History of Rome, Florence, Amalfi Coast Tour

Today, you will explore the depths of Florentine history, beginning with your plane’s arrival at Amerigo Vespucci Airport. Your private driver will be waiting for you when you clear customs to transfer you to your luxurious accommodation in the heart of the city. Once you have had time to settle in, your guide will meet you at your hotel and walk you to the 14th-century Duomo. Brunelleschi’s dome unapologetically dominates Florence’s skyline, and its massive presence will be visible as you navigate the twisting backstreets. Afterward, you can visit the incredible museum that is attached to the Duomo, which serves as a unique storehouse of faith, history, and art.

In Florence, you can discover the significance of stone walls and bridges that most tourists miss on an exclusive walking tour. During your walking tour with Renaissance highlights, the depth of Florentine history will be revealed to you when you visit one of the world’s finest and oldest galleries: the Uffizi Gallery. After a full day of admiring art and delving into Renaissance history, you will be ready to transfer to the Ponte Vecchio Bridge. At the bridge, you can indulge in a creamy gelato and bask in the sunshine as you look over the city from the Arno River.

This morning, you can enjoy a relaxing breakfast and espresso. Your expert guide will meet you after breakfast to lead you to the Palazzo Vecchio for a private tour before the crowds arrive. During your time here, you can stroll through three fascinating eras, which include Roman ruins, a medieval fortress, and opulent renaissance chambers. As the late afternoon approaches, your private guide will transfer you to the 11th-century San Miniato Church, which is considered to be one of the most scenic churches in Italy.

This morning, your driver will meet you as you check out of your hotel in Florence, and you will step inside a luxurious car that will escort you to Rome. As you venture through the Umbria region, you will stop at the charming, hilltop town of Orvieto. Your private guide will meet you at the funicular station, and together, you will ascend through 1,000 feet of lightly colored, volcanic rock. Eventually, your tour will lead you underground, where archaeology and history are weaved together to tell a stimulating tale.  After your tour, you will reappear in the sunlight and be led to the beautiful cathedral that acts as the city’s crown. Here, you can relax in front of the massive church, admiring all of its beauty and sipping on an Orvieto wine before you resume your trip to Rome.

Today, you will encounter Rome’s historical roots with your guide, who will meet you at your hotel and commence your morning walking tour. You will witness many of Rome’s iconic sites, including the Pantheon. Afterward, you will stroll along the street toward Piazza Venezia. Situated on the 2nd floor of a brick building is a balcony that is easily passed by because it does not appear to have much significance or fanfare. You may get goosebumps on your arms as your guide pauses to show you pictures and audio clips of Benito Mussolini as he addresses his followers from this very balcony.

Today, your private guide will escort you underneath the Colosseum, and you will navigate the passageways where gladiators once bravely prepared for battle. As you stand on the floor of the Colosseum, looking up at the tiers of stands, you will be able to imagine the roar of 50,000 people watching and cheering for a good fight. Afterward, you will first stop to admire the Arch of Constantine. You will march on to where the greatness of Rome sits in the rubble of Palatine Hill, and it is on this very hill where it is said Rome was founded in 753 B.C. Your full-access tour will be fascinating and will shed light on history in a way that you never knew was possible.

This morning, your chauffeur will promptly arrive at your luxury accommodation as you finish breakfast. You will be transferred to Vatican City this morning. Today, you will tour the heartbeat of Catholicism as you partake in an exclusive tour of St. Peter’s Basilica. Following your visit to the Basilica, your guide will lead you to the Vatican Museum, which displays miles of ancient statues and Christian frescoes. Your tour will culminate in Michelangelo’s famous Sistine Chapel. Your busy day of touring will conclude in Rome at Castel Sant’Angelo, which was once the tallest structure in Rome.

As morning breaks, your driver will meet you outside of your accommodation to transfer you to Santa Maria Novella station, where you will board the high-speed train to Naples. Before you arrive on the Amalfi Coast, you will stop to wander through the ruins of Pompeii, where looming Mt. Vesuvius, which is the culprit to the town’s abrupt destruction, dominates the background. The volcanic ash preserved more than 100 acres of shops, bakeries, brothels, government buildings, and private homes, and you will explore it all during your visit.

This morning, you will enjoy breakfast from the comforts of your accommodation before meeting your guide to begin your day’s adventures. Your relaxing morning will transition to an epically exhilarating adventure as your driver leads you to a nearby helicopter pad. The helicopter will lead you to Mt. Vesuvius, where it will hover and provide you with a unique view of the lunar-like summit. You will then circle over Pompeii and Herculaneum before you heading to the Sorrentine Peninsula and the Amalfi Coast. In a short time, you will reach the ruins of Paestum, where you will be able to see Greek temples that have been sitting serenely in fields of wildflowers since the 6th century B.C. Finally, you will land in Sorrento, where you will have the remainder of the evening at your leisure.

After breakfast, you will board a luxury boat and sail to an island that is located a mere 13 miles off the coast of mainland Italy. After arriving in Marina Grande, your captain will direct you to a smaller boat that will be waiting for you. You will board the boat and venture to the blue grotto. Once you are ready, you will head back to land, where your expert guide will be waiting to lead you past garden walls that are dripping with hibiscus. During your tour, you can get out and walk in the footsteps of the ancient Phoenicians by ascending over 900 steps to the summit town of Anacapri.

As your trip concludes, you can enjoy a leisurely morning with a hot breakfast and espresso. You can leave your bags with the hotel concierge before strolling through your favorite corner of this delightful city once more. When you are ready, you will meet your private transfer at the hotel lobby, who will escort you to Naples International Airport for your flight home.