Best of Italy

Join us for a fabulous Italian adventure featuring the magic of Venice, Florence and Rome. Journey to the wine-producing Romagna countryside for a two-night stay in a wine resort, and visit the Republic of San Marino, an enclave state of Italy. Come along with us and embrace the history, culture, art and romance of this incredible country.
Hotel Name: Maison Venezia UNA Esperienze

Welcome to enchanting Venice (UNESCO) with its 117 tiny islands surrounded by a latticework of 150 canals and 400 bridges. This evening, meet your fellow travelers over a welcome dinner.
Dinner 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.

This morning, join a local guide for a walking tour of Venice’s most iconic sights. Pause for the perfect view over the Bridge of Sighs and take in St. Mark’s Square, adorned with marbled palaces and gilded basilicas. Travel by boat to Murano** for an expert glass-blowing demonstration, a renowned tradition on the island. Following an afternoon at leisure, delve into Venice’s classical music heritage while attending a live performance of the Four Seasons* composed by the great Venetian Antonio Vivaldi.

Breakfast Included

Admittance: Gondola Ride

This morning, explore the traditional Venetian craftsmanship behind one of the city’s symbols: the sleek, iconic gondola boats. Visit a local Remèr oar-making workshop, one of only a handful still active in the city. Then, glide along the canals during a gondola ride.** The afternoon is yours to explore more of the floating city. Perhaps you’ll head out for your own treasure hunt in search of the city’s hidden gems such as the whimsical Scala Contarini del Bovolo or the imposing Arsenal where the Republic of Venice built its merchant fleet and its commercial fortune.

Breakfast Included
Hotel Name: Borgo Conde Wine Resort, Romagna Countryside

Admittance: Classical Music Concert

Say “ciao” to Venice as you journey towards the Romagna region, famous for its epicurean lifestyle and its joie de vivre. Spend the afternoon exploring Ravenna (UNESCO). During the darkness that enveloped the last days of the Roman Empire, Ravenna emerged as a center of power thanks to its strategic position. The city’s rulers – the Byzantines, the Goths – adorned its churches with dazzling mosaics. During a guided walking tour, discover the city’s most illustrious monuments. In the late afternoon, continue to your hotel nestled among vineyards in the Romagna countryside and settle in for your two-night stay. This evening, be immersed in this bucolic setting during a wine-paired dinner at your wine resort hotel.

Breakfast Included
Dinner Included

Visit Area: Ravenna

Grab your passport*** and journey to the landlocked Republic of San Marino, the fifth-smallest country in the world. Perched at the top of Mount Titano, the old town of San Marino (UNESCO) gives visitors sweeping views over the Adriatic Riviera and the gentle rolling hills of the Romagna countryside. Explore the Old Town’s intricate system of fortification towers, walls, gates and bastions during time at leisure. This evening, wrap up your stay in the Romagna Countryside with a tour of your resort’s own winery, before joining the local chef for a hands-on cooking class centered on Romagna’s typical piadina flatbread, and pasta staples such as handmade tagliatelle. Then, sit back and enjoy the results of your work for dinner.

Breakfast Included
Dinner Included
Hotel Name: Grand Hotel Cavour

Visit Area: Republic of San Marino

Today, travel to the Emilia region, Italy’s foodie haven. During an Impact Moment, meet students and teachers at a vocational high school**** dedicated to the culinary arts and agriculture. Here, Italy’s future chefs and farmers learn how to make Parmigiano Reggiano cheese according to traditional standards, dating back to the 1300s. Students also try their hand at aging balsamic vinegar, a generational process taking anywhere from 12 to 25 years. Enjoy a farm-to-table light lunch prepared by the culinary students using ingredients from the school’s farm. Later, continue to Florence (UNESCO), the “Cradle of the Renaissance” and your home for the next two nights.

Breakfast Included
Lunch Included

Admittance: Winery Tour & Cooking Class

This morning, meet a local expert for a walking tour of a city that is a work of art all on its own. Your guide will highlight the Piazza del Duomo, the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore and the Baptistery. You’ll also visit the Piazza della Signoria with its impressive Palazzo Vecchio. The remainder of the day is yours to explore Florence’s cultural riches independently. Perhaps you’ll visit to one of the city’s many museums,***** such as the Uffizi or Academy Gallery, where Michelangelo’s David is kept.

Breakfast Included
Hotel Name: Ponte Sisto Hotel

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).

This morning traverse southern Tuscany, the ancient land of the Etruscans. This mysterious civilization predated the Romans, who assimilated them, erasing most of their way of life, even though many early kings of Rome were Etruscans. By all accounts, they were an advanced society and culture. One of the Etruscans’ most important cities was hilltop Orvieto. Here, it’s your choice! Join an expert local guide for an in-depth walking tour of the city -OR- enjoy free time to eat, drink, and dive into the local scene. Arrive in Rome (UNESCO) in the late afternoon and settle in for a three-night stay.

Breakfast Included

Visit Area: Orvieto
Orvieto is a beautiful town in the southern part of Umbria built on a flat mountain top. Visitors take a funicular (or inclined rail) to reach the city from the valley below. It started as one of the twelve cities in the original Etruscan federation and grew to the height of its influence in the middle ages as a Papal stronghold. This papal influence can be seen in grandeur of the city’s Duomo and surrounding palaces. The Duomo is famous for its architecture, and two side chapels. The chapel dedicated to San Brizio is covered with stunning frescoes by Luca Signorelli while the other chapel houses the relics related to the feast of Corpus Christi.

This morning, your extensive walking tour winds its way through Rome’s medieval district, which developed organically from the ruins of the ancient city. This neighborhood is a charming combination of narrow cobbled streets, dark tufa stone, and repurposed Roman ruins. Ascend to the panoramic terrace of the Vittoriano with a combination of stairs and elevator to take in one of the city’s most impressive views. Gaze upon the vestiges of the Roman Empire, from the Forum to the majestic Colosseum before making the most of a free afternoon in the Eternal City. This evening, explore Rome’s dynamic dining scene during a food tour** in the bohemian Trastevere district.

Breakfast Included
Dinner Included

Admittance: Orvieto Guided Walking Tour or Free Time to Explore
In Orvieto you have the choice between two activities. For your first option, you may join an expert local guide for an in-depth walking tour of this ancient Etruscan hilltop city. Learn about the origins of the city, its ancient inhabitants and great civilizations. Your other option is to take time to explore on your own in Orvieto. Relish free time to eat, drink, and dive into the local scene. Local Guide: Activity Level 3 Guests should expect a 60-90 minute walking tour of Orvieto. The tour of the old town takes place over mostly flat but cobblestoned streets.

Delve into Rome’s second Golden Age on a walking tour exploring the city’s Renaissance and Baroque heritage, alongside views of the Pantheon and the oval-shaped Navona Square. Then, it’s your choice! At your own pace, peruse the remarkable collection of antique Greek and Roman statuary of the Palazzo Altemps museum -OR- extend your walking tour with a challenging visit to the Castel Sant’Angelo fortress. Standing tall above the river Tiber, this imposing castle sheltered Popes and became the setting for Puccini’s beloved Opera, Tosca. The afternoon is yours. Perhaps you’ll indulge in some shopping along Rome’s Cola di Rienzo street or make your way to the Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel and Saint Peter’s Basilica.****** Gather tonight to toast the end of your Italian adventure during a farewell dinner.

Breakfast Included
Dinner Included

Admittance: Palazzo Altemps Archeological Museum or Castle of the Angel Walking Tour
In Rome you have the choice between two activities. You may decide to peruse the remarkable collection of antique Greek and Roman statuary of the Palazzo Altemps museum. Part of the National Roman Archeological Museum, the Altemps collection houses masterpieces such as the Ludovisi ‘throne.’ Your other choice is to extend your walking tour with a challenging visit to the Castel Sant’Angelo fortress. Standing tall above the river Tiber, this imposing castle sheltered Popes and became the setting for Puccini’s beloved Opera, Tosca, before being more recently featured in Dan Brown’s action novel “Angels & Demons.” Walking Tour: Activity Level 4 Guests must be prepared to climb 9 very long flights of stairs to reach the top floor of the Castle of the Angel (Castel Sant'Angelo). There are no escalators or elevators in Castel Sant’Angelo. Therefore, the site is not “accessible” by disabled standards.

Your tour comes to a close today, leaving you with many fond memories of incredible Italy.

Breakfast Included

Visit Area: Rome
Rome is the capital of modern Italy and the historical home of one of the great civilizations in history, the Roman Empire. The historical city was founded in 753 BC and has grown to a size of over 3 million inhabitants today. The city is home to major monuments like the Colosseum, Trevi Fountain and many more. The city was built on the seven ancient hills along the Tiber River. Today it is a collection of neighborhoods with vibrant shops, restaurants and museums just waiting to be explored.