Grand Tour of Italy - from Venice to Sicily

Join your tour group at the hotel.

Bonotto Hotel Belvedere, Bassano del Grappa (4-star)

We’ll whizz into Venice on a local train, for a guided walk that takes us to the main sights, including the Piazza San Marco and the Bridge of Sighs. Afterwards, you’re free to explore independently. Perhaps take some time to take in the stately arcades that line Piazza San Marco (and indulge in a thick hot chocolate at the famous Café Florian); float along the Grand Canal on a gondola or get lost in the warren of backstreets and canals and discover the ‘local’ Venice. An optional excursion (pre-bookable only) to visit the Doge’s Palace will take place this afternoon. You’ll see its grand façades and ornamentation - all a reflection of the city’s 14th-century wealth and power, portrayed with elaborate, Venetian Gothic flair.

Bonotto Hotel Belvedere, Bassano del Grappa (4-star)

Today includes…

Excursions & visits: Visit to Venice with morning guided walking tour and free afternoon (all day)

On our third day in the area, you’re free to explore on your own. Or, there’s an optional trip to the old university town of Vicenza, filled with charming 16th-century buildings. Here, you’ll enjoy a guided tour and entrance to the grappa museum with a tasting.

Bonotto Hotel Belvedere, Bassano del Grappa (4-star)

Today, we travel into the region of Emilia-Romagna en route to Tuscany. We’ll visit Ferrara, one of the greatest walled cities in Italy. And we’ll stop by the regional capital Bologna, renowned for its food (though the porticoed red-brick buildings and ancient university are also worth a mention).

Grand Hotel Tettuccio, Montecatini Terme (4-star)

Today includes…

Excursions & visits: Visit to Ferrara and Bologna (all day)

Pisa and Lucca are on the itinerary today, as we head off on a full-day excursion. Pisa’s Miracle Square (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) is where you’ll find the famous Leaning Tower, as well as the shiny white marble cathedral and baptistery. In the walled medieval town of Lucca, we take a guided walk to Piazza del Mercato. It’s also known as Piazza dell’Anfiteatro - once upon a time, a Roman amphitheatre stood here (which explains the piazza’s oval shape).

Grand Hotel Tettuccio, Montecatini Terme (4-star)

Today includes…

Excursions & visits: Visit Pisa and walking tour in Lucca (all day)

A local train whisks us to Florence from our base in Montecatini Terme. Quite simply, Florence is utterly enchanting. From its towering, frescoed buildings, Gothic churches staggering red-tiled Duomo, you are sure to be charmed by this romantic city. A guided walking tour reveals the city’s highlights and includes entrance to the Basilica di Santa Croce, the burial place of some of the most eminent Italians. Brunelleschi and Vasari were involved in the architectural design of the basilica. The afternoon is free in Florence to make your own discoveries, before returning to the hotel.

Grand Hotel Tettuccio, Montecatini Terme (4-star)

Today includes…

Excursions & visits: Excursion to Florence, including morning guided walking tour (all day)

After some time this morning to explore the ‘contrade’ (districts) of Siena, one of Italy’s most beautiful medieval cities, we wend our way south towards Rome. Along the way, we’ll quench our thirst with a wine tasting in one of the best grape-growing areas of Tuscany. We’ll arrive into Rome late afternoon.

Starhotels Michelangelo, Rome (4-star)

Today includes…

Excursions & visits: Visit Siena (morning)

Winery visit and tasting (afternoon)

Known as the Eternal City, Rome’s ancient capital will take us back some 3,000 years with icons such as the Colosseum, Roman Forum and Pantheon dotted among the hustle and bustle of modern life. Our introduction to Rome includes a guided walk, the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill, and entrance to the Colosseum.

Starhotels Michelangelo, Rome (4-star)

Today includes…

Excursions & visits: Visit Rome, including morning walking tour and afternoon entrance to the Colosseum (all day)

Spend this morning exploring on your own - perch on the Spanish Steps and throw a euro or two into the Trevi Fountain. This afternoon we’ll visit the world-renowned Vatican and Sistine Chapel and see iconic artworks, including those of Michelangelo.

Starhotels Michelangelo, Rome (4-star)

Today includes…

Excursions & visits: Visit to Vatican and Sistine Chapel (afternoon)

Today we journey to Caserta for a two-night stay. There’ll be some free time on arrival to wander - perhaps take lunch in a restaurant or venture to the Royal Palace (Reggia di Caserta).

Hotel dei Cavalieri, Caserta (4-star)

Today includes…

Excursions & visits: Transfer to Caserta with free time on arrival (morning)

Our tour today takes us to Pompeii. This wealthy town was buried and frozen in time in AD 79, by a massive eruption of Mount Vesuvius. This is undoubtedly Europe’s most compelling archaeological site. In the afternoon, enjoy some free time in Sorrento, a pretty town on the Gulf of Naples.

Hotel dei Cavalieri, Caserta (4-star)

Today includes…

Excursions & visits: Tour of Pompeii (morning)

Visit to Sorrento (afternoon)

We’ll make our way south from Naples through Calabria - the ‘toe’ of Italy - right down to Sicily. We’ll visit a mozzarella producer for a tasting of this delicious buffalo milk cheese - you may catch a glimpse of some of the buffalo herds as we travel through the countryside. We'll make a stop in Cosenza and then a short sea crossing from Reggio di Calabria takes us across to Messina on Sicily’s north-eastern tip.

Sant Alphio Garden Hotel & Spa, Giardini Naxos (4-star)

Today includes…

Excursions & visits: Visit to mozzarella farm with tasting (morning)

Visit to Cosenza (afternoon)

Relax and spend today at leisure.

Sant Alphio Garden Hotel & Spa, Giardini Naxos (4-star)

Spend another day enjoying your surroundings or join a full-day optional excursion to Mount Etna and then Taormina, where there’ll be a guided walk and entrance to the ancient Greek theatre, in its splendid elevated position with glorious views.

Sant Alphio Garden Hotel & Spa, Giardini Naxos (4-star)

Say goodbye to your tour group for your onward travel.

Giardini Naxos