Grand Tour of Italy

Your all-out Italian adventure is about to begin! After flying to Venice, we’ll drive you to your first hotel in Preganziol. A converted 19th-century villa surrounded by gardens, it’s a lovely place to relax and unwind after your journey. Once you’ve settled in, we'll get together for a buffet-style welcome dinner, which features food typical of the Veneto region.

Today's the day you'll get to explore the floating city of Venice. We will begin our journey by coach and then board a boat to take us across the lagoon into the city. Our guided walking tour starts in St Mark’s Square, where the famous Doge’s Palace and magnificent St Mark’s Basilica are located. We’ll wander the maze of narrow streets and alleyways, see the picture-perfect Rialto Bridge, and climb the spiral stairs of Scala Contarini del Bovolo to admire spectacular views over the rooftops of Venice. Now that you’ve got your bearings, you’re free to discover more of the city at your leisure. Go for a stroll and find an inviting café, step inside one, or more, of the historic buildings or browse a local food market – the options are endless.

This evening, after you’ve had time to freshen up, we’re going to head to the beautiful town of Treviso. With its cobbled streets and medieval walls, it has a lovely, relaxed vibe and you’ll have some free time to enjoy dinner and a glass or two of Prosecco here if you would like.

This morning we'll head off into northern Italy and Tuscany's glorious countryside. Our journey takes us through Bologna, where we'll stop and join a Local Guide for a sightseeing tour. The city is known for its two leaning towers and the central square, Piazza Maggiore, is lined by impressive buildings including the Basilica of San Petronio, a vast Gothic cathedral. Our tour ends with a tasting of delicious ice cream at the famous Sorbetteria Castiglione and then you will have some free time. Why not head to the Quadrilatero and browse Italy’s oldest market. Wander the narrow streets and discover aroma-filled shops and stalls selling a tempting array of local meats and cheeses, homemade pasta, and freshly baked bread. This evening we’ll reach Montecatini Terme, our base for the next three nights.

We’re going to spend the morning in Pisa, where you can take the obligatory photos of yourselves holding up the famous Leaning Tower! Standing 58 metres tall, the tower started to lean soon after construction started in the 12th century. It forms part of the city’s Field of Miracles, a lovely green space that is also home to the Cathedral, Baptistery and Monumental Cemetery. After your visit to Pisa, the rest of the day is yours to do as you please, or you may want to join an optional excursion to Lucca this afternoon. With its intact Renaissance city walls, narrow alleyways and pretty piazzas, this attractive city is a lovely place to wander around.

Today, you'll visit the 'art city' of Florence for a tour with a Local Guide. You’ll see highlights including the vast Gothic cathedral with its white façade and red-roofed dome, and the striking Ponte Vecchio, Florence’s most famous bridge. We’ve left this afternoon free for you to make your own discoveries in Florence. Those who would like to see the remarkable collection of sculptures and paintings in the city’s renowned Uffizi Gallery can join an optional tour with 'skip-the-line' admission and guide.

This evening, there will be an opportunity to attend the Montecatini Opera Festival and enjoy a performance in one of the town’s atmospheric venues.

We're heading south today, to the region of Lazio and Rome. We’ll make a stop at the impressive fortress town of Orvieto where you will have free time to look around. Admire the spectacular cathedral with its ornately decorated façade and stroll through the winding streets of the town’s historic centre before finding the perfect spot for a coffee. You could also take a tour of the Orvieto Underground, a series of caves used as refrigerators, wine cellars and even bomb shelters during the Second World War.

Later we’ll continue our journey to the awe-inspiring city of Rome and after settling in at the hotel, we’ll head to a nearby restaurant for dinner.

Let's set off and explore the magnificent sights of Rome on a guided walking tour. You’ll see the stunning Trevi Fountain with its ornate Baroque statues, and another unmissable highlight, the beautiful Spanish Steps. If you decide to climb this sweeping 18th-century stairway, you’ll be rewarded with fabulous views over the city.

This afternoon is yours to do as you please. You could step inside some of the city’s museums, art galleries or churches, or just while away the time people watching in the magnificent Piazza Navona, an elegant square with attractive fountains.
The evening has also been left free for you to check out Rome’s tempting array of cafés, bars, restaurants, and ice cream parlours. Your Holiday Director will be on hand if you need some advice and recommendations.

Today you can head out and explore Rome independently. Perhaps you’ll choose to step inside the mighty Colosseum, where Roman gladiators battled in front of jeering crowds. Another option is to visit the Roman Forum, a fascinating complex of ruins that once formed the centre of Ancient Rome.

If you would like to visit the Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel, you have the option of pre-booking an exclusive skip-the-line, two-hour guided visit with timed admission. During the tour, you will see the Vatican’s extensive collection of centuries-old artwork and learn about the history and symbolism of some of its masterpieces. Inside the Sistine Chapel, there is time to admire spectacular frescoes and marvel at the exquisite beauty of Michelangelo’s ceiling.

You have another chance to soak up Rome’s unique atmosphere tonight with another evening at leisure.

A full day of exploration begins with a visit to the Montecassino Abbey. Sitting on a hilltop overlooking the town of Cassino, it’s an imposing sight, and you’ll have time to admire the views and wander around independently. Next, we arrive at the ruins of Pompeii and after free time for lunch, we’ll meet up with a Local Guide for our walking tour. Sharing their knowledge, they will help us explore this remarkable city that was buried under a blanket of ash when Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79AD. We’ll step back in time and imagine what life was like for the people who lived here and see some of Pompeii’s best sites. These include villas decorated with frescoes, the Temple of Apollo, the Forum and even a bakery.

Later, we'll arrive at the scenic Sorrento Peninsula, where our hotel for the next three nights is centrally located in the town of Vico Equense.

After a few busy days of sightseeing, today you can relax at your hotel. It has a private beach with chairs and umbrellas, the perfect place to relax with a good book.

If you want to continue exploring, an optional excursion takes you on a boat trip across the Bay of Naples to the glamorous island of Capri. We’ll begin by exploring Capri Town and the hillside village of Anacapri on a guided tour, and then you will have free time to do your own thing. Perhaps take the chair lift to the highest point on the island for spectacular sweeping views or while away the time in the exclusive boutiques of Capri village.

Enjoy some time to yourself today. The elegant town of Sorrento, with its enticing cafés and restaurants, is a short train ride away, or if you prefer, you can simply relax at the hotel.

There is also the chance to discover the beauty of the Amalfi Coast on today’s optional excursion. It begins with a stunning drive along twisting clifftop roads and the opportunity to admire breathtaking views of the dramatic landscape. You’ll want to have your camera at the ready to capture pictures of steep cliffs plunging into the sea, and picture-perfect villages clinging to the hillside. Next, we’ll visit the beautiful town of Amalfi, where you’ll have free time to explore. Look out for the impressive cathedral, set at the top of a grand stairway, and make time for a spot of lunch if you wish. We’ll then drive high up the cliffs to Ravello, a town perched above Amalfi with sensational views of the Tyrrhenian Sea. With time to make your own discoveries, you might choose to visit the gardens of Villa Rufolo, where colourful displays of flowers are set against a backdrop of Moorish architecture. Another option is to explore Ravello’s town centre, the main square is home to an interesting cathedral and an array of cafés serving delicious coffee and ice cream.

We're leaving mainland Italy now, and heading to Sicily, the island off the tip of Italy’s boot. On the way, we'll stop for lunch in Calabria and then a short ferry ride takes us to Messina, with an onward drive to our final hotel in Giardini Naxos.

Taormina sits on a sheer cliff, perched above beautiful beaches and close to Mount Etna. Imagine the views you'll see today when we head there to explore. The city’s highlights include an ancient Greek amphitheatre overlooking Mount Etna and a delightful public garden with sensational views of the shimmering sea. With plenty of free time to make your own discoveries in Taormina, why not a stroll along the pretty main street Corso Umberto or head to Piazza IX Aprile, a lovely café-lined square.

Dinner will be served in the hotel’s restaurant this evening.

It’s the last full day of your holiday, so why not relax and enjoy the inviting pool at your hotel. Alternatively, having gazed at Mount Etna from afar, maybe now's the time to see Europe's highest volcano close up on our optional excursion. You’ll travel by cable car to a height of around 2,500 metres and then head off on a 16-seater jeep adventure with an Alpine Guide for amazing views of the crater area.

At your hotel tonight, we'll get together to enjoy a farewell drink in the bar.

After a fabulous two weeks, your epic Italian journey comes to an end. We’ll take you to Sicily's Catania airport, where you’ll check in for your return flight to the UK.