Grand Tour of ItalyEscorted Tour, Italy

Savour every flavour of Italy on our all-encompassing two-week tour, from the cultural highlights of the north to the carefree coasts in the south. Starting in the marshland-turned-masterpiece Venice, you’ll sweep through the lyrical landscapes of the Italian countryside before stopping in ancient Rome, Naples and Sicily. Enjoy a glass of red overlooking beautiful Siena and visiting the ruins of Pompeii.  You’ll be indulging in the Italian way of life faster than you can say ‘buongiorno’.

WHAT'S INCLUDED

14 nights in hotels (accommodation as specified or similar)

21 meals: 14 breakfasts (days 2-15) 7 dinners (days 1, 4, 7, 10 and 12-14)

Portable audio headset system on excursions

VIP door-to-door travel service

Services of a tour manager

International flights (prices are based on return flights with British Airways from London Gatwick. Supplements may apply from other airports)

Best available coaches with experienced drivers

Porterage

All airport taxes and duties

10 included excursions and visits

Tour of Venice

Visits to Ferrara & Bologna; Siena (with wine tasting); Royal Palace of Caserta; Paestum (with mozzarella tasting); and Acireale

Excursions to Florence; Pisa & Lucca; Rome (with Colosseum entrance); and Pompeii & Sorrento

ITINERARY

Day 1 UK - Venice - Bassano del Grappa/Treviso

VIP door-to-door travel service collects you from home for your flight to Venice. We transfer to your hotel in Bassano del Grappa

Day 2 Venice

You’ll whizz into Venice on a local train, for a guided walk that takes you to the main sights, including the Piazza San Marco and the Bridge of Sighs. Afterwards, you’re free to explore independently, or you may have pre-booked an optional visit to the Doge’s Palace. Please note: 2020 departures will transfer into Venice by coach instead of the train.

Day 3 Bassano del Grappa/Treviso

On your third day in the area, you’re free to explore on your own. Or, there’s an optional trip to the old university town of Vicenza, including a guided tour, entrance to the grappa museum and a grappa tasting. Please note: In 2020 the optional excursion is to Padua and Vicenza, without the grappa museum.

Day 4 Ferrara - Bologna - Montecatini Terme

Today, you’ll travel into the region of Emilia-Romagna en route to Tuscany. You’ll visit Ferrara, one of the greatest walled cities in Italy. And you’ll stop by the regional capital Bologna, renowned for its food (though the porticoed red-brick buildings and ancient university are also worth a mention).

Day 5 Pisa - Lucca

Pisa and Lucca are on the itinerary today, as you head off on a full-day excursion. Pisa’s Miracle Square (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) is where you’ll find the famous Leaning Tower, as well as the shiny white marble cathedral and baptistery. In the walled medieval town of Lucca, you’ll take a guided walk to Piazza del Mercato. It’s also known as Piazza dell’Anfiteatro - once upon a time, a Roman amphitheatre stood here (which explains the piazza’s oval shape).

Day 6 Florence

A local train whisks you to Florence from your base in Montecatini Terme. A guided walking tour reveals the city’s highlights and includes entrance to the Basilica di Santa Croce, the burial place of some of the most eminent Italians. Brunelleschi and Vasari were involved in the architectural design of the basilica.

Day 7 Siena - Rome

After a morning exploring the ‘contrade’ (districts) of Siena, one of Italy’s most beautiful medieval cities, you’ll wind your way south towards Rome. Along the way, you’ll quench your thirst with a wine tasting in one of the best grape-growing areas of Tuscany. You’ll arrive into Rome late afternoon.

Day 8 Rome

Your introduction to Rome includes a guided walk, the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill, and entrance to the Colosseum, Rome’s ancient icon.

Day 9 Rome

Spend today exploring on your own - perch on the Spanish Steps and throw a euro or two into the Trevi Fountain. Alternatively, join a morning optional excursion to Tivoli, for entrance to the remarkable Villa d’Este, or an afternoon excursion to the Vatican and Sistine Chapel.

Day 10 Caserta

Today you’ll journey to Caserta for a tour of the 18th century baroque Royal Palace. You’ll stay in Caserta for two nights.

Day 11 Pompeii - Sorrento

Your tour today takes you to Pompeii. This wealthy town was buried in AD 79 by a massive eruption of Mount Vesuvius and was frozen in time. In the afternoon, enjoy some free time in Sorrento, a pretty town on the Gulf of Naples.

Day 12 Paestum - Giardini Naxos, Sicily

Sicily. You’ll make your way south from Naples through Calabria - the ‘toe’ of Italy - right down to Sicily. Enjoy a stop at the wonderful Greek temples in Paestum en route. You’ll visit a mozzarella producer for a tasting of this delicious buffalo milk cheese - you may catch a glimpse of some of the buffalo herds as you travel through the countryside. A short sea crossing from Reggio di Calabria takes you across to Messina on Sicily’s north-eastern tip.

Day 13 Giardini Naxos

Relax and spend today at leisure.

Day 14 Giardini Naxos

Spend another day enjoying your surroundings or join a full-day optional excursion to Mount Etna and then Taormina, where there’ll be a guided walk and entrance to the ancient Greek theatre, in its splendid elevated position with glorious views.

Days 15-16 Acireale - Catania – UK

After free time you’ll depart for the airport, stopping en route in the coastal baroque town of Acireale. Your flight leaves late evening and will arrive into the UK in the early hours of day 16 (subject to schedule changes). Upon arrival in the UK, your vehicle will be waiting for the journey home.

PLEASE NOTE

Due to the layout of many towns, access is limited and clients are advised that a certain amount of walking is included, often on uneven ground and steep gradients.

This holiday shows as a 16-day tour, with your flight home arriving into the UK in the early hours of day 16. However, flight schedules are subject to change and if a change means you arrive home before midnight, the duration will be 15 days.

In many cities in Italy, a room tax of between €1-5 per person per night (subject to change), is payable directly to the hotel on check-out.

Grand Tour of Italy is located in Escorted Tour, Italy. Accommodation rating is the operators own rating and may not be the official rating. Hotel details correct at 18/03/2020