New Paragraph

Italian Elegance - 12 Days

Price

Classic Group (33-40 guests) - from $4,523 pp

Small Group (24 guests) - from $6,225 pp


Cities

Rome, Vatican City, Florence, Tuscany, San Gimignano, Pisa, Portofino, Santa Margherita Ligure, Cinque Terre, Lake Maggiore, Cortina D'Ampezzo, Venice

Trip Style

Balanced: typically feature up to 1.6-4.8 km of walking per day and might involve

some uneven surfaces, such as cobblestones and stairs.


Tour Operator

Insight Vacations


REQUEST A QUOTE


Itinerary in Detail


  • Day 1 - Welcome to the Eternal City of Rome

    Welcome to Rome, 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 travelers over a delicious dinner with wine.


    • Arrival Transfer: Depart Leonardo da Vinci airport (FCO) at 09:30, 12:30, 15:30
    • Welcome: Meet your Travel Director at 17:30
    • Hotel: Golden Tulip Rome Piram
    • Included Meals: Dinner
  • Day 2 - Rome Sightseeing and the Vatican

    Enjoy the very best of the city’s highlights including entering the Vatican City and fast-tracked entry into the Vatican Museums with a Local Expert. Admire the Papal art collection before entering the Sistine Chapel to marvel at Michelangelo’s masterpiece. Afterwards, visit St. Peter’s Basilica. Later, cross the Tiber river to enjoy ancient Rome with your Local Expert. See the incredible Circus Maximus famous for its chariot races, and the iconic Colosseum.


    • Hotel: Golden Tulip Rome Piram
    • Included Meals: Breakfast
  • Day 3 - Renaissance Florence

    Explore Florence with Insight Choice. Choose to visit the Accademia Museum and see Michelangelo’s David. After, continue on foot to admire the multi-colored 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. Alternatively, take a stroll with your Travel Director to Piazza Santa Croce to enjoy a typical Italian treat in a local café, where you will be in the perfect spot to admire the basilica and indulge in people-watching the elegant Florentines. Marvel at the artistry during a demonstration of leather work and admire how the goldsmiths create their designs both famous luxury goods found in Florence.


    • Hotel: Villasanpaolo
    • Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
  • Day 4 - The flavors of San Gimignano

    Spend time exploring the maze of alleyways and admire scenic views across the valley. Ascend serpentine alleyways to the artisan gelato parlour of world champion gelato maestro, Sergio Dondoli, for a taste of his finest frozen treats.


    • Hotel: Villasanpaolo
    • Included Meals: Breakfast
  • Day 5 - The Chianti Hills to Pisa, Portofino and Santa Margherita

    Drive through the patchwork of vines, olives and cypresses that typify the Chianti hills before continuing to Pisa and see the incredible Leaning Tower, from which Galileo is said to have conducted experiments on velocity and gravity. See the splendid cathedral and baptistery, decorated with mosaics and designs in solid marble. Next, journey to the sea and cruise along the rugged Ligurian coast to the elegant seaside village of Portofino, the epitome of la dolce vita (should weather permit). Continue along the coast to the pretty seaside resort of Santa Margherita Ligure.


    • Hotel: Best Western Regina Elena
    • Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
  • Day 6 - The Cinque Terre and Portofino

    Head to the port of La Spezia for a highlight of your travels and one of Italy's most beautiful landscapes, the Cinque Terre. With a Local Expert, appreciate the views as you approach one of the picturesque fishing villages by boat. For lunch, enjoy a delicious Sea-to-Table dining experience. Enjoy leisure time to admire the colored houses, browse the boutiques or simply stay a while in the café bars on the piazzetta, watching the yachts moored in the harbor.


    • Hotel: Best Western Regina Elena
    • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
  • Day 7 - Lake Maggiore

    Head north to the beautiful Italian Lake District, a favorite retreat of the rich and famous where Alpine scenery combines with lush vegetation. Relax and enjoy an afternoon at leisure at this popular resort and beautiful lake.


    • Hotel: Hotel Simplon
    • Included Meals: Breakfast
  • Day 8 - Cortina d’Ampezzo

    Travel through the stunning northern Italian countryside to one of the world’s most breath-taking wine regions. The vineyards around Conegliano Veneto produce Italy’s most prized sparkling wine. Be tempted with a taste of the crisp and aromatic flavor of prosecco. Continue through the Dolomites, to the mountain resort of Cortina d'Ampezzo.


    • Hotel: Hotel de la Poste
    • Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
  • Day 9 - Experience the Dolomites

    The whole day is free for you to explore the colorful peaks and sheer valleys of the Dolomites, one of the most impressive mountain ranges in the Alps. During summer, once the snow and ice have melted away, a breathtaking landscape is revealed. There are a number of walking tracks through pristine Alpine wilderness for the adventurous to explore, or for a more relaxed pace, perhaps take a thrilling optional experience to the summit of one of the peaks for breathtaking panoramic views?


    • Hotel: Hotel de la Poste
    • Included Meals: Breakfast
  • Day 10 - Venice, Queen of the Adriatic

    Descend through the mountains to the romantic city of Venice.  A private boat glides you past canals lined with ornate palaces to St Mark’s Square. See the basilica, the Doge's Palace and Bridge of Sighs, before checking into your luxurious hotel.  With the afternoon at leisure, why not cruise the Venetian Lagoon to the island of Burano for a meal of local specialties and wine?


    • Hotel: Splendid Venice - Starhotels Collezione
    • Included Meals: Breakfast
  • Day 11 - Venice at Leisure

    Join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience during a visit to a traditional arts center, where you can see how beautiful handcrafted glass is made by expert glassblowers, safeguarding traditional skills. Then there is free time to enjoy the magical atmosphere of this incredible city at your own pace. Mingle with the locals at the open air markets near the Rialto Bridge and explore the back lanes and squares where Venetians go about their day. Later, on your romantic gondola serenade, glide along the atmospheric canals exploring the intimate and hidden parts of this unique city while musicians set the mood with traditional songs. This evening, indulge in traditional Venetian dishes that are enriched with inspiration from seasonal produce during a magical dinner.


    • Hotel: Splendid Venice - Starhotels Collezione
    • Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
  • Day 12 - Arrivederci Venice

    Your departure transfer arrives at Venice Marco Polo airport.


    • Departure Transfer: Arrive at the airport at 08:00, 09:30
    • Included Meals: Breakfast


Trip Highlights



Venice Artisan Glassblowing Demonstration

Vatican Visit with Fast-Track Entry

San Gimignano World Champion Gelato Tasting

Venice Artisan Glassblowing Demonstration

Vatican Visit with Fast-Track Entry


What is Included in Your Tour

  • Handpicked 4 & 5 star hotels in great locations
  • Business Class style coaches with extended legroom
  • Superior dining in top rated restaurants
  • Insider Access, Insightful Encounters and Insight Choice experiences
  • Daily breakfasts & many relaxed morning starts after 9am
  • Local discovery led by Local Experts
  • 24/7 personal service – knowledgeable Travel Director & expert Driver
  • Porterage, plus tips and gratuities at hotels and restaurants, is included


Similar Tours


Best of Italy

11 Days

Rome, Vatican City, Florence, Pisa, Venice, Assisi, Umbria, Sorrento, Capri, Pompeii, Mount Vesuvius

Balanced


From $3,996 pp

LEARN MORE

Easy Pace Italy

10 Days

Rome, Vatican City, Florence, Pisa, Tuscany, Venice

Leisurely


From $3,450 pp

LEARN MORE

Treasures of Italy

11 Days

Rome, Vatican City, Pompeii, Sorrento, Capri, Florence, Cinque Terre, Santa Margherita Ligure, Lake Maggiore, Venice

Balanced


From $4,444 pp

LEAR MORE

Country Roads of Italy - A Women-Only Tour

16 Days

Rome, Vatican City, Sorrento, Capri, Florence, Perugia, Florence, Rapolano Terme, Monteriggioni, Siena, San Gimignano, Lucca, Cinque Terre, Parma, Modena, Venice, Pompeii, Todi, Torgiano, Assisi

Balanced


From $6,683 pp

LEARN MORE

Italian Intermezzo

8 Days

Milan, Venice, Pisa, Florence, Orvieto, Rome, Vatican City

Dynamic


From $3,036 pp

LEARN MORE

Italian Escapade

13 Days

Rome, Vatican City, Siena, Tuscany, Florence, Pisa, Lake Maggiore, Lake Iseo, Venice, Assisi, Sorrento, Capri, Pompeii, Cassino

Balanced


From $5,108 pp

LEARN MORE

Sicily in Depth

9 Day

Palermo, Trapani, Marsala, Agrigento, Ragusa, Modica, Giardini Naxos, Syracuse, Catania

Balanced


From $2,696 pp

LEARN MORE

Grand Italy & Sicily

17 Days

Rome, Vatican City, Pisa, Santa Margherita Ligure, Cinque Terre, Portofino, Baveno, Lake Maggiore, Venice, Florence, Pompeii, Sorrento, Capri, Sassi di Matera, Matera, Alberobello, Villa San Giovanni, Taormina, Palermo

Dynamic


From $6,116 pp

LEARN MORE

Country Roads of Northern Italy

10 Days

Milan, Verona, Trento, Bolzano, Cortina D'Ampezzo, Conegliano, Venice, Sirmione, Baveno, Lake Maggiore, Como

Balanced


From $3,410 pp

LEARN MORE

Country Roads of Umbria & Tuscany

10 Days

Rome, Vatican City, Umbria, Perugia, Assisi, Monte Subasio, Siena, San Gimignano, Florence

Dynamic


From $2,933 pp

LEARN MORE

Country Roads of Italy

16 Days

Rome, Vatican City, Sorrento, Capri, Todi, Assisi, Perugia, Florence, Monteriggioni, Lucca, Siena, San Gimignano, Cinque Terre, Parma, Modena, Venice, Pompeii

Balanced


From $5,522 pp

LEARN MORE

Country Roads of Southern Italy

9 Days

Rome, Vatican City, Sorrento, Capri, Alberobello, Lecce, Gallipoli, Matera, Grottole, Pompeii

Balanced


From $2,858 pp

LEARN MORE

Country Roads of Southern Italy & Sicily

14 Days

Rome, Sorrento, Capri, Pompeii, Alberobello, Matera, Taormina, Agrigento, Palermo

Balanced


From $4,496 pp

LEARN MORE

Ultimate Italy

12 Days

Rome, Pompeii, Capri, Assisi, Perugia, San Gimignano, Florence, Pisa, Cinque Terre, Rapallo, Venice

Dynamic


From $9,925 pp

LEARN MORE