Italy Highlights 11 Days
11 Days: Rome - Assisi - Siena - Florence - Bologna - Venice - Tuscany Wine Region (Traditional Tuscan Lunch in Montepulciano) - Rome - Pompeii - Sorrento - Capri - Rome
Tour overview:
Discover the beauty and culture of Northern Italy on this 8-day journey. Explore Milan’s iconic landmarks, including the Duomo and Castello Sforzesco, and enjoy the breathtaking Bernina Express through the Swiss Alps. Visit the glamorous seaside villages of Portofino and Santa Margherita Ligure, and experience the picturesque Cinque Terre. Enjoy unique culinary experiences in Sestri Levante and Modena, including balsamic tasting and Ferrari Museum highlights. Conclude your journey in Venice with its canals, Piazza San Marco, and local cicchetti. This tour blends history, scenic landscapes, culture, and authentic Italian flavors.
Day 1 - Arrive Rome
Welcome to Rome! Meet your driver at the airport and enjoy your included transfer to the hotel. Use your included 1-day ticket for the Hop-on Hop-off I Love Rome City Tour. Ride an opentop panoramic bus and admire the city’s iconic landmarks with audio commentary in 12 languages. Hop on and off at any of the eight stops along the route and explore at your own pace. It's the perfect way to discover the Eternal City. Enjoy the rest of the evening at leisure. Return to the hotel on your own. Overnight stay in Rome.
Day 2 - Rome - Assisi - Siena - Florence
Depart at 7:15 AM by deluxe coach to Assisi, a medieval town surrounded by ancient walls. Visit the Basilica of St. Francis, featuring frescoes by Giotto and Cimabue, and enjoy a lunch in Assisi. Continue to Siena, UNESCO-listed and famous for its shell-shaped Piazza del Campo and Palio horse race. Later, travel through Tuscany’s countryside to reach Florence. Check in at your hotel. Overnight stay. (B, L)
Day 3 - Florence
Explore Florence, cradle of the Renaissance. Visit the Duomo, Brunelleschi’s Dome, Giotto’s Bell Tower, and Baptistery. See Piazza della Signoria, Palazzo Vecchio, and Santa Croce Basilica. Enjoy lunch in a traditional Tuscan restaurant. In the afternoon, choose between free time in the city or an optional visit to Pisa, with its Leaning Tower and Piazza dei Miracoli. Dinner is at leisure. Overnight stay in Florence. (B, L)
Day 4 - Florence - Bologna - Venice
Travel to Bologna, a city rich in culture and culinary excellence. Walk from Piazza Malpighi to Piazza Maggiore, admiring San Petronio Basilica and the Palazzo del Podestà. Delight in a light local lunch, savoring regional specialties. Stroll the medieval streets, arcades, and markets. In the afternoon, continue to Venice. Upon arrival, transfer to the hotel, located in the sestiere di Cannaregio, a district rich in history and well connected to the main points of interest in the city. Check in, relax, and enjoy the beautiful surroundings by the Canal Grande. Overnight stay. (B, Local Food Experience)
Day 5 - Venice
Transfer to Piazza San Marco and discover Venice’s highlights with a guided tour. Visit the Doge’s Palace (outside) and cross the Bridge of Sighs. Afterward, enjoy a glass of spritz or prosecco with cicchetti, traditional Venetian snacks. Relax and soak in the atmosphere. Spend the afternoon exploring the city’s canals, artisan shops, or quiet corners on your own. Return to your hotel. Overnight stay in Venice. (B, Local Food Experience)
Day 6 - Venice - Tuscany Wine Region - Rome
Depart Venice and travel through Tuscany to Montepulciano, a hilltop town known for “Vino Nobile” and stunning views. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant, paired with a glass of fine Tuscan wine. After lunch, take some free time before heading back to Rome, where the escorted tour ends. Check in at the hotel and overnight. (B, L)
Day 7 - Rome
Begin your morning with an included “Skip the Line” tour of the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s Square. Discover the Galleries of Tapestries and Maps, Raphael’s Rooms, and Michelangelo’s masterpiece in the Sistine Chapel. The visit ends in St. Peter’s Square, where you can view the Basilica’s majestic exterior. Spend the rest of the day at your own pace or join an optional tour. Overnight stay in Rome. (B)
Day 8 - Rome - Pompeii - Sorrento
After breakfast, meet your tour leader and depart at 7:00 am for Pompeii by coach, crossing Lazio and Campania. Enjoy a lunch with authentic Neapolitan pizza before visiting the world-famous ruins of Pompeii. With Skip-the-Line access and a guided tour, explore homes, shops, frescoes, and mosaics of this ancient Roman city, buried by Vesuvius in 79 AD. After the tour, drive along the scenic Sorrentine Coast and arrive in Sorrento. Enjoy dinner at the hotel (jacket required for men) and overnight stay. (B, L, D)
Day 9 - Sorrento - Capri - Sorrento
After breakfast, take a full-day excursion to Capri, one of the Mediterranean’s most glamorous islands. Weather permitting, visit the enchanting Blue Grotto by rowboat. Afterward, enjoy free time for lunch (not included) and to explore the island on your own. Return to Sorrento in the afternoon. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel. (B, D)
Day 10 - Sorrento - Rome
Enjoy breakfast at your hotel. The morning is free to shop, taste local limoncello, or take an optional excursion to the Amalfi Coast (not included). In the afternoon, depart Sorrento around 4:00 pm for the return journey to Rome. Upon arrival, check in at your hotel. Overnight stay. (B)
Day 11 - Depart Rome
Enjoy your final breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the airport is included. End of our services. (B)