterra
Day 1: After arriving at the Orvieto train station, take the funicular to the top of the hill town and then take the bus to the Piazza Duomo, which is marked by its captivating cathedral. Check into your hotel and then take a sunset walk along the cliffs and ramparts of this quiet Umbrian town. Day 2: Get up early and spend your morning in quiet contemplation at Orvieto’s Duomo (cathedral). In the early morning, while the crowds are still sleeping, you’ll have time to intently study the marvelous façade of the Duomo with its spirited Bible stories. While it’s the outside of the Duomo that you’ll forever remember, don’t forget to go inside and take in the whole experience. Afterwards, visit St. Patrick’s Well (Pozzo di San Patrizio), a Pope-commissioned engineering marvel of the sixteenth century. Next, check out of your hotel and take the bus and funicular back to the station in time to take the train to the delightful town of Siena. Check into your hotel and then walk to Siena’s town square, Piazza del Campo, (Blabbott’s #1 town square). The square is wonderful during the day, but simply magical in the early evening and the perfect place to end a glorious day in Tuscany by having dinner at a restaurant with outside seating. Day 3: Get up before the crowds to appreciate the stillness of Siena in the morning light and its wonderfully uniform architecture. Head first to Siena’s Duomo, which—like Orvieto’s Duomo—has a rich façade but is much larger. Make sure to also visit the baptistery and the Duomo museum for Siena’s best art and grand city views. Then bid a longing goodbye to Siena and board the bus to Florence where you will stay for the next four nights. Day 4: Start your first day in Florence off right by visiting one of the world’s best art museum, the Uffizi Gallery (make reservations in advance), which is packed with tourists as well as art from all the Italian masters. Next, get some lunch and walk across the Arno on the well-known Ponte Vecchio Bridge. Then head towards the Pitti Palace (Palazzo Pitti), where you will spend the rest of the day. The palace of the Medici family is full of art, including many paintings by Rafael, as well as other treasures. Outside, the Boboli Gardens are pleasant to walk around and provide some spectacular views of the city. Day 5: Today, your focus will be the religious center of Florence, starting with a climb of Giotto’s Tower (Campanile) for fantastic views of the city and Brunelleschi’s famous dome. Next, circle around the Duomo and visit its museum, which features sculptures by Donatello and Michelangelo as well as the celebrated original bronze doors to the baptistery by Ghiberti. After lunch, visit the baptistery and then cap your visit off with a visit to the Duomo. For an up close look at the dome, as well as another view of the city, climb up to the top. In the evening, take a stroll through the Piazza della Repubblica. Day 6: On your last day in mega-sight-laden Florence, start off near the train station with more great art. First visit the Galleria dell’Accademia (make reservations in advance) to see Michelangelo’s David and some of his uncompleted works, which are surprisingly impressive even in their unfinished state. Next, walk to see more of Michelangelo masterpieces at the nearby Medici Chapels, but take your time as there is a street market on the way with some good values. After lunch, visit the thirteenth-century Dominican basilica of Santa Maria Novella, which is also rich in art, including Masaccio’s famous early Renaissance work The Holy Trinity. If you have any time left today (or any of the other days in Florence), try to visit the interesting science museum and its collection of Renaissance devices. Day 7: This morning you say goodbye to Florence, but your trip isn’t over yet. Check out of your hotel and walk to the train station for the short ride to Pisa. Yes, there are a lot of tourists in Pisa, but it is still not to be missed. Staying the night there will also allow you to linger after most of the tourists have left, so you can get your obligatory pictures either pushing down or propping up the famous tower without the crowds in the background. After arriving at Pisa’s station, walk towards the Field of Miracles, the grass field where Pisa’s religious edifices are located. The walk is over 30 minutes, but as long as you get there by early afternoon, you should have enough time to see everything. If you want to go in the leaning tower, book your tickets first and then plan your time around that schedule. The tower is fun, but perhaps unappreciated for its artistic beauty. In the eleventh century when construction here first began, the Duomo and its planned tower were the cutting edge of Romanesque architecture and were even given their own style, Pisan Romanesque. After seeing many churches on this tour of Tuscany, I can promise that this is one interior you will long remember for its unique styled nave of many arches. Make sure to also visit the baptistery, the largest in Italy, which is admired for its acoustics, font, and beautifully crafted pulpit. Day 8: After breakfast, wind down your Tuscan experience with a scenic bus ride to Volterra where you will stay for your last night. Volterra has no blockbuster sights, but is a great place to just wander. The town has gained recent fame as a setting in the Twilight book and movie series, but it still remains off the radar of most tourists. Enjoy the afternoon and evening roaming through the city square and walls, the highlights being the Etruscan Arch and Roman Theatre. If you have time, consider visiting the Etruscan Museum. Day 9: From Volterra, take the bus back down the hill to the train station that will take you to your departing airport. Your journey through charming Tuscany is now over, but it will live on forever in your beautiful, nostalgic memories. |