Looking for great activities to add to your vacation? All our tours, both small group and private, guarantee you won’t have to wait in line and unlike many organizations, we only use licensed guides, so there’s no risk of your tour coming to an abrupt end! Below check out our current best-sellers:

1. Ancient Rome – Colosseum, Forum and Palatine

   In ancient times, the mosquito-infested marshland that lay between the Capital and Palatine hills was drained to build the civic heart of the growing empire. Today, layer upon layer of Republican, Imperial and Christian Rome lie interwoven in the Imperial Forum, where you can see the famous Arch of Titus, depicting the Sack of Jerusalem, the Senate House and the Temple of Vesta, where the Vestal Virgins kept the sacred flame burning to ensure the city’s prosperity. On the Palatine Hill above, the emperors built their palaces, enjoying wonderful views of the Forum on one side and the games in the Circus Maximus on the other. And finally, the Colosseum, built over Nero’s Golden House following his death, to give something back to the city that had suffered so much at his hands.

   

2. Pompeii

   When Vesuvius erupted in AD79, the people of Pompeii and Herculaneum were totally unprepared. As you walk round the town’s you’ll see moving evidence of plans the citizens were making for the following hours and how they tried to escape as their homes were covered in ash, lava and molten rock. Without a guide, it can be difficult to determine who lived in each house, or to find your way down the numerous streets to reach the amphitheater, Greek theater, brothel, forum, temples and shops. Even if you aren’t planning on visiting Naples or the Amalfi Coast, Pompeii can easily be reached from Rome in a day.

   

3. Florence Walking Tour and the Accademia

   Florence is known as the ‘cradle of the Renaissance’ and this is largely thanks to the powerful Medici family, wealthy bankers and keen patrons of the arts. They transformed the city, building themselves palaces, a private art gallery, the family tomb and supporting two of the greatest artists of the time: Leonardo da Vinci and the very young Michelangelo. His greatest achievement while in Florence, was undoubtedly the monumental statue of David when he was just 26 years old, which now stands in the Accademia gallery.

   

4. The Amalfi Coast

   The drive along the Amalfi Coast is probably the most beautiful and most dangerous in Italy. For this reason, we only offer private tours here, with local drivers who know the road and the driving mentality and there’s no risk of half the vehicle hanging off the cliff as you turn the corners! From the safety of your private vehicle, visit towns like Positano, Amalfi and Ravello with plenty of time to walk around, take photos and enjoy lunch, before being taken back to your hotel.

   

5. Venice Walking Tour and the Doge’s Palace

   Unlike Rome and Florence, there aren’t many ‘sites’ to visit in Venice, the city is an event in itself. Through the street and over the canals, the guide will tell you the fascinating history of this city, how life has developed on the water, the people who have come to live here and how they have influenced the culture. In the Doge’s Palace, experience the Bridge of Sighs as prisoners would once have done….catching their last glimpse of their beloved city, from the inside!

   

6. Rome by Night

   During the day, Rome is full of tour groups and in the summer months, extreme hot to boot! So why not take a leisurely, Italian-style lunch and save the sightseeing for the evening? In the evening, the city’s monuments are beautifully lit and many of them are conveniently close together should you prefer a walking tour, including the Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, Piazza Navona, Pantheon and Campo dè Fiori. In car, you can enjoy air-conditioning, as well as sites round the river, like Castel Sant’Angelo, St. Peter’s Basilica and the Tiber Island.

   

7. Wine Tasting in the Orcia Valley

   Not only is it one of Tuscany’s most beautiful areas, it also produces some of its best wine! Appreciate both by visiting a winery or two, as well as the towns of Montalcino (famed for its Brunello di Montalcino), Pienza (to try its delicious pecorino cheese) and Montelpulciano (home to its eponymous Rosso di Montepulcino).

   

8. The Uffizi Gallery

   Italy’s most visited museum (if we exclude the Vatican), you’ll definitely want to skip the line to get in here. Once the Medici’s private collection, the gallery holds an incredible collection of art from the 13^th to 18^th centuries, including works by Giotto, Botticelli, Titan, Caravaggio, Michelangelo and Rembrandt.

   

9. Capri

   Boat tours to the island of Capri, leave from both Sorrento and Positano. It’s not hard to take the public ferry and visit the island on your own, though if you are looking to visit the famous ‘Blue Grotto’ and swim in the wonderful clear waters surrounding the island, you’ll need a guide.

   

10. Lake Como and Lake Garda

    Even if you aren’t planning on visiting the lakes, Italy’s biggest (Garda) and deepest (Como) lakes could still make for an easy day trip, and a welcome change of pace.

    

    Finally, although it’s not technically in Italy, it’s an absolute must-see…

The Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel

Everyone who comes to Rome wants to see Michelangelo’s incredible masterpieces in the Sistine Chapel, but did you know that they are actually located inside the Vatican Museums? The museums were started by Pope Julius II at the same time that he commissioned the re-building of the basilica, Michelangelo to paint the chapel’s ceiling and Raphael to decorate the papal apartments, all of which are open to visitors today. Special tours are available in the early morning, before the public opening.