Highlights of Northern Italy - 8 Days

Buongiorno! Welcome to Italy. Crowded with ancient ruins and religious monuments, Rome is the perfect spot to kick off your trip. Your adventure starts in Rome with a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight. Packed with designer shops, restaurants, cafes and nightlife spots, it’s recommended that you arrive a few days early to see everything and experience the culture of this fantastic city. Maybe sip an espresso at one of the tiny streetside cafes and throw a coin into the Trevi Fountain to ensure a return visit to Rome. After, why not head out for dinner with your group and get to know each other over your favourite carb?

This morning, join your local leader on an orientation walk around the city to soak up the sights and sounds of Rome. Visit in some of the best-known landmarks of Rome including the Spanish Steps, the Colosseum and the Roman Forum (the centre of ancient Rome), Victor Emmanuel Monument and the Pantheon. Your afternoon is then free to explore at your own pace. Maybe recharge with a slice of pizza and a strong espresso at the Piazza Navona or head into Vatican City and St Peter's Basilica.

This morning, depart the Eternal City and catch a train to Florence. When you arrive, check into the hotel and go for a brief walk around the area to get your bearings. Florence is one of the most culturally rich and beautiful cities in Italy, known to many as the beating heart of Tuscany. After checking into your hotel, join your leader for an orientation walk of Florence, then the rest of your evening is free to explore at your own pace. Maybe visit the Florentine State Museum or discover historic artworks at the Galleria Uffizi. Food is also a major part of the city's identity - maybe try the bistecca alla fiorentina (a huge T-bone steak that's usually shared between two people) or ribollita (a thick vegetable soup with bread, beans and greens). Panforte is the signature sweet treat, so maybe grab some in the afternoon or after dinner.

After breakfast, travel to the nearby city of Pisa. When you arrive, head out on a short orientation walk. Visit the world-famous Leaning Tower. Grab your classic pinching-the-tower photo, then visit the Duomo (Piazza dei Miracoli, once the largest in Europe) and Pisa Baptistry (it's not always possible to climb the tower). The tower was built in the 12th century, but its foundation was on shifting sand and clay, meaning that it now leans at an angle of 4 degrees (after restoration and stabilising work). Then, continue to wander the streets past high-end boutiques, speciality book and antiques stores. After, head back to Lucca, where the rest of the night is free for you to explore at your own pace. Maybe head to a local bar for a Prosecco (or two) and a fresh focaccia with finocchiona salami and pecorino cheese – best enjoyed in the shadow of the Palazzo Pretorio.

This morning, jump on a train to Bologna – a beautiful city filled with medieval and Renaissance buildings and art. Get acquainted with this orange-hued hub during an orientation walk with your local leader, then discover the fine art of Italian cooking with an evening cooking class. Here, you’ll learn all about the ultimate comfort food, pasta (of course!) After learning the tricks of the trade, tuck into your creations for dinner.

Early this morning, board the train to the postcard-perfect city of Venice. Full of bridges, towers, piazzas, canals, churches and gondolas that remains practically unchanged since the 15th century. An orientation walk will help you to get the hang of the maze of the complex canal system, then you can set out on your own. Meet back up with your group in the late afternoon for a cicchetti walking tour (small snacks served in most bars and cafes). Tonight, snack and sip your way through the bars and taverns, soaking up the local culture in the best way.

Today is a free day to explore at your own pace. Maybe visit the Grand Canal or the Rialto Bridge, discover Doge's Palace or see Piazza San Marco with its golden Basilica. Then, you could take a vaporetto (water bus) over to the island of San Giorgio to climb the bell tower for the best view of Venice. No trip here would be complete without a journey down the Grand Canal in a Venetian gondola, so maybe treat yourself to a cruise through the waterways and tick this iconic experience off your bucket list. Later, maybe wander through the Palazzo Ducale, overflowing with paintings by Italian masters, before joining your leader for a cicchetti stop as a real Venetian. Tonight, join your group for a celebratory dinner of Venetian specialties, like fresh lobster and squid ink spaghetti.

As there are no activities planned for today, you can depart the accommodation at any time. That doesn’t mean your adventure has to come to an end! If you would like to spend more time in Venice, just get in touch with your booking agent ahead of time.