Tuscany & the Lakes

Welcome to Italy and the charming city of Verona, located in northern Italy's Veneto region. Renowned for its timeless beauty and romantic atmosphere, Verona is perhaps best known as the setting for Shakespeare's iconic play, ‘Romeo and Juliet'. With its picturesque streets, stunning piazzas, elegant Renaissance palaces and the alluring Adige River that winds its way through the city, Verona is the perfect destination to start our Italian small group tour.

We don’t want you to miss out on any aspect of your small group tour. To ensure that you don’t, we recommend you arrive at your starting destination by 3.00pm.

We’ll join our fellow travellers and our tour leader for a brief orientation walk and delicious welcome dinner.

This morning we set off on a walking sightseeing tour of Verona, uncovering all that this sweet spot has to offer. We'll start at the Casa di Giulietta, also known as Juliet's House. This 13th century mansion has become an iconic symbol of love and romance, thanks to its connection to Shakespeare's ‘Romeo and Juliet'.

Next, we'll visit the iconic Verona Duomo and the Piazza delle Erbe, situated in the exact centre of Verona. We'll also visit the Arena di Verona, a Roman amphitheatre built in 30 A.D., one of the best preserved ancient structures of its kind. After our free time for lunch, we'll depart for Sirmione, a peninsula town on the southern bank of Lake Garda. On arrival, we'll take an orientation tour of this beautiful little town to become familiar with our surroundings. The rest of the day is at leisure to explore the city at your own pace.

A popular holiday destination in northern Italy, Lake Garda is the country's largest lake, and it is situated between Venice and Milan. This stunning lake region is known for its postcard-worthy scenery, incredible food and charming villages that hug the lake's shore. On our agenda today is exploring the quaint town of Mantua, getting a taste of this hidden gem of a city steeped in Renaissance heritage. Here we'll wander down the cobblestone streets on a city tour, taking in the city's most famous sights.

After, we'll make our way to the iconic Palazzo Ducale di Mantova, also known as the Ducal Palace. Built as the main residence of the Gonzaga family, the Ducal Palace is a group of beautiful Renaissance style buildings built between the 14th and 17th century. We'll make our way back to Sirmione this afternoon, where the remainder of the day is at leisure. Perhaps you want to explore the historic city centre some more, or relax in one of the thermal baths the city is famous for?

This morning we depart the idyllic atmosphere of Lake Garda for the equally as lovely Lake Maggiore. En route, we'll make our way to Como where we'll spend a full day uncovering Lake Como and its spectacular surrounds. Our day begins with a short guided tour of Como itself, exploring the sights of the city. We'll then take the ferry to Bellagio, basking in the incredible scenery along the way, including lovely hillside villas with the extraordinary Alps as a backdrop.

Once we arrive in Bellagio, we'll have a guided tour and some free time to explore. The town is known for its cobbled lanes and the gorgeous botanical gardens of Villa Melzi. Why not take some striking photos of the many exotic and rare plants you can find here, or find a local restaurant to savour lunch? In the early evening, we'll continue on to our next destination, Lake Maggiore.

Today our eyes are set on exploring the sights and sounds of Lake Maggiore. Nestled in between the Italian and Swiss Alps, Lake Maggiore straddles the two Italian regions of Lombardy in the east and Piedmont in the west, and its northern end is in the Swiss region of Ticino. The stunning lake is renowned for its lush gardens, captivating islands and picturesque lakeside towns.

We'll enjoy a half day sightseeing tour of Lake Maggiore today, including a private boat transfer to the Borromean Island of Isola Bella. Undoubtably the jewel of the area, Isola Bella is an enchanting island known for its exquisite palace and terraced gardens. A treasure chest of Baroque art, the Borromeo Palace was built in the 17th century and is a remarkable example of Baroque architecture. Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure to relax or explore at your own pace.

Today we travel to the historic city of Lucca. En route, we will make our way to the Emilia Romagna region this morning, widely regarded as the home of the finest food traditions found in all of Europe.

Special Experience: Experience the 'Food Valley', heading to the Emilia Romagna region to taste delicious local cheese and prosciutto. We'll sample the famous artisan cheese, accompanied with a glass of Lambrusco. We'll then visit a local prosciutto manufacturer complete with a delicious parma ham tasting along with another glass of Lambrusco.

With bellies full of delicious local bites, we'll continue on to our next destination, Lucca.

Welcome to Lucca, one of the most stunning cities in Tuscany. It is best known for its well-preserved Renaissance walls encircling the historic city centre, and as a result Lucca has this traditional and untouched feeling. Our day begins with exploring the nearby well-known city of Pisa. On arrival, we'll see the famous Piazza dei Miracoli and the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Also known as the Square of Miracles, the Piazza dei Miracoli boasts four structural marvels: the Cathedral of Santa Maria, Leaning Tower of Pisa, Campo Santo Cemetery and the Baptistery.

We'll then return to Lucca, where we will embark on a short tour of this sweet town. We'll wander the cobblestone streets, discovering the beautiful Piazza Anfiteatro, Cathedral of Lucca and the 45-metre tall Guinigi Tower boasting stunning views over the city and beyond.

This morning we leave Lucca, making our way to Florence via San Miniato. Located in the province of Pisa and in the Tuscan region, San Miniato is a countryside village known for its delicious truffle. This hilltop perched town oozes charm and beautiful views of rolling Tuscan hills.

Special Experience: Search for delicious truffles in the heart of Tuscany with a trifulau (truffle hunter) and their trained canine. After sharing their knowledge on the skilled art of truffle hunting, you will have the opportunity to taste some of these culinary delicacies. Truffles are generally quite expensive and hard to source, this is due to the specific climate they need to grow, and once harvested, their potency and shelf life is short.

This afternoon we will arrive in Florence and explore this beautiful city. Our tour commences at the grand Piazza del Duomo where we see the Cathedral of Florence (the Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore). It was here in the 15th century that Filippo Brunelleschi designed its distinctive dome. The engineering behind the dome was revolutionary for its time and it remains the world's largest brick dome to this day. Considered the father of the Renaissance, Brunelleschi's technical prowess changed architecture and art, developing linear perspective. We also visit Giotto's Bell Tower and the Baptistery with Ghiberti's bronze ‘Gate of Paradise'.

We continue to the Galleria dell'Accademia and Michelangelo's incomparable statue of David, sculpted by the master at the age of 26. This marble statue was carved in the early 16th century as a symbol of youth, strength and beauty.

Today we escape the bustle of Florence and explore the beautiful Tuscan countryside. Our first stop will be the medieval town of Siena, characterised by its gothic brick architecture. Siena is also famous for its cuisine, art, museum and the ‘Palio', a horse race held twice per year. Here we'll take a tour through Piazza del Campo (the main town square) and see the Cathedral, Baptistery and Basilica of San Domenico.

Enjoy some free time here to relax and have lunch before we continue to UNESCO World Heritage-listed San Gimignano. Sitting atop a hill, it's a site to behold on the Tuscan horizon. It is known as the ‘Town of Fine Towers' with many of its medieval tower houses still preserved today.

Special Experience: A tour to Italy is never complete without learning more about the local cuisine. We’ll learn the art of simple Italian cooking and enjoy our creations over dinner.

Our tour concludes after breakfast this morning. We bid farewell to our new friends and to the magic of Italy.