Rome is a city of art, antiquity, piazzas and palaces. Join your Local Expert for an in-depth exploration that brings its layered history to life. Begin at the Vatican Museums, where you’ll see an extraordinary collection of priceless artworks curated by the Popes. Marvel at Michelangelo’s frescoes in the Sistine Chapel and admire the iconic dome of St. Peter’s Basilica. Then cross the Tiber into ancient Rome to visit the Circus Maximus and the Arch of Constantine. Enjoy a guided visit of the Colosseum and uncover the legends, construction and daily life of this monumental arena. Later, you may choose to continue your exploration, from the grandeur of the Pantheon to the fountains and piazzas that define Rome’s vibrant street life. Occasionally, access to the Vatican Museums is limited. If tickets are unavailable, you’ll instead explore the Capitoline Museums, home to iconic Roman art and archaeology.
Enjoy a delightful drive to Pisa through rolling countryside dotted with cypress trees, passing vineyards and olive groves. With a Local Expert, view the incredible Leaning Tower in the Square of Miracles from which Galileo is said to have conducted experiments on velocity and gravity. See the splendid cathedral and baptistery, decorated with mosaics and designs in solid marble. Your journey continues to the pretty seaside resort of Santa Margherita Ligure.
Head to the famous Cinque Terre, which translates to Five Lands. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is located on a gorgeously wild yet hospitable part of the coastline. With a Local Expert, approach one of the fishing villages by boat (weather permitting). In Monterosso, spend some time exploring the medieval quarter or the popular sandy beach before continuing to the village of Portofino, famed for its colorful houses. Browse the boutiques and stay a while in the cafe bars on the piazzetta, watching the yachts moored in the harbor. Then cruise along the rugged Ligurian coast to your hotel in the resort of Santa Margherita.
Head north to beautiful Lake Maggiore in the Italian Lakes District and the town of Baveno, noted for its narrow cobbled streets and charming square. On arrival, settle into your hotel and take in the magical scenery. In the afternoon, why not join an Optional Experience cruise to Isola Bella to explore the palace and admire the stunning and immaculate Italian style gardens.
Your Italy and Sicily tour continues past the Soave vineyards, the city of Padua and on to the canals of Venice. In the evening, enjoy dinner with your traveling companions.
Cruise by private boat on a journey of discovery past churches and palaces reflecting the rich architectural history of Venice from the 13th to the 18th centuries. Marvel at the intricate facades and learn about the stories behind these historical buildings. Arrive close to St Mark’s Square and stroll along the waterfront, passing the iconic Bridge of Sighs and the majestic Doge’s Palace. It was from here that the infamous Casanova made his daring escape. Turn the corner into St Mark’s Square and be captivated by the grandeur of the Basilica. You’ll board a traditional gondola for a serenade along the city’s romantic canals. Later, visit a Venetian glassblowing workshop. Witness the artistry of master craftsmen in action as they create beautiful, handcrafted glass pieces, preserving centuries-old techniques and traditions.
Bid farewell to Venice and travel south, stopping in Bologna to enjoy Italy’s food capital before continuing to Renaissance Florence. Upon arrival, enjoy an afternoon at leisure to explore the city at your own pace. Later, perhaps join an Optional Experience to the hilltop town of San Gimignano, known for its medieval towers and timeless charm. End the day with a traditional bistecca alla Fiorentina dinner, perfectly paired with local wine — a regional specialty not to be missed.
Today, discover the artisan traditions of Florence with a leatherwork and gold demonstration — crafts deeply rooted in the city’s heritage. Later, you’ll explore the city with Insight Choice. Choose to visit the Accademia Gallery to admire Michelangelo’s David, followed by a guided walk past the city’s marble cathedral, bell tower and baptistery, where Ghiberti’s Gates of Paradise have been recreated in stunning detail. Alternatively, join your Travel Director for a relaxed stroll and enjoy a typical Italian treat in a local cafe. Continue into the Piazza della Signoria, the city’s political heart and open-air gallery of Renaissance sculpture, and pause to view statues of Neptune, Hercules and Cacus standing proudly before the Palazzo Vecchio. This evening, consider an Optional Experience featuring a traditional Tuscan dinner paired with regional wines — including a glass of Chianti from the nearby vineyards.
Journey south through the volcanic hills of Frascati to Pompeii, which was buried in A.D. 79 by Mount Vesuvius’ catastrophic eruption. Walk with a Local Expert through the preserved cobbled streets for a glimpse into the daily life of civilization during the Roman Empire. Follow the clifftop road to the resort town of Sorrento, overlooking the Bay of Naples.
Meet your Local Expert and cross the Bay of Naples to reach the beautiful Isle of Capri, a rock rising sheer from the Mediterranean! For 2,000 years, Capri has beckoned visitors from Tiberius Caesar to Gracie Fields. Arriving at the Marina Grande by boat, ascend to Capri town. Explore the narrow alleyways and descend to the port by funicular railway for the return to Sorrento. Later, perhaps explore the Amalfi Coast?
After breakfast, discover two UNESCO World Heritage Sites. First, visit Matera for an in-depth guided exploration of the extraordinary Sassi, ancient troglodyte dwellings and churches dug out of the rock. These are the most extensive example of their kind in the Mediterranean and were inhabited by about 20,000 people up until the 1950s. Matera was also used as the setting for the film ‘The Passion of the Christ’. Continue to Alberobello, the second UNESCO World Heritage Site, and your home for the next two nights.
Admire another of Italy’s record number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites with a Local Expert. The trulli of Alberobello are circular structures with conical roofs that are domed within. They are built from local limestone and stacked without using mortar. In the evening, delight at the freshly prepared Farm-to-Table dinner. Savor a traditional meal and discover regional life through its local cuisine.
The local roads will take you south, following the shores of the Gulf of Taranto to the mountainous Calabria region. Travel along the Purple Coast to the very ‘toe’ of Italy and board your ferry bound for Sicily. According to ancient legend, it was here at the Straits of Messina where the twin whirlpools of Scylla and Charybdis carried unwary seafarers away to their doom. After disembarking, continue to Taormina. Join a Local Expert for a visit to the Greek Theater, graced with the most spectacular of backdrops.
Relax this morning on the stunning Dawn Coast of Europe or choose to join an optional experience to majestic Mt. Etna, Europe’s highest active volcano, where you’ll journey through dramatic volcanic landscapes and enjoy spectacular panoramic views. Later, travel through Sicily’s beautiful countryside as you make your way to the vibrant capital city of Palermo, rich in history, culture and architectural splendor.
Explore Palermo with your Local Expert, who shows you the capital’s key sights. Venture inside Palermo Cathedral to appreciate its Arab-Norman, Gothic, Baroque and Neoclassical influences before continuing to the Palatine Chapel in the Palace of the Normans, where golden mosaics reveal Sicily’s layered Byzantine, Arab and Norman heritage. Spend the afternoon at leisure, or choose an Optional Experience visiting Teatro Massimo, Italy’s largest opera house, and a historic street market where vendors’ traditional abbanniati calls animate daily trade. This evening, join your traveling companions and Travel Director at a local restaurant for regional Sicilian cuisine and wine.
Your grand tour of Italy draws to an end. Departure transfers arrive at Palermo Falcone–Borsellino Airport.