Enjoy a two-week escapade through Italy. Travel round trip from Rome. Visit the great cities Venice, Florence, and Rome. Discover the natural beauty of northern Italy’s Lakes District and southern Italy’s coastline.
After testifying to the riches of Rome, Florence, Italian Lakes, Venice, Assisi and sun-drenched Capri, your tour comes full circle amid the ill-fated streets of Pompeii. This comprehensive tour of Italy is a perfectly paced tour with two-night stays in Rome, Florence, the Italian lakes, Venice and Sorrento, and one-night in hill-top Assisi. All traveling days are of a reasonable length with interesting stops en route for refreshments and photo opportunities.
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Highlights
Comprehensive Italy Tour Highlights
- Rome: Tour the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and St Peter’s Basilica. Visit the Colosseum and see the Forum.
- Siena: See the striped cathedral and vast Campo Square.
- Tuscany: Enjoy a short tutorial about Chianti wines.
- Florence: Visit the Academy Gallery to see the Statue of David. See the ‘Gates of Paradise’, Basilica of Santa Croce and visit Signoria Square. Traditional leather-work demonstration
- Pisa: See the Cathedral, Baptistery and ‘Leaning Tower.
- Italian Lakes: Join us in the social ritual of ‘La Passeggiata’.
- Venice: Drift through the canals with a traditional gondola serenade. Cruise to St Mark’s Square. See the Bridge of Sighs, Doges’ Palace and St Mark’s Basilica. Venetian glass-blowing demonstration
- Assisi: Visit the Basilica of St Francis with a guide.
- Cassino: Visit the peaceful Commonwealth War Cemetery.
- Sorrento: Cruise to the isle of Capri. Ride into Capri town by open top taxi (weather permitting) and return by funicular railway. ‘Intarsio’ demonstration
- Pompeii: Enjoy a guided tour of the excavations.
- Scenic Drives: Apennine Hills, Italian Lake District, cliff top drive to Sorrento.
Comprehensive Italy Tour Included Meals
- A Welcome Reception with light meal
- Choose from a selection of restaurants in the Italian Lakes on your Dine Around evening
- Celebration Dinner with wine and entertainment in Rome
- 12 Buffet Breakfasts, 7 Dinners including 3 in restaurants
Accommodations
Rome 2 Nights – Hotel Romanico Palace
This central hotel is in the Veneto area and boasts a spectacular roof garden affording incredible views.
Florence 2 Nights – Michelangelo
Conveniently located in the centre of Florence and just a few minutes walk from the Arno River, the Michelangelo Florence is an ideal base for exploring this cultural city during your two night stay. Featuring modern, homely interiors, traditional-style rooms and free WiFi throughout the hotel, you’ll be connected and comfortable during your stay.
Baveno 2 Nights – Hotel Simplon
Hotel Simplon is located mere minutes from the centre of Baveno which is nestled along the banks of Lake Maggiore. Its pink façade showcases the famous local marble, while the interiors provide a classic, luxurious feel. The hotel features a permanent art exhibition of famous paintings displayed along one of its corridors.
Venice 2 Nights – Carlton on Grand Canal
Carlton on the Grand Canal, Enjoys a truly unique location on the Grand Canal. It is within walking distance to the Rialto Bridge and is perfect for exploring the San Polo district and the Jewish Ghetto. Guest rooms are in 18th century Venetian style with up to date facilities.
Assisi 1 Night – Giotto
Hotel Giotto Assisi is located in the centre of the medieval village of Assisi with beautiful views over the Umbrian countryside. Guest rooms are decorated in local Umbrian style.
Sorrento 2 Nights – Isabella
Hotel Isabella is a newly refurbished Hotel in a great location with modern furnishings. Guest can relax by the pool or head into the beautiful town of Sorrento which is 1 mile from the Hotel.
Rome 1 Night – Hotel Mediterraneo or Bettoja Hotel Massimo D’Azeglio
Optional Tours
HIDDEN VENICE
A historical walk, with a local guide, through some of the lesser-known quarters of Venice. Discover some of the secrets of other quarters of the Venetian labyrinth. Your experience will be enhanced by the use of individual headsets.
DELIGHTS OF THE BAY OF NAPLES
Tucked away amongst the lemon and olive groves of Sorrento is a small family farm where we see how mozzarella is made! Then we enjoy some of these locally produced specialties, pasta, and finish with the famous Limoncello!
SAN GIMIGNANO EXCURSION
A delightful excursion to Tuscany’s most famous hilltop town. San Gimignano is considered the medieval Manhattan of Italy due to its towers which dominate the skyline. There is time to enjoy the atmosphere of this unchanged ancient jewel which has remained intact since the 14th century, and today is a UNESCO World Heritage town.
ROME OF THE ANCIENT CHRISTIANS
We visit the Catacombs, which are early Christian underground cemeteries carved out of soft tufa stone. Then to St. Peter in Chains to view the magnificent ‘Moses’ sculpture by Michelangelo.
ISOLA BELLA
The premier attraction of Lake Maggiore is the Borromean Islands. Our lake cruise takes us to Isola Bella, the largest and most famous island, renowned for its incredible palace and stunning Botanical Gardens. A guided tour of this privately owned palace with free time to admire the gardens is a must.
AMALFI COAST DRIVE POSITANO VISIT
First we drive along the famous Amalfi Coast with its clear blue waters and picturesque resorts. We stop to transfer to minibuses in order to visit the exclusive artist’s paradise of Positano, magnificently positioned on the Mediterranean coast.
MAGICAL VENICE
This evening we board our private boats for a cruise down the famous “Grand Canal”, past illuminated palazzi and twinkling chandeliers, to the romantic St Mark’s Square. We have reservations in a famous café where we sit under the stars listening to the orchestra play some of Italy’s best loved music (One drink is included).
ILLUMINATIONS DRIVE PIZZA DINNER
Tonight we have a pizza dinner in a typical Roman restaurant before enjoying an illuminations drive which shows us Piazza Venezia, the Forum, the Colosseum and the Campidoglio.
MOUNTAIN EXPERIENCE WITH FONDUE LUNCH
We embark on an exciting excursion, which takes us by cable car to the summit of Mottarone for breathtaking views of the Swiss peaks and five Alpine lakes. At the top of the mountain we enjoy a fondue lunch and local wines.
DINNER IN TUSCANY
A fabulous dinner of Tuscan specialties awaits you. We drive into the hills surrounding Florence for a fabulous meal and Chianti wine! A great evening of food, wine and fun! (On certain occasions a visit to the Monastery will be included before the dinner.
SORRENTO EVENING
A chance to enjoy a delicious dinner of local specialities. We arrive at one of the area’s top local restaurants for an incredible dining experience featuring some of the famous dishes of this region!
BURANO EXCURSION LUNCH
Explore the Venetian lagoon on our cruise around the islands including the colourful island of Burano – a photographer’s paradise and famous for its lace. Then enjoy a superb lunch sampling the local specialities. An excursion not to be missed! Lunch may be replaced with a dinner.
14-Day Comprehensive Italy Tour
Check the box next to the Italy tour you would like to join.
Submit form or call us today 800-227-1577 to book your Italy Tour Package Italian Lakes Amalfi Coast
Comprehensive Italy Tour Daily Itinerary
Day 1 – DEPART USA
Board your overnight flight (not included) to meet your Italy Tour Package Italian Lakes Amalfi Coast.
Day 2 – ROME AT LEISURE
Welcome to Rome, once the hub of a vast empire that spread from Britain to the Persian gulf and from Africa to Germany. On arrival at Rome’s Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci Airport, airport transfers leave for the tour hotel at 09:30, 12:30 & 15:30. Relax and settle in. You may want use this free time to do some early Rome sightseeing. As evening falls, join your Tour Director for a Welcome Reception and light meal to celebrate your Italy Tour Package Italian Lakes Amalfi Coast
Meals: Welcome Reception and dinner
Day 3 – ROME SIGHTSEEING VATICAN MUSEUM AND HISTORIC CENTER
A Local Expert leads you through the priceless art collection of the Vatican Museums culminating beneath Michelangelo’s famous ceiling in the Sistine Chapel. Your VIP visit includes fast-tracked entry to the museums and a behind-the-scenes look at the Bramante Staircase. Later, continue to St. Peter’s Basilica. Embark on a leisurely walking exploration to see Rome’s famous fountains and piazzas, including the Trevi Fountain and Pantheon. Then there is time to relax and absorb the atmosphere of Piazza Navona.
Meals: Buffet Breakfast
Day 4 – ROME – SIENA – FLORENCE
This morning the tour travels from Rome north into the region of Tuscany. The first destination is Siena, a classic Tuscan hill town. In Siena, you’ll stroll through the winding stone-paved streets to the Piazza del Campo (Campo Square), where the famous Palio horse race takes place. You’ll see the ‘Fountain of Joy’ and then walk up to the hilltop cathedral, striped with black and white marble. After your Italian escapade continues the “Cradle of the Renaissance” and Tuscany’s gem, Florence. En route, hear an informative tutorial about the Chianti wines that make this region so famous. After checking into the hotel this evening you’ll enjoy an authentic Tuscan dinner with local wines.
Buffet Breakfast, Three-course Dinner with wine, plus tea or coffee
Meals: Buffet Breakfast / Dinner
Day 5 – FLORENCE SIGHTSEEING
Today you’ll be escorted by a local resident expert on an escorted tour through the Accademia Museum. The star of the Academia is Michelangelo’s David. Then the tour continues to the piazza Duomo. There you’ll see Giotto’s Bell Tower, Ghiberti’s Gates of Paradise, and Brunelleschi’s Dome. Then you’ll viisit the political stage of Florence, Signoria Square, filled with works of art, and finally pause in Santa Croce square, overlooked by its basilica, the final resting place of Galileo and Michelangelo. After a demonstration of leather-work, you have spare time to shop or continue your Florence sightseeing. You may also join an optional tour to visit San Gimignano.
Meals: Buffet Breakfast
Day 6 – FLORENCE – PISA – MILAN – ITALIAN LAKES
Today your trip through Italy continues to another Tuscan gem, Pisa. There the Field of Miracles is an architectural masterpiece made more famous by the Leaning Tower of Pisa. The ‘Field of Miracles’ is notable for its 11th-century Cathedral and Baptistry. After your free time in Pisa to enjoy the Piazza the trip continues north along the western coast of Tuscany to Lake Maggiore. Along the way the motor coach will drive by Carrara where Michelangelo found the stone for his sculptural masterpieces. Today the mines up on top of the mountain are so white it looks like snow capped peaks. This afternoon you’ll arrive in Lake Maggiore in time for the classic lake side stroll – in Italian known as the passeggiata. This evening is yours to enjoy.
Meals: Buffet Breakfast
Day 7 – ITALIAN LAKES AT LEISURE
The day is set aside to relax and enjoy all the fantastic sights this beautiful lake land area has to offer. Perhaps take a cruise over to Isola Bella, one of the picturesque Borromean Islands? As the evening descends, choose from a selection of restaurants for your dining pleasure.
Meals: Buffet Breakfast / Dine Around
Day 8 – ITALIAN LAKES – VENICE
Follow the southern fringes of the European Alps to the vineyards by the shores of Lake Iseo. Here, winemaking traditions run deep. Taste the delicious vintages produced with a master vintner at a family-owned estate. Afterward, continue to your hotel in Venice, a city of 118 islands, with no motorcar traffic to mar its beauty. This evening you’ll enjoy an included authentic Venetian dinner.
Meals: Buffet Breakfast / Dinner
Day 9 – VENICE SIGHTSEEING
This morning you have time to relax before getting a late start to the day’s touring. The tour begins with a private cruise around Venice’s canals. You’ll pass the Palazzos built when Venice was the richest and most powerful city-state in the world. In St. Mark’s Square you’ll see the gilded Basilica, the Doges’ Palace and Bridge of Sighs. You’ll enjoy a gondola ride while being serenaded. After a relaxing glide through the canals you’ll visit the island of Giudecca where you’ll see Venetian artisans blow glass. The afternoon in Venice is free for you to get lost among its back alleys and canals. This evening you can partake in Venice’s classic activity of sipping local wines and tasting finger bites while hopping from bar to bar amid orchestras and al-fresco cafés.
Meals: Buffet Breakfast
Day 10 – VENICE – ASSISI
Skirt the Venetian Lagoon and cross two of Italy’s most important rivers, the Adige and Po, before the scenery changes dramatically as you drive through the wild Apennines. Your destination is the stone built hill-town of Assisi, home of St Francis. See the Church of St Mary of the Angels before continuing up Mount Subasio to enjoy a guided visit with a local expert tour guide inside the Basilica of St Francis. There you’ll marvel Giotto’s frescoes, which are some of the most works to art history and the transition from medieval to Renaissance art. After the tour freshen up before the included dinner.
Meals: Buffet Breakfast / Dinner
Day 11 – ASSISI – SORRENTO
Drive southwards, joining the Highway of the Sun, past the vineyards of Frascati and Castelli Romani. The tour continues to southern Italy, passing the Commonwealth Cemetery in the shadow of the hilltop monastery of Cassino. Continue to Sorrento. After checking in the evening is free to enjoy this vibrant southern Italian holiday town.
Meals: Buffet Breakfast
Day 12 – ISLE OF CAPRI EXCURSION
This morning you’ll cruise across the Bay of Naples under the imposing Mt Vesuvius to the jet setters paradise Capri. There a local expert tour guide will show you around the island and its beauty. You’ll have time to browse the Made in Italy boutiques and enjoy an espresso or gelato in the piazza. Then the tour continues back to Sorrento. You may also join an optional tour to Positano and the Amalfi Coast. This evening dinner is included.
Meals: Buffet Breakfast / Dinner
Day 13 – TOUR POMPEII AND RETURN TO ROME
Today travel from southern Italy to Rome. Along the way you’ll visit the ancient Roman city of Pompeii, eerily preserved by the eruptions of Mount Vesuvius in A.D. 79. Walk with a Local Expert through cobbled streets to explore some of the shops, villas and temples. Once in Rome you’ll be treated to the quintessential Italian experience – a dinner with entertainment including fine food, wine, music and a private performance of enchanting operetta.
Meals: Buffet Breakfast / Celebration Dinner
Day 14 – RETURN TO USA
Arrivederci Roma! The tour ends leaving you with wonderful memories. Transfer to Rome Fiumicino airport for the trip home full of fantastic memories and new friends.
Meals: Buffet Breakfast