USA
Tuesday, September 7th - Depart the USA for your flight to Italy
Venice
Wednesday, September 8th - . No words can truly prepare you for the beauty and uniqueness of Venice. Venice is one of Italy's most beautiful and romantic cities, it's small, traffic-free streets along the winding canals are built entirely on water by men who defied the sea, Venice is unlike any other town. No matter how many times you've seen it in movies or on TV, the real thing is more dreamlike than you could ever imagine. It actually consists of 117 bodies of land connected by more than 400 bridges over its 150 canals. Its landmarks, the Basilica di San Marco and the Palazzo Ducale, seem hardly Italian: delightfully idiosyncratic, they are exotic mixes of Byzantine, Gothic, and Renaissance styles. Shimmering sunlight and silvery mist soften every perspective here, and you understand how the city became renowned in the Renaissance for its artists' rendering of color. It's full of secrets, inexpressibly romantic, and at times given over entirely to pleasure. Upon your arrival your will take a water taxi to the hotel. Celebrate your arrival at Bella Italia welcome/orientation pizza party. After Check-in meet your local guide for a walking tour that will end at St Marks. St Mark's Square (Piazza San Marco). This great square overlooking the water is a mixture of spaces, volumes and styles: Fashionable boutiques. Have some time on your own to explore the water wonderland or take a enjoy gondola ride through the scenic canals. Meet the group back at St. Mark's for dinner and drinks together at one the beautiful open air cafes. Return to the hotel own your own or group via the Vaporetto (water bus). At the hotel sip wine while laughing and bonding with your friends.
Rome
Thursday, September 9th - Upon arrival in Rome you will meet your Italian/English-speaking escort who will remain with you for the remainder of your stay in Italy. You will then be transferred by private deluxe motor coach to your hotel in Rome. After check-in at the hotel, you will have ample time to relax and freshen up prior to the welcome/orientation lunch. After a little rest, you will meet in the lobby for metro orientation and guided to the pantheon. Originally a temple for all pagan gods, the temple was converted into a church in 609. The Pantheon contains the tombs of Raphael and of several Italian Kings. At the top of the dome is a large opening, the oculus, which was the only source of light. After dinner together in Pantheon plazza, enjoy a special Rome at night tour via an open top bus. Later The tour will end at disco for your first taste of Roman night life.
Friday, September 10th - After enjoying breakfast you will embark on a accompanied Vespa (motor scooter) ride/tour that will show you the sights and sounds of Rome with a stop at the famous Colosseum. After your wave goodbye to you handsome vespa drive take a bathroom break at the hotel before before a metro ride to Villa Borghese. Rome's "Central Park," the Villa Borghese was originally part of the pleasure gardens laid out in the early 17th century by Cardinal Scipione Borghese, a worldly and cultivated cleric and nephew of Pope Paul V. In addition to the gloriously restored Galleria Borghese museum, the highlights of the park are Piazza di Siena, a graceful amphitheater; and the botanical garden on Via Canonica, where there is a pretty little lake, a Neoclassical faux-Temple of Aesculapius (a favorite photo-op), and a caffè under the trees. You can choose single or four seater bike to explore the grunds. Meet the group walk to the the Spanish Stairs. After your day of fun and shopping back to the hotel for a Bella Mixer and then you are off to Piazza Navona and Campo de' Fiori for dinner (not included). Built around 86 AD, Campo de' Fior which by many is deemed to be "the most beautiful square in the world" is filled with breathtaking buildings, fountains, restaurants, bars, cafes and people engaged in lively conversations, rekindling the unique Roman atmosphere of history, art, love for life. Surprisingly, despite its poetic name and its amiable look, the square has been in the past a place of assassinations. Julius Caesar was murdered in a subsidiary building of the Roman senate within the area of the square. You will have time to explore on your own before heading to a disco for your 2nd night of Roman nightlife.
Saturday, September 11th - Today you will enjoy the entire morning exploring the rich heritage of the Vatican. Your tour begins at Basilica of St. Peter's where you will see Bernini's great bronze altar canopy, the great dome and, of course, Michelangelo's delicately sculptured "La Pieta". Then you can take an optional tour of Vatican Museum where your expert guide will lead you through the many galleries which lead up to the Sistine Chapel. Here you will have a chance to admire Michelangelo's recently restored frescoes which adorn the vault of the Chapel and his famous "Last Judgment". After the Vatican your guide will lead you via the metro to Napoletano’s, a New York style Italian Steak House and Pizza for lunch. After lunch walk to Via Nazionale for shopping and time on your own. Later it's back to the hotel hotel for a Bella Mixer and then off for a night of dancing at another hot night club in the special reserved Bella Italia section. This is also the night we celebrate all the birthday girls!
Pompeii/Capri
Sunday, September 12th - This morning you will check-out and depart Today you will depart for your guided excursion to near by Pompeii, the Roman city destroyed yet preserved by the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 A.D. Here your expert guide will lead you through Patrician homes, public baths and commercial centers of this once thriving Roman resort...a true glimpse into the past. After the tour spent the take a hydrofoil to to the Isle of Capri, described as a "vertical village" for its cliff hanging pastel coloured houses. It has been a luxury resort island since the time of the Romans. Return to Naple to board a curise ship for your overnight trip to Sicily. Have dinner together followed by drinks in the ship bar.
Catania/Taormina
Monday, September 13th - After breakfast on the ship, you are off to the Sicilian town of Catania. You will spent 3 hours in Catania on the main shopping streets Via Vittorio Emanuele and Via Etnea, near Piazza del Duomo before leaving for Taormina. Taormina is one of the most attractive resorts in the Mediterranean. Taormina is situated high above the sea, with views over the beaches below, including the beautiful bay of Isola Bella. This is a land where nature and history embrace to create a magical atmosphere, where peace reigns supreme over the shimmering sea, and visitors are left quite simply spellbound. After check-in relex before a beautful sunset rooftop wine mixer followd by dinner together.
Taormina
Tuesday, September 14th - Following breakfast at the hotel your tour guide will lead you to the center of Taormina, featuring a visit to the Greek Amphitheater, with its spectacular view of the Mediterranean Sea and Mount Etna the largest active volcano in Europe. Enjoy lunch on your own and some time to spend exploring the back streets and the craft shops of Taormina. The rest of the afternoon is at your leisure. Tonight, enjoy dinner together, then you are off to a night of dancing at a local nightclub where you will enjoy the evening in a special Bella Itaila reserved space.
Wednesday, September 15th - Following breakfast join us for an optional day of snorkeling or enjoy a free day to explore Sicily on your own or in small groups. One suggestion is visiting the tiny nearby village of Castelmola. This is a tiny, picturesque village that is about 500 meters above sea level, rivals Taormina on having the best view of the Ionian Sea. This is an ancient town. Castelmola was built to defend Taormina from the attacks of potential invaders. There is still an atmosphere of "old times" that transmits a feeling of temporarily going back in time. This feeling is made even stronger by the fact that no cars can be driven in Castelmola. Later that night party at one of the best bar in Taormina, open till 3:00 am, It has the best drinks and it is always crowded with amazingly beautiful people.
Taormina/Catania/USA
Thursday - September 16th -Today your Italian sojourn is brought to an end. This morning after breakfast, you'll be transferred to nearby Catania airport to board your flight back to the USA, returning with fond memories of your time spent in this most special destination.
Buon Viaggio!
