Roman antiquities, saintly Assisi, Venetian canals, Renaissance Florence and Capri's brilliant sunlight are brought together in this superb tour of Italy, with the option to end in Naples or Rome.

Duration: 12 days

Highlights:

SIGNATURE EXPERIENCES

  • Rome: Gain VIP fast-track entrance into the Vatican Museums and enjoy a special private viewing of the Bramante Stairs before being confronted by the genius of Michelangelo in the Sistine Chapel.
  • Rome: Sightsee the local way with a leisurely passeggiata through the backstreets, where a friend in Rome will explain how modern life takes place around ancient treasures.
  • Florence: Gain a fascinating insight into the work of Michelangelo's masterpiece statue, David, with a Renaissance art expert during your visit to the Accademia Museum.
  • Venice: Enjoy a traditional gondola for a serenade through the romantic canals.
  • Assisi: Find out why the Basilica of St. Francis is considered one of the crowning achievements of medieval Europe with a Local Expert.
  • Isle of Capri: Cruise to this famous isle to meet your Local Expert. In unique style, ascend by open-top taxi and return to the port by funicular.
  • Pompeii: Walk with a Local Expert through the cobbled streets of this ill-fated town, frozen in time since the 1st century.

ADDITIONAL INCLUDED HIGHLIGHTS

  • Rome: Enjoy a private guided visit to St. Peter's Basilica.
  • Assisi: See the Church of St. Mary of the Angels.
  • Venice: Cruise to St. Mark's Square by private launch. See St. Mark's Basilica, bell tower, clock tower, Doges' Palace and Bridge of Sighs.
  • Pisa: See the Cathedral, Baptistery and ‘Leaning Tower'.
  • Florence: During your guided walking tour, see the Cathedral, belltower, ‘Gates of Paradise' on the Baptistery and visit Signoria Square. Witness a leather-work demonstration.
  • Sorrento: Demonstration of ‘Intarsio' inlay woodworking.

AUTHENTIC REGIONAL FLAVOURS

  • Florence: With a Local Expert, learn what to look for in a local vino rosso and what foods to pair it with - useful information when ordering Florentine cuisine.
  • Sorrento: Enjoy a glorious Celebration Dinner of fresh, rustic dishes served with local wine.
  • 10 Buffet Breakfasts (BB); plus 1 Welcome Dinner (WD), 3 three-course table d’hôte Dinner (DW) and 1 Celebration Dinner (CD) all with wine, plus tea or coffee. Departures on tour for Christmas and New Year's Eve enjoy a festive Highlight Dinner.

STAY AT THE BEST ADDRESSES

  • Assisi: The Giotto is located in the centre of the medieval village of Assisi with beautiful views over the Umbrian countryside. Guest rooms are decorated in local Umbrian style.
  • Sorrento: Even though it is situated in the centre of the city, Hotel Michelangel is a tranquil oasis. The hotel structure has been developed around an ancient tower, dating back to the seventh century.

ADDITIONAL FIVE STAR SERVICES

  • An expert Insight Tour Director, at the pinnacle of their career, will guide you on your journey. Serving as your 'travelling concierge', this skilled guide will act as consummate organiser and be your 'friend in a foreign land'.
  • Enjoy the unique comfort of Insight's luxury air-conditioned 40 seat coach with extended leg room and on-board restroom. It's business class comfort.
  • A personal radio headset gives you the freedom to wander during visits to famous highlights, without missing any of your Local Expert's fascinating insights and commentaries.
  • Baggage handling everywhere, with seamless and prompt delivery to your door at every hotel.
  • Hotel and restaurant tips included - you'll never have to worry about how much to give, nor search for foreign currency. Plus we include all taxes and porterage charges at hotels.
  • Stay connected with friends and family with our complimentary coach and hotel Wi-Fi.
  • Insight Flourishes - from time to time, your Tour Director will enchant you with local tidbits, each representing authentic food or beverages unique to the destination.
  • Included airport transfers at scheduled times on arrival and departure days.
Itinerary:

DAY 1 YOUR JOURNEY BEGINS
Board your overnight flight to Europe (please ask about our great deals).

DAY 2 ROME THE 'ETERNAL CITY'
Welcome to Rome, a glorious city filled with classical antiquities, medieval buildings, Renaissance palaces and Baroque churches. Transfers depart from Rome's Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci Airport for the tour hotel at 09:30, 12:30 & 15:30. In the evening, join your Tour Director for a Welcome Reception and uniquely Roman Welcome Dinner.
Hotel: Hotel Romanico Palace/Dei Borgia, Rome
Welcome Reception and Dinner

DAY 3 VIP VATICAN AND ROME WITH A LOCAL
The day is devoted to the ‘Eternal City'. Join a Local Expert for an in-depth visit to the Vatican Museums, full of priceless art treasures collected by the Popes. Insight has arranged special VIP entrance to avoid the crowds, together with behind-the-scenes access to the Bramante Staircase - a marvel of Renaissance architecture normally off-limits to the general public. Now into the Sistine Chapel, where the Popes are elected to admire Michelangelo's famous ceiling. Next door in St. Peter's Basilica, wonder at another of his works, the emotive ‘Pietà', and stand beneath the dome completed after his death. There's free time to do as the Romans do, or perhaps join a tour inside the Colosseum? Rome is about art, antiquity, piazzas and pizzazz, and our included walking tour this afternoon has it in abundance. Toss a coin into the spectacular Trevi Fountain, see the Pantheon, the best preserved monument from the Roman period, and enjoy free time for dinner in Piazza Navona.
Hotel: Hotel Romanico Palace/Dei Borgia, Rome
Buffet Breakfast

DAY 4 RENAISSANCE FLORENCE
Travel north through glorious Tuscan landscapes to reach renaissance Florence. On arrival, enjoy a delicious exploration of Tuscany's red wines, their robust flavours and absorbing history.
Hotel: Londra Hotel/Athenaeum Hotel, Florence
Buffet Breakfast, Three-course Dinner with wine, plus tea or coffee

DAY 5 FLORENCE SIGHTSEEING
Join an art historian for a walking tour of the historic city centre. A highlight is the visit to the Accademia Gallery to study Michelangelo's monumental statue, David. Continue to the multi-coloured marble cathedral to admire Giotto's bell tower and ‘Gates of Paradise'. Visit the Piazza della Signoria, still the political heart of Florence and the area around Santa Croce Basilica - famous for the quality of its luxury goods. After a demonstration of leather-work, there's free time to shop or continue sightseeing. In the evening, don't miss the chance to sample the fine Florentine cuisine - tasty starters and rich pastas accompanied by Chianti wine
Hotel: Londra Hotel/Athenaeum Hotel, Florence
Buffet Breakfast

DAY 6 PISA TO VENICE, THE 'QUEEN OF THE ADRIATIC'
Journey to the coastal town of Pisa to see the famous Leaning Tower. Continue through the marshes of the Venetian Lagoon and across the causeway to the unique city of Venice.
Hotel: Boscolo Bellini, Venice
Buffet Breakfast, Three-course Dinner with wine, plus tea or coffee

DAY 7 VENICE AND THE MAGIC OF ‘LA SERENISSIMA’.
(Relaxed Start) Your private launch awaits you in the morning, ready to cruise past Palladian churches and 13th century palaces to St. Mark's Square. 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 regalia of St. Mark's Basilica comes into view. A visit to an arts centre on Giudecca Island will allow you to admire the age-old skill of glassblowing. Later, board a traditional gondola for a serenade through the romantic canals.
Hotel: Boscolo Bellini, Venice
Buffet Breakfast

DAY 8 INTO THE HILLS OF UMBRIA TO ASSISI
(Relaxed Start) Leave Venice and continue through the Appennines to peaceful Assisi, one of Italy's most beautiful mountain towns. In the valley, see the famous Church of St. Mary of the Angels, much venerated as the place of St. Francis' death, then continue up Mount Subasio to the upper town. With your Local Expert, step inside the huge Basilica of St. Francis, built in the 13th century, where the frescoes by Giotto heralded a new era in Italian art.
Hotel: Giotto Hotel and Spa, Assisi
Buffet Breakfast, Three-course Dinner with wine, plus tea or coffee

DAY 9 CASSINO AND SORRENTO
An early start today as you travel southwards past Cassino, scene of a fierce battle in World War II. Follow the spectacular clifftop road to the picturesque resort of Sorrento. On arrival, investigate the art of ‘intarsio' or marquetry wood inlaying before continuing to your hotel.
Hotel: Hotel Michelangelo, Sorrento
Buffet Breakfast

DAY 10 CAPRI, THE ISLE OF DREAMS
In the morning, cruise to Isle of Capri. Under the Mediterranean sun, take a funicular ride up to Capri town where your Local Expert will take you around the narrow alleyways, to browse in exclusive boutiques and enjoy the views over the Tyrrhenian Sea. Perhaps join an optional cruise around the Island of Capri? Descend to the port in one of the island's iconic open-top taxis and return to Sorrento for some relaxation time. At night, join your fellow guests for an unforgettable Celebration Dinner of delicious Italian cuisine and wine
Hotel: Hotel Michelangelo, Sorrento
Buffet Breakfast, Celebration Dinner

DAY 11 HEAD FOR ROME
In the morning, journey to Pompeii, the opulent Roman town which was preserved by layers of ash from the disastrous eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD79. A walk with a Local Expert through the cobbled streets and extensive excavations reveals the daily life of Roman civilisation. Visit the Forum and peer into ancient shops and patrician villas, decorated with colourful wall paintings. Then continue on to your hotel in Rome.
Hotel: Hotel Dei Borgia/Hotel Beverly Hills, Rome
Buffet Breakfast

DAY 12 ARRIVEDERCI ROME
Departure transfers arrive at Rome's Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci Airport at approximately 07:00 & 09:30.
Buffet Breakfast