Itinerary
- Day 1
Venice Airport to Venice
You'll land at Venice Airport where your tour director meets you for the transfer to a Venetian manor just outside the city. Once you're settled in, head to a local Prosecco vineyard for wine tasting and appetizers. The evening includes a welcome reception at the hotel followed by a full-course Venetian dinner with wine pairings.
- Meals
- Dinner (Full-course Venetian dinner in hotel restaurant with wine)
Included Activities
- Transfer from Venice Airport to hotel
- Visit to local Prosecco vineyard and winery with wine tasting and appetizers
- Welcome reception at hotel
- Full-course Venetian dinner in hotel restaurant with wine
- Day 2
Murano - Grand Canal - St. Mark's Square
Board a private boat to Murano where you'll watch master glass-blowers demonstrate their centuries-old craft. After that, cruise the Grand Canal with its historic palazzi, then get an orientation tour of St. Mark's Square and its landmarks. You'll have free time to walk through Venice or take an optional gondola ride, then return to relax at the villa restaurant with local specialties.
- Meals
- Dinner (Dinner at villa restaurant with local specialties)
Included Activities
- Private boat transfer to Murano
- Visit to glass-blowing factory with artisan demonstration
- Grand Canal cruise
- Orientation tour of St. Mark's Square including Doge's Palace, St. Mark's Basilica & Tower, Bridge of Sighs, and Rialto Bridge
- Dinner at villa restaurant with local specialties
Optional Activities
- Gondola ride through Venetian canals
Landmarks Murano Grand Canal St. Mark's Square Doge's Palace St. Mark's Basilica Bridge of Sighs Rialto Bridge - Day 3
Venice to Padua to Bassano del Grappa
Travel by bus to Padua to see the Cathedral of St. Anthony and check out local shops, markets, and bistros. Tour the Scrovegni Chapel with its beautiful Giotto frescoes. Later, drive to Bassano del Grappa to sample local grappas and walk past the iconic covered bridge. Dinner happens back at the hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Leisurely breakfast), Dinner (Dinner at hotel)
Included Activities
- Bus transfer to Padua
- Visit to Cathedral of St. Anthony
- Scheduled visit to Scrovegni Chapel with Giotto frescoes
- Drive to Bassano del Grappa
- Grappa tasting at local distillery
- Exploration of Bassano del Grappa town and covered bridge
- Leisurely breakfast
- Dinner at hotel
Optional Activities
- Shopping and exploring shops, markets, and bistros in Padua
Landmarks Cathedral of St. Anthony Scrovegni Chapel Bassano del Grappa covered bridge - Day 4
Modena
This morning starts with a tour of the Ferrari Museum. Then you'll visit a local farm for a demonstration of how Balsamic vinegar is made with a tasting included. After that, tour the museum dedicated to opera singer Luciano Pavarotti. Dinner takes place at Ristorante Europa 92, which was Pavarotti's favorite restaurant.
- Meals
- Dinner (Dinner at Ristorante Europa 92 (world-renowned restaurant next to Museo Casa Pavarotti, Pavarotti's favorite restaurant))
Included Activities
- Tour of Ferrari Museum
- Visit to local Balsamic vinegar farm with demonstration and tasting
- Visit to Luciano Pavarotti Museum
- Dinner at Ristorante Europa 92
Landmarks Ferrari Museum Luciano Pavarotti Museum - Day 5
Modena to Florence to Montecatini
Travel to Florence with a local expert who guides you through the city's art and museums, visiting the Cathedral, Town Hall Square, Old Bridge, Holy Cross Church, and the tombs of Michelangelo, Galileo, Rossini, and Machiavelli. You'll see Michelangelo's Statue of David at the Academy of the Fine Arts and watch a demonstration at a leather factory. Later, head to Montecatini for hotel check-in and dinner with wine, with some free time to explore Florence.
- Meals
- Dinner (Dinner at hotel restaurant with wine)
Included Activities
- Motorcoach transfer to Florence
- Guided walking tour through Florence
- Visit to Cathedral (Duomo)
- Visit to Town Hall Square (Piazza della Signoria)
- Visit to Old Bridge (Ponte Vecchio)
- Visit to Holy Cross Church (Basilica di Santa Croce)
- Visit to tombs of Michelangelo, Galileo, Joaquin Rossini, and Nicholas Machiavelli
- Visit to Academy of the Fine Arts to see Michelangelo's Statue of David
- Demonstration at local leather factory
- Dinner at Montecatini hotel restaurant with wine
Optional Activities
- Free time to shop and explore Florence
Landmarks Florence Cathedral (Duomo) Piazza della Signoria Ponte Vecchio Basilica di Santa Croce Academy of the Fine Arts (Galleria dell'Accademia) 
- Day 6
Montecatini to Cinque Terre to Lucca
Drive to the Italian Riviera and La Spezia, then board a ferry to one of the Cinque Terre cliffside villages with their brightly colored buildings on rugged cliffs. A boat takes you to dock in a Riviera town where you'll take a pesto cooking class with wine and local delicacies. You can shop and stroll the Mediterranean shores before training back to La Spezia taking in seascape views. Visit a vineyard in Lucca for a tour, then enjoy a festive Tuscan dinner with wine and music.
- Meals
- Lunch (Cooking class lesson to prepare legendary Italian pesto sauce with wine and local delicacies tasting), Dinner (Festive Tuscan dinner with wine and music at Lucca vineyard)
Included Activities
- Coach transfer to La Spezia
- Ferry boat to Cinque Terre
- Boat transfer to Riviera village
- Cooking class to prepare legendary Italian pesto sauce
- Local wine and delicacies tasting in Cinque Terre
- Train transfer back to La Spezia
- Drive to Lucca
- Tour of local vineyard in Lucca
- Festive Tuscan dinner with wine and music
Optional Activities
- Shopping and exploring Cinque Terre villages
- Leisurely stroll along Mediterranean shores
Landmarks La Spezia Cinque Terre 
- Day 7
San Gimignano - Siena
Visit San Gimignano, a well-preserved medieval town famous for its tall towers and known as the Town of Fine Towers. Explore the town with plenty of shopping and photo opportunities of the Tuscan countryside. Lunch happens at a famous winery outside town with excellent Tuscan wine. From there, visit Siena before returning to the Montecatini hotel. Dinner is on your own.
- Meals
- Lunch (Delicious lunch with excellent Tuscan wine at famous winery located outside San Gimignano)
Included Activities
- Coach transfer to San Gimignano
- Exploration of San Gimignano medieval town
- Lunch with Tuscan wine at famous winery near San Gimignano
- Visit to Siena
- Coach transfer back to Montecatini
Optional Activities
- Shopping in San Gimignano and Siena
- Photography of Tuscan countryside
Landmarks San Gimignano Siena - Day 8
Montecatini to Pisa to Rome
After breakfast and checkout, drive toward Rome with a stop at Pisa to see the iconic Leaning Tower at Miracle Square for photos and sightseeing. Continue along the ancient Aurelian Way to Rome, check into your hotel, and grab pizza at a nearby Roman restaurant for dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at hotel), Dinner (Pizza party at nearby Roman restaurant)
Included Activities
- Breakfast at Montecatini hotel
- Coach transfer to Pisa
- Visit to Leaning Tower of Pisa at Miracle Square
- Coach transfer to Rome
- Hotel check-in in Rome
- Pizza party at nearby Roman restaurant
Landmarks Leaning Tower of Pisa Miracle Square 
- Day 9
Vatican City
A local historian guides you to Vatican City. Visit the Vatican Museums to see great art treasures of the Church, tour the Sistine Chapel to see Michelangelo's famous ceiling, and enter St. Peter's Basilica to view Michelangelo's Pieta sculpture. In the afternoon, take a guided tour inside the Roman Colosseum and visit the Roman Forum.
Included Activities
- Guided transfer to Vatican City
- Visit to Vatican Museums
- Visit to Sistine Chapel
- Visit to St. Peter's Basilica
- Guided tour of Roman Colosseum
- Visit to Roman Forum
Landmarks Vatican Museums Sistine Chapel St. Peter's Basilica Roman Colosseum Roman Forum - Day 10
Jewish Ghetto - Capitoline Hill
Start your morning leisurely with espresso or cappuccino before a late morning tour of the old Roman Jewish Ghetto, established in 1555 near the Tiber River. Your expert guide starts at the Teatro di Marcello, an ancient open-air theatre, then moves to Capitoline Hill. You'll explore family restaurants and trattories serving Roman artichokes, bruschetta, and classic Roman wines. The afternoon is free for exploring, resting, or watching Roman life from a local cafe.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Leisurely espresso or cappuccino), Lunch (Guided tour through region's honored family restaurants and trattorie serving Roman artichokes, bruschetta, classic appetizers, and distinctly Roman wines)
Included Activities
- Late morning tour of Roman Jewish Ghetto
- Visit to Teatro di Marcello
- Visit to Capitoline Hill
- Guided tour through region's honored family restaurants and trattorie with Roman artichokes, bruschetta, classic appetizers, and distinctly Roman wines
Optional Activities
- Afternoon exploration, resting, or café sitting
Landmarks Roman Jewish Ghetto Teatro di Marcello Capitoline Hill - Day 11
Rome to Pompeii to Sorrento (or Rome Airport for departing guests)
Some guests transfer to Rome Airport for return flights today. Those continuing board a motorcoach to Sorrento and stop at Pompeii, the archaeological site buried in ash during Mt. Vesuvius' 79 AD eruption. A private expert guides you through this time-frozen city. Later, visit the Mt. Vesuvius slopes for lunch and wine-tasting of the famous Lacryma Christi wines from the volcanic soil. Check in at your villa hotel in Sorrento.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch and wine-tasting experience at Mt. Vesuvius slopes with famous Lacryma Christi wines produced on volcanic soil)
Included Activities
- Coach transfer from Rome to Pompeii
- Guided tour through Pompeii archaeological site
- Coach transfer from Pompeii to Mt. Vesuvius
- Lunch and wine-tasting experience at Mt. Vesuvius slopes
- Lacryma Christi wines tasting
- Coach transfer to Sorrento
- Hotel check-in in Sorrento
Landmarks Pompeii Mount Vesuvius - Day 12
Amalfi Coast - Positano
After leisurely breakfast, head to the UNESCO World Heritage Site Amalfi Coast. Go to the seaside town of Positano with free time to shop and relax on the beach. Return to Villa Giovanna for an afternoon culinary experience where you'll learn to prepare ravioli, eggplant parmigiana, and a surprise dish, then enjoy the food with local wine.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Leisurely breakfast), Lunch (Culinary experience with Riccardo at villa - prepare and enjoy ravioli, eggplant parmigiana, and a surprise dish with local wine)
Included Activities
- Leisurely breakfast
- Excursion to Amalfi Coast (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
- Visit to Positano with free time to shop and explore
- Beach time at Positano
- Culinary experience with Riccardo at villa with instruction to prepare ravioli, eggplant parmigiana, and surprise dish
- Meal with prepared dishes and local wine
Landmarks Amalfi Coast Positano - Day 13
Capri
Transfer by boat to the famous island of Capri, once the playground of ancient emperors. A tour representative offers suggestions to help you make the most of your day on this charming island with its historical sights. Enjoy shopping and views from above, then return for a leisurely walk through Sorrento. The farewell dinner features live music and plenty of wine.
- Meals
- Dinner (Farewell dinner at hotel with live music and plenty of wine)
Included Activities
- Boat transfer to Capri
- Exploration of Capri island
- Farewell dinner at hotel with live music and wine
- Return boat transfer to Sorrento
Optional Activities
- Shopping and exploring Capri
- Enjoying spectacular views from above
Landmarks Capri - Day 14
Sorrento to Naples Airport
After breakfast, bid farewell to Sorrento as your Italian adventure concludes. Transfer to Naples Airport for your onward travel.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at hotel)
Included Activities
- Breakfast at hotel
- Transfer to Naples Airport
