6-Nights The Sweet Life: Rome & Sorrento - Tauck Bridges Family Travel from $6,190
Tauck
OFFER ID 1504530
The Sweet Life: Rome & Sorrento
Tauck Bridges' family trip to Italy serves up a multi-course feast of history, art, scenery and culinary treats…it's an unforgettable journey from Rome to the Amalfi Coast to savor together.
When in Rome… go to gladiator school! Our family-friendly tour of Italy brings Roman history into focus as you visit ancient ruins, learn gladiator skills and wander underground catacombs. A guided visit to the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel with your family is memorable. Pompeii reveals its mysteries as you walk its ancient streets and excavated buildings. And how sweet it is to see Sorrento, where you'll take a pizza-making class on a family farm… hop aboard a high-speed ferry to the enchanting Isle of Capri for further exploration via convertible and funicular… and break for gelato!
6 nights from $6,190 per person
Itinerary Details
Tauck World Discovery: The Sweet Life: Rome & Sorrento
Day 1 Rome, Italy
Ciao Bella Roma
Tour begins: 3:00 PM, Parco dei Principi Grand Hotel & SPA. Your family adventure in Italy begins with an included transfer from Rome's Leonardo da Vinci Airport in Fiumicino, Ciampino Airport or Roma Termini train station to Parco dei Principi Grand Hotel & SPA. You'll feel like royalty at Parco dei Principi Grand Hotel & Spa, a deluxe hotel overlooking the Villa Borghese park. A brief city tour shows you some of Rome's most famous sights – with your local guide, view the Circus Maximus, the Caracalla Baths and other features of Imperial Rome. We invite you to join us this evening for a welcome reception and dinner.
Meals: D
Day 2 Rome, Italy
Gladiators, Catacombs & The Vatican
Experience a close-up look at ancient Rome as you head out along the Appian Way. Your first stop is gladiator school, where your family gets a fun introduction to ancient Roman history. Next up is a guided visit to the Catacombs of St. Callixtus where you'll learn all about the "secret language" of the early Christian symbols found throughout the underground tunnels of the Catacombs. Have lunch at a restaurant on the Appian Way, then enjoy some free time. Tonight – a special family experience – a Tauck Bridges Exclusive after-hours, guided visit to the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel (subject to availability, day of visit may vary). You won't be rushed, you won't have to maneuver through masses of people blocking your views, and you'll be able to take your time to contemplate the inspirational and artistic treasures.
Meals: B, L
Day 3 Rome, Italy
Vatican City and Piazza Navona
Today you'll visit one of the world's most recognizable places of worship, St. Peter's Basilica, and famous St. Peter's Square. Take a walking tour to the Pantheon and Piazza Navona with its beautiful Fountain of the Four Rivers by Bernini. After lunch at a local restaurant near Piazza Navona, spend the rest of the day as you please with your family in remarkable Roma.
Meals: B, L
Day 4 Sorrento, Italy
Pompeii & a Slice of Local Italian Life
Travel from Rome to Naples through the Italian countryside via high-speed train, then on to Pompeii – totally buried by tons of pumice and hot ash when volcanic Mount Vesuvius blew its top on August 24th in 79 AD. Today, its streets are much like they were before the volcano erupted, offering a glimpse of what daily life was like in 1st century AD. After your visit, enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. Continue on to Sorrento, nestled between the mountains and the sea, with great views of Vesuvius and the Gulf of Naples. Visit a family farm – or agriturismo – to find out how cheese, olive oil and other tasty treats are made. Then, try your hand at using that cheese as a professional chef shows you how to make your own pizza for dinner; your evening includes traditional Neapolitan music. Enjoy Executive Level Sea View rooms during your stay at Hilton Sorrento Palace.
Meals: B, L, D
Day 5 Capri, Italy
The Isle of Capri
Head across the Gulf of Naples by high-speed ferry to the enchanting Isle of Capri. Just like a jet-setter, take a fabulous ride in a private convertible along the cliffs of the road to Anacapri, ending in the town. A funicular (chairlift) takes you to the highest point of the island to get a good look at the beautiful Gulf and the town below. After lunch in the town of Capri, and some free time, take the funicular down to the pier to catch your high-speed ferry back to Sorrento. From your Executive Room at the Hilton Sorrento Palace you'll be able to look out at the Gulf of Naples and, in the distance, the infamous Mount Vesuvius. Spend the rest of the day and evening with your family as you please.
Meals: B, L
Day 6 Amalfi, Italy
Positano, a cruise & more on the Amalfi Coast
If you like roller coasters, you'll love the drive along the Amalfi Coast today! The road seems to sometimes go straight up, sometimes straight down and careens around sharp corners at the edge of the cliffs. Walk through the town of Positano, seemingly holding on to its cliff-side perch for dear life, before climbing aboard a private boat bound for Amalfi to view the amazing cliffs of the Amalfi Coast, now above you. In the town of Amalfi, you'll have time to check out the sights along the maze of lovely winding streets. Your adventure concludes back in Sorrento tonight with a barbecue farewell dinner, where you can share some favorite moments of your family's unforgettable trip to Italy.
Meals: B, D
Day 7 Sorrento, Italy
Journey home
Trip ends: Sorrento. Fly home anytime. Your family's Italy adventure ends with an included transfer from Hilton Sorrento Palace to Naples International Airport or Naples train station. Please allow 3 hours for airport check-in formalities. We wish you a safe and pleasant journey home. Arrivederci!
Meals: B
Excursions
Sorrento: The Ancient City of Pompeii - 6 Hours
Sorrento: The Ancient City of Pompeii - 6 Hours
Highlights:
- Visit the incredibly preserved Roman city of Pompeii
Tour Can Operate: Morning/Afternoon
Wheelchair Accessible: Please enquire for more information
Physical Activity Level: Light
Inclusions:
- Luxury car or minivan at your disposal during the tour
- An expert English-speaking guide at the Pompeii site (3 hours)
- Entrance fees to the Pompeii site
- All taxes
- All cruise travel, personal items, meals and associated costs
- Gratuities
Sorrento: The Iconic Amalfi Coast - 6 Hours
Sorrento: The Iconic Amalfi Coast - 6 Hours
Highlights:
- Drive along the magnificent Amalfi Coast, stopping at Positano, Amalfi and Ravello.
Tour Can Operate: Morning/Afternoon
Wheelchair Accessible: Please enquire for more information
Physical Activity Level: Light
Inclusions:
- Luxury car or minivan at your disposal during the tour
- An expert English-speaking driver-guide throughout the tour (6 hours)
- Entrance fees to the Villa Ruffolo
- All taxes
- All cruise travel, personal items, meals and associated costs
- Gratuities
Sorrento: Capri Exploration by Private Motorboat – 8 hours
Sorrento: Capri Exploration by Private Motorboat – 8 hours
Highlights:
- Private skippered motorboat to explore the beautiful island of Capri, including Marina Piccola and Marina Grande.
Tour can Operate: Morning
Wheelchair Accessible: Please enquire for more information
Physical Activity Level: Light
Inclusions:
- 34-foot (1-4 pax) or 43-foot (5-6 pax) private motorboat with English-speaking skipper (8 hours)
- All taxes
- All cruise travel, personal items, meals and associated costs
- Gratuities
Sprawled across seven legendary hills, romantic and beautiful Rome was one
of the great centers of the ancient world. Although its beginning is shrouded
in legend and its development is full of intrigue and struggle, Rome has always
been and remains the Eternal City.
Rome enjoyed its greatest splendor during the 1st and 2nd centuries when art
flourished, monumental works of architecture were erected, and the mighty Roman
legions swept outward, conquering all of Italy. These victorious armies then
swept across the Mediterranean and beyond to conquer most of the known world.
With Rome's establishment as capital of the western world, a new ascent to glory
began.
Today's Rome, with its splendid churches, ancient monuments and palaces, spacious
parks, tree-lined boulevards, fountains, outdoor cafes and elegant shops, is
one of the world’s most attractive and exciting cities. Among the most famous
monuments is the Colosseum. As you walk its cool, dark passageways, imagine
the voices that once filled the arena as 50,000 spectators watched combats between
muscled gladiators and ferocious animals.
Stop to see the remains of the Forum, once the city's political and commercial
center. In later times, Rome's squares were enhanced with such imposing structures
as the Vittorio Emanuele Monument and grandiose fountains like the Fontana di
Trevi. Join the millions who stand in awe of Christendom’s most magnificent
church and admire the timeless masterpieces of Michelangelo's frescoes in the
Sistine Chapel.
Rome jars the senses and captures the soul. Grasp all you can during the short,
precious time you have available in the Eternal City. With so much to see and
do, a day or two will only allow you a sampling of the city's marvelous treasures.
Caution: As in many big cities and tourist destinations purse snatching
and pickpocketing is common. Valuable jewelry and excess cash are best left
in a safety deposit box in your hotel.
Shopping For most visitors shopping for beautiful Italian leather articles,
designer shoes, fashions for men and women, linens, knitwear, silk scarves and
ties is a favorite pastime. Except for tourist-oriented shops, the majority
of stores are closed on Sundays. Some of the department stores, such as Rinascente,
open in the late afternoon on Sundays.
Cuisine Rome's choice of restaurants is mindboggling as is the variety
of cuisine. Whether your meal is at a top-rated restaurant or a rustic trattoria,
you can be sure that you will enjoy your food, especially when accompanied by
wines from the hill towns surrounding Rome.
Other Sights Rome's attractions are endless, and depending on how much
time you have at your disposal a careful selection has to be made about what
to see. Be aware of horrendous traffic conditions and major construction work
all around the city in preparation of Jubilee 2000, the Holy Year. Some of the
sights not to be missed:
Piazza Venezia - This busy square is easily recognized by its imposing Vittorio
Emanuele II Monument. The white marble structure was inaugurated in 1911 as
a symbol of Italy’s unification.
The Forum - Once the civic heart of ancient Rome, today the remains include
a series of ruins, marble fragments, isolated columns and some worn arches.
Colosseum - No visit to Rome is complete without a stop at this awe-inspiring
theater, which is among the world’s most celebrated buildings. Here ancient
Rome flocked to see gladiatorial contests and numerous other spectacles.
Trevi Fountain - Take a stroll to Rome's famous fountain. A spectacular fantasy
of mythical sea creatures and cascades of splashing water, the fountain is one
of the city's foremost attractions. Legend has it that visitors must toss a
coin into the fountain to ensure their return to Rome.
St. Peter's Square - Part of Vatican City, this square created by Bernini
is considered one of the loveliest squares in the world. Twin Doric colonnades
topped with statues of various saints and martyrs flank either side of the square.
In the center stands an 84-foot obelisk, brought from Egypt in 37 A.D.
St. Peter's Basilica - At the head of the square stands Christendom's most
magnificent church, which was begun in 1452 on the site where St. Peter was
buried. Throughout the following 200 years, such Renaissance masters as Bramante,
Michelangelo, Raphael and Bernini worked on its design and created an unparalleled
masterpiece. Of special note are Michelangelo's Pieta and the bronze canopy
over the high altar by Bernini. The immense dome was designed by Michelangelo.
Vatican Museum - To see this museum's immense collection would take days.
As you enter, there are special posters that plot a choice of four color-coded
itineraries. They are repeated throughout the museum and are easy to follow.
It is a good idea to pickup a leaflet at the main entrance and concentrate on
exhibits of major interest. Of course, the Sistine Chapel is a must. Most likely
you may have to wait in line to enter.
Vacation Details
* This departure has been designated a guaranteed departure by the operator, meaning that the minimum number of guests has been met, although still subject to weather and other conditions.
All fares are quoted in US Dollars.
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