Day 1: Milan
Arrival in Milan. Meet with the group at the hotel. Rest of the day free. Accommodation.
Day 2: Milan—Lake Como—Milan
Breakfast. In the morning we take a panoramic tour of Milan including a visit to the impressive Duomo (entrance included), Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, Sforza Castle and a tour of Sant'Ambrogio, Parco delle Basiliche, Universidad Statale, Corso Venezia, Piazza San Babila, Piazza Fontana and finally the well-known Teatro alla Scala. We then depart for Lake Como where we will take a boat ride offering fascinating views of the evocative villages, imposing villas and beautiful gardens that flank the shores of the lake, a holiday destination for the Lombard nobility. Return to Milan. Accommodation.
Day 3: Milan— Venice
Breakfast. In the morning we depart for Venice. Arrival and Vaporetto transfer to Venice where we will take a guided tour to discover St Mark’s Square, with its Ducalle Palace and Basilica, Bridge of Sighs, Rialto Bridge and have free time to wander along its canals and optionally take a gondola ride. Return to the hotel. Accommodation.
Day 4: Venice—Bologna—Modena— La Spezia
Breakfast. Today we travel to Bologna, located in a traditionally gastronomic region, whose cured meats are the most famous in all of Italy: salami, mortadella and ham. Lambrusco, the sparkling wine, is also produced in this area and, depending on the grape used, this can be sweet or dry. We will enjoy a guided tour of the city, see Neptune fountain, the thirteenth-century Town Hall, the San Petronio Basilica, ending with the two towers that belonged to noble families, representing the conflict between the opposing factions of the Guelphs and Ghibellines. We will enjoy a traditional lunch in a Lambrusco winery with a tasting of local products. Today we have an optional trip to Modena to drive a Ferrari and visit the brand’s museum. We then continue to La Spezia, Arrival and accommodation
Day 5: La Spezia—Cinque Terre—La Spezia
Breakfast. We will spend the day visiting the five most beautiful villages in the world: Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore. The Cinque Terre are amazing. In the region of Liguria there are many small coastal villages near Genoa, not far from Pisa and in the province of La Spezia. These are perched on amazingly rugged cliffs, with beautiful colours. They are known as the Cinque Terre (Five Lands) and are a World Heritage Site. Although these titles can sometimes sound a little pompous, this declaration, which really means something, is highly deserved. Return to the hotel. Accommodation.
Day 6: La Spezia—Pisa—Lucca—Florence
Breakfast. In the morning we will head to Pisa. In beautiful Pisa the star attraction for travellers is its famous Leaning Tower, which for centuries has been arousing the interest of the whole world with its peculiar angle. However, in Pisa there are more tourist sights to see. A few metres away, and also located in the Piazza dei Miracoli, is the largest Baptistery in Italy, the leaning Duomo tower and the Camposanto constructed with sacred dirt from Golgotha, places full of history, relics and science that perfectly complement the visit to the city of Pisa. Later we will go to Lucca where we will take a guided tour. Lucca is a beautiful Tuscan city, famous worldwide for being one of the few towns that still maintains its medieval walls intact as a result of having never been attacked. Within the walls that surround it, Lucca has a historic centre that retains its original splendour from the Middle Ages. We continue to Florence. Accommodation.
Day 7: Florence
Breakfast. Guided walking tour of the historic centre of Florence to immerse ourselves in its art and history and where we will hear many anecdotes and details that often go unnoticed. We will visit the most enchanting squares: Piazza del Duomo, (with the Baptistery and its famous Paradise, Cathedral and Campanile gates), Piazza della Repubblica and Piazza della Signoria. In addition, we cannot miss the emblematic Ponte Vecchio bridge, the entertaining Porcellino market, Orsanmichele church and much more. In the afternoon we will visit the Gallery of the Academy of Florence where we can see the famous work by Michelangelo: David. In the evening, we have a special dinner of Florentine-Style Steak, a typical dish from the city, enjoyed in a local restaurant. Accommodation.
Day 8: Florence—Chianti—San Gimignano— Volterra—Siena
Breakfast. We depart for the Chianti region, the Italy of dreams in the heart of Tuscany: villages with terracotta roofs, meals washed down with wine and vines stretching out over the hills bathed in sunlight. We will visit Greve in Chianti, the main town in the region, where we will have time to take a stroll and visit the Wine Museum. We then depart for San Gimignano, one of the most fascinating examples of a medieval city, declared a world heritage site by UNESCO. This very old small town, where time has stood still, is built on top of a hill and is famous for its many towers, frescoes and other treasures. We will have free time to take a stroll and have a traditional lunch with a tasting of local products. We will continue to Volterra. Perched on top of a hill, between the valleys of the Cecina and Era rivers, and offering an indescribable panoramic view, Volterra still preserves the testimony of thirty centuries of history. The centre of the town is full of medieval buildings, all built inside the original Etruscan wall. Time to discover the city. We then continue to Siena. Accommodation.
Day 9: Siena—Montepulciano—Rome
Breakfast. Siena is a beautiful city, one of the most important in Tuscany. It is rich in history, art and architectural beauty. The historic centre was declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO in 1995 on the basis that it is the incarnation of a medieval city. In the morning we will enjoy a guided tour. We will stroll through one of the most beautiful medieval squares in Italy, Piazza del Campo. We will see the Palazzo Pubblico, which offers us a beautiful panoramic view of the impressive Torre del Mangia tower and the Palazzo Sansedoni. We will see the Duomo, one of the best examples of Gothic architecture in Italy. At the end of the visit we will visit the Enoteca Italiana wine museum. Once there, we will be welcomed by an expert sommelier who will provide us with lots of information about the most famous Tuscan wines. We will enjoy a wine tasting with a light lunch. We will taste Chianti wine, probably the most famous Italian wine internationally and one that has been enjoyed for centuries. We will then depart for Montepulciano. Travelling through beautiful Tuscany, between winding hills and small lakes on the Umbrian border, we will find this old town, full of history and works of art, in the middle of the agricultural landscape of the Lands of Siena, the ideal place to rest and enjoy nature among rolling hills covered with olive trees, vines and woodland areas of pine and chestnut trees. Free time for a walk before we continue to Rome. Arrival at the end of the day. Accommodation.
Day 10: Rome
Breakfast. In the morning we have a panoramic tour of the "eternal city”with a local guide during which we will admire: Tiber Island, Trastevere, Aventine and Palentine Hills, the Colosseum, the Circus Maximus, the Arch of Constantine, the Theatre of Marcellus, Piazza Venezia, the Imperial Fora, the Capitoline Hill and the Roman Forum, among other sights. Afternoon free to visit the Vatican Museums or take a stroll around the city. In the evening we have a special dinner in the traditional and charming neighbourhood of Trastevere. Accommodation.
Day 11: Rome
Breakfast. Free morning to enjoy the eternal city. At midday we will enjoy a traditional lunch with a cooking class to learn some of the secrets of Italian cuisine. At dusk we will enjoy a guided tour of Baroque Rome, visiting the main squares and fountains of the city such as Piazza Navona, Trevi Fountain, Piazza di Spagna and the Pantheon, among others. In the evening we will enjoy a special farewell meal accompanied by tenors. Accommodation.
Day 12: Rome – City of origin
Breakfast and end of our services.
Amalfi Coast Extension
Day 12: Rome – Pompeii – Naples
Breakfast. In the morning we depart for Pompeii. Arrival and guided tour of its impressive ruins buried by the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD. We will continue to Naples, capital of the Italian Mezzogiorno, where we will enjoy a guided tour of its main attractions and learn about its history. In the evening we have a special dinner in a pizzeria where we will try the authentic Neapolitan Pizza. Accommodation.
Day 13: Naples – Capri – Sorrento
Breakfast. Today will be spent visiting the spectacular Island of Capri. We will take a ferry and in 40 minutes we will reach the island. Arrival and guided tour of Capri and Anacapri followed by free time to enjoy the island. If time allows, we can admire its famous Blue Grotto. Return by ferry to Sorrento. In the evening dinner and free time to stroll through the centre of Sorrento. Accommodation.
Day 14: Sorrento – Amalfi Coast - Sorrento
Breakfast. Today we will travel along the coast following the panoramic road and admiring the wonderful villages from above. We will stop in Positano, one of the most characteristic enclaves on the Sorrento Peninsula perched between the cliffs and the mountain, where we will stroll through its narrow alleyways, sometimes formed of small flights of stairs, which give it a special charm. We will then go to Praiano and Amalfi, the main town along the Amalfi Coast, famous for its beauty and its Cathedral, as well as for the production of Limoncello, the local liquor from the region. Special lunch in the house of a local to learn about its roots. We will continue to Ravello, the city of music located at a height of 350 metres above sea level and with spectacular views of the Amalfi Coast. Free time to visit Villa Rufolo with its panoramic terraces. Return to Sorrento and rest of the day free. In the evening there is a special farewell meal. Accommodation.
Day 15: Sorrento / Rome / City of origin
Breakfast and, at the appropriate time, transfer to the airport of Rome to catch our flight to the place of origin. End of our services.
