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Head out of Rome and off the beaten track to experience a different side of Italy in Tuscany and Umbria. You'll visit the lovely towns of Cortona and Montepulciano, and sample wine, cheeses, salami, olive oil and other local specialties. Leaving Rome, you'll head north to cross the Tiber valley to Cortona. This town has changed little since the Middle Ages, and was most recently depicted in the Oscar-winning film La Vita e Bella and described by American novelist, Frances Mayes, in her book Under the Tuscan Sun. As a result, Cortona is enjoying renewed popularity. Stroll through the historic center, absorbing the atmosphere of this picturesque town. Next you'll drive along the shores of Lake Trasimeno, where you will stop to taste, and perhaps purchase, some of the local products (olive oil, cheeses, salami and ham). Lunch will be served in a typical country restaurant. In the afternoon, you'll drive through the hills of the Chianti region to reach the hilltop town of Montepulciano. |
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The ruby-red Vino Nobile wine of this town is famous the world over. You'll visit one of the oldest wine cellars, discover the winemakers' secrets and taste the final result.
3-Day
Italy Trip: Florence and Pisa
Escape to the romance of Tuscany on a 3-day tour from Rome! The rolling hills of Tuscany continue to shape Italy's rich culture, be it through art, history or the finest Italian produce.
Departing Rome, you will travel to the heart of Tuscany in Florence. The city is home to an abundance of paintings and sculptures housed in numerous galleries and public squares. Next it's onto Pisa with its biggest attraction, the Leaning Tower.
With the assistance of local guides, you will gain an appreciation for the sights, sounds and smells that each new city brings. You will have plenty of free time to discover your own Tuscan treasures too.
Day 1: Rome and Florence
Departing from Rome, you'll travel through the rolling hills of Tuscany
enroute to Florence. Your city tour of Florence includes views the Duomo,
the third Pieta by Michelangelo, the Baptistry with its Golden Bronze
Doors by Ghiberti and Giotto's Belfry.
Next, you will pass the Accademia Gallery featuring Michelangelo's famous statue of David before making your way to Piazza della Signoria. Stop for lunch in a local restaurant and spend the afternoon exploring Florence at your own leisure. Overnight stay in hotel.
Day 2: Florence, Pisa
After breakfast in the hotel, this morning is free to discover more
Florence highlights. After lunch meet up with your tour and depart for
Pisa. On your arrival, view the famous Piazza dei Miracoli, the Dome,
the Baptistery and the famed Leaning Tower. You will return to Florence
for an overnight stay.
The visit to Pisa will be replaced with a visit to Siena and San Gimignano for guests traveling between November and February.
Day 3: Florence and Rome
Free time in Florence after breakfast this morning. You will depart
mid-afternoon from Florence to Rome. The tour includes hotel drop off
and you will arrive in Rome at approximately 9 pm.
3-Day
Italy Trip: Naples, Pompeii and Amalfi
Spend three days exploring Naples, Pompeii and Amalfi. You'll visit several UNESCO World Heritage Sites and discover the rich history of Italy. Departing Rome, you'll travel through the Campania region where high-end hotels meet historical sites. This is also the capital of Italian comfort food, home to pizza, spaghetti and mozzarella cheese.
Naples is the region's capital and filled with historic castles and sites. The city was first colonized by the ancient Greeks, who gave it the name Neapolis (new city). Today, Naples' city center is on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
A short distance from Naples stands the once lost city of Pompeii. Covered in ash from a volcanic eruption in 79 B.C., the site was only accidentally discovered during renovations some 1,700 years later.
Winding along coastal roads, the rugged town of Amalfi emerges with its colorful terraces perched along steep slopes. In the public squares below, take your pick of restaurants and linger in souvenir shops where red coral jewelry is the signature accessory.
5-Day
Italy Trip: Florence, Pisa and Venice
Spend five days exploring three of Italy's most romantic cities: Florence, Pisa and Venice. This classic multi-day trip is ideal for those seeking to combine aspects of Italy's rich culture: art, history and authentic cuisine.
Departing Rome, you will travel among Tuscany's rolling hills en route to Florence. Once in Florence, you can devour the galleries and museums but don't limit your viewing to paintings and sculptures alone.
Florence has many vibrant public squares where you can relax in a
cafe and people watch.
Formerly a maritime town, Pisa's biggest attraction remains its Leaning
Tower, but delve deeper to discover more architectural delights all
easily accessible on foot.
Next, you will travel to Venice where you can choose to navigate the
canals by gondola or simply lose yourself down winding streets. Your
tour concludes in Venice.
Ancient
Ostia Half-Day Trip from Rome
Ostia was Rome's flourishing trade and business center, until the port was abandoned following the Barbarian invasions. The archaeological excavations undertaken at the beginning of the 14th century have brought the ancient city back to life.
During your walk through the ruins your guide will provide enlightening insights into the cultural and social life of this historic settlement.
Your visit to Ostia Antica (ancient Ostia) starts at Via delle Tombe, which leads you to the Porta Romana, one of the city's three gates. This is the beginning of the Decumanus Maximus, the main thoroughfare that crosses the city from north-east to south-west.
You will then arrive at the Terme di Nettuno, where you can admire the beautiful black and white mosaics representing Neptune and Amphitrite, the theatre built by Agrippa, and the Forum which formed the center of the city. Here you will discover the main public buildings, Il Capitolium, the temple of Rome and Augustus, the Basilica and the large thermal baths.
Near the Forum square you will also find the House of Diana and the Thermopolium, an ancient Roman bar with a marble counter and a fresco depicting the fruit and foodstuffs that were sold there. At the end of Via dei Dipinti, a museum displays some of the ancient sculptures unearthed at Ostia.
Ancient
Ostia Small Group Day Trip from Rome
Escape to Ostia Antica and see why experts are calling it "The Better Pompeii". It is just a step away from Rome and you'll travel in a personalized small group with maximum 25 people.
The perfect half day trip from Rome for those seeking to learn more about ancient Roman ruins but do not have time to travel to Pompeii.
The beautifully preserved ruins of Ancient Ostia were founded in the 4th century BC and were once inhabited by over 100,000 people. Ancient Ostia is commonly referred to as "The Better Pompeii" due to the astonishing, highly-preserved condition of its buildings.
Structures include taverns, baths, apartments, groceries and theatres - and their intact state so strikingly exceeds that of the Roman Forum, Imperial Forum and Pompeii, that it seems a misnomer to call them ruins.
Walk the main street, the Decumanus Maximus, while your tour guide brings the stones around you to life. The Roman statues that line the walkways are in such perfect condition you'll feel as though you are walking amongst the ancient Romans themselves.
You'll even be enticed to take a dip in the Baths of Neptune, which are crowned by a impressively intact mosaic of the sea god being drawn by a four horse chariot. And if you are a theatre fan, you'll enjoy Ancient Ostia's amphitheatre whose structure is still so stable that you will be able to take your place in the stands as 3,500 Roman spectators once did back in 12BC when it was first constructed.
Your fluent English speaking tour guide takes care of all train tickets and making sure you everyone gets off at the right stop. All entrance tickets are included and all of the major sites will be covered in a 2.5 hour leisurely walk through the ruins - including but not limited to Ostia's Amphitheatre, Forum of the Corporations, the Collegiate Temple, the public tavern and public baths.
Assisi
and Orvieto Day Trip from Rome
Feeling overloaded by Rome's epic sightseeing options? Why not leave Rome for the day and take an excursion to Assisi and the Umbrian hill town of Orvieto. Your journey will take you away from modern highways and large cities to discover the real Italy, where ancient villages are just waiting to be discovered.
Leaving Rome, you'll travel in a northerly direction and drive along the Tiber Valley to reach the marvelous medieval hilltop town of Orvieto, whose origins go back to Etruscan times. You'll stop here to admire Orvieto's magnificent 14th-century cathedral, a masterpiece of Italian Gothic architecture.
Your tour continues into Tuscany's green hills covered in olive groves and vineyards. This is the land of some of Italy's best known D.O.C. (quality controlled) wines, which include Chianti and Brunello di Montalcino. You'll stop to taste some local wines and other typical Umbrian and Tuscan products.
After a lunch of traditional local dishes, you'll drive along the shores of Lake Trasimeno to arrive in Assisi, built at the foot of Mount Subasio. During a guided stroll through the alleys of this historic town you will see the Church of St Claire, St Francis' birthplace, his childhood home and the Town Hall Square with its People's Palace and Roman temple dedicated to Minerva.
You'll also pay a visit to St Francis' Basilica, close to the ancient city walls, with its magnificent frescoes painted between the 12th and 14th centuries.
Leaving Assisi, you will stop at the town of Santa Maria degli Angeli, named after the church where St Francis died in 1226.
Castelli
Romani's Medieval Villages Half-Day Trip from Rome
Tour the medieval villages outside Rome on an afternoon excursion to the Castelli Romani region.
You'll take a relaxing drive through the beautiful countryside surrounding the busy capital, see views of the Pope's summer residence of Castelgandolfo and enjoy a wine tasting at famous Frascati.
On your afternoon jaunt from Rome, you'll travel past the ruins of the Baths of Caracalla before taking the ancient Appian Way past the Chapel of Domine Quo Vadis.
Along the way you'll pass the famous Castelli Romani village of Castelgandolfo, the Pope's summer residence.
Other villages you'll pass en route include Rocca di Papa and Grottaferrata, noted for their culture and gastronomic delicacies.
The last stop on your afternoon excursion from Rome is a wine tasting at beautiful Frascati.
No trip to Italy is complete without a visit to Florence, the city that gave birth to the Renaissance. Travel by motor coach from Rome to Florence on a full day guided tour. Florence is a treasure trove of important paintings and sculptures, medieval architecture and Renaissance palaces, and on this tour you will see Michelangelo's famous statue of David plus architectural treasures by Giotto and Botticelli.
On your full-day trip from Rome to Florence, you'll travel in a northerly direction to cross the green valley of the Tevere and the slopes of the Apennines covered with olive groves and vineyards. You'll also cross the famous wine-growing valley of Chianti before arriving in Florence.
Your Florence city tour begins with a guided visit to the Accademia Gallery (Gallerie dell'Accademia) to see the original statue of Michelangelo's David. You will continue on a walking tour with a local guide to the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore (outside visit) to admire the beautiful dome by Brunelleschi. You'll see other treasures, such as the Baptistery and Giotto's Bell Tower, before arriving at Piazza della Signoria, the heart of Florence.
After lunch in a typical Florentine restaurant, you will continue to the church of Santa Croce, where great artists like Michelangelo are buried. Finally, you will have the opportunity to visit one of Florence's leather schools and discover other ancient crafts such as mosaics and goldsmiths. The coach will depart Florence at approximately 5pm for the return journey to Rome.
Hadrian's
Villa and Villa d'Este Half-Day Trip from Rome
Explore Italy's rich history at Emperor Hadrian's Villa and the remarkable Villa d'Este garden on a half-day tour from Rome. You'll take a relaxing four-hour excursion to Tivoli and travel through the beautiful countryside surrounding the busy capital.
Your first stop is the evocative ruins of the famous villa built by Emperor Hadrian (Villa Adriana in Italian).
The villa was built in the 2nd century A.D. by Hadrian to remind him of the monuments he'd admired during his travels in Greece and Egypt.
The villa is now in ruins, and can only hint at its original grandeur and beauty, but the landscaped pools and grottoes have influenced subsequent garden design over the centuries.
Your journey into the past continues to the magnificent Villa d'Este at Tivoli, one of the most beautiful residences of the late Renaissance.
Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is a masterpiece of Italian architecture and especially garden design, inspired by Hadrian' Villa. You'll discover how Villa d'Este's countless fountains create a graceful symphony of carved stone, shade, sunlight and water as you take a walk around the villa's magnificent formal gardens.
Naples
and Pompeii Day Trip from Rome
Discover history, art and archaeology on this fascinating day trip to Naples and Pompeii from Rome. Your journey takes you from Rome to the Gulf of Naples, where Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 A.D., devastating the towns of Pompeii and Herculaneum.
On your full-day tour from Rome you'll travel along the Highway of the Sun, crossing the area known as Castelli Romani dotted with enchanting medieval villages. During the journey you will pass the ruined Abbey of Monte Cassino, destroyed during the Second World War.
After a photo stop at Naples' impressive Castel dell'Ovo (Egg Castle), you'll continue across Naples' historic center. You'll pass Naples' historic sights, including the Royal Palace, Basilica of San Francesco di Paola, San Carlo Opera House, Gallery of Umberto I and imposing Castel Nuovo.
Leaving Naples, you will cross the valley of Mount Vesuvius, passing through the villages of Ercolano (Herculaneum), Torre del Greco and Torre Annunziata before arriving in Pompeii for lunch.
After lunch, you will take a two-hour walking tour of the ancient city of Pompeii with a local guide. A thrilling archaeological journey unfolds as you walk through the ancient ruins which were buried in ashes after Mount Vesuvius erupted almost 2000 years ago.
You'll discover the everyday life of Rome's Imperial age at this UNESCO World Heritage Site, and imagine the panic felt by the people in those last few minutes before the city was so disastrously buried.
On the trip back to Rome (approximately three hours), you'll stop at a coral and cameo factory, where you will have the opportunity to purchase examples of this ancient craft that dates back to the Greek period.
Papal
Blessing at Castelgandolfo Day Trip from Rome
Take this special excursion to receive a Papal Blessing at Castelgandolfo in the summer months only.
Availability is limited, so don't miss the opportunity to leave the busy Italian capital to spend time with the Pope at his summer residence at Castelgandolfo.
Leaving Rome, you will pass the enormous ruins of the Terme di Caracalla before taking the ancient Appian Way and passing the Chapel of Domine Quo Vadis.
Your tour will then proceed through the hills to the south of Rome. The area known as the 'Colli Albani' is home to many picturesque villages such as Frascati, Nemi, Genzano and Ariccia, and the splendid Villa Aldobrandini.
The Pope's summer residence is very near the volcanic lake of Albano. The Papal Blessing takes place in the square facing the Papal Palace of Castelgandolfo.
Pompeii
and Amalfi Coast Small Group Day Trip from Rome
Tour Pompeii and the beautiful Amalfi coast villages on a small group day trip from Rome. You'll travel in a comfortable air-conditioned minivan with your driver.
Each minivan accommodates 8 people maximum. A driver-guide will accompany the group throughout the day and an additional licensed guide will meet the group in Pompeii for the two-hour walking tour. Book now as seats are strictly limited.
You'll stop at scenic viewpoints as you travel along the stunning coastline to reach Positano, one of the most famous charming old fishing towns along the Amalfi coast. After a walking tour and some free time in Positano, you will travel on to Amalfi.
Amalfi is a labyrinth of narrow lanes and alleyways and features typical Mediterranean village architecture. Here you can sample the local Limoncello liqueur or visit the celebrated Moorish-style Paradise Cloister, dating back to the 13th century.
You'll also enjoy lunch at Amalfi (additional expense), then follow the road uphill away from the coast for a last glimpse of this enchanting part of Italy before continuing on to Pompeii.
At the amazing ruins of Pompeii you will take a two-hour guided walking tour conducted by a local expert guide. You'll discover the everyday life of Rome's Imperial age as you walk through the ancient ruins which were buried in ashes after Mount Vesuvius erupted almost 2000 years ago.
You will visit the homes of Pompeii's wealthier citizens and ancient street cafes where locals dined, hear numerous anecdotes about daily life in Pompeii, and see graffiti dating back to Roman times.