INSIGHT EXPERIENCES DELICIOUSLY AUTHENTIC DINING TRAVEL AND STAY IN STYLE SMALLER GROUP CAMARADERIE SEAMLESS, STRESS-FREE TRAVEL ITINERARY DATE 17 October 2018 DAYS 18 DEPARTING 07 September 2019 1
v YOUR ITINERARY DAY 1: 07 SEP 19 DEPART AUCKLAND 13.10 Depart Auckland on Singapore Airlines flight SQ 19.00 Arrive Singapore DAY 2: 08 SEP 19 ARRIVE ROME (D) 01.30 Depart Singapore on Singapore Airlines flight SQ366 08.05 Arrive Rome You will be met on arrival at Rome's Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci Airport and transferred to your centrally located hotel. Tonight get to know your fellow travellers over a delicious Welcome Dinner with wine at a local restaurant. Accommodation for 2 nights at Mercure Roma Centro Colosseo or similar DAY 3: 09 SEP 19 ROME (B/D) Explore the backstreets of Rome and experience local life, alongside a passionate Roman who will explain how modern life takes place around ancient treasures like the Trevi Fountain and the Pantheon. Tonight enjoy a special dinner at Piazza Navona, the Living Room of Rome, where you will be serenaded by opera singers while you dine. 2
DAY 4: 10 SEP 19 ROME ALBEROBELLO (B) Head southeast, through the sun-baked landscapes to the region of Puglia and its most spectacular town, Alberobello, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Accommodation for 2 nights at TBA DAY 5: 11 SEP 19 ALBEROBELLO (B/D) With a Local Expert admire the Trulli of Alberobello, circular structures with conical roofs that are domed within. They are built from local limestone and stacked without using mortar. In the evening, meet the owner of Trattoria Terra Madre, who will share his philosophy of using only organic, seasonal produce that he grows himself. See Nonna making orecchiette pasta, before savouring the fresh flavours of your Farm-to-Table Highlight Dinner. Day 6: 12 SEP 2019 ALBEROBELLO - SORRENTO (B) Travel to the Amalfi Coast, to visit the seaside town of Positano. Stop for a bird's eye view of the terraced houses before venturing into the heart of the town. See the pastel rainbow of colourful houses precariously stacked upon one another as if cascading from the hilltop to the water. Continue on to the lively clifftop town of Sorrento where we get a flavour of the jet-set lifestyle on our two night stay. Accommodation for 2 nights at Regina hotel (or similar) Day 7: 13 SEP 2019 SORRENTO: CAPRI, THE ISLE OF DREAMS (B/L) Meet your Local Expert and cruise to the Isle of Dreams. Ride up to Capri town by funicular railway and explore the narrow alleyways, browse the boutiques and enjoy the views over the Tyrrhenian Sea. After a delicious local lunch, ride in style back to the port by open-top taxi and return to Sorrento. Day 8: 14 SEP 2019 SORRENTO - ORVIETO (B/D) Travel into the heart of Italy to enjoy free time in Orvieto, located on a rock pedestal overlooking a vineyard-covered plain. Savour the distinctly medieval ambiance during your orientation and admire the richly decorated facade of the cathedral in Piazza del Duomo. At a restaurant in the medieval heart of Orvieto, explore the art of Italian cooking with Chef Lorenzo Polegri Master the art of making fresh pasta by hand. This is followed by a Highlight Dinner served with a glass of Orvieto Classico wine. A magical culinary experience! Accommodation for 1 night at TBA Day 9: 15 SEP 2019 ORVIETO PURGIA (B/D) On arrival at Perugia meet your Local Expert for an orientation to explore the Old Town and show you Priors Palace, Collegio del Cambio, the cathedral, the Great Fountain and main.square. Visit an artisanal workshop to meet Marta, recipient of a TreadRight Foundation grant. Learn how Marta and her weavers are preserving the ancient craft of loom-weaving. Choose your ideal ambience and palate-pleasing menu form a hand picked selection of 3
Perugian restaurants on your Dine-Around Evening Day 10: 16 SEP 2019 PURUGIA : ASSISI (B/L) Journey to Assisi, a hilltop town enclosed by fortress walls, set high up in the mountains. See the famous Church of St Mary of the Angels, then continue up Mount Subasio and step inside the massive, 13 th century Basilica of St Francis. Your Local Expert explains how Giotto masterfully painted frescoes that inspired a variety of Renaissance arts. Continue to a family run olive mill to meet a third generation specialist and follow the evolution of the olive from tree to table. Relish the intense flavours drizzled over crusty bread with a sprinkle of salt - - delizioso!. Day 11: 17 SEP 2019 PURGIA SAN GIMIGNANO (B/D) Venture with our Travel Director who shows you San Gimignano s medieval skyscrapers, serpentine streets and hidden squares. The town is also home to world champion gelato maestro Sergio Dondoli. At his artisan ice cream parlour on Piazza della Cisterna, the jaunty gelataio doles out his silky frozen treats in a range of unique flavours. La Marronaia organic farm to table visit Accommodation for 2 nights at Palazzo San Lorenzo Hotel & Spa (or similar) Day 12: 18 SEP 2019 SAN GIMIGNANO: FLORENCE (B) Enjoy a day trip to Florence where your Local Expert will show you the cathedral, the incredible Gates of Paradise adorning the baptistery, the impressive bell tower and the openair gallery of Piazza della Signoria. See the area around Santa Croce Basilica, famous for the quality of its luxury goods. Return to the tranquil surroundings of your hotel. Day 13: 19 SEP 2019 SAN GIMIGNANO PARMA (B/D) At Ciaolatte Parmesan you will meet, Signoria Afra, a local passionate about Italian food and quality cheese. Witness the cheese-making and ageing process of Parmigiano-Reggiano. Day 14: 20 SEP 2019 PARMA - VENICE (B) Follow the southern fringes of the European Alps to the vineyards, close to the shores of Lake Iseo. Winemaking traditions run deep here and you will get to taste the delicious vintages produced with a master vintner at a family-owned estate. Continue to Verona, the setting for one of history s most romantic love stories. Walk with your Travel Director to Juliet s balcony in the inner courtyard of the reputed Capulet home and see the wellpreserved Roman Arena, still used for open-air opera performances. Continue to the unique city of Venice - a complete step back in time to the 16th century. Day 15: 21 SEP 2019 VENICE (B/D) Cruise to a traditional arts centre on Giudecca Island to admire the skillful art of glassblowing. Visit St. Mark s Square where the city s former wealth and power is evidenced by the riches of St. Mark s Basilica and admire the Doge's Palace with its adjoining Bridge of Sighs. The waterways of Venice are renowned for gondolas that drift by. Take your seat on a gondola and be serenaded through the myriad of beautiful canals, passing water-lapped doorways and Rococo palaces. 4
In the evening, Cruise to the charming fisherman's island of Baveno to enjoy a delicious Celebration Dinner with wine and new found friends. Day 16: 22 SEP OCT 2019 DEPART VENICE (B) Alas, you must bid farewell to this enchanting city. Enjoy the day at leisure before your departure transfer to Venice Marco Polo Airport. 18.25 Depart Venice on Lufthansa flight LH329 19.50 Arrive Frankfurt 22.00 Depart Frankfurt on Singapore Airlines flight SQ325 Day 17: 23 SEP 2019 INFLIGHT 16.25 Arrive Singapore 21.15 Depart Singapore on Singapore Airlines flight SQ285 Day 18: 24 SEP 2019 ARRIVE AUCKLAND 11.50 Arrive Auckland 5