Take a journey through rich Italian heritage and culture on this just under three week trip to Italy!This 19-day Italy trip will take you to discover some of the most beautiful attractions in Italy, taking the time at each place to visit the iconic monuments and explore at your own pace. You will begin your holiday in Sicily experiencing the incredible cultural heritage and the impressive volcans, then you'll fly to Milan, the most important city of Northern Italy. You'll be mesmerised by the floating city of Venice, where you'll explore the islands of this lagoon before catching the train to Florence. From Florence, the cradle of the Reinassance, you'll move on to Naples where you will visit also Pompei and Mount Vesuvius. At the end of the tour, you will visit the eternal city of Rome, to admire its unique masterpieces!
2 night at Palazzo San Michele B&B Residence de Charme (4-star)
2 night at B&B Bed+Art Milan
2 night at Hotel Palazzo Vecchio (3-star)
3 night at Hotel Oriente Lipari (3-star)
2 night at Hotel Abbazia (3-star)
2 night at Hotel Manganelli (3-star)
18 nights accommodation
17 breakfasts and 1 dinner
32 activities
Roman Forum
Palatine Hill
Trevi Fountain
The Colosseum
Rialto Bridge
Brera District
Saint Mark's Basilica
Pantheon
Piazza Navona
Villa Borghese
Piazzale Michelangelo
Jewish Ghetto
Sestiere Castello
Taormina Medieval Quarter
Ancient Theatre of Taormina
St Mark's Campanile
Piazza di Spagna
Pompeii Archaeological Park
Archaeological Park of Neapolis
Cathedral of Syracuse
Mount Etna Summit
Campo de' Fiori
Piazza del Popolo
Boat Trip to Stromboli
Volcano Crater Tour
San Lorenzo Market
Mount Vesuvius
Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel
Catania
Naples
Cooking Class in Rome
Milazzo
Airport transfer
Entrance fees
Ground transportation
Licensed English speaking guides
Gallery
Itinerary
Day 1: Begin Your Ultimate Italy Tour
Your driver will pick you up at the international airport of Catania to bring you to your accommodation in Milazzo. Once you have dropped off your bags you can relax for the rest of the day or spend the afternoon exploring the city of Milazzo. Take a stroll around the impressive walls of the Milazzo castle or take in the breathtaking architecture in the old town's medieval quarters.
Day 2: Lipari Free Time and Boat Trip to Panarea and Stromboli
Take the Hydrofoil to Lipari. Lipari is the largest, busiest and most accessible of the Aeolian Islands and boasts of a little port with a pretty pastel-coloured seafront. Like its island neighbours, Lipari has volcanic origins. There is a panoramic headland walk from Lipari town. Today you will take a boat trip to visit Panarea and Stromboli and admire the explosions of the volcano by night.
Day 3: Mud Bath and Vulcano Crater Tour
Today you will explore the island of Vulcano, where you can relax at the beach, try the mud baths and hike to the crater. The warm mud is considered an excellent treatment for rheumatic pains and skin diseases. From the Vulcano harbour, hike until the crater for three hours, where you will see the visibly smoking crater and acrid sulphurous fumes. Today will be a highlight of this three week trip to Italy.
Day 4: Free Time in Lipari
This morning you will visit an archaeological museum to learn all about the history of the islands. The museum complex is located on the enormous rhyolitic rock of the Castello of Lipari, an imposing dome of volcanic formation with characteristics of natural defence. In the museum, you will find the world's largest collection of miniature Greek theatrical masks and ancient shipwreck cargs. You can spend the afternoon exploring Lipari at your leisure.
Day 5: Off to Syracuse Through Taormina
You will take the hydrofoil boat to Milazzo in the morning. There your private driver will bring you to Syracuse with a stop in Taormina. Here you will take a guided tour of the ancient theatre of Taormina, which still hosts a plethora of concerts and plays. Once you reach Syracuse you can admire the stunning Baroque architecture in every street, including the cathedral of Syracuse, one of the oldest Doric Monuments built in the 5th century BC.
Day 6: Visit Syracuse and Catania
Today set off for Catania with your private driver, with a stop at the Neapolis Archaeological Park of Siracusa in the morning. The park contains a large open-air museum and a magnificent Roman amphitheatre. Once you reach Catania, feel free to spend the afternoon discovering the sights in one of Sicily's largest cities. You can take a trip to the Cathedral of Sant'Agata or one of the many pretty monasteries built here.
Day 7: Hiking to Mount Etna's Summit
With your walking guide, today you will enjoy an amazing excursion to Mount Etna. You will be collected at your hotel by a driver and taken to the volcano to begin your hike. Along with a small group, you will take a spectacular hike to the volcano's crater at 3300 metres. Take in the mesmerising views at the summit and of the active craters before you begin your descent.
Day 8: Arrival in Milan
From your hotel in Catania, a driver will take you to the airport where you'll catch a short two-hour flight to Milan. Your driver will meet you at the airport to take you to your accommodation in the city centre of Milan. After checking in, you'll have the rest of the day free to explore Milan at your own pace.
Day 9: Free Day in Milan
Today, you'll have some free time to discover the most important city in northern Italy: Milan. Visit the iconic Milan Cathedral, the Sforza Castle and the city centre. You can also dedicate your time to going shopping! In the afternoon, you should also visit the Brera District. Home to an impressive number of art galleries and museums, in Brera you'll find famous paintings at the Pinacoteca, or head to the Braidense National Library, the Astronomical Museum and the botanical gardens.
Day 17: Rome Sightseeing
You will begin your day with a guided tour of one of the most iconic landmarks of Rome: the Colosseum, where you will take a journey back through Roman history. After exploring the Colosseum, you'll visit the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill. You will also have the chance to visit the Pantheon and the Trevi Fountain, both important monuments in Rome. The city's architecture is striking in design, proportions and elegance and stands testimony to the mighty Roman Empire.
Day 16: Journey to Rome
Today, you'll reach Rome by train. In the afternoon, you'll head out on a guided tour of the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and St Peter's Basilica. The Vatican Museums are a labyrinth of artworks, guiding visitors through building after building, masterpiece after masterpiece. You'll then head to the Sistine Chapel to lay eyes on the most famous ceiling completed by Michelangelo in 1512. You'll finish the tour at St. Peter's Basilica.
Day 15: Mount Vesuvius and Pompeii
With your private driver you'll first visit Mount Vesuvius and then Pompeii. With its 1281 metres of altitude, Mount Vesuvius dominates the Gulf of Naples. The climb of the crater will take you to the edges of the crater. The last eruption here was in 1944. After, visit the Pompeii Archeology Park, which dates back over 2,000 years. The city dominated the valley around the Sarno River and was home to a population of Etruscans, Greeks and other Italic people.
Day 14: From Florence to Naples
Naples is famous for pizza, football, history, and for Spaccanapoli - the street that cuts the historical centre in two halves. Around this red line, many important monuments were built, the Monastery of Santa Chiara, the Chapel of San Severo where the Cristo Velato is kept and the Church of Gesu Nuovo. Walking up and down the streets that cross the historical centre is like reading the history of the city.
Day 10: Onwards to Venice
By train, you'll reach one of the most beautiful cities in Italy, Venice! After checking into your hotel, you can begin to enjoy the grand atmosphere of the 'floating city'. You can start in the Jewish Ghetto and take a guided tour offered by the Museo Ebraico. During the Republic of Venice, people of Jewish culture were obliged to live in this neighbourhood. The English word "ghetto" is derived from the Jewish ghetto in Venice and is the oldest Jewish ghetto in the world.
Day 12: Travel from Venice to Florence
In the morning you'll bid farewell to Venice and head to Florence by train. After checking into your accommodation, you'll have the rest of the day free to take in the main sights of the city. You can begin by visiting the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, a colossal Gothic architectural wonder in the heart of Florence. Then, you can visit the Piazza della Signoria, one of Florence's most famous squares and finally, Ponte Vecchio, the bridge that has become a symbol of Florence.
Day 11: Explore Burano and Murano
Today discover the secrets of Venice! Explore the beautiful islands of the Lagoon. Murano, the glassblower's island, Torcello, the oldest inhabited island of the area, and Murano, famous for its lace production. In the afternoon, you can also visit the Sestiere of Castello. The district includes luxury hotels on the waterfront promenade facing St. Mark's Basin, old Arsenale shipyards, working-class neighbourhoods and the residential area of Sant'Elena with its soccer stadium.
Day 18: Free Time in Rome and Pizza Making Class
Today you can spend your day exploring Rome at your leisure. Discover the beautiful architecture apparent in this city by visiting the Roman Forum or Piazza Navona. In the evening, you will enjoy a cooking class to learn how to prepare the most iconic Italian food: pizza! After you have finished the class, you will get to eat your delicious creation.
Day 13: Explore Florence
Today you have a free day in Florence to spend however you wish. You can visit the famous San Lorenzo Market, one of Florence's most popular markets that buzzes with locals. You can also visit Piazzale Michelangelo, known as the balcony of the city for providing one of the best views of Florence. You may also visit the famous Boboli Gardens and forget about time and everyday life among the green hedges, the English gardens and the beautiful flowers.
Day 19: Arrivederci Italy!
According to your flight details, your private driver will take you to the airport in plenty of time for your departing flight.
