Janine Thompson

Embark on a captivating journey through the heart of Italy, where timeless beauty, rich history, and artistic masterpieces await at every turn. This 7-day tour will take you on a mesmerizing exploration of three of Italy's most iconic cities: Rome, Florence, and Venice. From the grandeur of Rome's ancient ruins to the Renaissance splendor of Florence and the romantic allure of Venice's canals, this carefully crafted itinerary promises an unforgettable experience that will leave you with a profound appreciation for the art, culture, and history that define Italy.

Starting in Rome, enjoy the city with the hop on hop off open bus tour, ideal for those who want to go sightseeing on their own to discover the most famous symbols of Rome, such as the Colosseum, Piazza Navona, the Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon, Spain Square. Depart Rome on a high speed train to Florence, where free time available for an independent visit of the city, the 'cradle of the Renaissance'. Spend a half day discovering the famous Chianti area and its rolling hills. Next stop is Monterosso, the starting city to explore the famous Cinque Terre. A two day Cinque Terre Train Card is included, which allows access to the National Park area and the use of regional trains that connect the villages and of local buses.

Arrive into Milan and spend the rest of the day visiting the main symbols of the city, such as the Duomo, the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele, the Teatro alla Scala and the Sforzesco Castle. Then make your way to Genova by train where you will have free time at your disposal for a visit of the city on your own. A one-day hop-on / hop-off tourist bus ticket is included, which can also be used for getting around the city. Next is a train to La Spezia, the starting city to explore the famous Cinque Terre. The two-day Cinque Terre Train Card is included, which allows access to the National Park area and the use of regional trains that connect the villages and of local buses. Lastly board a train to Rome, we suggest taking a early morning departure, to have a half day at disposal in Rome to discover the city.

This independent tour starts in Rome, where you can discover the Vatican museums, admire Michelangelo's famous Sistine Chapel and other masterpieces of the Italian Renaissance more closely. Make your way to Florence by high speed train where you will have free time to explore the likes of Piazza della Signoria, the medieval heart of the city and Piazza Santa Croce with its past noble families’ buildings, and the home of Dante, the Supreme Poet author of the Divine Comedy. From Florence take the train to Venice where you can take a gondola ride and then have a full day to discover Venice and the most famous places in the city , Piazza San Marco with the Basilica and the Clock Tower, the Rialto Bridge, Campo Santa Maria Formosa and others less known. From Venice board another high speed train to Milan. . A one-day ticket for the hop-on / hop-off tourist bus is included, which can also be used to get around the city, ideal for those who want to go sightseeing on their own to discover the most famous symbols of Milan, such as the Duomo, the Castello Sforzesco, the Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio and the Navigli, the famous canals, the very hub of the Milanese nightlife.

Arrive in Venice and take a guided walking tour through the history of Venice in the 1600 years since its foundation. Next head to Verona, the city of Romeo and Juliet. Here you have free time to see the main monuments, such as Juliet's balcony, Piazza delle Erbe, Castelvecchio, the Lamberti Tower or visit the famous Arena di Verona and a day to visit Lake Garda. Moving onto Malan the 'capital of the North' where you have a day free to explore the beauty of the fashion city: the Duomo with its terraces, the Sforzesco Castle, the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, and the famous fashion and shopping streets and a full day to explore Lake Como where your ticket allows you to get off at each stop and visit the various villages on the western shore. From Milan take a train to the final destination, the Cinque Terre and the town of Monterosso al Mare. Monterosso is the starting city to explore the famous Cinque Terre, the stretch of coast with 5 fishing villages perched over the sea: Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore. The two-day Cinque Terre Train Card is included, which allows access to the National Park area and the use of regional trains that connect the villages and local buses.

Experience the Northern Lakes of Italy. A picturesque region. Starting in the northern capital of Italy - Milan. Famous for its fashion and shopping streets. Lake Maggiore with its lake views. Visit the Borromean Islands with its 16th century palace set in beautiful botanical gardens. Como is known for its gothic style cathedral, panoramic funicular railway to take in breathtaking views. Visit the Educational Silk Museum and learn the history of Como's silk industry. Visit Bellagio known for its cobbled streets, elegant buildings and the Villa Serbelloni Park, an 18th century terraced garden overlooking the lake. Next is Verona, the city of Romeo and Juliet. Here you can see monuments such as Juliet's balcony, Piazza delle Erbe, Castelvecchio, the Lamerti Tower and the arena. There is also a medieval castle in the centre and some bridges that have withstood more than one war.

Discover Rome with visits to the Roman Forum & Colosseum. Explore Pompeii & learn its history. Visit Sorrento, famous for its picturesque old town centre and characteristic fisherman's village of Marina Grande. Capri and Anacapri, with the famous Blue Grotto. Explore Naples the famous capital of the Campania region, a city rich in history, culture and culinary delights. Time at leisure to explore Bari - the historic centre allows you to discover its most authentic character, with signs of its past scattered through the local alleyways and endless examples of age-old traditions passed from generation to generation. Then there is the famous Bari promenade, one of the most beautiful in Italy, overlooking the clear sea and the unique charm of Bari.

Discover Rome & if time permits we also recommend visits to Trevi Fountain, The Pantheon, Spain Square plus a guided tour of the Vatican Museums , to admire Michaelangelo's Sistine Chapel. Visit Pompeii the ancient Roman city that was destroyed when Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD. Then onto Sorrento for Capri and Anacapri excursions. Reggio has an elegant historic center full of attractions, such as the magnificent city Basilica, the Aragonese Castle and the many historical museums.
In Reggio you can also find excellent restaurants that still preserve the typical flavors and recipes of Calabria, one of the Italian regions where food is revered and is a symbol of hospitality and care towards people. Walking along the seafront of Reggio, you can also enjoy a beautiful view of Sicily. Next onto Taormina - Visit the magnificent Greco-Roman theatre, one of the largest and best preserved from the ancient world, with spectacular views of Etna and the sea. Explore the main street of Taormina, full of shops, cafes and ice cream parlors. Stop at St. Nicholas Cathedral and Piazza IX Aprile for a panoramic view. Discover the Villa Comunale: relax in the public gardens, created by the Scottish noblewoman Florence Trevelyan, with its turrets and exotic plants.
Enjoy a Sicilian dinner in one of the centre's restaurants, known for traditional dishes such as pasta alla norma and fresh fish. Finally, after dinner, stroll through the illuminated streets of the historic center, tasting one of the famous granitas or a brioche.

Discover Rome & if time permits we also recommend visits to Trevi Fountain, The Pantheon, Spain Square plus a guided tour of the Vatican Museums , to admire Michaelangelo's Sistine Chapel. Visit Pompeii the ancient Roman city that was destroyed when Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD. Then onto Sorrento for Capri and Anacapri excursions. High speed train to Florence with free time available for an independent visit of the city. We would suggest a guided tour of one of the main museums: the Uffizi Galleries, with the masterpieces of the masters of the Italian Renaissance (Leonardo, Caravaggio, Raffaello, Tiziano, Botticelli and many others), or the Accademia Gallery, which houses the original of Michelangelo's famous statue of David, or an half day visit to Pisa and its famous leaning tower. With the next days half day tour, you will admire with your own eyes the sites and monuments that have made Florence one of the most visited destinations in the world. High speed train to Venice. Take a gondola ride, perhaps a walking tour to see the famous places - Piazza San Marco with the Basilica and the Clock Tower, the Rialto Bridge, Campo Santa Maria Formosa. Or take a boat trip to the islansd of Murano world famous for glass craftmanship or Burano for its lace and picturesque fishermans houses and Torcello the first settlement centre in the lagoon.

The ultimate tour of Italy by train taking in Rome, Florence, Cinque Terre, Milan and Venice. Explore the 'Eternal' city of Rome and a group tour including the Forum and the magnificent Colosseum. Travel by high speed train to Naple and a full day excursion to Pompeii and Naples. You will first discover the famous archaeological site of Pompeii, ancient Roman city destroyed by the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD and then you will immerse yourself in the undisputed charm of the city of Naples. In Florence free time available for an independent visit of the city and the following day enjoy a full day tour of Monteriggioni, Siena, San Gimignano and the Chianti area. Next is a regional train to La Spezia, the starting city to explore the famous Cinque Terre. A two-day Cinque Terre Train Card is included, which allows access to the National Park area and the use of regional trains that connect the villages and of local buses. From here you will head to Milan where we suggest to discover the most famous symbols of Milan, such as the Duomo, the Castello Sforzesco, the Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio and the Navigli, the famous canals, the very hub of the Milanese nightlife. Enjoy a full day tour to Lake Como before returning to Milan. Next stop is Venice where you will enjoy a 30 minute gondola ride and a full day free to discover Venice or it's lagoon.

Discover Venice, consider taking a walking tour to visit all the main attractions or even a boat trip to the islands of the Venice Lagoon to experience Murano, Burano and Torcello. Next its onto Florence to experience two thousand years of history with the most beautiful squares and monuments. A visit to Rome ensure you add in many of the famous landmarks such as Piazza Navona, The Trevi Fountain, The Pantheon and Spain Square. If time permits Vatican City. Enroute to Sorrento visit Pompeii & learn all about this archaeological area. From Sorrento visit Capri & Anacapri and the famous Blue Grotto. Enjoy some free time and perhaps take a swim in one of the local beaches or enjoy gastronomic delights. Next its onto Palermo maybe visit the beautiful churches of Martorana and San Cataldo, both testimonies of Norman-Arab art and architecture. We recommend taking a guided tour of the Teatro Massimo, one of the largest opera houses in Europe.