Italian Elegance
with Insight Vacations
- Discover 13 cities in 2 countries
- Venice Artisan Glassblowing Demonstration
- Gain fast-track access into the Vatican Museums
- Save 10%^
Experience the food and fun of Italy on this 11 night guided tour. In Rome, see the Colosseum where gladiators fought to the death, then visit the Vatican Museums with a Local Expert for a behind-the-scenes look at Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel. Travel from Florence to the heart of Tuscany, stopping in scenic San Gimignano for a taste of gelato with a world-champion gelato maker; later, arrive at your hotel for a sampling of the region’s most robust red wines. Prop up the Leaning Tower of Pisa for a photo and see the UNESCO World Heritage Site Cinque Terre with a Local Expert, who will join you for a sea-to-table feast in the medieval town of Monterosso. Allow yourself to be serenaded as you float along the canals of Venice in a traditional gondola, and watch a renowned craftsman blow Venetian glass into a masterful work of art.
MAKE TRAVEL MATTER Experience:
- 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.
UNIQUE INSIGHT Experience:
- Gain fast-track access into the Vatican Museums, witness the genius of Michelangelo in the Sistine Chapel and view the splendid dome of St. Peter's Basilica.
Highlights:
- Florence Accademia Museum Visit
- Enjoy a Local Treat in Piazza Santa Croce
- Visit San Gimignano
- Cruise to Portofino
- Cinque Terre Visit
- Venice Gondola Ride
Inclusions
- 12 days itinerary trip around Italy & Vatican City
- Visiting 2 countries and 13 cities.
- 11 nights accommodation at highly rated hotels in desirable locations offering superb service, superior rooms with comfy beds to rest in.
- 11 Breakfasts, 1 Lunch with Wine, 6 Dinners with Wine
- The itinerary includes an expert Travel Director and professional Driver and all the must-see sightseeing and surprise extras.
Day 1: Welcome to the eternal city of Rome
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 your hotel. Relax and settle in before joining your Travel Director, and getting to know your fellow travellers over a delicious Welcome Dinner with wine at a local restaurant.
Meals: Dinner with Wine
Day 2: Rome with Vatican Dinner
In the morning enjoy the very best of the city’s highlights including visiting the magnificent St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican with your Local Expert and see the Colosseum and Circus Maximus. In the afternoon, enjoy fast-track entry into the Vatican Museums with a Local Expert. Admire the Papal art collection and observe the stunning Museo Gregoriano Profano which documents various moments and themes in classical art, from Ancient Greece through to the late Imperial Roman age. Enter the Sistine Chapel to marvel at Michelangelo’s masterpiece on its ceiling. Then you'll be privileged to an exclusive Highlight Dinner inside the Ethnological Museum.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner with Wine
Day 3: Renaissance Florence
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 café, 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.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner with Wine
Day 4: The flavours of San Gimignano
Spend time exploring the maze of alleyways and admire scenic views across the valley. Ascend serpentine alleyways to the artisan gelato parlour of world champion gelato maestro, Sergio Dondoli, for a taste of his finest frozen treats.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 5: The Chianti Hills to Pisa, Lucca and Santa Margherita
Drive through the patchwork of vines, olives and cypresses that typify the Chianti hills before continuing to the delightful town of Lucca. Taste the lavish loaves of buccellato, Lucca's sweet raisin anise bread. Head for Pisa and see the incredible Leaning Tower, from which Galileo is said to have conducted experiments on velocity and gravity. See the splendid cathedral and baptistery, decorated with mosaics and designs in solid marble. Next, cruise along the rugged Ligurian coast to the elegant seaside village of Portofino, the epitome of la dolce vita (should weather permit). Continue along the coast to the pretty seaside resort of Santa Margherita Ligure.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner with Wine
Day 6: The Cinque Terre and Portofino
Head for the port of La Spezia for a highlight of your travels and one of Italy's most beautiful landscapes, the Cinque Terre. With a Local Expert, appreciate the views as you approach one of the picturesque fishing villages by boat. For lunch, enjoy a delicious Sea-to-Table dining experience. Enjoy leisure time to admire the coloured houses, browse the boutiques or simply stay a while in the cafe bars on the piazzetta, watching the yachts moored in the harbour.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch with Wine
Day 7: Lake Maggiore
Head north to the beautiful Italian Lake District, a favourite retreat of the rich and famous where Alpine scenery combines with lush vegetation. Relax and enjoy an afternoon at leisure at this popular resort and beautiful lake.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 8: Cortina d’Ampezzo
Travel through the stunning northern Italian countryside to one of the world’s most breath-taking wine regions. Protected by the Alps to the north, and caressed by the warm breezes from the Adriatic, the vineyards around Conegliano Veneto produce Italy’s most prized sparkling wine. Great care is taken to ensure these hand-picked grapes produce the world's finest prosecco and you see how production differs from its more famous French counterpart, champagne. Be tempted with a taste of the crisp and aromatic flavours and learn how to make the perfect bellini. Continue through the Dolomites, to the mountain resort of Cortina d'Ampezzo.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner with Wine
Day 9: Experience the Dolomites
The whole day is free for you to explore the colourful peaks and sheer valleys of the Dolomites, one of the most impressive mountain ranges in the Alps. During summer, once the snow and ice have melted away, a breathtaking landscape is revealed. There are a number of walking tracks through pristine Alpine wilderness for the adventurous to explore, or for a more relaxed pace, perhaps take a thrilling Optional Experience to the summit of one of the peaks for breathtaking panoramic views?
Meals: Breakfast
Day 10: Venice, Queen of the Adriatic
Descend through the mountains to the romantic city of Venice. A private boat glides you past canals lined with ornate palaces to St Mark’s Square. See the basilica, the Doge's Palace and Bridge of Sighs, before checking into your luxurious hotel. With the afternoon at leisure, why not cruise the Venetian Lagoon to the island of Burano for a meal of local specialities and wine?
Meals: Breakfast
Day 11: Venice at leisure
Join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER Experience during a visit to a traditional arts centre, where you can see how beautiful, handcrafted glass is made by expert glassblowers, safeguarding traditional skills. Then there is free time to enjoy the magical atmosphere of this incredible city at your own pace. Mingle with the locals at the open-air markets near the Rialto Bridge and explore the back lanes and squares where Venetians go about their day. Later, on your romantic gondola serenade, glide along the atmospheric canals exploring the intimate and hidden parts of this unique city while musicians set the mood with traditional songs. This evening, stroll past the famous Opera House to La Fenice restaurant for a magical Celebration Dinner. Indulge in traditional Venetian dishes that are enriched with inspiration from seasonal produce.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner with Wine
Day 12: Arrivederci Venice
Your departure transfer arrives at Venice Marco Polo Airport.
Meals: Breakfast
Prices
| Standard Price per person, twin share |
Sale Price per person, twin share |
|---|---|
| From $7775 | From $6998 |
Dates
| Departures |
|---|
| Multiple departure dates in 2024 & 2025 |
*Advertised price is based on twin share and is based on 16 May 2025 departure. Other travel dates available at seasonal surcharge. Please enquire with your RAC travel consultant for current availability and pricing.
*Advertised price is based on 16 May 2025 departure and is subject to availability and change at any time. Please enquire with your RAC travel consultant for current availability and pricing. Other departure dates available at seasonal surcharge. Further conditions apply, please check with your RAC travel consultant at time of booking.
^Save 10%: Save on select Insight Vacations tours. New bookings only made from 31 May 2024 onwards. Savings are subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time without notice. Deposit is required at time of booking to lock in savings. Full payment due 120 days prior to departure or at time of booking if booked within 120 days of departure; whichever comes first. Prices are in Australian Dollar ($), are per person, land only, based on double occupancy and are subject to availability. If guests change to another tour or date not on sale, they are responsible to pay the difference and adhere to different payment conditions. S. May be combined with 5% Global Tour Rewards savings only, not combinable with group discounts or custom group bookings, Future Travel Credit carry forward discount or any other discount or promotion. Other conditions may apply.
General RAC Travel terms and conditions apply.
