Italy Explorer

Welcome to Rome; the Eternal City! Meet up with your tour leader at the hotel this morning and prepare for the tour of a lifetime! Then, join a local guide for a guided walking tour to see some of the sites that make Rome famous the world over. See ancient Roman architecture, medieval buildings, Renaissance artworks and more remnants of Rome’s illustrious past as capital of this incredible country and the Roman Empire at large. Tonight, taste delicious Italian cuisine and enjoy an included welcome dinner at a local restaurant with your tour group.

Leaving the capital behind, drive through the scenic Umbria region and look forward to the truly incredible sight of Orvieto. This small but beautiful city is perched atop a sheer vertical volcanic rock. Take the funicular up to the historic centre and enjoy some free time to explore. See the city’s top sights including the 14th-century Cathedral of Orvieto, the papal residence, and the Albornoz fortress. Next, travel on to Venice!  The evening is free. Choose to relax at the hotel or join your tour leader on an optional twilight water taxi cruise of the floating city’s iconic canals and see the twinkling lights of Venice!

Funicular ride in historic Orvieto: Take a funicular up to the historic centre. Here, enjoy some free time to explore and see the sights, including the exquisite facade of the Cathedral of Orvieto.

Start this full day in Venice with an orientation tour led by your tour leader. The rest of the day is free to explore this magical city at your leisure. A gondola ride, which can be organised by your tour leader, is highly recommended today as no trip to Venice is complete without this quintessential experience! An optional trip further out into the lagoon to visit Murano and Burano is also available today. These islands are famous for their glass-blowing and lace-making crafts respectively, and rows of beautiful multi-coloured houses. Alternatively, if the weather is good, relax and soak up the sun on the sandy beaches at Jesolo or Lido. The choice is yours!

Orientation tour of Venice: Follow your tour guide to get your bearings in Venice before setting out on a full day of solo exploration.

Today, travel to Florence and the beautiful region of Tuscany. Along the way, stop at the gorgeous Lake Garda. This is the biggest lake in Italy, and a destination that has inspired artists of all persuasions for centuries. On arrival in Florence, join a passionate local guide and explore the iconic sights and landmarks of this magnificent city. A cultural and political focal point during the Renaissance, the city is endowed with a huge variety of Renaissance artworks and Roman ruins. Next, it’s time to visit Leonardo Leather for a leather-making demonstration. Later, enjoy an included dinner at a local restaurant.

This morning, drive north to La Spezia in the Liguria region. This city is the gateway to Cinque Terre; five picturesque fishing villages on the rugged Italian Riviera coastline. The harbours are filled with fishing boats, vines climb the terraces and the houses are painted in bright colours. It’s a photographer’s dream! Each village is linked by hiking trails and a railway, allowing for exploration without any cars or traffic. This afternoon, head back to Tuscany, stopping off on the way at the iconic Leaning Tower of Pisa. A highlight of any tour to Italy, enjoy snapping photos of this legendary structure and explore the grounds that include a cathedral and baptistery.

Today, the tour makes its way through Tuscany’s idyllic countryside. During the drive, admire rolling hills complete with Tuscan farmhouses, vineyards and olive groves. The first stop is the walled hilltop town of San Gimignano. Known as the 'Town of Fine Towers', San Gimignano is home to incredible Romanesque and Gothic architecture and 14 well-preserved medieval tower houses. Then, drive to Siena; a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for the Palio horse race. Here, taste some local Italian wines. Then, travel back to Rome and round off the day with an included dinner.

Welcome back to Rome! Enjoy a free day to explore any of the sights you may have missed on your first visit to this historic city. Later on, meet back up with your tour leader and fellow travellers, including those joining from the Highlights of Southern Italy & Sicily Tour. Experience Rome by night and explore some of the iconic sights of the Eternal City illuminated in the evening. These sights include the Trevi Fountain, Piazza Navona and the Pantheon on a driving tour. Enjoy dinner at a local restaurant tonight.

Rome by night: Explore some of the iconic sights of the Eternal City, including the Trevi Fountain, Piazza Navona and the Pantheon on a nighttime driving tour.

Leaving Rome, head to the Sorrento Peninsula, stopping off along the way to see Mount Vesuvius and explore the ancient ruins of Pompeii, destroyed in 79 AD in a catastrophic volcanic eruption. Get transported to a different time and gain fascinating insight into life during the Roman empire during a guided tour. Later this afternoon, settle in for a two-night stay on the Sorrento Peninsula. This area is famous for limoncello (a sweet lemon liqueur); the perfect way to finish off the included dinner this evening!

See Mount Vesuvius and the ruins of Pompeii: See Mount Vesuvius, and stop off to explore the ancient ruins of Pompeii with a local guide. Pompeii was famously destroyed in 79 AD in a catastrophic volcanic eruption. Visiting this UNESCO World Heritage Site provides a fascinating insight into the ancient Roman Empire.

Enjoy a full free day in Sorrento! A gorgeous old town hugging the coastline, the Sorrento Peninsula is the base for the day. Explore the town in your own time, or choose to join the optional excursion to the famous Isle of Capri. Here, spend some free time exploring the rugged coastline, ancient Roman ruins and stylish piazzas of this glamorous island. A private cruise around the island with swim stops in the island’s crystal clear waters is a definite highlight of this trip!

Today, head southeast to explore the southern Italian region of Apulia, taking a comfort stop along the way in the ancient cave city of Matera. Known as "la Città Sotterranea" (the Subterranean City), it is famous for its extensive cave-dwelling districts; the ‘sassi’. Later, arrive in Alberobello, and enjoy a walking tour with a local guide to see the region's famous ‘trulli’ houses. These beautiful 14th-century whitewashed stone huts have iconic conical roofs and are specific to the Itria Valley. This evening, enjoy free time to further explore Alberobello - check out the trullo church of St Anthony and the Trulli Museum!

This morning, take a coastal drive beside the Ionian Sea before leaving the mainland. Take a short ferry ride over to the island of Sicily; home to the spectacular Mount Etna. Prepare for stunning views as the tour makes its way to Taormina. Upon arrival, your tour leader will guide an orientation walk of this hilltop town, pointing out some of the highlights that can be explored further on the free day tomorrow. Top attractions include the historic Porta Catania and the Villa Comunale. This evening, get your first taste of Sicilian cuisine with an included dinner at tonight’s beachside hotel.

Enjoy a free day to relax on Sicily's beautiful beaches or explore the island's quaint towns. The town of Taormina is one of Italy’s most popular summer destinations. Perched on the side of a mountain, Taormina is home to medieval churches, a castle and a Greek amphitheatre. For those looking to explore further afield on their Italian tour, speak to your tour leader for their recommendations. Options include a Mount Etna day trip, boat tours of the beautiful coastline, paragliding and The Godfather tours!

Drive through the heart of Sicily, enjoying a visit to the enchanting city of Syracuse along the way. Syracuse is a city that was founded as a Greek colony in 734 BC. Today, it boasts a UNESCO-listed historic centre and beautiful Baroque buildings. Later this afternoon, get your cameras ready for a tour of the ‘Valle dei Templi’ (Valley of the Temples) led by an expert local guide. This is one of the world’s most outstanding examples of Magna Grecia art and architecture! Afterwards, travel to tonight’s accommodation near Agrigento.

Leaving Agrigento this morning, take a scenic drive through central Sicily en route to the town of Cefalù. Embark on an orientation tour of the town before enjoying free time for lunch. This historic town boasts some of Italy’s finest beaches so don’t miss the chance to enjoy a meal by the sea! Arriving in Palermo in the early afternoon, enjoy a walking tour which will showcase the city’s highlights. Founded more than 2,700 years ago by the Phoenicians, Palermo is noted for its history, culture, architecture and food. Top sights on the walking tour include the Piazza Indipendenza, Porta Nuova (The New Gate) and the Cathedral of Palermo.

Make the most of this full day to further explore Sicily’s capital. Over the centuries, Palermo has been colonised by many different rulers, including the Greeks, Romans and Normans, making it a melting pot of cultures and architectural styles. Palermo is an enticing mix of ancient relics, Italian history, rich culture and mouthwatering cuisine - it’s a fantastic destination for travellers to enjoy! Revisit top sights from yesterday’s tour, explore the historic old town and visit the art galleries. Alternatively, join today’s optional excursion to visit some local markets and tuck into authentic Sicilian dishes such as arancini and caponata! This evening, the group will take an overnight ferry back to the Italian mainland.

The ferry will arrive in Naples this morning. Continue on the coach with the tour leader and travel back to Rome, where the coach will drop off the group. After 17 days of unforgettable Italian adventures, the tour concludes back in Rome. Arrivederci!