Submit form or call 800-227-1577 to speak with a small group Italy Luxury Tour specialist

Small Group Italy Luxury Tour Amalfi Coast Rome Tuscany Cinque Terre Venice Itinerary

DAY 1, Arrive Naples Italy and transfer to Sorrento to begin your Small Group Italy Luxury Tour.

One of our most popular small-group Italy vacations begins at 6:00 PM at Grand Hotel La Favorita. A transfer is included from Naples International Airport to Grand Hotel La Favorita. Surrounded by gardens, perched atop a cliff overlooking the blue waters of the Gulf of Naples in Sorrento’s historic center, your landmark hotel boasts a rooftop restaurant and poolside terrace with stunning panoramic views. Your taly Small Group tour gets underway with a welcome cocktail reception and dinner… and one of the most fabulous two-week Italy vacations begins.
Lodging: Grand Hotel La Favorita
Meals: Dinner

DAY 2, A drive along the spectacular Amalfi Coast to Amalfi, Ravello, and wander Sorrento

You’ll rise early on your small group Italy luxury tour for an unhurried drive along the Amalfi Coast, one of the most spectacular drives in the world! Fantastic rock formations drop vertically into the sea; sub-tropical vegetation on the hillsides, together with colorful Mediterranean flora, create bewitching landscapes. Stop for a visit in the seaside cathedral town of Amalfi on the Bay of Salerno, with its many medieval antiquities. Continue winding through vine-draped hills to Ravello, a “terrace over the sea” known for its dramatic villas; its panoramic views of the coast offer a picture-perfect backdrop for a lunch of local specialties. Return to Sorrento in the afternoon to explore its charming piazzas and small alleys; the historic center of town, and the old Roman streets, make this day one of the highlights of Italian Tourism Italy vacations. Today breakfast and lunch are included with your small group Italy luxury tour.
Lodging: Grand Hotel La Favorita
Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

DAY 3, Close up look of Pompeii and then drive up the sun route to Rome

Travel from Sorrento to Pompeii, a prosperous Roman city of 27,000 until it was frozen in time at the moment it was completely buried by volcanic ash from the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 AD. The doomed city lay undisturbed for more than 1,700 years, until excavations began in the 18th century and are still in progress today. Most Italy vacations include a visit to Pompeii – but with Italian Tourism, a walk through the ruins of Pompeii with a local expert provides a special connection as you learn what life was like in Italy in the 1st century AD. Arrive late afternoon in Rome, where you’ll spend the next three nights; your chic small hotel is at the top of the Spanish Steps, close to historic and cultural sites. Today breakfast, lunch and dinner are included.
Lodging: Grand Hotel Minerve
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

DAY 4, A Day in Ancient Rome and Vatican City

Seeing the sights of Rome, accompanied by a local guide, is a highlight of Italian Tourism Italy luxury vacations; and in a small group it’s intimate and informative. See the ruins of the Imperial Palace and Circus Maximus; tour St. Peter’s Basilica with an opportunity to see St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City; and view the Roman Forum from above. A visit to the Colosseum, the 2,000-year-old amphitheatre in the heart of Rome that was once used for gladiator contests and public events, will certainly be one of the highlights! Today breakfast is included and tonight you’ll get an authentic taste of Italian cuisine tonight when you dine family style at a local restaurant in Rome, also included.
Lodging: Great Hotel Minerve
Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

Day 5, Exclusive After Hours Vatican Tour of the Vatican Museum

No trip to Rome would be complete without a visit to the Vatican, a state and city all in one… and your small-group sightseeing is highlighted by a Italian Tourism Exclusive – an after-hours tour of the Vatican Museums, home to a vast collection of art treasures (subject to availability and day of the tour may vary). This after-hours visit means you’ll avoid the long lines and the usual crowds found earlier in the day; the experience is rich when you explore the treasures in the Vatican Museums at your own pace. See the Candelabra Gallery, Map Gallery, and the Tapestries; in the Sistine Chapel, gaze in amazement at Michelangelo’s masterpiece ceiling – and be able to contemplate all that you see in quieter surroundings. It’s a highlight that makes Classic Italy, Small Groups one of Italian Tourism’s most memorable of Italy vacations… one that you’ll remember forever. Today breakfast is included.
Lodging: Grand Hotel Minerve
Meals: Breakfast

DAY 6, Orvieto’s Duomo & a recital in Umbria

Journey to Orvieto, set on a 984-foot-high plateau overlooking vineyards below. Visit the Duomo of Orvieto, a notable Romanesque-Gothic cathedral built over a span of 300 years. The façade is a visual treat, a blend of sculpture and mosaic splashed with a palette of colors and magnificent bronze doors. Inside, view inspiring frescoes by renowned artists. After a trattoria lunch near the Piazza del Duomo, continue through the wine-producing regions of Umbria. Arrive in the little town of San Martino in Campo – just outside of Umbria’s capital city, Perugia – and your home for the next two nights, Alla Posta dei Donini. The present-day hotel was created from two renovated villas dating to the 17th century – former homes to the Donini counts – whose guest rooms feature wood-beamed ceilings, canopy beds, period furniture, frescoes, drapery and exquisite fabrics; its warm hospitality, elegant decor and exquisite cuisine are reminiscent of the aristocratic country houses of centuries past. Tonight, attend a private recital in the frescoed music room of the Donini family, followed by dinner (wine included) at the hotel.
Lodging: Alla Posta Donini
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

DAY 7, Assisi and Umbrian Food

Take a short drive to Assisi, a well-preserved medieval hillside town spread across the slopes of a mountain. Assisi was the home of St. Francis, who left a position of wealth and turned to a life of poverty, chastity and obedience, founding the order whose followers became known as Franciscans. The town has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its significant art and architecture. You’ll visit St. Francis Basilica, built by the people, which today houses some of Italy’s great 13th- and 14th-century frescoes, as well as the final resting place of Assisi’s beloved favorite son, the patron saint of animals. Enjoy some free time in the center of town, then return to your hotel for the evening. Please join us tonight for a private wine tasting at the hotel, followed by dinner with wine included.
Lodging: Alla Posta Donini
Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

DAY 8, Tuscan Coast

Depart Umbria and traverse Tuscany’s lush, rolling landscapes; the beauty of nature has blended with the ingenuity of mankind for centuries – your travels through the rolling Tuscan hills take you through landscapes dotted with olive and fig trees that produce delectable local food products. Stop in a country village for some time to explore on your own before continuing your travels under the Tuscan sun to the seaside resort town of Viareggio, where you’ll enjoy a walking tour on which you’ll see the last home of famed opera composer Giacomo Puccini, and an overnight stay at the Grand Hotel Principe di Piemonte.
Lodging: Grand Hotel Principe di Piemonte
Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

DAY 9, Cinque Terre Stroll, Coastline Boat Cruise, and on to Florence

Cinque Terre was accessible only by sea for hundreds of years, five picture-book fishing villages nestled between the Mediterranean’s blue waters and the rugged coastal mountains. Travel by train through the mountains to one of the villages, where you’ll experience daily life – from colorful fishing boats home from the sea, to the wine, olives, and citrus fruit produced locally. You’ll have some time to explore the cobblestone streets and alleyways, perhaps sampling the unique flavors of the local cuisine for lunch, before a cruise along the shores of the Italian Riviera for unparalleled views of this dramatic coast. Travel to Florence for a three-night stay at a chic hotel in the cultural and historic heart of Firenze. Today breakfast and dinner are included.
Lodging: Hotel Brunelleschi
Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

DAY 10, The Art of Florence

Art and architecture whisper the history of the ages in Florence, the birthplace of the Renaissance. Italian Tourism’s in-depth exploration of this beautiful city begins with a briefing by an art history lecturer, whose insights prepare you for a guided walking tour of Florence’s Renaissance heart. Then enjoy a guided visit through the collections of works by many of the greatest artists of the 14th and 15th centuries – including Michelangelo’s famous sculpture of David and paintings by Botticelli, Uccello, Ghirlandaio, del Sarto and others – at the inimitable Galleria dell’Accademia. Flourishing for more than four centuries, this world-renowned institution was established in 1563 as the first art school in Europe. Italy vacations are highlighted by free time in Florence… and so your day continues at a leisurely – or, if you wish, not so leisurely – pace as the rest of the afternoon and evening are free. Today breakfast is included.
Lodging: Hotel Brunelleschi
Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

DAY 11, More Art of Florence with Uffizi Tour

Originally a suite of offices, it was first used to display the Medici family’s private art treasures in 1581 – thereby making it the oldest art gallery in the world. Its vast collection includes some of the most revered works of the Italian Renaissance, such as Botticelli’s The Birth of Venus, Michelangelo’s The Holy Family, da Vinci’s unfinishedAdoration of the Magi, Bellini’s Allegory and Raphael’s Madonna of the Goldfinch. The remainder of the day in Florence is yours to explore as you please. Today breakfast is included with your Small Group Italy Luxury Tour.
Lodging: Hotel Brunelleschi
Meals: Breakfast

DAY 12, Venice Tour St Mark’s Square & Doge’s Palace

Your journey continues as a high-speed train whisks you from Florence to Venice. Built on 118 small islands traversed by a canal network, this extraordinary city is a protected UNESCO World Heritage Site. Transfer by canal boat to your hotel, conveniently located near St. Mark’s Square (Piazza San Marco); after lunch at your hotel, get an introduction to Venice on a walking tour with your local guide, including St. Mark’s Square and an inside visit of the Doge’s Palace, with its lavishly decorated rooms and Venetian masterpieces – including the legendary Bridge of Sighs, and the palace prison. Following time this afternoon to explore more of romantic Venice on your own, join us tonight for a farewell dinner at a local restaurant.
Lodging: Bauer Venezia
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

DAY 13, A Free Day in Venice

The day is free to do as you please in Venice – and to say that you have a lot to choose from is an understatement. There’s visiting the museums, an eclectic group housing some of the world’s most famed art; strolling the winding, narrow streets that lead to countless bridges; taking a boat to one of the islands in the Venetian Lagoon such as Murano, Burano or Torcello where the arts, centuries-old crafts, and a kaleidoscope of color wait. This evening, indulge in the quintessential Venetian experience – a serenaded gondola ride on the canals – before joining us for a farewell cocktail reception at the hotel, followed by another memorable: a private after-hours guided tour of St. Mark’s Basilica, the centerpiece of the square and the very heart of the city… without the distraction of crowds, with the ability to enjoy it at your own pace!
Lodging: Bauer Venezia

DAY 14, Ciao! to small group Italy luxury tour.

Fly home anytime. A transfer is included to Marco Polo Airport; you should allow a minimum of 3 hours for flight check-in at the airport. Today breakfast is included.