This is a very special tour of Italy featuring great scenic drives from Lake Como to Rome, as well as art, history, culture, food and wine, all awaiting your discovery alongside expert commentary from our historian and art expert.
This wonderful tour starts in the spectacular Italian lakes with their unique combination of mountains, gardens and palaces. It cruises on Lake Como and visits the fantasy palace of Isola Bella on Lake Maggiore.
The tour moves on to romantic Verona via Milan to see Leonardo’s Last Supper and the magnificent cathedral. In Verona visit the sights of the old city including the marvellous bronze doors of San Zeno.
Stay in Venice for three days in order to discover the city and lagoon, visiting palaces and churches filled with masterpieces of painting and sculpture. As well as San Marco and the Doges Palace you will also be exploring the lesser known parts of the city.
Then the tour moves on to the ancient capital of the Roman Empire, Ravenna, which houses possibly the most amazing mosaics in the world.
Spend three days in Florence tracing the history of Renaissance Art from Giotto to Michelangelo. The tour drives though Tuscany, Umbria and Lazio – some of the most picturesque landscape in the country. Castles and ancient towns are perched on top of volcanic hills, Cyprus trees and olive groves, vineyards and country villas.
Overnight in Orvieto, famous for its frescoes and delicious white wine. Visit the park of the monsters at Bomarzo and the extraordinary ancient town of Bagnoreggio.
Finally arrive in Rome where you will examine the history of this famous city through its monuments and museums. There will be an emphasis on comparing ancient and Christian civilizations which make this the most fascinating city in the world for any enthusiast of history and the arts.
TOUR DETAILS
- 15 nights
- From £2,995pp, excluding flights
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
- View Michaelangelo’s David
- Medici Tombs
- Venice Lagoon Cruise
- Guided tour of Sistine Chapel
- Guided tour of the Vatican
- Cruise on Lake Como
- View Leonardo’s last supper
- View the Mosaics of Ravenna
Key inclusions
- 4* hotels throughout
- Fully escorted
- Fully guided by Italian art and history expert
- Welcome and farewell dinners
- Direct flights with BA
- Private visits to villas and palaces
- Wine tasting
- All entrance fees included
Why not extend your stay in Italy with a trip to Sorrento, Puglia or beyond? Or perhaps a pre-tour stay in the Italian Lakes?
Alternatively add on one of our city tours to Venice, Rome or Florence.
day one
Depart UK to Milan and transfer to Lake Como
Depart UK and fly to Milan. Meet at the airport and transfer to the centre of Milan for lunch. See Leonardo’s Last Supper and some of the other masterpieces in this famous city. Drive by coach to Lake Como where you check into the hotel next to the lake. Welcome dinner.day TWO
Cruise on Lake Como then transfer to Lake Maggiore
After breakfast take a cruise on Lake Como enjoying the scenery and the splendid villas overlooking the lake. This is followed by a drive over to Lake Maggiore, where you will visit the incomparable Isola Bella with its spectacular palace and gardens.day THREE
Sightseeing in Verona
Morning drive to the picturesque city of Bergamo where you will have lunch in the atmospheric upper town. In the afternoon proceed to Verona, famous for its Shakespearian associations, art and for the wines of Valpolicella, Soave and the rich red of Amarone.day FOUR
Morning sightseeing in Verona followed by transfer to Venice for evening walking tour
This morning’s sightseeing of Verona will start with the great church of San Zeno with its incomparable bronze doors and Mantegna altarpiece. Then walk past the Castle and Roman Bridge to the centre of town. Here visit the Piazza del Erbe, Juliet’s house, the Roman amphitheatre and the extraordinary Scaliger tombs. After lunch proceed to Treviso to visit a beautiful private villa and have a tasting of local prosecco wines. Transfer to Venice and on arrival travel by water taxi to the hotel. An evening walking tour to the Piazza San Marco for a lecture on the history of Venice ends your day.day FiVE
Sightseeing in Venice
Morning sightseeing will start with an ascent of the famous bell tower for a view of the whole city. Then visit the Basilica of San Marco and the Doges Palace. Your afternoon at leisure to explore Venice and you could visit the upper section of the Grand Canal visiting the Ghetto, the Ca d’Oro and the Rialto.day SIX
Morning cruise in Venice followed by guided tour of Venice
Morning cruise around the Venetian lagoon and explore places that most tours do not get to, enabling you to see Venice from some very original viewpoints. An afternoon guided visit to the Frari church and the Scuola di San Rocco boasting some of the greatest masterpieces of Titian and Tintoretto completes your day.day SEVEN
Leave Venice for Padua then Ravenna
Morning departure by water taxi from Venice. Drive up the River Brenta to the city of Padua. This drive will take you by some famous villas including the Malcontenta by Palladio and the great Villa Pisano at Stra. In Padua you will see the greatest masterpieces of Giotto and the Basilica of Saint Anthony. After lunch drive south to the city of Ravenna to see arguably the finest mosaics in the world. For nearly a century, Ravenna was the capital of the Roman Empire in the West.day EIGHT
Sightseeing in Ravenna
Our exploration of Ravenna will take you to all the main sights including the churches of San Vitale, Saints Appolinare Nuovo and Classe and the tombs of Galla Placidia and Ostrogoth King, Theodoric the Great.day NINE
Leave Ravenna and transfer to Florence
Morning drive through the Apennines to Florence. After checking into the hotel in Florence, walk through the centre of the city to visit the Duomo, the Piazza della Signoria and then walk up to San Miniato for a panoramic view of the city. There will be a talk on the history of Florence this evening.day TEN
Sightseeing in Florence
Morning sightseeing will include the Church of San Lorenzo, the adjoining Library and Medici Chapel by Michelangelo. Visit the Palazzo Medici and the Monastery of San Marco, with the famous frescoes by Fra Angelico.day ELEVEN
Sightseeing in Florence
Sightseeing in Florence today will include the Bargello sculpture gallery, the famous Uffizi and the Accademia, containing Michelangelo’s David and Slaves.day TWELVE
Leave Florence to drive through Tuscany to Orvieto
Today drive south from Florence through Tuscany into Umbria. Overnight in the beautiful hilltop city of Orvieto. This is an ancient town dating back at least two and a half thousand years. Its spectacular location is matched by the wonderful atmosphere of the place and the splendid cathedral with frescoes by Luca Signorelli.day THIRTEEN
Leave Orvieto and transfer to Rome
Drive from Orvieto to Rome. Enroute visit the spectacular town of Bagnoreggio and the extraordinary garden of the monsters at Bomarzo. Arrive in Rome mid afternoon. After checking into your hotel, visit the Coliseum, the Roman Forum and the Palatine Hill.day FOURTEEN
Sightseeing in Rome
Full day sightseeing including the Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel and the Basilica of Saint Peter’s.day FIFTEEN
Sightseeing in Rome
Morning sightseeing will take you to the Pantheon, the Trevi Fountain and the Piazza Navona. Your afternoon is at leisure for further sightseeing and shopping. This evening there will be a farewell dinner.day SIXTEEN
Morning sightseeing in Rome then fly home to the UK
Morning sightseeing will include the Castel Saint Angelo, the tomb of Roman Emperor Hadrian and fortress of the Popes. In the afternoon transfer to the airport for your return flight to the UK.Itinerary
Flight information
Direct flights from the UK to Milan in 1 hour 55 minutes