An All Encompassing Italian Adventure

Galvanised by the cosseting hotels and unrivalled cuisine, this grand tour of Italy encapsulates the very best of everything we love about the vibrant country. A splendid feast for the eyes and taste buds, you’ll start in the top half of Italy’s boot, wine tasting, gallery hopping and walking along the peaceful waterways of Turin and Venice. Delving into the middle of hearty Emilia-Romagna and Tuscany, you’ll get a true taste of la dolce vita, before working off some of that over-indulgence by parading through Rome’s historic streets and climbing the rugged hills and terraced clifftops of the Amalfi Coast.  

PERFECT FOR

 Couples who looking for more than just the usual Italy holiday – a tour with a difference.

 

IN THE  KNOW

Trading in your grand tour for an epic tour and extending your trip to include Sicily. Where iconic Mount Etna and the chic town of Taormina battle it out for visitors’ affections, settle in for a few nights to bask in the fabulous ocean views and blissful sunny weather.

Itinerary details

2 NIGHTS TURIN

You’ll start this incredible journey through Italy by flying into Turin, located in the north-west of the country. Hemmed in by the magnificent Alps, Turin will beguile culture vultures with its old factory turned modern art gallery and Baroque architecture that hugs the central Po River, while wine lovers will marvel at the easy access to Piedmont’s famous wine regions, Barolo and Barbaresco. A leader in tradition, you’ll stay in the classically designed Grand Hotel Sitea, set right in the heart of the city.  

3 NIGHTS VENICE

Taking the scenic train from forward-thinking Turin to the beautiful, extravagant city of Venice, you’ll travel right across the top of Italy. Make good use of the three nights here by waking up with a Venetian coffee, watching boats slide up and down the Grand Canal and strolling along the stunning walkways of the city. The lovely Ca Maria Adele is your base here - experience true Venetian style in a grand 16th-century palazzo. You'll be just a couple of minutes by vaporetto from St Mark's Square, and you can also hop on a private boat to discover the islands of Murano, Burano and Torcello, with a stop to watch a real hand-blown glass-making class.  

2 NIGHTS BOLOGNA

Collecting your car in Venice, you’ll drive via Padua to Bologna, descending into the red roofed city for two nights. An opulent feast for the eyes, take in the medieval buildings adorned with miles of porticoes and the numerous palaces clustered around Piazza Maggiore, and become acquainted with the city’s three nicknames – ‘La Dotta’ (the learned), ‘La Grassa’ (the fat one) and ‘La Rossa’ (the red one). Home to the world’s oldest university, as well as the Bolognese sauce, spend your mornings learning about the city. Walk past the dominating San Petronio Basilica and climb to San Luca, which sits above Bologna, before refuelling on a gastronomic walking tour, as you weave through medieval markets, stop off at traditional bakeries and pasta makers and dive into delicious regional specialities of meat-filled tortellini. Just as dazzling as the city, the Grand Hotel Majestic will charm any guest with its Murano glass chandeliers, ornate frescoed ceilings and colonnaded marble atriums – the ideal hideaway during your stay.  

3 NIGHTS FLORENCE

Leaving medieval Bologna behind, you’ll travel to the birthplace of the Renaissance and Tuscany’s magnetic capital, Florence. Taken on a guided city tour, you’ll cross the iconic Ponte Vecchio over the Arno River to the Piazza della Signoria, where you can admire the Palazzo Vecchio and the copy of Michelangelo’s ‘David’. Emerging from the ancient streets, your tour ends at the Piazza della Repubblica and the breathtaking Duomo, where you can admire the landmarks before resting at your hotel, the exclusive Hotel Savoy. With three nights in Florence, there’ll be enough time to nip over to Pisa for a picture of the leaning tower and a leisurely cycle along the well-preserved walls of Lucca.  

2 NIGHTS TUSCANY

Having spent 10 nights pounding Italy’s history-packed, city streets, it’s now time for some relaxation in the addictive Tuscan countryside, made up of rolling hills, sun-drenched vineyards and breezy olive groves. Stay at the gorgeous Lupaia, tucked away in the Tuscan hills, with glorious views, exceptional cuisine and stylish rooms.  

2 NIGHTS ROME

With all roads leading there, it’s time to head to Rome. One of Rome’s most desirably located hotels, the 17th-century Inn at the Spanish Steps has indelible views towards Piazza di Spagna and is just seconds away from the Spanish Steps. With so much history and a never ending list of must-sees, it’s difficult to know where to begin - however, with a half day guided tour of Imperial Rome included, you’ll have an essential introduction to the best-loved sights, spanning from the rise of Julius Caesar to the fall of the Roman Empire. Recounting myths and legends at the Colosseum, following in the footsteps of Cicero and Caesar, and venturing past the Vittoriano monument, your tour will end with a drive by Circus Maximus, where Romans competed in fast-paced chariot races.  

3 NIGHTS RAVELLO

Hugging the coast, your final leg of your grand tour will be to drive to Ravello, where you can spend your three nights relishing the unparalleled beauty of the Amalfi Coast. Using the gorgeous Palazzo Avino as your diving board, explore one of Italy’s most important archaeological sites, the ruins of Pompeii, and gaze up at the destructive Mount Vesuvius from its base. On your return to your hotel, take in the sea views from the pool and enjoy gourmet Michelin-starred dining.