Benvenuto in Italia! Make your own way to your hotel in the heart of Venice and meet your fellow travellers and tour director over a welcome dinner at 8pm.
Arrival:
Check-in on Day 1 is from 2pm.
Venice combines romance and lively charm in its grand canals and winding streets. It’s renowned for its delicious seafood, iconic bridges, and stunning sunsets, making it one of Europe’s favourite cities.
On a guided walking tour, you’ll visit Venice’s main sights, such as the Rialto Bridge, Piazza San Marco with its basilica, Doge’s Palace, and the Bridge of Sighs. Enjoy a ride in a traditional gondola to explore the city’s picturesque canals.
Leave Venice after breakfast and head to Verona, known as the home of Romeo and Juliet. Enjoy a guided walking tour covering Verona’s highlights such as the Verona Arena, Piazza delle Erbe, and the houses linked to Shakespeare’s young romantics.
Next, continue your journey to La Spezia, a historic port city close to the picturesque Cinque Terre coast. Explore La Spezia at your own pace, discovering its hidden gems including maritime and archaeological museums. Don’t miss sampling local specialties like mussels and focaccia
Travel time: Driving – approx. four hours
After breakfast, travel by coach to La Spezia, where you’ll catch a train to explore the timeless seaside villages of Cinque Terre. Start 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, colourful cliffside houses, and a rich cultural history. Explore the rugged charm of Cinque Terre National Park, Italy’s smallest at just over 38 square kilometres. Wander along scenic trails and 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, journey to Pisa for a walking tour of the city, including photo opportunities at the Leaning Tower. Explore the city’s rich history, visit the Baptistery of Saint John and its medieval cathedral. Afterward, bid farewell to Pisa and travel to Lucca, a historic city in Tuscany known for its charming terracotta walls and cobblestone streets.
Continue your journey to Florence, Tuscany’s capital and birthplace of the Renaissance. Relax at your hotel in the evening, and if you wish, venture out to explore Florence’s lively streets under the night sky.
Travel time: Driving – approx. 2.5 hours
Enjoy breakfast and then join a guided walking tour through Florence, a magnificent city renowned for its Renaissance heritage. Experience the cultural richness with visits to Piazza della Signoria, Florence Cathedral with its striking red dome and towering bell tower, the unique Battistero, and the medieval Ponte Vecchio bridge over the Arno River.
In the afternoon, explore the city at your leisure, perhaps opting for a wine tasting tour to delve into Tuscan wines, accompanied by light snacks (additional charges apply)
After breakfast enjoy a day at leisure. Choose to wander the cobbled streets in search of 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).
Start your morning journey to Siena, a historic hilltop city surrounded by medieval brick walls and the Chianti vineyards. The Chianti region is renowned for its red Sangiovese wines, celebrated for their vibrant fruity and herbal flavours. Enjoy a lunch and wine tasting at one of the region’s top vineyards.
In the afternoon, continue your travels to Rome and check into your hotel. Spend the remainder of the day exploring the Eternal City at your leisure
Travel time: Driving – approx. 3.5 hours
Rome is renowned for its romantic atmosphere, blending contemporary culture with rich history. Begin your morning with a discovery tour starting at the vast Saint Peter’s Square, right by Vatican City. Skip the line with your Vatican tour fast pass and explore the breathtaking Sistine Chapel and Saint Peter’s Basilica. Admire Michelangelo’s iconic ceiling fresco in the Sistine Chapel.
Later, wander through the cobbled streets and visit landmarks like the Spanish Steps and Colosseum. Don’t forget to toss a coin into the famous Trevi Fountain for good luck.
Enjoy breakfast at your hotel and set about on a leisurely day of exploration. You can visit the Borghese Gallery to admire masterpieces by Caravaggio, Canova, and Raphael, observe the playful cats at Largo di Torre Argentina among ancient temple ruins ,or cool off with a scoop at hidden gem Gelateria del Teatro.
Alternatively, consider joining a food tour in the evening, sampling diverse cuisine at seven different eateries while discovering the secrets of Italy’s capital city (additional charges may 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 its remains.
Mark your arrival with a walking tour of the ruins and learn about their 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 breakfast at your hotel, then spend your day freely exploring. Stop at one of Pompei’s many cafes and restaurants for fresh seafood or perhaps some delicious ragu, or 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. Spend a full day sailng through the waters and past steep cliffs, enjoying brief stops at historic ports along the way.
Today, enjoy more time in Rome, exploring its archaeological wonders and discovering the works of Italy’s historic artists. Indulge in pasta and antipasti, and wander through the romantic streets of this captivating city.
In the evening, gather with your fellow travellers for a delightful farewell dinner at 8pm in a local restaurant.
Travel time: Driving – approx. three hours
After breakfast, say farewell to Rome and continue with your onward journey.
Departure:
Checkout on your final day is at 11am. Please book your flights to depart from Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport (FCO) at any time.