BEST OF ITALY

Join our guide for a stroll through the compound of the Sforza Castle and be impressed by Leonardo Da Vinci’s design of this fortress and the city.  A statue of the great inventor can be seen at Da Vinci Square. Continue with an orientation tour around the city center.  Admire the magnificent Gothic exterior of the Duomo, the glass & steel Galleria, the first building in Italy to be lighted by electricity and the La Scala Opera House where the world’s finest have performed. Shop at boutiques along the popular Via Monte Napoleon after lunch.   

Take a short drive to Lake Garda, Italy’s biggest lake and renowned for its mild climate, amazing landscapes, and small, picturesque villages. Enjoy a walk around the ancient, fortified town of Peschiera del Garda with its narrow medieval streets and formidable fortifications built between the 16th and 17th centuries. Continue our journey towards Venice, a unique and captivating city known for its intricate network of canals, historic architecture and romantic ambiance.   

From Tronchetto, board a private water taxi to Venice, famous for its numerous churches, maze of canals and floating gondolas.  

Enjoy a guided tour around St Mark’s Square where St Mark’s Basilica and the Bell Tower stands, the Bridge of Sighs links the Doges Palace to the prison.   

Visit one of the fine Venetian Glass Blowing Factories where richly coloured Venetian glass is made into exquisite pieces of art.  

Hop over to colourful Burano. Be intrigued by the colourful houses that are reflected into the water of the canals.  Admire lace works which Burano is famous for as we stroll around Galuppi Square. 

Enjoy a fascinating insight into the production, maturation and age process of balsamic vinegar, a process handed down for generations.  The ancient practices of decanting and replenishing vinegar in centuries-old barrels grant the balsamic vinegar the scent and flavours.  Savour the flavours with lunch at the historic house.   

Adjourn to Parma where two of Italy’s most beloved delicacies are produced, Parmigiano-Reggiano and Prosciutto di Parma.  Delve into the divine flavours at a local cheese and ham producer.   

Enjoy a scenic regional train ride to Cinque Terre, a UNESCO site where five cliffside villages overlook the Gulf of Poets. Take in dramatic landscapes of rocky shores, blue waters, terraced vineyards, and olive groves as you explore Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza, and Monterosso.

Continue to Pisa through charming countryside dotted with vineyards, olive groves, and Romanesque churches. Visit the Square of Miracles to see the Leaning Tower, the white-marble Cathedral, the ornate Baptistery, and the Monumental Cemetery.

End the day in Florence, birthplace of the Renaissance.

Breakfast / Florentine steak dinner with wine.

Enjoy a walking tour of Florence to admire Brunelleschi’s masterpiece, the dome of the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, as well as Ghiberti’s legendary Doors of Paradise.     

Cross the Ponte Vecchio glittering with its rolls of goldsmiths and jewellery shops before we visit the most important square in the city, Piazza Signoria. 

Enjoy some time at leisure to explore the beautiful city.   

Start the day with some retail therapy at The Mall Luxury Outlets. 

In the afternoon, visit Civita di Bagnoregio, a semi-abandoned village perched on a precarious rock stack.  Trek across the steep footbridge to a fairytale hamlet that seems to float in the clouds.  Below it is a stunning landscape of deep canyons.  

Continue to Rome, the Eternal City.   

Visit Vatican City, the world’s smallest state, and admire St. Peter’s Basilica—Michelangelo’s Pietà, the grand dome, Bernini’s canopy, and stunning mosaics. Explore the Vatican’s artistic treasures, including the Sistine Chapel with its famous Michelangelo frescoes.
*No shorts or miniskirts; shoulders must be covered.

Continue to the Colosseum, the largest ancient amphitheater, and see the Arch of Constantine. Make a wish at the Trevi Fountain, then end at the Spanish Steps, a favorite gathering spot for locals and visitors alike.

Take a scenic drive along the Sorrento Peninsula, one of Italy’s most romantic regions, and enjoy views of Mt. Vesuvius, the volcano that buried Pompeii and Herculaneum in AD 79.

Explore Pompeii on a guided tour, seeing restored highlights like the theater, Forum, and Stabian Baths.

Descend into Naples’ underground to discover ancient sites including the theater of Neapolis, Emperor Nero’s dressing room, and the historic aqueduct.

End the day with a hands-on pizza-making experience in the birthplace of pizza.

Board the hydrofoil to the island of Capri, an enchanting and picturesque island made of limestone.  Take the funicular to the famous main square, Piazza Imberto I or fondly known as Pizzetta, where celebrities are often seen photogenically sipping their coffee or cocktail. 

Leaving Capri, we take the hydrofoil to Sorrento, a charming town known for the cultivation of citrus fruits and olives.  Our orientation tour includes the Piazza Tasso Square, Chiesa di San Francesco and the busy Via di San Cesareo.