Italy's Treasures

Travel along breathtaking landscapes and venture into metropolitan meccas ripe with culture and history. Discover Italy on an unforgettable journey that delves into its most cherished treasures.
Hotel Name: Regina Palace Hotel

Begin on the arresting shores of Lake Maggiore, surrounded by the peaceful beauty of the Alpine lakes region. As arrival times will vary, there is no scheduled sightseeing today. Spend the day as you wish, exploring independently and admiring the views. This evening, cruise to Isola Pescatori,* the most picturesque of the Borromean Islands, where you’ll engage with new friends at a dinner welcoming you to Italy.
Dinner Included

Visit Area: Stresa & Lake Maggiore

During an Impact Moment, visit an ancient village nestled in the mountains, where a local family is actively working to preserve local traditions and historic buildings. After a tour of the village, they invite you to sample their very own artisanal cheeses, paired with the region’s best wines. The remainder of the day in Stresa is at your leisure. Explore its piazzas, flower-lined cobblestone streets, and lakeside promenades. Or, enjoy your breathtaking surroundings during an optional cruise to Isola Bella, known as the “beautiful island.” Here, an expert will guide you into the Borromeo Palace,** a lakeside Baroque beauty adorned with an enchanting garden.

Breakfast Included
Lunch Included
Hotel Name: Grand Hotel Torre Fara, Chiavari

Visit Area: Italian Riviera
The Italian Riviera stretches from the French border to northern Tuscany along the Ligurian Sea. The rocky coast is dotted with small fishing villages overlooking the sea and has many popular beaches and seaside resort towns. Portofino, Santa Margherita, Sestri Levante and the Cinque Terre are all popular places for Italian and international visitors looking for sun and surf in a beautiful setting.

Journey to the Italian Riviera and discover its immeasurable grandeur along the Liguria coast. Spend some free time in the famous village of Portofino, known for its picturesque harbor and vibrant colors, and as a glamorous getaway spot and retreat for the jet set. Early this evening, arrive in Chiavari and settle in for your two-night stay in this charming coastal town.

Breakfast Included
Dinner Included

Visit Area: Portofino
Located in the center of the Italian Riviera, Portofino is a small fishing village turned playground for the rich and famous. The village is situated facing the sea and its small protected harbor. The village’s many colorful buildings boast many small cafes and designer boutiques.

Travel by rail today as you discover the colorful Cinque Terre, a string of once-upon-a-time fishing villages, perched on the edge of the sea. Feel like you have stepped back in time as you traverse the rugged coastal area dotted with terraced vineyards and hop off to visit two of these fabled locales.

Breakfast Included
Hotel Name: Villa Lecchi, Chianti Countryside

Visit Area: Cinque Terre
The Cinque Terre is made up of five small villages that cling to the rocky cliffs of the southern Italian Riviera. Each village has its own unique charms with views over the terraced vineyards and the small beaches of the Ligurian Sea. The villages are linked together by trains, hiking paths, and seasonal boat service. From the north to the south the villages are: Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza, and Monterosso al Mare.

Veer off the beaten path to visit one of Italy’s natural wonders: the Carrara marble quarries. During an off-road drive in the Apuane Mountains, you’ll follow the pathways carved by quarrymen while extracting the precious stone. Over the centuries, Carrara marble was used by artists such as Michelangelo to carve his legendary statue of David. Continue on through the rolling hills of Tuscany, ending the day in a historic Tuscan villa for a rejuvenating 4-night stay.***

Breakfast Included
Dinner Included

Admittance: Carrara Marble Quarries Off-Road Excursion
Veer off the beaten path to visit one of Italy’s great natural wonders: the Carrara marble quarries. During an off-road drive in the Apuane Mountains, you’ll follow the roads the cavatori (quarrymen) carved into the mountains while extracting the precious stone. Over the centuries, Carrara marble was used by artists such as Michelangelo to carve his Pietà in Rome’s St. Peter’s Basilica, as well as his legendary Statue of David.

This morning, take in Tuscany’s landscape, a spectrum of verdant vineyards and endless groves en route to San Gimignano. Nicknamed the Manhattan of the Middle Ages, San Gimignano’s 14 towers soar distinctively over the landscape, making this iconic hilltop village stand out against the rolling hills. Later, journey into the heart of the Chianti countryside, where a family-owned villa welcomes you. After a tour of the house and grounds, engage in a hands-on cooking lesson. Break bread during an authentic Tuscan dinner and toast to your host with local Chianti wine.

Breakfast Included
Dinner Included

Visit Area: Tuscan Countryside
See another side of Italy in the Tuscan countryside. This breathtaking rural area feels like a country unto itself — never-ending green rolling hills, medieval villages, and picture-perfect farm houses dot the landscape, much of which appears as if it has been frozen in time. Experience cultural moments that perfectly encompass the countryside’s idyllic beauty. You will visit a family-owned winery to tour its gorgeous vineyards; delight your senses during an expert-led cooking class; and enjoy a sumptuous lunch — which is, of course, paired with wines produced only feet away from you. Lose yourself in the beauty of the Tuscan countryside — these will truly be moments you will remember forever.

Welcome to Florence – the birthplace of the Renaissance and the beloved home of the Medici family, Galileo, Botticelli, and da Vinci. Set out on a walking tour of Florence’s treasures and monuments, highlighting the Piazza del Duomo and the famous Gates of Paradise on the Baptistery. You’ll also wander past the Palazzo Vecchio, the Signoria and Santa Croce squares. Enjoy some time to explore Florence independently before returning to your villa in the early evening.

Breakfast Included
Dinner Included

Admittance: Italian Cooking Class
Italian food is a huge part of the culture, traditions and excitement of visiting Italy. A hands on cooking class allows visitors to learn about classic elements of the cuisine like pasta making. The chef walks guests through the preparation of the dough and how to make rustic pasta. Once the pasta is mastered, guests can discover other dishes such as dessert. No class would be complete without sampling what you made with local wines.

Spend a relaxing day of dolce far-niente (sweet do-nothing) at your Tuscan villa. Stroll the surrounding countryside or just take in the views from your favorite spot in the garden. Or, embark on an optional truffle hunt, led by a local expert and trained truffle-sniffing dogs. As you wander along unpaved trails, learn about the fascinating world of truffles and the techniques used to forage them. Indulge in a truffle-themed lunch before returning to your villa in the late afternoon.

Breakfast Included
Hotel Name: Hotel Ca' dei Conti

Visit Area: San Gimignano
San Gimignano is a picturesque hill town in the central part of Tuscany. The town developed great wealth in the middle ages and was home to 70 plus medieval towers. Today, only a handful of the towers are still intact, but at least one is open to the public. The hilltop location allows for beautiful panoramic views over the Tuscan Countryside. The town is also home to shops that sell a variety of Tuscan goods from pottery to wine, cheese and wild boar salami.

A morning transfer takes you from Tuscany to the Emilia region for a visit to a family-owned acetaia. Tour the attic, where balsamic vinegar has been produced for five generations, and discover this generational process, which spans 12 to 25 years. Enjoy a light lunch infused with balsamic vinegar, before continuing to Venice, the “Queen of the Adriatic,” for a two-night stay in one of the world’s most romantic cities.

Breakfast Included
Lunch Included

Visit Area: Florence
Florence is the regional capital of Tuscany and home to countless Renaissance masterpieces. The city developed great wealth during the late Middle Ages and was the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance that produced great artists like Michelangelo, Raphael, Brunelleschi and many others. Today it is a UNESCO World Heritage site filled with numerous museums, stunning architecture and charming piazzas. The city offers something for everyone from culture, to great food and excellent shopping (like their famous gold or leather).

Spend the day in Venezia, the floating city home to lavish art collections, wonders of architecture, and where marbled palaces tower over gondola-laden canals. A local guide takes you on a walking tour of its incredible sites, including the Bridge of Sighs, the Bell tower, and St. Mark’s Square. Then, travel by boat to Murano**** for an expert glass-blowing demonstration, a renowned tradition on the island. Enjoy the afternoon at leisure to explore more of Venice on your own. Consider an optional gondola cruise to experience Venice’s most famous pastime. This evening, say arrivederci to Italy at a savory farewell dinner.

Breakfast Included
Dinner Included

Admittance: Balsamic Vinegar Tasting

Wake up in Venice and depart for home.

Breakfast Included

Visit Area: Venice
Venice is the regional capital of the Veneto region in the northeast section of Italy. Venice has a unique design like no other city, built on over a hundred different islands in the center of the Venetian Lagoon. Early Venetians built their city on the islands to escape barbarian invaders. The islands of the city are separated by numerous small canals and connected by hundreds of small bridges. The city is famous for its romantic gondola-filled canals and ornate palaces that line the Grand Canal. The famous glass factories of Venice are located on Murano Island. Today the Murano Islands are home to a dwindling number of glass factories, whose artists are producing handmade Murano Glass.