Printable itinerary (PDF)

Day 1 - Departure from the U.S.

Day 2 - Milan
Welcome to Italy! We will be met at the airport by our CHA Tour Director and taken on a tour of Milan, Italy's thriving art and fashion metropolis, featuring the city's striking Duomo and La Scala, the world's most famous opera house. Overnight in Milan.

Day 3 - Milan - Verona - Venice
Morning tour of Milan fashion house and then journey to romantic Venice via the town of Verona, where you will see the house and balcony of Shakespeare's tragic heroine, Juliet. Overnight on the Island of Venice.

Day 4 - Venice
Guided sightseeing of Venice reveals the Bridge of Sighs and 14th-century Doge's Palace. Explore bustling Piazza San Marco and visit beautiful St. Mark's Basilica. A visit to a Murano Glass Factory for a glass-blowing demonstration ends your morning tour. Enjoy a gondola ride through the romantic canals of Venice. Optional visit to the School of San Rocco and see Tintoretto's paintings.

Day 5 - Venice - Bologna - Florence
Drive to Bologna "the food capital of Italy" for a walking tour and visit to the Basilica San Petronio. Proceed to Florence "The Cradle of the Renaissance," in the heart of Tuscany for the evening.

Day 6 - Florence
Your expert local guide introduces you to Florence's Renaissance treasures on your morning sightseeing tour: Giotto's Bell Tower, the Baptistry's bronze doors, the Piazza della Signoria, and the Church of Santa Croce where Michelangelo, Machiavelli and Galileo are buried. Visit the Gothic Duomo with its extraordinary dome and the Galleria dell'Accademia to see Michelangelo's "David." Later, you'll observe local craftsmen at work during a visit to a Florentine Leather Factory. During your free afternoon you can stroll across the Ponte Vecchio for views of the Arno river.

Day 7 - Florence
Guided tour of the Uffizi Gallery followed by free time in the afternoon to explore the Bargello sculpture museum, churches, and/or monasteries, and fashion design stores. Obviously you can shop and eat to your heart's content but save room for a special dinner out that evening at Falciani's restaurant.

Day 8 - Florence - Siena - Assisi
Journey through the rolling hills to the Middle Ages to the walled Siena where your sightseeing tour reveals the grand Piazza del Campo and the Sienna Cathedral. Travel to the spiritual town of Assisi. Sightseeing of Assisi includes a visit to the Basilica of St. Francis to see its remarkable collection of frescoes by Giotto depicting 28 scenes in the life of the Saint. Overnight in Assisi.

Day 9 - Assisi - Pompeii - Sorrento
Follow the Highway of the Sun to the once-buried city of Pompeii, destroyed by an eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 A.D., for a guided visit of its well-preserved ruins. Continue to cliffside Sorrento for the evening.

Day 10 - Sorrento - Rome
Drive past Naples and Montecassino to Rome where for a "Get Acquainted" walking tour.

Day 11 - Rome
Discover the Eternal City's treasures with your expert guide. Visit The Church of St Peter in Chains to see Michelangelo's powerful Moses, learn about the Roman civilization as you see the Arch of Constantine, the Circus Maximus, Capitoline Hill, and the sprawling ruins of the Roman Forum. Included is a visit to the Colosseum, the world's most glorious surviving Roman amphitheater where gladiators and beasts once fought.

Day 12 - Rome - Vatican City - Roman Catacombs
Explore the wonders of Vatican City on this morning's sightseeing tour. Visit St. Peter's Basilica, the world's largest Catholic church, and the Sistine Chapel to see Michelangelo's superbly-painted ceiling. Later, this afternoon, opt for an excursion to the ancient catacombs, the burial chambers of Roman Christians or enjoy your free time visiting churches, galleries or places of fashion.

Day 13 - Rome
Free day to explore and last minute shopping, eating and art and culture gazing.

Day 14 - Departure for the U.S.