Compare Iconic Italy by G Adventures vs Quintessential Tour of Italy by Discover Your Italy
Compare details and see what other travelers are saying.
| Trip |
5 | Excellent
|
5 | Excellent
|
| Duration | 14 days | 13 days |
| Price From | $ 4,589 | $ 7,885 |
| Price Per Day | $ 328 | $ 607 |
| Highlights |
|
|
| Trip Style | Small group tour | Small group tour |
| Lodging Level | Premium | Standard |
| Physical Level |
|
|
| Travel Themes |
|
|
| Countries Visited | ||
| Cities and Attractions |
|
|
| Flights & Transport | Ground transport included | Ground transport included |
| Activities |
|
|
| Meals Included | 13 breakfasts, 1 lunch | N/A |
| Description |
Connect with some of the world’s greatest cultural highlights on a two-week exploration of Italy. Get in touch with the ancient past alongside an archaeologist amid the ash-preserved ruins of Pompeii, marvel at Renaissance treasures in iconic Venice and enchanting Florence, and stop and smell the lemons in the quaint cliff-side villages of the Amalfi Coast. La dolce vita is sweet indeed. |
This Italy tour features 12 nights of luxurious accommodations in boutique properties by Autentico Hotels (3 nights in Milan, 3 nights in Florence, 3 nights in Rome, 3 nights in Amalfi) with full buffet breakfasts. Starting in Milan and ending in Naples, this small-group tour of Italy (for 6–20 participants) includes private transportation by deluxe coach. A part of this Italian vacation package are also 4 lunches and 5 dinners; wine tastings and an exclusive cooking class as well as multiple city tours, day trips and a boat excursion to Capri island, all with English-speaking guides and entrances to listed attractions. Professional English-speaking assistance is provided for the duration of the tour. |
Day 1 Venice
Arrive at any time.
Please make your own way to the joining hotel.
Please make every effort to arrive on time for this important welcome meeting. If you are delayed and will arrive late, please inform us. Your Chief Experience Officer will then leave you a message at the front desk informing you of where and when to meet up.
Day 2 Venice
Take an orientation walk through the local markets and neighbourhoods of Venice. Opt to visit museums, churches, the Doge's Palace, or take a gondola ride.
Day 3 Venice/Cinque Terre
Head to Cinque Terre, one of the most beautiful areas of the Mediterranean. Visit Monterosso al Mare, a charming village nestled in the hillside. Enjoy a free afternoon to explore the villages along the crystal clear Ligurian Sea.
Take advantage of the chance to enjoy some truly amazing food. Eat a succulent starter of local anchovies marinated in lemon and locally produced olive oil, follow it with Trofie al Pesto and top the lot with the famous dessert, wine schiattetra. Heaven.
Day 4 Cinque Terre/Florence
Travel to Florence, the capital of the Tuscany region. Take an orientation walk with our CEO through the lively yet ancient streets and enjoy an included aperitivo (pre-dinner alcoholic beverage) experience at a local bar.
On one of the evenings in Florence, we will walk up to Piazzale Michelangelo in the evening to take in the famous view over the River Arno and the city.
Day 5 Florence
Enjoy a free day with a multitude of options including a day trip to the beautiful Tuscan town of Lucca, a visit to the Duomo, the Uffizi Gallery, the medieval Ponte Vecchio, and the Medici Chapels, or take an excursion to Pisa.
Please note that it is very advisable to book tickets in advance for both the Uffizi and Accademia Galleries. The line-ups at these museums are always long and the time to visit them is limited. You can book online from home before you leave at this website https://www.uffizi.it/en/tickets/ for the Uffizi. And at this website https://www.galleriaaccademiafirenze.it/tickets/ for Accademia Galleries. If you are interested in purchasing tickets we recommend that you do so once your G Adventures trip is confirmed (up to 2 months before if possible), especially for the ever-popular Uffizi and Accademia. Please book any time after 2pm on Day 4 or at any time on Days 5 and 6 of your trip. For additional museum resources you might want to refer to this website, www.firenzemusei.it, for more information to plan your day in Florence.
Day 6 Florence
Enjoy a free day with a multitude of options including a day trip to the beautiful Tuscan town of Lucca, a visit to the Duomo, the Uffizi Gallery, the medieval Ponte Vecchio, and the Medici Chapels, or take an excursion to Pisa.
For a truly local experience, indulge your inner gastronome on a culinary tour of the city. Opt to pre-book the "Florence Food Tour" on the checkout page ahead of time, to include this optional on your tour.
Please note that it is very advisable to book tickets in advance for both the Uffizi and Accademia Galleries. The line-ups at these museums are always long and the time to visit them is limited. You can book online from home before you leave at this website https://www.uffizi.it/en/tickets/ for the Uffizi. And at this website https://www.galleriaaccademiafirenze.it/tickets/ for Accademia Galleries. If you are interested in purchasing tickets we recommend that you do so once your G Adventures trip is confirmed (up to 2 months before if possible), especially for the ever-popular Uffizi and Accademia. Please book any time after 2pm on Day 4 or at any time on Days 5 and 6 of your trip. For additional museum resources you might want to refer to this website, www.firenzemusei.it, for more information to plan your day in Florence.
Day 7 Florence/Naples
Catch the train to Naples with the option to enjoy a fantastic meal in the birthplace of pizza. Opt to visit the National Archaeological Museum.
Look at the Veiled Christ, stroll through the chilled tunnels of underground Naples, or just sit in a plaza with a cocktail. Soak up this wonderful animated city different from anywhere else in Italy, where superstition blends with religion and pizza reigns supreme!
Day 8 Naples/Sorrento
The day begins with an excursion to the ruins of ancient Pompeii with an archaeologist. Continue by private bus to Sorrento, where you're welcomed to the south by panoramic views of the sea before settling in for the night.
Day 9 Sorrento
Enjoy a free day in Sorrento. Opt to visit the nearby islands of Capri or Ischia.
Enjoy the day at leisure from our boutique hotel, just steps from the central piazza. Today, you have the option of visiting the nearby ruins of Herculaneum.
Day 10 Sorrento to Amalfi Coast
Visit an organic lemon farm to see how limoncello is made from beginning to end. Stroll through fragrant lemon groves and enjoy a taste of this delicious liqueur. Travel to the stunning Amalfi coast for lunch at a local agriturismo that specializes in home grown, delicious produce. Meet the family and tour the property — a converted 17th-century monastery. Head into the fields and gardens to learn about local produce and herbs, then sit down to a wonderful meal of local fare surrounded by lush greenery, open terraces, and groves overlooking the Mediterranean. Continue to the hotel, which offers spectacular views of the coastline.
Day 11 Amalfi Coast
Hike the famous "Path of the Gods," following ancient paths and trails linking isolated farms, villages, churches, and monasteries.
Probably the most famous walk in the Amalfi region, this trail climbs along ridges high above the coastal towns of Positano and Praiano. We hike the ancient trails, once the only road connecting these two villages. The path can be rough underfoot and a little exposed, but well worth it for the spectacular scenery and the chance to be so close to nature and "the Gods."
Day 12 Amalfi Coast to Rome
Travel to Rome and take an orientation walk with the CEO.
Rome exudes history. From its Catacombs that entombed early Christians, to the Colosseum where gladiators battled to the death, up to the Palatine Hill, the traditional site of Rome’s founding. It is also home to the Vatican City – the home of the Pope and St Peter's Basilica.
Please note that if you wish to visit popular museums such as the Vatican Museums (Sistine Chapel) and Villa Borghese in Rome, it is advisable to reserve tickets in advance to avoid long lines. Tickets can be reserved online at https://tickets.museivaticani.va/home and https://www.gebart.it/musei/galleria-borghese/. Please make your reservations for Day 13 of your tour, when you will have a free day.
Day 13 Rome
Enjoy a free day to explore Rome. Opt to visit the Colosseum and Roman Forum, the Vatican, or just wander the streets and palazzi, taking time for a caffè or gelato.
While you're here, why not take to the streets on a food tour? Opt to pre-book the "Rome Street Food Tour" on the checkout page ahead of time to include this optional on your tour.
Please note that if you wish to visit popular museums such as the Vatican Museums (Sistine Chapel) and Villa Borghese in Rome, it is advisable to reserve tickets in advance to avoid long lines. Tickets can be reserved online at https://tickets.museivaticani.va/home and https://www.gebart.it/musei/galleria-borghese/. Please make your reservations for Day 13 of your tour, when you will have a free day.
Day 14 Rome
Depart at any time.
Days 1 to 3 : Explore Italy’s North: Milan, Lake Como and Bellagio
Arrive to Milan and meet up with your tour leader and group for a welcome drink and dinner. Roam the streets of the world’s fashion capital with a guide. Admire the intricate stonework of the Gothic Duomo cathedral. Look up for glass-vaulted arcades in the mall of Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, Italy’s oldest active shopping mall. People-watch at Piazza della Scala and marvel at the austere Sforca castle, former home of many rulers. Sip a cocktail at an iconic bar and spend the rest of the day at leisure. Next day venture out to the resplendent Lake Como and admire its shores dotted with illustrious mansions and quaint villages. Explore the medieval heart of the namesake town and take a boat to the romantic town of Bellagio, where cobbled stairways lead to some of the best lake views. Visit Villa Carlotta to wander its botanical park and galleries replete with art masterpieces.
Days 4 to 6 : Savor the Flavors of Bologna and Tuscany
Visit the capital of Emilia-Romagna, Bologna, marveling at its terracotta medieval buildings, enjoying the buzzy vibe of this home of the world’s oldest university and visit a local restaurant for a taste of Bologna’s most famous invention, the bolognaise sauce (have it with tagliatelle or tortellini). Travel back to the Renaissance in Florence, where famous art and architectural masterpieces wow you at every corner. Master the finest recipes of Tuscan cuisine in an exclusive cooking class with the acclaimed chef Silvia Baracchi in her 17th-century family home, now a Relais II Falconiere hotel, and enjoy the pairing with Falconiere wines. Work it all off touring Cortona, the town built upon Etruscan foundations, where many Renaissance and Baroque artists, like Luca Signorelli or Pietro di Cortona, came to seek inspiration.
Days 7 to 9 : Fall in Love with the Eternal City
On the way to Rome, stop in the town of Orvieto, founded upon volcanic tufa stone by the Etruscans 2700 years ago. See one of Italy’s most astonishing Gothic churches, the cathedral nestled in its medieval center. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant, then continue on to the Eternal City. Join a guided tour to delve into the opulence of the world’s smallest state, the Vatican: explore the Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Cathedral. Finish the day with dinner at a typical restaurant in Trastevere, one of Rome’s characteristic neighborhoods. Explore the highlights of ancient Rome, such as the Colosseum, where gladiators used to fight for life, and the Imperial Fora, a string of open squares which were the hearth of public life. Enjoy an afternoon on your own, roaming the Baroque sights of Rome: toss a coin into the Trevi Fountain or climb the iconic Spanish Steps.
Days 10 to 13 : Unwind on the Amalfi Coast and Visit Pompeii
On your way to the Amalfi coast, stop in the town of Caserta to tour its Royal Palace, one of the largest in the world. Get stunned by the opulent Baroque ornamentations throughout this UNESCO World Heritage Site. Spend a day at leisure in the hidden gem of the Amalfi coast, the hilltop town of Ravello, replete with villas, gardens and terraces with dazzling panoramas of the Tyrrhenian Sea. Take a boat to Capri: peek into the Blue Cave, filled with an emerald light, and get your steps in along the twisting Via Krupp and the seaside Fortini trail. Return to colorful Positano for a fish dinner paired with views of the Gulf of Ravello. Enjoy one last quintessential experience at the site of Pompeii, the town where life ended in 79AD with a sudden eruption of Mount Vesuvius. Stroll the open-air museum and admire some of the best-preserved Roman frescoes. Toast to your extraordinary journey with wines grown in volcanic soil at a local winery, enjoy a lunch, and then head to Naples for your departure back home.
