Italian Showcase
Checking prices and availability… nearly there!
-
15 days
-
Italy
-
Steady pace
-
Classic escorted tours
A whirlwind intercity adventure that takes in winding lanes of medieval towns, world-famous works of art and architectural treasures in Italy’s best-loved cities.
At a glance
- Florence Explore the city’s architectural treasures on a guided walking tour.
- Greve Enjoy a hearty lunch at the Vicchiomaggio Wine Estate.
- Chianti Classico Valley Enjoy a wine cellar and lunch tasting
- Pisa Tour the world-famous Square of Miracles.
- Verona Gaze up at the 13th century balcony where Juliet is said to have stood.
- Venice canal boat ride See the Palazzos, the Bridge of Sighs and St Mark's Square.
- Rome Visit the largest colosseum ever built as part of your guided city tour.
What's included
Price match guarantee
Find a like-for-like tour that's cheaper elsewhere and we'll match its price and give you £100 off. That's how confident we are that we offer the best possible value for money on our touring holidays.
With accommodation, transfers, excursions, selected meals, private VIP home pick-up and the services of an expert Tour Director all included in the price, our escorted tour holidays are highly rated by our customers. But should you find a like-for-like tour cheaper elsewhere, we will match its price and give you a further £100 reduction.
VIP home pick-up service
You'll be picked up at home and whisked off to your departure point in a private, air-conditioned car, and we'll be waiting to take you home too.
Our VIP home pick-up service is included up to 50 miles to your departure airport. Your driver will happily load and unload your luggage, and drive you to your departure terminal. At the close of your trip, you'll be welcomed by your driver in the arrivals hall and returned home again. A supplement is payable per mile over 50 miles.
Single Share available
Opt to share a twin room with a fellow traveller, and if there's no one to share with you'll get a room to yourself at no added cost!
Our single share option will match you with a fellow solo traveller of the same gender in a twin room, so you don't have to pay a single supplement. If there's no one available to share with, you don't pay any additional single supplement. Please call us to book a single-share holiday.
Italian Showcase
Customer Reviews
Consider to be excellent value for money...
19th July 2017
Mr Christopher Lincroft
Consider to be excellent value for money
As before, excellent holiday...
6th July 2017
Trusted Customer
As before, excellent holiday
Multiple itineraries are available
This itinerary changes on some dates - select your preferred departure date to see the details.
Overview
A whirlwind intercity adventure that takes in winding lanes of medieval towns, world-famous works of art and architectural treasures in Italy’s best-loved cities.
Total meals included:
- 14 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 7 dinners
UK - Rome
Day1
Fly to Rome where you will be met by our representative and transferred to your hotel for the night.
Rome - Orvieto - Tuscan Hills
Day2
Drink in the Umbrian countryside as you head for Orvieto, a winemaking town on a high volcanic outcrop. Admire its black and yellow 14th-century cathedral, which took 300 years to build and overflows with frescoes and works of art. Afterwards, drive through classic Tuscan landscapes past the hill towns of Chianti before arriving at your hotel for four nights.
Meals included:
- Breakfast
Tuscan Hills at leisure
Day3
Spend today relaxing at leisure or take our optional excursion to two of Tuscany's most enchanting towns. With its pepperpot-shaped towers, cobbled streets and tall townhouses, hilltop San Gimignano looks as if it has bypassed time itself. Another medieval masterpiece, Siena's narrow lanes and russet-painted mansions cluster around its famous Piazza del Campo. Shaped like a scallop, this café-lined square is the setting for its fabled Palio horse race.
Meals included:
- Breakfast
- Dinner
Tuscan Hills - Florence - Tuscan Hills
Day4
Brimming with artistic and architectural treasures, Renaissance Florence is heaven for culture vultures. Your full day excursion makes the most of this glorious city, ruled over for centuries by the Medici family. Enjoy a guided walk around its architectural treasures.
Meals included:
- Breakfast
- Dinner
Tuscan Hills - Greve - Pisa - Tuscan Hills
Day5
This morning we visit one of the celebrated wine estates in the Chianti Classico valley to see the magnificent environment in which the wine is created, and where we enjoy a wonderful lunch. Afterwards, we drive to Pisa to see its world-famous Square of Miracles, home to the Leaning Tower. Building started in 1173, this extraordinary tower started to lean soon afterwards due to poor foundations, before being completed in the 14th century. Admire the nearby Duomo, Baptistry and Campo Santo cemetery.
Meals included:
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
Tuscan Hills - Verona - Venice area
Day6
Travel through the Po Valley to Verona on the River Adige. Laid out in a grid by the Romans, Verona, called the 'Pink City' serves up a wealth of sights, including 'Juliet's Balcony', which Shakespeare had Romeo climb to meet his lover. Take in all of the city's sights with a guided walking tour before continuing your travels to the Venice area.
Meals included:
- Breakfast
Venice
Day7
After a short drive and a boat trip along the Giudecca Canal, arrive in what is arguably the world's most beautiful city, Venice. An independent state and major maritime power during the Middle Ages, its narrow canals, ornate footbridges and exquisite architecture never fails to impress. Enjoy a simply unforgettable canal boat ride and a demonstration of the historic Venetian delicate art of glass blowing. Get to know this magical city at your will, exploring piazzas, palazzos and churches.
Meals included:
- Breakfast
- Dinner
Venice area - Ravenna - San Marino
Day8
This morning, depart the Venice area and begin your journey to San Marino. En-route make a stop in Ravenna, known for its domed churches before arriving in San Marino, Europe's third smallest independent state.
Meals included:
- Breakfast
- Dinner
San Marino - Urbino - Gubbio - Assisi area
Day9
Today the first stop is Urbino, the birthplace of Raphael. Nestling on a hillside, this walled town is dominated by a twin-towered Ducal Palace, the setting for 15th century Europe's most illustrious court. Next, carry on to medieval Gubbio, whose fairytale Palazzo Dei Consoli commands sweeping views over its rooftops and countryside beyond. Finally, drive towards Fuego, the birthplace of St Francis.
Meals included:
- Breakfast
- Dinner
Assisi area - Naples
Day10
Your day begins at the major Catholic pilgrimage site of Assisi. Admire Giotto's frescoes in its breathtaking 13th century Basilica, before crossing the Apennines to the Mediterranean coast for three nights in historic Naples.
Meals included:
- Breakfast
Naples - Capri by Ferry - Naples
Day11
Depart Naples and cross into Capri by way of ferry. Stroll through this island's pretty piazza's and exclusive avenues studded with boutiques and restaurants. Return to Naples this evening for to overnight stays.
Meals included:
- Breakfast
- Dinner
Naples - Pompeii - Sorrento - Naples
Day12
Get to know bustling Naples on an orientation drive before heading for Pompeii. Walk with your guide to its astonishing archaeological sites before spending the evening in colour Sorrento.
Meals included:
- Breakfast
Naples - Montecassino - Rome
Day13
Leave Naples this morning and stop in Montecassino. This famous hilltop Benedictine Abbey, was the site of a important World War II battle. Continue to Rome, where you'll have free time to acquaint yourself with the 'Eternal City'. Alternatively, dig deeper into the city on one of our optional sightseeing tours.
Meals included:
- Breakfast
Rome
Day14
With its ancient monuments, Renaissance art and grand fountains and palaces, Rome spans the millennia like no other city on earth. Today's included sightseeing takes in its greatest sights, from St Peter's Square to the inside visits of the Roman Forum and majestic Colosseum - the largest ever built in the Roman Empire. Afterwards, there's time to explore on your own or take one of our optional excursions.
Meals included:
- Breakfast
Rome - UK
Day15
Transfer to the airport for your flight to the UK.
Meals included:
- Breakfast
Hotels
Tour hotels will be as specified or alternatives of a similar standard.
- Rome: Buenos Aires or Holiday Inn Express S Giovanni
- Tuscan Hills: Aquaviva at Casole d'Elsa or Toscana Ambassador Poggibonsi
- Venice area: Poppi at Mira or Holiday Inn at Marghera
- San Marino: GHSM Group
- Assisi area: Holiday Inn Express at Foligno
- Naples: M Gallery Palazzo Caracciolo or Holiday Inn
- Rome: Buenos Aires or Holiday Inn Express S Giovanni