Region: Europe
Key
Stops: Venice, Florence, Rome - Sorrento -
Isle of Capri - Naples
Departure
City/Costs: NYC
Dates: October 18,
2004 to October 27, 2004
Last Date to
Book: October 14, 2004
Price:
....starting at $2,699.00, double
occupancy
Tour Operator: Your Way Tours
Introduction: From the romance of Venice
to the culture of Florence and the history of Rome
to the beauty of Sorrento and Isle of Capri this
is one tour not to be missed.
Description: DAY 1, Mon
October 18 Depart USA to Italy. Your flight
includes meals, drinks, and in-flight
entertainment for your journey
DAY 2, Tue Arrive and transfer
to your hotel in Venice. Balance of the day at
leisure. Orientation meeting with your tour
director. (D): VENICE
DAY 3, Wed Today begins with a
walking tour of romantic Venice. Visit the Golden
Basilica of San Marco, the Bridge of Sighs, and
the Doges' Palace. The balance of the day is at
leisure to explore Venice on your own and perhaps
take an optional gondola ride with music. (B):
VENICE
DAY 4, Thu Depart for Florence via
Pisa to visit the Basilica of St. Anthony and Pisa
to view the famous Piazza del Miracoli with its
Leaning Tower. After our visit to Pisa we are on
to Florence. Was Florence the birthplace of the
gay rights movement? During the
Renaissance, Florence developed a reputation for
being the city of "Forbidden Love". During
the early 1500's many men were jailed or
exiled for their actions, but on August 31, 1512,
a group of 30 young aristocrats staged history's
first gay rights demonstration by charging into
City Hall, forcing a senior justice official to
resign and demanding that the council revoke the
sentences of all those who had been exiled.
(Remarkably, after a palace coup by the Medici
family two weeks later,
those demands were actually acceded to.) In
1795 Tuscany became one of the first states in
Europe to legalize homosexuality, consequently
Florence is a very gay-friendly city. Welcome to Florence - the birthplace
of Gay Pride. Tonight you are free to
explore this city and perhaps grab a drink or more
at The chic-est disco-pub in
Florence, gay or otherwise, Piccolo Café or
try Tabasco Bar, the slightly softer Tabasco Disco
People arrive 11:30pm and stay till late. Hey
boys, you looking for a place to be lascivious and
naughty? Let your libido romp at Tabasco Bar,
reputedly the oldest gay discobar in Italy. The
famous cruising skin bar Crisco is the only
match for Tabasco Bar, though it has a more
vanilla reputation and is slightly more upscale.
The clean dark rooms, tempting clientele, and
gyrating tunes will keep your senses satiated.
What you do tonight is up to you, and we know boys
will be boys so have fun in Florence. (B):
FLORENCE
DAY 5, Fri This morning we
visit the Bargello, the Cathedral of St. Maria del
Fiore, Academy with the statue of David by
Michelangelo. The tour will proceed to Piazza
Santa Croce. Piazzale Michelangelo with a
magnificent view. Walk to the Duomo and Baptistery
to view the "Gates of Paradise." Continue to
Signoria Square and Ponte Vecchio, the "Old
Bridge." Afternoon at leisure in the heart of
Florence. One of the best places to relax and look
at hunks is in the Florence Bathhouse an
exclusively gay sauna. Hmmmmm. (B): FLORENCE
DAY 6, Sat This morning we travel
through the stunning panorama of Tuscany to Rome.
Upon arrival in Rome we explore the Vatican
Museums and the Vatican Galleries. Admire the
Round Hall, the Hall of the Greek Cross, the Tomb
of St. Helen and St. Constance. Stop to see the
Sistine Chapel frescoes by Michelangelo. Continue
to the Galleries of the Chandeliers, Tapestries
and Geographical Maps and the Vatican Library
Hall. Since your evening is free to do what you
will, maybe you should check out Europa Multiclub
Sauna or Mediterraneo. Both Saunas are in the
Termini area and offer the usual choices. Tonight
explore Rome on your own and maybe drop by
L'Hangar About halfway between Termini and the
Roman Forum, just off Via Cavour, this is one of
Rome's oldest and least expensive gay spots,
always crammed with young people. There's no
charge to get in, you just take a ticket and pay
when you leave for whatever you've had to drink.
What you do today will be forgiven tomorrow. We
hope! (B): ROME
DAY 7, Sun For the Catholic
boys in the group. A very special opportunity
exists. Receive a Papal Blessing this morning. The
Papal Audience will take place either in St
Peter's Square, St Peter's Basilica or the
Audience Hall, according to seasonal conditions
and the number of pilgrims involved. After the
Papal Blessing your afternoon is at leisure to do
a little Roman retail therapy and more
sightseeing. Tonight we enjoy a wonderful dinner
and bid you farewell. (B): ROME ***You will not be allowed
to enter without proper attire - no shorts, or
capri-style pants, no sleeveless shirts or bare
shoulders. As we all know the Catholic church does
not support out lifestyle but a Papal Blessing is
a once in a life time
experience.
DAY 8, Mon This
morning we say good-bye to Rome and take to the
road on our way to Pompeii
and explore the most fascinating places under the
expert guidance of your tour guide. See the Forum,
the Thermal Baths, Vetti's House and "Lupanare"
buried by volcanic ashes and lapilli during the
eruption in A.D.79. After our visit
to Pompeii we stop for a charming lunch and then
on to Sorrento where we will stay the night. (B,
L) SORRENTO
DAY 9, Tue This morning we
"set sail" for the Isle of Capri. No holiday here
in Sorrento would be complete without a trip to
the evocative Island of Capri. Sail across the bay
of Naples for the start of an unforgettable
day. First you will visit the fabulous villa
of Dr. Axel Munthe, a Swedish doctor whose
best selling book "Story of San Michele" tells of
his time on Capri. His villa was built with the
remains of Roman ruins, there is a beautiful
shady garden with terrace offering splendid views
of the island. This is optional and the entrance
fee should be paid direct to the guide. Yon then
go down to Capri town which is very chic with
shops, hotels and restaurants along winding
streets. The main square Piazza Umberto
I has a pretty white church and several open-air
cafes where yon can sit and watch the world drift
by. Leading off the square are medieval looking
alleyways and arcades full of shops selling the
handcrafts of island, clothing, jewlery made from
coral and gold, shoes and
ceramics. Admire the colorful gardens of
Augustus overlooking the famed Faraglioni Rocks
and Marina Piccola where Gracie Fields once lived.
There is free time for you to go off and admire
the elegant boutiques, stroll along the cobbled
streets or simply relax on the beach. There
is so much to see and do on this tiny island
paradise yon will be sorry to leave. We depart
Capri and overnight in Naples. A farewell dinner
to night ends you wonderful tour of Italy. (B, D)
NAPLES.
DAY 10,
Wed Transfer to the airport for your
departure flight (B).
Gay Group Package Includes:
-
Flights
NYC-Venice, Naples-NYC
Additional gateway
departure cities available. Call for details
& pricing.
-
8 nights First
Class Superior accommodations
-
2 nights Hotel
Olimipia Venice
-
2 nights Hotel
Londra Florence
-
2 nights Hotel
Rome
-
1 night
Sorrento
-
1 night
Naples
-
All
transfers
-
11
meals: 8 breakfasts, 2 dinners
-
Sightseeing per
itinerary in modern air-conditioned motor
coach
-
Services of
English-speaking tour manager throughout
-
Services of
local guides in all major cities
-
Entrance fees
per itinerary
Special Features:
-
Doges' Palace,
Venice
-
Michelangelo's
David in Florence
-
Papal
Blessing
-
Vatican Museum
& Sistine Chapel
-
English
speaking guides & drivers
Additional Information:
