Trafalgar Tours Grand Italian Experience

17-Day Italy Tour from Rome to Sorrento, Venice, Italian Lakes and Florence

A rare opportunity to see the extraordinary limestone trulli houses of Alberobello is the highlight of this journey. Discover Italy's delights during dinner with Signor Luciano, journey across the Bay of Naples to Capri and visit Trento with its Austrian influences.

Inclusions: 

• 16 nights accommodation 
• 16 Breakfasts, 1 Welcome reception, 7 Dinners 
• Transport 
• Tour Director/Guide 

MAP

ITINERARY

DAY 1 - WELCOME TO ROME 

Blaze a trail through la bella Italia – your epic journey begins in Rome, once the powerful capital of the world and yours to explore before meeting your travel companions and Travel Director for a Welcome Reception and orientation drive introducing you to some of the city's iconic and unexpected highlights.

DAY 2 - EXPLORE ANCIENT ROME & THE VATICAN CITY 

Follow in the footsteps of the pilgrims who for centuries have flocked to Vatican City. Visit St. Peter's Basilica, one of the holiest sites in Christendom, joining a Local Specialist for an included sightseeing tour. See Michelangelo's magnificent Pietà, hewn from a perfect block of Carrara marble. Then, venture into Ancient Rome to see Circus Maximus, where the thundering noise of chariot races once filled the air. The afternoon is yours to explore at leisure. Sit on the Spanish Steps, shop up a storm on Via Veneto or continue your encounter with Ancient Rome on Palatine Hill to see the Temple of Apollo and Flavian Palace, among other excavations.

DAY 3 - JOURNEY TO THE ALBEROBELLO REGION 

We travel east through the mountains of Campania to the orange and olive groves of Puglia on the Adriatic coast, our home for the next two nights. This evening, we enjoy a delicious local dinner at our hotel.

DAY 4 - ADMIRE ALBEROBELLO'S ICONIC ARCHITECTURE 

Enjoy a morning at leisure. Consider an Optional Experience or relax with a swim at your hotel. This afternoon, the conical limestone houses of Alberobello take centre stage during our guided tour with a Local Specialist. Here, we’ll see the UNESCO-listed collection of almost 1,500 trulli dating back to the 14th century. This evening, we Connect With Locals with a Be My Guest experience at a traditional masseria. Meet Signor Luciano for dinner on his Alberobello farm where you can taste seasonal produce, including fresh almonds, cherries, tomatoes and olive oil.

DAY 5 - ONWARDS TO SUNNY SORRENTO 

The fresh aroma of lemons is your constant companion in the stunning coastal town of Sorrento, your home for the next two nights. View the bustling Piazza Tasso and Corso Italia before spending the afternoon at leisure. Kick back and sip delicious Limoncello di Sorrento, enjoy lunch in this picture-perfect town or spend the afternoon soaking up la dolce vita. This evening we dine in a local restaurant.

DAY 6 - A DAY ON THE ISLE OF CAPRI 

Cruise the deep blue waters of the Tyrrhenian Sea to the beautiful Isle of Capri. Enjoy a guided tour of Capri town, watching the beautiful people sip cappuccino in the glamorous piazzetta.

DAY 7 - UNCOVER POMPEII'S RUINS AND ON TO ASSISI 

Explore the tragic history of the ancient lost city of Pompeii with a Local Specialist. Gain a deeper understanding of what life was like in this Roman settlement that lay buried for centuries after Mount Vesuvius erupted. Continue your journey through the rolling green and golden fields of Umbria, arriving at the mystical hilltop town of Assisi. Meet your Local Specialist for a visit of the stunning Basilica of St. Francis, featuring exquisite frescoes by Giotto. We'll stay at one of Trafalgar's Stays With Stories - a fully renovated old Franciscan monastery.

DAY 8 - ONWARDS TO VENICE 

We venture to the Adriatic coast bound for the Venice. A city like no other in the world, you'll explore its canals and waterways during your time on the islands of the Venetian Lagoon, home to the artistic tradition of blown glass. Our home for the next two nights is one of Trafalgar’s Stays With Stories.

DAY 9 - CRUISE THE CANALS OF VENICE 

This morning start the day by observing the delicate craft of Venetian glassblowing that spans centuries. Your MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience helps to preserve the traditions that have been handed down through the generations and you’ll be inspired to buy a souvenir to remind you of the talent and skill shared enthusiastically by the master craftsmen. Next you’ll glide by private launch along busy waterways to view the Bridge of Sighs, Doge's Palace and St. Mark's Basilica before exploring the city on your terms. Stroll beside the Grand Canal, nibble on delicious cicchetti at a cosy bacaro or cross the lagoon for an Optional Experience to the colourful fishermen's Island of Burano.

DAY 10 - HOURNEY TO VERONA AND ON TO THE ITALIAN LAKES 

Celebrate the epic tale of Romeo and Juliet during this morning's visit to the fair city of Verona where you will view Juliet's Balcony and the Roman arena built in the 1st century. We spend this afternoon on the quiet shores of Lake Maggiore, soaking up the pleasant lakeside atmosphere and exploring Baveno. An Optional Experience takes you to dinner in an iconic setting on Lake Maggiore.

DAY 11 - EXPLORE MILAN 

Relax on the shores of Lake Maggiore or take an Optional Experience to visit Lake Como and look for the star-studded residents who make it their summer retreat. Later, experience the fashion capital of Milan. Enjoy free time to explore on your own after an orientation of the city's iconic sights. See the exquisite Gothic Duomo, La Scala Opera House and the Galleria, one of the world's oldest shopping malls.

DAY 12 - ONWARDS TO LA SPECIA 

Enjoy a relaxed morning in the lakeside resort town of Stresa. Later, travel to the port city of La Spezia on the Ligurian Coast.

DAY 13 - LA SPEZIA YOUR WAY 

Indulge in a full free day to soak up the laid-back atmosphere. Stroll along the waterfront or consider joining an Optional Experience to Porto Venere and the Bay of Poets where you’ll embark on an encounter with the cliffside villages of the Cinque Terre. This evening, we dine locally.

DAY 14 - UNCOVER PISA AND ON TO FLORENCE 

Travelling south through the unforgettable scenery of Tuscany, we arrive in Pisa to view its famous Leaning Tower before continuing to the Renaissance city of Florence. This afternoon is yours at leisure to wander through the grand squares and labyrinthine lanes of Florence, whose connection with the Medici family saw this city become one of the world's most cultural centres. Consider a visit to the Academy of Fine Arts to see the Michelangelo's statue of David, amble along the Arno River or ascend the stone steps up to Piazzale Michelangelo for spectacular views of the city.

DAY 15 - DISCOVER RENAISSANCE FLORENCE 

Join a Local Specialist  this morning to view the city's finest masterpieces – the magnificent Duomo, Giotto's Bell Tower and the 13th-century Santa Croce Basilica, the final resting place of Michelangelo, Galileo and Machiavelli. Later, learn about the quality and workmanship of two of this city's historic industries at demonstrations of Florentine leathercraft and 18-carat gold. Then, spend the rest of the afternoon as you wish. Walk across the Ponte Vecchio which has straddled the Arno River for almost 700 years, or wander through the Renaissance Boboli Gardens, stopping for a slice or two of  schiacciata along the way.

DAY 16 - ALL ROADS LEAD TO ROME 

Today we journey past the sprawling vineyards of Chianti and beneath the hill-towns of Umbria before arriving in Rome. This evening we Dive Into Culture on a tour of the extraordinary Vatican Museums with a Local Specialist, including views of Michelangelo's magnificent frescoed ceiling in the Sistine Chapel. Afterwards, we gain exclusive access to the Vatican's Anima Mundi Museum for an exclusive farewell dining experience surrounded by art from around the world as we toast to our adventure.

DAY 17 - JOURNEY HOME 

Our epic encounter with Italy has come to an end. We say arrivederci to Rome and our newfound friends at the end of our Grand Italian Experience.