Detailed description:
Italian Escape - 15 days
With wall-to-wall iconic sites, spectacular scenery, and some of the best food of your life, Italy is a dream destination. Make a serious dent in that bucket list with historic heavy hitters like Rome’s Colosseum, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, Venice’s Grand Canal, and the Vatican. Soak up Italy’s natural wonders, from the sun-soaked Amalfi Coast to Cinque Terre and the sparkling waters of Lake Como, and pack your eating trousers – with risotto-making classes, gelato, Cicchetti, seafood feasts, and a pizza tour on the menu, you’ll need them!
Day 1: Rome. Ciao Bella! Kick off your Italian Adventure in romantic Rome. Take a tour of the city’s ‘must-see’ spots, including the Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon, the Colosseum & the Roman Forum. Then enjoy an Italian feast, washed down with a glass of Chianti (when in Rome!)
Day 2: Florence (via Siena). Next up it’s fabulous Florence, via another Renaissance heavyweight – Siena! Take a stroll around the historic streets and grab a bite of something to eat before continuing to Florence. Where we’ll enjoy a delicious feast – Florence knows how to eat!
Day 3: Florence. Discover the wonders of Florence on a guided walking tour. We’re talking about Giotto’s Bell Tower, Basilica Santa Croce, the Duomo, and more. This evening, learn to make risotto from the experts with an optional masterclass and family-style dinner looking out over the Tuscan hills.
Day 4: Cinque Terre via Pisa & Lucca. Today is wall-to-wall culture, with a stop in Pisa for some classic Insta shots of the famous tower, followed by Renaissance marvels and historic cafés in Lucca. Last stop today – the Italian Riviera!
Day 5: Cinque Terre. Explore these five fishing villages, however, suit you with an unlimited hike and train ticket. They’re set in some of the most incredible scenery on the planet so get ready to have your mind blown! This evening, join an optional pesto-making class – yum!
Day 6: Milan via Lake Como. Our first stop today is glamorous Lake Como. See the area from the water with a cruise to beautiful Bellagio, before continuing to elegant Milan. Spend your evening exploring hidden bars and sampling local delicacies – Bellissima!
Day 7: Venice via Verona. Fair Verona is next on our dazzling tour. Check out Juliet’s balcony, and the 1st Century Roman arena, before continuing to the one and only Venice. Marvel at the epic architecture and join a foodie walking tour, where you’ll sample delicious Cicchetti (Venetian tapas).
Day 8: Venice. Venice is your oyster today. Take a tour of our traditional motoscafo, hit the highlights from the Doge’s Palace to the Rialto Bridge, glide through the backwaters on a gondola, join a mask painting workshop, or visit the island of Burano for a seafood feast.
Day 9: Rome via Bologna. All roads lead back to Rome, and we’re heading back to the capital today, via lunch in beautiful Bologna. Continue your culinary journey with a foodie evening with the locals in one of Rome’s oldest neighborhoods.
Day 10: Rome. Kick off your day with a guided tour of the Vatican (get ready to peel your jaw off the floor – it’s pretty epic). Then spend the afternoon living la dolce vita with drinks or gelato in the city’s pretty piazzas. After the sun goes down, we’ll enjoy a delicious dinner.
Day 11: Naples. Today’s destination is home to Italy’s finest pasta and pizza (which is saying something), so come hungry! It’s not all eating though – explore Mt Vesuvius, take a trip to Pompeii, or get stuck on a pizza tour (it’ll be the best Napoletana of your life).
Day 12: Amalfi Coast. Ready for some serious views? Think sheer cliffs plunging to a turquoise sea, with sun-bleached homes perching impossibly on the rugged coastline. Pay a visit to Positano and Capri for epic vistas, elegant villas, and a cruise to Capri’s iconic blue grotto. Please note if you travel during winter instead of visiting Capri you will visit Sorrento and Salerno.
Day 13: Amalfi. Take a scenic cruise along the coast before exploring pretty Amalfi. Visit a lemon farm to learn all about how the fruits are turned into limoncello and take part in a traditional Italian feast on an organic farm this evening, washed down with the delicious liqueur!
Day 14: Rome. Back in Rome today, you’ll walk in the footsteps of gladiators on our optional Emperors & Gladiators tour. Explore the unforgettable Colosseum, before enjoying a final night in the city with your travel buddies.
Day 15: Trip ends. Your unforgettable Italian adventure ends after breakfast today. Say your farewells and head to the airport when you’re ready – Italy, you’ve been incredible.
Trip highlights
• Walk in the footsteps of gladiators in Rome’s Colosseum
• Take a guided tour of Renaissance masterpieces in Vatican City
• Explore beautiful Cinque Terre by foot or rail with an unlimited train and hike ticket
• Take a cruise across spectacular Lake Como and along the rugged Amalfi Coast
• Ride a traditional motoscafo down Venice’s spectacular canals
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