Italy | Venice to Sorrento

In flight.

Venice

Arrival day at the Venice airport. Bus transfer to the hotel in Mestre.

Dinner included.

After breakfast, guided tour of St. Mark and St. Mark’s Basilica (inside visit), participants will discover inside the Basilica of St. Mark. Enjoy the beautiful golden mosaics that cover the ceiling of the basilica on a gold background that earned the church the nickname of “Golden Basilica”, but also its splendid marble pavement. Participants will also discover the Doge’s Palace (from outside), symbol of the greatness and power of the Doges of Venice. The group will also admire the Campanile (outside), the Clock Tower (outside), the Bridge of Sighs, the Procuratie etc.

Lunch and tasting experience in Bacaro in a typical wine bar, tasting of “cichetti” like tapas, made of vegetables, cheeses, meats, etc. A pasta dish and 2 glasses of wine.

In the afternoon, walk with the group leader exploring typical and popular neighborhoods until you reach the Rialto Bridge. Return to hotel.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Islands of the lagoon: Murano, Burano and Torcello

Tour all day by boat for a cruise on the Venetian lagoon: Murano to stop for a visit to a glass factory with a demonstration of a glass master; Burano Island laces and colorful fishing houses; Torcello, with its Byzantine basilica from the 9th century (external visit).

Dinner ($): you can choose between one of the many local restaurants that offer fish-based. Return to hotel in late afternoon.

Breakfast and dinner included.

After breakfast, departure for Verona. Entirely built in the pink marble of the region, Verona is one of the most beautiful cities of art in Northern Italy. It is a real museum city where monuments from the Roman, Gothic and Renaissance periods stand side by side, testifying to the political and economic importance of the city in past centuries. Guided tours of the most important monuments of the city: the Roman Arena (outdoor), Via Mazzini, Piazza delle Herbe, Piazza dei Signori, the Scaligere Arch and, of course, the balcony of Juliet’s house (all visits from outside). Free time for dinner ($).

The afternoon will be dedicated to the discovery of the Lake Garda region. Walk accompanied by the historical centre of the charming town of Sirmione, overlooking its elegant Castello Scaligero (outside), on the shore of the Lake, the largest of Italian lakes. Before returning to the hotel, wine tasting at a red wine producer in the Garda region. Dinner and overnight stay in the area of Lake Garda.

Breakfast and dinner included.

Departure to Emilia-Romagna, arrival in the region of Parma-Modena. Visit of a Parmiggiano Reggiano cheese producer. Visit of the production and tasting of the few pieces of the white gold of Parma. Continuation and stop at a producer of the famous raw Parma ham, to explain the secrets of the ‘creation’ of this monument of Italian gastronomy. He will not fail to make us taste some pieces of his production. Dinner tasting at the ham producer’s house is included.

Continuation to Tuscany, check-in at your hotel in Montecatini for dinner and overnight.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

After breakfast departure in the direction of Cinque Terre. You leave the hotel towards the seaside resort of La Spezia. You will discover during the whole day the “Cinque Terre” region, known for its spectacular landscapes. Boat from La Spezia to the village of Riomaggiore. After the visit and some free time, we will take the boat that will take us to the small village of Vernazza, overlooking the sea and clinging to the mountainside, to reach Monterosso, a picturesque medieval village. Dinner free ($). At the end of the afternoon, we will reach Levanto by train and return to our hotel in Montecatini, dinner at the hotel.

Breakfast and dinner included.

After breakfast departure in the direction of Florence. The morning will be dedicated to a guided tour of Florence and its main monuments: the flamboyant Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore adorned with pink, green and white marbles, its dome designed by Brunelleschi, its Campanile designed by Giotto. The construction of its famous dome originated from a great competition between Florentine artists in the 15th century; the competition was won by Brunelleschi who designed a dome so grandiose that for centuries no building in the city was allowed to be higher than it. Even today the architects are still trying to unravel the artist’s secret as to the construction of this dome without finding the key. The visit will continue with the discovery of the Baptistery and its monumental gates created by great Florentine artists such as Michelangelo or Ghiberti, the Piazza della Signoria, the façade of Palazzo Vecchio, the Church of the Holy Crosses etc. (all visits from outside). Dinner free ($).

The afternoon is dedicated to the discovery of the Chianti region, through the gentle and laughing hills of Tuscany, we will discover this land that was the scene of the age-old struggle between Florence and Siena: a landscape where cypresses and vines reign of course, a land scattered with many villages that still retain their medieval aspect and where it is necessary to live well. Stop at a local farm for a tasting of the famous local red wine. Free dinner ($) and overnight stay at the Montecatini Terme spa.

Breakfast included.

Departure for Tuscany to the sumptuous medieval city of Siena. Visit of its historical centre; Piazza del Campo, the Mangia Tower, Palazzo Vecchio, the Cathedral (all visits from outside). Free time.

In the afternoon, stop at a wine producer in the famous Montalcino area. Visit of his vineyard and cellar for a dinner-tasting. Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Chianciano.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

After breakfast, departure for Rome. Free dinner ($) on the way. In the afternoon, guided tour of Ancient Rome: we will take a leap through the centuries and explore one of the most famous monuments of the city, the Flavian Amphitheatre, better known as the Colosseum. We will visit this spectacular amphitheatre, where in the 1st century the famous gladiatorial and naval battles took place. We will continue this journey through Ancient Rome with the discovery of the Roman forums, the centre of political and religious life during Antiquity. The walk will continue with a visit to the Circus Massimo where many chariot races were organized. Check-in at your hotel in Rome for dinner and accommodation.

Breakfast and dinner included.

The morning is dedicated to the Vatican City with a guided tour of St. Peter’s Basilica in the square of the same name. This sanctuary, the most important in Catholicism, is also a masterpiece of 16th century architecture. Continuation of the guided tour with the entrance and visit to the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel. Free time for lunch ($). Afternoon free. Lodging and dinner at the hotel in Rome.

Breakfast and dinner included.

Departure from Rome after breakfast in the direction of Pompeii. Visit of the city of Pompeii. The state of conservation of this ancient Roman city, buried by a volcanic eruption of Vesuvius in the year 79, gives a very good idea of the configuration of a Roman city of that time. The richness of many villas is admirable with their mosaics in still vivid colours. Continuation to Sorrento, the famous city and seaside resort of the Amalfi Coast. Check-in at your hotel on the Sorrento peninsula. Dinner and overnight at your hotel.

Breakfast and dinner included.

Day entirely dedicated to the visit of the island of Capri and Anacapri. Crossing by boat between the port of Sorrento and the island of Capri, once arrived you will meet your guide who will take you for a visit of Anacapri and Mount Axel Belvedere (entrance fee not included), the city center of Capri with the famous Piazzetta, Augustus and Faraglioni gardens. Lunch break ($) and free time for a walk and shopping. Return to Sorrento hotel for dinner and overnight stay.

Breakfast and dinner included.

Departure for a day trip by boat to the Amalfi Coast, from Sorrento. You will discover Positano, clinging to the mountainside and Amalfi. Return to your hotel at the end of the afternoon.

Breakfast and dinner included.

Transfer to Rome airport and departure.