Best of Italy - Classic Group, Summer
Min group size:
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Max group size:
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Min age:
5
Max age:
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Description
Explore the best of Italy on this 11-day guided tour. In Rome, marvel at the treasures around every corner and learn about its three thousand years of history. As your travels continue along the Bay of Naples, stop on the slopes of Mount Vesuvius for lunch at a local farm still growing traditional produce unique to the region. Witness the enchanting medieval town of San Gimignano before learning the secrets of leather making in Florence. Fall in love with Venice as you see churches and palaces from a private boat, and cruise its canals on a romantic gondola ride. Sail to Capri, where craggy mountains cascade into the Tyrrhenian Sea; a Local Expert will help you navigate its narrow alleys. Before you say arrivederci to Italy, enjoy one last experience: a private performance of popular songs and arias from some of Italy’s best loved operas during dinner.
Make Travel Matter
Vesuvius National Park: Visit Casa Barone, a small family-run farm on the slopes of Mt. Vesuvius and one of the world’s only producers of Piennolo tomatoes. Learn about their commitment to sustainability and taste the flavours of this special tomato during your Farm-to-Table lunch. Casa Barone cultivates the endangered endemic food species of Piennolo tomato as well as other traditional elements of the classic Vesuvian Countryside, using cultivation methods with low environmental impact. Through their production the farm prevents the local biodiversity from disappearing. This experience advances United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 15: Life on Land.
Insight Choice
Florence: Join your Travel Director on a short walk to a local spot loved by residents. Sample a classic Italian treat and hear how it became a staple of the area. It’s a chance to experience the flavours locals grow up with and return to time and again.
Florence: Stand beside Michelangelo's monumental statue, 'David', in the Accademia Gallery, and admire the exquisite technique and absorbing history behind the world's most famous sculpture.
Authentic Dining
Rome: Savour dinner at a uniquely Roman restaurant, offering a perfect exploration of Lazio's typical flavours.
Tuscany: Savour fantastic regional favourites as you relax over a leisurely dinner paired with local wine. Expect welcoming, countryside cooking that lets the fresh ingredients do the talking.
Rome: Enjoy a dinner of delicious Italian cuisine and wine, accompanied by the rich tremolo of some of Italy’s best-loved songs.
Additional Included Highlights
Personal radio headsets give you the freedom to wander during visits to famous highlights, without missing any of your Local Expert's fascinating commentary.
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.
We carry your bags for you and promptly deliver them to your hotel door.
From time to time, your Travel Director will delight you with an Insight Flourish, which is a local specialty representing the destination.
Stay connected with friends and family with our complimentary coach and hotel Wi-Fi (where available).
If your arrival and/or departure flights are as per the itinerary start and end dates, then transfers are available at scheduled times. If your flights are outside these times, or you have booked additional nights accommodation with Insight Vacations, you may purchase transfers or make your own way from/to the airport.
Insight Experiences
Vatican City: Visit the Vatican Museums and witness the genius of Michelangelo in the Sistine Chapel.
Choice Highlights
Choose between two carefully selected activities
Florence: Join your Travel Director on a short walk to a local spot loved by residents. Sample a classic Italian treat and hear how it became a staple of the area. It’s a chance to experience the flavours locals grow up with and return to time and again.
Florence: Stand beside Michelangelo's monumental statue, 'David', in the Accademia Gallery, and admire the exquisite technique and absorbing history behind the world's most famous sculpture.
Top Rated Highlights
Rome: Explore Rome’s storied past as you see the sweeping Circus Maximus, once the largest stadium in ancient Rome and host to thrilling chariot races. Admire the Arch of Constantine, a triumphal monument built to celebrate Emperor Constantine’s victory at the Battle of Milvian Bridge and gaze up at the Palatine Hill, the most central of Rome’s seven hills and the site where, according to legend, Romulus founded the city.
Florence: Enjoy a stroll through Renaissance Florence and admire the medieval buildings that gave birth to this new style of architecture.
Florence: See the historic neighbourhood of the Santa Croce Basilica and witness local craftspersons at work during a gold and leatherwork demonstration.
Pisa: During your orientation, your Travel Director will show you the baptistery bristling with marble spines, and the colonnaded bell tower lurching behind the 11th-century cathedral - the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa.
Venice: Witness the ancient skill of glassblowing, now practised by precious few masters. Watch artisans create delicate works of art using rare traditional practices. The workshop's artisans teach visitors about the traditional craft of glassblowing and its history which dates back to the 15th century.
Venice: Travel by boat along the Giudecca Canal as your Travel Director gives an orientation to Venice. Pass 13th to 18th-century palazzi, the Doge’s Palace and St. Mark’s Square, an iconic introduction to the city from the water.
Venice: Glide through Venice’s canals on an iconic gondola ride, passing beneath historic bridges and past elegant palaces. Soak up the city’s romantic atmosphere as your gondolier navigates the tranquil waterways, offering a unique perspective of this timeless floating city.
Assisi: See St. Mary of the Angels Church and join your Local Expert to walk through the cobbled streets and beautifully preserved medieval laneways of this quaint town.
Assisi: With a Local Expert, find out why the Basilica of St. Francis is considered one of the crowning achievements of Europe.
Capri: Cruise by jetfoil to this famous isle through beautiful blue Mediterranean waters.
Capri: Explore Capri town with your Local Expert and see the whitewashed houses, winding alleyways, small cafes, fashionable boutiques and artisans studios.
Pompeii: Walk with a Local Expert through the cobbled streets of this ill-fated town, frozen in time since the first century.
Well-Being
Enjoy the comfort of Insight's luxurious, air-conditioned, 40-seat coach with double the standard legroom and onboard washroom. Our customized luxury coaches are sanitized before the start of your tour and are maintained to very high standards. Physical distancing measures have been implemented on our customized luxury coaches.
Hand sanitizer is freely available on board for you to use throughout the day.
Welcome to Rome, a glorious city filled with classic antiquities, medieval buildings, Renaissance palaces and Baroque churches. Settle in before joining your Travel Director and get to know your fellow travellers over Roman specialities during dinner at a local restaurant.
Includes:
Accommodation
Meal
Dinner
The day is devoted to The Eternal City. Join a Local Expert for an in-depth visit to the Vatican Museums, full of priceless art treasures collected by the Popes. Visit the Sistine Chapel, where Popes are elected, to admire Michelangelo’s famous ceiling, and see the beautiful exterior of St. Peter's Basilica. Cross the Tiber River to enjoy ancient Rome. See the incredible Circus Maximus. Admire the beautifully preserved Arch of Constantine and discover the history, the construction and the legends of the iconic Colosseum on a guided visit. As you stroll with your Local Expert, imagine the gladiatorial battles and roaring spectators around the arena. Later, perhaps continue your exploration of Rome to see the Pantheon and the stunning piazzas and fountains of Rome.
Includes:
Accommodation
Meal
Breakfast
Continue your guided tour of Italy from Rome into the heart of Tuscany, stopping in UNESCO-listed San Gimignano. Explore this characterful hilltop town, known for its medieval towers and cobbled lanes. Dinner is served near San Gimignano, where you’ll enjoy fantastic local flavours and regional wine, before heading to Florence.
Includes:
Accommodation
Meal
Dinner
Breakfast
Explore Florence with Insight Choice. Choose to visit the Accademia Museum and see Michelangelo’s David. Alternatively, take a stroll with your Travel Director to enjoy a typical Italian treat in a local cafe. After, continue on foot to admire the multicoloured marble cathedral, bell tower and baptistery, where Ghiberti’s Gates of Paradise have been recreated in all their glory. Continue into the Piazza della Signoria, still the political heart of Florence and an open-air gallery of Renaissance masterpieces. Spend time gazing at statues such as Neptune and Hercules and Cacus along the front of the Palazzo Vecchio. This city is renowned for its intricate crafts, so later in the day, enjoy a demonstration of traditional leatherwork and goldsmithing.
Includes:
Accommodation
Meal
Breakfast
Journey to the coastal town of Pisa and see the famous Leaning Tower in the Square of Miracles, as well as the baptistery and colonnaded bell tower behind the cathedral. Continue through the marshes of the Venetian Lagoon before crossing the causeway into the enchanting floating city of Venice. As evening falls, day-trippers leave the city to return to the mainland, allowing you to appreciate the peace and tranquillity of Venice from your centrally located hotel. Tonight, indulge in a delicious dinner, savouring the unique flavours of Venetian cuisine.
Includes:
Accommodation
Meal
Breakfast
Dinner
Cruise by private boat on a journey of discovery past churches and palaces reflecting the rich architectural history of Venice from the 13th to the 18th centuries. Marvel at the intricate facades and learn about the stories behind these historical buildings. Arrive close to St. Mark's Square and stroll along the waterfront, passing the iconic Bridge of Sighs and the majestic Doge's Palace. It was from here that the infamous Casanova made his daring escape. Turn the corner into St. Mark's Square and be captivated by the grandeur of the basilica. Board a traditional gondola for a serenade along the romantic canals. Later, experience a Venetian glassblowing workshop, where you'll witness the artistry of master craftsmen in action. Watch in awe as they create beautiful glass pieces, preserving centuries-old techniques and traditions.
Includes:
Accommodation
Meal
Breakfast
Continue your 11 days in Italy with a journey to the peaceful town of Assisi, nestled on the slopes of Mount Subasio and renowned for its medieval churches, vibrant frescoes and sun-dappled courtyards. In the valley, see the Church of St. Mary of the Angels, revered as the place of St. Francis’ passing. Then ascend to the upper town to meet your Local Expert. Step inside the monumental Basilica of St. Francis, a 13th-century marvel whose frescoes by Giotto marked a turning point in European art. Enjoy free time to soak up the serenity of Assisi. You might choose to stroll along Via San Francesco, lined with quaint stone buildings offering artisan foods, devotional keepsakes and locally crafted wares.
Includes:
Accommodation
Meal
Dinner
Breakfast
Travel south, passing Cassino, the site of a fierce and pivotal battle during World War II. Continue your journey along the spectacular clifftop road, offering breathtaking views, to reach the resort of the Sorrento coast. This charming area overlooks the Bay of Naples and provides stunning vistas of Mount Vesuvius. After checking in to your hotel, spend the rest of the day at your leisure, exploring the beautiful surroundings or relaxing in the comfort of your accommodations.
Includes:
Accommodation
Meal
Breakfast
Cross the Bay of Naples to reach the beautiful Isle of Capri, a rock rising sheer from the Mediterranean! For 2,000 years, Capri has beckoned visitors from Emperor Tiberius to Gracie Fields. Arriving at the Marina Grande by boat, ascend to Capri town. A Local Expert joins you for an exploration of the narrow alleyways. Browse in deluxe boutiques and wonder at the views over the Tyrrhenian Sea. Descend to the port by funicular railway and return to Sorrento, where you are at leisure for the rest of the day. Perhaps head to Positano for an exploration of the colourful Amalfi Coast?
Includes:
Accommodation
Meal
Breakfast
Continue to Pompeii, the opulent Roman town that was preserved by layers of ash from the disastrous eruption of Mount Vesuvius in A.D. 79. A walk with your Local Expert through the cobbled streets and extensive excavations reveals the daily life of ancient Roman civilisation. Visit the Forum and peer into shops and patrician villas, decorated with colourful wall paintings. Join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience in Vesuvius National Park and visit Casa Barone. This small family-run farm on the slopes of the volcano is one of the world’s only producers of Piennolo tomatoes, an endangered fruit that only thrives in the fertile volcanic soil. Each harvest is sustainably farmed and cared for by the extended Barone family, who all work here. Be sure to savour the unique flavours of this rare tomato during a truly unique Farm-to-Table lunch. Your journey continues to Rome. In the evening, enjoy an elegant dinner with local wine at a Roman restaurant. As you dine, enjoy a private performance of popular songs and arias from some of Italy's best-loved operas.
Includes:
Accommodation
Meal
Lunch
Breakfast
Dinner
Bid farewell to the glories of Italy, savouring the memories of its enchanting cities, historic landmarks and stunning landscapes. Italy's unique allure will linger in your heart long after you leave.
Includes:
Meal
Breakfast
Meals Included
5 Dinner (D)
10 Breakfast (B)
1 Lunch (L)
Additional Info
Complimentary arrival transfers are available on the first day of the trip and depart Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO) at 09:30, 12:30 & 15:30. Flight information is required to book transfers.
Complimentary departure transfers are available on the last day of the trip and arrive at Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO) at 07:00 & 09:30. Flight information is required to book transfers.
Isle of Capri: Open-top taxis are dependent on favourable weather conditions.
Saturday departures visit Vatican Museum and St Peters Basilica on Day 3 before departing for Florence.
Availability Calendar
Tour Variations
Similar Tours
$7,376
Per PersonBest of Italy - Classic Group, Summer
11 Days
Average $670 per day-
STARTS
Rome, Italy
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Countries Visited
- Italy
- Vatican
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FINISHES
Rome, Italy
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ID: 019f867ceb95c93b2e5d6c7d32e092be
Reference: 0016-14-20-E922M27-2491
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