Best of Italy

Join us for a fabulous Italian adventure featuring the magic of Venice, Florence and Rome. Journey to the wine-producing Romagna countryside for a 2-night stay in a wine resort, and visit the Republic of San Marino, an enclave state of Italy. Come along with us and embrace the history, culture, art and romance of this incredible country.

Welcome to enchanting Venice (UNESCO) with its 117 tiny islands surrounded by a latticework of 150 canals and 400 bridges. This evening, meet your fellow travelers over a welcome dinner.

This morning, join a local guide for a walking tour of Venice’s most iconic sights. Pause for the perfect view over the Bridge of Sighs and take in St. Mark’s Square, adorned with marbled palaces and gilded basilicas. Travel by boat to Murano for an expert glass-blowing demonstration, a renowned tradition on the island. Following an afternoon at leisure, delve into Venice’s classical music heritage while attending a live performance of the Four Seasons* composed by the great Venetian Antonio Vivaldi.

This morning, explore the traditional Venetian craftsmanship behind one of the city’s symbols: the sleek, iconic gondola boats. Visit a local Remèr oar-making workshop, one of only a handful still active in the city. Then, glide along the canals during a gondola ride**. The afternoon is yours to explore more of the floating city. Perhaps you’ll head out for your own treasure hunt in search of the city’s hidden gems such as the whimsical Scala Contarini del Bovolo or the imposing Arsenal where the Republic of Venice built its merchant fleet and its commercial fortune.

Say “ciao” to Venice as you journey towards the Romagna region, famous for its epicurean lifestyle and its joie de vivre. Spend the afternoon exploring Ravenna (UNESCO). During the darkness that enveloped the last days of the Roman Empire, Ravenna emerged as a center of power thanks to its strategic position. The city’s rulers – the Byzantines, the Goths – adorned its churches with dazzling mosaics. During a guided walking tour, discover the city’s most illustrious monuments. In the late afternoon, continue to your hotel nestled among vineyards in the Romagna countryside and settle in for your two-night stay. This evening, be immersed in this bucolic setting during a wine-paired dinner at your wine resort hotel.

Grab your passport*** and journey to the landlocked Republic of San Marino, the fifth-smallest country in the world. Perched at the top of Mount Titano, the old town of San Marino (UNESCO) gives visitors sweeping views over the Adriatic Riviera and the gentle rolling hills of the Romagna countryside. Explore the Old Town’s intricate system of fortification towers, walls, gates and bastions during time at leisure. This evening, wrap up your stay in the Romagna Countryside with a tour of your resort’s own winery, before joining the local chef for a hands-on cooking class centered on Romagna’s typical piadina flatbread, and pasta staples such as handmade tagliatelle. Then, sit back and enjoy the results of your work for dinner.

Today, travel to the Emilia region, Italy’s foodie haven as well as the homeland of the great opera singer, Luciano Pavarotti. Visit the home that Maestro Pavarolli built in the Modena countryside, filled with mementos from his career as well as family heirlooms. Afterward, visit a local acetaia, a balsamic vinegar producer. Learn about how this family-owned producer has made balsamic vinegar for five generations. The production itself is a generational process taking anywhere from 12 to 25 years. Enjoy a balsamic vinegar infused light lunch prepared at the acetaia. Later, continue to Florence (UNESCO), the “Cradle of the Renaissance” and your home for the next two nights.

This morning, meet a local expert for a walking tour of a city that is a work of art all on its own. Your guide will highlight the Piazza del Duomo, the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore and the Baptistery. You’ll also visit the Piazza della Signoria with its impressive Palazzo Vecchio. The remainder of the day is yours to explore Florence’s cultural riches independently. Perhaps you’ll visit to one of the city’s many museums,***** such as the Uffizi or Academy Gallery, where Michelangelo’s David is kept.

This morning traverse southern Tuscany, the ancient land of the Etruscans. This mysterious civilization predated the Romans, who assimilated them, erasing most of their way of life, even though many early kings of Rome were Etruscans. By all accounts, they were an advanced society and culture. One of the Etruscans’ most important cities was hilltop Orvieto. Here, it’s your choice! Join an expert local guide for an in-depth walking tour of the city -OR- enjoy free time to eat, drink, and dive into the local scene. Arrive in Rome (UNESCO) in the late afternoon and settle in for a three-night stay.

This morning, your extensive walking tour winds its way through Rome’s medieval district, which developed organically from the ruins of the ancient city. This neighborhood is a charming combination of narrow cobbled streets, dark tufa stone, and repurposed Roman ruins. Ascend to the panoramic terrace of the Vittoriano with a combination of stairs and elevator to take in one of the city’s most impressive views. Gaze upon the vestiges of the Roman Empire, from the Forum to the majestic Colosseum before making the most of a free afternoon in the Eternal City. This evening, explore Rome’s dynamic dining scene during a food tour in the bohemian Trastevere district.

Delve into Rome’s second Golden Age on a walking tour exploring the city’s Renaissance and Baroque heritage, alongside views of the Pantheon and the oval-shaped Navona Square. Then, it’s your choice! At your own pace, peruse the remarkable collection of antique Greek and Roman statuary of the Palazzo Altemps museum -OR- extend your walking tour with a challenging visit to the Castel Sant’Angelo fortress. Standing tall above the river Tiber, this imposing castle sheltered Popes and became the setting for Puccini’s beloved Opera, Tosca. The afternoon is yours. Perhaps you’ll indulge in some shopping along Rome’s Cola di Rienzo street or make your way to the Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel and Saint Peter’s Basilica.****** Gather tonight to toast the end of your Italian adventure during a farewell dinner.

Your tour comes to a close today, leaving you with many fond memories of incredible Italy.