Day 6 - Tuscan Village hopping and Wine tasting - We will be picked up around 9:30 by our private mini-bus and driver to head out to the hill towns of  Tuscany.  We will start with the medieval village of San Gimignano.  It is surrounded by an ancient wall and complete with fourteen still standing medieval towers from feudal lords of the past and a beautiful cathedral. San Gimignano’s hilltop views and quaint little shops make it a great Tuscan stop.  You will also have lunch on your own in San Gimignano. As no Tuscan tour would be complete without one, we will head to an old winery for a tour and some tasting of the local wine with some fun explanation of the various Italian wines.  After our wine, we will head back to Siena in time to take in the historic sights of the city or just relax.  We will have a fabulous dinner tonight right off the Campo in a little place that specializes in local Sienese dishes and personal service; usually everyone's favorite meal in Italy! (B,D) Sleep Siena

Day 7 - Art and Culture of Florence - We will depart for Florence via the “rapide” morning bus (9:00) so that we can start our day in the cultural capital of Tuscany – Florence. We will meet our Florence guide at the station and embark on a 2-hr historic walking tour of this incredible city.  The tour will include the beautiful white and green marble Duomo Cathedral and Tower followed by skipping the lines and going directly into the Accademia museum with Michelangelo’s David. It is a true joy to see this breathtaking masterpiece accompanied by the explanations of our expert guide.  We will continue with our outdoor visit of Renaissance architecture with the Baptistery and its famous bronze doors by Ghiberti, and then say good bye to our guide. You have time to have a pizza/pasta lunch before we skip the lines (reserved time at 2:00) and head straight into the famous UFFIZI museum where you will have a personal audio guide and wander the museum at your own pace.  The Uffizi has the best collection of Italian Renaissance artists such as Botticelli, Titian, Raphael and many more.  After the Uffizi, you are on your own to continue to enjoy Florence, do some shopping. We will head back to Siena in the early evening.  Dinner is on your own. (B) Sleep Siena

Day 8 - On to Rome - We will catch the morning Euro star train for the 3-hr journey to the center of Rome. We will settle into our hotel in the center of the old city, stay together for a little “Rome 101” and then you have your choice to either wander or take an informal tour of some city highlights. Dinner is on your own and the streets and Piazzas are lined with the cutest little restaurants for you to choose from. If you still have energy and the weather is good, evening is a perfect time to wander the glorious Piazzas (Navona, Rotunda, and Trevi Fountain) that are all within walking distance of our hotel that come alive at night. (B) Sleep Rome

Day 9 - A Day walking in Caesars' footsteps - We will meet our local guide around 9:00 at the entrance to the Roman Colosseum for our 2-3 hour walking tour of ancient Rome. We will begin by skipping the lines and touring the Colosseum structure inside and out, imagining exactly how it looked when it was completed and used by Emperor Titus in 80AD.  After the Colosseum we will wander next door through the Forum – a set of buildings and temples which represented the center of Roman civilization for nearly 500 years. After the Forum we will wander up Palatine Hill, the home of the Emperors’ palaces and the oldest ruins in Rome.  It has incredible views of the seven hills of Rome.  After our tour you can find a cozy Roman café for pizza, pasta or whatever suits your fancy for lunch. The rest of the afternoon and dinner you are on your own, free to explore Rome. The Pantheon, National Museum, or even the ancient sites of Ostia Antica outside of Rome are all good choices. (B) Sleep Rome

Day 10 - The Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel and St. Peters cathedral morning plus free afternoon - We will head out to the Vatican and again, skip the long winding queue, and pick up our guide at the group desk inside the Vatican museum for our 2-hr walking tour of its treasures.  With the fall of Rome, the church became the great preserver of art and civilization in Italy.  The Vatican museum contains exhibits of ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome in addition to works by  Michelangelo and Raphael.  We will finish the guided tour with the famous Sistine Chapel by Michelangelo.  It took him four years on scaffolding to complete this masterpiece which is often judged to be the single greatest work of art by one human being.  You can see if you agree – prepare to be in awe! After the Sistine Chapel, we will take a shortcut and head into St. Peters Basilica, one of the largest churches in all Christendom. The afternoon is free for more wanderings of Rome. We will get together in the evening for our “Roman feast” at a local Roman restaurant situated right next to the beautiful and historic Pantheon. (B, D) Sleep Rome

Day 11 - Rome to Sorrento - We will take the 1 1/2 hour fast train from Rome to Naples in the mid-morning with lunch on your own on the train.  We will be picked up in Naples and driven to our hotel in Sorrento.  On the way, we will make a stop at the mysterious site of Pompeii where we will have a two-hour guided walk and visit with a local expert guide.  It will amaze you how this ancient city appears frozen in time because it was buried for over 1700 years before it’s discovery in the late 1600’s.  It is a uniquely preserved example of what life was like in a Roman city at the height of the Roman Empire.  After our visit, we will continue on the short 45 minute drive to Sorrento and settle into our sea view hotel.  Dinner is on your own tonight. (B) Sleep in Sorrento

Day 12 - The Amalfi Coast - The Amalfi Coast is considered one of the most beautiful coastlines in all of Italy. We will spend the day with our local Italian guide and private mini-van soaking in the history, sea and sun.  Renowned for its rugged terrain and scenic beauty, this entire coastline is listed as an UNESCO World Heritage site in addition to being featured in more movies than I can mention here.  We will start from our hotel in the morning and visit several villages including Positano, Amalfi and Ravello with gardens, villas and views.  In each we will have time to shop and explore plus a stop for lunch.  We will return to the hotel around 4pm.  This is a day to make sure you have a full charge on your camera battery! (B) Sleep in Sorrento