Italy in Depth

Discover Venice, a city built on more than 100 islands in a lagoon off the Adriatic. Begin in St. Mark’s Square and tour St. Mark’s Basilica, completed in 1094 and home to the relics of Venice’s patron saint. Continue with a guided visit of the Gothic Doge’s Palace with its ornate arches before continuing to a glass-blowing demonstration, showcasing the centuries-old tradition of Venice’s most famous craft.

Delve into the world of Venice’s Carnival and discover the traditions behind its masks. See how artisans craft them, then design and paint your own with guidance on style and colour. Take home a unique creation and a piece of Venetian life.

Discover Florence, the birthplace of the Renaissance. Admire the Duomo with Brunelleschi’s dome, Giotto’s Bell Tower, and the Baptistery’s famed Gates of Paradise that inspired generations of artists. Visit Palazzo Vecchio on Piazza della Signoria, once the seat of Florentine power, and step inside Dante’s House to learn about the poet’s legacy. At Santa Croce, see the tombs of Michelangelo, Galileo, and Machiavelli. Conclude your day by crossing the Ponte Vecchio and visiting a leather workshop to see one of Florence’s most famous crafts.

Take part in an Italian cooking course and prepare Tuscan and Florentine favourites, from pappa al pomodoro to panna cotta. Learn the art of hand-made pasta, then sit down to enjoy the delicious dishes you’ve created. Buon appetito!

Step into medieval Tuscany with a visit to San Gimignano, a hilltop town shaped by rival families whose soaring stone towers signalled wealth and defence. Wander its preserved streets and explore Piazza del Duomo, Palazzo Comunale, Torre Grossa, and Piazza della Cisterna.

Savour a relaxed Tuscan farm lunch surrounded by rolling hills, featuring a generous, home-style meal made with the farm’s own seasonal ingredients. Settle into a warm, rustic setting and take in the views while enjoying the simple, authentic flavours of rural Tuscany.

Stop in Pompeii, the city where time stood still. Once home to 20,000 residents, it was buried by Mount Vesuvius nearly 2,000 years ago and lay hidden under 30 feet of ash and mud. Excavated over centuries, the site reveals daily Roman life through public spaces, political graffiti, taverns, and street signs.

The group will arrive in Capri at Marina Grande where they will take the funicular up to Capri Town that is located just opposite. In winter (until late March), sometimes the funicular is not in service but bus replacements are available. The ride is a very quick ascent, only a couple of minutes but the views are amazing. At the top, groups take advantage of the viewing platform to take photos. The Tour Director will then take the group to the main square and start the tour from here. It’s a steep/hilly area so keep that in mind for any passengers with mobility issues. Usually, the Tour Director walks through Capri Town (with lots of shops and cafes) to various scenic landmarks such as Villa Jovis where there are amazing views.

Take a dance lesson, perhaps learning Italy's signature dance, the Tarantella.

Step inside the Colosseum with a licensed guide, once the stage for gladiators, naval battles, and wild beast hunts, and explore the underground chambers where animals were kept. Continue to the Forum Romanum, the hub of Roman politics, religion, and commerce. Conclude at Piazza Venezia, framed by its grand palaces and the striking Victor Emmanuel Monument.

Visit St. Peter’s Basilica, with its vast colonnades that seem to embrace the world. Inside, admire Michelangelo’s soaring dome, rising 452 feet above the ground, and his renowned Pietà. Then step into the Sistine Chapel, where the artist reluctantly painted frescoes that today stand among the world’s greatest masterpieces.

Descend into Rome’s early Christian catacombs, dating from the 1st-4th centuries, once the burial place of saints, popes, and martyrs. See frescoes of fish and doves, plus tomb inscriptions beneath the Appian Way. Then step into gladiator life through workshops and demonstrations of training and combat.

Discover Rome’s iconic landmarks on a guided walk. At the Spanish Steps, see the “sinking ship” fountain, designed that way because of low water pressure that forced the artist to sink it below street level. Marvel at the Trevi Fountain’s Baroque grandeur, the Pantheon’s soaring dome, and Piazza Navona, where Bernini’s Fountain of the Four Rivers anchors the bustling square.