In the morning after breakfast you meet your guide and have a transfer to the walled enclave and the world’s smallest independent state - Vatican*. When inside the Vatican, you visit private apartments of Julius II, Pinecone Courtyard, Gallery of the Maps, Gallery of the Tapestries and Gallery of Candelabra. Next, you proceed to the Sistine Chapel, where you have enough time to admire Michelangelo's famous frescoes and learn about the intense relationship between Pope Julius II and Michelangelo that drove the artist to create the greatest work of art the world has ever known. After a coffee break, your tour continues in the vast open spaces of St. Peter’s Basilica where you see a stunning Pieta - a world-famous work of Renaissance sculpture by Michelangelo, and Bernini's impressive Papal Canopy, a legacy left to the Basilica by the Barberini family. The ending point of your tour is St. Peter’s Square, where you can admire Michelangelo's Dome and the gorgeous colonnades designed by Bernini. After the tour of the Vatican, you enjoy a leisurely walk to the hotel with your guide and have a photo stop at the legendary Castel Sant'Angelo, built originally as a mausoleum, and then used by the popes as a fortress, refuge and a prison. Upon your return to the hotel, you have the rest of the day at leisure to enjoy the beauty of Rome on your own. *Please note: the Vatican is a sacred religious site thus the dress code for visiting it is applied just as when you visit any church in Italy: no shorts – no uncovered knees and shoulders, no backpacks. Due to religious services St. Peters Basilica may be spontaneously closed, thus entrance to St. Peters Basilica may not be guaranteed.

Today with a local host and visit the local market to shop for the seasonal produce before cooking your traditional Roman lunch. After exploring the market and meeting the local vendors, you uncover the secret of the typical Italian cuisine with a local chef. On this cooking class, you master the art of making tiramisù and two different pasta doughs. Make sure to be hungry for the cooking class as the class is followed by a lunch with the food prepared.

Meet your private guide and embark on a tour to discover the famous ancient treasures of the Eternal City. You start your tour with Rome's hallmark site - the Colosseum. Originally known by the name of Flavius amphitheater, it was the biggest and most imposing building of its kind in the Roman world, designed as an arena for the fights of Roman gladiators and could hold up to 70 thousand spectators. After touring Colosseum you proceed with a walking city tour to see the most famous attractions and hidden treasures of the Eternal City. You see the Spanish Steps, the Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, Piazza Navona, the famous Fountain of the Four Rivers, as well as witness the masterpieces by Bernini, Borromini, and many others. After the tour, your guide takes you back to the hotel and you have the evening at leisure.

This morning you take a high speed train to Naples (transfer to the train station is not included). Upon arrival to Naples in approximately 1 hour, your private guide and driver meet you at the train station and take you on a scenic sightseeing trip to discover the archeological sites of Pompeii, set near the foot of a picturesque mountain. In 79 AD Pompeii, one of the greatest and richest cities of the Roman age, was tragically completely destroyed as a result of the volcanic eruption of Mount Vesuvius. On the tour of this unique UNESCO World Heritage Site you see the artifacts, city walls and other excavated finds, buried alive under 4 to 6 m (13-20 ft) of volcanic ash almost 2000 years ago, that give you a detailed insight into the life of the city. After the tour, you are transferred back to Naples train station to catch your high speed train to Rome. 1st class train tickets Rome - Naples - Rome are included.