Experiences
Itineraries are always created with your travel dates, your group size and your budget in mind. We have organized tours from 1 to 20 travelers.
The Classic Cities of Rome, Florence & Venice
What can be said about the cities that we’ve been learning about all of our lives?
The ancient Roman Forum and Coliseum, The Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica along with the wonderful sun drenched piazzas of Rome will excite each of your senses with centuries of history, art and culture. Immerse yourself at the beautiful Spanish Steps, the iconic Pantheon, Piazza Navona, the stylish Via Veneto of la dolce vita fame and the charming neighborhood of Trastevere.
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Florence will sweep you away with its incredible array of Renaissance art, architecture and all of its stunning attractions. The Uffizi Gallery features the greatest collection of Renaissance paintings while the Accademia Gallery houses Michelangelo’s David, the iconic symbol of the city. Stroll about Piazza della Signoria and have an aperativo at an open-air café, take the pedestrian way to the Ponte Vecchio and enjoy the lovely views of the Arno River.
Enjoy Venice, starting at the expansive Piazza San Marco along the lagoon’s edge. Visit the extraordinary Basilica of San Marco and the sumptuous Doge’s Palace. Take a private boat along the Grand Canal, where you’ll cruise among the gorgeous palaces of all eras. Traverse the multitude of bridges that span the smaller quaint canals. Catch the local artisans hand-blowing glass at the Isle of Murano. See the ladies gathered in front of their colorful homes, stitching their lace creations at the Isle of Burano. Ultimately, you’ll want to take an evening gondola ride through the quiet canals to experience the true essence of this extraordinary city.
All of these wonderful cities offer some of the world’s best shopping along with an extravaganza of world class dining in all the dreamy like settings.
The Regions of Tuscany
& Umbria
The timeless beauty of Tuscany and Umbria has been explored and spoken of throughout the centuries. A discovery of these two boarding regions will take you on a journey through rolling hills of vineyards, winding roads of cypresses, villas with sumptuous gardens, to stunning hill top castles and medieval villages.
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In the wonderland of Siena, all roads lead to Piazza del Campo, where the famous 800-year old Palio horse race takes place twice a year. In Tuscany’s Chianti district, known the world over for its fine wines, you’ll find some of Italy’s most charming villages. Southern Tuscany, with its more gentile landscape, is the area of Montepulciano, Pienza and Montalcino. Rolling vineyards are a bound here and the ever popular Brunello wine will top off your Tuscany experience.
Umbria has evolved through the centuries as Italy’s spiritual region, with such beloved towns as Assisi, Spello, Montefalco and Spoleto. The wonderful city of Perugia, with its foundations from the Etruscans, comes alive with Renaissance palaces and exciting piazzas.
Take part in a cooking class, visit an olive oil and cheese-producing farm and follow the footsteps of famous artists and saints as you journey through some of Italy’s most breathtaking countryside.
The Amalfi Coast
& Pompeii
Even the most beautiful expressions cannot describe what is undoubtedly the world’s most stunning coastline. Cliffs with incomparable views, the bluest of blue waters, sweet tang of lemons, splashes of color in ceramics and the mouthwatering delicacies of the sea combine to make Sorrento, Positano, Amalfi, Ravello and the Isle of Capri absolutely unforgettable.
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Sorrento’s Piazza Tasso is the town’s center of life, where long-standing café’s and restaurants adorn all corners to offer up life’s sweetest pleasures. Limoncello shops are everywhere offering tastings as you explore the open-air market place.
The Amalfi Coast drive is something very special to experience. The winding road of spectacular views, passing tiny towns and villas built on cliffs brings you to Positano, a dream-like, perpetual post card of a place, clinging to the seaside cliffs while including some of the most beautiful views imaginable. Explore the charming village and park yourself alfresco, anywhere.
Amalfi Town, one of Italy’s four maritime republics, is further down the winding coast. The beautiful harbor lays open to a sun drenched piazza and a wonderful 9th-century cathedral. A walk through a maze of side streets makes for an intriguing discovery of the medieval center.
Just above Amalfi Town, half way up the mountain is the hamlet of Ravello, a peaceful place, like a retreat that boasts the most beautiful views of the entire Amalfi Coast. A walk among the gardens of Villa Cimbrone, with its extraordinary sea views, will take your breath away. Experiencing an open-air concert at Villa Rufalo with the sea as your backdrop is something you’ll never forget.
The Isle of Capri, as famous and visited as it’s been through the centuries, will always be one of the most unforgettable experiences you’ll have. The petite Piazzetta, full of tables for taking in the village scene, will be just the start. A walk past world-class hotels and the finest of boutiques will lead you by wonderful gardens and flora to Punta Tragara, the point for the most amazing views of the sea.
The town of Anacapri features the amazing Villa San Michele and its beautiful gardens. At the town’s main piazza is a chairlift that will whisk you on an exhilarating ride to Mount Salaro at the very top of the island. Add a visit to the Blue Grotto to see an amazing illumination of neon blue!!
The ancient ruins of Pompeii will leave you speechless. Fall back in time to 79 AD when the eruption of Mount Vesuvius covered the city with volcanic ash, leaving in tact the streets, villas, houses and an amphitheater as they once were. Your guide will reveal all of Pompeii’s hidden treasures.
The Italian Lakes
& Verona
The timeless serenity of the Italian lakes has been explored since the days of the Romans when emperors built their grand villas, vast gardens and stone walls.
Through the centuries each period has left its mark. Today the picturesque and peaceful lakeside villages along Lake Como, Maggiore, Orta and Garda can be enjoyed in places like Bellagio, Stresa, Orta San Giulio and Sirmione. Picturesque villas complete the package with terraced lawns, colorful gardens and endless lake views.
The city Verona is considered by many to be one of Italy’s most beautiful. Follow the footsteps of Romeo and Juliet as you stroll along the cobblestones, past the Roman Arena, through the fashion boutiques to the charming medieval center.
Ancient Sicily
Eternal Sicily has stood for centuries at the crossroads of Europe and Africa, playing host to the ancient Greeks, Carthaginians, Romans, Arabs, Normans and Spaniards. These cultures have left their mark to make Sicily one of the most fascinating places on earth.
Escape back in time to massive Greek temples surrounded by bright red poppies, to open-air theaters on hilltops and quaint villages set in the wild. Excite your senses with some of the world’s most complex cuisine, food with a varied influence that has been passed down through the ages. Taormina, considered the “pearl of Sicily” sits majestically upon a hilltop with Corso Umberto, an endless pedestrian only walkway through the historic center to the Greek theater and its clear view of Mount Etna.
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Siracusa comes alive with the Isle of Ortigia and the incredible Piazza Duomo. The Baroque towns of Ragusa, Modica and Noto are places preserved in time with beautiful historic centers and lots of amazing architecture. Heading north into Palermo, you’ll discover an amazing city full of Norman history, lovey parks and wonderful markets. Mondello, Palermo’s beach town, draws visitors from all over Italy.
The seaside town of Cefalu will take your breath away with waves dramatically splashing against the medieval row of houses. The charming town center includes a multitude of open-air cafes and restaurants.
Further down and just off of Sicily’s northern coast are the Aeolian Islands. For those lucky enough to discover this archipelago, island hopping, sunshine, swimming and fine dining awaits you.
The Italian Riviera
The crystal blue waters of the Italian Riviera are dotted with once- upon-a-time fishing villages, turned into destinations for those now searching for la dolce vita.
Santa Margherita Ligure draws visitors for its lively old town center and for its wonderful seaside promenade full of locals taking part in the evening passeggiata. Neighboring Portofino and its utterly charming harbor takes you back to a day gone by. An exciting hike through exotic rare flora to the hamlet of San Frutuoso, offers up the most amazing panoramas that will keep you yearning for your return.
The five villages of the Cinque Terre are places of fairytales. Where the mountains meet the sea is the ancient path that link each of the towns, offering invigorating hikes to take in the incomparable views.
Puglia
& Matera
The Masserie, historic farmsteads that have been converted into mostly 5-star hotels, spread across the region from the coast to its interior. The coast of Puglia, from the wild beauty of the Gargano to Polognano al Mare, down to Oltranto, Santa Maria di Leuca and Gallipoli are simply stunning places to explore. The food, including some of the country’s best olive oil and wines of the Primentivo round out your overall experience of Puglia.
Matera in the boarding region of Basilicata is a place like no other. As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the city surrounds itself with Sassi, or cave dwellings from the Paleolithic times that marries beautifully with the medieval charm of Matera.
Piemonte
The wonderful and seldom explored region of Piedmont awaits you with a tour of the grand city of Turin. Barolo, La Morra and Barbaresco are the villages nestled within the vineyards of the Langhe. There are the picturesque lakes with the surrounding villages such as stresa and Orta. Piedmont’s wonderfully varied and rich cuisine always pares beautifully with its world-class wines. And the white truffles of Alba, shaved onto whatever you’re eating will forever keep your beautiful memories of this region.
Emilia Romagna
Fascinating and full of surprises, Emilia Romagna’s capital city of Bologna is a gastronomic mecca, boasting some of Italy’s most famous foods, including Tagliatelle Bolognese, Gnocchi, Lasagna and Tortellini. The city also has one of the country’s most interesting centers, including the vast Piazza Maggiore, leading to side streets full of open-air markets, restaurants and food venues.
Heading into other areas of the region, you’ll find Maranello and the world of Ferrari and Lamborghini. At the city of Parma you’ll discover the production houses of Parmiggiano Reggiano and Prosciutto di Parma. In Modena, the birthplace of Luciano Pavarotti, you’ll experience the prized Balsamic vinegar tradizionale. Aside from all of this are the region’s wonderful medieval villages.
The extraordinary and ancient city of Ravenna has many glorious cathedrals, all filled with the world’s most important and best-preserved mosaics.
Abruzzo
& The Marche
These two adjoining regions in central Italy make for an exiting, culturally rich travel adventure. Said to be one of Italy’s most well preserved regions, Abruzzo, “the green heart of Europe”, is the new hotspot on the country’s travel radar, known especially for its two expansive national parks and for its wonderfully preserved medieval villages. Santo Stefano di Sessantio, Barrea and Pescocostanzo, are just name a few.
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This is a region is blessed for having the best of the mountains as well as the best of the sea. Mountain cities such as L’Aquila and Sulmona are situated beautifully in panoramic settings and each has its own interesting history and culture to explore.
The “modern”seaside city of Pescara offers a vibrant center full of restaurants, shops and cafes leading to an exciting beachfront promenade. The blue flag beaches that dot the Abruzzo coastline are all bustling in the summer months for a relaxing holiday.
The exceptional food of the mountains, the seafood along the coast, the excellent Montepulciano d’Abruzzo wine, makes this region one of Italy’s top culinary destinations.
Not as well explored as other parts of Italy is the Marche, a region of utterly charming medieval towns nestled within the rolling hills. Offida, Macerata and Fermo are just to name a few. Starting in the north of the region, you’ll find the art city of Urbino, birthplace of Raphael. Along the coast are many beautiful beaches including the stunning Conero Riviera and the wonderful city resort of San Benedetto del Tronto. Ascoli Piceno, a beautiful Renaissance city tops off your visit with its wonderful piazzas and gorgeous architecture.
The Dolomites
As an adventure wonderland, the Dolomites offer gorgeous trails for hiking, mountain biking and for world class skiing. There are the most amazing resorts and spas for taking in treatments or just to relax. This is the unique juncture where the Germanic meets the Latin, so some of the most interesting food you’ll ever experience and some of the most fascinating festivals to discover are found here.
