Luxury Italy

Fly into Rome where you’ll be welcomed by our driver who will provide private transfer to your hotel in the Eternal City. After checking in, you’ll have time to refresh before joining the Panoramic Rome by Night tour. It’s the perfect introduction to Rome with a glimpse of what’s to come. You’ll pass the Vatican City walls, Lungotevere which runs along the Tiber River, the old Roman walls, and magnificent Villa Borghese. Head through Porta Pinciana, into the old town, to witness Via Veneto, Piazza Venezia, the Colosseum, and more. Conclude at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, with time to explore on your own.

Enjoy an in-depth look at ancient Rome, with the Roman Forum and Colosseum at its heart. Your tour begins at the 2,000-year-old Colosseum where gladiator competitions, battles between man and beast, and theatrical performances took place up until the 6^th-century AD. A semi-private, exclusive underground tour will reveal the dungeons and tunnel where the gladiators once entered the arena. You’ll witness traces of the flood ordered to replicate the battle between Athens and Syracuse, with flat-bottomed ships accommodated by the shallow water. Climb Palatine Hill, taking in the view before descending to the Roman Forum which holds the oldest structures in Rome.

Meet your driver/guide for a half-day tour of Vatican City, including the 14^th-century Vatican Museum complex that’s home to one of the most important collections of Renaissance art. Explore the Gallery of Tapestries and the Gallery of Maps as well as St. Peter’s Square and St. Peters Basilica. Of course, you’ll be able to step into the famous Sistine Chapel to see the remarkable ceiling Michelangelo painted between 1508 and 1512. You’ll be led through all of it by a private local guide who will provide fascinating commentary along the way. After returning to your hotel, enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure.

It’s time to move on to the beauty of the Amalfi Coast. A private transfer will take you from your hotel to the train station for the 90-minute journey to Naples. While your destination is Sorrento, you’ll enjoy a stop for pizza in the city that invented the pie first. Upon arrival to your hotel in this resort town that lies nearly 1,200 feet above the Tyrrhenian Sea, you’ll have the rest of the day to relax or explore on your own. Famous for its jaw-dropping views, this is a great time to capture photos or just unwind and take it all in.

Get a different perspective of the Amalfi Coast, its dramatic cliffs, and colorful villages on this private boat tour that will also bring you to the island of Capri. Enjoy a leisurely ride on your private yacht with many awe-inspiring views, including Amalfi, the tiny village of Atrani, historic Minori and Majori that lie below Ravello, and pretty Positano with its brightly painted villas that spill down the cliffs, just to name a few. You’ll cruise around the island of Capri, with the option to visit the famous Blue Grotto to see it lit up in a brilliant blue glow, swim in the transparent turquoise waters at the Green Grotto and see the White Grotto pilgrimage site. If you’d like, you can be dropped off at Marina Grande for a few hours of exploring on your own.

Today you have a day at leisure to relax in Sorrento, or explore the nearby towns of Ravello, Amalfi, or Positano under your own steam. We recommend a trip to the beautiful rose gardens of Villa Cimbrone in Ravello, soaking up the old world charm of Positano, relaxing on the beautiful ‘fjord’ beach of Furore, or – for the more active – taking on the dramatic ‘Path of the Gods’ hike from Bomerano to Nocelle.

This morning you’ll take a private transfer from your Sorrento hotel to the train station. From here, catch the high-speed train to Florence and upon arrival, private transfer brings you to your accommodation in the city known as the “cradle of the Renaissance.” You’ll enjoy the remainder of the day on your own. You might want to just wander through the streets with surprises to discover around every corner, or head to Mercato Centrale. On the ground floor, there are traditional produce stalls while the first floor features a food local with a wide range of Italian products from gelato to Cristian Beduschi chocolates.

Enjoy a walking tour that starts by visiting some of the highlights of Florence with a local guide, including a visit to the burial place of illustrious Italians like Michelangelo, Rossini, and Galileo at Santa Croce Church. Marvel at Piazza del Duomo, the domed cathedral of Florence and Piazza della Signoria/Palazzo Vecchio before heading into the Accademia Gallery, home to one of the most famous works of all time, Michelangelo’s David. It was moved here in 1873 after surviving the elements in Signoria Square. You’ll get to see many impressive pieces here, including paintings by Raphael and Botticelli. After your tour, you’ll have free time to do some more exploring here or elsewhere before returning to your accommodation at your leisure.

A full-day trip from Florence will bring you into the Tuscan countryside for a visit to two of the region’s most beautiful hilltop villages of San Gimignano and Siena. San Gimignano is renowned for its amazing skyline thanks to its numerous towers that can be seen for miles, most of which were built during medieval times. You’ll explore it on your own before enjoying a break for a local meal at a nearby farmhouse. Our local guide will meet you in Siena for a walking tour that includes Piazza del Campo which famously hosts the biannual II Palio horse race and several iconic landmarks.

Continuing to Venice today, a private transfer brings you to the train for a highspeed journey with arrival into Venice after two-and-a-half hours. You’ll be welcomed in by our driver and taken to your hotel before it’s time to join another tour of the city’s most iconic sites. Enjoy the beauty of the waterfront by water taxi before visiting Doge’s, a fine example of gothic architecture, the Bridge of Sighs, and St. Mark’s Square which hosts St. Mark’s Cathedral. Your guide will tell you all about it before exploring the interior and the glass showrooms which offer authentic Venetian glassware available for purchase.

You’ll have the morning to enjoy at your leisure. If you want a fabulous view, head to the city’s tallest building, the Campanile which was originally built around the early 10^th-century. It’s been rebuilt since and has an elevator to take you to the top for a view of St. Mark’s Square and its landmarks, as well as the bells that you hear ringing throughout Venice. As the afternoon draws to a close head out on a traditional bragozzo for a private sailing excursion, timed to enjoy the sunset, washed down with a chilled bottle of prosecco.

Your unforgettable 12-day/11-night trip through Rome, Amalfi, Florence, and Venice comes to an end today. You’ll be met by our driver for a private transfer to Venice’s airport to catch your flight back home or head out on further travels. If you’d like to see more of the country or destinations beyond, our travel experts are always ready to help, otherwise, we wish you safe travels and hope to see you again in the future.