Italian Holiday

Indulge all your senses in the imperial city of Rome, your introduction to a memorable encounter with Italy that will have you returning for more. Spend your afternoon relaxing after your journey, or explore the ancient city streets before joining your Travel Director and travel companions for dinner.

Your Roman adventure begins join a Local Specialist for an unforgettable visit to the Vatican Museums. Walk in the footsteps of history as you admire the remarkable collection of masterpieces gathered by Popes over centuries. Gaining fast-track admission, you will admire the magnificent frescoed ceiling in the Sistine Chapel. Crossing the Tiber, you'll venture into Ancient Rome and visit the Colosseum. Spend a leisurely afternoon exploring Rome. You can stroll at your own pace past spectacular palaces and piazzas, or pause to admire the famous Spanish Steps and Trevi Fountain. Occasionally, access to the Vatican Museums is limited. If tickets are unavailable, you’ll instead explore the Capitoline Museums, home to iconic Roman art and archaeology.

• Discover the work of Michaelangelo at the Vatican Museums
• Rome Orientation

This morning, you'll venture north through the valley of the Tiber into the green and golden landscapes of Umbria. Pass the hilltop towns of Orte and Orvieto, travelling beside Tuscany's terraced olive groves and across the Apennine Mountains, bound for Venice, the 'Queen of the Adriatic'.

• Scenic Drive through Tuscany

Cruise by private launch into the heart of Venice this morning, where you'll see the city's most celebrated sights including the Bridge of Sighs, St. Mark's Square, St. Mark's Basilica, and the ornate Doge's Palace. Next up you’ll witness the traditional Venetian craft of glassblowing at a workshop. Watch master craftsmen use centuries-old techniques to shape the delicate glass pieces Venice is famed for. You’ll continue to soak up the pageantry and elegance of Venice before heading to Verona, home of Shakespeare's star-crossed lovers, Romeo and Juliet.

• Learn about the History and Ancient Skills of Venetian Glassblowing
• Verona Orientation

Pisa's UNESCO-listed Square of Miracles is our first stop today, where you will have the opportunity to view the Leaning Tower before travelling on to Florence. Explore the birthplace of the Renaissance and home of the Medici dynasty, whose penchant for beautiful art and architecture created one of the cultural centres of the world. Tonight, Connect With Locals at a Be My Guest experience set against the backdrop of Tuscan vineyards and olive groves.

• Enjoy a Traditional Tuscan Buffet at the 12th-century Castello del Trebbio
• See Pisa's Landmarks

Join a Local Specialist today to delve into the rich medieval and Renaissance history of Florence. Your sightseeing tour will take you to the Piazza della Signoria with its impressive sculptures and imposing palazzi. Wandering through the narrow streets, you will encounter the multicoloured marble Duomo, the famous Baptistery and the almost 700-year-old Ponte Vecchio, a spectacular feat of engineering from the Middle Ages that is today lined with jewellers. Your journey continues through Umbria to the valley of the Tiber River and back to Rome. Toast to a memorable holiday with newfound friends at dinner.

• Florence City Tour

After breakfast, it’s time to say a fond arrivederci to Rome, Italy and your travel companions as you return home with wonderful memories of this magnificent destination.