Tastes of Italy

Arrive in Rome and transfer to your hotel. This evening, head to a local restaurant for a Welcome Dinner with your Tour Director and fellow travellers, enjoying a taste of traditional Italian cuisine.

Begin your first full day in Rome with a skip-the-line guided visit to the Vatican Museums. Discover remarkable artworks and treasures, gaze up at the iconic Sistine Chapel and admire the grandeur of St Peter's Basilica. Afterwards, set out on a walking tour of the city, taking in landmarks such as the Spanish Steps and views of the Colosseum. Enjoy the rest of the evening at leisure.

Enhance Your Journey - Colosseum Guided Visit Join an optional guided visit inside the Colosseum for deeper insight into the history and significance of this world-famous monument.

Early risers may wish to join your Tour Director for a tranquil dawn walk through Rome before the city stirs to life. Take in the serene beauty of iconic sights, including the intricate sculptures of the Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps, bathed in the soft morning light. Afterwards, stop at a local cafe for a traditional Italian breakfast - a cornetto and cappuccino.

Board your coach for the scenic journey south to Sorrento, with a stop en route at the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Archaeological Park of Pompeii. Here, enjoy a guided tour of the ancient city, preserved under ash from the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79. Continue to Sorrento.

Today is at leisure to explore Sorrento at your own pace. Known for its dramatic coastline, charming piazzas and fragrant lemon groves, this beautiful town invites relaxed discovery. You may wish to wander lively Piazza Tasso or look down into the Valley of the Mills, where historic ruins sit amid lush greenery at the base of a deep gorge. This evening, a special Insider Experience awaits.

Insider Experience - Sorrento Cooking Class Join a hands-on cooking class and learn to prepare traditional Italian dishes using fresh local ingredients. Guided by expert chefs, create authentic recipes before sitting down to enjoy your meal.

Enhance Your Journey - Discover Capri Join an optional excursion to Capri and explore this stunning island, from its picturesque villages to its famous blue waters.

Enjoy a slower start to your morning before boarding your coach for the trip to Naples. You'll then continue to Florence. Arrive in the heart of the city this afternoon and take time to explore before an exciting Insider Experience this evening.

Insider Experience - Florence Sensory Exploration Discover Florence's culinary delights alongside its hidden cultural gems on this engaging exploration. Florence is recognised as the birthplace of the renaissance, and it is here you'll find fine masterpieces from this period. You'll also taste local dishes and visit one of the many famous wine windows around the city, where you can order a delicious Italian red through a small window carved into a wall.

Today venture into the Tuscan countryside. Visit Siena and explore its medieval streets, seeing the impressive Piazza del Campo and Siena Cathedral. Afterwards, continue to a special Insider Experience.

Insider Experience - Tuscan Winery Experience Delight in an authentic wine tasting experience and enjoy a farm-to-table lunch paired with regional wines. This relaxed experience offers an authentic taste of Tuscany's hospitality and traditions.

Today is at leisure to enjoy Florence at your own pace. Wander the historic streets, browse local shops or relax in one of the city's lively piazzas. Art lovers may wish to visit the renowned Uffizi Gallery, home to masterpieces by artists such as Botticelli and Leonardo da Vinci, or admire landmarks including the iconic Ponte Vecchio.

Enhance Your Journey - Explore Pisa Join an optional excursion to Pisa to see the world-famous Leaning Tower and the Piazza dei Miracoli, also home to the striking cathedral and baptistery.

Travel to Venice, a city of marble and stone built atop an island and intersected with great, gondola-studded canals. With such rich history, culture and artistry, you'll find something extraordinary at every turn. This afternoon, discover the revered craft of glassblowing with a visit to a traditional glass furnace on Murano, and watch local artists demonstrate their skills. This evening, explore the city at your own pace.

Following an engaging Insider Experience this morning, join a guided tour of the city's most famous landmarks, admire St Mark's Square, a masterpiece blending Gothic, Byzantine, Romanesque and Renaissance architectural styles. You'll also pass the impressive 14th-century Doge's Palace, once the residence of the Venetian doges and the seat of government, before exploring the maze-like streets and canals of Venice. This evening, enjoy a memorable Farewell Dinner at an authentic Venetian restaurant.

Insider Experience - Gondola Workshop Visit a local squero (gondola workshop) and learn about the craftsmanship behind these iconic boats and the centuries-old trade that keeps the tradition alive.

Your great Italian journey comes to an end today after breakfast with a transfer to the airport.