Highlights of Italy
(8 - 12 Days - Departs Daily on a Private Basis)
Venice, Florence & Tuscany, Rome
This tour includes comprehensive private touring of the highlights of Italy’s most famous cities—Venice, Florence, and Rome—plus a private day tour into the Tuscan countryside to visit the picturesque Chianti countryside and renowned villages and towns such as Siena.
Begin in Venice. During flexible private touring, visit favorite local neighborhoods, museums, architectural landmarks, outdoor markets and specialty shops. Also, take a private cruise through the fascinating Venetian lagoon to visit islands such as Murano, which is famous for its glass, Burano and Torcello. Your expert guide will ensure that you discover the best of Venice including learning about the origins of Venice’s unique architecture and cityscape, discovering hidden neighborhoods, and sampling local food and wine at Venetian bacari (bars). Also enjoy a gondola ride with musicians through the narrow canals and a “secret itineraries” tour of the Doge’s Palace. Upon request, Pequot Travel can arrange activities such as shopping for high-quality glass and silks, a private Venetian mask-painting lesson, special access to museums and art sites, and much more.
Next, drive to Florence. En route, you might like to stop in Bologna, one of Italy’s great gastronomic centers. With your private expert guide in Florence, tour the city’s highlights according to your interests. Enjoy skip-the-line access at world-renowned museums such as the Uffizi and Accademia, browse antiques and artisan workshops of the Oltrarno district, tour historic squares, learn about Tuscan cuisine at specialty food shops and the Mercato Centrale, see the impressive Great Synagogue or stroll through the beautiful Boboli Gardens. Perhaps also visit less-frequented but fascinating museums, such as the Convent of San Marco Museum, with its frescoes by Fra Angelico, local fashion museums (Gucci, Ferragamo and others) or the excellent Museo del Bargello, a prison in the 13th century and now home to sculpture by Michelangelo and Donatello. During free time, enjoy leisurely meals, walks along the Arno River and shopping for Florentine gold jewelry, handmade paper, leather goods, antiques and housewares. Upon request, Pequot Travel can arrange additional touring such as access to private art collections and specialty museums, visits to renowned local gardens, and activities such as an Italian cooking lesson.
One day, enjoy a private excursion into Tuscany. Travel through olive groves and vineyards to explore celebrated hill towns such as Siena and San Gimignano. Repeat visitors to Tuscany may wish to visit the beautiful towns of Pienza, Montalcino and Montepulciano. Walk medieval alleys and admire palazzi and ancient towers, and enjoy free time to browse for olive oil, wine, baskets, cheeses, olive wood, and ceramics. Taste wines at their source, listen to white-robed monks sing haunting Gregorian chants in a Romanesque church, or shop for designer goods at excellent outlet shops—the day’s itinerary will be determined by your interests. Alternatively, opt to take a private excursion to the enchanting town of Lucca and nearby Pisa to see (or climb!) the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
Continue by private car to Rome. Enjoy comprehensive private touring and experience the best of Roman culture, history and lifestyle. Discover ancient pagan and Christian monuments, the splendors of Baroque and Renaissance palaces and churches, and the surprising urban additions of the modern city. Highlights include the Roman and Imperial Forums, the Colosseum, the Pantheon, the Vatican, Saint Peter's Basilica, the Sistine Chapel, Via Veneto, the morning fruit and flower market of Campo dei Fiori, Trevi Fountain, the Spanish Steps, Villa Borghese, the Jewish Quarter, the ruins along the Appian Way, beautiful Aventine Hill, and the catacombs and "Underground Rome." Pequot Travel can also arrange special activities such as visits to other ruins and museums according to your interests, a private cooking class, tickets to evening cultural performances, tours of important churches, garden tours, wine tasting and more. During free time in Rome, enjoy la dolce vita and the city's excellent restaurants and boutiques.