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Rome to Venice

Delve into architectural and epicurean wonders on both sides of the Italian peninsula during this 10-day adventure that combines an Adriatic and Dalmatian Coast cruise with a Vatican tour, Colosseum visit, and foodie market tour in Rome. Listen to the Venetian clock tower bells of Torre dell’Orologio strike the hour as hundreds of pigeons scatter about St. Mark’s Square. Sip crisp and dry Verdicchio paired with octopus salad or garlic-flavored black risotto in delicious Dubrovnik. Drift past the blue domes of Our Lady of the Rocks, a sanctuary for Kotor’s local fishermen for nearly 2,000 years. Sample succulent baked cardoon stalks harvested from Sicilian thistles and dusted with melted aged Parmesan cheese near the precipitous slopes of Mount Etna in Giardini Naxos. Experience an exclusive tour deep into the storied shadows of the Colosseum, and the Sistine Chapel, and dine in a Rome restaurant featuring authentic Italian dishes.

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Day 1: Welcome to Rome

Upon arrival at the Fiumicino airport an English-speaking guide will be waiting. Board a motor coach to the heart of the city to the Mascagni Hotel where you will be greeted by the hospitality staff and checked into your room. You will have time to relax and get settled. The area is rich in romance and history and has preserved a local character with its narrow streets and irregular alleys. Walk along the Tiber River, see the Ponte Sisto, an original stone bridge, past pastel-colored houses and medieval walkways full of traditional smells of the local cuisine.

(Includes overnight at the Mascagni Hotel and dinner)

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Day 2: In the Heart of the Eternal City

Breakfast is included at your hotel. This is your morning to enjoy a historic tour. Meet your guide at the hotel and set off to the Colosseum where you will visit and learn about the expansion and organization of Rome at the time of the Emperors. Approach the Forum and see a valley full of temples and ancient buildings reminiscent of the ancient city that lives below the modern one. Enjoy some free time for a cappuccino or snack before moving to the Vatican City for your tour of the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel. You will enter the museums by means of a skip-the-line reservation and you will admire the greatest collection of works of art with the help of an informative guide. Enter the world-famous Sistine Chapel where the masterpieces of Michelangelo Buonarroti live - such as the glorious fresco painting of the Last Judgment - a truly intense moment.

(Includes overnight at the Mascagni Hotel and breakfast.)

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Day 3: Rome to Your Waiting Yacht

Enjoy breakfast at your hotel before your guide takes you on a local fruit and vegetables market tour, explaining the Roman lifestyle and cooking. Discover the picturesque and hidden corners of Rome next to the most glorious temples and fountains of the Roman and Papal times, while sampling some local delicacies such as pizza and gelato! The Roman Street Food experience is a foodie’s dream. Transfer to the pier by motor coach to meet your waiting yacht.

(Includes breakfast, and local tasting, then lunch and dinner will be on board.)

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Day 3: Rome

In this enchanting city the past and present intersect in perfect harmony. Casually intermingled among ancient ruins and majestic cathedrals are the trappings of a modern metropolis: Skyscrapers,cafes, boutiques selling designer footwear. But of course what you seek first in the heart of Rome is its breathtaking history. A good place to begin is the Vatican, with its Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica. Works by Bernini, Michelangelo, Caravaggio, and Raphael are just a few of those on display, any one of which is worth hours of contemplation. Then the ancient ruins—Colosseum, Forum, Circus Maximus. And of course the Trevi Fountain for the obligatory coins promising your return to the Eternal City.

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Day 4: Sorrento

UNESCO World Heritage Sites abound in Sorrento. Optional tours will take you to the archaeological areas of Pompeii and Torre Annunziata, or the 4^th century B.C. city of Herculaneum. Perhaps your choice will be a boat ride to Positano, the legendary home of the Sirens. Perched on a terrace on the spectacular Amalfi Coast, Sorrento offers exceptional views of the Bay of Naples and Mount Vesuvius.

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Day 5: Giardini Naxos

Today you’ll discover one of Sicily’s jewels, the charming village of Giardini Naxos, nestled in one of the world’s most beautiful bays. An optional excursion to the popular hillside town of Taormina will be a highlight of your voyage — from the stunning setting of the iconic Greek Theater to the sparkling beaches along the Ionian Sea. Take a more adventurous tack and explore the UNESCO site of Mount Etna, Europe’s most active volcano.

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Day 7: Kotor

This is one of Montenegro’s most beautiful bays, and the approach offers one breathtaking fjord-like view after another. Just when you’ve reached your fill of blues and greens, the bright red rooftops of the medieval Old Town come into view. The entire area has been proclaimed a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The charming streets of Old Town remain car free, filled with 12th century Baroque palaces and Romanesque churches. For a fresh perspective, climb to the fortress on the hill for a breathtaking vista.

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Day 8: Dubrovnik

While larger ships must pass by, we anchor right beyond the famous walled city so you can admire its beauty with every glance. Tender ashore and step right into Old Town, a UNESCO site where no cars are allowed, just eons of history. Capture the exhilarating views on your camera — and in your memory. End your day at the Buza Café (if you can find it) watching bold divers leap off the cliffs into the crystalline sea.

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Day 9: Split

Split welcomes you with open arms, Mediterranean style, and a bustling harbor lined with busy cafés. Beyond, looms stately Diocletian’s Palace a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the center of town. Within the palace walls, a majestic cathedral soars, surrounded by polished marble streets lined with every type of tempting shop. If you’re longing for a quiet respite, head for the western end of town for an easy stroll through a verdant mountain park. Or take an optional tour to Trogir, another UNESCO site.

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Day 10: Rovinj

The lovely fishing port of Rovinj on the west coast of the Istrian peninsula bordered on three sides by the Adriatic Sea. You can tour the maze of cobblestone streets that lead to the hilltop St. Euphemia Cathedral with its towering steeple dominating the skyline. Old Town Rovinj is a delightful tangle of medieval streets and twisting stairways. Seek out the Bronze Age ruins of Monkodonja, the hidden beaches or the breathtaking natural beauty of the 6-mile-long Lim Fjord.

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Day 11: Venice

No other sea approach in the Adriatic raises goose bumps like Venice, a small ship exclusive where the entire city and its lagoon are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. On your luxurious home-away-from home, you arrive already equipped with a sense of what it’s like to live in the city that’s neither land nor water. Add your own sigh to the Bridge of Sighs, sip a spritz al bitter as you plot your agenda, and let the water taxis do your navigating unless you don’t mind getting lost. Not such a bad prospect, with serendipitous discoveries around every corner.

What’s Included?