Grand Tour of Italy

Benvenuto in Italia! Starting from Venice is like jumping into a dream where little alleyways and canals form a fascinating maze in the lagoon and the elegance of centuries-old palaces is mirrored in the water. In Venice the aroma of good food and wine, together with the sound of laughter from the bacari (local inns), create a multisensory experience you’ll never forget.
Your tour starts at 6:00pm with a Welcome Meeting where you’ll meet your local leader and fellow travellers. (Upon arrival at the hotel you’ll find a note telling you where this welcome meeting will take place.) Following the meeting, you’ll discover one of Italy’s most famous wonders – the food! The group will enjoy a special welcome dinner at a local restaurant where you will dine like the Venetians do.

What’s included?

• Accommodation: Ca’ Pozzo Inn or similar
• Meal:Welcome Dinner

After a good breakfast and a real Italian coffee, we’ll set out to explore Venice. And you’ll find the city alive! The Rialto market is full of colors and flavours and the canals fill up with gondolas and life. Today your tour director will take you for a “Like a Local” walk where you’ll mingle with locals, hear curious stories and see the authentic side of this fascinating city built on the water. We’ll cross the Canal Grande like the Venetians do, walk along calli (alleys) and campielli (small squares) and after taking a few hidden twists and turns we’ll arrive in San Mark Square.
During the afternoon you’ll enjoy some free-time, where you can choose to relax or keep on exploring Venice, taking a gondola ride for example or visiting the islands of Murano and Burano. Or perhaps you’ll choose to eat and drink! You cannot say you truly know Venice if you haven’t had an ombra (local wine) and tasted some cicchetti (small bites) in a typical bacaro (a small inn where Venetians meet to catch up, laugh, and pass the time).
Your tour director will give you plenty of suggestions for organizing your afternoon.

What’s included?

• Accommodation: Ca’ Pozzo Inn or similar
• Meal: Breakfast
• “Like a Local” walk of Venice
• Venice “traghetto” ride

Important note for Day 2
Both the afternoon and evening are “free time”. In the evening, you might like to join your tour director as he visits some of the best local bacari (inns) in the city. And by “some” we mean more than one! It’s possible to check out several bacari in an evening, enjoying great drinks and delicious small bites in each. This is a very fun way to spend an evening in Venice.

On Day 3 we will travel from east to west aboard some of Italy’s modern high-speed trains to reach the Cinque Terre. (This trip is approximately 5.5 hours, including a stop for lunch and a quick change to a local train.)
After checking-in at our hotel, we will explore Portovenere and the Gulf of Poets. There, Captain Mario will welcome us aboard his boat, offer us a welcome drink, and then show us the wonders of this gulf and the secrets of Palmaria Island.
The best part? We’ll visit a bay that’s only accessible by boat to swim in the crystalline waters where Lord Byron used to splash! Back on the boat, we’ll enjoy some refreshments (including delicious local products like anchovies, pesto and focaccia) and an aperitif as we toast the sunset together.

What’s included?

• Accommodation: Hotel Firenze e Continentale or similar – La Spezia
• Meals: Breakfast, Aperitif
• Boat tour with aperitif in the Poets Gulf – Beverages (wine, beer, and soft drinks) and several snacks included

Important note for Day 3
In the event that bad weather forces the cancellation of our boat tour, this activity will be replaced with an equally-fun indoor activity of the same value. Further, depending on seasonality and on our group size, the boat tour may be shared with another small group (like ours). Finally, depending on conditions, the boat size and style may change. That said comfort and safety are always key so we promise that you’ll have a great time!

Today you will explore an incredible wonder: five fishing villages suspended between sea and mountain, surrounded by vertical vineyards, olives trees and colorful houses built one on the top of the other.
The Cinque Terre region was named a Unesco World Heritage site for its beauty. It’s also only accessible by foot or by train! So wear comfortable shoes and join your tour director for an amazing walk along the stunning paths that link these historic villages, where nature and man worked together to create a scene of unmatched beauty.
At the end of the walk, we’ll leave our shoes on a rock and don our swimsuits for a refreshing swim in the aquamarine sea of the Cinque Terre.
If you don’t feel comfortable walking, don’t worry: the railway links each of these villages and in less than 5-minutes you can go from one village to the next. There are several trains per hour and with the help of your tour director it will be easy and fun exploring Cinque Terre by the train.
What’s included?

• Accommodation: Hotel Firenze e Continentale or similar – La Spezia
• Meal: Breakfast
• Cinque Terre Pass – This is a ticket that allows you to hop on and off the train for the entire day, as well as free access to the Cinque Terre paths.
• Cinque Terre Walk led by your tour director

Important notes to Day 4: The Cinque Terre paths are narrow mountain trails steep in several parts. We recommend wearing comfortable shoes with non-slip soles. Hiking boots are recommended, but a good pair of runners will be fine too. Due to damage caused to the structures of the trails during the flood of 2011, in case of bad weather the local authority can decide to close the access to the trails.

• Riomaggiore – Manarola (Via dell’Amore): an easy 30-minute walk on a flat trail
• Manarola – Corniglia: a 1-hour walk on a flat trail
• Corniglia – Vernazza: a 1.5-hour walk with some steep sections; moderate difficulty
• Vernazza – Monterosso: a 2.5-hour walk with some steep sections; moderate difficulty (this is the most challenging part of the trek, but it is also the one with the most spectacular view).

Elegant, iconic and curiously leaning, the Tower of Pisa has attracted travellers and architecture lovers from all around the world. This morning, on our way to Florence, we will stop in Pisa to admire the Leaning Tower and the marble wonders of Piazza dei Miracoli.
We will then continue on to Florence where, after checking-in to our centrally-located hotel, we will take an exciting “Like a Local” walk around this magical city. We will see how the beauty of the Renaissance and the art of great artists like Michelangelo melt together with elegant shops and one of the richest Italian culinary traditions.
You’ll learn about the curious street number system of Florence, discover a secret corridor suspended between the street and the sky, walk in an open-air museum and eat in a lively street market that offers gourmet food until late night.
What’s included?

• Accommodation: Il Guelfo Bianco boutique hotel or similar
• Meal: breakfast
• “Like a Local” walk of Florence

What’s not included?

• Museums entrance

Important note for Day 5
While we will visit the Leaning Tower of Pisa, entry/climb is not included in the tour (tickets are 18 euros).
How long is the trip today?
Approx. 1 hour train ride from La Spezia to Pisa
Approx. 1 hour train ride from Pisa to Florence

Today, Florence is yours! You will enjoy a free day at your own pace to explore the parts of Florence that intrigue you the most. Your tour director will give you plenty of suggestions to help you organize your free time. You can relax, strolling elegant alleyways, explore the Oltrarno neighborhood, or go shopping among the famous leather markets and boutiques.
If you like art, you won’t want to miss the Uffizi Gallery. It’s one of the most important museums in the world and holds masterpieces by Giotto, Botticelli, Leonardo and Michelangelo.
If you’ve got a passion for sculpture, we suggest exploring the Galleria dell’Accademia to see the majestic David of Michelangelo and visit the Bargello museum. Be breathless in front of the overwhelming beauty of the Santa Maria del Fiore marble façade, walk the 400 steps of the Giotto bell tower or reach the top of the Brunelleschi dome.
If you are a food lover, Florence is a treasure chest to open: old artisan gelato shops, small venues serving high-quality wine, pecorino cheese, finocchiona salami and the savoury Tuscan ham. Visit in local inns to indulge in real pappa al pomodoro (a typical soup made with basil, tomato, garlic and extra-virgin olive oil) or the fiorentina, the typical 1kg Florentine steak.

What’s included?

• Accommodation: Il Guelfo Bianco boutique hotel or similar
• Meal: breakfast

What’s not included?

• Museums entrance

Important notes for Day 6
If you want to visit the Uffizi Gallery or the Galleria dell’Accademia (David of Michelangelo), it is very important to reserve in advance in order to avoid long queues. Ask your tour director on Day 1 to assist you in making these reservations or read the section “Booking Museum Visits” in the Trip Notes of this tour.

After enjoying a delicious breakfast with treats from local producers, we will hop on a local bus to go to the heart of the Tuscany countryside: the Chianti region. Here, the hills and the vineyards form an impressive landscape where their colors blend with their shapes in beautiful harmony.
Today a local wine producer will welcome us into his home to tell us the story of his family and to show us the winery where he produces his exquisite Chianti. The best part? We’ll taste the wine, some of the best in Tuscany, in one of the most incredible landscapes in the world.
We will go back to Florence in the late afternoon to enjoy the magical atmosphere of this city for another night. The rest of the day is at your leisure (free time).

What’s included?

• Accommodation: Il Guelfo Bianco boutique hotel, Florence city center
• Meal: breakfast
• Day trip to Chianti
• Winery visit and wine tasting

Once more we will travel at 300 km/h aboard a high-speed train connecting Florence to Rome in just an hour and a half. Rome, the heart of the ancient Roman Empire, is the cradle of a rich history and the birthplace of the Italian dolce vita. Admire the wonderful baroque palaces and squares designed by Bernini and Borromini, see the magnificent works of Michelangelo and enjoy the vibrant and lively dolce vita of Rome.
After checking-in at our centrally-located hotel, we will start a “Like a Local” walk where we will stand at the top of the Spanish Steps, see an elegant 250-year-old café, admire the elegance of the Trevi Fountain and the majestic Colosseum.
During your walk you will also discover a lot of other secret wonders of Rome, from small artisanal gelato shops serving fresh and original flavours (like lime and chili!), to fascinating squares that hosted chariots races thousands of years ago. Following our walk, you’ll enjoy an afternoon and evening at your leisure (free time).
What’s included? How long is the trip today?

• Accommodation: Hotel Alexandra or similar
• Meal: Breakfast
• “Like a Local” walk of Rome

What’s not included?

• – Museums entrance

How long is the trip today?
Approx. 1.5 hour train ride from Florence to Rome

Today you’ll enjoy a free day for exploring the wonderful city of Rome at your own pace. Your tour director will provide plenty of suggestions for organizing your free time. You might choose to visit the Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel, or the Borghese Gallery, the ruins of ancient Rome or visit the Colosseum. Lose yourself in the fascinating Roman neighbourhood of Monti, Trastevere and the Aventino, stop for an aperitif or for taking an artistic picture of a hidden corner.
And then head back to your hotel, relax a little and get ready for our Farewell Dinner. We’ll gather at a special local restaurant to enjoy an exquisite Roman meal – like an authentic carbonara or saltimbocca alla romana.

What’s included?

• Accommodation: Hotel Alexandra or similar
• Meal: Breakfast, Farewell Dinner at a local restaurant

What’s included?
– Museums entrance
Important notes for Day 9
If you would like to visit the Vatican Museum, the Sistine Chapel, or the Colosseum, it is very important to reserve in advance in order to avoid long queues. Ask your tour director on Day 1 to assist you in making these reservations or read the section “Booking Museum Visits” in the Trip Notes of this tour.

As the Grand Tour of Italy is a combo tour (and longer than our other trips), we’ve set aside time for a free day in Rome where you can rest and recharge before starting the second exciting part of your Italian experience.Enjoy the bliss of waking up in the eternal city and spend the day exploring the little alleys and cafés that give Rome so much of its charm. (Don’t forget to try a cornetto e cappuccino!) Or enjoy the beautiful park of Villa Borghese, visit the art museum of Galleria Borghese, or take a bus to Tivoli and visit the elegant Villa d’Este. In the late afternoon we’ll reconvene for another Welcome Meeting. (As this is a combo tour, it may be the case that both your tour director and fellow travellers change here in Rome on Day 10.) In the evening, we’ll enjoy another delicious meal in a popular local restaurant.
What’s included?

• Accommodation: Hotel Alexandra or similar (3 Stars Boutique Hotel
• Meal: Welcome dinner

Day 11: Pompeii Ruins
In the morning we will hop on a high-speed train, travelling up to 300km/h to Naples. A quick train change will then take us to Pompeii, a fascinating place risen from the ruins of an ancient and glorious Roman town, destroyed 2000 years ago by a volcanic eruption.
After the check-in and some time at your leisure for lunch, a private tour lead by a licensed Pompeii guide will take us through the ruins of ancient Pompeii, where so many years ago, the Romans lived. You will walk inside an amphitheater older than the Colosseum and see what ancient houses and shops looked like.

The rest of the day will be spent at your leisure. You might choose to enjoy a real Neapolitan style pizza for dinner, or visit a local trattoria where the father and the son still produce their own homemade limoncello.
What’s included?
– Accommodation: Hotel Diana or similar (3 stars)
– Meal: Breakfast
– Private tour lead by a licensed Pompeii guide and Pompeii ruins entrance

How long is the trip today?
1 hour on a high-speed train from Rome to Naples
30 minutes on a regional train from Naples to Pompeii.

Day 12: Sorrento and The Amalfi Coast
This morning a private car with driver will pick us up and drive us to Sorrento. Here we will stop for a stroll in the lively alleyways of this sunny town. Your tour leader will take you for a short “like a local walk”, then you will have some time at your leisure.

After enjoying some free time for lunch, our driver will take us to The Amalfi Coast. Here, you’ll see some of the world’s most stunning scenery, small colorful villages suspended between the mountain and the sea. The rest of the day will be spent at your leisure. Feel free to ask your tour director for suggestions about how to spend this time – he knows the best spots! Ravello village, an emerald grotto, limoncello tasting – there are so many wonderful things to do here.
What’s included?
– Accommodation: Hotel Floridiana (Amalfi) or similar
– Meal: Breakfast
– “Like a local walk” in Sorrento
How long is the trip today?
1 hour on a private car with professional driver from Pompeii to Sorrento

1 hour 20 minutes on a private car with professional driver from Sorrento to The Amalfi Coast.

This morning we’ll head to the Island of Capri, traveling the section of sea where the mythological hero Ulysses heard the mermaids singing. Circling the island to explore some secret caves, we’ll have the opportunity to swim in the sparkling blue Mediterranean sea.
After the island tour, we will dock at Marina Grande and you will have some free time to explore the exclusive Capri Island on foot. You might walk the colourful alleyways to the heart of the island and the spectacular Natural Arch, or take a cab (a convertible, no less!) to Anacapri, higher up on the island. Our boat we will pick us up in the afternoon and we’ll head back to The Amalfi Coast where we’ll have time to enjoy a final swim in the sea. The rest of the day will be spent at your leisure.
What’s included?

• Accommodation: Hotel Floridiana (Amalfi) or similar
• Meal: Breakfast
• Full day boat trip to Capri island, including the boat tour around the island

Important notes for Day 13
The boat tour will be aboard a small, comfortable semi-private motor boat that accommodates up to 15 people. Depending on seasonality and on our group size, the boat may be private (just for us) or shared with another small group like ours. In case of bad weather, this activity will be traded with an indoor one of the equal value and fun.

Wake up ready to “meet the Gods”! Today we’ll walk the famous “Sentiero degli Dei” (The Path of Gods), so called because the myth says that the Gods walked this way to reach the stretch of the sea where the mermaids lived. No words are powerful enough to describe the beauty of this hike. We’ll walk through the local forest, amid lemon trees and along the astonishingly beautiful Amalfi Coast – a path that, in the ancient times, was the only access to this paradise from the villages.
After the hike, which will take us to the little village of Nocelle, we’ll head to Positano – one of the most stunning places on The Amalfi Coast. Here we’ll spend the afternoon swimming in the clear blue water of the Mediterranean sea, sipping freshly-squeezed lemon juice, or losing ourselves in the meandering streets of Positano. The rest of the day will be spent at your leisure (free time).
What’s included?

• Accommodation: Hotel Floridiana (Amalfi) or similar
• Meals: Breakfast
• Path of Gods hike
• Amalfi bus daily ticket (which allows you to reach each villages on The Amalfi Coast)

Important notes for Day 14
The “Path of Gods” is a hike lasting approximately 3-and-a-half hours on a narrow rocky path with some steep sections, and a good part of it will be in direct sun (comfortable shoes with non-slip soles or hiking boots are required for this walk). If you don’t feel comfortable participating in the hike, you will still have a wonderful time exploring The Amalfi Coast by foot, bus or ferry. Your tour director will provide suggestions, explanations and timetables.
(This activity is “weather permitting” which means that the trail may not always be accessible. Alternative activities will be planned should we be forced to skip the hike).

Matera is a secret gem that only few travellers to Italy have the chance to see. During the centuries, churches, dwellings, gardens and terraces were built one on the top of the other, digging into the rock of the local canyon walls and seeming to challenge gravity! Due in part to this, and its incredible beauty, this area – the Sassi of Matera – was named a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1993. Our local guide Francesco will lead us on a private guided journey to discover this magical place, revealing some of its many secrets and showing us where famous directors filmed their famous movies.
At night we’ll sleep in one of the Sassi’s hotels. These hotels are a real wonder! From the windows, it feels like being inside a nativity scene, and – inside – a high-quality and comfortable hotel room right in the town’s historical center.
What’s included?

• Accommodation: San Giorgio Hotel or similar
• Meal: Breakfast
• Private tour of Matera lead by a licensed Matera guide

How long is the trip today?
Approx. 3 hours by private car with professional driver from The Amalfi Coast to Matera

Today you’ll enjoy a free day for immersing yourself in the beauty of the Sassi of Matera. Wonder through Matera alleyways, explore hidden square and take photos of picturesque spots. You can walk enjoying a quality gelato and then visit the Palombaro Lungo, the biggest underground cistern of Matera built at the end of XIX century and 15 meters deep. Simply impressive. Should you like we can also arrange a guided visit to the ancient and fascinating Cave churches or a fun cooking class. You will have plenty of optionsyou’re your tour leader will assist you organizing your free time.

What’s included?

• Accommodation: Ai Terrazzini or similar
• Meal: Breakfast

Today you will discover another Italian wonder: the Trulli of Alberobello. We’ll enter an ancient village with narrow alleyways and the most picturesque buildings – white huts with conical roofs: the Trulli. As we explore – visit some Trullo – we’ll discover the curious story that links an ancient tax matter to these unique constructions.
Then we’ll travel by private vehicle to Lecce, the main town of Salento. Here your tour director will take you for a “Like a Local” walk, showing you the Lecce way of life and seeing the stunning historical centre, where Roman ruins meet elegant Baroque churches and buildings. The rest of the day will be spent at your leisure (free time). In the evening, we suggest you enjoy the lively Lecce nightlife!
What’s included

• Accommodation: Hotel Santa Chiara or similar (4 Stars Boutique Hotel)
• Meal: Breakfast
• Visit to Alberobello
• “Like a Local” walk of Lecce

How long is the trip today?
Approx. 1 hour by private car with professional driver from Matera to Alberobello
Approx. 1.5 hour by private car with professional driver from Alberobello to Lecce

In the morning we’ll hop on a train to travel along the Puglia coast and reach the city of Bari. After checking-in at our centrally-located hotel, you’ll enjoy some free time for lunch before joining your tour director for a “Like a Local” walk of Bari. We’ll stroll the white alleys of the Bari historical centre, spot the old nonna’s preparing orecchiette (the typical local pasta), and discover the old link between Bari and Santa Claus. (Gifts for the good ones only!)
After our walk we’ll get ready for a special farewell dinner at a hand-picked local restaurant where you’ll taste an exquisite culinary tradition not found anywhere else in Italy.

• Accommodation: Imago Boutique Hotel or similar
• Meals: Breakfast, DinneR
• “Like a local” walk of Bari

How long is the trip today?
1.5-hours on a high-speed train from Lecce to Bari

Our tour has come to an end and, though we’ll be sad to see you go, we trust you’ve had the trip of a lifetime. Arrivederci!
What’s included?

• Meal: Breakfast

Important notes for Day 19
Our tour ends with breakfast. There are no activities planned for today. If you need help in organizing your airport transfer or purchasing train tickets, just ask. Your tour director will be happy to help you to in making these arrangements. If possible, plan for and purchase transportation to the airport a few days in advance – organizing same-day travel can be difficult.