Day-by-Day
Cincinnati – Italy Clock
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Italy Webcams
Day 2- Venice- Hotel Olimpia
Day 3- Verona Day Trip
Churches Walking Tour
Day 4- Venice- Tour of Doge’s Palace and Basilica
Day 5- Depart Venice
Day 5- Florence- Globus Hotel
Day 5- Giotto’s Bell Tower Tour
Day 6- Uffizi Galleries Tour
Day 6- Galleria Dell’ Accademia
Eately – Wine Windows – Rosso Crudo Ristorante
Leonardo Interactive Museum
Day 8- Depart Florence
Salerno to Amalfi Private Driver
Day 8- Amalfi – Hotel La Bussola
Amalfi Map of “To Do”
Day 9- Amalfi Heaven Gardens Cooking Class
Day 10- Marina Lo Smeraldino Private Boat
Day 11- Lemon Experience Tour
Amalfi Coast Ferry Tickets
Bar Gran Cafe
Ristorante Lo Smeraldino
il Ninfeo Ceramics Shop
Destination Amalfi Boutique
VLDA Leather Shop
Minori- Sal di Riso Pastries
Day 12- Depart Amalfi
Day 12- Rome- BW Hotel President
Day 13- Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and Basilica Tour
Day 14- Colosseum, Forum, Platine Hill Tour
Day 15- Depart Rome
Day 1 | Monday, May 27, 2024
Departing Greater Cincinnati Airport
Delta 2456 at 3:30 PM
Day 1 | Arrive Atlanta Airport | 1h 31m Hour Layover
Monday, May 27, 2024, at 5:39 PM
Day 1 | Depart Atlanta | Delta 0192 for Venice
Monday, May 27, 2024 at 8:05 PM
Day 2 | Arrival in Venice, Italy
Tuesday, May 28, 2024 at 11:40 AM
CLOCKS
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Days 2-4 | Venice, Italy
Tuesday, May 28 to Thursday, May 30, 2024
After arriving at Marco Polo Airport, look for a representative outside of the luggage claim hall, holding a sign with your name on it. Sit back and enjoy the private water taxi service to your hotel.
Hotel Olimpia
395 Fondamenta delle Burchielle
One Classic Quadruple Room
1 Queen and a sofa bed. (MAP)
Enjoy the solarium in a peaceful garden in bloom, a corner of paradise set aside for our guests, an ideal spot for eating breakfast in the summer.
The hotel is furnished in 18th century Venetian style and offers a TV room, room for breakfast buffet and a pretty bar in decorated antique wood with service at tables overlooking Rio delle Burchielle.
Tourist Tax Waiver: The tax is not in effect during the days of your visit.
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DAY 3 | Wed. 05/29/24 | Day Trip to Verona
You will take the train from Venice Santa Lucia Station for your trip to Verona for the day.
Verona Food, Wine & legends with Lunch/sunset aperitif
Meeting point 4:30 pm
P.za Brà, 28 (map)
Next to the INTERNATIONAL PHARMACY and the big clock.
Pre-Tour Church Visits
This is a link to your tour itinerary, and a pre-tour walk to visit some churches
Start Point: Piazza Brà, 28
End Point: Ponte Pietra
Your guide is Laura
Tour Ends approx. 8 pm
Your train departs at 8:49 pm
Ask Laura for assistance in getting a taxi at the end of the tour to the train station.
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DAY 4 | Thur. 5/30/24
Doge’s Palace and St. Mark’s Basilica Tour
MEETING POINT: 10:30 am
Calle larga de l’Ascension 1258
END POINT: Carta Gate
P.za San Marco, 1
Tour: Approx. 2 hours 15 min.
The meeting point is next to the post office San Marco (opposite side of the Saint Marks Basilica). Look for the yellow sign “Meeting point” on the wooden kiosk and the Turive assistant.
Your Doge’s Tickets Include the Museums Below
Museo Correr: an art museum located in the heart of Venice, Italy, offering a deep dive into the city’s art and history. Established in 1830 and situated in St. Mark’s Square, the museum showcases a vast collection bequeathed by Teodoro Correr, a Venetian nobleman passionate about collecting art and historical artifacts reflecting Venice’s past. The museum’s collections include works from the Neoclassical period, including pieces by the renowned sculptor Antonio Canova, as well as exhibits that portray Venetian life and culture, with significant paintings, maiolica, glass pieces, and bronzes that tell the story of the Serenissima Republic.
Museo Archeologico Nazionale: a prominent archaeological museum boasting Greek and Roman sculptures, ceramics, coins, and stones dating back to the 1st Century B.C.
The Monumental Rooms of the Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana: a testament to the city’s rich cultural heritage, showcasing a stunning collection of classical texts within a beautiful building designed by Jacopo Sansovino. Visitors can marvel at the grandeur of the noble double staircase, the vaulted roof, and domed tops, as well as the valuable works of renowned artists like Titian, Veronese, and Tintoretto. The library’s integration into the Museums of St. Mark’s Square allows for a seamless exploration of Venice’s historical treasures.
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Please use my Viator link to book to make additional bookings, or contact me.
If you self-book, please email me your confirmation so that I can make sure it is credited to my agency.
Fri. 05/31/24 | DEPARTING VENICE
BW Hotel Olimpia to the Santa Lucia Train Station
From BW Hotel Olimpia, walk and cross Ponte Tre Ponti, continuing toward Piazzale Roma. Cross over the Ponte Della Costituzione bridge and continue to the Santa Lucia train station. It is about a ten-minute walk.
You can also take vaporetto line 1 from the Piazzale Roma stop to the station.
Train from Venice to Florence
Trenitalia Frecciarossa 9413
Coach 4, Premium Class
Depart: 10:26 am from Venice Santa Lucia station. (map).
Arrive: 12:39 pm at Firenze Santa Maria Novella station. The taxi stand is just outside of the building.
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Days 5-7 | Florence, Italy
Friday – Sunday, May 31 – June 2, 2024
Globus Urban Hotel
Located in Via Sant’ Antonino, very close to the San Lorenzo Church and to the Central Station. The most famous monuments, the postcard views and the coolest venues of downtown Florence are all within walking distance.
Your Urban Breakfast is included. It is a generous buffet offering different, delicious sweet and savory options, from classic Italian breakfast foods to international dishes.
Via S. Antonino 38/R, 50123 (MAP) Firenze+39 055 211062 info@globusurbanhotel.com
Florence Taxis Stands (map and list) – Taxi4390 or call +39 055 4390
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Day 5 | Sat. May 31, 2024 | 4:30 pm
With your Giotto Pass you have a timed entry to Giotto’s Bell Tower at 4:30 pm. You also have single visits over three days (through 6/2/24) to each of the following: the Baptistery, the Opera dell Duomo Museum, and Santa Reparata.
Suitcases, backpacks, parcels, containers and large and medium-sized bags and other types of objects (see the complete regulation at this link) are not permitted when you climb the Bell Tower. There is a luggage storage area at Piazza Duomo n. 38/r.
Giotto’s Bell Tower 4:30 pm
Your ticket is for timed entry at 4:30 pm on May 31, 2024. The tower involves an ascent of 414 steps and there is no elevator.
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Day 6 | Sat. June 1, 2024 | 10:15 am
Galleria Dell’ Accademia (website)
You have a timed, fast-track entry at 10:15 am for your guided, 2-hr tour.
La Galleria dell’Accademia di Firenze exhibits the largest number of Michelangelo’s sculptures in the world. Viator
Passports or ID Cards are required for entry at this, and many other sites.
MEETING POINT: On the square in front of the gallery- Piazza delle Belle Arti. The exact address is Via Ricasoli 39. There is a big flowerpot where you can find a white-blue flag ItalyPass and a host who will assist you. Arrive at least 15 minutes in advance.
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Day 6 | Sat. June 1, 2024 | 10:15 am
Ufizzi Gallery Small Group Tour Starting at 3 pm (website)
Arrive at the meeting point by 2:45 pm.
Meeting Point: My Green Tour
Via de’ Martelli, 33r PH: +390559331143
The Gallery entirely occupies the first and second floors of the large building constructed between 1560 and 1580 and designed by Giorgio Vasari. It is famous worldwide for its outstanding collections of ancient sculptures and paintings (from the Middle Ages to the Modern period).
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Eataly Firenze
Eataly is a nice place to stop for lunch and to browse their market.
Via De Martelli 22 R (map).
It is on the same street, and close to the Uffizi Gallery.
Florence Wine Windows
Check out my post on wine windows and Florence, and head to the one at Babae where you can enjoy a glass.
Or, sit and have a beer at Babae while the wives wait in line.
Ristorante Rosso Crudo
Bistecca Florentina, with all of the trimmings and wine, at a very reasonable cost. Delizioso!
Via dei Servi, 85 rosso, (map)
Leonardo Interactive Museum
Step inside the creative mind of Leonardo Da Vinci with skip-the-line entrance to the Leonardo Da Vinci Museum in Florence. An admission ticket offers unlimited access, so you can spend as long you like exploring the exhibitions and admiring Leonardo’s Machines, created from the famous Da Vinci Codes.
The museum is just down the street from Rosso Crudo. You can buy tickets here.
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Day 8 | Depart Florence
Monday, June 3, 2024
Train from Florence to Salerno
Depart 9:14 am Firenze S.M. Novell
Be at the platform 20 min. prior.
Arrive 1:02 pm Salerno
Frecciarossa 9515, Coach 3
Business Economy
Check the partenze. Partenze means departures in Italian, whereas Arrivi means arrivals. Find your train number under the Partenze column and go to the correct platform for your departure. Knowing your train number is key because the Partenze will display the final destination of the train. If you are traveling from Florence to Rome, your train might actually keep going to Naples – so it will be Napoli which shows on the board. If you keep watching, all of the stops will scroll by in the smaller letters next to the main destination.
Salerno to Amalfi | Private Driver | Mimmotaxi
You will be met in front of Salerno Station by the driver of the van for your private transfer to Amalfi. Mimmo Taxi is the #1 taxi in Amalfi, literally! Look for the white van with taxi license #1 on the rear. If my cousin Mimmo’s taxi isn’t available, Marcello in the white van with taxi #5 can provide you with excellent service.
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Days 8-11 | Amalfi, Italy
Monday-Thursday, June 3-6, 2024
Wind: 6mph NE
Humidity: 60%
Pressure: 29.95"Hg
UV index: 1
90°F
91°F
91°F
91°F
95°F / 82°F
97°F / 79°F
93°F / 79°F
91°F / 79°F
Hotel La Bussola
Situated on Lungomare dei Cavalieri, 16 on the sea front. Saint Andrew’s Cathedral, the bus station and the port, from which you can take a boat or the hydrofoil, are walking distance from the hotel. (MAP)
Two rooms for a four-night stay, sea view, breakfast included.
€3080.00 Superior Rooms, balcony
Superior Room
Superior rooms are all with a balcony overlooking the sea, each one different from the other, in a pattern of coastal ceramics and fresh Mediterranean colors. Room size between 18 and 26 square meters.
Visiting the Beaches of Amalfi
On the cliff in front of Hotel La Bussola there is a wooden platform with deck chairs, umbrellas and shower. The service is reserved for hotel guests and is normally active from mid-June to mid-September. Click here for the hotel’s informative page on the beaches of Amalfi.
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Day 09 | Amalfi, Italy
Tuesday, June 4, 2024 |
Amalfi Heaven Gardens
Cooking Class 10:00 am
Learn the secrets of Italian cooking from local chefs in the terraced gardens of the stunning Amalfi Coast. Enjoy the intimate and friendly atmosphere of a small-group cooking class, taste typical local products and savor the dishes you’ve prepared.
Arriving from Amalfi
- On foot: Take a nice walk of about 20 minutes in the direction of Positano and up the stairs from the road. Gardens entrance is on the right, in front of G.A.S. Bar.
- By bus: Take a bus in the direction of Sorrento, Agerola or Pogerola and ask the driver to be dropped off at G.A.S. Bar. The journey takes just 3 minutes. We are just up the stairs in front of G.A.S. Bar. Tickets CANNOT be bought on board; you need to buy them before to get on the bus. Bus schedules can be checked on sitasudtrasporti.it/orari (select Campania).
- By taxi: you can get a taxi in the square at the main pier. The taxi area is outlined in red.
Need transportation? Mimmo Taxi is the #1 taxi in Amalfi, literally! Look for the white van with taxi license #1 on the rear. If my cousin Mimmo’s taxi isn’t available, Marcello in the white van with taxi #5 can provide you with excellent service.
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Amalfi Webcams
Day 10 | Amalfi to Capri
Wednesday, June 5, 2024
Meet at lo Smeraldino Restaurant at 9:30 am
Private Boat with Skipper and Visit to Grottos and Capri
You will enjoy a relaxing private boat excursion with pickup and return in Amalfi. Cruise along the beautiful coast, enjoying the drinks that are included. Visits to the Blue Grotto (entrance fee 14€) and Emerald Grotto (entrance fee 7€), stops along the way as you choose. Lunch in Capri before returning to Amalfi. The 10-meter Pinto di blue is all yours! (€1300).
Note: there is a €100 docking fee for the Marina di Capri.
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Day 11 | Amalfi
Thursday, June 6, 2024
Classic Lemon Tour at 10 am
Enjoy your Amalfi Lemon Experience tour at the family farm of Salvatore Aceto.
- Walk among the lemon groves.
- Visit the farm and a enjoy a refreshing break with typical products such as lemonade and lemon pie
- Visit the Museum of rural culture, arts and crafts.
- Jane Pauley and the CBS Sunday Morning show have the story “Growing lemons on the Amalfi Coast” here.
The use of comfortable shoes, preferably sport or trekking shoes is strongly recommended. For your safety and to comply with safety regulations, you may be prevented from participating in the tour if you wear unsuitable shoes (e.g. slippery heels or soles). Tours include walking sections with particularly steep stairs, although not excessively tiring for an average trained person.
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Click the map below for locations of all of the must-do activities in Amalfi
Use My Link to Book Your Ferry Tickets on the Amalfi Coast
Vince’s Family in Amalfi
The shops below belong to my family in Amalfi. When you visit, please make sure to say hello
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Just Outside of Amalfi …
S. Croce Beach – Amalfi
Da Teresa restaurant is a great place for lunch while enjoying a relaxing day on the beach at Santa Croce. You arrive by a free shuttle boat from the pier in Amalfi. This is where many Amalfi locals enjoy a bella day on the beach. Check out this video and their reviews on Trip Advisor and a travel blog.
The restaurant is open from 12:00.
The beach service and the bar await you from 09:00 in the morning.
Santa Croce Beach, 1 – 84011 Amalfi (SA)
Tel.089831237
Mobile 3351596166
Email: info@ristorantedateresa.it
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The Amalfi Coast
Discover the stunning Path of the Gods, without stress on this private tour along the Amalfi Coast. Be led by a professional, local tour guide. If you want to enrich your day, you can best choose the option with private transfer and local lunch included.
Click here for info and to book.
Take a short ferry ride from Amalfi to Minori for less crowds and a delicious stop for pastries.
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DAY 12 | Rome
Friday-Sunday, June 7-10, 2024
Salerno to Amalfi | Private Driver | Mimmotaxi
You will be met in front of the Hotel La Bussola by the driver of the van for your private transfer to Salerno Station for your train trip to Rome.
I will text/email details of the pickup, including time and driver. The trip takes about one hour, depending on traffic which can be very heavy.
Train from Salerno to Rome
Sunday, June 7, 2024
Depart 12:50 pm- Arrive 2:55 pm
You will be travelling in Business class on Train 9544. Coach 3. Be at the platform area by 12:30 pm. Don’t forget to watch the Partenze board for your Binario (track number of your departing train).
B.W. Hotel President: a 4-star hotel in the historic center of Rome: 3 Nights
Class, luxury and functionality are what represents Best Western Hotel President 4-star hotel, the ideal place for your stay in Rome near the Termini railway station and in the heart of its enchanting historic centre.
Situated in the core of the Eternal City, placed near the Basilica of St. John Lateran, the Colosseum, the spectacular Domus Aurea, and few steps away from the shopping area, the hotel is housed in a stately and elegant modern building.
A few metres from the hotel, here is the Metro A subway line and several public transportations stops to ensure you a fast and functional link with the rest of the City, for a comfortable permanence in complete freedom and independence.
Line A (Orange)
Line A runs from the northwest to southeast, from Battistini to Anagnina. The most important stops are the following:
- Cipro – Musei Vaticani: The closest stop to the Vatican Museums and to the Sistine Chapel.
- Ottaviano – San Pietro: This station is a few minutes’ walk from St. Peter’s Square and St. Peter’s Basilica.
- Spagna: Very convenient for visiting Piazza di Spagna and Villa Borghese.
- Barberini – Fontana di Trevi: This station is five minutes away from Trevi Fountain It is also the closest station to Piazza Navona and the Pantheon.
- Termini: Stops at Roma Termini railway station. Here, visitors can take the Leonardo Express to get to Fiumicino Airport.
? Dinner at Trattoria Vecchia Roma at 8 pm
Rome: Castel Sant’Angelo with Reserved Ticket
Click here for some history on the Castel.
Day 13 | Rome | Vatican Museums and Basilica
Sat. June 8, 2024
Early Vatican Museums Sistine Chapel & St. Peter’s Basilica
Hotel pickup at 7:15 am.
Small group (max. 10) 3-hour tour.
It is not permitted to enter churches in shorts, uncovered shoulders or miniskirts.
The itinerary includes Pio Clementino Hall, Laocoon and Apollo Belvedere, Maps Gallery, Candelabra Gallery, Tapestries Gallery and the most celebrated Michelangelo’s masterpiece: the Sistine Chapel!
After exploring the Vatican Museums, the tour will continue into St. Peter’s Basilica, the largest church in the world and symbol of the Catholic religion, where it will be possible to admire iconic masterpieces such as La Pietà by Michelangelo and the huge Baldacchino by Bernini.
The tour ends in St. Peter’s Square, dominated by Michelangelo’s imposing Cupola and surrounded by the famous Bernini’s double Colonnade.
Day 14 | Rome | Sun. June 9, 2024
Colosseum – Forum – Palatine Hill
VIP Small Group Colosseum and Ancient City Tour 3:00 pm
Meeting point: Arrive 10 min. prior.
Arch of Constantine, Via di S. Gregorio
Your guide will be holding a Yellow Carpe Diem Rome flag.
Carpe Diem Tours: +390694503722
With this “VIP” guided tour, you will save time with priority entry and have access to the arena floor through the Gladiator’s Gate. You will learn about the history and architecture of the Colosseum before moving on the civic and religious buildings in the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill. Fast-track tickets allow for time to visit three ancient sites in one tour, with a guide to help you avoid getting overwhelmed. Small-group tours make for a more relaxed pace and individual attention.
Day 15 – Depart Rome, Italy at 12:25 pm
Monday, June 10, 2024
Rome Fiumicino Airport Plaza Platinum Amex Lounges
Arrive Atlanta Airport at 5:25 pm – 3 Hour Layover
Depart Atlanta Airport at 7:30 pm
Arrive at 8:5 pm at Greater Cincinnati Airport (CVG)
Links for More Information
Rome with Kids – Fun things to do, what’s free, what to expect (romewise.com)
Rome Taxi- Guide to Taxi to/from airport and city center.
GetYourGuide – Please book through this link.
PACKING LIST
Water Shoes, the beaches are primarily rocky.