Treasures of Italy - Small Group
11 Days Starting in Rome, Italy and ending in Venice, Italy
Visiting: Rome, Vatican City, Pompeii, Sorrento, Capri, Naples, Florence, Cinque Terre, Portofino, Santa Margherita Ligure, Lake Maggiore, Franciacorta, Venice
Tour operator:
Tour code:
SE980ZM20
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
Experience Italy on an 11-day guided tour. Explore the Eternal City with a Local Expert, who will whisk you to the Vatican Museums for a tour of the Pope’s art collection. Later, see the infamous Colosseum and the Arch of Constantine. Cruise to Capri and stroll through the Caesar Augustus Gardens with a Local Expert and gain unparalleled views of the rugged coastline and sparkling sea. In Venice, walk through St. Mark’s Square and see its basilica of the same name; later, allow yourself to be serenaded as a gondolier glides you through the city’s canals. Sail to the candy-coloured island of Burano, where you can toast to a fantastic trip at a dinner featuring wine and freshly-caught specialties.
Choice Highlights
- Choose between two carefully selected activities
- Florence: Take a stroll with your Travel Director to Piazza Santa Croce and immerse yourself in the essence of la dolce vita of Florence while you enjoy a typical Italian treat in a local cafe.
- Florence: Stand beside Michelangelo's monumental statue, 'David', in the Accademia Gallery, and admire the exquisite technique and absorbing history behind the world's most famous sculpture.
Top Rated Highlights
- Rome: Discover ancient treasures of Rome with a passionate local. See Circus Maximus and the Ancient Forum, where Ancient Roman political life and law courts mingled with open-air markets and shops.
- Pompeii: Walk with a Local Expert through the cobbled streets of this ill-fated town, frozen in time since the first century.
- Capri: Explore Capri town with your Local Expert and see the whitewashed houses, winding alleyways, small cafes, fashionable boutiques and artisans studios.
- Capri: Discover the luxuriant Gardens of Augustus with a Local Expert and admire views of the Faraglioni rocks.
- Florence: See the historic neighbourhood of the Santa Croce Basilica and witness local craftspersons at work during a gold and leatherwork demonstration.
- Florence: Enjoy a stroll through Renaissance Florence and admire the medieval buildings that gave birth to this new style of architecture.
- 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.
- Portofino: Visit this elegant fishing village and admire the coloured houses and yachts moored in the harbour.
- Venice: With your Travel Director cruise to St. Mark's Square and see the Doge's Palace, Bridge of Sighs and St. Mark's Basilica.
- Venice: Glide through Venice’s canals on an iconic gondola ride, passing beneath historic bridges and past elegant palaces. Soak up the city’s romantic atmosphere as your gondolier navigates the tranquil waterways, offering a unique perspective of this timeless floating city.
Make Travel Matter
Venice: Witness the ancient skill of glassblowing, now practised by precious few masters. Watch artisans create delicate works of art using rare traditional practices. The workshop's master craftsmen teach visitors about the traditional craft of glassblowing and its history which dates back to the 15th century. Every visit helps to support the workshop and the survival of this traditional craft. This workshop directly supports United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities.
Authentic Dining
Italian Lakes: For your Dine-Around Evening, you are offered a selection of hand-picked local restaurants to choose from, each with its own distinctive ambience and cuisine.
Lake Iseo: Learn about this historic winery, passed down through the generations, and taste its latest vintages.
Burano: Cruise to the charming fisherman's island of Burano to enjoy a delicious dinner with wine and new-found friends.
Insight Choice
Florence: Take a stroll with your Travel Director to Piazza Santa Croce and immerse yourself in the essence of la dolce vita of Florence while you enjoy a typical Italian treat in a local cafe.
Florence: Stand beside Michelangelo's monumental statue, 'David', in the Accademia Gallery, and admire the exquisite technique and absorbing history behind the world's most famous sculpture.
Itinerary
Day 1: Welcome to the Eternal City of Rome
Location: Rome
Accommodation: Hotel Romanico Palace, Rome.
Accommodation Name: Golden Tulip Rome Piram
Meals Included: Dinner
2025 marks a Jubilee Year, a momentous Roman Catholic event celebrated every 25 years, turning Rome into a centre of celebration. As festivities unfold, itineraries may be adjusted to ensure you make the most of your time as you visit the Eternal City. Welcome to Rome, a glorious city filled with classic antiquities, medieval buildings, Renaissance palaces and baroque churches. Settle in before joining your Travel Director as you indulge in dinner with wine at a local restaurant.
Day 2: Vatican City and Rome with a Local
Location: Vatican City, Rome
Accommodation: Hotel Romanico Palace, Rome.
Accommodation Name: Golden Tulip Rome Piram
Meals Included: Breakfast
The day is devoted to the Eternal City. Join a Local Expert for an in-depth visit to the Vatican Museums, full of priceless art treasures collected by the Popes. Visit the Sistine Chapel, where Popes are elected, to admire Michelangelo’s famous ceiling and see St. Peter’s Basilica. Cross the Tiber river to enjoy ancient Rome. See the incredible Circus Maximus and the beautifully preserved Arch of Constantine, and imagine the bustling ancient pavement of ancient Rome. Discover the history and legends of the iconic Colosseum as you view the exterior of this amazing structure. Later, perhaps continue your exploration of Rome to see the Pantheon, toss a coin in Trevi Fountain and enjoy free time around Piazza Navona.
Day 3: Ancient Pompeii and on to Sorrento
Location: Pompeii, Sorrento
Accommodation: Hotel Isabella, Sorrento.
Accommodation Name: Isabella, Sorrento
Meals Included: Breakfast
Journey to the ill-fated town of Pompeii, frozen in time when it was engulfed by an eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD. Walk with a Local Expert through cobbled streets to learn about Roman life in the first century before enjoying a refreshing lemon granita. Then continue to your hotel on the spectacular Sorrento Peninsular. The afternoon is yours to explore as you wish, or perhaps join an optional experience to the artist's paradise of Positano.
Day 4: The Isle of Dreams
Location: Sorrento, Capri
Accommodation: Hotel Regina Cristina, Capri.
Accommodation Name: Regina Cristina, Capri
Meals Included: Breakfast
Enjoy a morning in the town of Sorrento before heading off to the port to board your jetfoil to the Isle of Capri. Appreciate the glorious vistas over the rugged coastline and sparkling sea. Visit Capri town, with its whitewashed houses, winding alleyways and small cafes. A Local Expert will escort you to the lush Gardens of Augustus for views of the Faraglioni rocks. As the glow of twilight descends and the day-trippers have returned to their mainland hotels, the island is yours to saunter along scenic paths, gather with the locals in the piazzetta or relax with a glass of wine at an alfresco restaurant.
Day 5: The Autostrada del Sole to Florence
Location: Naples, Rome, Florence
Accommodation: NH Firenze, Florence.
Accommodation Name: NH Firenze, Florence
Meals Included: Breakfast
Descend to the port and take the jetfoil across the bay to Naples. Follow the Autostrada del Sole north passing Rome and continuing through the region of Umbria. Journey through idyllic Tuscan landscapes to Florence, centre of art and culture, and the heart of the Italian Renaissance. Explore Florence with Insight Choice. Choose to visit the Accademia Museum and see Michelangelo’s David. After, continue on foot to admire the Multi-coloured marble cathedral, bell tower and baptistery, where Ghiberti’s Gates of Paradise have been recreated in all their glory. Continue into the Piazza della Signoria, still the political heart of Florence and an open-air gallery of Renaissance masterpieces. Spend time gazing at statues such as Neptune and Hercules and Cacus along the front of the Palazzo Vecchio. Alternatively, take a stroll with your Travel Director to Piazza Santa Croce to enjoy a typical Italian treat in a local caffè, where you will be in the perfect spot to admire the basilica, indulge in people-watching the elegant Florentines and pamper yourself shopping for luxury goods like gold and leather.
Day 6: Florence, birthplace of the Renaissance
Location: Florence
Accommodation: NH Firenze, Florence.
Accommodation Name: NH Firenze, Florence
Meals Included: Breakfast
See how the local leatherwork is created with a demonstration of the craft and learn about the artistry of the goldsmiths who are famous in the city of Florence. In your free time wander Florence on your own, shop or opt to explore the medieval hilltop town of San Gimignano on an Optional Experience. In the evening, why not sample fine Florentine cuisine of tasty starters and typical Tuscan dishes accompanied by Chianti.
Day 7: Cinque Terre and Portofino to Santa Margherita
Location: Cinque Terre, Portofino, Santa Margherita Ligure
Accommodation: Best Western Regina Elena, Santa Margherita Ligure.
Accommodation Name: Best Western Regina Elena, Santa Margherita Ligure
Meals Included: Breakfast
The famous Italian Riviera and the Cinque Terre are a highlight of your journey as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Italy’s most beautiful landscapes. With a Local Expert, appreciate the views as you approach one of the picturesque fishing villages by boat. Spend some time exploring the old medieval quarter or the popular sandy beach. Our journey continues to the elegant seaside village of Portofino, epitome of la dolce vita. Admire the colourful houses, browse the boutiques or stay a while in the cafe bars on the piazzetta, watching the yachts moored in the harbour.
Day 8: Lake Maggiore
Location: Lake Maggiore
Accommodation: Hotel Simplon, Baveno.
Accommodation Name: Simplon, Baveno
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
In the morning, journey north to the beautiful Italian Lake District, a favourite retreat of the rich and famous where alpine scenery combines with lush subtropical vegetation. Relax and enjoy an afternoon at leisure at this popular resort and beautiful lake or perhaps take a cruise out to the lovely Borromean Islands? For your dining pleasure, you are invited to choose from a hand-picked selection of local restaurants for your Dine-Around Evening.
Day 9: To Venice With Wine Along the Way
Location: Franciacorta, Venice
Accommodation: Hilton Molino Stucky, Venice
Accommodation Name: Hilton Molino Stucky, Venice
Meals Included: Breakfast
Follow the southern fringes of the Alps to the Franciacorta wine region near Lake Iseo. Over 100 vineyards produce the famous sparkling wine of the region and winemaking traditions run deep. Taste the delicious vintages produced with a master vintner at a family-owned estate. Continue to the unique city of Venice and step back in time to centuries past.
Day 10: Venice and the Magic of La Serenissima
Location: Venice
Accommodation: Hilton Molino Stucky, Venice
Accommodation Name: Hilton Molino Stucky, Venice
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Visit St. Mark’s Square where the city’s former wealth and power is evidenced by the riches of St. Mark’s Basilica and admire the Doge's Palace with its adjoining Bridge of Sighs. Take your seat on a gondola and be serenaded through the myriad of beautiful canals, passing water-lapped doorways and Rococo palaces. The rest of the afternoon is yours to discover Venice at leisure. Join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience during a visit to a traditional glassblowing workshop, where you can see how beautiful handcrafted glass is made by expert glassblowers, safeguarding traditional skills. Cruise the Venetian lagoon to Burano and sit down to a sumptuous dinner with wine, sampling the local specialities.
Day 11: Arrivederci Venice
Location: Venice
Meals Included: Breakfast
Your departure transfer arrives at Venice Marco Polo airport.
What's Included
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Meals
5 dinners with wine and 10 breakfasts are included.
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Activities
Choose between two carefully selected activities in Florence.
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Guided Tours
Personal radio headsets are provided for guided tours to ensure you don't miss any commentary.
What's Not Included
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Optional Experiences
Optional experiences such as a visit to Positano or the medieval hilltop town of San Gimignano are not included.
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Additional Transfers
Transfers outside the scheduled times or for additional nights' accommodation are not included and may be purchased separately.
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Personal Expenses
Personal expenses such as souvenirs, additional meals, and drinks are not included.
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Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is not included and should be purchased separately.
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Flights
International and domestic flights to and from the tour start and end locations are not included.
Dining Summary
- 1 Dinner (D)
- 10 Breakfast (B)
- 4 Dinner with Wine (DW)
Additional Included Highlights
- 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 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.
- We carry your bags for you and promptly deliver them to your hotel door.
- From time to time, your Travel Director will delight you with an Insight Flourish, which is a local specialty representing the destination.
- Stay connected with friends and family with our complimentary coach and hotel Wi-Fi (where available).
- 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.
Insight Experiences
- Vatican City: Visit the Vatican Museums, witness the genius of Michelangelo in the Sistine Chapel and see St. Peter's Basilica.
Well-being
- Enjoy the comfort of Insight's luxurious, air-conditioned, 40-seat coach with double the standard legroom and onboard washroom. Our customized luxury coaches are sanitized before the start of your tour and are maintained to very high standards. Physical distancing measures have been implemented on our customized luxury coaches.
- Hand sanitizer is freely available on board for you to use throughout the day.
Check out our Q&As
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What unique experiences are included in the tour?
The tour includes exclusive visits such as a private audience at the oldest pharmacy in Europe, the Antica Spezieria di Santa Maria della Scala in Rome, and a traditional glassblowing workshop in Venice. These experiences offer insights into historical and cultural practices.
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What kind of dining experiences can I expect on this tour?
The tour offers a variety of dining experiences, including a Dine-Around Evening in the Italian Lakes with a selection of hand-picked local restaurants, a wine tasting at a historic winery in Lake Iseo, and a dinner on the island of Burano with local specialties.
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How does the tour support sustainable practices?
The tour includes a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience in Venice, where you visit a traditional glassblowing workshop. This visit supports the survival of this ancient craft and aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities.
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What are some of the highlights of the tour in Florence?
In Florence, you can choose to visit the Accademia Museum to see Michelangelo's David or enjoy a stroll to Piazza Santa Croce with your Travel Director. You will also witness local craftspersons at work during a gold and leatherwork demonstration.
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What kind of transportation is provided during the tour?
The tour provides travel in a luxurious, air-conditioned, 40-seat coach with double the standard legroom and an onboard washroom. Complimentary Wi-Fi is available on the coach and in hotels.
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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.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Since 1978.
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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.
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
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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.
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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 350 USD per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 90 days before departure.
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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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