TO BE DELETED: Charm of San Marino & Italy Tour: Pompeii Ruins, Leaning Tower of Pisa & Capri Island

In the morning, Rome’s vibrant energy returns to the streets filled with the aroma of fresh espresso. The shops along Via del Corso open their opulent doors to the city. Your private transfer meets you at your hotel and leads you out of Rome, venturing to the golden hills of Umbria. Located on the hillside across the valley from Puglia is the quaint town of Assisi, home of St. Francis. The cathedral stands atop the mountain with a pristine white façade resembling a white pearl topping a golden crown. The cobblestone streets intertwine winding up the hillside around medieval buildings.

St. Francis Basilica stands underneath the protection of Rocca Maggiore, a picturesque castle located on the mountain summit. The impressive basilica was erected in the 13th century after Francis was canonized, creating one of the most visited Christian pilgrimage destinations in the world. The lower church was erected with late Romanesque vaulting and houses the tomb of St. Francis. The upper church has a more Gothic design with soaring vertical lines. The combination of the church’s grand ambiance balances the quaint atmosphere of the city, where the aroma of olive oil wafts from the doorframes.

Florence is a city that embodies the Italian Renaissance in its very essence, exuding artistry from the open piazzas to the glamorous museums. The Ponte Vecchio connects the outer ring of the city to the historic center along the pathway constructed by the Romans, creating the Old Bridge.

After breakfast, your guide leads you on a walking tour of the open-air museum that is Florence. The Piazza della Signoria dates back to the 14th century as the center of Florentine power. However, Roman and Etruscan remains hint at a more historic origin. Neptune’s Fountain graces the side of Palazzo Vecchio. The fountain was commissioned in the 15th century. Neptune stands tall overlooking the square in marble opulence. Smaller river gods grace the fountain basin modeled in bronze. Marble seahorses emerge from the water. The pristine fountain points to the grandeur of the Loggia dei Lanzi, an outdoor sculpture gallery lining the piazza’s southern border. Renaissance artistry is all around you, emerging from every corner of the city.

The morning casts a light over the marble façade of San Lorenzo Church, the final resting place of Galileo Galilee. Charming cafes serve frothy cappuccinos, and Pasitcceria Cosi fills Piazza della Repubblica with the aroma of freshly baked bomboloni, an Italian donut often filled with chocolate. After breakfast, your guide meets you at your hotel leading you away from the Renaissance city.

Pisa remains home to one of Italy’s most coveted universities. In the late 10th and 11th centuries Pisa’s navy rivaled its northern neighbor of Genoa’s power and even surpassed it. Today, the city is famous for the Square of Miracles where you find the iconic image of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Construction of the tower began in the 12th century using marble. The edifice now stands more than 183 feet tall containing 294 steps. Thin columns encompass each tier of the tower. The feeling of standing in front of the tower, an image you have seen depicted in movies, postcards, and magazines brings an almost overwhelming joy to the piazza. The tower is larger than you imagined and its skewed axis shows more prevalently in person than any image could capture.

The sunrise over Venice brings to light the curvaceous domes atop St. Mark’s Cathedral. Gondolas wade in the canal moored to the cobblestone walkways. Every street feels more like a promenade than a sidewalk, leading over walkways and underneath elevated passageways. Your guide meets you at the hotel to lead you on a morning tour of the City of Bridges, taking you into St. Mark’s Square and onto the Bridge of Sighs. The latter bridge was famous for its romantic interpretation, as given by Lord Byron, of a prisoner’s last glance at their beloved city.

From the outside, the iron wrought gates frame the windows in the pearled color arching over the Rio di Palazzo. The bridge was erected in the 17th century to connect the interrogation rooms of the Doge’s Palace with the new prison. Your private tour leads you through the new prisons, and also to the Bridge of Sighs where you can look out on the beauty of Venice through the sliver of light. Look down upon the stone bridge from where you viewed the Bridge of Sighs earlier, standing in front of the Grand Canal and out to the horizon.

The quiet wisp of gondoliers pushing their oars against the water creates an elegant morning sound. After breakfast, you traverse the Grand Canal, leaving behind the grace of the Venetian Republic and finding the fifth smallest country in the world inside the borders of San Marino. The micronation is the oldest surviving sovereign state in the world, and its republic dates back to the 4th century AD. The entire country is 24 square miles.

On the ridge of Mount Titano stands three fortresses, Guaita, Cesta, and Montale. Each fortress has a panoramic view stretching from the Apennines to the coastal plain and even reaching as far as the Dalmatian Coast. A paved path links the fortresses, beginning with Rocca Guaita, the oldest fortress, dating back to the 13th century. The forceful rockface adds to the luster of the countryside. The trees paint the surrounding landscape emerald, interrupted by the red roofs of the medieval buildings. The country of San Marino may be small, but its majesty speaks wonders.

The Tiber River shines in the morning light against the background of the Castle Sant’Angelo. You leave your hotel following your guide through the Eternal City. You step beyond the iconic images of Rome and into Castel Sant’Angelo overlooking the banks of the Tiber River. The grounds were converted into a papal fortress in the 6th century, but the castle was originally a mausoleum for Emperor Hadrian constructed in the 2nd century AD. The imposing exterior informs the eclectic interior, housing the Museo Nazionale di Castel Sant’Angelo.

The museum contains an eclectic array of paintings, sculptures, and military memorabilia dating back centuries, including weapons used by soldiers once positioned to protect the castle. The fortress had a secret 13th century passageway leading to the Vatican to protect the popes in times of crisis. The upper floors are decorated with lavish Renaissance style. When you reach St. Peter’s Square, the opulent décor of the piazza, crowned by the basilica, personifies the radiance of style and history around Rome.

The sunshine casts a light over the vast landscape outside of Rome. After breakfast, your guide escorts you from the Eternal City once more, taking you southbound to the regal city of Naples, located on the Bay of Naples. After a tour of what many refer to as the capital of Southern Italy, you begin to wind around the arching bay to arrive at the mesmeric ancient city of Pompeii.

Enter Pompeii to find the open Forum with a backdrop of Mount Vesuvius in the distance casting an ominous ambiance to the historically preserved grounds. The excavations around Pompeii continue, showcasing the vastness of the cityscape and the immensity of its tragic conclusion. The streets were cast in large, raised stones and bordered by raised buildings to allow the waters to filter out of the city when it rained.

When you reach the House of Menander, you find the fresh-looking accommodations of a wealthy merchant. Pillars flank the entrance and lead to the atrium with an intact wooden roof. Your guide points to the decoration of the interior rooms where paintings depict scenes from Homer’s Iliad, including the undeniable image of the Trojan Horse. The air is scented with lemon from the gorgeous lemon trees around the bay. The modernity of cameras and cell phones juxtapose the lavish history all around you with the outline of Mount Vesuvius ever-present in the background.

In the morning, the view out to the Bay of Naples is clear and colorful, filled with creamy cliffs, azure waters, and the lingering presence of Mount Vesuvius in the distance. After breakfast, you step aboard a ferry and venture to the famed isle of Capri, favored by Roman emperors and classic Hollywood stars. The wind brushes off the water and passes through your hair before you arrive at the 200-foot cliffs lining the coastline of the Tyrrhenian Sea. The colorful homes along Marina Grande recall the heritage that the town started as a humble fishermen’s village.

After you explore the island, you step aboard a small rowboat with a guide who leads you to the extraordinary Blue Grotto. The water floods the cave when the tide comes in. An opening to the sea brings in a sliver of light that reflects an ethereal blue glow in the darkness of the grotto. The cool air and the scent of the sea surround you. The natural marvel of the Blue Grotto has charmed visitors since the days of the Romans, who believed the cave was home to sea nymphs.

In the morning, the Vatican Gardens shine an unimaginable green, offering a rare glimpse into the surreal ambiance of the manicured landscape, filled with hidden grottoes and box hedges. You can traverse the squares in the early light, lingering around the quiet trickle of the Trevi Fountain. The aroma of espresso filters out of the corner café. The tranquil morning contrasts the fast-paced and energetic city that will soon return to the streets.

Soon, your private transfer will meet you at the hotel and escort you to the Fiumicino Airport but you could always extend your stay in Italy, savoring the historic marvels woven into the everyday lives of the locals. One of our Italy travel companies would be happy to help you add a trip extension!