Experience the best of Italy
in winter, with Insight Vacations
- VIP Vatican experience
- Experience the Accademia Museum with a local renaissance art expert
- Early payment offers available
Roman antiquities, saintly Assisi, Venetian canals, Renaissance Florence and Capri’s brilliant sunlight come together on this superb journey across Italy
- Rome: Sightsee the local way with a leisurely passeggiata through the backstreets, where a friend in Rome will explain how modern life takes place around ancient treasures.
- Vatican City: Gain VIP fast-track entrance into the Vatican Museums and enjoy a special private viewing of the Bramante Staircase before admiring the genius of Michelangelo's painted ceiling in the Sistine Chapel.
- Florence: Gain a fascinating insight into the work of Michelangelo’s masterpiece, David, with a Renaissance art expert during your visit to the Accademia Museum.
- Venice: Witness the ancient skill of glassblowing while watching artisans create delicate works of art.
- Pompeii: Walk with a Local Expert through the cobbled streets of this ill-fated town, frozen in time since the 1st century.
- Rome: Visit St. Peter's Basilica and see the mighty Colosseum and Roman Forum. You will also see other medieval buildings, including Renaissance palaces and Baroque churches, scattered throughout the city.
- Florence: Enjoy panoramic views over of the city and see the Florence Cathedral. During your guided walking orientation, see the bell tower, Gates of Paradise on the baptistery and visit Piazza della Signoria.
- Florence: Witness a leather-work demonstration and visit the area around Piazza Santa Croce, famous for the quality of its luxury goods.
- Pisa: See the famous gravity-defying Leaning Tower in the Square of Miracles, along with the 11th century cathedral and beautifully decorated baptistery.
- 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: Enjoy a traditional gondola serenade along the romantic canals.
- Assisi: See the Church of St. Mary of the Angels.
- Assisi: Find out why the Basilica of St. Francis is considered one of the crowning achievements of medieval Europe with a Local Expert.
- Isle of Capri: Cruise to this famous isle to meet your Local Expert. In unique style, ascend by open-top taxi and return to the port by funicular.
- 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.
- Sorrento: Enjoy a glorious Celebration Dinner of fresh, rustic dishes served with local wine.
- Dining Summary: 10 Buffet Breakfasts (BB) and 5 Dinners with Wine (DW) all with tea or coffee.
- Festive Highlight Dinners: 19 Dec Christmas Day in Assisi, 28 Dec New Year’s Eve in Florence.
- Our highly-skilled Travel Director will ensure your journey is seamless, serving as your expert guide, consummate organiser, and friend overseas.
- Enjoy the comfort of Insight's luxury, air-conditioned, 40-seat coach with double the standard legroom and onboard washroom.
- Personal radio headsets give you the freedom to wander during visits to famous highlights, without missing any of your Local Expert's fascinating commentary.
- We carry your bags for you and promptly deliver them to your hotel door.
- 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.
- Stay connected with friends and family with our complimentary coach and hotel Wi-Fi (where available).
- From time to time, your Travel Director will enchant you with an Insight Flourish, which is a local specialty representing the destination.
- 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.
| Departure date | Twin share price | Single share price |
| 3 November 2018 | $3,550 | $4,290 |
| 17 November 2018 | $3,550* | $3,620* |
| 19 December 2018 | $3,695* | $4,435* |
| 28 December 2018 | $4,050* | $4,910* |
| 19 January 2019 | $3,373* | $4,076* |
| 2 February 2019 | $3,373* |
$3,439* |
| 16 February 2019 (Venice Carnival departure) | $3,373* | $4,076* |
| 23 February 2019 | $3,373* | $4,076* |
| 2 March 2019 | $3,396* | $4,099* |
*Includes a discount for paying in full before 1 November 2018
Day 1: Rome the Eternal City.
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 the your hotel at 09:30, 12:30 and 15:30. Join your Travel Director at 17:30 for a uniquely Roman Welcome Dinner at a local restaurant.
Hotel: Hotel Romanico Palace, Rome.
Meals: Dinner with Wine
Day 2: Rome with a local.
Rome is about art, antiquity, piazzas and pizzazz, and our included walking exploration has it in abundance. Toss a coin into the spectacular Trevi Fountain, see the Pantheon, the best preserved monument from the Roman period, and enjoy free time in Piazza Navona. The rest of the day is at your leisure to do as the Romans do, explore more gems of the Eternal City as you wish or perhaps join a tour inside the mighty Colosseum?
Hotel: Hotel Romanico Palace, Rome.
Meals: Buffet Breakfast
Day 3: VIP Vatican and renaissance Florence.
Join a Local Expert for an in-depth visit to the Vatican Museums, full of priceless art treasures collected by the Popes. Insight has arranged special VIP entry to avoid the crowds and behind-the-scenes access to the Bramante Staircase, a marvel of Renaissance architecture normally off-limits to visitors. Visit the Sistine Chapel where the Popes are elected to admire Michelangelo's famous ceiling. Continue to St. Peter's Basilica, to wonder at another of his works, the emotive ‘Pietà,' and stand beneath the dome completed after his death. Travel through picturesque Tuscany, where deep-green cypress trees pierce blue skies and olive groves hug the rolling hillsides. Visit a local estate to learn about the product of their delicious wines as you savour a tasting. Your journey then continues on to Renaissance Florence where dinner is served at your hotel.
Hotel: Athenaeum Personal Hotel, Florence.
Meals: Buffet Breakfast, Dinner with Wine
Day 4: Florence Sightseeing.
Join an art historian for a walking orientation of the historic city centre. A highlight is the visit to the Accademia Gallery to study Michelangelo's monumental statue, David. Continue to the multi-coloured marble cathedral to admire Giotto's bell tower and Gates of Paradise, recreated in all their glory. Visit the Piazza della Signoria, still the political heart of Florence, and explore the area around Santa Croce Basilica, famous for the quality of its luxury goods. After a demonstration of leather-work, there's free time to shop or venture on your own. In the evening, don't miss the chance to sample the fine Florentine cuisine of tasty starters and rich pastas accompanied by Chianti wine.
Hotel: Athenaeum Personal Hotel, Florence.
Meals: Buffet Breakfast
Day 5: Pisa to Venice, The Queen of the Adriatic.
In the morning, journey to the coastal town of Pisa to see the famous Leaning Tower in the Square of Miracles as well as the baptistery, with its intricately detailed marble facade, and the colonnaded bell tower lurching behind the cathedral. Then relax and enjoy the scenery as you cross the spectacular Apennine Mountains, through the Emilia-Romagna region - one of Europe's most intensely farmed fertile plains. Continue through the marshes of the Venetian Lagoon before crossing the causeway into the floating city of Venice. In the evening, venture to a local restaurant for a delightful night of dinner and wine.
Hotel: Splendid Venice.
Meals: Buffet Breakfast, Dinner with Wine
Day 6: Relaxed start - Venice and the magic of La Serenissima.
(Relaxed Start) In the morning your private launch takes you past Palladian churches and 13th century palaces to St. Mark's Square. The first sight is the pink marble of the Doge's Palace, connected to the prisons by the Bridge of Sighs. It was from here that Casanova made his daring escape. Turn the corner, and the gilded regalia of St. Mark's Basilica comes into view. A visit to an arts centre on Giudecca Island will allow you to admire the age-old skill of glassblowing. Later, board a traditional gondola for a serenade along the romantic canals.
Hotel: Splendid Venice.
Meals: Buffet Breakfast
Day 7: Relaxed start - Into the hills of Umbria to Assisi.
Leave Venice and journey to peaceful Assisi, one of Italy's most beautiful mountain towns. In the valley, see the Church of St. Mary of the Angels, much venerated as the place of St. Francis' death, then continue up Mount Subasio to the upper town. With your Local Expert, step inside the huge Basilica of St. Francis, built in the 13th century, where the frescoes by Giotto heralded a new era in Italian art.
Hotel: Hotel Giotto Assisi.
Meals: Buffet Breakfast, Dinner with Wine
Day 8: Relaxed start - Sorrento on the coast.
Travel south passing Cassino, the scene of a fierce battle during World War II. Follow the spectacular clifftop road to the picturesque resort of Sorrento, overlooking the Bay of Naples to Mount Vesuvious. After checking in to your hotel, spend the rest of the day at your leisure.
Hotel: Hotel Regina, Sorrento.
Meals: Buffet Breakfast
Day 9: Capri, the Isle of Dreams.
In the morning, cruise to the Isle of Capri. Under the Mediterranean sun, take a funicular ride up to Capri town where your Local Expert will take you around the narrow alleyways to browse exclusive boutiques and enjoy views over the Tyrrhenian Sea. Perhaps join an optional cruise around Capri? Descend to the port in one of the island's iconic open-top taxis and return to Sorrento for some time to relax. In the evening, join your fellow travellers for a memorable Celebration Dinner of delicious Italian cuisine and wine.
Hotel: Hotel Regina, Sorrento.
Meals: Buffet Breakfast, Dinner with Wine
Day 10: Pompeii, frozen in time and onto Rome.
Continue to Pompeii, the opulent Roman town which was preserved by layers of ash from the disastrous eruption of Mount Vesuvius in A.D. 79. A walk with your Local Expert through the cobbled streets and extensive excavations reveals the daily life of ancient Roman civilisation. Visit the Forum and peer into shops and patrician villas, decorated with colourful wall paintings. Then continue north as you travel to your hotel in Rome.
Hotel: Hotel Romanico Palace, Rome.
Meals: Buffet Breakfast
Day 11: Arrivederci Rome.
Departure transfers arrive at Rome's Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci Airport at approximately 07:00 and 09:30.
Meals: Buffet Breakfast
- Price advertised is per person, twin share and includes early payment saving
- Single supplement applies to solo travellers
- Tours subject to minimum numbers to run, please ask your consultant for more information on guaranteed departure dates
- Itinerary subject to change without notice
- Insight Vacations terms and conditions apply.
- Credit card fees of up to 1.2% may apply
Terms and conditions apply: see RAC Travel general terms and conditions
