Compare Amalfi Coast, Capri & Rome Break by Original Travel vs Bella Italia: Rome, Florence & Venice With Your Family by Road Scholar

Day 1: UK – Naples

Accommodation: Casa Angelina

There are several flights a day from London and other UK airports, with the flights ranging from two and a half to three hours. Upon arrival at Naples airport, meet your driver in arrivals to be chauffeured to your hotel on the beautiful Amalfi Coast.

The journey should take around an hour and a half and along the way you’ll catch your first glimpses of the rocky clifftop views Amalfi is so famous for. Once checked in and freshened up, head out for your first, wonderfully Italian, meal of the holiday.

Day 2: Pompeii

Recover from perhaps rather an over indulgence of lovely Italian wine last night with a leisurely breakfast and lots of coffee, polished off on your hotel's terrace. By mid-morning and now feeling ready for the day, it's time to hit the road with a private transfer one hour north to the ancient ruins of Pompeii and Herculaneum. Completely buried (sometimes to a depth of 20ft) by burning hot ash after the devastating eruption of nearby Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD, these astonishingly well preserved Roman towns were rediscovered under the now solidified pumice rock in 1788, and are now a protected UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The beautiful volcanic backdrop is a poignant reminder of the power of nature. Amazingly you can still walk down intact Roman streets and wander into what would have been temples, shops and cafes; and your private guide will really help you to get to grips with the layout and day to day activities that once filled this fascinating place. Our guides are exceptionally well qualified and know the crowd free areas of Pompeii and Herculaneaum like the back of their hands, so if you want to design your own route or have a particular sight you really want to see, then they can easily adapt the tour to suit

Day 3: Path of the Gods

Get up nice and early this morning as we’ve planned a spectacular walk for you, and you don’t want to be doing it in the midday heat! A hearty breakfast is also going to be key, so enjoy it in the sunshine as you slowly wake up. The walk we recommend is along the Sentiero degli Dei, or Path of the Gods.

To get there you’ll take a half an hour taxi from the hotel to the start of the trail, which is on the outskirts of Bomerano. From here it is an easy three hour walk to Nocelle, where your driver will be waiting to meet you and take you back to the hotel - after a long leisurely lunch of course! We think the trail certainly lives up to its name and provides some of the most dramatic and haunting panoramic views in Europe. Plus, it’s almost always blissfully quiet so as you take in the clifftop ocean views, it can like just you and the mountains. John Steinbeck rhapsodised in 1953 that the Amalfi Coast was, ‘a dream place that isn’t quite real when you are there but becomes beckoningly real after you are gone.’ Sounds about right. Spend your last night on the Amalfi coast capturing some final shots of the cliff edge and the sunset over the ocean. When you’re ready, head to Restaurant Il Refettorio at Monastero Santa Rosa for dinner, where Chef Bob will ensure your meal is full of fresh local ingredients and precision-perfect flavour. The fusilli with baby squid, Piennolo’s tomatoes and basil scented aubergine comes particularly highly recommended.

Day 4: Amalfi Coast – Capri

Accommodation: Capri Palace hotel or JK Place Capri

After breakfast this morning you will be collected from the hotel and driven to the port in Sorrento or Amalfi (depending on where you are staying) where you will board a fast ferry to Capri - which should take anywhere between 20 minutes and an hour, with an impressive arrival into the harbour in Capri. You will then be transferred to your hotel in Capri which should take around 15 minutes.

Enjoy lunch either at the hotel or at one of the lovely restaurants on the island recommended in our detailed Dossier. This afternoon you can relax by the pool until evening and then indulge in that most Italian of traditions, the passeggiata, or evening stroll. By now the day-trippers have departed the island and it will be you and the Caprese locals wandering the pretty streets of Capri town. The Piazzetta is the 'finish line', and this tiny square is home to four fun bars, the best of which is the original, Al Piccolo. Try and grab a table on the first floor terrace (gold dust) and watch the square fill up while nursing a Bellini made with fresh island-grown peaches. Next stop, dinner, and we can pre-book a table at Aurora, home to the pizza all'aqua (a lighter take on the traditional Neapolitan pizza base) and every visiting A-lister. Blag yourself a table (again, gold dust, but we can help) outside on buzzing Via Fuorlovado for prime people watching and choose an oversize bottle from the peerless Italian wine list.

Day 5: The Isle of Capri

You’ve only got one full day on Capri, so make the most of it. Spend the morning wandering around the town stocking up on classic Capri pants for the ladies and dapper trousers from Laboratorio for the chaps before descending the sinuous steps down a cliff face to the water’s edge for lunch at Caprese institution Fontelina restaurant overlooking the iconic limestone Faraglioni rocks that rise vertiginously from the sea just offshore.

Despite its charmingly low-key vibe (thatched roof, open sides, beach umbrellas), so popular has the place become that they do two lunchtime sittings, and we will have booked you a table here. Order the spaghetti vongole and a jug of the delicious house sangria and when you’ve finished go for a refreshing swim around the rocks before you are picked up from the Fontelina jetty for an afternoon cruise around the island. Your skipper will keep you stocked up with chilled Peronis as you motor around and between the Faraglioni rocks before Capri heading around to the other side of the island and the Blue Grotto, a large sea cave that glows a mysterious piercing azure as if there’s an internal light source shining up from the cave floor. During the day the cave is crowded with visitors who are rowed in in tiny rowing boats.

Day 6: Capri – Rome

Accommodation: Hotel de Russie

After an earlyish breakfast you will be transferred back to the harbour in time for you to take the hydrofoil or fast catamaran ferry back to the mainland – this time into Naples - which will take around an hour.

You will be transferred around two and a half hours north into the city centre of Rome. As before, we’ve planned this so you will arrive in time for lunch, and our trusty Dossier should again come in use. This afternoon is yours to spend wandering and acclimatising to the buzz of city life. As evening settles in, sip an Aperol Spritz or two and then explore bohemian Trastevere - the old Jewish Quarter and home to many of the city’s best restaurants - in search of the perfect Italian dinner.

Day 7: When in Rome

Feeling fully refuelled after a good night's sleep, it's time for a full day of exploration. Despite the wealth of things to do and sites to see, Rome is a surprisingly small city, and arguably best explored on foot.

For first timers it's probably best to start at the beginning with a tour of the ancient city centre - the Forum, Palatine Hill and Colosseum, and we have booked a local guide who can bring an already colourful story even more vividly to life on a morning tour of Imperial Rome. Then, after lunch, pay a visit to the smallest country on Earth - Vatican City. We will have pre-arranged tickets to view the Sistine Chapel but if you want to splash the cash we can also arrange a private view of Michelangelo's masterpiece.

Additional Activities

Private Tours - we can arrange private tours of Palazzo Colonna, Palazzo del Quirinale or Galleria Villa Borghese

Foodie Rome Tour

Hidden Rome - a half day guided tour with an archaeologist to explore underground Rome, a labyrinth of ancient crypts, sewers, tunnels and buildings

Day 8: Rome - UK

It might be your final day but the trip isn’t over yet. A visit to the effortlessly fashionable Italian capital wouldn’t be complete without a spot of shopping; so whether you treat yourself to a new Prada handbag, a classic Italian scarf, or just a great bottle of wine, make sure you do go home with some goodies.

Depending on what time your flight is, there might be time for one last lunch and a gelato (can we tell we’re rather parial to Italian ice cream?) in the sun, before a private transfer to the airport for the two and a half to three hour flight.

Day 1
In Transit to Program
In Flight

Day 2
Arrival & Check-in, Orientation, Welcome Dinner
Location: Venice Meal: D Hotel: Hotel Abbazia

Activity note: The hotel check is at 3:00 pm.

Morning: The group leader will be in the lobby of the hotel to greet arriving travelers. Leave your luggage with the desk clerk and join the group leader for a walk in the neighborhood late morning to identify ATMs, pharmacies, stores, restaurants, etc. Guest check in is available from 2:00 p.m.

Lunch: On your own.

Afternoon: Check in and settle in. The Group Leader will review the up-to-date program schedule and any changes, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer any questions you may have. Please note that the order of visits and activities may be different from what is described in this preliminary itinerary. Except breakfast, meals will be plated (each dish served to guests by a wait staff) from a set menu unless otherwise specified. Water is included with all meals and other beverages such as soft drinks, wine, tea and coffee will be available for purchase unless otherwise specified. In Rome, transportation will primarily be provided by motor coach; in Venice by vaporetto, or public boat. Free time is reserved for your personal independent exploration. Please note that program activities, schedules, and personnel may need to change due to local circumstances. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding. Evenings at leisure offer opportunities to make the program more meaningful and memorable through personal independent exploration, attending performances or other events, or simply relaxing and making new friends among fellow participants. The Group Leader will always be happy to offer suggestions. Before dinner, the group leader will greet everyone and lead introductions with a Welcome Cocktail (or fruit juice).

Dinner: Dinner at a local restaurant. Fixed menu, plated table service. Water is included; other beverages available for purchase.

Evening: At leisure. Continue getting to know your fellow participants, settle in, and get a good night's rest for the day ahead.

Day 3
Artisan Workshop

Location: Venice Meal: B,L,D Hotel: Hotel Abbazia

Activity note: Venice has no vehicular traffic. In addition to the Grand Canal, there are 177 smaller canals and about 400 bridges. Vaporettos (bus boats) travel up and down the Grand Canal as it winds from the Santa Lucia train station to Piazza San Marco. There are 15 stops along the route. All walks in Venice, even the shortest, entail crossing bridges, some of which have ramps and others steps. As the only alternative to walking, vaporettos are frequently crowded with both tourists and locals.

Breakfast: Buffet at the hotel. Each day the dining room is set up buffet style with fresh fruit, cereals, muesli, pastries, cakes, breads, a sliced meat and cheese platter, yogurt, jam and honey, juice, coffee, tea, whole milk, and water.

Morning: The Group Leader will distribute vaporetto passes that are valid for our stay in Venice. Especially for the kids: a workshop creating your own Venetian memento. The type of activity will be revealed closer to the departure date.

Lunch: At a local restaurant/pizzeria. Salad and choice of pizza. Water is included; other beverages available for purchase.

Afternoon: We ride the vaporetto back to the stop nearest the hotel. In the meeting room a local expert presents Welcome to Venice, an introduction to the city known as the Serenissima, the 'Most Serene.' Neighborhood walk follows.

Dinner: At a local restaurant. Set menu, plated table service. Water and soft drink included; glass of wine for the adults.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 4
Rialto Bridge, St. Mark's Basilica, Gondola Ride

Location: Venice Meal: B,L Hotel: Hotel Abbazia

Activity note: Getting on/off vaporetto. Walking up to 4 miles. Walks in Venice involve crossing multiple bridges that span the canals. The view from the top of the Rialto bridge is worth the effort of climbing up and down 40 steps. Assistance is offered getting on and off the gondola.

Breakfast: Buffet at the hotel.

Morning: Explore Venice with a local expert who takes us on a special walk off the beaten path. The walk ends at the Rialto District, Venice's original food and fruit market.

Lunch: At a local restaurant. Fixed menu, plated table service. Water is included; other beverages available for purchase.

Afternoon: Our exploration of Venice continues with an expert-led visit of Piazza S. Marco — St. Mark’s Square.The Byzantine style S. Mark's Cathedral was built during the 13 C. There are more than 45,000 square feet of mosaics adorning the church, giving the impression of streets of gold. On the second floor is the original "Quadriga" — a team of four gilded bronze horses that was looted from the fall of Constantinople. Replicas now stand in the elements above the entrance to the Basilica. The loggia has display cases with illuminated manuscripts and other documents related to the church. Then, experience Venice from another perspective on a gondola ride through the back canals of Venice.

Dinner: This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy the food and restaurant/trattoria/café of your choice. The group leader will be happy to offer suggestions and give directions.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 5
Peggy Guggenheim Collection, Ducal Palace

Location: Venice Meal: B,L Hotel: Hotel Abbazia

Activity note: Getting on/off vaporetto. Walking up to 4 miles. Walks in Venice involve crossing multiple bridges that span the canals. The permanent collection of the Guggenheim museum is displayed on a single floor of the Palazzo Venier with a few steps at the entrance and leading to the wing with special exhibitions.

Breakfast: Buffet at the hotel.

Morning: Having been surrounded by ancient and Renaissance masterpieces and structures, enjoy the modern art at the Peggy Guggenheim Collection. Relax in the courtyard of the Palazzo Venier on the Grand Canal while the docent introduces the life and times of the wealthy American collector. The adults will have a guided visit led by a museum docent. Especially for the kids: young visitors will have their own docent who facilitates the discovery of form and expression in modern art.

Lunch: At a local trattoria.

Afternoon: Vaporetto to St. Mark's Square. Expert-led visit of the Palazzo Ducale or Doge's Palace. Walk through the many rooms of the palace, seat of civic and political power. Doges embellished the Palazzo to demonstrate their wealth and importance. From the grand halls of the palace, the visit concludes with a walk through the narrow passages over the Bridge of Sighs to the Prisons. It is said that those condemned sighed at knowing it would be their last sight of the sky.

Dinner: On your own. The Group Leader will have suggestions.

Evening: At leisure. Be sure to prepare for check out and departure in the morning.

Day 6
High Speed Train to Florence, Renaissance Art
Location: Florence Meal: B,D Hotel: Hotel Albani

Activity note: Walking up to 4 miles. High speed train to Florence covers 160 miles and takes 1.5 hours.

Breakfast: Buffet at the hotel.

Morning: Check out of your room. Our luggage will be delivered directly to the hotel in Florence by boat/van. We set out on foot for the train station. The high speed train to Florence reaches speeds reaching 120 mph. Short walk to the hotel.

Lunch: On your own. The Group Leader will have suggestions.

Afternoon: After checking in and settling in, an art historian presents Renaissance Art in the meeting room of the hotel.

Dinner: At a local restaurant. Sample some typical Tuscan dishes. Fixed menu, plated table service. Water is included; other beverages available for purchase.

Evening: With the group leader, stroll the historical section of Florence to orient yourself on the layout of the city, locate landmarks, find ATM's and pharmacies.

Day 7
Free Time, Uffizi Gallery
Location: Florence Meal: B,L Hotel: Hotel Albani

Activity note: Walking up to 4 miles throughout the day. Sidewalks and streets in the pedestrian center are stone or cobblestone paved. Extended standing and unavoidable stairs in the Uffizi Gallery. Small elevator (cap. 4 persons) for disabled visitors may be available.

Breakfast: The buffet at the hotel choices include a hot egg dish, cereal, bread, pastries and cakes, cheese and cold cut platter, yogurt, fresh fruit and a selection of hot and cold beverages.

Morning: Free time. Take this opportunity for personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most in Florence, or return to the hotel to rest. You can consult your list of suggested Free Time activities in your program materials.

Lunch: At a restaurant in the Piazza della Signoria. Fixed menu, plated table service. Water is included; other beverages available for purchase.

Afternoon: We cross the piazza to the Uffizi for our reserved entrance to the Gallery. The visit is self-directed; stay as long as you want. At the end of the second corridor is a refreshment bar for snacks. The balcony has a wonderful view of Brunelleschi's Dome and the watch tower of Palazzo Vecchio.

Dinner: This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 8
Duomo, The David
Location: Florence Meal: B,L,D Hotel: Hotel Albani

Activity note: Walking up to 5 miles over uneven stone paved sidewalks.

Breakfast: Buffet at the hotel.

Morning: Set out on foot with the Group Leader to Piazza del Duomo where we meet our local expert and visit Santa Maria del Fiore, the magnificent cathedral of Florence. The expert-led visit continues to the Duomo Museum. The highlight of the collection is a Pieta' by Michelangelo and the original (newly restored) panels of the Gates of Paradise by Lorenzo Ghiberti. There is a model of the cupola that shows the ingenious way to disperse the weight of the brick structure.

Lunch: At a restaurant at the foot of the Duomo's cupola. Set menu, antipasto served family style, entree plated. Water is included; other beverages available for purchase.

Afternoon: We set out on foot for the Accademia for our reserved entrance. We meet our expert who enhances our appreciation of Michelangelo's David, who stands steadfast under his own cupola. Some free time to visit the Accademia's small musical instrument collection or browse the bookshop. Walk back to the hotel.

Dinner: At a local restaurant. Fixed menu, plated table service. Water is included; other beverages available for purchase.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 9
Explore Medieval Florence, Free Time
Location: Florence Meal: B,D Hotel: Hotel Albani

Activity note: Walking up to 4 miles over uneven urban stone sidewalks in the traffic-free heart of Florence.

Breakfast: Buffet at the hotel.

Morning: Explore Medieval Florence with a local expert. The walk ends at the Mercato di San Lorenzo, Florence's colorful fresh produce market. A lively food court specializes in farm to table menus. Much variety of small plates, vegetables, pizza, pasta, snacks and beverages.

Lunch: On your own.

Afternoon: Free Time

Dinner: At a local restaurant. Set menu, plated table service. Water is included for all; a glass of wine for the adults and a soft drink for the young guests.

Evening: At leisure. Be sure to prepare for the next day's departure for Rome.

Day 10
High Speed Train to Rome, Welcome to Rome
Location: Venice Meal: B,L,D Hotel: Hotel Pace Helvezia

Activity note: Getting on/off train. Walking up to 5 miles throughout the day. We will be on our feet most of the afternoon Piazza Walk along uneven paths and original pavement of cobblestone.

Breakfast: Buffet at the hotel.

Morning: Check out of the hotel. Your checked luggage will be sent by van and delivered to the hotel in Rome; keep your carry on bag with you. We set out on foot for the train station to board a high speed train to Rome; the trip is 1.5 hours. Coach or van to the hotel.

Lunch: At a nearby restaurant a set menu with plated table service. Water is included; other beverages available for purchase.

Afternoon: Check in and settle in. At the hotel meeting room a presentation Welcome to Rome introduces you to the Eternal City. Neighborhood walk follows.

Dinner: At a local restaurant to sample Roman cuisine. Fixed menu, plated table service. Water is included; other beverages available for purchase.

Evening: Especially for the kids but adults will enjoy the show as well: Walk to the Forum of Augustus. Learn about daily life in ancient times through a spectacular laser light show with English narration. The show begins at sunset and lasts about an hour. During the show we sit on bleachers in front of the suggestive ruins of the Forum. Walk back to the hotel.

Day 11
Sistine Chapel, St. Peter's Basilica, Mosaic Workshop
Location: Rome Meal: B,L,D Hotel: Hotel Pace Helvezia

Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach or van; drop-off point for Vatican Museums is about 500 feet along stone paved sidewalks to entrance; standing in line while museum-issued listening devices are distributed; walking 2 long corridors (1/2 mile each); riding an escalator; climbing 3 flights of stairs: one at entrance, one to access corridor to Sistine Chapel, one to enter Sistine Chapel; marble floors; crowded conditions; extensive standing throughout field trip, no public seating.

Breakfast: Each day the buffet will have fresh fruit, cereal, sliced meat and cheese platter, deviled eggs or boiled eggs, yogurt, pastries, cakes, breads, jams, juice, coffee, tea, whole milk and water.

Morning: Coach or van to the Vatican Museums for our reserved entrance time. Meet the local expert who will lead us through some of the galleries in the vast collection where we will learn about singular artworks such as the Laocoon, Apollo Belvedere, and gilded Hercules. We walk down long corridors surrounded by precious artwork as we make our way to the main attraction, the Sistine Chapel. The visit continues to the "new" S. Peter's Basilica (only 500 years old) to see Michelangelo's Pieta' and works by Bernini.

Lunch: Walk to the Mosaic Workshop for a buffet lunch. Water and soft drinks are included; other beverages available for purchase.

Afternoon: Especially for the kids: Inside S. Peter's Basilica, we learned this morning that what appear as paintings are actually micro-mosaics. Come to appreciate this art form as we create our own mosaic with instructors at a mosaic workshop. Keep your decorated piece as a memento. Coach back to the hotel.

Dinner: At a restaurant near the hotel. Water is included for all; a glass of wine for the adults. Other beverages available for purchase.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 12
Forum and Colosseum

Location: Rome Meal: B,L Hotel: Hotel Pace Helvezia

Activity note: Walking up to 5 miles throughout the day; extended periods of standing; uneven paths, original cobblestone pavement. At Colosseum, steep, uneven steps to reach upper level; elevator available.

Breakfast: Buffet at the hotel.

Morning: Walk to the Colosseum. Reserved entrance for expert-led visit of the Flavian Amphitheater, commonly known as the Colosseum, capable seating up to 50,000 people. Imagine watching gladiatorial games and the pageantry. Guided visit continues to Via dei Fori Imperiali.Our expert-led field trip will continue onward to the Roman Forum, which dates back to the 7th century BCE and was the religious and civic center of the city.

Lunch: At a restaurant in Piazza del Colosseo. Fixed menu, water and soft drinks included.

Afternoon: Coach back to the hotel. Free time.

Dinner: This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 13
Piazza Walk, Farewell Dinner

Location: Rome Meal: B,L,D Hotel: Hotel Pace Helvezia

Activity note: Walks in Venice involve crossing multiple bridges that span the minor canals. The view from the top of the Rialto bridge is worth the effort of climbing up and down 40 steps.

Breakfast: Buffet at the hotel.

Morning: Vaporetto to the Accademia stop. Having been surrounded by ancient and Renaissance masterpieces and structures, enjoy the modern art at the Peggy Guggenheim Collection. Relax in the courtyard of the Palazzo Venier on the Grand Canal while the docent introduces the life and times of the wealthy American collector. The adults will have a guided visit led by a museum docent. Especially for the kids: young visitors will have their own docent who facilitates young visitors' discovery of form and expression in modern art.

Lunch: At a characteristic trattoria near the museum. Set menu, plated table service. Water is included; other beverages available for purchase.

Afternoon: Excursion to an artisan's workshop to learn about the carving techniques of making gondola oars and oar locks. Explore the area of the Rialto Bridge, Venice's original market area. Find many souvenir booths, food and fruit market. Some free time before dinner.

Dinner: Recap your adventures and share your favorite memories with your fellow participants at our Farewell Dinner at the hotel. Fixed menu, plated table service. Wine is included with this meal for the adults to toast new friendships.

Evening: At leisure. Be sure to prepare for check out and departure tomorrow.

Day 14
Program Concludes
In Flight B