Grand Tour of Italy

Savour every flavour of Italy on our all-encompassing two-week tour, from the cultural highlights of the north to the carefree coasts in the south. Starting in the marshland-turned-masterpiece Venice, well sweep through the lyrical landscapes of the Italian countryside. Stopping in ancient Rome and Sicily, sipping a glass of red overlooking beautiful Siena, seeing the ruins of Pompeii – youll be indulging in the Italian way of life faster than you can say buongiorno.

Your holiday includes…

10 excursions and visits
Tour of Venice
Visits to Ferrara & Bologna; Siena (with wine tasting); Royal Palace of Caserta; Paestum (with mozzarella tasting); and Acireale
Excursions to Florence; Pisa & Lucca; Rome (with Colosseum entrance); and Pompeii & Sorrento

Plus all these…

* 14 nights in hotels (accommodation as specified or similar)
* International flights. Prices are based on return flights with British Airways from London Gatwick. Supplements may apply from other airports
* 21 meals: 14 breakfasts (days 2-15) 7 dinners (days 1, 4, 7, 10 and 12-14)
* Portable audio headset system on excursions
* Titans VIP door-to-door travel service
* Titan tour manager
* Travel in destination by coach
* Porterage

Full Itinerary

Day 1 UK – Venice – Bassano del Grappa

Titans VIP door-to-door travel service collects you from home for your flight to Venice. We transfer to our hotel in Bassano del Grappa.

Day 2 Venice

Well whizz into Venice on a local train, for a guided walk that takes us to the main sights, including the Piazza San Marco and the Bridge of Sighs. Afterwards, youre free to explore independently. Perhaps take some time to take in the stately arcades that line Piazza San Marco (and indulge in a thick hot chocolate at the famous Caf Florian); float along the Grand Canal on a gondola or get lost in the warren of backstreets and canals and discover the local Venice.

Day 3 Bassano del Grappa

On our third day in the area, youre free to explore on your own. Or, theres an optional trip to the old university town of Vicenza, filled with charming 16th-century buildings. Here, youll enjoy a guided tour and entrance to the grappa museum with a tasting.

Day 4 Ferrara – Bologna – Montecatini Terme

Today, we travel into the region of Emilia-Romagna en route to Tuscany. Well visit Ferrara, one of the greatest walled cities in Italy. And well stop by the regional capital Bologna, renowned for its food (though the porticoed red-brick buildings and ancient university are also worth a mention).

Day 5 Pisa – Lucca

Pisa and Lucca are on the itinerary today, as we head off on a full-day excursion. Pisas Miracle Square (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) is where youll find the famous Leaning Tower, as well as the shiny white marble cathedral and baptistery. In the walled medieval town of Lucca, we take a guided walk to Piazza del Mercato. Its also known as Piazza dellAnfiteatro – once upon a time, a Roman amphitheatre stood here (which explains the piazzas oval shape).

Day 6 Florence

A local train whisks us to Florence from our base in Montecatini Terme. Quite simply, Florence is utterly enchanting. From its towering frescoed buildings, Gothic churches staggering red-tiled Duomo, you are sure to be charmed by this romantic city. A guided walking tour reveals the citys highlights and includes entrance to the Basilica di Santa Croce, the burial place of some of the most eminent Italians. Brunelleschi and Vasari were involved in the architectural design of the basilica.

Day 7 Siena – Rome

After a morning exploring the contrade (districts) of Siena, one of Italys most beautiful medieval cities, we wind our way south towards Rome. Along the way, well quench our thirst with a wine tasting in one of the best grape-growing areas of Tuscany. Well arrive into Rome late afternoon.

Day 8 Rome

Known as the Eternal City, Romes ancient capital will take us back some 3,000 years with icons such as the Colosseum, Roman Forum and Pantheon dotted among the hustle and bustle of modern life. Our introduction to Rome includes a guided walk, the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill, and entrance to the Colosseum.

Day 9 Rome

Spend today exploring on your own – perch on the Spanish Steps and throw a euro or two into the Trevi Fountain. Alternatively, join a morning optional excursion to Tivoli, for entrance to the remarkable Villa dEste, or an afternoon excursion to the Vatican and Sistine Chapel.

Day 10 Caserta

Today we journey to Caserta for a tour of the 18th-century baroque Royal Palace. Well stay in Caserta for two nights.

Day 11 Pompeii – Sorrento

Our tour today takes us to Pompeii. This wealthy town was buried and frozen in time in AD 79, by a massive eruption of Mount Vesuvius. This is undoubtedly Europes most compelling archaeological site. In the afternoon, enjoy some free time in Sorrento, a pretty town on the Gulf of Naples.

Day 12 Paestum – Giardini Naxos, Sicily

Sicily. Well make our way south from Naples through Calabria – the toe of Italy – right down to Sicily. Enjoy a stop at the wonderful Greek temples in Paestum en route. Well visit a mozzarella producer for a tasting of this delicious buffalo milk cheese – you may catch a glimpse of some of the buffalo herds as we travel through the countryside. A short sea crossing from Reggio di Calabria takes us across to Messina on Sicilys north-eastern tip.

Day 13 Giardini Naxos

Relax and spend today at leisure.

Day 14 Giardini Naxos

Spend another day enjoying your surroundings or join a full-day optional excursion to Mount Etna and then Taormina, where therell be a guided walk and entrance to the ancient Greek theatre, in its splendid elevated position with glorious views.

Days 15-16 Acireale – Catania – UK

After free time well depart for the airport, stopping en route in the coastal baroque town of Acireale. Your flight leaves late evening and will arrive into the UK in the early hours of day 16 (subject to schedule changes). Upon arrival in the UK, your Titan vehicle will be waiting for the journey home.