Ultimate Italy

Day 1 | Buongiorno Rome

Upon arrival for your Italy luxury tour, your private transfer is waiting to whisk you away to your hotel. Settle into your elegant hotel in the heart of the Eternal City. Meet your Travel Concierge who will take you on a short stroll of the city. Wind your way along cobblestone streets, lured by the classic architecture and aromas of Roman cuisine. Sample the flavours of Rome this evening, savouring delicious traditional fare paired with Italian wine as you dine at a gourmet restaurant in Piazza della Rotonda beneath the gaze of the Pantheon.

Included Dining: Dinner

Accommodation: NH Collection Roma Palazzo Cinquecento

Day 2 | Rome and the Vatican

Bask in the splendour of Rome exploring the mighty Vatican. With the guidance of a Local Expert, uncover the religious history of the Papal State perusing the rooms filled with ancient artwork and tapestries. Admire the soaring frescos of the Sistine Chapel while listening to the stories behind the famous work of the masters. Hear the narrative of Michelangelo’s Pieta in the vast St. Peter's Basilica, one of the world’s biggest churches. Cross the Tiber River to see the magnificent Roman Forum, dwarfed by the ruins in this site of courts, meetings, and the iconic Colosseum. Spend time this evening strolling to the Spanish Steps or Trevi Fountain.

Included Dining: Breakfast

Accommodation: NH Collection Roma Palazzo Cinquecento

Day 3 | Pompeii and the Isle of Capri / Sorrento

Be transported to 79 A.D. as you roam the ruins of Pompeii with a Local Expert. Inspect remnants of ancient shops, baths and villas frozen in time by the volcanic eruption. Leave the past behind on a short cruise to the sun-drenched Isle of Capri or enjoy the spectacular coastline as you make your way to Sorrento. Take time this afternoon to relax by the pool, enjoy a spa treatment or stroll through the town to enjoy the boutiques or sip a chilled apéritif.

Included Dining: Breakfast, Dinner

Accommodation: Quisisana Hotel Capri / Sorrento Palace (Seaview Executive Rooms)

Day 4 | Explore the Isle of Dreams

Morning sunlight dances upon the shimmering waters of Capri on your private cruise to the White Grotto, a stark white cave set into impressive cliffs. Admire its contrast against the bright blue sea before setting off for Capri town. Cool off with a refreshing lemon granita before joining a local historian on a trip to the gardens of Caesar Augustus to view the legendary Faraglioni Rocks. Breathe in the sea air as you take in many terraces jutting out of the water adorned with tumbling flowers before lunch at the Michelin-starred Le Monzù where you’ll savour Mediterranean flavours.

Included Dining: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation: Quisisana Hotel Capri / Sorrento Palace (Seaview Executive Rooms)

Day 5 | Umbria, Assisi and Perugia

Say “Arrivederci” to Capri, heading north along the Highway of the Sun past Montecassino and through the olive groves and vineyards to Assisi. In this history-rich town and UNESCO World Heritage Site you have your pick of how to soak up the town’s riches. Join a local historian for a guided visit of the imposing Basilica of St. Francis whose art and frescos rival those in museums. Giotto’s Life of Saint Francis stand in all their glory in the Upper Basilica. Alternatively, treat your palate by sampling Umbrian specialties such as fresh truffle infused cured meats and local olive oils. Continue to the regional capital of Perugia where you’ll wind your way through the maze of medieval streets to your centrally-located, five-star hotel.

Included Dining: Breakfast

Accommodation: Brufani, Perugia.

Day 6 | San Gimignano and Tuscany

Uncover the preserved heritage of intricate textile loom-weaving at Laboratorio Giuditta Brozzetti. Fourth-generation Marta guides you through one of the last surviving hand weaving workshops in Italy, introducing you to original looms from the 18th and 19th centuries as you marvel at the colourful textiles in this MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience. Indulge in a lunch of Tuscan specialties and beautiful views of the rolling hills and vineyards of the Chianti area. Taste the Vernaccia of San Gimignano. In San Gimignano, indulge in sensational gelato with World Champion Gelato maestro, Sergio Dondoli.

Included Dining: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation: Anglo American Hotel Florence, Curio Collection By Hilton

Day 7 | Renaissance Florence

Personalise your morning in Florence with an art or gourmet exploration. Join an art historian to explore Renaissance Florence in the Accademia Gallery, home to Michelangelo’s David, or explore markets and gourmet stores with a local food expert, illuminating Florentine specialties. Take a fascinating foraging trip for the region's aromatic truffles guided by an expert truffle dog. Dine on regional dishes including 'Fiorentina' — Tuscan steak seasoned and grilled to perfection — over dinner at a Tuscan Villa. Sample the local Chianti wines produced on the estate.

Included Dining: Breakfast, Dinner

Accommodation: Anglo American Hotel Florence, Curio Collection By Hilton

Day 8 | Tuscan Cuisine and Pisa

Savour a Relaxed Start before exploring a former hunting lodge built in the 1200s by the Medici family. Using produce from the estate's vegetable and herb garden, do as the locals do, learning from a professional Italian chef how to roll pasta by hand. Sample the fruits of your labour accompanied by some of the estate's exquisite wines. In Pisa, marvel at the gravity-defying tower, Duomo and baptistery with a Local Historian. This evening, relax with a dip in the pool followed by a decadent dinner in your hotel overlooking the coast.

Included Dining: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Excelsior Palace Hotel

Day 9 | Exploring the Cinque Terre

Surround yourself in coastal beauty journeying northwest to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Cinque Terre. Join your Local Expert in the fishing village of Manarola, perhaps the most picturesque of the “five lands.” Take in the colourful houses perched upon rugged cliffs overlooking the Mediterranean. Take to the water on a cruise past dramatic cliffs and scenic towns. Arriving in the town of Monterosso, stroll through the medieval quarter and view the beach in the company of Neptune whose statue overlooks this stretch of warm sand. In the town centre, a quaint piazza welcomes with seafood restaurants for a leisurely lunch.

Included Dining: Breakfast

Accommodation: Excelsior Palace Hotel

Day 10 | Venice and the Doge’s Palace

Traverse the Apennine Mountain range past rolling, gentle hills of moss and emerald green before arriving in Venice. Seek out the city’s charm on a private water taxi along the famous Grand Canal lined with historical Venetian palaces and multi-hued homes and shops. You’re treated to the most glamorous of arrivals as you dock at your waterfront hotel. Then sit back in a classic gondola for a serenade through the romantic canals. Luxuriate in its charms before an after-hours visit to the magnificent Doge's Palace. Formerly the Doge's residence and the seat of Venetian government, the Palace is the symbol of Venice and a masterpiece of Gothic architecture. As the crowds disappear, discover the history, art and culture of the Venetian Republic through the eyes of your local art historian on an after-hours tour.

Included Dining: Breakfast

Accommodation: Radisson Collection Hotel, Palazzo Nani Venice.

Day 11 | The Magic of Venice

Personalise your day by joining a Local Expert to discover Hidden Venice, meandering down hidden alleys and discovering your favourite pasticceria or cicchetti bar or exploring the Jewish Ghetto, one of the oldest Jewish quarters in the world, standing as a symbol of survival, community and heritage. Then, experience the magic and wonder of Venice visiting a craftsman’s workshop for an inside look at the age-old skill of glassblowing. Enjoy an afternoon at leisure shopping for your favourite Italian brands, watching Venetian life go by on the canals or exploring a local food market. Tonight, gather with your traveling companions over dinner at your celebratory evening at a traditional Venetian restaurant, and share your favourite memories of your trip through this mesmerizing country.

Included Dining: Breakfast, Dinner

Accommodation: Radisson Collection Hotel, Palazzo Nani Venice.

Day 12 | Arrivederci Venice

After breakfast, bid farewell to your travel companions and transfer by private boat to Venice Marco Polo Airport for your onward journey.

Included Dining: Breakfast

*Itinerary is subject to change.