Day 1: Start of tour in Rome Welcome to Rome; the Eternal City! Meet up with your tour leader at the hotel this morning and prepare for the tour of a lifetime! Then, head into the city to see some of the sites that make Rome famous the world over. See ancient Roman architecture, medieval buildings, Renaissance artworks and more remnants of Rome’s illustrious past as capital of this incredible country and the Roman Empire at large. Tonight, taste delicious Italian cuisine and enjoy an included welcome dinner at a local restaurant with your tour group. Then, join a local guide for a guided walking tour to learn more about Rome’s fascinating history. Day 2: Rome - Orvieto - Venice Leaving the capital behind, drive through the scenic Umbria region and look forward to the truly incredible sight of Orvieto. This small but beautiful city is perched atop a sheer vertical volcanic rock. Take the funicular up to the historic centre and enjoy some free time to explore. See the city’s top sights including the 14th-century Cathedral of Orvieto, the papal residence, and the Albornoz fortress. Next, travel on to Venice! The evening is free. Choose to relax at the hotel or join your tour leader on an optional twilight water taxi cruise of the floating city’s iconic canals and see the twinkling lights of Venice! Day 3: Venice: Free Day Start this full day in Venice with an orientation tour led by your tour leader. The rest of the day is free to explore this magical city at your leisure. A gondola ride, which can be organised by your tour leader, is highly recommended today as no trip to Venice is complete without this quintessential experience! An optional trip further out into the lagoon to visit Murano and Burano is also available today. These islands are famous for their glass-blowing and lace-making crafts respectively, and rows of beautiful multi-coloured houses. Alternatively, if the weather is good, relax and soak up the sun on the sandy beaches at Jesolo or Lido. The choice is yours! Day 4: Lake Garda - Florence - Tuscany Today, travel to Florence and the beautiful region of Tuscany. Along the way, stop at the gorgeous Lake Garda. This is the biggest lake in Italy, and a destination that has inspired artists of all persuasions for centuries. On arrival in Florence, join a passionate local guide and explore the iconic sights and landmarks of this magnificent city. A cultural and political focal point during the Renaissance, the city is endowed with a huge variety of Renaissance artworks and Roman ruins. Next, it’s time to visit Leonardo Leather for a leather-making demonstration. Later, enjoy an included dinner at a local restaurant. Day 5: Cinque Terre - Pisa - Tuscany This morning, drive north to La Spezia in the Liguria region. This city is the gateway to Cinque Terre; five picturesque fishing villages on the rugged Italian Riviera coastline. The harbours are filled with fishing boats, vines climb the terraces and the houses are painted in bright colours. It’s a photographer’s dream! Each village is linked by hiking trails and a railway, allowing for exploration without any cars or traffic. This afternoon, head back to Tuscany, stopping off on the way at the iconic Leaning Tower of Pisa. A highlight of any tour to Italy, enjoy snapping photos of this legendary structure and explore the grounds that include a cathedral and baptistery. Day 6: San Gimignano - Siena - Rome Today, the tour makes its way through Tuscany’s idyllic countryside. During the drive, admire rolling hills complete with Tuscan farmhouses, vineyards and olive groves. The first stop is the walled hilltop town of San Gimignano. Known as the 'Town of Fine Towers', San Gimignano is home to incredible Romanesque and Gothic architecture and 14 well-preserved medieval tower houses. Then, drive to Siena; a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for the Palio horse race. Here, taste some local Italian wines. Then, travel back to Rome and round off the day with an included dinner. Day 7: Rome: Free Day Enjoy a free day to explore Rome and discover more of the city’s famous sights. Wander the streets, do some shopping and be sure to sample local food. An optional excursion to the ancient Colosseum and Roman Forum is highly recommended. Join an expert local guide and walk in the footsteps of gladiators! Alternatively, use this time to take a short trip to the Vatican City, the world’s smallest country and home of the Pope! Visit the Vatican museums and marvel at the artistic masterpieces, as well as Michaelangelo’s incredible frescoes in the Sistine Chapel. The “Eternal City” is your oyster today and no matter what you choose to do, this free day is sure to include many memorable sights and moments. Day 8: Rome: Free Day It’s another free day in Bella Roma! By now you will have likely seen most of the city’s top tourist attractions so today offers a great opportunity to explore at a more leisurely pace. Why not visit one of Rome’s many celebrated museums or simply relax at a local café. Later on, meet back up with your tour leader and fellow travellers, including those joining from the Highlights of Southern Italy & Sicily Tour. Enjoy dinner at a local restaurant tonight. Day 9: Rome - Pompeii - Amalfi Coast Leaving Rome, head to the spectacular Amalfi Coast region, stopping off along the way to see Mount Vesuvius and explore the ancient ruins of Pompeii, destroyed in 79 AD in a catastrophic volcanic eruption. Get transported to a different time and gain fascinating insight into life during the Roman empire during a guided tour before enjoying an included lunch. Later this afternoon, settle in for a two-night stay in the Amalfi Coast. This area is famous for limoncello (a sweet lemon liqueur); the perfect way to say cheers to the end of a fun-filled day! Day 10: Amalfi Coast: Free Day Enjoy a full free day in the Amalfi Coast! Make the most of this area’s stunning coastline and spend a day on the beach soaking up the sun or explore the quaint and colourful surrounding towns. Or, choose to join the optional excursion to the famous Isle of Capri. Here, look forward to an orientation tour before spending some free time exploring the rugged coastline, ancient Roman ruins and stylish piazzas of this glamorous island. A private cruise around the island and its crystal clear waters and grottos is a definite highlight of this day trip! Day 11: Amalfi Coast - Matera - Alberobello Enjoy a full free day in the Amalfi Coast! Make the most of this area’s stunning coastline and spend a day on the beach soaking up the sun or explore the quaint and colourful surrounding towns. Or, choose to join the optional excursion to the famous Isle of Capri. Here, look forward to an orientation tour before spending some free time exploring the rugged coastline, ancient Roman ruins and stylish piazzas of this glamorous island. A private cruise around the island and its crystal clear waters and grottos is a definite highlight of this day trip! Day 12: Alberobello - Taormina This morning, take a coastal drive beside the Ionian Sea before leaving the mainland. Take a short ferry ride over to the island of Sicily; home to the spectacular Mount Etna. Prepare for stunning views as the tour makes its way to Taormina. Upon arrival, your tour leader will guide an orientation walk of this hilltop town, pointing out some of the highlights that can be explored further on the free day tomorrow. Top attractions include the historic Porta Catania and the Villa Comunale. This evening, get your first taste of Sicilian cuisine with an included dinner at tonight’s beachside hotel. Day 13: Taormina: Free Day Enjoy a free day to relax on Sicily's beautiful beaches or explore the island's quaint towns. The town of Taormina is one of Italy’s most popular summer destinations. Perched on the side of a mountain, Taormina is home to medieval churches, a castle and a Greek amphitheatre. Today also offers two top optional excursions. The first is a trip to the towering Mount Etna. Take a funicular up the mountain, walk in Volcanic ash and marvel at the otherworldly views. Afterwards, enjoy an indulgent lunch at a local Enoteca featuring local wine and delicious produce grown in volcanic soil. The perfect way to end this memorable day is with a sunset cruise with swim stops back in Taormina! Day 14: Taormina - Syracuse - Agrigento Drive through the heart of Sicily, enjoying a visit to the enchanting city of Syracuse along the way. Syracuse is a city that was founded as a Greek colony in 734 BC. Today, it boasts a UNESCO-listed historic centre and beautiful Baroque buildings. Later this afternoon, get your cameras ready for a tour of the ‘Valle dei Templi’ (Valley of the Temples) led by an expert local guide. This is one of the world’s most outstanding examples of Magna Grecia art and architecture! Afterwards, travel to tonight’s accommodation near Agrigento. Day 15: Agrigento - Cefalù - Palermo Leaving Agrigento this morning, take a scenic drive through central Sicily en route to the town of Cefalù. Embark on an orientation tour of the town before enjoying free time for lunch. This historic town boasts some of Italy’s finest beaches so don’t miss the chance to enjoy a meal by the sea! Arriving in Palermo in the early afternoon, enjoy a walking tour which will showcase the city’s highlights. Founded more than 2,700 years ago by the Phoenicians, Palermo is noted for its history, culture, architecture and food. Top sights on the walking tour include the Piazza Indipendenza, Porta Nuova (The New Gate) and the Cathedral of Palermo. Day 16: Palermo: Free Day Make the most of this full day to further explore Sicily’s capital. Over the centuries, Palermo has been colonised by many different rulers, including the Greeks, Romans and Normans, making it a melting pot of cultures and architectural styles. Palermo is an enticing mix of ancient relics, Italian history, rich culture and mouthwatering cuisine - it’s a fantastic destination for travellers to enjoy! Revisit top sights from yesterday’s tour, explore the historic old town and visit the art galleries. Alternatively, join today’s optional excursion to visit some of the city’s fascinating hidden gems featuring intricate artworks, diverse architecture and even a bakery in a convent! This evening, the group will take an overnight ferry back to the Italian mainland. Day 17: End of tour in Rome The ferry will arrive in Naples this morning. Continue on the coach with the tour leader and travel back to Rome, where the coach will drop off the group. After 17 days of unforgettable Italian adventures, the tour concludes back in Rome. Arrivederci!