An Italian Adventure aboard Star Clipper - Star Clipper
Holiday Highlights
- Enjoy a guided tour of Perugia, capital of Italy's beautiful Umbria region and formerly one of the 12 Etruscan cities.
- Wander medieval Assisi, the birthplace of St Francis and home to the incredible basilica dedicated to his name.
- Sightsee in Rome on a guided tour seeing sights like the Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, the Spanish steps and more.
- Explore the Amalfi coast with visits to the villages of Amalfi and Positano.
- Island hop off the coast of Italy with visits to Lipari, Ponza and the Sicilian town of Taormina.
What's Included
- The price of this holiday is per person, based on two people sharing a twin room or cabin. The price includes:
- Scheduled flights from a choice of regional airports to Rome or Perugia, returning from Rome
- 7 nights on Star Clipper in your choice of cabin
- 2 nights in a hotel in Perugia* or Assisi*
- 1-night in a four-star hotel in Rome*
- All tours as mentioned
- Daily breakfast, plus full board on Star Clipper, including a buffet lunch, afternoon tea and a la carte dinner
- Expert Riviera Tour Manager with you throughout
- Checked luggage
- All port charges (worth £195pp) and airport taxes
- *Hotels may be located outside the city centres.
Itinerary
Day 1
Arrive in Italy Your holiday begins with a flight to Rome or Perugia. From there we’ll transfer to our hotel located on the outskirts of Perugia or Assisi. After checking in, spend the rest of the day at leisure (flight time permitting) in this beautiful part of Umbria, relaxing in your hotel or exploring the local area. Tonight, you can enjoy your first taste of Umbria’s mouthwatering cuisine with an evening at leisure. We recommend trying dishes that feature truffles, lentils, focaccias or pig-derived charcuterie, they’re specialties in this region.
Day 2
Assisi This morning we’ll visit Assisi, an elegant hill town dominated by the vast Basilica of St Francis complex, which includes a Franciscan monastery and two churches. Sitting on the green hillside with the town climbing ever higher behind it, this UNESCO World Heritage site attracts pilgrims from around the world. As we wander the flower-hung streets with our local guide, we’ll learn how St Francis came to be so highly revered in Italy, from his early life as the spoilt son of a silk merchant, to his renouncement of riches and founding of the Franciscan Order of monks. Built as a shrine to St Francis in 1228, two years after his death, the exterior of the basilica and friary complex is befittingly austere. Inside, however, is a different matter, with both the upper and lower basilicas adorned with colourful frescos, including a series attributed to the famous Florentine painter, Giotto. The simple-living St Francis rests in the crypt below the basilica, together with his friend, benefactor and follower, Jacoba of Settesoli, who is said to have fed him his favourite almond treats on his deathbed. We’ll have some free time to explore the old-world town centre with its shuttered stone houses, 'hole-in-the-wall' shops and tiny family-run cafes – the silky ‘strangozzi’ pasta with rich, earthy black truffles is a must-try! A varied collection of churches and cathedrals dot the piazzas, while two medieval castles, Rocca Maggiore and Rocca Minore, jostle for dominance on the skyline. Perugia This afternoon, we’ll continue to the bustling university city of Perugia, which uses an escalator system to connect the lower town to the historical core above. A wander along the Corso Pietro Vannucci is a treat for the senses, as its traffic-free status allows the subtler sounds and smells of local life to come through – the clink of china as cups are set out for coffee and the friendly chatter of Italians passing the time. This wide avenue leads up past a mix of shiny designer boutiques and tiny timeworn shops to the Piazza IV Novembre – the centrepiece of the city. This flagstone square boasts the gothic San Lorenzo cathedral, the imposing 13th-century Palazzo dei Priori and the intricately carved Maggiore fountain. Fanning out from the square is a jumble of narrow alleyways lined with crumbling buildings in shades of peach, ochre, russet and cream, providing plenty of places to people-watch over a local craft beer, a chilled glass of Orvieto Classico or a creamy gelato. From the Piazza Italia you could take an escalator down to the atmospheric streets of medieval Perugia, an underground world hidden within the 16th-century Rocca Paolina fortress. You can also enter the foundations of the fortress through the Porta Marzia gate, one of the stone portals chiselled into the crumbling Etruscan wall that encloses Perugia. Interestingly, this under-city maze is more than just a tourist attraction – you'll see locals hurrying through it to the bus station! Included experiences: Guided tours of Assisi and Perugia.
4* Hotel A.Roma (Lifestyle)
5* Hotel Bernini Bristol - Rome
Combine this with the very best state of the art safety features and superb facilities of a modern cruise ship: 81 spacious, sumptuous cabins displaying traditional decor, leather and dark hardwoods; the finest cuisine in an elegant dining room; a highly skilled and caring crew - and you have the Star Clipper!
It is the smaller sister ship to the Royal Clipper and when its 16 magnificent sails unfurl you are immediately overwhelmed by a remarkable sensation of being completely in tune with Mother Nature – a rarity in the modern world. With just 162 passengers and 74 crew on board, the atmosphere is very intimate – more like a private yacht than a cruise ship. Life is wonderfully informal and low-key, whilst the small scale of the ship and the open restaurant seating promotes a relaxed and extremely sociable ambience.
Everyone loves the experience of being on deck – the ropes, stays, winches, the polished mahogany and gleaming brass of the ship’s bell are all a living testament to its maritime heritage. On the Star Clipper guests are encouraged (should you so wish!) to help raise the mainsail and just like the Royal Clipper, the bridge is always open for a visit. Being smaller and lighter, the Star Clipper is also more responsive to the wind and sea: you feel the surge of the breeze, breathing life into the canvas above and sense the deck gently tilt as the sleek gleaming hull slices through the waves under the ever-watchful eye of the skilful captain.
There are two small salt-water swimming pools, plenty of deck space with sun loungers, chairs and a shady spot to cool off. Enjoy a long refreshing drink or your favourite cocktail from the open-air Tropical Bar, the ship’s social hub. The library with its leather armchairs is the perfect place to immerse yourself in a good book or you can relax in the tasteful lounge and piano bar chatting with your fellow passengers. You can climb the mast (in a safety harness!), lie in the bow netting or participate in the free water sports available at each port of call (where possible and subject to weather conditions and local authorities. Certified scuba divers can also dive at each port, at extra charge). Evening entertainment is simple and ‘home-made’ by the crew and officers - there’s no formality here and you’ll feel completely relaxed and unwound.
To enjoy our Mediterranean cruises to the absolute full, we have included a wonderful range of onshore tours and visits along the way, visiting the most fascinating places of interest. But perhaps the memory that may stay with you the longest is the simplest – that of the balmy summer evening breeze on deck, with the masts soaring above into a velvet night sky of silent stars over a moonlit sea.
To learn more about sailing on our tall ships see our Life On Board page.