Grand Tour of Italy from Venice to Rome

Arriving at one of Venice's airports, we'll transfer to our hotel and settle in for our three-night stay in The Floating City. 

Today, explore Venice on foot with a guided walking tour revealing many famous sights, including Doge’s Palace, built in the Venetian Gothic style, and the legendary Bridge of Sighs.

On our tour, we'll visit one of the world's most opulent cathedrals, St Mark's, the final resting place of St Mark the Apostle. You can walk across the 12th-century marble floors and marvel at the walls and vaulted ceilings, covered with 4,000 square metres of 13th-century, coloured mosaics.

Then experience the City of Canals from the water. After our guided tour, uncover one of the world’s most romantic and inspiring locations, as you drift along Venice’s iconic waterways aboard a traditional gondola. Here, the mesmerising views revealed by every turn have inspired countless artists, poets, and writers through the ages.

Today will be the day to put your research skills to the test and discover Venice for yourself as you spend the entire day at leisure.

For those who love an action-packed itinerary, there's plenty to see and do.

The world-famous Gallerie dell'Accademia will be a hit for any art enthusiast (or anyone looking to learn). The gallery features a staggering collection of Venetian masterpieces, including outstanding works by Giovanni Bellini, Giorgione, Titian, Tintoretto, Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, Rosalba Carriera, and Canaletto. And if you don’t know these artists yet, the Accademia will give you the most atmospheric introduction. Or, if you prefer modern art, the Guggenheim is one of the most visited attractions in Venice, thanks to its collection of 20th-century European and American art.

You could stroll through the vibrant Jewish Quarter and explore its winding streets and historic buildings, including the Jewish Museum of Venice - which showcases the history and culture of the Jewish community - and five fascinating synagogues. Or perhaps climb the Campanile bell tower for unrivalled views of the city, the lagoon and the Alps in the distance.

Alternatively, those who just want to relax can simply enjoy a bit of ‘La Dolce Vita’ and watch the world go by in one of Venice’s famous cafes.

After breakfast, we’ll leave Venice and drive to Bologna for a guided tour. Beautifully maintained over the centuries, its original Roman street plan is still discernible. Twelve medieval gates encircle the historic centre and at Bologna’s heart is the majestic main square - the Piazza Maggiore. It’s surrounded by splendid Renaissance palaces and home to the enormous San Petronio - the world’s fifth-largest Basilica. It’s not hard to see it's still unfinished; its sponsors never achieved their ambitious goal of exceeding that of Rome’s St Peter’s.

Adjacent is another beautiful square, Piazza del Nettuno, with a splendid statue and fountain dedicated to Neptune and surrounded by grandiose medieval civic buildings. And, while we would never usually pit one stunning Italian city against another, Bologna does have one surprising claim to fame, "outdoing” the more popular city of Pisa – it has not one, but two medieval leaning towers. The Garisenda Tower leans at a disconcerting 4 degrees – making it even more askew than the tower in Pisa.

Of course, one of Bologna’s ‘must sees’ is Europe’s oldest University – founded in 1068, its illustrious alumni include Dante, Copernicus and Marconi.

It’s also known as the world's most delicious city, affectionately nicknamed “La Grassa”. The fat one. This region gave us parmesan, Parma ham, mortadella and balsamic vinegar and it’s where lasagne, tortellini in broth and Bolognese sauce were cooked for the first time. Fresh ingredients are rife within the city, as you wander, you’ll see cobbled streets lined with displays of locally grown fruit and vegetables. And the scent of mouthwatering local dishes wafts from pavement restaurants. In short, it’s a foodie’s paradise. 

This afternoon, we'll continue to our hotel in the Tuscan countryside, where we'll stay for two nights.

After breakfast, we'll explore the rural Tuscany made famous by Renaissance paintings, literature, films and travel posters – it's a truly extraordinary landscape of undulating hillsides, vineyards, ochre-coloured valleys, terracotta-tiled farmhouses and pencil pines.

Volterra, an imposing town with immense stone ramparts, is perched dramatically on a hill offering panoramic views. The town’s small historic centre is a maze of narrow cobbled streets that emanate from the main Piazza dei Priori, one of the finest and best preserved in Tuscany.

Founded by the Etruscans as long ago as 800 BC, Volterra grew prosperous in the Middle Ages from mining and carving alabaster. Many artefacts from this period still survive in churches and cathedrals throughout Tuscany and beyond. Even today, alabaster carving remains the traditional Volterran craft.

The town also has outstanding museums housing priceless Etruscan and Roman treasures. A visit is guaranteed to heighten your appreciation of this impressive town.  

Today we’ll visit a beautifully restored, family-owned farmhouse for a delicious lunch. Located in a medieval hamlet, this is the perfect place to experience the most authentic Tuscan lifestyle, including sampling some delicious local produce. The Fenzi family have owned the farmhouse since the 1930s and are extremely proud of their selection – justifiably so!

We'll then drive on through the countryside to San Gimignano, one of Italy’s most beautiful villages. The sight of a spectacular skyline with 14 medieval towers is one that will stay with you forever. There were originally 72 towers, all built by rival noble families during the 13th century as symbols of power and prestige. No other village in Tuscany captures the spirit of the age in quite the same way.

It’s lovely to just wander through its cobbled streets and squares, taking in the views and absorbing its delightfully rural atmosphere.

This morning we'll drive to Florence where we'll have a guided walking tour to discover why Florence is indeed the ‘Pearl of the Renaissance’.

No wonder this city has been such a highlight on the traveller’s itinerary since the days of the ‘Grand Tour’ – the sights are legendary and you’ll enjoy the best of them: the cathedral – or Duomo – which can house a congregation of thousands, and the Baptistry, one of the oldest buildings in the city. We will explore the goldsmiths’ shops on the Ponte Vecchio, the landmark bridge over the Arno River and a symbol of the city itself. 

This afternoon we'll enjoy some free time for you to explore the city further.

There is the Accademia, the oldest art school in the world which houses Michelangelo’s David, one of the world’s finest sculptures; the Archaeological Museum containing an outstanding collection of exhibits from ancient Greece, Rome and Egypt; and the Science Museum which contains many of Galileo’s telescopes, together with the world’s first adding machine.

However, Florence is much more than a city caught in the past, it has an ambience you will love, packed with cosy restaurants and street cafés where you can simply watch the world go by, the very essence of Italy and the Mediterranean lifestyle.

After breakfast, we'll take a short drive to Siena for a guided tour. Once one of the finest medieval cities in the world it was, during the 12th and 13th centuries, one of its richest and a similar size to Paris! An unrivalled period of building in which the palaces, grandiose townhouses and spacious piazzas you see today were created.

The main square, the Campo, is considered to be one of the world’s finest! Unusually formed in a half-moon shape, the square is surrounded by tall, centuries-old buildings, all very different and yet also harmonious.

Perhaps the finest place to visit in Siena is its outstanding cathedral, one of Italy’s greatest. Built from black and white marble it has some of the most intricate carvings imaginable, some of which are by the great master himself, Michelangelo.

The floor is a revelation, laid with countless thousands of interlocking stones, creating a unique inlaid surface at which, one can only marvel at the sheer skill of its creators. Impressive as it is today, had a planned additional nave been completed during the 14th century, it would have created the largest church in Christendom.

The Black Death halted construction as two-thirds of the population perished, and the city fell into rapid decline. Little else was built but fortunately even less demolished, thus accounting for Siena’s remarkable preservation. 

During the afternoon you are free to explore as you wish. You could sit in one of its pavement cafés to enjoy a coffee and reflect on all the visitors who preceded you. Or perhaps explore the three major streets of this Tuscan city, which form a y-shape intersecting at the valley that became the Piazza del Campo.

Later this afternoon, we'll continue to Perugia where we stay for two nights.

After breakfast, we'll embark on a tour of this bustling university city, which uses an escalator system to connect the lower town to the historical core above. A wander along the Corso Pietro Vannucci is a treat for the senses, as its traffic-free status allows the subtler sounds and smells of local life to come through – the clink of china as cups are set out for morning coffee and the friendly chatter of locals and visitors passing the time.

This wide avenue leads up past a mix of shiny designer boutiques and tiny timeworn shops to the Piazza IV Novembre – the centrepiece of the city. The flagstone square boasts the gothic San Lorenzo cathedral, the imposing 13th-century Palazzo dei Priori and the intricately carved Maggiore fountain. Fanning out from the square is a jumble of narrow alleyways lined with crumbling buildings in shades of peach, ochre, russet and cream, providing plenty of places to people-watch over a local craft beer, a chilled glass of Orvieto Classico or a creamy gelato. 

This afternoon will be free for you to explore more of what Perugia has to offer.

From the Piazza Italia, you can take an escalator down to the atmospheric streets of medieval Perugia, an underground world hidden within the 16th-century Rocca Paolina fortress. You can also enter the foundations of the fortress through the Porta Marzia gate, one of the stone portals chiselled into the crumbling Etruscan wall that encloses Perugia. Interestingly, this under-city maze is more than just a tourist attraction – you'll see locals hurrying through it to the bus station!

This evening promises to be an unforgettable culinary experience, curated for truffle lovers and non-truffle lovers alike. Set in the enchanting heart of Perugia, we will dine at a distinguished, family-owned restaurant renowned for its mastery in crafting exquisite truffle-infused dishes. The restaurant is famed for its unique, intoxicating aroma and the unparalleled flavour of its truffle creations. As you savour each bite, you’ll be immersed in an atmosphere of warmth and hospitality, with the opportunity to socialise with your fellow adventurers while appreciating the passion and craftsmanship of the local family. For those who prefer not to indulge in truffles, the restaurant will happily offer alternative dishes, ensuring a satisfying dining experience for everyone. Prepare for a memorable evening filled with delicious food and great company! 

This morning, we'll continue our journey around Italy’s green heart by exploring another key city, Orvieto, whose ancient ruins lie in eerie underground caves. This sparse subterranean city can be glimpsed from the family-owned Well of the Cave, a secret passageway leading to nine caves underneath a traditional pottery shop. With the city built from the precipitous chunk of volcanic rock on which it sits, Orvieto looks almost at one with the red-hued rock – although the cathedral is a stand-out feature.

After a ride up the tree-lined funicular tracks to the old town, we'll marvel at the intricate façade of this incredible Gothic building, featuring gilded frescoes that give it the appearance of being illuminated from within. We'll enjoy some free time here before continuing to Italy’s capital, Rome.

After breakfast, we take a sightseeing tour of ‘the Eternal City’. The monuments are legendary: there is the Pantheon, a striking 2,000-year-old temple built to honour the seven planetary deities and later transformed into a church. It is one of the best-preserved monuments of ancient Rome. There's also the Trevi Fountain, water bursting from a natural spring over immense rocks, built onto the side of a Renaissance palace. Legend has it you must toss a coin into it to ensure you come back to this beguiling city.

Then there is the Piazza Navona - Rome’s most famous square - filled with colourful Baroque palazzi and showy fountains. Close by are the instantly recognisable 18th-century Spanish Steps - once the haunt of artists’ models and now simply the place to be seen. At the bottom is the Piazza di Spagna, home to the poet Keats and visited by Milton, Byron and Shelley – all drawing inspiration from the uniqueness which is Rome.

We will then enjoy some free time for lunch before our signature experience this afternoon.

This afternoon, we'll visit one of the most historic wine estates in the Frascati area to learn about the artisanal winemaking traditions that have been kept alive in this region. We tour a Frascati vineyard producing a selection of local wines, which we will enjoy along with some delicious local delicacies. 

Today, you’ll be free to explore as you wish - and there's lots to see.

You could visit the Vatican Museums, the only part of the Papal Palace you can visit independently (pre-booking is essential). This is one of the largest complexes of museums in the world, with collections that do justice to its dimensions. Many works by the finest artists of the Renaissance are on display, as are Egyptian antiquities and exquisite examples of furniture, sculpture and silverware. And, of course, you could see Michelangelo’s famous ceiling frescoes on the Sistine Chapel ceiling.

The weight of the past is inescapable as you view the magnificent heart of the Roman Empire. While the history spans thousands of years, the sites are densely located in Rome’s historic centre, and easily walkable. You could enjoy views of the city from Palatine Hill or visit one of the most famous centres of entertainment the world has ever seen: the Colosseum. Then take a stroll around the impressive spread of ruins that make up the Roman Forum – ancient Rome’s central showpiece. As you walk around this grand district of temples, basilicas and public spaces, it’s exciting to think you could be walking in the footsteps of truly legendary figures: Julius Caesar, Emperor Augustus, Cleopatra and Mark Antony.

Alternatively, you could head out of the city. You could visit the open-air museum of Appia Antica Archaeological Park to take a walk along the Appian Way, where thousands of Spartacus’s slave army were crucified as brutal punishment for their rebellion. Or perhaps, head just east of Rome to the Italian town of Tivoli, home to luxe residences, splendid villas, and two famous UNESCO World Heritage Sites.