Easy Pace Italy - Classic Group, Summer - From £2,452

Rome is a glorious city filled with classic antiquities, medieval buildings, Renaissance palaces and Baroque churches. Relax and settle in before joining your Travel Director and getting to know your fellow travellers over a delicious dinner with wine.

Explore Vatican City with your Local Expert. With fast-track entry, visit the Vatican Museums to view the extensive Papal art collection. In the Sistine Chapel, take time to admire Michelangelo’s ceiling fresco before continuing to St. Peter’s Basilica, a masterpiece of Renaissance architecture. Then cross the Tiber River to discover ancient Rome. See the Circus Maximus, once the site of thrilling chariot races, and visit the Colosseum—an enduring symbol of Imperial power and engineering. Please note: On some departures, access to St. Peter’s Basilica may be restricted due to the Papal Audience. You’ll still have time to take in the atmosphere of St. Peter’s Square during your visit to Vatican City.

Spend another day enjoying Rome at your own pace. Stroll to the boutiques of the Via del Corso and Via Nazionale or visit the elegant designer stores near the Spanish Steps. Perhaps take an Optional Experience south to the ill-fated town of Pompeii, buried in 79 AD by the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius, and explore one of the greatest archaeological sites in the world. With your Local Expert, stroll into a 2,000-year-old town revealing fascinating discoveries preserved in time. With the dormant volcano of Vesuvius and panoramic views of the Bay of Naples in the background, you have a few treats in store along the way and then return to Rome, passing the formidable Abbey of Montecassino, one of the greatest shrines of Christendom and the site of an epic battle in 1944. As night falls, why not sip a glass of prosecco at a sidewalk cafe in Piazza Navona and enjoy life’s pageantry pass by?

Travel through the fertile plains of Lazio and the forested hills of Umbria, once the heartland of the Etruscans, as you make your way to Tuscany. Arrive in Florence, the city that gave rise to the Renaissance, for free time exploring this afternoon. You could join an Optional Experience to San Gimignano, a UNESCO-listed town renowned for its 13 surviving medieval towers, saffron cultivation and Vernaccia wine. This evening, enjoy dinner with your Travel Director and fellow guests at a local restaurant, for your first taste of Tuscany’s culinary heritage.

Start your day with Insight Choice in Florence. You may choose to visit the Accademia Gallery to see Michelangelo’s David, followed by a guided walk through the historic centre. Admire the striking marble facade of the Duomo, Giotto’s bell tower and the octagonal baptistery, before continuing to the open-air gallery of Piazza della Signoria. Alternatively, join your Travel Director for a relaxed stroll through the city’s lanes, pausing to enjoy a local treat at a neighbourhood cafe. This afternoon, take time to explore more of Florence on your own: browse artisan workshops in the Oltrarno district, visit the Uffizi Gallery or climb to Piazzale Michelangelo for sweeping city views.

After a leisurely morning in Florence, explore the nearby town of Pisa with a Local Expert. See the Leaning Tower, the baptistery and the colonnaded bell tower, lurching out from behind the cathedral. Visit the organic farm Il Poggio and join a guided walk to learn about olive oil and wine production. After taking in beautiful views of the rolling Tuscan hills, enjoy tasting the farm’s fine wines and olive oil, in addition to an authentic Italian meal prepared with locally sourced ingredients.

Today we travel through the Emilia-Romagna region, and stop to sample the flavours of the region and learn about Italian food culture over a delicious lunch with wine. Take the autostrada east to Venice, Queen of the Adriatic. Your luxurious hotel has elegant Venetian touches and views over an unforgettably romantic city.

Your private boat takes you on a journey of discovery past churches and palaces reflecting the architectural history of Venice from the 13th to the 18th century. The first sight is the pink marble of the Doge's Palace, connected to the prisons by the Bridge of Sighs. It was from here that Casanova made his daring escape. Turn the corner, and the gilded facade of St. Mark's Basilica comes into view. Join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience during a visit to a glassblowing workshop. See how beautiful handcrafted glass is made by expert glassblowers, safeguarding traditional skills. This afternoon there is plenty of time to explore the museums, galleries and churches or browse through the shops on the Rialto Bridge. Perhaps cruise out to some of the other islands in the lagoon to experience the age-old lifestyle of Venetian fishermen and lace-makers.

Who could refuse another day to take in the unique atmosphere of this wonderful city? Lose yourself in the back lanes and quiet squares, where tourists seldom tread and the Venetians go about their daily lives. Maybe visit some of the 90 churches housing masterpieces of Venetian art or explore the modern artworks in the Guggenheim? Perhaps relax at a canal-side cafe sipping local wine or sample delicious lagoon-fresh fish? Later, board a traditional gondola for a serenade through the romantic canals. This evening, indulge in traditional Venetian dishes that are enriched with inspiration from seasonal produce.

Your departure transfer arrives at Venice Marco Polo airport.