Waterfront palazzos and palaces make drifting down the Grand Canal feel like cruising through a painting. Venice is the world's most romantic city.
Greetings and welcome to Venice, one of Italy's most enchanting cities! You will be provided with a private water-taxi upon arrival to transfer you to your hotel for check-in. The remainder of the day is yours to unwind and take it easy after your journey.
Following breakfast at your hotel, you'll rendezvous with your guide in the lobby and embark on a delightful walking tour of the city's must-see destinations.
Your sightseeing itinerary commences with a stop at St. Mark's Basilica, where you'll marvel at the awe-inspiring Pala D'Oro altar. Afterwards, ascend to Loggia dei Cavalli to take in the spectacular panoramic views of St. Mark's Square.
The next item on your agenda is a tour of the Doge's Palace, which includes crossing the Bridge of Sighs and exploring the lavishly decorated chambers of the Palace, as well as the old prisons.
After the tour, you'll return to the hotel and have the remainder of the day at your leisure. Alternatively, you may opt for a one-hour gondola ride (at a cost of 170 USD per person).
We carefully select hotels to ensure your amazing stay. We will recommend the best available properties for your travel dates.
Modern Italian trains are among the fastest and most comfortable ways to get to Florence. Free WiFi, power sockets, comfortable seats with footrests, and extensive luggage space are at your service during the journey.
One of the brightest gems of the Tuscany region, Florence, is the treasure trove, birthplace and cradle of the Renaissance.
Once you have finished your breakfast and checked out, you can take the opportunity to explore Venice independently. We recommend paying a visit to the Peggy Guggenheim Collection or participating in an optional group day trip to the enchanting islands of Murano & Burano (at a cost of 55 USD per person).
Later in the day, you will be met by an assistant at your hotel for a transfer via water-taxi. Welcome to Florence! Upon arrival, your driver will take you to your hotel for check-in. The remainder of the day is yours to unwind and relax after your travels.
Join your guide after breakfast at your hotel for a comprehensive walking tour of Florence's most notable attractions.
The itinerary for the day includes an exploration of the Piazza del Duomo, with a visit to the Baptistery honoring St. John the Baptist. With your ticket to the Grande Museo del Duomo, you'll have the opportunity to visit other splendid monuments within the square at your own leisure within 72 hours, including the Cathedral, the Dome, and the famous Bell Tower.
Continuing on to the city's main square - Piazza della Repubblica - you'll pass through the tourist hub of Strozzi Palace and the vibrant shopping district of Via Tornabuoni. Then, you'll enter the Oltrarno area where you'll discover an array of local artisan shops, the splendid Santo Spirito Church and Convent created for the Agostinian monks, and the first official work of Michelangelo, crafted when he was only 17 years old.
Before ending the tour on the Ponte Vecchio, you'll also visit the Galleria dell'Accademia to marvel at the famous Michelangelo sculpture, David.
After the tour, you'll return to your hotel with the remainder of the day at your leisure or the option to participate in a guided tour of the Uffizi Gallery (at a cost of 160 USD per person).
Today is your day to explore and savor Florence at your own pace. After breakfast, take the opportunity to sightsee, shop for souvenirs, or simply relax.
Alternatively, you may opt to participate in one of our thoughtfully-planned optional activities. A cooking class and market tour is available (at a cost of 191 USD per person), or you can embark on a day trip to Pisa (at a cost of 150 USD per person).
In the evening, join your fellow travelers for a wine tasting event hosted exclusively for your small group. Sample three different wines handpicked by the sommelier and expertly paired with delicious snacks.
We carefully select hotels to ensure your amazing stay. We will recommend the best available properties for your travel dates.
Taking a train is one of the best options for traveling from Florence to Rome. Trains in Italy are well-equipped, fast, and conveniently connect these Italian cities from one center to the other.
The capital of Italy, Rome, obtains an unrivaled and unfathomable collection of historical treasures. This safe and welcoming region one of the most popular tourist destinations around the globe.
After enjoying breakfast at your hotel, it's time to check-out and meet your driver for a transfer to the train station. From there, it's a brief 90-minute journey to Rome.
Once you arrive, your driver will be waiting to take you to your downtown hotel. After meeting with your guide, you'll embark on a tour to discover the famed ancient treasures of the Eternal City.
Your itinerary includes visits to iconic landmarks such as the Spanish Steps, the Trevi Fountain, Piazza Navona, the renowned Fountain of the Four Rivers, as well as witnessing masterpieces by renowned artists like Bernini and Borromini. You'll also have the opportunity to visit the famous Pantheon.
Following the tour, your guide will return you to the hotel, where you'll have the remainder of the evening to spend at your leisure.
After breakfast at your hotel, you will meet your guide and be transferred to the Vatican, the world's smallest independent state and walled enclave. During your visit, you will explore the private apartments of Julius II, Pinecone Courtyard, Gallery of the Maps, Gallery of the Tapestries and Gallery of Candelabra.
Next, you will proceed to the Sistine Chapel, where you will have ample time to admire Michelangelo's famous frescoes and learn about the intense relationship between Pope Julius II and Michelangelo that drove the artist to create one of the world's greatest works of art.
After a coffee break, your tour will continue in the vast open spaces of St. Peter’s Basilica, where you will see Michelangelo's stunning Pieta and Bernini's impressive Papal Canopy, a legacy left to the Basilica by the Barberini family.
Your tour will end at St. Peter’s Square, where you can admire Michelangelo's Dome and the gorgeous colonnades designed by Bernini. After the tour, you will take a leisurely walk back to your hotel with your guide, stopping for a photo opportunity at the legendary Castel Sant'Angelo.
Once you arrive back at your hotel, you will have the remainder of the day to explore Rome on your own. Please note that the Vatican is a sacred religious site and the dress code for visiting it is applied, as it is when visiting any church in Italy. Additionally, entrance to St. Peter’s Basilica may not be guaranteed due to religious services.
After breakfast, meet your guide for a walking tour to discover the famous ancient treasures of Rome. The first stop is the iconic Roman Forum, which served as the key political, ritual, and civic center of ancient Rome for over 3,000 years. Admire the columns and remains of ancient temples, arches, and buildings, including the Temple of Caesar and the Arch of Septimius Severus. You'll also visit the adjacent Palatine Hill, the site of the city's first settlements.
Next, explore Rome's hallmark site - the Colosseum, originally known as the Flavius amphitheater. This impressive building was the largest and most imposing of its kind in the Roman world, designed as an arena for the fights of Roman gladiators and capable of holding up to 70,000 spectators.
After the tour, your guide will take you back to the hotel and you'll have the evening to spend at your leisure.
We carefully select hotels to ensure your amazing stay. We will recommend the best available properties for your travel dates.
Traveling by train from Rome to Matera is an enjoyable and scenic journey through the Italian countryside. The train ride takes approximately 4-5 hours, with frequent departures available throughout the day. Along the way, passengers can take in stunning views of the rolling hills, olive groves, and charming villages of southern Italy. Upon arrival in Matera, visitors can explore the UNESCO-listed Sassi di Matera, a unique city of ancient cave dwellings and stone architecture carved into the rocky landscape.
The Southern Italian city Matera is a one-of-a-kind cave town with famous Sassi di Matera cave dwellings.
Once you arrive at your destination, your driver will transfer you to your hotel for check-in, and the remainder of the day is yours to enjoy at your own pace.
Your private guide meets you in the hotel lobby after breakfast to begin a day trip to explore Matera and Alberobello. The first stop is Matera, where you embark on a 2-hour sightseeing tour. You explore the UNESCO-listed World Heritage ancient cave dwellings, known as Sassi di Matera, and learn about the fascinating history of this unique place. Your guide takes you on a stroll through the baroque area and you also visit the Casa Grotta Museum, which showcases a traditional cave dwelling.
Next, you meet your driver and head to Alberobello, a charming city famous for its beehive-shaped houses. With the help of a local guide, you embark on a 1.5-hour walking tour where you see the Basilica Santi Medici and enter one of the ‘trulli’ houses, built from traditional Apulian stone.
After the tour, your driver takes you back to the hotel and you have the rest of the day to spend at your leisure.
After enjoying breakfast at your hotel, it's time to check out and leave Matera. You will then be transferred to either Bari airport or the train station near your hotel.
We carefully select hotels to ensure your amazing stay. We will recommend the best available properties for your travel dates.
What's included
- Accommodation at remarkable downtown hotels;
- Breakfasts at the hotels;
- Airport transfers and all transportation according to the itinerary;
- Breathtaking sightseeing tours according to the itinerary with professional English-speaking guides;
- Support line during the trip.
Please note:
1. Hotels availability is subject to change. In case current hotels are booked out we will provide alternative hotels of an equal value for you.
2. We include 1 vehicle for your arrival and departure transfers. If multiple vehicles are required additional transfer costs will apply.
3. Сity taxes are not included in the price. This is a small tax (1-5 EUR per person per night) collected by many European cities. You will need to pay it at the hotel on checkout.
Not included: international flights, multiple arrival/departure transfers, other meals not mentioned in the program, optional tours and services, local city taxes and all personal expenses.
What To Know
Stress-free Booking Book your journey without stress and at convenient pace. You can pay a deposit of 20% to book any tour in any major currency; the final balance will be due 90 days before start date. In event if you decide to change or postpone your trip, you can transfer your deposit to any other packages we offer. Cruise bookings and special offers may be subject to different booking terms.
Trip Assurance If you need our assistance during your trip, you can call our support line available from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. (CET) on weekdays and weekends.
