Southern Italian Coasts and Culture

Your journey begins on your overnight flight.

Benvenuto in Italia, and welcome to Rome! If you purchased airline tickets from YMT Vacations, a friendly representative will welcome you at the airport and transport you to the hotel. The rest of the day is yours to enjoy at leisure until our welcome dinner at the hotel (included). This is a chance to get to know your fellow travelers, and to learn about the exciting days ahead. (D)

Discover the highlights of Rome on a sightseeing tour of the Eternal City. You’ll see outside views of the Roman Forum, the center of ancient Roman life, as well as the exterior of the world-famous Colosseum. Experience the statues, fountains, and cobblestone expanse of the Piazza Navona, plus the lavish Trevi Fountain, and the Spanish Steps where Audrey Hepburn’s Princess Ann enjoyed the perfect chocolate gelato in Roman Holiday. Spend the evening at your leisure, or join us for an optional dinner tour. (B)

This morning, take a guided tour of Vatican City, home of the Pope. Explore the Vatican Museums, which house some of the most important and valuable art treasures in the world. Visit St. Peter’s Basilica, St. Peter’s Square, and the Sistine Chapel, with floor-to-ceiling biblical frescoes painted by Michelangelo in around 1512. Vatican City is revered for its beauty, history and religious importance, and is a bucket list site for millions of people across the globe. Spend the afternoon and evening in Naples, where dinner will be included. Afterward, enjoy an evening at leisure in this 3,000-year-old city perched hundreds of feet above the Mediterranean. (B, D)

Start your morning with a guided tour of Naples. Learn about one of the world’s oldest continuously inhabited cities, whose sprawling historic city center is UNESCO-listed for its wealth of outstanding monuments. Look forward to iconic sights like the National Archaeological Museum, the San Carlo Theatre, and a former palace of the royal Italian family. (B)

This cliffside town enjoys dazzling views of the Bay of Naples, whose gorgeous blue waters are topped by gently bobbing fishing boats. Today’s short walking tour is the ideal way to discover this sublime gateway to the Amalfi Coast. See Sorrento’s most famous sites, including the Cloister of Saint Francis, Cattedrale di Sorrento, Villa Comunale, Piazza Tasso, and more. (B)

Enjoy the beauty of the Amalfi Coast, one of Italy’s most scenic regions. Towering mountains carpeted in green extend nearly to the sea, ending in rocky cliffs nestled with villages and towns. Stop at a scenic lookout point to view the cliffside village of Positano from afar. Continue on to Amalfi with free time for lunch and shopping. From Amalfi, take a boat to Salerno to finish your tour of the Amalfi coast before returning by coach to the hotel. Far below, the warm waters of the Mediterranean lap against the shore. This evening’s dinner (included) will be at your hotel. (B, D)

Take off your shoes and relax as the day is yours to enjoy! The picture-perfect old city, chic beach clubs, and endless opportunities for dining and shopping are just a few of the appealing reasons to stay in Sorrento today. Or, you could take an optional tour of the nearby island of Capri. Arrestingly beautiful, irresistibly posh, and utterly unforgettable, Capri is considered a jewel of southern Italy. Discover the island’s secrets and some of its most delicious cuisine on an optional tour you’re sure to remember! (B)

Take a guided tour of Pompeii, the famous ancient Roman city frozen in time by the cataclysmic volcanic eruption of nearby Mt. Vesuvius. A rush of superheated volcanic ash and pumice covered the city, instantaneously killing residents while preserving their bodies, buildings, and belongings at the precise moment of their burial. Tour the resting place of embracing lovers, grand and modest family homes, and countless remnants of the daily lives of the thousands of people caught entirely by surprise in the violent eruption. Return to Rome, where you are cordially invited to a farewell feast; the perfect opportunity to toast to your new friends and bid ciao to this beautiful country. (B, D)