Rome - Sperlonga - Monte Cassino - Pompeii - Naples - Matera - Alberobello - Polignano a Mare - Casamassima - Bari

Land only: $2,699 USD ($3,299 CAD)
Per person in dbl room land only. Single room $3,259 USD ($3.999 CAD)

 

Starting in Rome May 14, 2019 - one date only!

Air & Land package from Toronto starting at  $3,599 USD  ($4,399 CAD )  p.p. dbl.  (includes roundtrip flights with Alitalia)
Other flight options from your gateway are available upon request - please contact Wanda at Chopin Tours for info & pricing

INCLUDED SERVICES:

• All transportation within Italy by air-conditioned motorcoach or mini - bus transfers where required
• Land tour starts in Rome on May 14 at the hotel. If arrival / departure times do not coincide with rest of the group, transfers to / from airport  may be arranged at additional cost.
• English speaking local guides where required
• Sightseeing and entrance fees as per itinerary
• Meals:  buffet breakfast daily at hotel, 2 lunches, 6 dinners
• Hotels: All rooms with private bath or shower, based on two person sharing a room.
• A limited number of single rooms are available at a supplement of $700 CAD. Chopin Tours reserves the right to substitute hotels of similar category, when and if necessary. 
  

YOUR HOTELS:

• 2 nights at Londra & Cargill in Rome (or similar)
• 3 nights at Aurora Hotel in Sperlonga  (or similar)
• 2 nights in Naples at Ibois Styles Napoli Garibaldi (or similar)
• 1 night at San Domenico in Matera (or similar)
• 2 nights at Cala Ponte Resort & Spa in Polignano o Mare (or similar)

MAY 14 (TUE) ARRIVE ROME (D)

If flying together with group: Arrive Rome and transfer to our hotel with brief panoramic sightseeing enroute. If arriving Rome at different time: We can arrange a private transfer to the hotel at an additional cost, or on your own. Afternoon at leisure or start exploring the wonders of Rome on your own. Meet the rest of the group at dinner tonight.

MAY 15 (WED) ROME (B, D with Folklore )

After breakfast we will attend the General Papal Audience held outdoors at St Peter's Square every Wednesday (subject to Pope Francis being in Rome). Free time for lunch followed by an afternoon walking tour visiting the Ancient and Baroque sites of Rome including: the Roman Forum, Collosseum, Pantheon, The Capital, Circo Massimo, La Bocca della Verita "the Mouth of Truth", Trevi Fountain, Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi on Piazza Navona , and the Spanish Steps. In the evening join us for dinner at a local restaurant with lively music in the Trastevere neighborhood.

MAY 16 (THU) ROME - SPERLONGA (B, D)

This morning we visit the Vatican Museum including the Sistine Chapel and then St. Peter’s Basilica to visit the tomb of St. John Paul II. Free time to enjoy Rome before we leave this afternoon and drive to Sperlonga, a picturesque seaside town with white-washed houses. The Hotel Aurora has been a sentimental favorite of our Polish Veterans over the years, it is ideally located on a pretty beach yet within easy walking distance to several attractions such as the Archeological Museum and the Grotto of Tiberius.
Dinner tonight will be at a local restaurant in Sperlonga.

MAY 17 (FRI) SPERLONGA (B)

Join us after breakfast for an informal stroll around Sperlonga. The town was once a favorite vacation spot for actors flocking here from Rome's Cinecitta Studios since the 1950's. Memorable guests include Arthur Miller, Marlene Dietrich and Brigitte Bardot.
The rest of the day is at your leisure to explore further or relax and enjoy the beach at our hotel. Dinner is on your own tonight, giving you the opportunity to try one of the many seaside restaurants.

MAY 18 (SAT) SPERLONGA - CASSINO – SPERLONGA (B, L)

75TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS AT MONTE CASSINO POLISH CEMETERY

Today we will attend the Celebrations to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the liberation of Cassino at the Polish War Cemetery. Taking part in the celebrations today will be a large delegation of dignitaries from Poland including top ranking authorities from the Polish Government, Office for War Veterans and Victims of Oppression, as well as Polish Armed Forces. It is here that the Polish 2nd Corps succeeded in taking Monte Cassino after three weeks of fierce fighting in mountain terrain. Upon taking the Abbey, the Poles raised the white and red flag of Poland on top of the ruins of the monastery. The Battle of Monte Cassino is an eternal monument to the bravery of the Polish soldiers. Today after 75 years we pay tribute to those that fought here.

The Polish cemetery at Monte Cassino contains graves of more than one thousand Poles who died fighting in Cassino in May 1944.The religion of each fallen soldier is marked by having one of three different types of headstone: the Catholic and Orthodox headstones are distinguished from each other by different forms of cross, while the Jewish headstones bear the Star of David. The cemetery also contains the grave of General Anders, commander of the Polish forces, who survived the war, dying in London in 1970. Part of the Polish memorial at Monte Cassino bears the following inscription, which translated from Polish reads:

We Polish soldiers
For our freedom and yours
Have given our souls to God
Our bodies to the soil of Italy and our hearts to Poland

Late lunch in Cassino. In the early evening return to Sperlonga for overnight.

MAY 19 (SUN) SPERLONGA - POMPEII – NAPLES ( B, D)

The morning is at your leisure - time to attend Holy Mass in Sperlonga. At noon we will leave Sperlonga and drive to Pompeii to visit the ruins of the ancient town that was destroyed in 79 AD after a volcanic eruption of nearby Mt. Vesuvius. Continue to Naples. Dinner at a local restaurant to try the specialties of this vibrant city, most famous of course is the Neapolitan pizza!

MAY 20 (MON) NAPLES / free day / or optional ($) full day excursion to CAPRI & SORRENTO (B)

Day to explore Naples on your own or join us for a full day excursion to Capri ( cost $ 150 p.p)

Optional excursion: Morning ferry from Naples to Capri - exlpore Capri - late afternoon ferry Capri to Sorrento.
Free time in Sorrento before we drive back to Naples for overnight.
Suggestion: For those not interested in the Capri visit you could take a ferry from Naples to Sorrento and spend the day there returning with the rest of the group to Naples in the evening.

MAY 21 (TUE) NAPLES - MATERA (B, D)

Morning departure to Matera, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1993, and designated European Capital of Culture for 2019. Known as the "underground" city, Matera is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. Founded by the Romans in 3rd Century BC. but inhabited since 10th millennium BC. The ancient historical center of town known as the "Sassi di Matera", the prehistoric cave dwellings which have created one of the most unique landscapes in Europe, as well as the stark backdrop for Mel Gibson's movie, Passion of the Christ. We will be introduced to the town with a local guide and afterwards you can continue exploring the ancient streets of this amazing place on your own. In the evening we will meet again for dinner at a local restaurant.

MAY 22 (WED) MATERA - ALBEROBELLO - POLIGNANO A MARE (B, L/TASTING)

From Matera we drive to another UNESCO Italian gem. Alberobello is famous for its "trulli", whitewashed stone huts with
cone-shaped roofs. Lunch at a typical "masseria" (a traditional farmhouse) near Ostuni where we will try local dishes and delicacies.
Continue to Polignano a Mare where we will spend the last two nights in Italy. Evening at your leisure.

MAY 23 (THU) POLIGNANO A MARE - CASAMASSIMA - BARI - POLIGNANO A MARE (B, D)

Morning visit to pay our respect at the Polish War Cemetery in Casamassima. The Cemetery contains the graves of 431 Polish soldiers and officers of the 2nd Polish Corps who were killed in action on the Gustav Line and the River Sangro, and of those who died in the military hospital in Casamassima. Continue to Bari for a short visit and sightseeing.
Return to Polignano a Mare to enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure. In the evening we invite you to a special Farewell Dinner.

MAY 24 (FRI) DEPART FROM BARI (B)

After breakfast transfer to airport for your flight home or extend your stay (on request).

( Itinerary is subject to minor changes that may be required due to unforeseen circumstances )

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B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner