The Best of Italy and Greece (63302027)

Day 1:
ARRIVE IN VENICE AREA, ITALY Welcome to Italy! Check into your hotel. The rest of the day is free for you to explore Italy 's romantic city using your CosmosGO app. This evening, meet your Tour Director and travel companions at the welcome dinner at the hotel. (D)




Day 2:
VENICE Venice is a place of unmatched beauty and a feast of fantastic sights. View the delightful crisscrossing canals, the gondolas, arched bridges, palaces, and piazzas. Your included orientation features a boat ride to St. Mark 's Square and a visit to a Venetian glassblowing workshop. You 'll have time to explore at leisure on your own, perhaps sipping a cappuccino or the typical Venetian drink called “spritz” at one of the many bars or cafés. An optional excursion to the island of Burano will give you the opportunity to see more of the Venetian Lagoon before enjoying a delicious meal. (B)



Day 3:
VENICE AREA-VERONA-MONTECATINI Travel to Verona, setting for Shakespeare 's Romeo & Juliet. Marvel at the ancient Roman Arena, built for gladiator fights but now still used as a popular venue for festivals and concerts; shop in Via Mazzini, or just wander the cobblestone streets of the city center. Tonight, experience the harmony of rural life in Tuscany with an optional farmhouse dinner in the Tuscan countryside. On the menu? Good food, better wine, and the best company! Overnight in the Tuscan spa town of Montecatini.
Today 's Distance: 242 mi/ 390 km (B)



Day 4:
MONTECATINI-FLORENCE-MONTECATINI Today, enjoy a full day discovering the wonders of Florence, starting with a guided walking tour, featuring some of the city 's greatest attractions. See Piazza Santa Croce; world-famous Signoria Square; 13th-century Palazzo Vecchio with its collection of artistic masterpieces; Loggia dei Lanzi; the unique Duomo with Giotto 's Gothic Bell Tower and the Baptistry 's ornate bronze door known as the “Gate of Paradise.” Return to Montecatini.
Today 's distance: 81 mi /130 km (B)



Day 5:
MONTECATINI-PISA-ROME Vistas of rolling hills, cypress trees, vineyards, olive groves, and rural villages form the backdrop of your journey through beautiful Tuscany. Stop in Pisa and enjoy a mini-train ride to the Square of Miracles and the amazing Leaning Tower, then on to Rome.
Today 's Distance: 255 mi/ 410 km (B)



Day 6:
ROME The “Eternal City” is steeped in history, vibrantly alive and exciting, and absolutely unique! Start the included introduction to Rome 's landmarks from St. Peter 's Square with a Local Guide. Enjoy a drive along the iconic landmarks of the city: the Tiber River, the Caius Cestius Pyramid, the Aurelian Walls, and the Caracalla Baths. Complete the experience with a walk back in time from the Circus Maximus to the Arch of Constantine and to the fascinating Colosseum, symbol of the Roman Empire.* (B)

* For operational reasons, changes to the Rome program cannot be excluded.



Day 7:
ROME-ATHENS, GREECE Transfer to the airport for your included flight to Athens. From the capital of Italy to the capital of Greece, absorb the Mediterranean flair and discover the influence of ancient Roman and Greek civilizations on modern life and arts. (B)



Day 8:
ATHENS-MYCENAE-NAUPLIA AREA Join the included sightseeing tour of Athens, featuring the highlights of the city and a visit to the Acropolis. Travel to the Corinth Canal, built between 1881 and 1893 and stop here for a picture. Continue to visit the Mycenae archaeological site with a Local Guide to learn about the ancient city of Homer 's epics. Enjoy views of the rugged Peloponnese scenery on the way to Nauplia. This evening, enjoy an included dinner at a local restaurant.
Today 's Distance: 90 mi / 145 km (B,D)



Day 9:
NAUPLIA AREA-OLYMPIA Drive south through the Peloponnese to Olympia. Take advantage of some time at leisure or score the perfect 10 with a guided optional tour of ancient Olympia, site of the first Olympic Games, featuring the ruins of the Temple of Zeus.
Today 's Distance: 118 mi / 190 km (B)



Day 10:
OLYMPIA-DELPHI Cross the Rion-Antirion bridge and skirt the Gulf or Corinth to continue inland to Delphi. Built at the foot of Mt. Parnassus, Delphi was considered by ancient Greeks to be the center of the world where the oracles of Apollo predicted the fate of many a man.
Today 's distance: 150 mi/ 240 km (B,D)



Day 11:
DELPHI-ATHENS Enjoy free time in Athens to explore with the help of the CosmosGO app, visit the museums or take the tram to the coast. In the evening, enjoy the lively atmosphere of the tavernas in the old Plaka district with its narrow streets and sound of bouzouki music. (B)



Day 12:
ATHENS Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B)