DAYTRIPS FROM ROME • NAPLES and POMPEII - Duration 9 hours A drive of approximately 2 hours from Rome, situated between the two volcanic areas of Mount Versuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, is the town of Naples. Founded by the Ancient Greeks 2.800 years ago, Naples has played an important part in the history of Italy. The narrow streets, chaotic traffic and unique charm of the city renders it unforgettable. Despite the severe damage to the city during the second world war, it boasts of several architectural wonders, historical monuments and the National Archeological Museum. The 13th Century Duomo, The Castel Nuovo, The Porto Capuana and The Palazzo Reale are some of the important sights. Interesting to know is: The Pizza originated in Naples, so too, the romantic guitar and the mandolin! Forty minutes from Naples is POMPEII. An eruption of the volcano Mount Vesuvius in the year 79 a.d., lasted for two whole days. The lava, volcanic ash and pumice that emerged buried the ancient town of Pompeii. Lost to world for almost 1700 years, it was accidentally discovered in 1748. The remains of Pompeii bear evidence to an advanced urban planning system, sanitary conditions and life style. Buildings such as The Forum, The Villa of the Mysteries, The House of the Faun, The Amphitheatre, baths and aqueducts, shops, bars, laundries, brothels, wine presses and houses and temples were found in an admirable state of preservation ,due to the protection of the lava and ash. Several erotic frescoes have also survived the disaster and continued to stand the test of time. These ruins throw light on the everyday life in Pompeii, enabling us to visualize the advanced living conditions of this tragic people. The petrified remains of humans and animals on display leave us with an awareness of our fragile mortality. • AMALFI, POSITANO, SORRENTO AND RAVELLO - Duration 12 hours A day trip down the Amalfi Coast legendary for it’s phenomenal scenic beauty. Visit the town of Positano, a miracle of architecture on mountain slopes, seeming to slide into the fathoms of an azzure sea. Stroll through the narrow streets and stairways that lead down to the beaches, follow the trial of the Pathway of The Gods, or visit the Church of Santa Maria Assunta which houses the 13th century Byzantine painting of ‘The Black Virgin’. Drive to the picturesque town of Sorrento, famous for it’s abundant crop of lemons and the unique Lemoncello Liqueur. Relax at a café in Piazza Tasso, shop in the sparkling white painted boutiques, adorned with colorful ceramic handicrafts. Visit the 15th Century Palazzo Correale, famed for it’s china glass and porcelain. If time permits visit the hill top town of Ravello or the largest town of the region… Amalfi, the town that legend attributes to Hercules and his favourite nymph. This town is essentially a resort community and seaside restaurants are numerous. • TUSCANY - Duration 8-12 hours Famous for it’s undulating green hills, vineyards, olive groves ,medieval towns perched on hill tops, castle towers and turrents, rugged paths and farm houses with wicket gates and wood fences, Tuscany has maintained it’s medieval aura and natural beauty, and a rich heritage of art, architecture and sculpture. The first major civilization was the Etruscan civilization, leaving behind a legacy of art, agriculture, mining and an advanced urban planning system. Visit Florence… originally established by Julius Caesar in 59 BC as a settlement for his veteran soldiers, it is today home for more than 40% of the world’s art. The birth place of the Renaissance movement, and the birth place of Dante Alighieri, Leonardo Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Botticelli and Galileo Galilei. The famous museums and Galleries are : The Uffizi (for paintings) The Accademia (for sculpture). It is here that you will see The David, perfect in it’s proportions and beauty, by Michelangelo, both of these museums and The Bargello Museum, are in the historical town of Florence, which itself is a UNESCO Heritage Monument. Piazza della Signoria, Piazza Santo Spirito. The Duomo and the Baptistery, The Church of Santa Croce are among some of the most beautiful Renaissance legacies, along with the Ponte Vecchio. Advance booking is required for a visit to The Accademia and the Uffizi Gallery. The Chianti region in Tuscany is famous for it’s wines, Chianti Classico, Brunello di Montalcino, to name a couple of the most famous. Book a wine tour in one of the several wineries. owned and run by single families for centuries. Taste the famous wines, along with natural olive oil, home made breads, and traditional meat and cheese products, or book a wine tour with an elaborate traditional Tuscan lunch, and discover first hand the secrets of wine making. The cost of a wine tour is not included. Medieval towns: Siena: An Etruscan settlement from 900 to 400 b.c is today a Unesco Hertitage Monument. A small town with a definite medieval aura, has several architectural treasures to boast off, besides The Palio (the famous horse race in the city square). The 12th Century Romansque Duomo, the shell shaped Piazza del Campo, The Plazzao Pubblico and the Torre del Mangia. Walk around the tiny square, and settle down in a bar to enjoy a cappuccino! Montereggioni: A mere 19.49 square kilometers, this little town has undergone very minor changes through the years. It’s fortification walls and romansque buildings have not changed since they were first erected. San Gimignano: Another in the collection of tiny walled medieval towns in Tuscany. It is mainly famous for its towers which may be seen from several kilometers away. Famed too, for it’s white wine, Vernaccia di San Gimignano. Pisa : An Etruscan habitat from the 6th century b.c , Pisa is famous for it’s Leaning Tower. Commenced in 1173 in the Field of Miracles, as the bell tower for the adjacent Cathedral. it’s inclination is a source of wonder to architects the world over. Make use of optical illusion, capture yourself on film holding The Tower in the palm of your hand! It is not possible to visit all the mentioned towns in a single day, but you can choose between Florence and Chianti or Siena and Chianti and Montereggioni or Florence and Chianti with San Gimignano or Florence and Pisa. • UMBRIA - Duration 8-12 hours Umbria, a region in Central Italy with Perugia as it’s capital, is an area of 8,456 km² with a population of approximately 900,000 inhabitants. Inhabited from the neolithic period, it is known as the "green heart of Italy" because of it’s verdant hills, forests, mountains, rivers and an abundance of cultivated land. Grapes, olives, wheat and tobacco, are some of the basic crops. Vineyards cover 22.000 hectares, and Umbria is known for it’s red and white wines, most famous is the white wine of Orvieto… "The Prince of Umbrian Wine" The main towns in the area are: Orvieto… A town with a dramatic setting on vertical tuff cliffs is home to the 14th Century Duomo, it’s white travertine and black basalt Gothic façade, as stunning as the location of the town itself! Evident are Etruscan ruins and remains of the wall that surrounded the city more than 2000 years ago, along with the labyrinth of tunnels beneath the surface. Assisi… Visit The Basilica of San Francesco in Assisi - is one of Italy's most important Renaissance churches, with frescoes by Simone Martini and Giotto, and a splendid view of the valley that no artist can capture on canvas. Spello… Not frequented by the average tourist, this tiny medieval town with it’s ancient Roman stone arches and towers, seems to pour down the hillside. The 12th century church of Saint Maria Maggiore is famous for the wonderful frescoes by Pinturicchio. Gubbio… A colourful town of pink houses with orange terracotta roofs, and an awesome view of the Appennines, this medieval town is yet to be discovered by tourists. Famous for Umbria Jazz in the summer, the university , good restaurants and bars .Not far is Lake Trasimeno - good for a spot of swimming, sailing or windsurfing. Perugia... capital of the Umbria region, and art centre on Italy… it is famous for the Choclate Festival in October and the famous "Perugina kiss" Fairly large in comparison to the surrounding towns, it is home to the language university, several famous churches, Etruscan remains, fountains and the Palazzo dei Priori. Spoleto… Famed for the Festival dei Due Mondi. Five weeks of Literary and visual arts, performing arts, Opera, Orchestral performances, ballet and concerts, this festival is similar to the one held in Charleston, South Carolina. It is not possible to visit all the mentioned towns in one day. Make your choices and leave enough time for a taste of the famous Umbrian Cuisine. Roasted meats, pork, lamb, wheat pasta and the Colombaccio, roasted wood-pigeon, a favourite of Umbria, savour the seasoning of TRUFFLE, and enjoy a variety of traditional desserts. Of course, no meal is complete without the famous Umbrian Wine. The cost for lunch is not included.

RELATED INFORMATION For information and clarifications: contact us Ravello Originally called Rabellum, which means ‘to rebel’, the mountain town was founded in the VI century a.d. by the conquering Romans. Arriving on the Amalfi coast , they settled on higher ground, in order to defend themselves from invaders. The Roman settlers recognised the need to trade as a form of lively-hood. They traded with the Orient and The Republic of Amalfi developed into an important trading port on the Mediterranean Sea. The extraordinary natural beauty of Ravello made it a favourite of the rich noble families from Rome who built elaborate holiday villas and castles. It boasted of a population of 40.0000, the numbers of which dwindled through time due to natural calamities and invasions. However, enriched with art, architecture and nature, Ravello is, today, an important tourist attraction. The town has been the haunt of artists , writers and musicians. It is famous for The Ravello Festival in summer, in honour of Robert Wagner. Orvieto Perched on a plateau of tufa rock, with the outline of its world famous Duomo visible for miles around, the city of Orvieto has adapted to the needs of the modern day tourist by transforming itself into a car-free haven. The heart of Orvieto is undoubtedly Piazza del Duomo, onto which look the town’s most important public buildings and the façade of the Duomo. Orvieto is also home to Etruscan ruins and the remnants of a wall that enclosed the city more than 2000 years ago. Palio di Siena The Palio, a traditional medieval horse race, is run around the Piazza del Campo each year. July 2 and August 16 are the dates when the Palio di Siena is held. Seventeen different Contrades (city neighbourhoods) run in the Palio. One horse is assigned to each contrade by lot. This dangerous competition for horse and rider is attended by large crowds, and is widely televised.