Jim and Ann Marie Dooley of JAM Travel Planners LLC
Are hosting a 14 Day Private Party Tour for
American Legion Members, Family and Friends
To Italy May7 -May 20, 2022
#1 – Fly to Italy
Fly out to Genoa Italy either from Boston or New York
Day #2 – Arrive in Italy
After changing planes at our European port of entry, we continue to Genoa Cristoforo Colombo Airport (GOA) where you will catch our coach for a 40-minute drive to our hotel in Santa Margherita Ligure.
Tonight, attend an orientation meeting at approximately 6 pm (exact time will be advised on your tour arrival day) with your Tour Manager to discuss the upcoming journey that awaits you in Italy, followed by a Welcome Dinner with your fellow travelers.
Portofino is 2.54 miles from the hotel It is a 50 min walk or a 14 minute bus ride which you can catch right In front of the hotel.
Overnight: Genoa, Italy
Meals: Hotel Dinner
Day #3 – Milan & Stresa
After breakfast at the hotel, we head north to cosmopolitan Milan. Upon arrival in Milan, we take a walking tour starting at Sforza Castle. We then proceed to Duomo Square and Duomo Di Milano where we will take a 60 minute Private Tour of the Terraces before continuing on to a walk through the Victor Emmanuel Galleria, a pedestrian mall built in the 1800’s featuring a large arched glass ceiling. After time for lunch on your own we continue to Stresa on the beautiful Lago Maggiore where we will stay for 2 nights.
Overnight: Stresa, Italy
Meals: Breakfast
Day #4
After breakfast we take an excursion by boat out to Isola Bella to explore the palace and gardens there. The rest of the day is yours to explore Stresa and experience local dining. You might want to take the Stresa-Alpine-Mottarone cable car which is a 20-minute journey to 1491 meters above sea level.
It is possible to climb to the top of the Mottarone with the “Chairlift Mottarone Vetta”, admire the amazing panorama that allows you to view 360 degrees from the Padana Plain to the peaks of the Alps, from the summit of Monte Rosa to the view of the seven Lakes.
Overnight: Stresa, Italy
Meals: Breakfast
Day #5 – Travel to Venice
After breakfast we depart Lago Maggiore and make our way along the Po Valley to the Adriatic Sea and Venice. The discovery of Venice begins with a boat ride to the Island of Murano, known for its artistic and colorful glassware. While here, visit a local factory to witness the art of glass blowing. Afterward, continue to the main Venice Island and take a walking tour with your local guide through the maze of narrow alleyways and bridges before reaching St. Mark’s Square. Upon reaching the square, stop to view its most prominent monuments, the pink marble Doge’s Palace, Bridge of Sighs, and golden Basilica of San Marco. The Doge’s Palace was the official residence of the Venetian ruler. The Bridge of Sighs offers one of the most notable scenes of this Romantic city. Marvel at the golden Basilica of San Marco, that is one of the city’s most recognizable landmarks. It was built over several centuries in a fusion of Byzantine, Roman and Venetian architecture. The rest of the day is yours to explore. You might want to enjoy a gondola ride (not included).
Overnight: Venice, Italy
Meals: Breakfast
Day #6 – Travel to Florence
Depart Venice for Tuscany, stopping in Bologna, a city that has been described as the center of all Italian cuisine! We will have time to explore the city and partake in some of their magnificent dishes (be sure to try the tortellini!). In the afternoon we continue to Florence to check into your hotel.
Overnight: Florence, Italy
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day #7 – Florence
Today’s walking tour of Florence begins after breakfast with a visit to the Accademia of Fine Arts, where Michelangelo’s David is housed; stand in awe of this glorious work of art. Walk by the Duomo, celebrated for its magnificent dome designed by Brunelleschi, and view the Baptistery’s renowned Gates of Paradise by Ghiberti. Continue a walk through the open-air art museum of Signoria Square, with its Palazzo Vecchio, first residence of the Medici family, today seat of the city government. Then on to the splendid Ponte Vecchio, also known as the “Old Bridge”. Florence is indeed the center of the world’s finest art and architecture. The afternoon is free to explore this spectacular Renaissance city before spending a romantic evening in the Tucson region with a winery visit and outdoor candlelight dinner in the vineyard. (Tour the wine estate sampling the wines along the way and enjoy Tuscan specialties made using local ingredients.)
Overnight: Florence, Italy
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day #8 – Travel to Rome via Orvieto
This morning we depart Florence after breakfast and travel to the town of Orvieto where we will explore the Orvieto Underground Caves. Time for lunch on your own before we continue to Rome for 2 nights, the astonishing city built on seven hills.
Overnight: Rome, Italy
Meals: Breakfast
Day #9 – Rome
It’s a Rome Day! After breakfast we start our morning with a visit to the Vatican Museums and Michelangelo’s masterpiece, the Sistine Chapel. Stroll through one of the most important art collections of the world. Admire the Gallery of Tapestries and the Geographical Maps before arriving to the Sistine Chapel, with its great frescoes by Michelangelo. Continue to St. Peter’s Square, passing Bernini’s famous colonnade to view St. Peter’s Basilica, built on the burial site of Saint Peter, with the most famous Michelangelo’s Pieta. After lunch we enjoy an historic tour of ancient Rome beginning with a walk along the uneven and irregular paths of the Roman Forum, the original central plaza of the city from which ancient Rome developed. Next, view the triumphal Arch of Constantine, erected by the Roman Senate to commemorate Constantine’s tenth year of leadership over the Eternal City. On to the mighty Colosseum, the largest amphitheater built in the Roman Empire that seated over 50,000, where gladiatorial contests and public events were attended by the rich, the poor and by the Emperor himself.
Overnight: Rome, Italy
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day #10 – Travel to Amalfi
After breakfast we depart Rome for the Amalfi Coast, stopping along the way at the Benedictine monastery atop Monte Casino, a favorite papal retreat and site of some of the roughest fighting during World War II. In the afternoon we continue to the ancient city of Pompeii where we will have ample time to explore before going to our hotel in Sorrento for 3 nights.
Overnight: Sorrento, Italy
Meals: Breakfast
Day #11 – Amalfi
Free day to explore Sorrento on your own or enjoy an optional full day journey to the colorful Isle of Capri by boat visiting the lovely Anacapri and explore the charming shops and chic boutiques as you stroll the island’s narrow streets. Continue to see “La Piazzetta,” the social heart of the island, on your way to the open-air Gardens of Augustus, from where you will appreciate breathtaking views of the famous Faraglioni rocks. (NOTE – Blue Grotto is not included as access is too weather-sensitive to book in advance).
Overnight: Sorrento, Italy
Meals: Breakfast
Day #12 – Amalfi Drive
After breakfast we embark on one of the most spectacular drives in the world along the rugged Amalfi coast, with its dramatic landscapes and amazing panoramas. Nestled into mountains that rise thousands of feet above the sea, we will see enchanting villages, cliffs terraced with lemon groves, whitewashed villas and sparkling turquoise seas. Drive by Positano and stop in Amalfi, named a UNESCO World Heritage Site, to spend time at leisure in town. Return to our hotel in the late afternoon.
Overnight: Sorrento, Italy
Meals: Breakfast
Day #13 – Return to Rome
After breakfast we depart Sorrento and continue to the town of Anzio on the Tyrrhenian Sea. We will see the beaches where the American forces landed during World War II and pay our respects at the Sicily–Rome American Cemetery and Memorial where almost 8,000 American soldiers who fell during the invasion now rest in peace. We continue to the region in or near the city of Ostia, the ancient port of Rome and check into our hotel and enjoy our Farewell Dinner.
Overnight: Rome, Italy
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day #14 – Depart Italy
Arrivederci Roma! Transfer to the airport for your departure flight
Meals: Breakfast
PACKAGE INCLUDES:
* 12 nights First Class (4 star) accommodations at the following hotels or similar
* 1-night Grand Hotel Miramare, Genoa, Italy
* 2 nights Grand Hotel Bristol, Stresa, Italy
* 1-night Hotel Carlton on the Grand Canal, Venice, Italy
* 2 nights Grand Hotel Adriatico, Florence, Italy
* 2 nights Grand Hotel Palatino, Rome, Italy
*3 nights Grand Hotel Vesuvio, Sorrento, Italy
* 1-night Grand Hotel Palatino, Ostia or Rome
- 17 meals: 12 Breakfasts, 2 Lunches, 3 Dinners
- Sightseeing per itinerary in modern air-conditioned motor coach
- Services of English-speaking tour escort/manager from arrival to return
- Local guides as required
- Group airport arrival and departure transfers
- Entrance fees per itinerary
- Porterage of one piece per person on arrival and departure at each hotel
NOT INCLUDED: Flights are not included and will be available for sale in July 2021. Meals unless specified, optional tours, gratuities, and anything not mentioned in the package includes section and Travel Protection Insurance
We are currently taking names of those interested in coming. Showing interest gives you priority and does not commit you to anything. It helps us know how many are interested so we can price accordingly. We have a tentative pricing for 40 people at $3,599 per person for the land tour. Currently we have 22 people who are interested and when we reach the 40, we will start a standby list. Once COVID-19 is behind us and country travel restrictions are lifted we will confirm the pricing and will start taking deposits. Travel Insurance information and group air will be available at that time.
Interested! Email us your name, address, phone number and email address and we will get back to you.
Jim and Ann Marie Dooley. JAM Travel Planners L.L.C.
Email us at: jim@jamtravelplanners.com
