Ultimate Italy Grand Tour

Arrive in Rome and transfer to your hotel. The rest of the day is free to settle in and explore.

Guided tour of Rome ending at the Vatican. In the evening we take you to the lively Trastevere neighbourhood.

Cross the Apennines to the Adriatic coast, visiting the clifftop Abbey of San Giovanni in Venere and the walled seaside town of Termoli. Overnight in Bari, a lively southern port city.

Travel down the Adriatic coast via Brindisi to Lecce, the baroque "Florence of the South". Explore Gallipoli, whose old town sits on an island linked by a bridge. Overnight in Brindisi.

See the cone-roofed trulli houses of Alberobello and the ancient cave dwellings of Matera, carved into the rock thousands of years ago. Lunch included; overnight in Naples.

A day on the Bay of Naples: take the ferry from Naples to the island of Capri, then sail on to clifftop Sorrento after lunch. Drive through coastal scenery to Salerno for the night.

Drive south through the Calabrian landscape to the Sanctuary of St Francis of Paola, then take the ferry across the Strait of Messina to Sicily. After a visit to Messina, continue to Taormina. Dinner included.

Free time in Taormina, then head inland to the baroque town of Caltagirone for a tourist train ride. Visit Villa Romana del Casale with a local guide to see the finest mosaics of the Roman world (admission included). Arrive in Palermo, with dinner included.

Guided tour of Palermo with a local expert, including the cathedral, then visit Monreale and its UNESCO-listed cathedral.

Transfer to the airport for your included domestic flight, then on to your hotel on arrival.

Travel into Umbria and Tuscany. In clifftop Orvieto, escalators carry you up to the medieval centre. Stop in Castiglione del Lago, one of Italy's most beautiful villages, then continue to Siena for free time in its historic heart.

Visit the walled hamlet of Monteriggioni and San Gimignano with its medieval towers, then arrive in Florence for free time. A traditional Tuscan dinner is included in the evening.

Begin at Piazzale Michelangelo for the classic view over Florence, then enjoy a guided tour of the cradle of the Renaissance.

Ride the tourist train to the Leaning Tower of Pisa, then head to the Ligurian coast. In the Cinque Terre, a World Heritage Site, take the train to one of its colourful villages. Arrive in Genoa with time to explore its old town.

Visit two jewels of the Italian Riviera, Santa Margherita Ligure and Portofino, reached by boat. Arrive in Milan with time to explore the centre.

Discover the Italian Lakes: take a little train and boat to the island of Orta San Giulio, then visit Stresa on Lake Maggiore. Continue to Verona.

Explore Verona, then continue to Venice, arriving at St Mark's Square by boat for a guided walk and a Murano glass demonstration. Overnight in Mestre.

Visit the Basilica of St Anthony in Padua, a major pilgrimage church, then follow the Adriatic coast to the hilltop republic of San Marino. Cross the Apennines to medieval Gubbio and continue to Perugia.

Guided tour of Perugia, the historic capital of Umbria, then visit the Basilica of St Francis in Assisi. Arrive in Rome in the afternoon.

After breakfast, your tour ends. Airport transfer can be arranged on request.