Treasures of Italy - Small Group

Welcome to the Eternal City of Rome

2025 marks a Jubilee Year, a momentous Roman Catholic event celebrated every 25 years, turning Rome into a center of celebration. As festivities unfold, itineraries may be adjusted to ensure you make the most of your time as you visit the Eternal City. Welcome to Rome, a glorious city filled with classic antiquities, medieval buildings, Renaissance palaces and baroque churches. Settle in before joining your Travel Director as you indulge in dinner with wine at a local restaurant.
Hotel: Golden Tulip Rome Piram

Vatican City and Rome with a Local

The day is devoted to the Eternal City. Join a Local Expert for an in-depth visit to the Vatican Museums, full of priceless art treasures collected by the Popes. Visit the Sistine Chapel, where Popes are elected, to admire Michelangelo's famous ceiling and see St. Peter's Basilica. Cross the Tiber river to enjoy ancient Rome. See the incredible Circus Maximus and the beautifully preserved Arch of Constantine, and imagine the bustling ancient sidewalk of ancient Rome. Discover the history and legends of the iconic Colosseum as you view the exterior of this amazing structure. Later, perhaps continue your exploration of Rome to see the Pantheon, toss a coin in Trevi Fountain and enjoy free time around Piazza Navona. Due to increased demand during the Jubilee year, access to the Vatican Museums may be limited. If tickets are unavailable during your visit, your sightseeing will instead explore the Capitoline Museums, home to the iconic Capitoline Wolf, ancient Roman bronzes and Renaissance art, set atop Michelangelo's Piazza del Campidoglio with sweeping views of the Roman Forum.
Hotel: Golden Tulip Rome Piram

Ancient Pompeii and on to Sorrento

Journey to the ill-fated town of Pompeii, frozen in time when it was engulfed by an eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD. Walk with a Local Expert through cobbled streets to learn about Roman life in the first century before enjoying a refreshing lemon granita. Then continue to your hotel on the spectacular Sorrento Peninsular. The afternoon is yours to explore as you wish, or perhaps join an optional experience to the artist's paradise of Positano.
Hotel: Isabella, Sorrento

The Isle of Dreams

Enjoy a morning in the town of Sorrento before heading off to the port to board your jetfoil to the Isle of Capri. Appreciate the glorious vistas over the rugged coastline and sparkling sea. Visit Capri town, with its whitewashed houses, winding alleyways and small cafes. A Local Expert will escort you to the lush Gardens of Augustus for views of the Faraglioni rocks. As the glow of twilight descends and the day-trippers have returned to their mainland hotels, the island is yours to saunter along scenic paths, gather with the locals in the piazzetta or relax with a glass of wine at an alfresco restaurant.
Hotel: Regina Cristina, Capri

The Autostrada del Sole to Florence

Descend to the port and take the jetfoil across the bay to Naples. Follow the Autostrada del Sole north passing Rome and continuing through the region of Umbria. Journey through idyllic Tuscan landscapes to Florence, center of art and culture, and the heart of the Italian Renaissance. Explore Florence with Insight Choice. Take a stroll with your Travel Director to enjoy a typical Italian treat in a local caffe, and learn how it became a local favorite. Alternatively, choose to visit the Accademia Museum, where you'll come face to face with Michelangelo's David.
Hotel: NH Firenze, Florence

Florence, birthplace of the Renaissance

Admire Florence's artistic legacy as you stroll with a Local Expert through the Piazza del Duomo, home to the cathedral, Giotto's bell tower and the octagonal baptisteryeach adorned with pink, green and white marble. Gaze at the Gates of Paradise, Ghiberti's bronze panels that revolutionised sculpture with their realism and perspective. Continue to the Piazza della Signoria, the city's political heart, lined with commanding statues such as Neptune, Hercules and Cacus in front of the Palazzo Vecchio. Observe the finesse of traditional leatherwork during a live demonstration and uncover the enduring techniques behind Florence's celebrated goldsmithing. In your free time, explore at your leisure or opt for an Optional Experience to San Gimignano, a hilltop town famed for its medieval towers.
Hotel: NH Firenze, Florence

Cinque Terre and Portofino to Santa Margherita

The famous Italian Riviera and the Cinque Terre are a highlight of your journey as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Italy's most beautiful landscapes. With a Local Expert, appreciate the views as you approach one of the picturesque fishing villages by boat. Spend some time exploring the old medieval quarter or the popular sandy beach. Our journey continues to the elegant seaside village of Portofino, epitome of la dolce vita. Admire the colorful houses, browse the boutiques or stay a while in the cafe bars on the piazzetta, watching the yachts moored in the harbor.
Hotel: Best Western Regina Elena, Santa Margherita Ligure

Lake Maggiore

In the morning, journey north to the beautiful Italian Lake District, a favorite retreat of the rich and famous where alpine scenery combines with lush subtropical vegetation. Relax and enjoy an afternoon at leisure at this popular resort and beautiful lake or perhaps take a cruise out to the lovely Borromean Islands? For your dining pleasure, you are invited to choose from a hand-picked selection of local restaurants for your Dine-Around Evening.
Hotel: Simplon, Baveno

To Venice With Wine Along the Way

Follow the southern fringes of the Alps to the Franciacorta wine region near Lake Iseo. Over 100 vineyards produce the famous sparkling wine of the region and winemaking traditions run deep. Taste the delicious vintages produced with a master vintner at a family-owned estate. Continue to the unique city of Venice and step back in time to centuries past.
Hotel: Hilton Molino Stucky, Venice

Venice and the Magic of La Serenissima

Visit St. Mark's Square where the city's former wealth and power is evidenced by the riches of St. Mark's Basilica and admire the Doge's Palace with its adjoining Bridge of Sighs. Take your seat on a gondola and be serenaded through the myriad of beautiful canals, passing water-lapped doorways and Rococo palaces. The rest of the afternoon is yours to discover Venice at leisure. Join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER Experience during a visit to a traditional glassblowing workshop, where you can see how beautiful handcrafted glass is made by expert glassblowers, safeguarding traditional skills. Cruise the Venetian lagoon to Burano and sit down to a sumptuous dinner with wine, sampling the local specialties.
Hotel: Hilton Molino Stucky, Venice

Arrivederci Venice

Your departure transfer arrives at Venice Marco Polo airport.