Our Itinerary - Italy in October 2007

ROME Fri 10/05 – Tue 10/9
Hotel Mercure Roma Delta Colosseo Breakfast included
Vial Labicana 144 Check in: 2pm, Check out: 12noon
October Temperature: 53-71 F
http://www.accorhotels.com/accorhotels/fichehotel/gb/mer/2909/fiche_hotel.shtml

Day 1 - Fri 10/05
LV ORLANDO 1:55pm
AR ROME 8:25am
“Caesar Shuffle”: (approx 3hrs)
Colosseum ($11 Euro, covers Forum and Palatine)
Roman Forum
Palatine Hill
Trajan’s Column
Lunch/siesta
Pantheon and nearby churches
Gelato at Gelateria de La Palma, 2 blocks in front of the pantheon
Dinner at Campo de Fiore or at Trevi Fountain
Night Walk across Rome: from Campo de Fiore to the Trevi Fountain

Day 2 - Sat 10/06
10:00 am reservation of Vatican City (Museum, Sistine Chapel, St Peter’s Basilica) . 4 Hour tour with Roman Odyssey. Pay at time of tour $50 Euro (includes ticket price)
St. Peter-in-chains Tour (Free)
Castel St. Angelo ($5 Euro),
“Dolce de Vita Stroll”: from Piazza del Popolo to the Spanish Steps
Dinner at Imago Restaurant, atop the Hassler Hotel on Spanish Steps

Day 3 - Sun 10/07
National Museum of Rome ($9 Euro) (approx 1 hour)
Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica (Pope’s blessing on Sun:12:10)
Lunch at Villa Borghesa
Galeria Borghesa ($9 Euro, reservations mandatory) (approx 2 hours)
Trastevere Walk
Dinner at Trastevere

Day 4 - Mon 10/08
Day Trip: To Naples (2hr by train), from Naples to Sorrento or to Capri (40 min)
by Boat, or cruise the coast http://www.capri.com/en/c/taxi-del-mare
or to Assissi (2 hour train ride)

Day 5 - Tue 10/09
To Florence by train (2 hrs)


Confirmed Roma & Piu Passes for 6 (Prepaid 25 Euro/person = $33.50)
Pick up cards at the Colosseo (Cassa Gruppi/Group Desk) valid for 3 days covering public transportation and free admission to the first two sights and then a discount on the rest sights including: Colosseum, Palatine Hill, Borghese Gallery, Castel St. Angelo, National Musuem of Rome. www.pierreci.it


FLORENCE Tue 10/9 – Sat 10/13
Hotel Balestri Breakfast included
Piazza Mentana 7 Check in: 2pm, Check out: 12noon
October Temperature: 50-70 F
http://www.hotel-balestri.it/

Day 5 - Tue 10/09
Arrive from Rome
Lunch around Santa Maria Novella, Trattorias
Santa Maria Novella Church
Window Shopping – Via de’Tornabuoni and Vigna Nuova
Walk to Santa Croce
Santa Croce Church – tombs of Galileo, Michelangelo, Machiavelli,
Dante, Wine bars

Day 6 - Wed 10/10
9:00am Reservation Uffizzi Galery. Prepaid $30 USD/person
Lunch at Plaza Segnora
Ponte Vechio
Oltrarno Walk – Pitti Palace, Boboli and Bardini Gardens
Vespa Rental
Dinner at Oltrarno

Day 7 - Thu 10/11
9:00am reservation Accademia (Michelangelo’s David, Botticelli’s).
Prepaid $30 USD/person
Renaisance Walk
Medici Riccardi Palace – Chapel of Magi
Lunch at San Lorenzo Street Market – Trattoria Za-Za facing the Central
Market. Ribollita, a Tuscan soup, is their specialty. Reservations recommended.
Duomo (Santa Maria del Fiore), Giotto Tower
Baptistry
Dinner at Quattro Amici - Via degli Orti Oricellari, 29 (by the train station)

Day 8 - Fri 10/12
Day trip to Pisa, San Gimignano, Volterra (Tuscany) and back to Florence. Car Rental

Day 9 - Sat 10/13
To Venice by train (3 hrs)


VENICE Sat 10/13 – Mon 10/15
Hotel Sofitel Venezia Breakfast included
Santa Croce 245 Check in/out: 12noon
October Temperature: 48-64 F
http://www.accorhotels.com/accorhotels/fichehotel/gb/sof/1313/fiche_hotel.shtml


Day 9 - Sat 10/13
Arrive from Florence
Take Vaporetto to St. Mark’s Square
Lunch at St. Mark’s Square (Piazza San Marco)
St. Mark’s Basilica
Doge’s Palace
Go up the Campanile
Dinner at St. Mark’s Square
Evening Gondola Ride
Orchestras and drinks on St. Mark’s Square

Day 10- Sun 10/14
Take Vaporetto to Rialto
Rialto to Frari Church walk
Lunch at San Polo
Take Vaporetto to Murano and Burano islands
Dinner at Burano for seafood specilaties, or back at St. Mark’s

Day 11- Mon 10/15
To Milan by train (3 hrs)


MILAN Mon 10/15 – Wed 10/17
Hotel Ibis Milano Centro Breakfast NOT included
Via Finocchiaro Aprile 2 Check in/out: 12noon
October Temperature: 47-64 F
http://www.accorhotels.com/accorhotels/fichehotel/gb/ibi/0933/fiche_hotel.shtml


Day 11- Mon 10/15
Arrive from Venice
Lunch
To Lake Como by train (1 hr)
Dinner at Lake Como

Day 12 - Tue 10/16
Breakfast at Montenapoleone
Window Shopping, Quadrilateral, Via Montenapoleone
Lunch at Piazza Duomo
Duomo Cathedral – 4th largest church in Europe
2:30 pm Reservation: The Last Supper (Davinci’s “Il Cenacolo”) Santa Maria delle
Grazie. (arrive 15 minutes prior). Prepaid $26 USD/person
Galleria Vittorio Emanuelle – window shopping, coffee
Piazza della Scala
La Scala Opera House
Via Speronari – Milan’s oldest street, wine tasting
Church Sta. Maria presso San Satiro
Dinner at Navigli Neighborhood “Little Venice”

Day 13- Wed 10/17
To Milan Airport
LV MILAN-MALPEN 11:00am
AR ORLANDO 7:00pm