Italy – 8 Days

EVENING

Depart on overnight flight.

MORNING

Arrive at Venice Marco Polo Airport. Venice is world-famous for its canals. It was built on an archipelago of 118 islands formed by about 150 canals in a shallow lagoon. Transfer to your hotel, check in and freshen up.
Head to Venice taking the train.

After some time to relax, visit St Mark’s Basilica. The Basilica is a status as a symbol of Venetian wealth and power from the 11th century.

EVENING

Eat dinner as a group in Venice before heading back to the hotel by public bus to catch some sleep at the end of a long travel day.

MORNING

Wake up and enjoy breakfast at the hotel. Take the train to Venice.  Get on board a vaporetto, a local water ferry. You will pass by the world-famous Gondoliers in their signature black and white striped shirts. As the ferry travels the length of the Grand Canal, we will have the perfect waterside vantage on the crumbling pastel banks, as well as the steady stream of boats.

AFTERNOON

Take the vaporetto to Burano Island. Here we will have a chance to eat lunch and stroll through the streets with very charming, colourful houses. Make sure you bring your camera as the photo ops are endless. Make our way over to Torcello the first inhabited island in the lagoon which is just a quick 5 minute ride away. Here you will find a laid back atmosphere as well as the ex-cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta and the tiny church of Santa Fosca.

EVENING

Return to Venice and enjoy dinner as a group.

MORNING

Check out of our Venice hotel and head to the train station. Depart to Rome via train. We will arrive in the late morning and transfer to our hotel.

AFTERNOON

Head to the Vatican City by private bus. Enjoy a guided visit of Vatican City. We will visit St Peter’s Basilica, as well as other highlights such as the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel. If we’re lucky the Pope might even wave to us from his apartment high above St Peter’s square. After taking in the impressive interior of St. Peter’s Basilica, we’ll opt to climb the stairs to the top of the roof and from there up to the Dome (Cupola). From atop of the iconic dome of St Peter’s, designed by Michelangelo after 1547, we will be rewarded with incredible panoramic views of the city below. 120 metres above St Peter’s square, your Evolve guide will help point out the various neighborhoods of Rome.

We will break for lunch at one of the many cafes and restaurants lining Piazza Navona. Originally built on the site of the Stadium of Domitian in the 1st century AD, it was then the city’s main market for almost 300 years. Today this large square is home to a scene of beautiful fountains, tourists, artists and vendors.

Walk over to Piazza della Rotonda where the Pantheon is located. Hailed as an architectural masterpiece, this ancient building dates back to 125 AD. In fact, Michelangelo studied the Pantheon’s dome as inspiration for his work on St Peter’s Basilica. Enjoy some time to explore the interior at your leisure, then we’ll head towards the famous Trevi Fountain, walking through the streets of the ancient centre of Rome. At over 26 metres tall and 49 metres wide, the Trevi Fountain is the largest Baroque style fountain in Rome – and considered one of the most beautiful fountains in the world.

As we continue our walking tour, we’ll depart to one of the most famous squares in Rome: the Piazza di Spagna. Once there, we’ll make sure to take a group photo on the Spanish Steps. These 135 iconic steps form the widest staircase in Europe and are a natural meeting point for tourists and locals alike.

EVENING

This evening, enjoy a group dinner and a night’s stay in Rome.

MORNING

After breakfast visit the Castel San Angelo. Also known as the Mausoleum of Hadrian, the Castel Sant’Angelo is a fortress located on the right bank of the river Tiber.

AFTENOON

Arrive at the next stop of the day, a must see on any trip to Italy: the Coliseum, an enduring symbol of the Eternal City. Get ready to be impressed by the sophistication and beauty of the old Roman Forum which remains part of the modern city.

EVENING

Sit down for a delicious dinner at a local Italian restaurant

MORNING

After an early breakfast, check out of your Rome hotel and depart via coach bus south towards Naples, via Pompeii.

Upon arriving in Pompeii, participate in a guided tour of the city. In 79 AD, the volcano Mount Vesuvius erupted and covered the city of Pompeii. Since the excavation, the city was found to be amazingly preserved. It has provided detailed insight into the life of a city at the height of the Roman Empire. We will learn about the archeologist excavation strategies and history of the area.

AFTERNOON

After lunch enjoy a visit to nearby Boscoreale. In the afternoon, enjoy a light hike up Mount Vesuvius. Walk all the way up to the Gran Cono and experience fabulous views of Naples. Along the way, take time to marvel at the wonderfully rich diversity of plants thrown up by the volcanic soil in this UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.

In the afternoon, enjoy a light hike up Mount Vesuvius. Walk all the way up to the Gran Cono and experience fabulous views of Naples. Along the way, take time to marvel at the wonderfully rich diversity of plants thrown up by the volcanic soil in this UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.

EVENING

Enjoy a group dinner then evening exploration with your Evolve Tours director.

MORNING

Arrive Herculaneum, another nearby town that was also destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the ruins here are a great source of archaeological discoveries and it is the second most popular ruin site in the area after Pompeii.

AFTERNOON

Next, explore the Naples National Archaeological Museum. One of the most important archaeological museums in the world. The museum is home to a vast collection of Roman artifacts, in addition to Greek and Renaissance-era pieces.

EVENING

After dinner, attend a live opera performance at the renowned Teatro San Carlo in Naples: Madreincerta – Montalbetti! This theater is the oldest opera house in all of Italy.

After the performance, head to Rome, check into the hotel and prepare to return home in the morning.

MORNING

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel, check out and depart to  Airport.

EVENING

Arrive home after an incredible tour to Italy