La Dolce Vita

Welcome to Italy! On arrival in Rome, make your own way to our start hotel, then head out to explore the capital on the Rome Hop on, Hop off bus, allowing you to see the city's main sights at your own pace. Our open-top panoramic buses allow you to enjoy a spectacular view of the most iconic monuments of the Eternal City. All you have to do is jump on board and relax, listen to the audio commentary and get on and off at any of the eight stops available along the route. The bus ticket included is valid for a day.

Rome - Assisi - Siena - Florence. It's an early start as we depart Rome at 7:15 and journey to the medieval walled town of Assisi. There's time to visit the picturesque Basilica of St Francis independently if you choose.

Then we continue to Siena, a UNESCO-protected town known for its incredibly narrow streets, medieval brick buildings and fan-shaped main square: Piazza del Campo. After a short visit we continue to our hotel in Florence, where dinner is included.

Today we enjoy a half-day sightseeing tour of Florence, 'Cradle of the Renaissance' and home of Michelangelo. Take in the beautiful Duomo, formally known as the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore. Other highlights of the city include the town hall - Palazzo Vecchio and the Basilica of Santa Croce, burial place for illustrious Italians including Michelangelo, Galileo, and Machiavelli. We enjoy lunch in a typical Tuscan restaurant in Piazza Santa Croce.

This afternoon you can continue exploring Florence independently. Alternatively, you can book an optional excursion to nearby Pisa, home to the iconic Leaning Tower.

Departing Florence, we drive to the elegant city of Bologna, capital of the Emilia-Romagna region. Upon arrival, enjoy a walk through the charming city center, where you can admire the iconic porticos and bustling shopping streets. Stroll from Piazza Malpighi to Piazza del Nettuno and Piazza Maggiore in the heart of the city, and take in the impressive Basilica of San Petronio.

We then dive into Bologna’s renowned street food scene, exploring its vibrant markets and food stalls. Meander through medieval streets, sampling both traditional and modern culinary delights. This is your chance to savor the authentic flavors that make Bologna a gastronomic capital.

After your street food light lunch at a local eatery, we continue our journey to Venice (Mestre), where we check into our hotel for the next two nights.

After breakfast it's time to explore perhaps Italy's most famous and romantic destination. The floating city is a photographer's dream, and we'll be taking in the main highlights. Our tour begins in Piazza San Marco, in English known as St Mark's Square. It's the focal point of the city, dominated by St Mark's Basilica. We also see the Gothic Doge's Palace and the legendary Bridge of Sighs.

After our tour, we enjoy some traditional cicchetti (Italian tapas) and a glass of prosecco in our beautiful setting. Then there is free time for you to explore further - we strongly recommend a gondola ride on Venice's famous canals!

Venice - Tuscany wine region - Rome. Leaving Venice, we head into Tuscany, one of Italy's most idyllic regions. A land known for its beautiful scenery, historic castles, and some of Italy's finest wines. We enjoy a stop in the medieval town of Montepulciano for lunch, where you can try a glass or two of the region's vino. Then we enjoy a short amount of free time to explore the town further, before returning to Rome for the evening.

Today we explore Vatican City, home to the Pope and technically an independent country - another one you can tick off your list!

Departing the hotel after breakfast, we'll enjoy a guided tour of the Vatican's museums and galleries with 'skip the line' tickets. Take in the Gallery of Tapestries, the beautifully decorated frescoes of Raphael's Rooms, and of course, the Sistine Chapel. We can also admire the stunning St Peter's Basilica from the outside. This iconic landmark dominates the Vatican and is one of the largest Christian churches in the world, as well as being the pinnacle of Renaissance architecture. It is allegedly where Saint Peter was buried and titans of Italian design including Donato Bramante and Michelangelo had a hand in its creation. The rest of today is at leisure in Rome.

Rome - Pompeii - Sorrento.As we set off from Rome, we head south, passing through the regions of Lazio and Campania to reach Pompeii. Once we arrive, we enjoy an authentic Neapolitan pizza for lunch before beginning our tour of the archaeological site.

In the year 79 AD, the residents of Pompeii, a prosperous and sophisticated Roman city, were going about their day. Suddenly, without warning, the normally quiet Mount Vesuvius erupted, burying the city in up to 6 metres of ash and pumice. While many Pompeiians escaped, approximately 2,000 people were tragically buried and perished. The ash perfectly preserved the city, and on our guided tour, we will explore some of the surviving artifacts, mosaics, and buildings, learning about the eruption and what life was like in the city before that fateful day.

After our visit to Pompeii, we drive along the picturesque Sorrentine coast, arriving in Sorrento. Dinner is included this evening—please dress smartly as it is a formal dinner!

Sorrento - Capri - Sorrento. Today we explore the beautiful and exclusive Mediterranean island of Capri. Weather permitting, we will visit the Blue Grotto sea cave by row boat. You can enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before there is free time to explore the island. Capri was a summer home for the Roman emperor Augustus and today is popular with celebrities. After our visit, we return to Sorrento.

Please note: On winter departures of this tour during the months of November - March, we are unable to include a day trip to Capri. Instead, you will enjoy a free day in Sorrento. Perhaps head to the Amalfi Coast for a day trip, or enjoy a relaxing day of sightseeing and shopping at leisure!

Sorrento - Rome. There is free time today for you to explore Sorrento. Perhaps enjoy some shopping, or sample some local limoncello. You can also book an optional excursion to the Amalfi coast before we return to Rome at approximately 16:00.

Enjoy a final breakfast in the hotel before our tour arrangements come to an end.