Absolute Italy from Venice to the Amalfi Coast including Florence, Tuscany, Rome, Vatican City, Pompeii and Capri

Welcome to Venice, Italy! Upon your arrival, whether at the airport, hotel, or cruise ship, we will meet you and provide a private transfer to your hotel. The hotel is conveniently located just off St. Mark's Square, in one of the city's most scenic areas. You will have ample time to settle in and enjoy a welcome refreshment at your leisure.

You will be treated to a fantastic welcome dinner in Venice in the evening. The meal will include a range of local dishes that can be tailored to your dietary requirements.

Your first night in Venice will be spent at the hotel. Welcome to Venice, Italy! Upon your arrival, whether at the airport, hotel, or cruise ship, we will meet you and provide a private transfer to your hotel. The hotel is conveniently located just off St. Mark's Square, in one of the most scenic areas of Venice. You will have ample time to settle in and enjoy a welcome refreshment at your leisure.

In the evening, you will be treated to a fantastic welcome dinner in Venice. The meal will include a range of local dishes that can be tailored to your dietary requirements.

Your first night in Venice will be spent at the hotel.

Enjoy the morning at your own pace and a leisurely buffet breakfast at your hotel. You might choose to visit the Doges Palace, the various and intriguing areas of the city, or enjoy the wide range of fantastic shopping. Plenty of memories will be made in this culture-rich and vibrant landmark!

In the afternoon, depart by boat from St. Mark's Square at 14:15 (2:15 pm) for the islands of Murano, Burano, and Torcello, home to picturesque, colorful villages and local traditions.

The Venetian islands are world-class, full of culture, enchantment, and history.

Murano Island is well known for its famous glass-making. A few centuries ago, glassmakers were required to live on the island to protect their secrets! There is a museum you can visit, and many local treasures to be discovered and explored. Burano Island is full of beautiful canals lined with colorful homes. Burano Island is well known for its artisanal lace and is home to a strong tradition of lace making. While there, consider enjoying some of the freshest fish found on the islands!

Torcello Island is quieter and greener. Much of it, the island itself, is a nature reserve. It's a beautiful place to avoid the crowds or enjoy a pleasant, calming stroll. 

Return to Venice in the evening for dinner at your leisure and overnight.

After breakfast at 11:00 am, we will transfer you to the Venice rail station, where you will board your high-speed train to Florence. Once arriving in Florence, you'll have the chance to enjoy the city on your own time. 

Florence's historical center is small and ideal for exploring on foot! Enjoy this utterly irresistible city by visiting the Uffizi Gallery, the famed and stunning Duomo, strolling across many of the beautiful bridges "Ponte," and don't forget to rub the nose of the brass pig for good luck! 

In Florence, we have several fantastic dining recommendations and reservations that we recommend you make ahead of time.

Dinner at leisure and overnight in Florence.  

Enjoy breakfast at your hotel and prepare for today's itinerary: a walking tour of the Accademia!

Learn about Florentine life, from life during the time of the Romans through the Middle Ages to the Renaissance.

Visit the Accademia Gallery, home to Michelangelo's David, the most famous statue in the world. Learn what inspired the statue and what it represents. Learn not only about his work but his life. Witness and explore other unfinished works by Michelangelo.

Further explore other works by Botticelli, Ghirandaio, Pontormo, and other great artists from the 13th to 16th centuries.  

I would like to have dinner at your leisure. 

After breakfast, we depart Florence for the spectacular Val D'Orcia in Tuscany. Val D'Orcia is a Unesco world heritage site and home to some of Italy's most sought-after wines, like the Brunello di Montalcino. We will visit a few wineries and some of the towns in the area, such as Montalcino, Pienza, Montepulciano, and several others, which offer spectacular views over the Tuscan landscape.

En route to Rome, we drive through the Umbria region, Italy's green heart. Truly spectacular! 

Upon arrival in Rome, you will head to your hotel located in the historical Roman center, just walking distance to the Spanish Steps, Trevi fountain, Borghese gallery, and too many beautiful monuments to count right outside your door!

Dinner is at leisure in Rome and overnight in Rome, 

The most beloved place to visit in Rome is to explore Vatican City by seeing St. Peter's Basilica, the Sistine Chapel, and the Vatican Museums. Skip the lines and enjoy these must-see destinations while visiting Vatican City, home to the Pope.

From the Sistine Chapel and the Raphael Rooms to St. Peter's Basilica with Michelangelo's Pietà and Bernini's Baldachin. 

An extraordinary day in the eternal city of Rome. 

Dinner at your leisure and overnight in Rome. 

Enjoy your morning at leisure in Rome today.  After lunch, we will pick you up at your hotel to begin your tour of Ancient Rome. 

We will explore the famed oval arena known as the Colosseum, which is located in the heart of Rome and was once used for gladiatorial contests and public spectacles. Enjoy the stunning Circus Maximus, an ancient Roman chariot-racing stadium and entertainment venue in Rome. Situated between the Palatine and Aventine hills, it's known as the first and largest stadium in ancient Rome. 

We will also see the Roman Forum, a plaza surrounded by the ancient ruins of important government buildings in the ancient Roman city. 

It's a pretty unique experience to imagine what life was like then!

Dinner at leisure and overnight in Rome. 

Following breakfast at your hotel in Rome, you will be transferred to the Rome rail station to board your high-speed train to Naples. Our driver will meet you at the platform and bring you to Pompeii, situated on the Italian Sea coast at the southeastern base of Mount Vesuvius. 

In Pompeii, you will enjoy a privately guided tour of one of Italy's most critical archaeological ruins.

With Pompeii being buried in 79 AD by Mount Vesuvius, this ancient city has a fascinating and resilient history to discover and learn!

This morning, after a buffet breakfast at the hotel, we will begin our ascent to Ravello, one of the highest towns on the Amalfi Coast and the most picturesque in Italy. Ravello is home to two gardens, the Villa Cimbrone and Ruffalo gardens. They are both magnificent, and we encourage you to visit both.  

You will stop for lunch in Ravello, and we recommend the Villa Maria, where we also offer cooking lessons if you are interested. Following lunch, you will head to Amalfi town for shopping and, if time permits, to Positano. 

This is a truly unique and memorable experience! 

Return to the hotel in the later afternoon for relaxation by the pool, beach, or spa, overnight, and have dinner at the hotel for leisure.

This morning, following breakfast, weather permitting, you will begin your full-day excursion to the truly spectacular island of Capri. You will tour around the island and have the opportunity to visit other grottoes besides the Blue Grotto (which you can visit), but which must be paid for locally.  

You'll have time today to explore the island of Capri by land and eat lunch on the island, but please keep in mind that we do not provide a guided tour service once on Capri itself on this tour.  The island is accessible by foot. 

This is also a superb day for exploring the Amalfi Coast by boat, which is a truly awesome experience. In fact, that is why we call it Awesome Amalfi and Absolute Italy! It's a once-in-a-lifetime experience not to be missed. 

Please return to the hotel in the evening for your final farewell dinner and overnight stay.

After breakfast, we will pick you up at your hotel and privately transfer you to the Naples airport or rail station. It will now be time to say goodbye and arrive! We are confident you will have a wonderful time and will take many fond memories home with you in the future. 

You may also wish to extend your stay in Italy and head south to Matera, Puglia, Calabria, or Sicily, where we have other wonderful opportunities and services waiting for you! 

For more extensions to your vacation in Italy, one of our operators can always help you! 

Just contact the team@italyvacationspecialists.com