Tour Diary

Day 1: Monday March 22nd
Depart by coach from Cork at 3:45am. Travel to Dublin to connect with our flight to Rome via Manchester.

Day 2: Tuesday March 23rd
Morning tour of Rome visiting the Colosseum, where 50,000 spectators could watch the gladiators in mortal combat, the Roman Forum, with it's Arch of Tiberius, Temple of Julius Caesar and Temple of Vesta which was once the centre of the Latin world, the Pantheon and Trevi Fountain. Afternoon by coach along the via Appia to the catacombs where the first Popes were interred.

Day 3: Wednesday March 24th
Arrived at the Vatican in time for the Papal audience. Visited the Vatican Museum, Sistine chapel, St. Peter's Basilica and the tomb of the Popes. Evening tour to see floodlighting on the Trevi fountain and sample the athmosphere of the area near the Spanish Steps.

Day 4: Thursday March 25th
Depart from Rome by coach. Stop for a short visit to the monastery of Montecassino and then continue on to Pompeii for a tour of the well preserved Roman town. The amphitheatre, built in 80 BC is the oldest in existence and could seat 15,000 people. The public baths, theatre, forum, Grande Palestra and temples are well preserved, but it is the ordinary buildings and the scale of the ruins that conspire to impress. Continue on to our  hotel in the resort of Sorrento.

Day 5: Friday March 26th
Morning climb of Mount Vesuvius to get a close look at the crater of the dormant volcano. Worth the effort for the views accross to the Bay of Naples. Return to Sorrento in time to catch the afternoon ferry to Capri. Time to visit the Blue Grotto or travel by funicular to Anacapri, time to wander around the narrow streets, admire the spectacular views and do some shopping.

Day 6: Saturday March 27th
Depart Rome on our return flight to Manchester. Flight delayed. Coach from Manchester to Holyhead, ferry to Dun Laoghaire and coach to Cork.

Rome is the capital of Italy, with a population of 2.6 million people. It was once the centre of Latin Civilization, a fact attested to by it's magnificent ruins. Sorrento is situated on one of the most beautiful coastlines of Italy, with easy access to the isle of Capri and the ruins of Pompeii.

Climate: March temperatures in Rome can fluctuate between 7 and 15 degrees Celsius with low rainfall.

Language: Italian

Time: GMT +1 hour (two hours ahead in summer)

Telephone: The international dial code for Rome from Ireland is 00 39 06 followed by the local number.

Currency: Lira

Main sights: Roman Forum, Spanish Steps, Trevi fountain, Pantheon, Vatican museum, St. Peter's Basilica, Sistine Chapel, Colosseum, Pompeii, Mount Vesuvius, Isle of Capri, Blue Grotto, Bay of Naples and the Amalfi coast.