Itinerary
- Day 1
Rome
You'll start with an orientation drive through Rome to get oriented with the city's layout and main sights. Then head to Basilica Santa Maria in Cosmedin for a private after-hours visit to the Mouth of Truth, which means you'll skip the usual crowds. Inside you'll see the church, crypt, and relics of Saint Valentine. Wrap up the evening with a light supper alongside your travel companions.
- Meals
- Dinner (Light supper with travel companions)
Included Activities
- Orientation drive through Rome with Travel Director
- Private after-hours visit to Basilica Santa Maria in Cosmedin
- Visit to the Mouth of Truth
- Light supper with travel companions
Landmarks/POIs Basilica Santa Maria in Cosmedin Mouth of Truth - Day 2
Rome
A local specialist leads you through the Vatican Museums to see the Sistine Chapel's frescoed ceiling and Michelangelo's Pieta in St. Peter's Basilica. Later, you'll head to Ancient Rome to check out the Circus Maximus and walk through the Colosseum. After that, the afternoon is free so you can explore on your own and see what interests you most.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided sightseeing tour of Vatican Museums with Local Specialist
- Visit to Sistine Chapel
- Visit to St. Peter's Basilica
- View Circus Maximus
- Visit to Colosseum
Optional Activities
- Roman Evening with Dinner - Dinner at characteristic trattoria (€62.00)
- Piazzas and Fountains of Rome - Guided walking tour with Local Specialist including Trevi Fountain and Pantheon (€33.00)
Landmarks/POIs Vatican Museums Sistine Chapel St. Peter's Basilica Circus Maximus Colosseum Trevi Fountain Pantheon - Day 3
Rome to Lucca
You'll travel north to Lucca for a sightseeing tour with a local specialist. During the tour, you'll see the 14th-century San Martino Cathedral and Piazza dell'Anfiteatro, which was built on a former Roman arena site. From there you have free time to relax in Piazza San Michele or climb one of the ancient towers if you want views across the city.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Travel to Lucca
- Guided sightseeing tour of Lucca with Local Specialist
- Visit to San Martino Cathedral
- Visit to Piazza dell'Anfiteatro
Optional Activities
- Dinner, Wine and Music in the Tuscan Hills - Dinner at family-run winery with wine and music (€64.00)
Landmarks/POIs San Martino Cathedral Piazza dell'Anfiteatro Piazza San Michele - Day 4
Lucca to Pisa
This morning you head out on an excursion to Cinque Terre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A local specialist joins you to walk through the fishing villages with their pastel houses on the Ligurian cliffs and learn about daily life there. Later you'll travel to Pisa and see the Square of Miracles with the famous Leaning Tower, also a UNESCO site.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided excursion to Cinque Terre UNESCO World Heritage Site with Local Specialist
- Exploration of fishing villages in Cinque Terre
- Visit to Pisa
- Visit to Piazza dei Miracoli
- View Leaning Tower of Pisa
Landmarks/POIs Cinque Terre Leaning Tower of Pisa Piazza dei Miracoli - Day 5
Pisa to San Gimignano to Florence
You'll travel through Tuscany's gentle landscape to San Gimignano, known for its medieval architecture and historic towers. Then comes a Be My Guest experience at the Lenzi family vineyard overlooking the Chianti Hills where you'll have lunch and taste their wine and olive oil. By evening you'll arrive in Florence with the night to yourself.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch at Lenzi family vineyard with wine and olive oil tasting)
Included Activities
- Travel to San Gimignano
- Visit to San Gimignano
- Be My Guest experience at Lenzi family vineyard
- Lunch at Lenzi family farm
- Wine and olive oil tasting
- Travel to Florence
Landmarks/POIs San Gimignano - Day 6
Florence
A local specialist leads you through Florence's Renaissance treasures, walking through narrow lanes into open piazzas. You'll see the marble Duomo, a replica of the David in Piazza della Signoria, and the nearly 700-year-old Ponte Vecchio. After that visit Piazzale Michelangelo for panoramic views. The rest of your day is yours to explore further, whether that's visiting museums, Palazzo Vecchio, or shopping for leather and gold.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided sightseeing tour of Florence with Local Specialist
- Visit to Duomo
- View of David statue replica in Piazza della Signoria
- Visit to Piazza della Signoria
- View Ponte Vecchio
- Visit to Piazzale Michelangelo
Optional Activities
- Michelangelo's David & Accademia - Guided visit to Academy of Fine Arts with expert commentary on Michelangelo's life and works (€47.00) - Subject to availability, prepayment required, 50% cancellation fee applies
- Tuscan Dinner at Villa Machiavelli - Dinner at Machiavelli's historic villa with welcome drink, villa tour, wine cellars visit, and Tuscan cuisine with Chianti wine (€68.00)
Landmarks/POIs Duomo Piazza della Signoria Ponte Vecchio Piazzale Michelangelo Academy of Fine Arts Palazzo Vecchio - Day 7
Florence to Verona to Venice
You'll travel to Verona, the city from Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. There you can see the 1st-century Roman arena that's still used for opera performances and walk the cobbled streets. Then you head to Venice where you have leisure time to search out hidden spots. Consider watching the sunset over the lagoon or joining an optional experience if something appeals to you.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Travel to Verona
- View Roman arena in Verona
- Exploration of Verona
- Travel to Venice
Optional Activities
- Gondolas and the Grand Canal - Private water taxi cruise along Grand Canal with views of palazzi and Rialto Bridge, followed by gondola ride along narrow waterways (€76.00)
Landmarks/POIs Roman Arena of Verona Juliet's Balcony - Day 8
Venice
This morning you'll see Venetian glassblowing, a craft tradition passed down through generations, with master craftsmen demonstrating their skills and offering souvenirs. You'll visit St. Mark's Basilica, the Doge's Palace, and the Bridge of Sighs, thinking about the prisoners who saw Venice from there one last time. A private launch takes you past iconic attractions before you have free time to wander the alleys and bridges.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit to Venetian glassblowing factory (MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience)
- Glassblowing demonstration
- Visit to St. Mark's Basilica
- Visit to Doge's Palace
- View Bridge of Sighs
- Private launch cruise to see iconic attractions
Optional Activities
- Lagoon Cruise to Burano with Food and Drinks - Private boat cruise to Burano island with meal and drink selection, featuring the famous multi-coloured houses (€72.00)
- Secret Venice and the Doge's Palace - Guided exploration of hidden streets with Local Specialist and Doge's Palace visit with elegant courtyards (€47.00)
Landmarks/POIs St. Mark's Basilica Doge's Palace Bridge of Sighs Burano - Day 9
Venice to Assisi
You'll travel through scenic countryside toward Assisi with a stop in Bologna to see the famous Kissing Towers that lean toward each other. After that, continue to Assisi and check into a fully renovated old Franciscan monastery, which is your Stays With Stories experience for this part of the trip.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Travel through scenic countryside to Assisi
- Stop in Bologna to view Kissing Towers
Landmarks/POIs Kissing Towers - Day 10
Assisi to Tivoli
A local specialist takes you to discover St. Francis's legacy, visiting the Basilica of St. Francis on Mount Subasio to see frescoes depicting his life. You'll then travel to Tivoli for a guided visit through Villa d'Este's UNESCO-listed terraced Renaissance gardens with fountains, hedges, and ornate statues. That evening you'll have dinner with your travel companions and Travel Director.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Dinner with fellow travellers and Travel Director)
Included Activities
- Guided visit to Basilica of St. Francis with Local Specialist
- Travel to Tivoli
- Guided visit to Villa d'Este with Local Specialist
- Exploration of Villa d'Este gardens
- Dinner with fellow travellers and Travel Director
Landmarks/POIs Basilica of St. Francis Villa d'Este - Day 11
Departure
You'll say goodbye to Italy and your travel group after your journey through the country comes to an end.
- Meals
- Breakfast
