AN ITALIAN MOSAIC WITH WISHDRAWALS

Welcoming cocktails and traditional Roman supper in the heart of Rome. Unforgettable! Overnight in the eternal city.

Experience the Rome of Caesars! We will visit the Colosseum and Archaeological Area, skipping long lines at the entrance. We will access the Palatine Hill with no line and discover the hill where Rome was founded. Next, we will reach the famous Colosseum and be flabbergasted by this monument that is the symbol of Rome across the world. The Amphitheater was created to entertain ancient Roman citizens with bloody shows of gladiators, animals, and mock games, and is now one of the most fascinating landmarks of the ancient city. Next, we walk on the original path of ancient Rome along the Via Sacra and see the Temples of Vesta, Antonino and Faustina, the ancient Basilica of Julia and Aemilia and dream about the glorious past of the Roman Empire. Late afternoon: Join your host Joseph for an illuminating walk of some of the monuments of Rome, including the Trevi Fountain, the Roman Pantheon, the Spanish Steps and much more.

After breakfast we depart Rome to head South into the volcanic landscape that is discovered just a few miles from the city. Here we will partake in two wine tastings, learn about the art of Roman wine tasting in an area that goes back more than 2,000 years (and walk on an ancient Roman wine road), as well as have lunch in Castel Gandolfo, overlooking a vast volcanic lake. Known as the Castelli Romani, it is one of the most beautiful areas of the Roman region but not all visitors know about this amazing gem. Get ready for some impressive discoveries. Late afternoon and evening on your own in Rome Overnight in Rome

San Felice Circeo to view the tower of the Knights Templars and to look above towards the acropolis where Circe, a sorceress in Homer's Odyssey, cast a spell on Ulysses. Brief stop to view the temple of Jupiter Anxur in Terracina. This was the symbol and the glory of eternal Rome, and we get to the heart of the legend of Rome as a divine city that was favored by the Gods and thus became the most powerful city in the known world for a thousand years. The medieval town of Sperlonga offers amazing panoramic views of the Mediterranean Sea and the villa of the emperor Tiberius. Here we will have a local cultural expert guide us around as well as some free time for lunch. End in Gaeta, often voted to be one of the top medieval villages in Italy and has a long reputation as a fisher village and a unique history that goes back nearly 3,000 years, it is also boasts remarkable views of a beautiful gulf that is shadowed by some of the largest most awe-inspiring mountains in the region.

View the sandy beach of Serapo and enjoy the local town. Then head to the top of Monte Orlando which has great views of the nearby beaches and mountains as well as one of the best-preserved Roman monuments known as the Mausoleum of the senator and general Plancus. Take a leisurely walk-in medieval Gaeta that during the medieval ages was part of the Byzantine Empire, an independent Duchy, and then part of the Kingdom of Sicily. Its buildings show influences from both the western and eastern parts of the Mediterranean. Another great highlight is Split Mountain. This amazing fissure on the side of a mountain has caves where the sea enters and pounds against the rocks hundreds of feet below. Afternoon and evening at your leisure. Your host will give some suggestions of where to eat as Gaeta is influenced by both Rome and Naples, so it has the best of both culinary traditions.

Visit the stupendous Flavian Amphitheater of Pozzuoli with your host Joseph who specializes in this amazing region. See Rome's third largest amphitheater that boasts the best underground section of any coliseum, and it is your chance to get up close and personal with history. Traverse through the region and discover several of its relatively recently created volcanoes that dot the landscape. End with a visit to the archeological museum of the Campi Flegrei housed in the tower Castle of Baia. We will see Greek and Roman statues and other remnants of a bygone area closer than any museum of its caliber allows for in Italy. You will also be able to experience the grandiose views of the Bay of Naples from the castle walls with the Ilse of Capri in the distance and Mount Vesuvius lurking just over the horizon. Afterwards it is on to Sorrento, said to be the place where the sirens lived in Homer's Odyssey and one of the most gorgeous seaside towns in the world.

Pompeii is well known for being one of the most intact Roman cities owing to its demise in the explosion of Mount Vesuvius in A.D. 79. You will walk the streets that the ancient inhabitants walked, see their homes, grandiose and humble, be amused by their graffiti, experience their Odeon theater and nearby amphitheater, and have the chance to visit some newly opened sections of the town that have never been seen before! After our unforgettable visit to Pompeii, we will delight in a wine tasting and light lunch in a nearby winery in the shadow of Vesuvius. The Romans loved their wine and who are we to contradict them? Memorable! Afternoon and evening free to make personal discoveries or to just relax!

Have a leisurely walk of the town show casing Castel Nuovo, Galleria Umberto, Piazza Plebiscito, and the historical district or "centro storico". Here we will visit some of the most important churches of the city, but the highlight will be a plunge into "underground Naples" that allows us to view sections of the ancient Greek City, walk on a Roman road, and be amazed at the remnants of a large ancient marketplace that was active for over 1000 years. It will be amazing! After our visit we will enjoy a farewell lunch together that consists of a traditional Neapolitan pizza. Pizza was invented in Naples and the pizza here is unlike anywhere else, and some would say better than anywhere else! We will all experience this together and be able to make up our own minds. Get ready for some good cheer as Neapolitans are at the top of their game when it comes to hosting those who want to experience their cuisine. Head back to Sorrento where we will have the evening free at our leisure.

In the morning, you will transfer out to either the airport for your flight home or the train station if your Italian Adventure is continuing.