From Tirana to Rome

After breakfast we will drive to Berat. Berat is a city on the Osum River, in central Albania. It's known for its white Ottoman houses. On a hilltop, Berat Castle is a huge compound now inhabited by townspeople. Within its walls are Byzantine churches, the Red Mosque and the Onufri National Museum, with Christian icons. East is the Ethnographic Museum, in an 18th-century house, displaying traditional crafts and part of a reconstructed medieval bazaar UNESCO since 2005. Overnight in Berat.

After breakfast we will drive to Gjirokastra. It is located in a valley between the Gjerë mountains and the Drino, at 300 metres above sea level. Its old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, described as “a rare example of a well-preserved Ottoman town, built by farmers of large estate”. The city is overlooked by Gjirokastër Fortress, where the Gjirokastër National Folklore Festival is held every five years. It is the birthplace of former Albanian communist leader Enver Hoxha, and author Ismail Kadare. Gjirokastra, in the Drinos river valley in southern Albania, features a series of outstanding two-story houses which were developed in the 17th century. The town also retains a bazaar, an 18th-century mosque and two churches of the same period. Overnight in Gjirokastra.

After breakfast we will drive to Saranda. Saranda is considered as the unofficial capital of the Albanian Riviera, a city plenty of things to see and do, especially in summertime when it gives its best. From the beautiful beaches near the town to the vibrant nightlife, from the ancient archaeological sites to natural treasures. The first thing to do in town is to stroll through the recently renewed boulevard, a long, elegant street near the sea. Here, you can walk admiring the gorgeous sea views or sit at a bar, order a coffee and relax. South of Saranda, there is Ksamil, one of the best beach destinations in Albania. Ksamil is also called “the Ionian pearl” because of its beauty. It is located in a dramatic setting, a bay with three small islands reachable by swim or a boat ride and surrounded by turquoise waters. One of the highlights of Saranda is the Lekursi Castle, a magnificent castle from the mid-1500s located on the top of the hill that surround the town. Then Butrint, an ancient city, the famous water spring Blue Eye. Overnight in Saranda.

After breakfast we will drive to Vlora and first we will visit Llogara National Park offering stunning views of both the mountains and riviera. On our way to Vlora we stop along the Albania coast at Himara, Borsh, and Ali Pashe Tepelena Castle. In the afternoon, we reach Vlora, where Albanians claimed independence from Ottomans in 1912 and visit the Museum of Independence and then we will visit the Zvernec Monastery. Overnight in Vlora.

After breakfast we will drive to city of Durres but first we will stop to visit the Ardenica Monastery, an immense Byzantine Structure of 2,500 square meters, known as the wedding venue of Scanderbeg. Our next stop is Apollonia, an ancient Iliryan city which was taken by Aristotle on his quest to oligarchy and played a significant part of Caesar’s war with Pompey. We explore the ancient ruins and museum, Shen Meri Monastery and Church. Then we head to Durres, which was the Adriatic’s largest port for centuries serving as a starting point for Via Egnatia, the ancient Roman road connecting Rome and Constantinople. We visit the Roman amphitheater and Archaeological Museum and get ready to board on the ferry where we will travel all night towards the city of Bari, Italy. Overnight on the ferry,

After checking the passports at the Port of Bari, we head towards Aleberobello. Alberobello is a charming city famous for its unique beehive-shaped houses which were built by peasants in the mid-14th century under the rule of the Earls of Conversano. Constructed out of limestone found in the soil or in caves, the whitewashed cone-shaped dwellings are now UNESCO-listed treasures. Together with your guide, you enjoy the views of Basilica Santi Medici and enter one of Alberobello's ‘trulli’ houses built from traditional Apulian stone. Upon arrival you check-in your hotel. The rest of the day is free. Overnight in Alberobello.

Following breakfast your guide takes you on a touring program around the best sights of charming Naples, one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. Its towering palaces, narrow streets, ancient churches and underground passages dating to different time periods are making Naples city center probably the most unchanged one in Europe. Start your tour in the Monumental Area of the city and see Plebiscito Square, Galleria Umberto I, San Carlo Opera House and the Royal Palace of Naples (from outside). Proceed to the UNESCO-listed historic center of Naples. Walk along Via San Gregorio Armeno, the crib-alley with the shops exclusively dedicated to the famous Neapolitan Crib, and see the churches of Gesù Nuovo and Santa Chiara. The highlight of the tour is a visit to Sansevero Chapel Museum to admire the masterpieces of the world artistic heritage. After the tour you return to your hotel and have the rest of the day free. Overnight in Naples.

After breakfast meet your guide and driver and start an exciting tour to the ancient city of Pompei. Set near the foot of a picturesque mountain are the archaeological sites of Pompeii, one of the greatest and richest cities of the Roman age that was tragically completely destroyed in 79 AD as a result of the volcanic eruption of Mount Vesuvius. Today you see the excavated finds of the remnants of this ancient city, buried alive under 4 to 6 m of volcanic ash almost 2000 years ago. During the tour of this unique UNESCO World Heritage Site you see artifacts, city walls, the Pompeii amphitheater and other almost perfectly preserved objects that give a detailed insight into the life of the city. After we transferred you to Amalfi, Positano. Today you get to experience the breathtaking beauty of the Amalfi Coast and the surrounding area. You also discover the picturesque towns of Positano and Amalfi from a local perspective and take in the local history and culture. During the tour, you enter to the Cloister of Paradise, an open-air cloister which presents an influence which both Arabs and Romans had on Amaili. Back to Naples. Overnight in Naples.

After breakfast you meet with your guide and have a transfer to the very heart of Rome. Today you discover the famous ancient 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. Overnight in Rome.

After breakfast, you meet your guide and walk to a 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 in 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.

This is the final day of your amazing tour in Albania and Italy. After breakfast your driver meets you at the hotel lobby and takes you to Roma airport. We wish you a safe flight home and hope to work on your future vacations.