Italian Elegance

12 Days Starting in Rome, Italy and ending in Venice, Italy

Visiting: Rome, Florence, San Gimignano, Chianti Hills, Cinque Terre, Lake Maggiore, Cortina d'Ampezzo, Dolomites, Venice

Tour operator:

Insight Vacations

Tour code:

SE923ZM19

Guide Type:

Fully Guided

Physical rating:

Balanced

Tour operated in:

English

Trip Styles:

Luxury

This tour is no longer available

Tour Overview

Embark on the "Italian Elegance" tour and immerse yourself in the rich cultural tapestry of Italy. Begin your journey in Rome, exploring its ancient wonders and enjoying a VIP dinner at the Vatican. Wander through Florence's vibrant markets or marvel at Michelangelo's David. Savor world-class gelato in San Gimignano and taste exquisite wines in Tuscany. Discover the charm of Lucca, Pisa, and the picturesque Cinque Terre. Cruise to the elegant village of Portofino and relax by the serene Lake Maggiore. Experience the breathtaking Dolomites and conclude your adventure in the romantic city of Venice, with a gondola serenade and a special Venetian dinner. Enjoy luxurious accommodations, seamless transfers, and the expertise of your Travel Director throughout this unforgettable Italian odyssey.

Highlights

  • Florence: Wander through the market stalls and browse for local Italian souvenirs and leather goods on a guided shopping tour.

  • Vatican: Experience an exclusive VIP Highlight Dinner at the Vatican in the Ethnological Museum.

  • San Gimignano: Ascend serpentine alleyways to the artisan gelato parlour of world champion gelato maestro, Sergio Dondoli for a taste of his finest frozen treats.

  • Tuscany: In the Tuscan countryside, where deep-green cypress trees pierce blue skies and olive groves hug the rolling hillsides, taste the wines of an eminent estate.

  • Lucca: Visit a traditional steam bakery and sample Buccellato, the sweet raisin bread typical of the region.

  • Venice: Enjoy a special Venetian Celebration Dinner with wine at La Fenice, situated in the heart of this historic city.

  • Cinque Terre: Led by your Local Expert, visit this unique UNESCO World Heritage Site, tucked away on the mountainous Italian Riviera coastline. Explore one of the five charming fishing villages for some memorable pictures.

  • Venice: Delight in the magic of this charming city as you are serenaded, travelling through the atmospheric canals by gondola.

Itinerary

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Day 1 : Welcome To The Eternal City Of Rome

Location: Rome

Accommodation: room 007 Select, Rome.

Accommodation Name: Hotel Romanico Palace

Meals Included: Dinner

Welcome to Rome, a glorious city filled with classic antiquities, medieval buildings, renaissance palaces and baroque churches. Transfers depart from Rome's Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci Airport for your hotel. Relax and settle in before joining your Travel Director, and getting to know your fellow travellers over a delicious Welcome Dinner with wine at a local restaurant.

Day 2 : Rome With Vatican Dinner

Location: Rome

Accommodation: room 007 Select, Rome.

Accommodation Name: Hotel Romanico Palace

A day to enjoy the very best of the city’s highlights including fast-track entry into the Vatican Museums with a Local Expert. Admire the Papal art collection and observe the stunning Museo Gregoriano Profano which documents various moments and themes in classical art, from Ancient Greece through to the late Imperial Roman age. Enter the Sistine Chapel to marvel at Michelangelo’s masterpiece on its ceiling. Visit the magnificent St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican with your Local Expert and afterwards see the Colosseum and Circus Maximus, symbols of ancient Rome.

Day 3 : Renaissance Florence

Location: Florence

Accommodation: Villasanpaolo, San Gimignano.

Accommodation Name: Villasanpaolo

Explore Florence with Insight Choice. Choose to visit the Accademia Museum and see Michelangelo’s David. Alternatively, take a stroll with your Travel Director to Piazza Santa Croce to enjoy a typical Italian treat in a local café. Marvel at the artistry during a demonstration of leather work and admire how the goldsmiths create their designs both famous luxury goods found in Florence.

Day 4 : The Flavours Of San Gimignano

Location: San Gimignano

Accommodation: Villasanpaolo, San Gimignano.

Accommodation Name: Villasanpaolo

Spend time exploring the maze of alleyways and admire scenic views across the valley. Ascend serpentine alleyways to the artisan gelato parlour of world champion gelato maestro, Sergio Dondoli, for a taste of his finest frozen treats.

Day 5 : The Chianti Hills To Pisa, Lucca And Santa Margherita

Location: Chianti Hills

Accommodation: Best Western Regina Elena Santa Margherita Ligure.

Accommodation Name: Best Western Regina Elena

Drive through the patchwork of vines, olives and cypresses that typify the Chianti hills before continuing to the delightful town of Lucca. Taste the lavish loaves of buccellato, Lucca's sweet raisin anise bread. Head for Pisa and see the incredible Leaning Tower, from which Galileo is said to have conducted experiments on velocity and gravity. See the splendid cathedral and baptistery, decorated with mosaics and designs in solid marble. Next, cruise along the rugged Ligurian coast to the elegant seaside village of Portofino, the epitome of la dolce vita (should weather permit). Continue along the coast to the pretty seaside resort of Santa Margherita Ligure.

Day 6 : The Cinque Terre And Portofino

Location: Cinque Terre

Accommodation: Best Western Regina Elena, Santa Margherita Ligure.

Accommodation Name: Best Western Regina Elena

Head for the port of La Spezia for a highlight of your travels and one of Italy's most beautiful landscapes, the Cinque Terre. With a Local Expert, appreciate the views as you approach one of the picturesque fishing villages by boat. For lunch, enjoy a delicious Sea-to-Table dining experience. Enjoy leisure time to admire the coloured houses, browse the boutiques or simply stay a while in the cafe bars on the piazzetta, watching the yachts moored in the harbour.

Day 7 : Lake Maggiore

Location: Lake Maggiore

Accommodation Name: Hotel Simplon

Head north to the beautiful Italian Lake District, a favourite retreat of the rich and famous where Alpine scenery combines with lush vegetation. Relax and enjoy an afternoon at leisure at this popular resort and beautiful lake.

Day 8 : Cortina D’Ampezzo

Location: Cortina d'Ampezzo

Accommodation Name: Hotel de la Poste

Travel through the stunning northern Italian countryside to one of the world’s most breath-taking wine regions. Protected by the Alps to the north, and caressed by the warm breezes from the Adriatic, the vineyards around Conegliano Veneto produce Italy’s most prized sparkling wine. Great care is taken to ensure these hand-picked grapes produce the world's finest prosecco and you see how production differs from its more famous French counterpart, champagne. Be tempted with a taste of the crisp and aromatic flavours and learn how to make the perfect bellini. Continue through the Dolomites, to the mountain resort of Cortina d'Ampezzo.

Day 9 : Experience The Dolomites

Location: Dolomites

Accommodation Name: Hotel de la Poste

The whole day is free for you to explore the colourful peaks and sheer valleys of the Dolomites, one of the most impressive mountain ranges in the Alps. During summer, once the snow and ice have melted away, a breathtaking landscape is revealed. There are a number of walking tracks through pristine Alpine wilderness for the adventurous to explore, or for a more relaxed pace, perhaps take a thrilling Optional Experience to the summit of one of the peaks for breathtaking panoramic views?

Day 10 : Venice, Queen Of The Adriatic

Location: Venice

Accommodation: Splendid Venice - Starhotels Collezione.

Accommodation Name: Splendid Venice - Starhotels Collezione

Descend through the mountains to the romantic city of Venice. A private boat glides you past canals lined with ornate palaces to St Mark’s Square. See the basilica, the Doge's Palace and Bridge of Sighs, before checking into your luxurious hotel. With the afternoon at leisure, why not cruise the Venetian Lagoon to the island of Burano for a meal of local specialities and wine?

Day 11 : Venice At Leisure

Location: Venice

Accommodation: Splendid Venice - Starhotels Collezione.

Accommodation Name: Splendid Venice - Starhotels Collezione

Join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience during a visit to a traditional arts centre, where you can see how beautiful handcrafted glass is made by expert glassblowers, safeguarding traditional skills. Then there is free time to enjoy the magical atmosphere of this incredible city at your own pace. Mingle with the locals at the open air markets near the Rialto Bridge and explore the back lanes and squares where Venetians go about their day. Later, on your romantic gondola serenade, glide along the atmospheric canals exploring the intimate and hidden parts of this unique city while musicians set the mood with traditional songs. This evening, indulge in traditional Venetian dishes that are enriched with inspiration from seasonal produce during a magical Celebration Dinner.

Day 12 : Arrivederci Venice

Location: Venice

Your departure transfer arrives at Venice Marco Polo Airport.

What's Included

  • Personal radio headsets

    Personal radio headsets give you the freedom to wander during visits to famous highlights, without missing any of your Local Expert's fascinating commentary.

  • Hotel and restaurant tips

    Hotel and restaurant tips are included - you'll never have to worry about how much to give, nor search for foreign currency. We also include all taxes and porterage charges at hotels.

  • Baggage handling

    We carry your bags for you and promptly deliver them to your hotel door.

  • Insight Flourish

    From time to time, your Travel Director will delight you with an Insight Flourish, which is a local specialty representing the destination.

  • Complimentary Wi-Fi

    Stay connected with friends and family with our complimentary coach and hotel Wi-Fi (where available).

  • Transfers

    If your arrival and/or departure flights are as per the itinerary start and end dates, then transfers are available at scheduled times. If your flights are outside these times, or you have booked additional nights accommodation with Insight Vacations, you may purchase transfers or make your own way from/to the airport.

  • Dining

    6 Dinner with Wine (DW), 11 Breakfast (B), and 1 Lunch with Wine (LW) are included.

  • Luxury coach

    Enjoy the comfort of Insight's luxurious, air-conditioned, 40-seat coach with double the standard legroom and onboard washroom.

  • Hand sanitizer

    Hand sanitizer is freely available on board for you to use throughout the day.

  • Well-being standards

    We only work with establishments we are confident will consistently adhere to our high well-being standards, which include hotels, restaurants, and sight-seeing venues.

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What's Not Included

  • Optional experiences

    Optional experiences such as a thrilling trip to the summit of one of the peaks in the Dolomites are not included.

  • Personal expenses

    Personal expenses such as souvenirs, additional meals, and drinks are not included.

  • Travel insurance

    Travel insurance is not included and is recommended to be purchased separately.

  • Flights

    International and domestic flights are not included in the tour package.

  • Visa fees

    Visa fees and processing are not included and must be arranged separately.

Mode of Transport

Travel in comfort aboard Insight's luxurious, air-conditioned, 40-seat coach with double the standard legroom and onboard washroom. Enjoy private boat transfers in Venice and a cruise along the Ligurian coast to Portofino.

Accommodation

Stay in luxurious accommodations including Hotel Romanico Palace in Rome, Villasanpaolo in San Gimignano, Best Western Regina Elena in Santa Margherita Ligure, Hotel Simplon in Lake Maggiore, Hotel de la Poste in Cortina d'Ampezzo, and Splendid Venice - Starhotels Collezione in Venice.

Check out our Q&As

  • What kind of transportation is provided during the tour?

    The tour provides transportation in Insight's luxurious, air-conditioned, 40-seat coach with double the standard legroom and an onboard washroom. The coaches are sanitized before the start of the tour and maintained to very high standards. Physical distancing measures have also been implemented.

  • Are there any special dining experiences included in the tour?

    Yes, the tour includes several special dining experiences such as a VIP Highlight Dinner at the Vatican in the Ethnological Museum, a taste of world champion gelato maestro Sergio Dondoli's finest frozen treats in San Gimignano, and a special Venetian Celebration Dinner with wine at La Fenice in Venice.

  • What kind of activities can I expect in Venice?

    In Venice, you will enjoy a private boat ride past canals lined with ornate palaces to St Mark’s Square, see the basilica, the Doge’s Palace, and the Bridge of Sighs. You will also visit a traditional arts centre to see handcrafted glass made by expert glassblowers, and enjoy a romantic gondola serenade along the atmospheric canals.

  • What kind of accommodations are provided during the tour?

    The tour includes stays at various luxurious hotels such as Hotel Romanico Palace in Rome, Villasanpaolo in San Gimignano, Best Western Regina Elena in Santa Margherita Ligure, Hotel Simplon in Lake Maggiore, Hotel de la Poste in Cortina d’Ampezzo, and Splendid Venice - Starhotels Collezione in Venice.

  • Are there any exclusive experiences included in the tour?

    Yes, the tour includes exclusive experiences such as fast-track entry into the Vatican Museums, a visit to the Accademia Museum in Florence to see Michelangelo’s David, and a cruise along the Ligurian coast to the elegant seaside village of Portofino.

  • What kind of meals are included in the tour?

    The tour includes 6 dinners with wine, 11 breakfasts, and 1 lunch with wine. Some of the dining highlights include a Welcome Dinner in Rome, a Sea-to-Table dining experience in Cinque Terre, and a Celebration Dinner in Venice.

  • What kind of support is provided by the Travel Director during the tour?

    The highly-skilled Travel Director will ensure your journey is seamless, serving as your expert guide, consummate organiser, and friend overseas. They will also carry your bags for you and promptly deliver them to your hotel door.

  • Are there any health and safety measures in place during the tour?

    Yes, the tour follows enhanced hygiene protocols to align with the latest guidance following COVID-19. All Travel Directors, Well-Being Directors, and Drivers have completed training in enhanced well-being and hygiene protocols. Hand sanitizer is also freely available on board throughout the day.

  • What kind of activities are available in the Tuscan countryside?

    In the Tuscan countryside, you will taste wines at an eminent estate, visit a traditional steam bakery in Lucca to sample Buccellato, and explore the medieval town of San Gimignano.

  • Is there any free time during the tour?

    Yes, there is free time included in the itinerary, such as an afternoon at leisure at Lake Maggiore and free time to explore Venice at your own pace.

  • Can I join the tour once it has departed?

    We regret that no refunds can be made for absences from a tour, including experiences such as missed meals or sightseeing.

  • How long has the tour company been trading?

    Since 1978.

  • What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?

    Insight Vacations is a founding member of the TreadRight Foundation, a joint initiative created by the brands within The Travel Corporation (TTC) almost 15 years ago to ensure our impact through tourism is positive. Our ethos to #MakeTravelMatter guides our decision-making at every level of our business.

  • Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?

    Yes

  • Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?

    You have two options as a solo traveller. Either choose to be matched with a same sex partner for a room share - at no extra cost. Or choose a room of your own with a reduced or even free private room upgrade on select tours.

  • What policies are in place for Covid-19?

    Please contact us for latest COVID-19 policies

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  • Low Deposit

    Insight Vacations requires a minimum deposit of 200 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 90 days before departure.

  • Cancellation Policy

    We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of insight vacations charges.

    Up to 91 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.

    At 90 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.

    At 29 days before tour starts: Forfeit 80% of booking price.

    At 1 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.

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