Daily Itinerary

Day 1
Welcome to Rome, the Eternal City. You will be met at the airport and transferred to your charming Roman hotel. After your long flight you can stretch your legs and explore the iconic Trevi Fountain, or the Spanish Steps perhaps. Head to Piazza Navona to find an authentic little Italian cafe or restaurant for some delicious local cuisine.

Day 2
Start your adventure with your included ½ day guided tour of Vatican City including the Vatican Museum, the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica. Before meeting your experienced local guide enjoy the beauty of St Peter’s Square. Endless photo opportunities are on offer before you even set foot inside! Imagine thousands of devotees gathered in the square to hear from the pope and receive his blessing. Religious masses are popular with thousands participating, especially at Christmas and Easter. When the tour begins there will be plenty of time with your guide as well as private time to explore on your own.

Day 3
Continue today with your included guided walking tour of Ancient Rome. Go back in time and visit the Colosseum, The Forum and Palatine Hill. You’ll explore the first and second levels of the Colosseum as your guide tells you stories and anecdotes that will enthral. After the Colosseum tour, you’ll wander over to the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill. Once inside, you can explore ancient palaces, temples, markets and monuments as you walk the same streets that were once frequented by historical greats like Julius Caesar. Ancient history has never been more approachable or engaging!

Day 4
After 3 days in bustling Rome, today you head to the Amalfi Coast and the amazing coastal town of Positano. Board the train to Salerno this morning and relax on the leisurely 2 hour journey. Your driver meets you at Salerno Station for the drive to Positano. From humble beginnings, Positano is today a sophisticated resortarea on the central Amalfi Coast. The town is cacophony of colour, set high on the cliffs overlooking the sparkling blue waters of the Mediterranean. The Lattari Mountains provide a perfect backdrop to the traditional yellow, pink and white homes. Postcard perfect!! Once you’re settled in, there’s time for a stroll along the beach before savouring a pizza with a view!

Days 5 to 8
Apart from relaxing, obviously, there is plenty to see and do in this picturesque town. It is the perfect walking city. You could easily spend hours wandering the winding roads of the village and exploring beach paths up to the watchtowers. The village centre offers boutiques, ceramic shops, souvenir shops and art galleries for endless browsing. Experience the gorgeous coastline from the sea by hiring a paddle board or kayak. If you’re felling less energetic, a boat ride is a more relaxing option. When you’re ready for a day trip, ferries come to Positano daily to take tourists to and from Amalfi and Capri. Or sign up for a tour of the nearby grotto’s.

Day 9
Bid a sad farewell to Positano vowing to return someday. Today your driver will take you on to Naples, stopping at Pompeii on the way. You will have time to hire a guide and visit this renowned UNESCO World Heritage Site. Continue to Naples, arriving after lunch. This afternoon enjoy strolling along Spaccanopoli which is a series of straight streets which split the old town from the newer parts. here you will find wonderful churches, street vendors, tempting bakeries and cafes and many quaint shops vying for your tourist dollar. Head back to the hotel with all your newly-purchased treasures.

Day 10
Explore as much of Naples today as you can before heading north tomorrow. Visit Ovo Castle, enjoy a coffee at the famous Gran Caffe Gambrinus, explore the waterfront, visit The Bourbon Tunnel (Napoli Sotterranea) or the National Archaeological Museum. So many wonderful choices!

Days 11 to 12
This morning take the train from Naples to La Spezia Station - the gateway to the beautiful Cinque Terre. Spend 2 nights exploring the centuries-old seaside villages along the rugged Riviera coastline. Cinque Terre’s five villages date from the early medieval period and are linked by a network of stunning coastal and mountain trails. The steeply terraced cliffs are adorned with pastel-coloured buildings and vibrant gardens. Make sure you schedule some time to sit and do absolutely nothing. Simply enjoy these incredible surroundings from the comfort of a beachfront trattoria.

Days 13 to 17
Head to nearby Genoa where you’ll pick up a rental car for your Tuscan sojourn. The drive to reach your Tuscan Farmhouse is approximately 3 hours. For the next 5 nights, your home will be like something straight out of a novel! Enjoy the colours, architecture, rich culture and age-old traditions. Good food, excellent wine and exquisite hospitality! Tuscany is the Italy so many people dream of. Staying in a traditional Farm House, you have the perfect opportunity to explore the region by car. It’s not hard to find scenic drives as Tuscany is blessed with a gorgeous natural landscape. Strict building regulations keep the area largely unspoiled. Perhaps start by exploring nearby Radda, the historical capital of the Chianti region, or Castellina with its Medieval past and passion for locally produced food and wine. Towns not to miss include Volterra, Pisa, Siena, Val d’Orcia, San Gimignano and Montepulciano.
Your days and nights will be filled with tastings of delicious food, wine and olive oil. Scenic drives on roads winding through perfectly combed vineyards and silvery olive groves. Walled cities embracing ancient castles, cobbled streets and pretty stone houses adorned with flowery windows, hidden alleyways and picturesque town squares. All this makes it easy to understand why people return to Tuscany again and again!

Day 18
Sadly it is time to say “addio con affetto e amore” and set off feeling more Italian than you did before you arrived. Drop the car at the Florence Airport then head into town. This evening in Florence gives you the perfect chance to dress up and join the passeggiata. Why not, since you’re almost a local after your week in Tuscany! Enjoying the art and architecture of the perfect Renaissance city is not hard to do. On arrival you will leave your bags at the hotel and meet your guide for an afternoon tour of the Duomo. An architectural marvel, it was designed in the 15th century and is the icon of Florence.

Day 19
Today is your last full day in Italy, You will check out of your hotel and use the remainder of the day to visit the Accademia and Uffizi . The Accademia Gallery is home to Michelangelo’s famous “David”. At the Uffizi Gallery you will find more masterpieces. These include Botticelli’s “The Birth of Venus” and da Vinci’s “Annunciation”. Now is also the time for any last minute shopping, people watching or a final Italian feast.

Day 20
When you check out of your hotel this morning your “Bellisimo Italy” Quest comes to an end. “Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.” Dr Seuss.