Benvenuto in Italia! Your Italian tour begins on arrival at Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE), where you’ll be greeted and transferred to your hotel in the heart of Venice.
Meet your fellow travellers and tour director over a welcome dinner at 8pm.
Arrival & Transfers:
Please book your flights to arrive at Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE) by 5pm. Airport transfers are included on the first day of your tour. Your transfer will meet you on arrival and take you to your hotel. Check-in on Day 1 is from 2pm.
Romance and revelry meet in explosive colour along grand canals and labyrinthine alleys of the floating city of Venice. Fine seafood, artfully arched bridges and glorious sunsets are just some of the reasons why Venice is one of Europe’s most beloved cities.
On a guided walking tour, you’ll discover the city’s main attractions, including the Rialto Bridge, Piazza San Marco with its basilica, Doge’s Palace and Bridge of Sighs. Hop into a slender black gondola to float through the city’s extraordinary canals in style.
Bid farewell to captivating Venice after breakfast, and set a course for Romeo and Juliet’s home town. On a guided walking tour you’ll cover Verona’s must-see attractions, like the Verona Arena, Piazza delle Erbe and the houses of Shakespeare’s young romantics.
Later, your journey continues to La Spezia, a charming old port, conveniently near the five towns that make up the Cinque Terre coast. Uncover the best-kept secrets of this underrated town in your own time, including the maritime and archaeological museums. The region is famous for its mussels and focaccia: be sure to sample your way through La Spezia’s culinary delights.
Travel time: Driving – approx. four hours
After breakfast, take a coach to La Spezia, where you’ll board a train to explore the timeless seaside villages of Cinque Terre.
Begin your journey in Manarola, then continue by train to Vernazza and Monterosso, before returning to La Spezia.
This UNESCO World Heritage site offers stunning coastal views, vibrant cliffside houses, and a rich cultural history. Discover the rugged charm of Cinque Terre National Park, Italy’s smallest at just over 38 square kilometers. Wander along its scenic trails and marvel at the ancient terraced vineyards. End your day with a sunset view from a medieval castle or enjoy local wine by the sea before returning to your hotel.
Travel time: Driving – approx. 1.5 hours
Today’s adventures lead you to Pisa, where a walking tour of the city and photo opportunities at the Leaning Tower await. After soaking up the city’s incredible history and sights of the the Baptistery of Saint John and its magnificent medieval cathedral, say ciao to Pisa and transfer to Lucca. A historic city centre in the Tuscany region, Lucca radiates quaint romance with its terracotta walls and cobblestone streets.
Continue to Florence, the capital of Tuscany and known as the birthplace of the Renaissance. Spend your evening in your comfortable hotel and, if you’re feeling up to it, choose to explore the city’s glittering streets by night.
Travel time: Driving – approx. 2.5 hours
Rise and shine with a refreshing breakfast, then join a guided walking tour through the storied streets of this marvellous jewel of the Renaissance. With its extensive cultural heritage and far-reaching influence, Florence is a living expression of one of Italy’s most enduring artistic movements.
Admire the beautiful bustle of the Piazza della Signoria, the elegant grandeur of Florence Cathedral and its eye-catching red duomo and soaring bell tower, the octagonal oddity of the Battistero and the medieval Ponte Vecchio bridge, spanning the Arno River.
Spend the afternoon freely wandering the city of arts, perhaps choosing to explore the depths of Tuscan wines with an optional wine window walk, complete with a selection of light bites (surcharges apply).
Wake to a hearty breakfast and enjoy a day at leisure. Choose to wander the cobbled streets in search of ultra-delicious gelato, sit down for a plate of tagliatelle funghi porcini e tartufo (fresh mushroom pasta) or step into the Galleria dell’Accademia di Firenze to see the statue of David, Michelangelo’s masterpiece (surcharges apply).
Waste no time this morning as you set out on the road to Siena, a historic citadel in the hills, encircled by medieval brick walls and the hills of Chianti vineyards.
The greater Chianti region is known for its titular wine, produced primarily with red Sangiovese grapes. Let vibrant fruity notes and contrasting herbal tones dance across your palate as you next join a lunch and wine tasting at one of the region’s best vineyards.
This afternoon, depart for Rome and check in at your hotel. Spend the rest of your day acquainting yourself with the Eternal City at your own pace.
Travel time: Driving – approx. 3.5 hours
Nowhere does romance like Rome – this city is a buzzing blend of contemporary culture and rich history.
Step out on a morning discovery tour, beginning at the enormous Saint Peter’s Square, right at the doorstep of the Vatican City. Skip the line with your Vatican tour fast pass and join your guide as you enter the jaw-dropping Sistine Chapel and Saint Peter’s Basilica. Turn your eyes to the heavens and survey the profoundly moving ceiling fresco, painted by the inimitable Michelangelo.
Later, marvel at the cobbled alleys and impressive sites that pepper this urban landscape, including the Spanish Steps and Colosseum. Don’t miss your chance to throw a coin into the legendary Trevi Fountain and make a wish.
Indulge in a hearty breakfast at your hotel, then set about on a day of discovery at leisure. Choose to view the masterworks of Caravaggio, Canova and Raphael at the Borghese Gallery, watch the playful resident cats of Largo di Torre Argentina leaping and lazing around the temple ruins or cool off with a scoop at hidden gem Gelateria del Teatro.
Perhaps you’ll decide to join a food tour under the stars, visiting seven diverse eateries, while uncovering Italy’s capital city’s secrets (surcharges apply).
Enjoy breakfast at your hotel, then relax as you watch the Italian countryside roll by on your way to historic Pompeii, and the modern town of Pompei that rests near it’s remains.
Mark your arrival with a walking tour of the remarkable ruins and learn about their epic history. Wander the bones of this long-dormant city, eerily preserved in volcanic ash during the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD.
Spend the evening as you desire.
Travel time: Driving – approx. three hours
Fill up with an energising breakfast at your hotel, then spend your day freely exploring. Return to the eerie silence of the ruins for a deeper dive into history, or stop at one of Pompei’s many cafes and restaurants for fresh seafood or perhaps some delicious ragu.
Alternatively, choose to take an optional six-hour boat trip visiting the colourful seaside villages of the Amalfi Coast – all while sipping limoncello (surcharges apply).
After breakfast, ferry to the island of Capri, the pearl of the Mediterranean Sea. Spend a full day sailng through unbelievably blue waters, past rugged greenery and steep cliffs, enjoying brief stops at historic ports along the way.
Today, Rome beckons your return. Take advantage of extra time in this archaeological wonderland, uncover myriad works of Italy’s historic fine artists or get your fill of pasta and antipasti. Whichever way your heart leads, be sure to lose yourself in this romantic city’s streets.
In the evening, regroup with your fellow travellers for a sumptuous farewell dinner at 8pm in a local restaurant.
Travel time: Driving – approx. three hours
After breakfast, say a fond farewell to the Eternal City and join your included transfer to the airport for your onward travel.
Departure & Transfers:
Checkout on your final day is at 11am. Please book your flights to depart from Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport (FCO) at any time. Airport transfers are included on the last day of your tour. Your transfer will meet you at your hotel and take you to the airport.