Italy's Timeless Treasures Tour - 11 Days

Welcome to Rome – we’ll transfer you to your hotel, after which you’ll have some free time to relax or explore at your own pace. This afternoon, please check the information boards at hotel reception for details about the start of your tour.

In the morning, we take a three-hour guided tour of Rome, combining a walking exploration of Imperial Rome with a panoramic coach drive. We see the Arch of Constantine, the exterior of the Colosseum and the Imperial Forums, the Circus Maximus, the Baths of Caracalla, the Basilica of Saint Mary Major, the Pyramid of Cestius and Castel Sant’Angelo. The tour ends at Vatican City at around 11:00 am – afterwards, you can join an optional visit to the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel. In the evening, we include a transfer from the hotel to Trastevere – a neighbourhood of cosy restaurants and a lively atmosphere – with return to the hotel at around 8:30 pm.

Enjoy a full free day in Rome – there are no scheduled visits or transfers today, so you can explore entirely at your own pace. Revisit the landmarks you saw yesterday, delve into museums that interest you, or simply wander the historic streets, linger in lively piazzas and take time out in a café. Use the day to uncover the city’s quieter corners and soak up its atmosphere before we set off again tomorrow.

Leaving Rome, we travel across the Apennines to the Adriatic coast. Our first stop is San Giovanni in Venere Abbey – admission included – an 11th–century complex built on the site of a Roman temple. We then continue to Termoli, where the beach is edged by the walled old town with its 13th–century castle and Romanesque cathedral; you’ll have free time for lunch and a leisurely stroll. We finish the day in Bari, a historic port city inhabited since before Roman times, where you can explore the old town’s narrow lanes and churches at your own pace.

From Bari, we follow the coast to Brindisi, a walled port city. You’ll have time to stroll the seafront, see the Roman column and explore the old quarter. We then continue to Lecce – often called the Florence of the South for its fine baroque architecture – where you’ll have time for a walk and lunch in the historic centre. In the afternoon, we visit Gallipoli on the Ionian Sea, whose old town, linked to the mainland by a 17th‑century bridge, reflects Greek origins and later Arab, Norman and Aragonese influences. Highlights include the cathedral, the castle and the ancient city walls. We return to Brindisi at the end of the day for the night.

Today we visit two extraordinary and authentic towns. From Brindisi we travel to Alberobello, famed for its trulli – whitewashed dwellings with conical roofs built in dry stone – a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a remarkable example of rural architecture. We then continue to Matera in Basilicata to explore its historic centre and the Sassi – ancient districts carved into the rock that form one of the oldest continuously inhabited human settlements in the world. We include lunch in Matera before continuing in the afternoon through Basilicata and Campania, taking in mountain landscapes en route. We arrive in Naples in the evening, where you have free time to explore.

After breakfast, we head to the port of Naples for the ferry to Capri – you can take the funicular up to Capri town to wander and enjoy the views. After lunch at your leisure, we reboard to continue to Sorrento – a charming resort at the base of dramatic cliffs – where you’ll have free time to explore. We then travel on to the Gulf of Salerno for our overnight stay in Salerno.

Leaving Salerno, we travel to Pompeii for a guided visit of the archaeological site – tickets and guided tour included – to see the remains of the Roman city buried by the ashes of Mount Vesuvius. We continue to Naples, one of Europe’s oldest continuously inhabited cities, whose historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You’ll have free time here to explore and find lunch. We then proceed to Cassino, where you can visit the abbey, scene of one of the fiercest battles of World War II. We arrive in Rome in the evening.

Leaving Rome, we head north through scenic landscapes to Florence. On arrival we go straight to the Michelangelo Viewpoint for panoramic city vistas – an ideal first look at the birthplace of the Renaissance. We then walk to the historic centre, where you’ll have free time for lunch.

In the afternoon we join a local guide for a walking tour of Tuscany’s capital, taking in the Gothic cathedral, the Ponte Vecchio with its traditional goldsmiths’ shops, and Piazza della Signoria – the political heart of the city with its medieval town hall. The remainder of the afternoon is free for you to explore as you wish – comfortable shoes are recommended.

We leave Florence early and travel north across the Apennines towards Venice. On arrival, we take a boat to the historic centre and set off on a guided walk through the San Marco district — taking in the Basilica and the Campanile. We then visit a Murano glass factory to see traditional glassmaking techniques. We stay overnight in the Mestre area.

After breakfast in Venice, we conclude the tour. You’re free to check out and make your onward travel arrangements – we hope you leave with lasting memories.