Benvenuti in Italia! Your private bus and guide will transfer you to the City of Seven Hills for a panoramic orientation tour. Additional sightseeing depends on arrival time. Savor a delicious welcome dinner at a cozy local trattoria.  D

This morning, discover the Colosseum on a captivating guided tour, the largest amphitheater ever built having an average audience of 65,000. It was used for gladiatorial contests and public spectacles such as mock sea battles, animal hunts and re-enactments of famous battles. Take a guided walk through the epic Roman Forum with the group and imagine how it was when it was the center of day-to-day life in Rome. This afternoon, begin a guided walking tour through the timeless piazzas and monumental fountains, including the charming Spanish Steps, the majestic Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon, and Piazza Navona.  B

This morning, journey to Pompeii for a half day guided tour of the stunning ruins to observe the destruction wrought by Mt. Vesuvius in 79 AD. Discover the reality of Roman life in the temples, wine shops, streets and homes excavated from layers of cinder and ash. Visit a local wine estate on the slopes of Mt. Vesuvius including a light lunch and a wine tasting. Continue to beautiful Sorrento, standing on a terrace rising steeply above the sea on one of the most spectacular points of the Campanian coast. The perfumed gardens, olive, orange and lemon groves, gleaming white houses and grand cliffs make this beautiful tree-shaded resort the most popular in Italy.  B, L, D

After breakfast, begin a full day excursion to the Amalfi Coast. Enjoy the breathtaking scenery of this wild and rocky landscape. Visit Amalfi, then a enjoy a boat ride to Positano. Wander through charming boutiques, relax on pebble beaches, or hike the scenic Path of the Gods for breathtaking views of the sparkling Mediterranean below. Continue by boat to Sorrento.  B

Cross the sparkling blue sea to the Isle of Capri by hydrofoil for a guided tour. The incomparable beauty of its mildness of climate and richness of its vegetation has lured visitors since the time of ancient Greek mariners. You may decide to visit the Blue Grotto, weather permitting. Spend the rest of the day exploring the island, from its colorful harbor (Marina Grande) to its highest town (Anacapri). On a minibus tour of Anacapri, you’ll see sweeping views of the Tyrrhenian Sea, winding roads lined with citrus trees, charming whitewashed houses, and rugged cliffs leading to Mount Solaro, the island’s highest point. Ride the funicular to the port to board a hydrofoil to Sorrento.  B

This morning, travel to the seaside resort of Paestum, where the opening struggle of the long and bitter Italian campaign began in 1943. With its splendidly preserved walls and ruined temples, Paestum is one of the most important archeological sites on the mainland of Italy. On a guided tour, discover the land that the ancient Greeks stumbled on around 650 BC. They took one look at the wide-open beaches and the potential of the fertile, flat land and hills beyond, and built an entire city there. Visit the well-preserved Greek ruins and temples, Salerno Beachhead, and the 36th Division Monument and War Museum. Return to Sorrento.  B

After breakfast, begin your journey back to Rome. Visit Anzio Beach, the American Cemetery at Nettuno and the Velletri Battlefield, the final assault on the “Road to Rome.” Stop to see the Abbey of Montecassino noted for its famous battle and complete destruction during World War II. The town of Cassino and its sixth century Benedictine monastery were strongly defended by Germans blocking the Allied advance on Rome. Because of the hilly terrain platoons found that their carriers were useless, so mules were used for transporting ammo, food and water up to the Battalion line and returning down the hill with wounded. Hear tales from your guide and view numerous battle sites. Continue to Rome.  B

After breakfast, immerse yourself in a guided visit of the Vatican and its extensive museums. See displays of Assyrian, Etruscan and Palestinian Antiquities, as well as tapestries, mosaics, ceramics and religious art from several eras. You’ll visit the various apartments, galleries, and chapels, including the Sistine Chapel, home of Michelangelo’s masterpiece ceiling. Your tour also includes St. Peter’s Basilica, the largest church in the world, and St. Peter’s Square. B 

The day is free for exploration and discovery of this ancient capital. Be sure to savor some of the delicious flavors of gelato available and a cappuccino at a nearby cafe. Enjoy a farewell dinner with the group to share memories from your incredible tour of southern Italy.  B, D

Private transfer to the airport this morning for your return flight back to the U.S. with many new memories of your wonderful adventures in Italy! B