Italian Showcase

Overview

This is a comprehensive, affordable tour of Italy, showcasing some of the world’s most beloved cities (including Rome, Florence and Venice), historic sites, small towns, and scenic wonders. You’ll start and end in Rome focusing on Tuscany and the Sorrento coast, but also visiting Venice, San Marino (one of the world’s smallest countries), and Assisi.

Enjoy three nights in the Tuscan hills, famous for medieval villages, charming towns, and the celebrated wine-growing regions. From your base, visit Siena, home of the famous palio horse race and take an excursion to Florence with a walking tour of the Renaissance city centre. You’ll see Piazza Signoria – the centre of political life in Florence since the 14th century.

Spend three nights in the area of Sorrento, a laid-back town with amazing views of the azure seas and cobblestone streets lined with shops and restaurants and take the excursion to Capri, with is crystal-blue water, legendary piazzetta, and fashionable boutiques; Explore Pompeii, which was completely buried during the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. This preserved town gives you an amazingly detailed look into ordinary life at the peak of the Roman Empire.

This Italy tour also visits Orvieto—situated high atop a volcanic rock—to visit the gothic cathedral; Ravenna, with its Byzantine mosaics dating from the 5th century AD; Urbino, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that has preserved its Renaissance appearance; Gubbio, dating to the 14th century; Assisi, where you’ll visit the Basilica of St. Francis that houses the tomb of St. Francis; and Montecassino, where you’ll visit the Benedictine Abbey dating to the 6th century. To top it all up, visit Rome, the “eternal city,” including a city tour showing all the main sights, from Vatican City to the Colosseum.

From the small, historic towns to the vibrant cities, this affordable Italy tour for value-minded travellers has it all!

UK - Rome, Italy

Fly to Rome where you will be met by our representative and transferred to your hotel for the night.

Check into your hotel. The rest of the day is free for you to explore Italy’s ancient capital with the help of the CosmosGO app. This evening, meet your Tour Director and fellow travellers.

Rome, Siena - Tuscan Hills

This morning journey to Siena, rightly considered the jewel of Tuscany. The Piazza del Campo is quite unique in shape and setting, and famous all over the world for the medieval-style Palio horse-racing event. Next, enjoy the beauty of the Tuscan countryside with its hillside towns and villages. Overnight in the heart of Tuscany.

Tuscan Hills

Spend the day at leisure or take advantage of today’s optional excursion to San Gimignano, one of Italy’s best-preserved medieval towns. Admire its 14 towers and the countryside dotted with vineyards and olive trees.

Tuscan Hills, Excursion to Florence

A full day is dedicated to Florence, the “Cradle of the Renaissance.” Wander at leisure and admire the city’s timeless beauty. The included walking tour with a local Guide will introduce you to the main highlights.

Tuscan Hills - Verona - Venice Area

Leave the Tuscan Hills and, on the way to the Venice area, stop to visit Verona, the romantic city of Shakespearian plays. You'll have time for a stroll in the centre to see Juliet's balcony or the Roman Arena.

Venice

Venice is a city of unparalleled beauty and a feast of wonderful sites. View the delightful crisscrossing canals, gondolas, water buses, arched bridges, palaces, and piazzas. Enjoy the included orientation, which starts with a BOAT RIDE to St. Mark’s Square, followed by time at leisure and a visit to a typical Venetian GLASSBLOWING WORKSHOP. In the afternoon, join one of the optional excursions.

Venice Area - Ravenna - San Marino

Travel to Ravenna, a city that preserves the richest heritage of byzantine mosaics dating from the 5th century AD. After a stop here, continue to the tiny hilltop Republic of San Marino, one of the smallest countries in the world.

San Marino - Umbino - Gubbio - Assisi Area

First to Urbino to see its magnificent Ducal Palace towering over the town. Continue on to the verdant Umbria region to visit medieval Gubbio, where the superb view of the rooftops of the town from the Consul’s Palace is a must. Continue on to Foligno.

Assisi Area - Sorrento Area

Start the day in Assisi with a guided tour of the BASILICA OF ST. FRANCIS with its famous paintings by Giotto dating back to the 1300s. Continue south across the Apennines to the shores of the Mediterranean for three overnights in the picturesque Sorrento area.

Sorrento Area. Excursion to Capri

Today, cross the crystal-blue waters to Capri. This legendary island, surrounded by rose-tinted rocks, has incredibly beautiful coves of translucent blues and greens. The town, with its pretty piazzetta, maze of streets, fashionable boutiques, and cozy restaurants, is a mecca for the jet set. An optional tour takes you around the island with its steep roads and panoramic views. Return to the Sorrento Area for an overnight.

Sorrento Area

Spend the day to relax in the sun, explore on your own, or join an optional excursion to discover the unique beauty of the Amalfi coast.

Sorrento Area - Pompeii - Naples - Rome

Leave the Sorrento area to discover one of the most intriguing archaeological sites in the world: POMPEII. This village was caught by surprise by the Vesuvius volcanic eruption in 79 AD, and excavations have uncovered a snapshot of ordinary Roman life. Back to the present, you'll enjoy an orientation drive of culture-rich Naples before arriving in Rome.

Rome

Steeped in history, Rome is vibrantly alive and exciting, and absolutely unique. Included sightseeing with a Local Guide starts with St. Peter’s Square and Basilica. Other highlights are the iconic Colosseum, the largest amphitheatre ever built and Circus Maximus. Consider an optional visit to the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel, world famous for Michelangelo’s impressive fresco of The Last Judgment.

Rome - UK

Your holiday ends with breakfast this morning.

Transfer to the airport for your return flight to the UK.