Itinerary
- Day 1
Rome
You'll arrive in Rome and get settled into your accommodation. This evening you'll meet your fellow travellers over dinner at a local restaurant serving Roman specialities.
- Meals
- Dinner (Dinner at a uniquely Roman restaurant, offering a perfect exploration of Lazio's typical flavours)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hotel St. Martin, Rome), Hotel (St. Martin, Rome)
- Day 2
Rome
A local expert guides you through Vatican City, starting with the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel to see Michelangelo's frescoes. After that, you'll cross the Tiber to ancient Rome for the Circus Maximus, Arch of Constantine, and Colosseum. The afternoon gives you time to check out the Pantheon and wander through some of Rome's beautiful piazzas and fountains.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hotel St. Martin, Rome), Hotel (St. Martin, Rome)
Included Activities
- Visit Vatican Museums
- See Sistine Chapel with Michelangelo's frescoes
- View St. Peter's Basilica dome
- Guided visit of Colosseum
- View Circus Maximus
- View Arch of Constantine
- Explore Ancient Forum
Optional Activities
- Visit Pantheon
- Explore Rome's piazzas and fountains
Landmarks Vatican Museums Sistine Chapel St. Peter's Basilica Circus Maximus Arch of Constantine Colosseum Pantheon - Day 3
Rome to Pisa - Santa Margherita Ligure
You'll drive through the Tuscan countryside with its cypress trees, vineyards, and olive groves to reach Pisa. A local expert shows you the Leaning Tower in the Square of Miracles, plus the marble cathedral and baptistery. From there, you'll continue to Santa Margherita Ligure, a nice seaside resort on the coast.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Best Western Regina Elena, Santa Margherita Ligure)
Included Activities
- View Leaning Tower in Square of Miracles
- Explore cathedral and baptistery
Landmarks Leaning Tower of Pisa Pisa Cathedral Pisa Baptistery - Day 4
Santa Margherita Ligure - Cinque Terre - Portofino
This morning you'll head to Cinque Terre (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) and approach one of the fishing villages by boat if weather allows, with a local expert. You'll explore the medieval village of Monterosso and its sandy beach, then visit Portofino with its colourful houses. Spend time browsing boutiques and relaxing at cafes while watching yachts in the harbour before cruising back along the Ligurian coast.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Best Western Regina Elena, Santa Margherita Ligure)
Included Activities
- Visit Cinque Terre UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Boat approach to fishing village (weather permitting)
- Explore Monterosso medieval quarter
- Visit Monterosso sandy beach
- Visit Portofino village
- Cruise along Ligurian coast
Landmarks Cinque Terre Monterosso Portofino - Day 5
Santa Margherita Ligure to Lake Maggiore
You'll head north to Lake Maggiore and the charming town of Baveno, known for narrow cobbled streets and its square. After settling into your hotel, you can relax and take in the lakeside scenery. In the afternoon, there's an optional boat cruise to Isola Bella to explore the palace and Italian gardens if you're interested.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Simplon, Baveno)
Optional Activities
- Cruise to Isola Bella and explore palace and gardens
Landmarks Lake Maggiore Isola Bella - Day 6
Lake Maggiore to Venice
You'll travel past the Soave vineyards, through Padua, and on to the canals of Venice. Once you're settled, you'll have dinner with your travelling companions this evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Indigo - Sant'Elena, Venice)
Landmarks Soave Padua - Day 7
Venice
A private boat takes you past churches and palaces that show Venice's architecture from the 13th to 18th centuries. You'll arrive near St Mark's Square and walk along the waterfront, seeing the Bridge of Sighs and Doge's Palace. Inside St Mark's Square, you'll admire the basilica, then board a gondola for a serenade through the canals. Later, you'll watch skilled glassblowers create handcrafted pieces using traditional techniques.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Indigo - Sant'Elena, Venice)
Included Activities
- Private boat cruise through Venice's canals
- Stroll along waterfront
- View Bridge of Sighs
- View Doge's Palace
- Visit St Mark's Square
- Visit St Mark's Basilica
- Traditional gondola ride with serenade
- Watch glassblowing artisans demonstration
Landmarks Bridge of Sighs Doge's Palace St Mark's Square St Mark's Basilica - Day 8
Venice to Florence
After leaving Venice, you'll travel to Florence. You can either visit the Accademia Museum to see Michelangelo's David or join your travel director for a local walk and Italian treat at a cafe. You'll continue exploring the marble cathedral, bell tower, and baptistery with its Gates of Paradise. Strolling through Piazza della Signoria, you'll see Renaissance sculptures. Dinner features traditional Bistecca alla Fiorentina steak paired with local wine.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Traditional Bistecca alla Fiorentina steak dinner paired with delicious local wine)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hilton Garden Inn Florence Novoli)
Included Activities
- Visit Accademia Museum and see Michelangelo's David
- Explore Florence cathedral, bell tower and baptistery
- View Ghiberti's Gates of Paradise
- Explore Piazza della Signoria and Renaissance statues
- View Palazzo Vecchio
Optional Activities
- Stroll with Travel Director to local cafe for Italian treat
Landmarks Accademia Gallery Florence Cathedral Giotto's Campanile Florence Baptistery Piazza della Signoria Palazzo Vecchio - Day 9
Florence
You'll have the day to explore Florence at your own pace. If you're interested, there's an optional experience available to the hilltop town of San Gimignano.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hilton Garden Inn Florence Novoli)
Optional Activities
- Optional Experience to hilltop town of San Gimignano
Landmarks San Gimignano - Day 10
Florence to Sorrento
You'll head south through Frascati's volcanic hills to Pompeii. A local expert walks you through the preserved cobbled streets, showing how people lived during the Roman Empire before Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD. Later, you'll travel along the clifftop road to Sorrento, a resort town overlooking the Bay of Naples.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Isabella, Sorrento)
Included Activities
- Guided walk through Pompeii cobbled streets
Landmarks Pompeii Mount Vesuvius - Day 11
Sorrento to Capri
Meeting your local expert, you'll cross the Bay of Naples by jetfoil to the beautiful Isle of Capri. You'll arrive at Marina Grande and head up to Capri town to explore its narrow alleyways. The funicular railway takes you back down to the port for your return to Sorrento. Later, there's an optional chance to explore the Amalfi Coast if you'd like.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Isabella, Sorrento)
Included Activities
- Jetfoil crossing to Capri
- Explore Capri town and narrow alleyways
- Descend by funicular railway
Optional Activities
- Explore the Amalfi Coast
Landmarks Capri Marina Grande - Day 12
Sorrento to Alberobello
After breakfast, you'll visit two UNESCO World Heritage Sites. First up is Matera for a guided exploration of the Sassi, ancient troglodyte dwellings carved from rock that housed roughly 20,000 people until the 1950s and served as a filming location for 'The Passion of the Christ'. Then you'll continue to Alberobello, where you'll stay for the next two nights.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Grand Hotel La Chiusa di Chietri, Alberobello)
Included Activities
- Guided exploration of Sassi di Matera UNESCO World Heritage Site
Landmarks Sassi di Matera 
- Day 13
Alberobello
A local expert shows you the trulli of Alberobello, another UNESCO World Heritage Site. These distinctive structures feature circular shapes with conical roofs, built from local limestone and stacked without mortar. This evening, you'll have a farm-to-table dinner with regional recipes and flavours prepared fresh.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Freshly prepared Farm-to-Table dinner featuring recipes and flavours typical of the region)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Grand Hotel La Chiusa di Chietri, Alberobello)
Included Activities
- Guided exploration of Trulli of Alberobello UNESCO World Heritage Site
Landmarks Trulli of Alberobello - Day 14
Alberobello to Sicily
You'll take local roads south along the Gulf of Taranto through the mountainous Calabria region and along the Purple Coast to Italy's 'toe'. From there, you'll board a ferry across the Straits of Messina to Sicily and continue to Taormina. A local expert guides you to the Greek Theatre with its spectacular backdrops.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Baia Taormina, Marina di Forza D’Agrò)
Included Activities
- Ferry crossing at Straits of Messina
- Visit Greek Theatre in Taormina with Local Expert
Landmarks Straits of Messina Greek Theatre of Taormina Mount Etna - Day 15
Taormina to Palermo
This morning you can relax on Sicily's Dawn Coast, or join an optional experience to Mount Etna, Europe's highest active volcano. If you choose the volcano option, you'll go through dramatic volcanic landscapes and see spectacular panoramic views. Later, you'll travel through Sicily's countryside to Palermo, the vibrant capital city.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Astoria Palace, Palermo), Hotel (Federico II Central Palace, Palermo)
Optional Activities
- Optional experience to Mount Etna volcano with dramatic landscapes and panoramic views
Landmarks Mount Etna - Day 16
Palermo
Your local expert shows you Palermo's treasures, including the cathedral with its composite architectural styles and the Palatine Chapel in the Palace of the Normans, known for its glittering ancient mosaics set in honey-coloured walls. You'll have the rest of the day at leisure to explore the city. This evening brings dinner with your travelling companions, featuring local cuisine and wine at a local restaurant.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Experience local customs as you delve into tantalising flavours and rustic dishes served with local wine)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Astoria Palace, Palermo), Hotel (Federico II Central Palace, Palermo)
Included Activities
- Explore Palermo Cathedral with composite architectural styles
- Visit Palatine Chapel in Palace of the Normans
- View ancient mosaics in Palatine Chapel
Landmarks Palermo Cathedral Palatine Chapel Palace of the Normans Pretoria Square - Day 17
Depart Palermo
Your Italian tour comes to an end today with departure transfers to Palermo Falcone-Borsellino Airport.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Landmarks Palermo Falcone–Borsellino Airport
