Bella Italia

Arrive at Rome’s Fiumicino Leonardo Da Vinci Airport (FCO) and meet your tour guide and tour driver then head to your hotel via minibus transfer at 9:30 am, 12:00 pm, or 2:30 pm. In the afternoon, a comfortable sightseeing bus tour of Rome followed by a short walk to see the Trevi Fountain ending with a delicious Italian welcome dinner.  

Hotel: Belstay Roma or similar (3 nights)

Today, visit the Colosseum, the Roman Forum and the Roman Catacombs with our local guide. In the afternoon,free  time to stroll around Rome on your own, shopping, or enjoy a quaint café amongst the locals. Later, meet up for dinner in one of our selected local restaurants.  

Discover the independent Vatican State with a local guide, visiting the Museums, Sistine Chapel and Michelangelo’s famous ceiling paintings including the “Last Judgement”, then the monumental St. Peter’s Square and Basilica.  In the afternoon experience the grandeur of the “Eternal City” with our local guide while walking through Rome’s city center to see the Spanish Steps, Pantheon, and Piazza Navona. The day will conclude with dinner at a local restaurant.  

Drive North to reach a typical Tuscan winery to taste the local wine and food specialties. Next, on to Siena to see the city center, admire the Gothic Cathedral, Town Hall, Piazza Del Campo (site of the spectacular Medieval style horse race), or enjoy a coffee and shopping. Dinner will be served in the hotel.

Hotel: Fattoria degli Usignoli, Star Hotel Vespucci or similar (3 nights)

Follow the local guide for the highlights of Florence. See the famous “Ponte Vecchio”, the marble Cathedral and Baptistery (where Ghiberti’s Gates of Paradise were recreated), Signoria Square, the church of Santa Croce (where the tombs of Galileo & Michelangelo are kept).  Then visit the Academy Museum to admire Michelangelo’s Statue of David followed with free time for activities like shopping and learning the secrets of traditional Florentine leatherwork. Stop at Piazzale Michelangelo for a scenic picture overlooking Florence before ending the day with an authentic local restaurant.  

After a comfortable breakfast, relax and ride through unforgettable landscapes composed of gently rolling vine-clad hills before taking a walk in San Gimignano and Volterra (two of the most picturesque of Italy’s perfectly preserved medieval towns). Enjoy lunch at an Osteria or dinner at an Agriturismo (farm to table) with Tuscan specialties. 

This morning, leave the region of Tuscany for a beautiful drive through the wooded Apennine Mountains to reach Venice. Enter a glittering maze of islands, canals, and bridges with a lagoon cruise to the colorful Island of Burano where traditional fishing boats are still used by the island’s inhabitants. Enjoy lunch with some free time on the island before returning to Venice for a walking tour to see the famous St. Marks’ Square, Byzantine Basilica, Doge’s Palace, Bridge of Sighs, and the local Glass Factory.  

Hotel: Belstay Mestre, Voco or similar (1 night)  

This morning, enjoy Venice at your own pace with time for shopping or a gondola ride. In the afternoon, say “ciao” to Venice and enjoy a scenic drive through the wild Apennine Mountains towards the stone-built hill town of Gubbio. Tonight, dinner will be served in the hotel restaurant.  

Hotel: Hub Hotel, Relais Ducale or similar (1 night)  

Visit the lovely town of Gubbio by land train with our tour guide followed by some free time. Driving south, enjoy the Highway of the Sun passing by the hilltop monastery of Cassino before arriving to the beautiful Amalfi Coast. Tonight, enjoy an authentic taste of local Amalfitano cuisine.  

Hotel: Due Torri, La Lucertola or similar (3 nights)  

Enjoy the morning at your own pace in Sorrento. Lunch in a local restaurant with a breathtaking panoramic view.  After lunch, take in views of the colorful towns built on steep inclines along the Amalfi Coast, including the distinctive Moorish homes of Positano (a UNESCO World Heritage Site). 

Take the day at your own pace. Relax in the hotel, enjoy the beaches, go shopping, do some trekking, or visit Capri Island with your tour guide (ferry to/from Capri and the blue grotto not included). Tonight, enjoy a delicious dinner all together.

Visit the site of Pompeii which was buried in 79 AD by an eruption of Mt. Vesuvius.  See the ruins of this well-preserved Roman city, including the Temples of Apollo and Jupiter, as well as the Forum, with our local tour guide. Late afternoon drive north towards the hilltops of the “Castelli Romani” for dinner to celebrate the success of your vacation.  

Hotel: Castel Vecchio, Benito al Bosco or similar (1 night)  

Arrivederci Bella Italia! The departure transfer will arrive at Rome’s Fiumicino Airport (FCO) at 7:00 am and 9:00 am.