Italy - 2014

Trip of a Lifetime

Mary Jo & Victor BarbatoLora & Jim Jamison

Itinerary B

Amsterdam Wed AM To Thurs AM 1 night

Pit Stop in Paris

Florence Thurs PM to Sat AM2 nights

Florence/Pisa or Sienna

Assisi Sat PM to Sat AM 7 nights

Assisi – Perugia – Spello – Gubbio - Sienna

Rome Sat PM to Mon PM2 nights

Vatican – St. Peter’s Square – Colisseum – Pantheon

Naples Mon Late PM to Thurs AM3 nights

Naples/Pompei

Rome

Assisi/Perugia/Spello/Gubbio

Sienna

Florence

Amsterdam (Option B)

Cities to Visit

One day in Amsterdam

Start by taking a canal boat cruise to get a general overview of the city.

Most tours last about 90 minutes and are an excellent way to see many of Amsterdam’s prime sights. You can catch the boats in front of Central Station and at a number of other locations including the Rokin canal near Squi Square, and along the Leidsekade at the entrance to Vondelpark.

After the cruise, take a walk along the historic canal ring to soak up the atmosphere and architecture of Amsterdam’s Golden Age. See our recommended Historic Walking Tour for more suggestions.Next, make your way to Museumplein to visit the Van Gogh Museum. The Rijksmuseum is also nearby if you’re more inclined to the old masters than to the kaleidoscopic impressionism of Van Gogh After the museum, relax in nearby Vondelpark or have a leisurely drink at Leidseplein.

When you get hungry for dinner, head to Chinatown near the Nieuwmarkt. After dinner, wander through the Red Light District in the early evening to experience the electric atmosphere of Europe’s most notorious neighborhood. See our recommended Red Light Tour for some specific suggestions. Don’t linger too long however as the area can get quite seedy after midnight. Instead, if you’re still looking to party, head to one of the dance clubs around Rembrandtplein or to one of the live music venues near Leidseplein.

Amsterdam

Canal Boat Cruise

Van Gogh Museum

Red Light District

St. Francis’ Church Perugia Gubbio Spello

Assisi

St. Francis of Assisi

Perugia

Spello

City Center Tower

Sienna

Sienna

Duomo Museums Gelato

Florence

The City of Penises

Florence

Duomo

Museums

David

Gelato

Vatican - St. Peter’s Square

Coliseum

Pantheon

Ruins

Trevi Fountain

Rome

Sistine Chapel

Coliseum

Ruins

Trevi Fountain

Pantheon

St. Peter’s Square

Coast 10. The Sibilla Cumana (The Sibilla of Cuma). Located in Cuma, the first Greek colony in Italy, the Sibilla Cumana is a magical place, with its mysterious and obscure history. Walking down the long and tall oval arch, you will find yourself in a very dark cave. The legend tells of a woman, Sibilla, who lived there. She foretold the future to many heroes of the Greek and Roman mythology who used to visit her before important battles, to know whether or not they would succeed.

9. Castel dell’Ovo (The Egg Castle). Located down town Naples, this castle has been built on the sea, a very strategic place where soldiers could fend off enemy forces attacking from the sea. Legend has it that underneath the castle there is a magical egg kept in a small crystal box. If the egg ever broke, it would be the end for the entire city of Naples.

Naples

10. The Sibilla Cumana

9. Castel dell’Ovo

8. Maschio Angioino or Castel Nuovo (New

Castle). Built in 1282 and located close to Castel dell’Ovo, this imposing castle has a triumphant arch that better decorates its entrance hall. The name Maschio Angioino was given in honor of Naples’ former king, Charles I of Anjou, who moved the capital of the Kingdom of Naples from Palermo, in Sicily, to Naples.

7. Lago D’Averno (Lake Avernus). This breath-taking lake is located near the volcanic field known as Campi Flegrei. Lago D’Averno is a volcanic crater lake. The name has Greek origins, α?ορνος, meaning “birdless.” Its waters released poisoned fumes that killed the birds. For this reason, people used to think that the lake was in fact the entrance to Hades, the mythological Greek underworld.

Naples

Maschio Angioino

Lago D’Averno

6. Montesanto Market Place. Montesanto is well-known for its daily market of fresh fish. It is considered to be a unique Neapolitan experience, for its positive energy spread by venders who sing traditional songs of their beloved city and the uncountable different sounds and smells that characterize this place.

Volcanoes and Walking Tours in Naples, Italy 5. Spaccanapoli. Close to Montesanto there is yet another famous road: Spaccanapoli. It literally means “the road that separates Naples in two parts.” It is one of the oldest roads in Naples, with venders that decorate this extremely narrow street with souvenirs and typical Italian food, such as pasta and pizza.

Naples

6. Montesanto Market Place

Positano

5. Spaccanapoli

4. Partenope Statue. It is the statue of a mermaid, called Partenope, who lived in what is now the city of Naples. Legend has it that Ulysses heard her signing and fell in love with her. When he founded the first Greek colony in Italy, he called it Partenope, after his beloved one. It was only many years later that the city changed its name in Naples, which means New City, from Nea Polis. Nowadays Neapolitan people also refer to themselves as Partenopei, meaning Partenope’s children.

3. Solfatara. Located in Pozzuoli, the Solfatara is actually an active volcano. It releases fumes and natural hot water that perfectly function as a sauna. The Solfatara was actually a used for thermal baths due to its natural mud pit and steamy water.

Naples

2. Vesuvio (Mount Vesuvius). Probably one of the most famous tourist attractions when visiting Naples, Vesuvio is indeed a must. The origins of its name are not sure, due to the melting pot of different cultures that Naples used to be. However, according to the most common meaning, Vesuvius means “unquenchable” or “hurling violence,” for the frequency of its eruption and the tragic events caused by them.

1. Pizzeria da Michele. You can’t go to Naples without eating the real southern Italian pizza. The pizzeria da Michele is the best place to be when such need has to be satisfied. It is the oldest pizzeria in the entire city, dating back to 1870. The poems in Neapolitan dialect on the walls of the pizzeria explain why you can only order two types of pizza (Margherita and Marinara): they are the original ones. All the other types with different topping that followed afterwards are mere imitations.

Naples

Mount Vesuvius & Naples

Pompeii

To be determined

Tours

To be determined

Accommodations

Planes

Trains

Tour Guides & Taxis (Automobiles)

Transportation

Planes $1,145

Itinerary A

Tue, Mar 25, 2014

Depart: 07:15am Arrive: 09:15amFlorence to Paris

Connection Time: 1 hr 15 mins

Depart: 10:30am Arrive: 01:40pmParis to Seattle

Connection Time: 6 hrs 5 mins

Depart: 07:45pm Arrive: 09:44pmSeattle/Tacoma to Fresno

Tue, Mar 11, 2014

Depart: 07:50am Arrive: 10:00amFresno to Seattle

Connection Time: 4 hrs 

Depart: 02:00pm Arrive: 08:35amSeattle to Paris

 Connection Time: 1 hr 10 mins

Depart: 09:45am Arrive: 12:00pm Next day

Paris to Naples

Thu, May 22, 2014

Naples  to ParisDepart: 12:50pm Arrive: 03:10pm

 Change planes in Paris

Connection Time: 5 hrs 5 mins

Depart: 08:15pm Arrive: 09:25pmParis to Amsterdam

Change planes in Amsterdam Connection Time: 12 hrs 50 mins

Depart: 10:15am Arrive: 11:30amAmsterdam to Portland

Change planes in PortlandConnection Time: 4 hrs 30 mins

Depart: 04:00pm Arrive: 06:15pmPortland to Fresno

Mon, May 5, 2014Depart: 07:50am Arrive: 10:00am

Fresno to Seattle/Tacoma  

Change planes in Seattle/TacomaConnection Time: 3 hrs 40 mins

Depart: 01:40pm Arrive: 08:30am (Tues 5/6)Seattle/Tacoma to Amsterdam 

 

Wed, May 7, 2014Depart: 07:15am Arrive: 08:35am

Amsterdam to Paris  

Change planes in ParisConnection Time: 4 hrs 30 mins

Depart: 01:05pm Arrive: 03:10pmParis to Florence 

Planes $1,355 Itinerary B

First Class Travelers: 4 Adults Eurail Italy Pass

Validity: 10 Days $1840 Validity: 5 Days $1244Saver pass - price reflects 15% savings

Second Class Travelers: 4 Adults Eurail Italy Pass Validity: 10 Days $1496 Validity: 5 Days $1012

Saver pass - price reflects 15% savings

Trains

Anne’s Car Travelers: 5 Adults (Tight!)

Taxis Travelers: 5+ Use for day trips Included in many tour packages Use in large cities for efficient travel

Tour Guide’s Cars & Taxis

To be determined

Food