Compare The Best of Italy by Discover Your Italy vs Italian Discovery by Eskapas
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| Trip |
5 | Excellent
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5 | Excellent
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| Duration | 13 days | 10 days |
| Price From | $ 7,069 | $ 2,500 |
| Price Per Day | $ 544 | $ 250 |
| Highlights |
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- Most comprehensive itinerary of Northern and Southern Italy |
| Trip Style | Private guided tour | Small group tour |
| Lodging Level | Premium | Premium |
| Physical Level |
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| Travel Themes |
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| Countries Visited | ||
| Cities and Attractions |
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| Flights & Transport | Ground transport included | Ground transport included |
| Activities |
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| Meals Included |
Breakfast + 1 Dinner and 3 Lunches |
9 breakfasts, 4 Lunches, 3 Dinners (please inform us at the moment of the booking, in case of any food allergy or alimentary restriction) |
| Description |
This luxury tour of Italy starts in Venice and ends in Naples. First-class tickets on the high-speed train are included (between Venice, Florence, Rome and Naples), as well as private van transfers (with an English-speaking driver) to and from the airport and train stations. Accommodations for the 12 nights feature 4/5-star hotels and historical mansions with full buffet breakfasts (2 nights in Venice, 4 in Florence, 3 in Rome and 3 on the Amalfi coast). Also included are entrance fees for sites visited during private tours with English-speaking guides, with preferential skip-the-line access (optional). Additionally, the tour includes multiple excursions, a boat trip, winery visits and traditional lunches, plus a chef-led cooking class. |
The ten-day fully escorted “Italian Discovery” tour starts from and ends in Rome. All the iconic Italian cities – from the splendors of the Renaissance in Florence to the ruins of ancient Rome, to the sunny Amalfi coastline – are yours to discover during an epic 10 days in Italy. Get ready to discover the true essence of Italy on this outstanding travel experience with Eskapas. |
Days 1–2: Soak Up the Beauty of Venice
Start your luxury vacation in Italy with an exclusive welcome dinner in Venice. See the history come alive on a guided tour of the town’s famed landmarks. Take in the expansive square of St. Mark’s, then enter St. Mark’s Basilica to admire the Byzantine-style mosaics that cover most of the cupola and vaults, coloring its interiors golden. Reminisce the power and glory of the Venetian Republic inside the lavish Doge’s Palace. Get off the tourist path by wandering the maze of narrow alleys, called calle, and look out for the traces of everyday living. Mingle among vaporettos and gondolas while exploring the Grand Canal on a boat tour.
Days 3–6: Take in the Majestic Marvels of Tuscany
Discover Florence, the birthplace of the Renaissance and home to many of the world’s greatest monuments and artworks. Take in its splendor on a private tour, complete with a visit to see Michelangelo’s David at the Accademia Gallery. Out in the countryside, explore the medieval gem of Siena and the splendid wine country of Chianti. Gaze at the rolling hills strewn with vineyards and olive groves en route to a famous local winery to relish a wine tasting and a light lunch. Explore Italy’s finest sacred heritage in Pisa, where the medieval Cathedral, Baptistery and the iconic Leaning Tower flank the expansive green square called the Field of Miracles. Round off the day with a stroll along Lucca’s Renaissance walls.
Days 7-9: Savor La Dolce Vita in Rome
Get to know the Eternal City on a private guided tour, showcasing its illustrious attractions as well as some off-the-beaten-path spots. Imagine the bustling life of ancient Rome as you wander its iconic public areas: the Colosseum, its greatest public stage; the Roman Forum, the heart of public affairs; and the Imperial Fora, a succession of public squares. Explore the incredible wealth of the world’s smallest city-state, the Vatican City. Admire Michelangelo’s Pieta in St. Peter’s Basilica, take in his stunning frescoes and Bernini’s dome in the Sistine Chapel and explore the Vatican Museums. Roam Rome’s open-air markets and get an insider scoop on la dolce vita during a private chef-led cooking class near Piazza di Spagna.
Days 10–13: Enjoy Easy Seaside Living on the Amalfi Coast
Stroll through Pompeii, a bustling Roman town where life came to an abrupt halt with the 79AD eruption of Mount Vesuvius. Muse at this open-air museum and admire the remarkably preserved Roman frescoes. Savor wines made of grapes grown in volcanic soil and enjoy lunch on the slopes of Vesuvius. Daydream as your drive along the scenic Amalfi coast to visit its main draws: Sorrento, Italy’s famous resort town; pastel-hued Amalfi with its resplendent Cathedral; and Positano, the town of pink and fuchsia houses and bougainvillea bushes. Round it off with the dazzling panoramas of the Gulf from Ravello. Take a boat to Capri, an island of astounding beauty that has inspired intellectuals, writers and artists. Peek into the Blue Cave, march up a series of switchbacks at Via Krupp and count the forts along the Fortini trail before shopping and relaxing in Marina Grande, the main port.
Day 1
Rome Arrival
Benvenuti a Roma!
Arrival to Rome , meet and greet with our private driver at the airport. Transfer to your hotel.
Tread in the footsteps of emperors and slaves your first encounter with intoxicating Italy is the ‘Eternal City’ and its glorious past which you will have an opportunity to explore on your own before joining our Rome by Night Guided Walk starting at At 8:30 pm – reach the meeting point (on the corner of Via del Traforo (near street no. 148) and Largo del Tritone, on the wide sidewalk opposite the wedding-dress shop) to be ready for the departure of the Rome by night tour.
Our local expert guide will lead you to discover the wonders of the Eternal City, charming by day – absolutely romantic by night. You enjoy the whole center of this magic city in the moonlight during this panoramic mix of bus and walking tour. The tour ends in Colosseum area. Enjoy on your own the rest of the night. Return to the hotel on your own and overnight stay.
Overnight: Rome Meals: Not Available
Day 2
Rome > Assisi > Siena > Florence (B, D)
Departing at 7:15 am from your hotel by a deluxe coach, you will arrive in Assisi, ready to explore, at your own leisure, this tiny town surrounded by walls, built in the Middle Ages. Take your time to visit the basilica of St. Francis, where you will see masterpieces by Giotto and Cimabue and, then, have free time for lunch (not included). Board on the bus to reach Siena, a Unesco World Heritage Site, world-known for the Palio, the historical horse race around the shell-shaped town square: Piazza del Campo. Next, you will continue on to Florence, where you will check in at your hotel before enjoying dinner and a well-earned night of rest.
Overnight: Florence Meals: Breakfast – Dinner
Day 3
Florence (B,L)
After breakfast, you will spend the day venturing around beautiful Florence, the “Cradle of Renaissance”, where, with the help of Michelangelo, Italian art reached its pinnacle. Based on Etruscan-Roman origins, the city flourished in the Middle Ages as a free “Comune” and was further refined during the Renaissance. You will be fascinated by the uncountable monuments, churches and buildings as Santa Maria del Fiore, more commonly referred to as the Duomo. On your visit, you will be amazed by its magnificent dome built by Filippo Brunelleschi.
Cross a small piazza to see the “Campanile” tower (partly designed by Giotto) and the Baptistery, with its bronze doors where Michelangelo imagined the “Gates of Paradise.” In the heart of the city, you will see Piazza della Signoria, Palazzo della Signoria (also known as Palazzo Vecchio), and the Basilica of Santa Croce.
Lunch in a typical Tuscan restaurant in Piazza Santa Croce. Spend the afternoon strolling the cobblestone streets of Florence on your own or take a short trip to Pisa (optional), one of the four main historical Marine Republics of Italy. There, you will tour the Piazza dei Miracoli with the Duomo, Pisa’s symbol “the Leaning Tower” and the Baptistery.
Overnight: Florence. Meals: Breakfast – Lunch
Day 4
Florence > Bologna > Padua > Venice (B, D)
After breakfast in Florence, departure to Bologna. There, you will discover the elegant city center with its “porticos”, it’s shopping streets and so on. From Piazza Malpighi you will walk to Piazza del Nettuno and Piazza Maggiore (Neptune square and Major square) in the heart of the city, then King Renzo’s Palace; Palazzo Podestà and the basilica of San Petronio, one of the biggest in the world. Bologna it’s a real gourmet’s heaven…don’t miss a tasty meal at your own leisure! In the afternoon, continue toward Padova, with Sant’Antonio Basilica: one of the most visited churches by pilgrims of the catholic world. Later in the afternoon, arrival in Venice (Mestre). Check in at your hotel for dinner and overnight stay.
Overnight: Venice Mestre Meals: Breakfast – Dinner
Day 5
Venice (B)
After breakfast, enjoy your transfer to Piazza San Marco, with “Skip the Line” tickets to visit the splendid St. Mark’s Basilica and, after this, check out the most iconic places of the “Floating City”: the Palazzo dei Dogi, symbol of Venice’s glorious past, the legendary “Bridge of Sighs”. Spend the afternoon roaming along Venice’s canals at your leisure and then return to the hotel and overnight.
Overnight: Venice Mestre Meals: Breakfast
Day 6
Venice > Tuscany Wine Region (Montepulciano) > Rome (B, L)
After breakfast, departure from Piazzale Roma heading to Tuscany, world-known for its landscapes, its churches and castles and its delicious wines. You will proceed to Val di Chiana with a stop in Montepulciano, a medieval town rich in history and art. Known for its “Nobile” wine, on purchase in local wine houses, Montepulciano also hosts an annual Jazz and Wine Festival every July. Lunch in a typical restaurant included!!! After lunch, quick stop to spend some free time. In the evening, you will arrive in Rome to check in into your hotel.
Overniht: Rome Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 7
Rome (B)
Between 7:45/8:00 am, after breakfast, departure from the hotel for the included tour of the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s square with our exclusive “Skip the Line” access! No stress to reach the area: upon arrival, your guide will lead you into the museums where you’ll visit one of the most important art collections of the world. Walk along the beautiful Galleries of Tapestries and Geographical Maps before admiring Raphael’s Rooms and, then, the amazing Sistine Chapel. The tour couldn’t be complete without St. Peter’s Square, the open space which lies before the basilica, redesigned by Gian Lorenzo Bernini and being itself an architectural masterpiece of the Baroque age.
Overnight: Rome Meals: Breakfast
Day 8
Rome > Naples > Pompeii > Sorrento (B, L, D)
After breakfast, pick up at your hotel at 7:00 am approximately. Departure by coach heading south crossing the regions of Lazio and Campania. Arrival in Naples and short panoramic tour climbing up to Vomero hill to enjoy beautiful views over the Gulf of Naples with the Vesuvius, Capri, Ischia and Procida and the city below; time to take some nice pictures. Descending towards the port of Mergellina, you will leave the city and travel south towards Mount Vesuvius and, once you reach the town of Pompeii, you will have lunch with the real Neapolitan pizza! After lunch, you will enter into one of the most important archaeological sites in the world: a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the ruins of Pompeii, with Skip the Line entrance and a guided tour.
Visit the haunting ruins of Pompeii, traveling back in time to the tragic days in 79 AD when the silent Mount Vesuvius suddenly erupted, covering the prosperous Roman city in deadly volcanic ashes and poisonous gases, leaving this prosperous city crystallized until our days. You’ll learn how people lived at that time, visiting houses and “bars” of the time, admiring frescoes and mosaics to imagine how rich and prosperous was the city before the dreadful day. After the visit, you will drive along the Sorrentine Coast, arriving in Sorrento for dinner (dress code: jacket for men) and an overnight in your new hotel.
Overnight: Sorrento Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 9
Sorrento > Capri > Rome (B, L)
After breakfast, get ready for an exciting excursion to the island of Capri: one of the most exclusive summer destinations of the Mediterranean! Depending on weather and sea conditions, you will admire the dreamy Blue Grotto on a small rowboat. Afterward, enjoy lunch at a local restaurant and then roam the island at your own pace. Once back on the mainland, return to Rome in the evening for your last overnight.
Overnight: Rome Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 10
Rome Departure
After your breakfast at the hotel transfer to the airport for your onward flight. End of our services
Overnight: Not Available Meals: Breakfast
