Italy Explorer (2024 Departures)

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, head into the city 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. Then, join a local guide for a guided walking tour to learn more about Rome’s fascinating history.

Walking tour of Rome: This city has so much to see and do, we can’t even list everything here! See the Colosseum, Roman Forum, Arch of Septimus Severus, the Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon, Piazza Navona (Fountain of the Quattro Fiumi), the Spanish Steps, and the other attractions that make Rome a perennial favourite with travellers all over the world!

Welcome dinner: Celebrate the first night of your Italy tour with a welcome dinner! Join your tour leader and the rest of the Italy tour group, and head to a nearby local restaurant for a delicious dinner.

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.

Stop at Lake Garda: Stop at the gorgeous town of Sirmione on the shores of Lake Garda, the biggest lake in Italy, to take some keepsake photos. 

Locally guided tour of Florence: See some of the cultural and historic sights that have made the city of Florence a favourite among travellers. Discover top sights including the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, Ponte Vecchio, Piazza Della Signoria and the replica statue of David. Known as the ‘Jewel of the Renaissance’, Florence boasts a huge variety of important buildings and famous artworks.

Leather-making demonstration: Step inside the world of Italian leather crafting; visit a local leather shop and factory, Leonardo Leather and Gold, for insight into how bespoke Italian leather goods are produced. Italy has been famous for leather production for centuries!

Dinner at a restaurant in Florence: Join the group for a delicious meal at a local restaurant in Florence.

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.

Explore Cinque Terre: Make your way along the cobbled walkways that link the five picturesque villages to experience life in the slow lane, as the locals do. This beautiful region is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and boasts some of the best seafood in Italy.

Visit the Leaning Tower of Pisa: See the famous architectural marvel up close, and take those must-have travel pictures. Be sure to get a classic picture of you ‘holding up’ the tower!

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.

Visit San Gimignano: Enjoy a comfort stop to admire the beautiful scenery and drink in the restful ambience of this stunning town. San Gimignano is a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its 14 well-preserved medieval towers which create an unforgettable skyline.

Wine tasting in Siena: Taste some local wines in the ultimate Italian setting. Siena is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, famous for the Palio horse race. This bareback horse race has taken place since the 14th century in the main town square of Siena, and the 17 participants represent local families.

Enjoy a free day to explore Rome and discover more of the city’s famous sights. Wander the streets, do some shopping and be sure to sample local food. An optional excursion to the ancient Colosseum and Roman Forum is highly recommended. Join an expert local guide and walk in the footsteps of gladiators! Alternatively, use this time to take a short trip to the Vatican City, the world’s smallest country and home of the Pope! Visit the Vatican museums and marvel at the artistic masterpieces, as well as Michaelangelo’s incredible frescoes in the Sistine Chapel. The “Eternal City” is your oyster today and no matter what you choose to do, this free day is sure to include many memorable sights and moments.

It’s another free day in Bella Roma! By now you will have likely seen most of the city’s top tourist attractions so today offers a great opportunity to explore at a more leisurely pace. Why not visit one of Rome’s many celebrated museums or simply relax at a local café. Later on, meet back up with your tour leader and fellow travellers, including those joining from the Highlights of Southern Italy & Sicily Tour. Enjoy dinner at a local restaurant tonight.

Leaving Rome, head to the spectacular Amalfi Coast region, 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 before enjoying an included lunch. Later this afternoon, settle in for a two-night stay in the Amalfi Coast. This area is famous for limoncello (a sweet lemon liqueur); the perfect way to say cheers to the end of a fun-filled day!

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 the Amalfi Coast! Make the most of this area’s stunning coastline and spend a day on the beach soaking up the sun or explore the quaint and colourful surrounding towns. Or, choose to join the optional excursion to the famous Isle of Capri. Here, look forward to an orientation tour before spending some free time exploring the rugged coastline, ancient Roman ruins and stylish piazzas of this glamorous island. A private cruise around the island and its crystal clear waters and grottos is a definite highlight of this day 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!

See 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’.

Walking tour of Alberobello: Discover the area’s beautiful 14th-century whitewashed stone huts that have iconic conical roofs, and are specific to the Itria Valley, with a local guide.

Ferry ride to Sicily: Take a scenic ferry ride to the island of Sicily; the home of Mount Etna. Admire the views as the ferry makes its way to Taormina.

Orientation tour of Taormina: Your tour guide will take the group on an orientation tour of this charming hilltop town. See top sights including the historic Porta Catania and the Villa Comunale. Explore more attractions on the free day tomorrow!

Dinner at a beachside hotel in Taormina: Taste authentic Sicilian cuisine and join the group for dinner at a restaurant overlooking the ocean.

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. Today also offers two top optional excursions. The first is a trip to the towering Mount Etna. Take a funicular up the mountain, walk in Volcanic ash and marvel at the otherworldly views. Afterwards, enjoy an indulgent lunch at a local Enoteca featuring local wine and delicious produce grown in volcanic soil. The perfect way to end this memorable day is with a sunset cruise with swim stops back in Taormina!

Visit Syracuse: The historically significant Sicilian city of Syracusa (as the locals call it) is located on the southeast coast of Sicily. Syracuse was originally a Greek colony, and today is home to a number of Greek remains. Its Greek theatre dates back to the 5th century BC. Be transported back in time while meandering cobbled lanes, pavement cafes and baroque architecture. While here, shop locally-grown pistachios, almonds and sun-dried pachino (tomatoes).

Explore the Valley of the Temples: The ‘Valle dei Templi’ is a national monument of Italy and an archaeological site in Agrigento. The Valley includes the remains of seven temples built in the Doric style. It is famous for being home to incredible examples of Magna Grecia art and architecture.

Visit Cefalù: Travel to the historic city of Cefalù where you have free time to find a place to enjoy lunch. This coastal city is famous for its incredible beaches as well as its Norman cathedral complete with soaring towers and Byzantine mosaics. 

Walking tour of Palermo: Enjoy a guided walking tour of Palermo. Look out for popular attractions like the Piazza Indipendenza, Porta Nuova (The New Gate) and the Cathedral of Palermo.