DESTINATION ITALY
Program Highlights:
- Stunning Amalfi Coast
- Pompeii
- Amalfi Coast cruise
- Rome, including St. Peter’s Square, Sistine Chapel, Colosseum, Forum
- Pastoral Umbria, the “green heart” of Italy
- Italian cooking demonstration
- The walled city of Assisi
- Tuscany, including San Gimignano, Siena, Florence
- Wine tasting
- Timeless Venice
- Three-night stays in intimate small hotels in Amalfi, Tuscany, and Umbria
Introduction
Join UVA professor of Architectural History Lisa Reilly on our most comprehensive Italy Itinerary, embark on an extraordinary journey from the awe-inspiring Amalfi Coast to the eternal city of Rome, traversing the serene landscapes of Umbria and Tuscany, and finally reaching the timeless allure of Venice. This trip offers a captivating blend of ancient landmarks, vibrant modern life, priceless artistic treasures, and breathtaking natural vistas. With the advantage of a small group, you'll relish the intimate atmosphere while staying in exceptional accommodations nestled in the picturesque Tuscan countryside and a medieval village. For those seeking to delve deeper into the enchantment of Venice, consider extending your adventure with the optional Post-Tour Extension to explore the city at your own pace.
$5,495 per person, double occupancy, land only
Price: $5,895 per person, double occupancy, with economy class round-trip airfare from Washington, DC, plus $679 airline taxes and fees, which are subject to change until final payment is made.
$6,095 per person, double occupancy with economy class round-trip airfare from Charlottesville, VA, plus $679 airline taxes and fees
Other Gateway Cities Are Available
Lisa teaches a broad range of courses on visual culture including a survey of architectural history. Her chief research interest is medieval visual culture. Her most recent book, The Invention of Norman Visual Culture: Art, Politics, and Dynastic Ambition (Cambridge University Press, 2020), establishes a new interpretive paradigm for the eleventh and twelfth-century art and architecture of the Norman world in France, England, and Sicily. Recently, she and Kevin Murphy co-edited a collection of essays, Skyscraper Gothic (UVA Press), and co-curated a related exhibit at UVA’s Fralin Museum of Art, which opened in September 2021. Lisa has published books on Peterborough Cathedral and Vassar College (with Karen Van Lengen). She is currently writing a Corpus Vitrearum volume on the stained glass of the late medieval parish church, St. Michael le Belfrey, with Mary Shepard. In 2018, Lisa was awarded the Jefferson Scholars Foundation Award for Excellence in Teaching. She held the NEH/Horace Goldsmith Distinguished Teaching Chair of Art and Architectural History (1999-2002).
Lisa has traveled extensively with Cavalier Travels, most recently to Scotland, Cuba, India, the French and Italian Rivieras, Japan, Egypt, Iceland and Canada.
After arriving in Naples this morning, we travel to the storied Amalfi Coast, a popular resort and our base for exploring Italy’s Campania region. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997, the Amalfi Coast is one of the most popular and beautiful destinations in Italy. We dine at our hotel tonight, as we will throughout our stay here.
Hotel San Francesco
(D)
This morning we experience this breathtaking coast by sea as we cruise from our hotel to Amalfi Center (weather permitting). We pass by the Duomo (cathedral), which dominates the main piazza, and then are free to wander as we please through Amalfi’s atmospheric waterfront or browse in the small shops that surround the square. We have lunch on our own, then ascend to mountaintop Ravello, with its spectacular gardens and coastal views. It’s widely agreed that, at 1,100 feet above sea level, the view from Ravello is stunning; we can see a splendid panorama of the entire Amalfi Coast.
Hotel San Francesco
(B,D)
Our full-day excursion begins in Pompeii, the city frozen in time by the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 CE but not excavated until 1748. The ash from this eruption literally “froze” the town in time, leaving exquisite ruins that show us how these ancient Romans lived: vivid frescoes, a forum, and one of the largest surviving Roman amphitheaters in existence. After a tour and lunch on our own here we embark on a breathtaking drive along the winding Amalfi Coast road high above the azure Mediterranean – with stops for photos and in Sorrento along the way. This 31-mile stretch of coastline from Sorrento to Salerno has inspired movies, music, and books; indeed, it is one of the most glorious drives in Europe – or anywhere, for that matter. We return to our hotel late afternoon.
Hotel San Francesco
(B,D)
En route to Rome today we visit the town of Montecassino, whose abbey is the mother church of the ¬Benedictine order and a center of medieval art. A German stronghold during World War II, the hilltop abbey was destroyed by Allied bombing then rebuilt as a replica of the 17th-century original. We tour the abbey, then continue on to the Eternal City. We arrive at our well-located hotel mid-afternoon; our tour director will lead an informal walk of the nearby area.
UNAWAY Hotel Empire Roma
(B)
On this morning’s half-day tour, we visit monumental St. Peter’s Basilica, the most important church in all Christendom, where we see Michelangelo’s Pieta, considered one of the greatest sculptures of all time. Another highlight is our visit to the Vatican Museums and the splendidly restored Sistine Chapel, whose ceiling is another Michelangelo masterpiece (for the best views, remember to bring your binoculars). This afternoon is free to do as we like: perhaps visit the Spanish Steps or Trevi Fountain; walk through the ancient Jewish Ghetto, an interesting area of town with a wonderful synagogue that opened in 1904; or learn more about Rome’s ancient history at the Museo di Roma. The choice is entirely ours, as is the selection of wonderful restaurants for lunch and dinner on our own today.
UNAWAY Hotel Empire Roma
(B)
From St. Peter’s Square to the Spanish Steps, the Forum to the Trevi Fountain, Rome is filled with some of the greatest monuments, museums, and ruins in Western civilization. This morning’s half-day tour, which involves considerable walking, takes us to the ancient city to explore the 55,000-seat Colosseum, completed in 80 CE; and the temples of the Forum, once the seat of Rome’s political power. The afternoon is free to experience Rome’s myriad of delights as we wish. For solitude, the grounds of the Villa Borghese offer a brief respite from the bustle of the city. For shopping, fabulous designer stores (and great people watching!) can be found the famed Via Veneto or the Via del Corso. And lovely Piazza Navona is the perfect spot to sit at a sidewalk café and soak up the vibrant atmosphere of this incredible city. Lunch and dinner today are on our own.
UNAWAY Hotel Empire Roma
Breakfast (B)
Leaving Rome, we travel north through a pastoral landscape of gentle agricultural land bounded by mountain wilderness and dotted with traditional villages and medieval hill towns. This is Umbria, known as the “green heart of Italy.” Mid-afternoon we reach Orvieto, perched high on a plateau above a vineyard-clad plain. After we check in at our hotel in the heart of the city’s medieval quarter, our tour director leads us on an informal walking tour. Tonight, we attend a cooking demonstration followed by dinner at a local farmhouse.
Grand Hotel Italia
Breakfast, Dinner (B,D)
This morning we embark on a guided walking tour of this dramatically set city. We visit the medieval Duomo featuring a frescoed chapel by Fra Angelico and Luca Signorelli’s masterpiece, The Last Judgment. Next we explore the formerly secret passages of Parco delle Grotte, a labyrinth of underground caves used since Etruscan times. Then the remainder of the day is free for independent exploration in this city known for its classic Orvieto white wine and its ceramics tradition dating back to the early medieval era. Today we can sample Orvieto’s Umbrian cuisine with lunch and dinner on our own.
Grand Hotel Italia
Breakfast (B)
Today’s excursion is to Assisi, considered a gem of an Umbrian town, where Saint Francis was born in 1182. Though the town itself is stunning, with inviting plazas, abundant flowers, buildings of white marble, and a pervasive medieval air, the highlight of our day is a tour of the famed Basilica of St. Francis, which has been fully restored after an earthquake caused serious damage to the upper church in 1997. The church is the burial place of St. Francis, and features the priceless Life of St. Francis frescoes by Giotto, depicting stories of the saint’s life and deeds. We also visit the Basilica of St. Clare, displaying perhaps the world’s most famous crucifix: the San Damiano Cross. There’s time on our own to stroll the fountain-splashed piazzas and to enjoy lo¬cal specialties for lunch. We also visit Deruta, where we observe a demonstration showcasing the town’s prized hand-painted Majolica ceramics.
Grand Hotel Italia
(B)
Continuing our journey, today we visit walled Siena, whose ochre-colored buildings and ancient ramparts evoke the city’s medieval past. Fan-shaped Piazza del Campo is one of Europe’s greatest public squares; its Duomo, one of Italy’s finest. We set out on a guided walking tour that includes an inside visit to the Duomo, housing masterpieces by Michelangelo and Donatello, then have free time for lunch on our own and to explore as we wish.
Villa San Filippo
Breakfast, Dinner (B,D)
Comfortable shoes are the order of the day as we visit the hill town of San Gimignano. We have free time to explore this well-preserved medieval town and enjoy lunch on our own here. The city’s 13 remaining tower houses are a highlight; they have left the 8th-century skyline little changed since medieval times. Please note: In San Gimignano we must leave the bus outside the historic city center and walk into town, then back to the bus. Following lunch, we drive to a local winery where we taste several vintages served with the appropriate hors d’oeuvres. This region is best known for the Vernaccia di San Gimignano, a white wine made from grapes grown around Tuscany, and for the most well-known of all Italian wines, Chianti. Tonight, we dine at a local restaurant.
Villa San Filippo
(B,D)
An hour’s drive this morning brings us to Florence, city of Renaissance artists and thinkers, filled with unimaginable art treasures, splendid churches, smart boutiques, and an incredibly storied history. Since buses are not allowed in the historic city center, we start our walking tour a short distance away, giving us an appreciation for the city’s highly walkable nature. This star-studded walk brings us face to face with Michelangelo’s masterpiece David at the Galleria dell’Accademia; the soaring Duomo with the dome by Brunelleschi; and the Piazza della Signoria, Florence’s ancient main square. Then the afternoon is free for lunch and exploring on our own. Shopping, of course, is a popular activity here; leather goods and gold jewelry count among Florence’s modern-day treasures. The city also has an abundance of museums and churches at which to admire the stunning art. Please note: If you plan to visit the Uffizi Gallery during your free time, we highly recommend that you reserve your tickets as far in advance as possible, for 1:30 p.m. on the date we visit Florence. This very popular museum is often sold out and it may not be possible to obtain tickets on site that afternoon. You can reserve tickets online; see the museum’s website for details: www.uffizi.it/en/the-uffizi. We walk back to the bus for the return journey to our hotel, where we dine together tonight. Please note: This is a longer walk than this morning’s, as our motorcoach must park in a designated area farther away than the point at which we were dropped off.
Villa San Filippo
(B,D)
Leaving Tuscany today, we travel through the Veneto region to Venice, city of drama and doges, canals and Canaletto. We arrive early this afternoon; the remainder of the day is free to explore this wondrous city on our own. Venice (and its surrounding lagoon) rank as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the world’s most atmospheric destinations.
Carnival Palace Hotel
Breakfast (B)
This morning’s guided walking tour reveals a host of Venetian delights: Piazza San Marco (St. Mark’s Square), with its fantastic Basilica; the romantic Bridge of Sighs; and the Rialto district with its bustling market, among many others. Our afternoon is at leisure to enjoy this timeless city as we wish, and the options are endless. Venice is an eminently walkable city, filled with cafes and shops to explore, and riddled with its trademark canals. Take a water taxi or gondola ride, enjoy some gelato after a lunch of Venetian seafood dishes, and revel in simply wandering around this world-class floating city. This evening we gather at a local restaurant for a farewell dinner to bid “arrivederci” to Italy and to our fellow travelers.
Carnival Palace Hotel
(B,D)
We depart early this morning for our connecting flights to the U.S.
(B)
3 days/2 nights $395 per person, double occupancy
Single supplement: $325
Included in Extension Price: 2 nights’ accommodations at Carnival Palace Hotel (Superior First Class); 2 meals: 2 breakfasts; Transfer to airport.
• Hotel San Francesco – 3 nights
• UNAWAY Hotel Empire Roma – 3 nights
• Grand Hotel Italia – 3 nights
• Villa San Filippo – 3 nights
• Carnival Palace Hotel – 2 nights
Meals
• 22 meals: 14 breakfasts, 8 dinners
$5,495 per person, double occupancy, land only
Price: $5,895 per person, double occupancy, with economy class round-trip airfare from Washington, DC, plus $679 airline taxes and fees, which are subject to change until final payment is made.
$6,095 per person, double occupancy with economy class round-trip airfare from Charlottesville, VA, plus $679 airline taxes and fees
Other Gateway Cities Are Available
A limited number of single rooms will be available for a supplement of $1,095 to the per person, double occupancy rates.
Airline upgrades (subject to availability) on round-trip Trans-Atlantic flight: Business Class - $3,795 per person
Premium Economy - $1,595 per person.
Price includes: Round-trip air transportation from specific cities; 14 nights’ accommodations in Superior First Class and First Class Hotels; extensive sightseeing as described, including all entrance fees; services of an Odysseys Unlimited Tour Director; private motorcoach transportation throughout your trip, including excursions; luggage handling for one bag per person; gratuities for local guides, dining room servers, airport and hotel porters, and all drivers.
Price Does not include: Airfare and airport transfers when purchasing a Land Only package; airfare from your hometown to your departure city; costs of passports and visas; immunizations and inoculations; personal expenses such as beverages, laundry, room service, and meals not specified; communication charges; optional sightseeing or shore excursions; gratuities to your Odysseys Unlimited Tour Director, which are at your discretion (suggested gratuities: $10–$15 per traveler, per day); and travel protection insurance. Additional baggage fees may apply and are subject to change at any time. You should confirm directly with your airline(s) prior to departure.
Ready to register? The best way to do this is by phone so that we can ensure we are meeting all of your needs. Please call us at 866-765-2646 or e-mail cavaliertravels@virginia.edu with your contact information and the best time to reach you.
A deposit of $500 per person (a $200 service fee is non-refundable) is required to reserve your spot. Final invoicing will be done approximately 110 days prior to departure. Final payment is due 95 days prior to departure (January 21, 2024).Your reservation is not confirmed until your deposit is paid and processed. Payment may be made by American Express, Discover, MasterCard, or VISA, or by personal check. If paying by check, please make check payable to our tour operator, Odysseys Unlimited, Inc.
Odysseys Unlimited, Inc., reserves the right to cancel any reservations that are not paid in full at any time after final payment is due. If you make your reservation after the final payment date, payment in full will be required upon reservation.
Early registration is encouraged as space is limited.
Please read this information carefully, as payment of a refundable $500 deposit per person represents your acceptance of the following Terms and Conditions.
Cavalier Travels reserves the right to use photos that might include you in marketing materials and for other purposes unless you specify otherwise.
Payment Schedule: A deposit of $500 per person (a $200 service fee is non-refundable) confirms your reservation. The balance of your invoice is due 95 days (January 21, 2024) before departure.
Cancellation, Refunds, and Changes: If you must cancel your trip, the effective date of cancellation will be upon the University of Virginia’s receipt of your notification. Refunds for cancellations are subject to the following per person charges: cancel 95 days or more before departure: $200 charge; cancel 94-65 days before departure: 25% of tour price; cancel 64-45 days before departure: 50% of tour price; cancel 44-30 days before departure: 75% of tour price; cancel 29-0 days before departure: no refund. If you make any changes to your reservation from 94 to 30 days prior to departure, Odysseys Unlimited, Inc. will apply a $100 per person administrative fee, in addition to any fees or penalties imposed by third parties. Changes are subject to availability and cannot be guaranteed. If your reservation changes from double occupancy to single occupancy for any reason, you will be charged the single supplement. No changes are allowed within 30 days of departure.
Upon reservation, you must provide your full legal name as it appears on your passport, as well as your date of birth and gender. In the event an airline ticket is issued with incorrect information you have provided, you will be responsible for charges associated with the ticket’s reissue.
Responsibility: The liability of the University of Virginia, as sponsor, and Odysseys Unlimited, Inc., as tour operator, is strictly limited. Odysseys Unlimited, Inc. purchases transportation, hotel accommodations, and restaurant and other services from independent suppliers not under our control. We serve only as agents for these suppliers in securing tour arrangements, and therefore will not accept responsibility for wrongful, negligent, or arbitrary acts or omissions of these independent contractors, or of their employees, agents, servants, or representatives. The University of Virginia and Odysseys Unlimited, Inc. are not liable for injury, damage, loss, accident, or delay that may be caused by events not within our control, including, without limitation, acts of terrorism, war, strikes, the defect of any vehicle, or the negligence or default of any third party. All coupons, receipts, and tickets issued are subject to the terms and conditions specified by the air carriers, cruise lines, and other independent suppliers. We will make every effort to operate our tours as planned, but we reserve the right to make itinerary changes as necessary. If unforeseen circumstances require us to change a hotel, we will select alternative accommodations of the same or better quality.
Health and Medical Issues: We request that you be in good health to participate in this University of Virginia tour. There is a considerable amount of walking, and you must be able to get on and off motorcoaches on your own. We regret that we cannot offer individual assistance; in such cases you must be accompanied by a companion who will assist you. Please note that many of our itineraries, for reasons beyond our control, cannot accommodate wheelchairs. Please call or e-mail us to inquire and we will do our best to answer any questions you may have. We reserve the right to remove anyone whose physical or mental condition, in our opinion, compromises the operation of the tour or detracts from the enjoyment or safety of the other passengers. In that event, Odysseys Unlimited, Inc. and the University of Virginia assume no financial responsibility for any unused portion of the tour.
Air Transportation – Important Information: Odysseys Unlimited, Inc. includes in its tour price round-trip economy air from designated gateway cities, and contracts with those airlines the company feels provide the level of service, routings, and value necessary for your entire trip. While another airline may offer a more direct connection, it may be at a price unavailable at the lower group rates. You will receive your preliminary air schedule approximately 2½ months prior to departure. Please note that seat assignment on your international flight is usually done at airport check-in. Odysseys Unlimited, Inc. is unable to guarantee any seat assignments. Due to the nature of tour operator tickets, other restrictions apply, including, but not limited to, frequent flyer mileage accrual, stopovers, alternate travel dates, upgrades, and airline taxes and fees. If you prefer to make your own travel arrangements, Land Only is available on most tours. Since international and domestic air schedules are subject to change at any time, we recommend that if you choose to make your own airline reservations, you do not purchase non-refundable tickets or those with high penalties for changes. If you choose to make your own air arrangements, Odysseys Unlimited, Inc. shall not have any liability for any loss resulting from cancellation of this tour or changes in this tour.