Italy, Here We Come!
ITINERARY
- Day 1 🛫 Fri. 5/23/25 CVG ➡️FCO
- Day 2🛫 Sat. 5/24/25 Arrive FCO 🛫 to Palermo🚗 to Marsala, Sicily (Night 1 of 2)
- 🏨 Hotel Carmine
- How to get to Marsala | Palermo Airport, 100 km from Marsala
- Day 3 🌅 Sun. 5/25/25 Marsala, Sicily (Night 2 of 2)
- Day 4 🌅 Mon. 5/26/25 Palermo, Sicily (1 Night)
- Day 5 🌅 Tue. 5/27/25 Palermo, Sicily ➡️Naples – Amalfi Coast/Sorrento (Night 1 of 3)
- 🏨Hotel il Faro Sorrento (3 nights)
- Things to do in Sorrento
- Option: Visit to Capri
- Option: Visit to Pompei
- Option: Lunch in Sorrento at Donna Sofia’s
- Day 6 🌅 Wed. 5/28/25 Amalfi Coast/Sorrento (Night 2 of 3)
- Day 7 🌅 Thu. 5/29/25 Amalfi Coast/Sorrento (Night 3-3)
- Day 8 🌅 Fri. 5/30/25 Amalfi Coast/Sorrento ➡️Florence (Night 1 of 3)
- Option: Leonardo Interactive Museum
- Option: Ufizzi Gallery Small Group Tour
- Option: Galleria Dell’ Accademia
- Day 9 🌅 Sat. 5/31/25 Florence (Night 2 of 3)
- Day 10🌅 Sun. 6/1/25 Florence (Night 3 of 3)
- Day 11 🌅 Mon. 6/2/25 Florence➡️ Rome (Night 1 of 4)
- Flower Garden Hotel
- Rome Attractions
- Option: Necropolis Tour – Tickets Requested
- Day 12 🌅Tue. 6/3/25 Rome (Night 2 of 4)
- Option: Vatican Museums Tickets and Audio Guides
- Option: Viator Collection of Activities to Review and Book
- Day 13 🌅Wed. 6/4/25 Rome (Night 3 of 4)
- Option: Papal Audience
- Day 14 🌅Thu. 6/5/25 Rome (Night 4 of 4)
- Day 15 🌅Fri. 6/6/25 RETURN Rome ➡️Cincinnati
💶Currency Rate Calculator
🚅Trenitalia – Travel Italy by Rail
Day 1 🌅 Fri. 5/23/25 CVG 🛫FCO
Cincinnati, OH (CVG) 🛫New York (JFK)
DL5044 7:55 am – 10:04 am
Aircraft: Airbus A330-300 M/Main Cabin
New York (JFK) to Rome (FCO)
Delta DL0182 5:10 pm – 7:55 am + 1-day
Day 2 🌅 Sat. 5/24/25 to Tue. 5/27/25
Marsala, Sicily
Rome (FCO) – Falcome-Borsellino Airport, Palermo (PMO)
DL6637 10:15 am – 11:25 am
Transfer from the Airport to Marsala
Arranged by cousin.
🏨Hotel Carmine
1 Double and 2 Twin Beds 258 sq. ft.
Located in the heart of the city of Marsala, Hotel Carmine was born in one of the most evocative points of Western Sicily, where the Carthaginian city of Lilybaeum was born, today a historic and renowned archaeological area.
The hotel takes its name from the square it overlooks, once the historic home of the Carmelite friars, with history dating back to the 1600s.
Piazza del Carmine, 1691025 – Marsala (Tp)
Tel: +39 0923 711907
Email: info@hotelcarmine.it
Day 3 🌅 Sun. 5/25/25
🏨Hotel Carmine – Marsala, Sicily- Night 2
Day 4 🌅 Mon. 5/26/25
🏨Hotel Delle Vittorie – Palermo, Sicily- 1 night
Exclusive Suite, City View
1 King Bed and 1 Double Sofa Bed
Check-in start time: 11:30 AM
Check-in end time: 6 PM
Via Bari, 52, Palermo, PA, 90133
Things to Do in Palermo
Day 5 🌅 Tue. 5/27/25
Depart Palermo, Sicily 🛫for the Amalfi Coast
Transfer from Hotel Carmine to Airport (PMO)
Flight from PMO to Naples (NAP)
Ryanair Flight FR49 11 am – 12 pm
After two nights in Marsala, transfer to Palermo and spend the night.
From your Palermo hotel you will be able to visit the city and to the airport for your flight to Naple.
A private transfer by minivan from city center to the airport is approx. $80.
Transfer from NAP to Amalfi Coast/Sorrento Hotel
Getting to Sorrento from Naples Airport
🏨 Hotel Il Faro– Sorrento – Booked
🎟️Family Quadruple Room
$ 1,042.14
Includes breakfast and WiFi
Via Marina Piccola 5, Sorrento, NA, Get directions
Sorrento Lift
The hotel is in the Marina Picola area, close to the ferries that take you to the other towns along the coast.
You can take the road, or stairs to the town at the top of the cliffs. Or, the convenient Sorrento Lift for 2 euros, round trip.
Hotel La Bussola Amalfi
Family Room not Available
2 Rooms Required
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)
Things to Do in Sorrento
Day 6 🌅 Wed. 5/28/25 Amalfi Coast/Sorrento (Night 2 of 3)
Day 7 🌅 Thu. 5/29/25 Amalfi Coast/Sorrento (Night 3-3)
Day 8 🌅 Fri. 5/30/25 to Mon. 6/2/25
Florence
🏨Grand Hotel Adriatico
Three nights with breakfast in a Family Room (365 sq. ft.)
Just a five-minute walk from the train station (Santa Maria Novella), and less than a 15-minute walk from the most important monuments (location).
The Family Room consists of a double room and a living area provided with two comfortable sofa beds. Beds are equipped with double pillows and pillow menu. Superior comfort services: bathrobe and slippers, choice of mineral water at the arrival offered by the management, high-speed free wi-fi, air conditioning, electric trouser press, large selection in the minibar, kettle with tea, herbal teas and coffee, “Florence Info Kit”, 15% discount at our Opera Restaurant. Large bathroom with shower or bathtub, with hairdryer, towel warmer and exclusive courtesy set.
The Grand Hotel Adriatico is close to everything. Just a five-minute walk from the train station (Santa Maria Novella) so you do not have to struggle to take your bags to the hotel, and less than 15-minute walk from the most important monuments and congress centers of the city. (location)
Day 9 🌅 Sat. 5/31/25 Florence (Night 2 of 3)
Day 10🌅 Sun. 6/1/25 Florence (Night 3 of 3)
Florence Attractions
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. Your 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 the Rosso Crudo restaurant.
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).
Galleria Dell’ Accademia (website)
La Galleria dell’Accademia di Firenze exhibits the largest number of Michelangelo’s sculptures in the world. Rick Steve’s has an audio guide to tour on your own (map) (audio guide).
Before your tour present your voucher at the redemption point to receive your entry ticket.
Redemption Point: Via Ricasoli, 68, 50122 Firenze (map). Located between the Duomo and Piazza San Marco, on block closest to San Marco.
Good Eats
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.
Ristorante Rosso Crudo
Bistecca Florentina, with all of the trimmings and wine, at a very reasonable cost. Delizioso!
Via dei Servi, 85 rosso, (map)
Day 11 🌅 Mon. 6/2/25 to 6/6/25
Rome
Rome Metro (Subway) Map
Flower Garden Hotel
Quadruple Family Room $1,137.29
Complete with a comfortable seating area, with 1 queen sized double bed and 2 single beds. 215 sq. ft.
Activities in Rome
Please review this collection of activities and contact me to book any that you wish to do. If you have other places you would like to visit, let me know.
I have a 10% off code valid through 2/28 so text or call me by then. Many of the activities are refundable, so don’t miss out if you think you want a particular activity, many of which are already selling out
Day 12🌅Tue. 6/3/25 Rome (Night 2 of 4)
Day 13🌅Wed. 6/4/25 Rome (Night 3 of 4)
🎟️ Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel & St. Peter’s Basilica Tour
Meeting Point: Brastours Office
Via Santamaura, 28 (map)
Meet 15 minutes prior the departure time. No refunds will be issued to customers who are late and miss the tour.
Directions: Hotel to Vatican Museums.
Discover the priceless treasures in the Vatican’s art collection—and visit Vatican City’s most important landmarks—on this introductory tour. Upon arrival, skip the long lines and head right inside the Vatican Museums. See Michelangelo’s world-famous Sistine Chapel, venture to the Tapestries Gallery and other museum highlights, and then transfer to neighboring St. Peter’s Basilica. Headsets are included so you can hear your guide’s commentary clearly as you explore.
- Enjoy an introduction to the Vatican Museums and St. Peter’s Basilica
- Save time when you skip the long lines and head right inside
- Discover Michelangelo’s iconic Sistine Chapel
- Small group ensures personalized attention from your guide
Read more about – Rome: Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel & St. Peter’s Basilica Tour
Option: Papal Audience – Free Tickets Required
Tickets must be collected the day before the audience from 3 pm until 7 pm. Tickets can also be collected on the day of the audience from 7am until 8:30 am. Seating is always first-come, first-served so it is best to arrive early if you wish to sit. Tickets must be collected the day before the audience from 3 pm until 7 pm. Tickets can also be collected on the day of the audience from 7am until 8:30 am. Seating is always first-come first-serves so it is best to arrive early if you wish to sit.
General Audiences begin at 9:00am, however the Holy Father will tour through St. Peter’s Square at 8:45am so it is recommended to arrive by 8:30 am latest. When entering St. Peter’s Square, everyone will be required to pass through security which include metal detectors and x-ray machines.
In the summer months when there are more visitors, guests will arrive up to 3 hours in advance to ensure seating. Even if you have a ticket, you are not guaranteed a seat.
General Audiences begin at 9:00am, however the Holy Father will tour through St. Peter’s Square at 8:45am so it is recommended to arrive by 8:30 am latest. When entering St. Peter’s Square, everyone will be required to pass through security which include metal detectors and x-ray machines.
Day 14🌅Thu. 6/5/25 Rome (Night 4 of 4)
🎟️Colosseum, Forum and Palatine Tour 2:30 pm
Meeting Point (map) 2:15 pm
COLLE OPPIO PARK – VIA DELLE TERME DI TITO, CORNER OF VIA NICOLA SALVI, INSIDE THE PARK
Emergency phone number:
0039 06 474 2501
(6:30 AM – 8:00 PM )
0039 348 8112027 (Whatsapp only)
Passports are Mandatory
The Colosseum, the Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill are three of Rome’s most visited attractions, and this guided tour brings the ancient wonders to life. See where gladiators battled in the iconic Colosseum; discover ancient ruins in the Roman Forum and ascend to Palatine Hill for panoramic views of the Eternal City.
- Take in the views from Palatine Hill, one of the seven hills of Rome
- Explore inside the ancient Colosseum, where gladiator battles once took place
- Admire the UNESCO-listed ruins of the Roman Forum
Rome Attractions
- Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, The National Opera House and the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli – 5 mins on foot
- Trendy district of Monti full of galleries, restaurants, bars and chic boutiques – 10 mins on foot
- The Trevi Fountain – 10/15 mins on foot or 1 stops on Metro Line A to “Barberini” from “Repubblica”
- The Spanish Steps and the designer shopping district – 2 stops on Metro Line A to “Spagna”
- The Coliseum & Imperial Roman Forum – 15 mins on foot or 2 stops on Metro Line B to “Colosseo” from Termini
- Basilica of St John Lateran & the Holy Stairs – 15 mins on foot or 3 stops on Metro Line A to “San Giovanni” from Termini
- Circus Maximus and the Bocca della Verita – 3 stops on Metro Line B to “Circo Massimo” from Termini
- The nightclubs of Testaccio – 4 stops on Metro Line B to “Piramide” from Termini
- Piazza del Popolo, Villa Borghese, the Borghese Gallery and shopping – 3 stops on Metro Line A to “Flaminio” from Repubblica
- The Basilica of St Peter, the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel – 5 stops on Metro Line A to “Ottaviano” from Repubblica
- The Basilica of St Paul – 6 stops on Metro Line B to “San Paulo” from Termini
The visit to the necropolis beneath the basilica, where the Tomb of Saint Peter is located, is a special privilege granted by the Fabbrica di San Pietro on a case-by-case basis, according to a designated schedule.
As the preservation of this historical and archaeological site is a priority, only approximately 250 visitors are allowed per day.
A request was made for tickets which are extremely limited. 🤞
Day 15 🌅Fri. 6/6/25
Rome, Italy (FCO) to Atlanta, GA (ATL)
DL0067 11:35 A.M – 4:35 P.M
Aircraft: Airbus A330-900neo K/Main Cabin
Atlanta, GA (ATL) to Cincinnati, OH (CVG)
DL2248 7:39 P.M – 9:04 P.M
Aircraft: Boeing 737-900 K/Main Cabin
Currency
Currency Exchange
Foreign currency exchange is the act of exchanging one type of currency for another. For example, if you’re planning an international trip to Europe, you may want to plan ahead and exchange U.S. dollars for Euros so that you are prepared to cover cash expenses as soon as you arrive without having to stop at an exchange office at your destination. Two hundred euros should get you through until you get to an ATM.
Making ATM Withdrawals – USE A BANK ATM!
The best way to get cash in Italy is to make an ATM withdrawal when you arrive. The Visa or Mastercard exchange rate applies and is better than any rate you’re likely to get exchanging currency at an exchange office or a bank.
IMPORTANT: Make sure to select the option for conversion by your bank. It’s a good idea to check with your bank for specific details about their foreign ATM conversion fees and any other charges that might apply.
Italian bank ATMs are called bancomats and some don’t charge a local ATM operator fee — but avoid using independent ATMs. These third-party ATMs charge like a wounded bull, and it’ll be obvious which ATMs are affiliated with a bank and which aren’t.
Cash and Currency Tips for Europe by Rick Steves
Foreign Currency Exchange Services (pnc.com)
How long does it take to receive foreign currency bank notes that are ordered at a PNC branch?
Standard foreign currency orders entered before 4:30 p.m. ET will be delivered to the branch by the end of the next business day. (during business travel season please allow 1 – 2 additional business days)
Customers may request overnight delivery for a $15 charge. Overnight delivery foreign currency orders entered before 4:30 p.m. ET will be delivered to the branch by noon the next business day. Overnight delivery is only available Monday through Friday and isn’t available on bank holidays.
Foreign Currency Exchange | Fifth Third Bank (53.com)
Fifth Third customers can buy and sell foreign currency at their local branch with competitive exchange rates. And when you return from your trip, Fifth Third can buy back any unused foreign currency, exchanging it back into U.S. dollars. Contact your local branch if you have questions about a particular currency carried.