Ultimate Italy

Expedition

Enjoy the ultimate Italian experience during this 12-day guided tour.

EXPERIENCE OVERVIEW

Enjoy the ultimate Italian experience during this 12-day guided tour. Sail to the sun-drenched island of Capri, where you will join a Local Expert for a tour of the infamous Faraglioni Rocks — three towering rocks jutting out from the Mediterranean Sea. At lunch, sit down to an Italian feast at the Michelin-starred Mammà, where you will have sweeping views of the Gulf of Naples while savoring dishes made from fresh, seasonal ingredients. See Florence your way with a choice of activities: Join an art historian and visit the Accademia to see Michelangelo's David or walk with a local food expert and taste this Tuscan town’s most decadent treats. In Venice, visit the Doge's Palace with a Local Expert and without the crowds — the expansive residence is yours alone to explore after hours. Extend your tour in timeless elegance onboard the luxurious Venice Simplon-Orient-Express to travel to Paris.

highlights

Dining Summary

6 Dinner (D)
13 Breakfast (B)
3 Lunch (L)

Choice Highlights

Choose between two carefully selected activities

Assisi: Join a Local Expert for a guided visit to the imposing Basilica of St. Francis.
Assisi: Treat your palate as you sample Umbrian specialties at a tasting experience.

Choose between two carefully selected activities

Florence: Join an art historian to immerse yourself in Renaissance Florence. Visit the Accademia Museum and marvel at the statue of David, a Michelangelo masterpiece. See the impressive trio of the Duomo, Bell Tower and Baptistery before arriving to Piazza della Signoria, traditionally the political heart of the city.
Florence: Join a local foodie and get to know Florence one bite at a time on your walking tour. Learn about Florentine speciliaties, visit the lively Mercato Centrale and sample a selection of gourmet highlights.

Additional Included Highlights

You will be escorted by one of our fine Travel Concierges, handpicked to serve as your expert guide, consummate organiser, and friend overseas.
Personal radio headsets give you the freedom to wander during visits to famous highlights, without missing any of your Local Expert's fascinating commentary, available on departures with 15 or more guests.
At every hotel, you'll be treated to seamless baggage handling, with prompt delivery inside your room.
Hotel and restaurant tips are included - you'll never have to worry about how much to give, nor search for foreign currency. We also include all taxes and porterage charges at hotels.
Stay connected with friends and family with our complimentary coach and hotel Wi-Fi (where available).
Complimentary airport transfers are included on start and end dates and when additional accommodation has been booked through Luxury Gold. Guests will be transferred with fellow Luxury Gold Travelers that arrive on the same flight. Complimentary, private train station transfers are included when train travel is included within the itinerary. Transfers to train stations or alternate hotels, in the same start or end city of the itinerary, may be requested but are not guaranteed.

Exceptional Dining

Rome: As night falls, delight in the romance of the Eternal City before gathering for a delicious Welcome Dinner of Italian cuisine and wine at a restaurant known only to locals, near Rome’s famous Pantheon. Watch the world go by as you savor a meal with new friends.
Capri: After your morning cruise, cool off from the Mediterranean sun with a refreshing local beverage, the lemon granita. Freshly made with sweet Sicilian lemons, this tasty drink will add zing to your day before more exploring.
Capri: Take in beautiful views of the Gulf of Naples from the privileged perch of Michelin-starred Mammà restaurant. Savor a delectable meal of Mediterranean flavors in perfect Caprese style, created with passion from fresh, local produce by chef Salvatore La Ragione.
San Gimignano: Get a taste of magnificence in gelato form. Ascend serpentine alleyways to the artisan ice cream parlour of World Champion Gelato maestro, Sergio Dondoli, for a taste of his creamiest treats. It may be difficult to leave.
Tuscany: Explore Guardastelle with a wine expert to learn about the various grape varieties and visit the ancient cellars, where you will enjoy a wine tasting. Afterwards, indulge in a lunch of Tuscan specialties and beautiful views of the rolling hills and vineyards.
Florence: Enjoy dinner in an elegant Florentine villa, where you’ll dine on regional dishes including the famous local specialty 'Fiorentina' - a Tuscan beef steak, seasoned and grilled to perfection.
Tuscany: Immerse yourself in the culture of Tuscan food with a hands-on cooking class in the former hunting lodge of the Medici family. Source fresh ingredients from the blooming garden and learn how to roll your own fresh pasta with a professional Italian chef.
Venice: Learn how to make the perfect Bellini, the cocktail invented right here in Venice and named after a local artist. Afterwards, enjoy with a traditional Italian dinner at the atmospheric Taverna La Fenice, steeped in history.

Founder's Collection

Tuscany: If you are traveling on a Founder's Collection departure, on Day 6 you are invited to an exclusive lunch and wine tasting with Marchese Mazzei at his centuries-old Tuscan estate. This experience will replace the lunch and wine tasting at the Guardastelle Estate.

Journey Highlights

Rome: Stroll around the Roman Forum, learning more about the ancient ruins of government buildings while enjoying the panoramic views over the Eternal City. Then, skip the queues to view the iconic Colosseum and hear the remarkable history of the largest amphitheater in the ancient world.
Rome: Every side street has something to offer, as you’ll see on a guided exploration of the hidden sites of Rome with your knowledgeable Local Expert. Get away from the crowds and discover more culture and art in this living masterpiece.
Pompeii: Walk with a Local Expert through the cobbled streets of this ill-fated town, frozen in time since the 1st century, when a volcanic eruption engulfed the streets. Hear more about the lavish lives the locals lived and visit well-preserved ruins of baths and local shops.
Capri: Arrive in style for your overnight stay as the jet-set do, traveling to your luxurious Capri hotel by open-top taxi. Don’t forget your headscarf or hat and sunglasses so passersby can speculate about the visiting VIP.
Capri: Embark on a private cruise that takes you around the dramatic coast of Capri to seek out hidden coves and grottos that few get to see. The White Grotto is a dazzling sight with the stalactites that dangle over its entrance.
Perugia: Meet Marta, fourth-generation weaver and recipient of a TreadRight Foundation grant at Laboratorio Giuditta Brozzetti. Discover how she and her weavers are preserving the medieval Umbrian tradition of loom-weaving at their artisanal workshop and sharing their own piece of a colorful history. On this MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience Marta and her students help to safeguard the unique patterns while contributing to the protection of Umbria’s cultural heritage. The workshop is owned by women and actively empowers women and girls through its education and training programs.
San Gimignano: Visit this small hillside city and find out why it's called the 'medieval Manhattan of Italy'. Enter the exquisite Porto San Giovanni, the main city gate, that's stood the test of time since the 13th century. Explore well-preserved streets and beautiful ceramic stores.
Pisa: Accompanied by your Local Expert, marvel at the gravity-defying Leaning Tower of Pisa and see the Duomo and baptistery.
Cinque Terre: Experience some of the most awe-inspiring coastal scenery on earth at the UNESCO-listed Cinque Terre. Join your Local Expert and discover charming Manarola, a picturesque ﬁshing village, before traveling by train to the historic and colorful resort town of Rapallo.
Venice: Take a private water taxi along the Grand Canal to make an elegant arrival at your luxurious hotel, which sits right by the water’s edge. Soak up the romance of this enchanting city as you experience a relaxing journey on the water.
Venice: Witness the ancient skill of glassblowing at a long-standing arts center, where you can see the artisans create singular works of beautiful art. On this MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience discover more about this incredible craft that has been part of Venetian culture for several centuries. Every visit helps to support the workshop and the survival of this traditional craft.
Venice: Let yourself be swept away by romance with a ride on a traditional gondola through the canals of Venice. See hidden corners of the city and soak up the atmosphere while being serenaded by your gondolier.
Venice: Join your Local Expert for an enriching exploration of the many wondrous sights of Venice. Admire St. Mark’s Basilica, a brilliant example of Italo-Byzantine architecture, and feel the whispers from the Bridge of Sighs, a historic passageway to the Doge's Palace.

Luxury Hotels

Capri: Overlooking Capri's central plaza, Quisisana Hotel is in prime position for exploring the Isle of Capri. Rooms are desigined with effortless Mediterranean elegance, matching perfectly with the idyllic backdrop of lush greenery and turquoise water.
Venice: Set in the heart of Venice and overlooking the lagoon, Metropole escapes traditional luxury clichés and expresses its personality through an eclectic décor, relic mirrors, rugs from the Far East, red velvets and antique collections.

Personalize your day

Assisi: Join a Local Expert for a guided visit to the imposing Basilica of St. Francis.
Assisi: Treat your palate as you sample Umbrian specialties at a tasting experience.
Assisi: Join a Local Expert for a guided visit to the imposing Basilica of St. Francis.
Assisi: Treat your palate as you sample Umbrian specialties at a tasting experience.
Florence: Join an art historian to immerse yourself in Renaissance Florence. Visit the Accademia Museum and marvel at the statue of David, a Michelangelo masterpiece. See the impressive trio of the Duomo, Bell Tower and Baptistery before arriving to Piazza della Signoria, traditionally the political heart of the city.
Florence: Join a local foodie and get to know Florence one bite at a time on your walking tour. Learn about Florentine speciliaties, visit the lively Mercato Centrale and sample a selection of gourmet highlights.

VIP Experiences

Vatican: Enter the Vatican Museums and visit the Sistine Chapel on a tour with your Local Expert. Be awed by the frescoes that adorn the walls and roof, painted by masters such as Michelangelo, Botticelli and Ghirlandaio.
Venice: Triumphantly enter the Doge's Palace as a guardian permits only you and your traveling companions to enter for an after-hours tour. Discover the art, culture and history of the Venetian Republic in a small, intimate group.

Well-being

Our customised luxury coaches are sanitised before the start of your tour and are maintained to very high standards. Physical distancing measures have been implemented on our customised luxury coaches.
Experience enhanced hygiene protocols to align with the latest guidance following COVID-19. All Travel Concierges, Well-Being Directors and Drivers have completed training in enhanced well-being and hygiene protocols.
We only work with establishments we are confident will consistently adhere to our high well-being standards, which include hotels, restaurants and sight-seeing venues.
Hand sanitizer is freely available on board for you to use throughout the day.

Highlights

Dining Summary

6 Dinner (D)
13 Breakfast (B)
3 Lunch (L)

Choice Highlights

Choose between two carefully selected activities

Assisi: Join a Local Expert for a guided visit to the imposing Basilica of St. Francis.
Assisi: Treat your palate as you sample Umbrian specialties at a tasting experience.

Choose between two carefully selected activities

Florence: Join an art historian to immerse yourself in Renaissance Florence. Visit the Accademia Museum and marvel at the statue of David, a Michelangelo masterpiece. See the impressive trio of the Duomo, Bell Tower and Baptistery before arriving to Piazza della Signoria, traditionally the political heart of the city.
Florence: Join a local foodie and get to know Florence one bite at a time on your walking tour. Learn about Florentine speciliaties, visit the lively Mercato Centrale and sample a selection of gourmet highlights.

Additional Included Highlights

You will be escorted by one of our fine Travel Concierges, handpicked to serve as your expert guide, consummate organiser, and friend overseas.
Personal radio headsets give you the freedom to wander during visits to famous highlights, without missing any of your Local Expert's fascinating commentary, available on departures with 15 or more guests.
At every hotel, you'll be treated to seamless baggage handling, with prompt delivery inside your room.
Hotel and restaurant tips are included - you'll never have to worry about how much to give, nor search for foreign currency. We also include all taxes and porterage charges at hotels.
Stay connected with friends and family with our complimentary coach and hotel Wi-Fi (where available).
Complimentary airport transfers are included on start and end dates and when additional accommodation has been booked through Luxury Gold. Guests will be transferred with fellow Luxury Gold Travelers that arrive on the same flight. Complimentary, private train station transfers are included when train travel is included within the itinerary. Transfers to train stations or alternate hotels, in the same start or end city of the itinerary, may be requested but are not guaranteed.

Exceptional Dining

Rome: As night falls, delight in the romance of the Eternal City before gathering for a delicious Welcome Dinner of Italian cuisine and wine at a restaurant known only to locals, near Rome’s famous Pantheon. Watch the world go by as you savor a meal with new friends.
Capri: After your morning cruise, cool off from the Mediterranean sun with a refreshing local beverage, the lemon granita. Freshly made with sweet Sicilian lemons, this tasty drink will add zing to your day before more exploring.
Capri: Take in beautiful views of the Gulf of Naples from the privileged perch of Michelin-starred Mammà restaurant. Savor a delectable meal of Mediterranean flavors in perfect Caprese style, created with passion from fresh, local produce by chef Salvatore La Ragione.
San Gimignano: Get a taste of magnificence in gelato form. Ascend serpentine alleyways to the artisan ice cream parlour of World Champion Gelato maestro, Sergio Dondoli, for a taste of his creamiest treats. It may be difficult to leave.
Tuscany: Explore Guardastelle with a wine expert to learn about the various grape varieties and visit the ancient cellars, where you will enjoy a wine tasting. Afterwards, indulge in a lunch of Tuscan specialties and beautiful views of the rolling hills and vineyards.
Florence: Enjoy dinner in an elegant Florentine villa, where you’ll dine on regional dishes including the famous local specialty 'Fiorentina' - a Tuscan beef steak, seasoned and grilled to perfection.
Tuscany: Immerse yourself in the culture of Tuscan food with a hands-on cooking class in the former hunting lodge of the Medici family. Source fresh ingredients from the blooming garden and learn how to roll your own fresh pasta with a professional Italian chef.
Venice: Learn how to make the perfect Bellini, the cocktail invented right here in Venice and named after a local artist. Afterwards, enjoy with a traditional Italian dinner at the atmospheric Taverna La Fenice, steeped in history.

Founder's Collection

Tuscany: If you are traveling on a Founder's Collection departure, on Day 6 you are invited to an exclusive lunch and wine tasting with Marchese Mazzei at his centuries-old Tuscan estate. This experience will replace the lunch and wine tasting at the Guardastelle Estate.

Journey Highlights

Rome: Stroll around the Roman Forum, learning more about the ancient ruins of government buildings while enjoying the panoramic views over the Eternal City. Then, skip the queues to view the iconic Colosseum and hear the remarkable history of the largest amphitheater in the ancient world.
Rome: Every side street has something to offer, as you’ll see on a guided exploration of the hidden sites of Rome with your knowledgeable Local Expert. Get away from the crowds and discover more culture and art in this living masterpiece.
Pompeii: Walk with a Local Expert through the cobbled streets of this ill-fated town, frozen in time since the 1st century, when a volcanic eruption engulfed the streets. Hear more about the lavish lives the locals lived and visit well-preserved ruins of baths and local shops.
Capri: Arrive in style for your overnight stay as the jet-set do, traveling to your luxurious Capri hotel by open-top taxi. Don’t forget your headscarf or hat and sunglasses so passersby can speculate about the visiting VIP.
Capri: Embark on a private cruise that takes you around the dramatic coast of Capri to seek out hidden coves and grottos that few get to see. The White Grotto is a dazzling sight with the stalactites that dangle over its entrance.
Perugia: Meet Marta, fourth-generation weaver and recipient of a TreadRight Foundation grant at Laboratorio Giuditta Brozzetti. Discover how she and her weavers are preserving the medieval Umbrian tradition of loom-weaving at their artisanal workshop and sharing their own piece of a colorful history. On this MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience Marta and her students help to safeguard the unique patterns while contributing to the protection of Umbria’s cultural heritage. The workshop is owned by women and actively empowers women and girls through its education and training programs.
San Gimignano: Visit this small hillside city and find out why it's called the 'medieval Manhattan of Italy'. Enter the exquisite Porto San Giovanni, the main city gate, that's stood the test of time since the 13th century. Explore well-preserved streets and beautiful ceramic stores.
Pisa: Accompanied by your Local Expert, marvel at the gravity-defying Leaning Tower of Pisa and see the Duomo and baptistery.
Cinque Terre: Experience some of the most awe-inspiring coastal scenery on earth at the UNESCO-listed Cinque Terre. Join your Local Expert and discover charming Manarola, a picturesque ﬁshing village, before traveling by train to the historic and colorful resort town of Rapallo.
Venice: Take a private water taxi along the Grand Canal to make an elegant arrival at your luxurious hotel, which sits right by the water’s edge. Soak up the romance of this enchanting city as you experience a relaxing journey on the water.
Venice: Witness the ancient skill of glassblowing at a long-standing arts center, where you can see the artisans create singular works of beautiful art. On this MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience discover more about this incredible craft that has been part of Venetian culture for several centuries. Every visit helps to support the workshop and the survival of this traditional craft.
Venice: Let yourself be swept away by romance with a ride on a traditional gondola through the canals of Venice. See hidden corners of the city and soak up the atmosphere while being serenaded by your gondolier.
Venice: Join your Local Expert for an enriching exploration of the many wondrous sights of Venice. Admire St. Mark’s Basilica, a brilliant example of Italo-Byzantine architecture, and feel the whispers from the Bridge of Sighs, a historic passageway to the Doge's Palace.

Luxury Hotels

Capri: Overlooking Capri's central plaza, Quisisana Hotel is in prime position for exploring the Isle of Capri. Rooms are desigined with effortless Mediterranean elegance, matching perfectly with the idyllic backdrop of lush greenery and turquoise water.
Venice: Set in the heart of Venice and overlooking the lagoon, Metropole escapes traditional luxury clichés and expresses its personality through an eclectic décor, relic mirrors, rugs from the Far East, red velvets and antique collections.

Personalize your day

Assisi: Join a Local Expert for a guided visit to the imposing Basilica of St. Francis.
Assisi: Treat your palate as you sample Umbrian specialties at a tasting experience.
Assisi: Join a Local Expert for a guided visit to the imposing Basilica of St. Francis.
Assisi: Treat your palate as you sample Umbrian specialties at a tasting experience.
Florence: Join an art historian to immerse yourself in Renaissance Florence. Visit the Accademia Museum and marvel at the statue of David, a Michelangelo masterpiece. See the impressive trio of the Duomo, Bell Tower and Baptistery before arriving to Piazza della Signoria, traditionally the political heart of the city.
Florence: Join a local foodie and get to know Florence one bite at a time on your walking tour. Learn about Florentine speciliaties, visit the lively Mercato Centrale and sample a selection of gourmet highlights.

VIP Experiences

Vatican: Enter the Vatican Museums and visit the Sistine Chapel on a tour with your Local Expert. Be awed by the frescoes that adorn the walls and roof, painted by masters such as Michelangelo, Botticelli and Ghirlandaio.
Venice: Triumphantly enter the Doge's Palace as a guardian permits only you and your traveling companions to enter for an after-hours tour. Discover the art, culture and history of the Venetian Republic in a small, intimate group.

Well-being

Our customised luxury coaches are sanitised before the start of your tour and are maintained to very high standards. Physical distancing measures have been implemented on our customised luxury coaches.
Experience enhanced hygiene protocols to align with the latest guidance following COVID-19. All Travel Concierges, Well-Being Directors and Drivers have completed training in enhanced well-being and hygiene protocols.
We only work with establishments we are confident will consistently adhere to our high well-being standards, which include hotels, restaurants and sight-seeing venues.
Hand sanitizer is freely available on board for you to use throughout the day.

Trip details

Trip Type: Group Tour

Comfort: Deluxe

Travel Styles: Family, 55+, Luxury

Starts: Rome, Italy

Finishes: Venice, Italy

Duration: 12 days

ITINERARY

1Day 1: Buongiorno Rome

Begin your Italy luxury tour journeying to your luxurious hotel by private chauffeur. Tonight, dine on fine Italian cuisine beneath the gaze of the Pantheon.

Accommodation: Hotel Palazzo Montemartini, Rome.
Meals: Dinner

2Day 2: Rome and the Vatican

Explore the Eternal City and Vatican Museums with the guidance of a Local Expert. Admire magnificent frescos and unlock religious history at the Vatican before touring the mighty Colosseum and viewing the Roman Forum.

Accommodation: Hotel Palazzo Montemartini, Rome.
Meals: Breakfast

3Day 3: Pompeii and the Isle of Capri

At the ruins of Pompeii, your Local Expert paints a vivid picture of the past. Arrive in Capri cruising turquoise waters before taking an open-top taxi to your luxurious hotel overlooking lush greenery and brilliant blue water.

Accommodation: Quisisana Hotel, Capri., Hotel Sorrento Palace (Seaview Executive Rooms).
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

4Day 4: Explore the Isle of Dreams Relaxed Start

Today on your Rome to Venice tour, a private cruise shows off Capri’s dramatic coastline as you wind your way into hidden coves and visit the White Grotto. Cool off with a Lemon Granita tasting and dine in style at Michelin-starred restaurant Mammà.

Accommodation: Quisisana Hotel, Capri., Hotel Sorrento Palace (Seaview Executive Rooms).
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

5Day 5: Umbria, Assisi and Perugia

Discover jewels of Umbria and personalise your day. View the 28 incredible frescos of the Basilica of St. Francis with a local historian. Or, with the help of your local gourmand, learn the roots of Umbrian cuisine and taste heavenly flavors including local olive oils and truffle-infused cured meats.

Accommodation: Brufani, Perugia.
Meals: Breakfast

6Day 6: San Gimignano and Tuscany Relaxed Start

Fourth-generation weaver Marta shares the art of medieval Umbrian tradition of loom-weaving. Delight in a private wine tasting tour with the owners of Guardastelle Estate and lunch surrounded by rolling hills and vineyards. Indulge in sensational gelato with World Champion Gelato maestro, Sergio Dondoli.

Accommodation: Hotel Montebello Splendid, Florence.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

7Day 7: Renaissance Florence

Personalise your day in this flamboyant city. Join an art historian to explore Renaissance Florence in the Accademia Gallery, home to Michelangelo’s David, or explore markets and gourmet stores with a local foodie, illuminating Florentine specialties. Take a fascinating foraging trip for the region's aromatic truffles guided by an expert truffle dog. Dine on regional dishes including 'Fiorentina' — Tuscan steak seasoned and grilled to perfection — over dinner at a Tuscan Villa.

Accommodation: Hotel Montebello Splendid, Florence.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

8Day 8: Tuscan Cuisine and Pisa

Explore a former hunting lodge built in the 1200s by the Medici family. Stroll the estate’s vegetable and herb garden. Do as the locals do, learning from a professional Italian chef how to roll pasta by hand. In Pisa, marvel at the gravity-defying tower, Duomo and baptistery with a local historian.

Accommodation: Hotel Montebello Splendid, Florence.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

9Day 9: Exploring the Cinque Terre

At the UNESCO-listed Cinque Terre, join your Local Expert and visit the cliffside towns of Manarola and Monterosso. Here, colorful houses perched upon steep, rugged coastline overlook the sparkling Mediterranean. Reach Rapallo for your stay at your luxurious hotel.

Accommodation: Grand Hotel Bristol Resort & Spa, Rapallo.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

10Day 10: Venice and the Doge’s Palace

Arrive by private water taxi at your luxurious hotel. Step behind the velvet ropes as you enter the Doge's Palace for an after-hours tour guided by a local art historian.

Accommodation: Hotel Metropole Venice
Meals: Breakfast

11Day 11: The Magic of Venice Relaxed Start

Unlock the centuries-old craft of glassblowing and join a local guide to explore the hidden lanes of Venice. Enjoy being serenaded on a gondola ride and learn to make the perfect Bellini before toasting your journey at Officena Ormencini.

Accommodation: Hotel Metropole Venice
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

12Day 12: Arrivederci Venice

Your Italian voyage ends in style, with a private boat ride to Venice’s Marco Polo Airport.

Meals: Breakfast

WHAT’S INCLUDED

Partner Details

Luxury Gold

In Business Since 1978

A world of immersive journeys awaits you, each with VIP experiences, exceptional dining, magnificent hotels and a Travelling Concierge who’s there to tailor everything to your desires.