Best of Italy (Small Group)

Welcome to Rome, a glorious city filled with classic antiquities, medieval buildings, Renaissance palaces and Baroque churches. get to know your Travel Director and small group over dinner of Roman specialities during dinner at a local restaurant.

Step into the Eternal City with a Local Expert who will guide you through the Vatican museums, moving through galleries filled with centuries of craft. You'll visit the Sistine Chapel, where Popes are elected, to admire Michelangelo's famous ceiling, and see the beautiful exterior of St. Peter's Basilica.

Next, cross the Tiber River and continue through Rome's archaeological heart where you'll hear about the legends of the Circus Maximus and Arch of Constantine, then visit the Colosseum with your Local Specialist. The afternoon and evening remain open to wander Rome's bustling squares and quiet corners at your own pace.

Travel north through the Tuscan countryside, where the lush Chianti Hills rise gently on either side of the road. You'll pass by vineyards, stone farmhouses and rows of cypress trees before arriving in Florence, the Renaissance city. This evening, gather with your fellow travellers at a local restaurant for a dinner full of Florentine flavours as the city's warm light fades.

Explore Florence with Insight Choice. Choose to visit the Accademia Museum and see Michelangelo's David. After, continue on foot to admire the multicoloured marble cathedral, bell tower and baptistery, where Ghiberti's Gates of Paradise have been recreated in all their glory.

Continue into the Piazza della Signoria, still the political heart of Florence and an open-air gallery of Renaissance masterpieces. Spend time gazing at statues such as Neptune and Hercules and Cacus along the front of the Palazzo Vecchio. Alternatively, take a stroll with your Travel Director to enjoy a typical Italian treat in a local cafe.

Journey to the coastal town of Pisa and see the famous Leaning Tower in the Square of Miracles, as well as the baptistery behind the cathedral. Relax and enjoy the scenery as you cross the spectacular Apennine Mountains, passing through the Emilia-Romagna region, one of Europe's most intensely farmed and fertile plains.

Continue through the marshes of the Venetian Lagoon before crossing the causeway into the enchanting floating city of Venice. As evening falls, day-trippers leave the city to return to the mainland, allowing you to appreciate the peace and tranquillity of Venice from your centrally located hotel.

Tonight, indulge in a delicious dinner, savouring the unique flavours of Venetian cuisine.

Glide through Venice by private boat, passing centuries-old churches and palaces that showcase the city's rich architectural legacy. Arrive near St. Mark's Square and admire the exterior splendour of St. Mark's Basilica, the Doge's Palace and the Bridge of Sighs — once the path of Casanova's daring escape from Venice's most secure prison. Then, enjoy a romantic gondola ride through the canals.

Later, you'll take part in a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience as master glassblowers demonstrate their age-old craft, preserving Venetian tradition with every piece they create.

Today, you'll leave the lagoon behind and travel through the Veneto and into the green folds of Umbria. The road rises toward the peaceful town of Assisi, nestled on the slopes of Mount Subasio and renowned for its medieval churches, vibrant frescoes and sun-dappled courtyards. In the valley, see the Church of St. Mary of the Angels, revered as the place of St. Francis' passing. Then meet your Local Expert at the upper town and step inside the monumental Basilica of St. Francis - a 13th-century marvel whose frescoes by Giotto marked a turning point in European art.

Afterwards, enjoy free time to stroll along Via San Francesco, lined with quaint stone buildings offering artisan foods, devotional keepsakes and locally crafted wares.

Travel south, passing Cassino, the site of a fierce and pivotal battle during World War II. Continue your journey along the spectacular clifftop road, offering breathtaking views, to reach the resort of the Sorrento coast. This charming area overlooks the Bay of Naples and provides stunning vistas of Mount Vesuvius.

After checking in to your hotel, spend the rest of the day at your leisure, exploring the beautiful surroundings or spending time relaxing and connecting with your group.

Cross the Bay of Naples to the stunning Isle of Capri, a dramatic rock rising from the Mediterranean. For over 2,000 years, Capri has drawn visitors from Emperor Tiberius to Gracie Fields. Arrive by boat at Marina Grande, then ascend to Capri town, where a Local Expert will guide you through its charming alleyways. Browse elegant boutiques and take in sweeping views over the Tyrrhenian Sea before descending by funicular railway and returning to Sorrento.

The rest of the day is yours — perhaps explore the pastel-hued beauty of Positano along the Amalfi Coast.

Continue to Pompeii, the once-opulent Roman town frozen in time by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79. Walk with a Local Expert through its ancient streets to see villas, shops and the Forum, bringing Roman daily life vividly to light. In Vesuvius National Park, join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience at Casa Barone, a family-run farm cultivating rare Piennolo tomatoes in rich volcanic soil. Next, you'll enjoy a flavour-packed farm-to-table lunch before continuing to Rome.

This evening, dine with wine in a Roman restaurant as you're treated to a private performance of beloved Italian opera classics.

Bid farewell to the glories of Italy, savouring the memories of its enchanting cities, historic landmarks and stunning landscapes. Italy's unique allure will linger in your heart long after you leave.