Essential Italian Expresso

Rome - Assisi - Siena - Florence. Welcome to Italy! It's an early start as we depart Rome at 07:15 by deluxe coach, heading for Assisi, a medieval town encircled by ancient walls. Here we visit the Basilica of St Francis, famous for its frescoes by Giotto and Cimabue. You then have some free time to find lunch (not included) before the journey continues.

From here we make our way to Siena, a UNESCO-listed city celebrated for its shell-shaped Piazza del Campo and the historic Palio horse race. Later, we travel on through the Tuscan countryside to reach Florence, where we check in to our hotel and spend the night.

Please note: The tour departs at 07:15 on Day 1 from the Hotel St Martin in Rome. Please arrive in Rome the day before your tour to ensure you don't miss the coach.

This morning we explore Florence, the cradle of the Renaissance. We visit the Duomo with Brunelleschi's dome, Giotto's Bell Tower and the Baptistery, then take in the Piazza della Signoria, the Palazzo Vecchio and the Santa Croce Basilica.

Around midday there is free time for you to find lunch (not included). In the afternoon, you can either continue discovering Florence or join an optional excursion to Pisa, home to the famous Leaning Tower and the Piazza dei Miracoli. The evening is free to dine wherever you choose, before a second night in Florence.

Florence - Bologna - Venice. After breakfast we leave Florence and travel to Bologna, a city known for both its culture and its culinary tradition. Together we walk from Piazza Malpighi to Piazza Maggiore, admiring the San Petronio Basilica and the Palazzo del Podesta along the way.

You then have some free time - a good opportunity to seek out Bologna's renowned street food, an authentic taste of the local cuisine (lunch not included). In the afternoon we continue to Venice, where we check in to our hotel and have time to relax. Overnight in Venice.

Today we transfer to Piazza San Marco, where our guide leads a tour of the city. We see the Doge's Palace from the outside and cross the famous Bridge of Sighs.Afterwards you have free time to explore Venice, perhaps wandering the backstreets or stopping for lunch (not included). We then return to our hotel for a further night in Venice.

Venice - Tuscany wine region - Rome. On our final morning, we leave Venice and travel south through Tuscany to Montepulciano, a hilltop town famed for its Vino Nobile wine and sweeping countryside views. On arrival, you have free time to stroll through the historic centre and find somewhere for lunch (not included).

There is a little more free time before we make the journey back to Rome, where the tour comes to an end.

Please note: We will not arrive back in Rome until late afternoon or early evening, so please be aware of this when arranging your flights. We would encourage you to stay in Rome for an extra night, and book your onward flight for the day after our tour concludes.