Caper farm , Salina Island , Italy
THE MEDITERRANEAN
Canal Grande , Venice , Italy Buffalo Farm , Salerno , Italy
ITINERARY
DAY 1 • Depart U . S . Depart today on your flight to Rome .
DAY 2 • Arrive in Rome , Italy Arrive in Rome and transfer to your hotel . Meet travelers who took our optional Tuscany : Florence & Siena pre-trip extension .
Hotel Savoy or similar
DAY 3 • Rome Discover Rome ’ s highlights — from the Spanish Steps to the Pantheon and more — during an included walking tour . This evening , celebrate the discoveries ahead during a Welcome Dinner .
Meals : B , D | Hotel Savoy or similar
DAY 4 • Rome Today we ’ ll explore the Roman Forum , the city ’ s political and commercial center when it was at the height of its power . We ’ ll walk around the site with our local guide , who will help us imagine what the Forum must have been like when it was the bustling nerve center of the world ’ s most powerful empire .
Meals : B | Hotel Savoy or similar
DAY 5 • Ninfa • Gaeta • Embark ship Discover the Garden of Ninfa , a romantic garden built in the ruins of a medieval town , before embarking your small ship in the port of Gaeta .
Meals : B , L , D | M / V Athena
DAY 6 • Pozzuoli Enjoy a walking tour of Pozzuoli , including the Flavian Amphitheater , constructed by the same architects who designed the Colosseum . This evening features a Neapolitan folk music performance .
Meals : B , L , D | M / V Athena
DAY 7 • Sorrento • Home-Hosted Lunch Enjoy a discovery walk in Sorrento followed by a Home-Hosted Lunch with a local familiy .
Meals : B , L , D | M / V Athena
DAY 8 • Salerno • Paestum • Mozzarella farm Dock in Salerno and travel overland to Paestum with its Doric Greek temples . Then , visit a buffalo farm to sample buffalo mozzarella cheese . Later , learn about Salerno ’ s role during World War II .
Meals : B , L , D | M / V Athena
DAY 9 • Salerno • Optional Pompeii tour Explore Salerno independently , or visit Pompeii on an optional tour . Later , begin cruising to the Aeolian Islands .
Meals : B , L , D | M / V Athena
DAY 10 • Lipari Enjoy a walking tour of Lipari , the largest of the volcanic Aeolian Islands off the coast of Sicily , including a tasting of the famous Sicilian cannoli .
Meals : B , L , D | M / V Athena
DAY 11 • Lipari , Sicily • Salina • A Day in the Life of a farm on Salina
Tender to Lipari , and then take a private boat ride to Salina , where we ’ ll experience A Day in the Life of a caper farm to learn about the island ’ s agricultural traditions .
Meals : B , L , D | M / V Athena
DAY 12 • Mount Etna Hike along the slopes of Mount Etna , Europe ’ s tallest active volcano . Later , enjoy a conversation with an expert in Italian geology .
Meals : B , L , D | M / V Athena
DAY 13 • Taormina • Controversial Topic : The Sicilian Mafia
Enjoy a guided tour of the the resort town of Taormina . Later , two experts will join us onboard to discuss the Controversial Topic of the Sicilian mafia .
Meals : B , L , D | M / V Athena
DAY 14 • Valletta , Malta
Enjoy a walking tour of Valletta , Malta ’ s walled capital city , including Casa Rocca Piccola , a palace built by a member of the Knights of Malta . Later , engage in a conversation about late journalist , Daphne Caruana .
Meals : B , L , D | M / V Athena
DAY 15 • Valletta • Hagar Qim • Three Cities Explore the megalithic temple complex of Hagar Qim . Then , during a walking tour of “ The Three Cities ,” explore Vittoriosa , which dates back to the time of the Phoenicians .
Meals : B , L , D | M / V Athena
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