Taste of Italy Tour

After breakfast at your hotel, we'll meet up with our local guide for a private 4-hour tour.

We will first do a pleasant walk through the city’s unknown corners to discover an unusual and authentic Venice.
This will allow us to discover an unusual Venice by treasure-hunting its many, little-known gems.

Then we will reach the historical center of Venice where   we will admire the most important historical buildings of St. Mark’s Square.

At the end of the walking tour you will have a beautiful gondola ride through minor evocative canals in the heart of the city.

Our private guide will fill you in on all the history and mystery of Venice, its local foods, traditions, and customs.

Enjoy the rest of the afternoon for some free time to explore, visit a museum or gallery, or shop. (B)

*Optional tour in the afternoon to visit the Doge's Palace and St. Mark's Basilica. (Included Highlights Tour will just be admiring these from the outside).

Today, make your way over to a few of Venice’s Islands: Murano & Burano.

Murano is known its glassware shops and factories from a long-thriving tradition dating back to 1291.

With our private guide, we will explore the island on foot, stopping at a glass factory and to watch a skilled master glass blower create brilliant works of art. Enjoy some time to shop or visit some other glass workshops before heading over to the island of Burano.

The island of Burano is one of the most colorful and picturesque with fishermen's houses painted in bright pastel colors. Here, you’ll find the famous lace – abundant since the 16th century and once considered the most refined in Europe.

Lunch on your own and then browse local shops, grab a gelato, sit in the local square with a spritz, or wander colorful alleyways. You can also find lace on display at a museum dedicated to the craft of lace making. If you're lucky, you might even catch one of the local women fast at work.

Group dinner in the evening at a lovely restaurant set on the canal. (B, D)

This morning we will transfer to Florence - the birthplace of the Renaissance.

Upon our arrival, the group will check into our boutique hotel for the next 2 nights, set right in the heart of the historical center.

Then grab some lunch on your own before our private “Introduction to Florence” walking tour. On this 4-hour tour, you'll be hitting all of the highlights while learning about the mystery, seduction, and history of Florence, which includes the Renaissance, its important noble families, and its famous artists.

You’ll uncover the many secrets and treasures found within the historical walls as this tour lays out the foundation of what made Florence the fascinating city it is today.

Spend the rest of the afternoon relaxing or exploring this magnificent city. (B)

Today, enjoy the day to explore or shop on your own. Experience Florence as the Florentine do, enjoying the cafés, restaurants, markets, and shops. You can wander the streets and alleys of Florence at your leisure, visit the lively street markets, shop for leather near the area of San Lorenzo, or simply grab an aperitivo in a nearby piazza and watch the world go by. The day is yours.

In the early evening you'll get to see the city from a different perspective on a 2-hour private sunset tour as we are whisked into the hills above Florence to view beautiful vistas with an opportunity to watch the sun set over the Ponte Vecchio.

After the sunset tour, the group will enjoy a wine-pairing dinner. (B, D)

​*Optional private guided tours to museums or galleries such as the Uffizi or Accademia.

Impressive Medieval Town,San Gimignano,Tuscany,Italy.

After breakfast, our private driver will transfer the group to the Tuscan countryside.

The day begins with a visit to San Gimignano, a stunningly preserved Medieval hilltop town renowned for its iconic towers, picturesque streets, and its delightful hand-crafted treasures, such as hand-painted ceramics, alabaster, and olive wood creations.

After some free time to explore, the group will enjoy a wine-pairing lunch at a charming winery farm, savoring local flavors in a picturesque setting.

Next, we’ll head to the enchanting city of Siena, where a local guide will share fascinating insights into the essence of the Senese culture with a visits to the awe-inspiring Cathedral and the Piazza del Campo, one of Italy’s most iconic squares and home of the famous "Palio" horse race.

Your guide will help uncover the symbolism, secrets, artwork, and the diverse medieval, Gothic, and Renaissance architecture.

Afterward, the group will retreat to our accommodations in the peaceful Tuscan countryside—a beautiful Agriturismo villa, offering a tranquil escape amidst rolling hills and vineyards.

Dinner at your agriturismo villa with local wine. (B, L, D)

After breakfast at your agriturismo,  we'll depart for two of Tuscany’s most famous towns: Montepulciano & Pienza set in the Val d’Orcia – what many view as the “quintessential” Tuscany.

Montepulciano – home of the famous Nobile di Montepulciano wines.

Pienza – Birthplace of Pope Pius II. Pienza is also known for its many sheep farms producing the famous Pecorino cheese.

For lunch, the group will visit a farm that produces olive oil and pecorino cheese. After a tour, we'll sit down for a cheese tasting and lunch.

Dinner at your agriturismo with local wine. (B, L, D)

Panoramic view of Cathedral of Orvieto (Duomo di Orvieto), Umbria, Italy

After breakfast and checking out of our agriturismo, we're off to Rome!

But first, we'll stop in Orvieto, a captivating hilltop town in Umbria, perched dramatically atop volcanic tuff cliffs. Known for its stunning Gothic cathedral, the Duomo di Orvieto, with its intricate façade and vibrant frescoes, the town also boasts a fascinating underground network of caves and tunnels.

Enjoy some free time to explore Orvieto before we set off to an olive oil farm for a tour, tasting and lunch.

In the afternoon, after our lunch, we'll continue on to Rome - our final destination for the evening.

Check into our hotel for the next 3 nights - set right in the center of Rome. (B, L)

Step back in time as you explore the best of Ancient Rome on our 4-hour private tour of the Coliseum, Palatine Hill and the Roman Forum. You will dig through the layers of Rome’s history from its pagan roots through to Christian times.

Your local guide will weave fascinating tales of intrigue and power struggles, murder and ambition while at the same time highlighting the civilization and law, beauty and religious piety. Ancient Rome will be brought back to life with stories of emperors, philosophers and great politicians.

Lunch on your own and the rest of the day is yours to explore this "Eternal City".

In the evening, enjoy a special wine-pairing dinner. (B, D)

This morning we start with a food tour where our local Roman guide will accompany us from breakfast to lunch with tastings of coffee, meats and cheeses, gelato and more! Discover the real “Eternal City” as you learn about its foods and traditions.

You’ll begin in the magical atmosphere of one of the historical districts of Rome that has preserved its old traditions, sounds and colors. Here you’ll discover the local market, where grocery shopping is still a daily ritual for Romans of today as it was in the past and savor the best of traditional Roman food prepared and served by the owners of the stalls and shops.

The afternoon is free for you to rest or take in some more sites. You can visit galleries, parks, museums, the various catacombs, or just grab a gelato and people watch. The possibilities are endless. (B, L, D*)

- Optional afternoon private tour of the Vatican, Museums & Sistine Chapel.
- Optional evening cooking class & dinner*

Breakfast is provided depending on your time of departure.

Private transfer to Rome Airport (FCO).

Bid "Arrivederci" to Italy! Or...you could add optional days, and locations on to your tour.