Grand Italian Experience
Immerse yourself in rich history, lovely architecture, local flavors and memorable adventures on this 17 Day, Grand Italian Experience tour. Visit Rome, Alberobello, Sorrento, Capri, Pompeii, Assisi, Verona, Venice, Trento, Milan, Italian Lakes, Viareggio, Pisa and Florence. This unique and in-depth vacation will tick off many of the boxes on your bucket list.
Breathtaking and wondrous experiences are abundant on this trip of a lifetime. Quaint and easily recognizable, the UNESCO-listed 14th century trulli in Alberobello will thrill visitors with their stone faces and conical roofs. Witness master craftesmen show off their stone masonry skills and on Murano Island see talented glassblowers at work. Enjoy VIP entry to the Vatican Museums. Take a scenic cruise to Isle of Capri and explore this lovely destination. In Florence, behold the iconic Duomo. Delve into the story of the Montagues and the Capulets in Verona culminating at Juliet's balcony. Stroll through Pompeii with a guide learning of the city's history and tragic end. Enjoy a delicious family hosted meal at their homestead with produce freshly grown including almonds, cherries, tomatoes and olive oil. See the beautiful La Scala Opera House and The Cathedral in Milan. There are so many reasons visitors return to remarkable Italy time and again, discover them for yourself.
17 Days • fr. $5,126
Tour Highlights & Offers
Tour Includes
- ORIENTATION of Venice and Milan
- VISIT St. Peter's Basilica, the Sistine Chapel and the Colosseum in Rome
- VIP ADMISSION to the Vatican Museums
- EXPLORE the excavations at Pompeii
- SCENIC CRUISE to the Isle of Capri
- VISIT the Basilica of St. Francis in Assisi
- PRIVATE LAUNCH to St. Mark's Square in Venice
- VIEW Juliet's Balcony in Verona
- WITNESS the exquisite craft of glassblowing on Murano Island
- CONNECT with a local farmer
- TASTE fresh almonds, cherries, tomatoes and olive oil
- DEMONSTRATION of local stone masonry
- LOCAL SPECIALIST in Rome
- LOCAL GUIDE in Alberobello
- GUIDED EXPLORATION in Pompeii
- SPECIALIST GUIDED in Capri
- TOUR GUIDE in Assisi and Florence
- VIEW the ancient sites of Rome
- SEE St. Mark's Basilica in Venice
- WITNESS the Cathedral and La Scala Opera House in Milan
- MARVEL at the Leaning Tower of Pisa and Santa Croce Basilica
- VIEW the Duomo in Florence
- Handcrafted Highlights
- Audio Headsets for flexible sightseeing
- Luxury air-conditioned coach with WiFi in most countries
- All porterage and local charges included
- An expert Travel Director and separate Driver
- Must-see sightseeing and surprise extras
- VIP entry to many sights
- Airport transfers on the first and last day of your guided holiday
- All hotel tips, charges and local taxes
Not Included
- Gratuities are included for services during the land stay of your vacation unless otherwise noted. This includes wait staff at included meals, and porterage at hotels for one suitcase per person. Gratuities for your tour director, local hosts, guides, and drivers are not included in the vacation price (unless otherwise noted in pricing details) and are discretionary.
- All items of a personal nature (room service, beverages, telephone charges, laundry, special food requests, etc.) and meals not specified on the tour itinerary are not included and must be paid by the client.
- All rates exclude airfare unless expressly noted.
Meal Inclusions
Hotel Details
- Crowne Plaza St. Peters in Rome, Italy (2 nights)
- Sierra Silvana in Selva di Fasano, Italy (2 nights)
- Grand Parco del Sole Hotel in Sorrento, Italy (2 nights)
- Cenacolo Hotel in Assisi, Italy (1 night)
- Hyatt Centric Murano Venice in Venice, Italy (2 nights)
- Grand Hotel Trento in Trento, Italy (1 night)
- Hotel Simplon in Lake Maggiore, Italy (1 night)
- NH La Spezia Hotel in Viareggio, Italy (2 nights)
- Grand Hotel Mediterraneo in Florence, Italy (2 nights)
- Shangri-La Hotel in Rome, Italy (1 night)
- The hotels listed are intended to be used on all departures however Trafalgar Tours reserves the right to substitute other hotels than those listed. If a change becomes necessary for any reason, the hotel substituted will be of equivalent quality to those listed. No refunds are provided for hotel changes and full cancellation penalties apply.
Day 1
ARRIVE ROME Location Information Description
Rome/Italy, Italy
Blaze a trail through la bella Italia. Your epic journey begins in Rome, once the powerful capital of the world and yours to explore before meeting your travel companions and Travel Director for a Welcome Reception. Enjoy an orientation drive introducing you to some of the city's iconic and unexpected highlights.
Dinner
Crown Plaza St. Peter's
Day 2
ROME SIGHTSEEING AND FREE TIME Location Information Description
Vatican City, Italy
Follow in the footsteps of the pilgrims who for centuries have flocked to the Vatican City. Visit St. Peter's Basilica, one of the holiest sites in Christendom, joining a 'Local Specialist' for an included sightseeing tour. See Michelangelo's magnificent Pietà, hewn from the most "perfect" block of Carrara marble.
Location Information Description
Rome/Italy, Italy
Venture into Ancient Rome to see Circus Maximus, where the thundering noise of chariot races once filled the air, followed by a visit to the Colosseum. The afternoon is yours to explore at leisure. Sit on the Spanish Steps, shop up a storm on Via Veneto or continue your encounter with Ancient Rome on Palatine Hill to see the Temple of Apollo and Flavian Palace, among other excavations.
Breakfast
Crown Plaza St. Peter's
Day 3
ROME - ALBEROBELLO REGION Location Information Description
Alberobello, Italy
Journey east through the Campania Mountains and the orange and olive groves of Puglia near the Adriatic coast, your home for the next two nights. This evening, enjoy a delicious local dinner at your hotel.
Breakfast, Dinner
Sierra Silvana
Day 4
ALBEROBELLO SIGHTSEEING AND FREE TIME Location Information Description
Alberobello, Italy
Enjoy a leisurely morning on your own. Consider indulging in local flavors at a local trattoria. This afternoon, the conical limestone houses of Alberobello take centre stage during your guided tour with a 'Local Specialist'. Here, you'll see the UNESCO-listed collection of almost 1,500 trulli dating back to the 14th century.
This evening, Connect With Locals with a Be My Guest experience at a traditional masseria. Meet Signor Luciano for dinner on his Alberobello farm where you can taste seasonal produce, including fresh almonds, cherries, tomatoes and olive oil, as well as enjoy a local stone masonry demonstration.
Breakfast, Dinner
Sierra Silvana
Day 5
ALBEROBELLO REGION - SORRENTO Location Information Description
Sorrento/Italy, Italy
The fresh aroma of lemons is your constant companion in the stunning coastal town of Sorrento, your home for the next two nights.
View the bustling Piazza Tasso and Corso Italia before spending the rest of the day on your own. Kick back and sip delicious Limoncello di Sorrento, enjoy lunch in this picture-perfect town or spend the afternoon soaking up la dolce vita. Tonight you'll dine at your hotel in Sorrento.
Breakfast, Dinner
Grand Parco del Sole Hotel
Day 6
ISLE OF CAPRI EXCURSION Location Information Description
Capri, Italy
Cruise the deep blue waters of the Tyrrhenian Sea to the beautiful Isle of Capri. Enjoy a guided tour of Capri town, watching the beautiful people sip their cappuccino in the glamorous piazzetta.
Breakfast
Grand Parco del Sole Hotel
Day 7
SORRENTO - POMPEII - ASSISI Location Information Description
Pompei, Italy
Explore the tragic history of the ancient lost city of Pompeii with a 'Local Specialist'. Gain a deeper understanding of what life was like in this Roman settlement that lay buried for centuries after Mount Vesuvius erupted.
Location Information Description
Assisi, Italy
Continue your journey through the rolling green and golden fields of Umbria, arriving at the mystical hilltop town of Assisi. Meet your 'Local Specialist' for a visit of the stunning Basilica of St. Francis, featuring exquisite frescoes by Giotto. We'll stay at one of Trafalgar's Stays With Stories - a fully renovated old Franciscan monastery. Tonight, you'll dine in your hotel.
Breakfast, Dinner
Cenacolo Hotel
Day 8
ASSISI - VERONA - VENICE (MURANO) Location Information Description
Verona, Italy
Celebrate the epic tale of Romeo and Juliet during this morning's visit to the fair city of Verona. View Juliet's Balcony and the Roman Arena built in the 1st century. Venture to the Adriatic coast this afternoon bound for Venice. Your home for the next two nights is one of Trafalgar’s Stays With Stories – Hyatt Centric hotel, preserving the tradition of Murano glass art.
Breakfast
Hyatt Centric Murano
Day 9
VENICE ORIENTATION AND FREE TIME Location Information Description
Venice/Italy, Italy
Dive Into Culture this morning by observing the delicate craft of Venetian glassblowing that spans centuries. Your MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience helps to preserve the traditions that have been handed down through the generations and you’ll be inspired to buy a souvenir to remind you of the talent and skill shared enthusiastically by the master craftsmen. Next you’ll glide by private launch along busy waterways to view the Bridge of Sighs, Doge's Palace and St. Mark's Basilica before spending exploring the city on your terms. Stroll along the Grand Canal, nibble on delicious cicchetti at a cosy bacaro or cross the lagoon for an Optional Experience on the colorful fishermen Island of Burano.
Breakfast
Hyatt Centric Murano
Day 10
VENICE (MURANO) - TRENTO Location Information Description
Trento, Italy
This morning, traverse pastoral Veneto plains to the sophisticated town of Trento surrounded by the Dolomites. Once located within the Austrian Empire, the town exudes both classical Italian elegance and cultural influences from the north, which you can enjoy at one of its many beer halls or cafés. Consider sampling the delicious local apple strudel, then wander around the Piazza Duomo before checking in to your hotel for the night.
Breakfast
Grand Hotel Trento
Day 11
TRENTO - MILAN - ITALIAN LAKES Location Information Description
Milan, Italy
Continue west through Italy's stunning Lakes District to the sophisticated powerhouse of Milan. You'll have some free time to explore on your own after an orientation of the city's iconic sights. See the exquisite Gothic Duomo, La Scala Opera House and the Galleria, one of the world's oldest shopping malls.
Location Information Description
Lake Maggiore, Italy
We spend this afternoon on the quiet shores of Lake Maggiore, soaking up the pleasant lakeside atmosphere and exploring Baveno.
Breakfast, Dinner
Simplon
Day 12
ITALIAN LAKES - GENOA - VIAREGGIO Location Information Description
Genoa, Italy
Journey to Genoa where a 'Local Specialist' will show you this city's majestic architecture. Continue to the seaside resort of Viareggio where you will dine at your hotel.
Breakfast, Dinner
NH La Spezia Hotel
Day 13
VIAREGGIO FREE DAY Location Information Description
Viareggio, Italy
Indulge in a full free day to soak up the laid-back atmosphere. Stroll along the waterfront or consider purchasing an Optional Experience to Porto Venere and the Bay of Poets where you'll embark on an encounter with the cliffside villages of Cinque Terre.
Breakfast
NH La Spezia Hotel
Day 14
VIAREGGIO - PISA - FLORENCE Location Information Description
Pisa, Italy
Travelling south through the unforgettable scenery of Tuscany, arrive in Pisa to view its famous Leaning Tower before continuing to the Renaissance city of Florence.
Location Information Description
Florence/Italy, Italy
This afternoon is yours at leisure to wander through the grand squares and winding lanes of Florence, whose connection with the Medici family saw this city become one of the world's most cultural centers. Consider a visit to the Academy of Fine Arts to see the Michelangelo's statue of David, amble along the Arno River or ascend the stone steps up to Piazzale Michelangelo for spectacular views of the city.
Breakfast
Grand Mediterraneo
Day 15
FLORENCE SIGHTSEEING AND FREE TIME Location Information Description
Florence/Italy, Italy
Join a 'Local Specialist' this morning to view the city's finest masterpieces - the magnificent Duomo, Giotto's Bell Tower and the 13th-century Santa Croce Basilica, the final resting place of Michelangelo, Galileo and Machiavelli. Later, learn about the quality and workmanship of two of this city's historic industries at demonstrations of Florentine leathercraft and 18-carat gold.
Spend the rest of the afternoon on your own. Walk across the Ponte Vecchio that has straddled the Arno River for almost 700 years, or wander through the Renaissance Boboli Gardens, stopping for a slice or two of schiacciata along the way.
Breakfast
Grand Mediterraneo
Day 16
FLORENCE - ROME - VATICAN EXPERIENCE Location Information Description
Rome/Italy, Italy
Journey through the sprawling vineyards of Chianti, past the hill-towns of Umbria before arriving in Rome. This evening 'Dive Into Culture' at an exclusive farewell dining experience in the Museo Gregoriano Profano, with its centuries of Roman and Ancient Greek sculptures and antiquities, or the magnificent surroundings of the Salone di Raffaello in the Pinacoteca.
Location Information Description
Vatican City, Italy
Gain access to the Museum before dinner, then continue your evening with a tour of the Vatican Museums with a 'Local Specialist', before the weekly evening opening, including views of Michelangelo's magnificent frescoed ceiling in the Sistine Chapel.
Breakfast, Dinner
Shangri-La
Day 17
DEPART ROME Location Information Description
Rome/Italy, Italy
Your epic encounter with Italy has sadly come to an end. Say arrivederci to Rome and your newfound friends at the end of this Grand Italian Experience. Transfers are available. Conditions apply.
Breakfast
Important information:
Important Information
Cancellation Policy
- 60 days or more prior to departure the deposit is non-refundable
- 59-16 days prior to commencement of services: 30% of total price*
- 15-8 days prior to commencement of services: 50% of total price*
- 7-1 days prior to commencement of services: 90% of total price*
- On departure day and later: 100% of total price*
- *Total price does not include any Instant Purchase Air or Instant Purchase Air service fees, which are non-refundable after 24 hours from purchase. Intra-vacation air is non-refundable after final payment.
- Cancellation fees may also apply to any additional services, including extra night accommodations, independently supplied services, and optional excursions reserved prior to, during, and after the tour. If flight changes, including, but not limited to, flight cancellations or name changes, are requested after full land and air deposits are received, revision fees, change fees, or airline cancellation fees will apply.
- In many instances, airline revision or change fees can be up to $300, but in some instances may be up to 100% of the ticket price. Cancellation penalties will be quoted at time of cancellation.
- All cancellations must be received in writing prior to tour departure. The cancellation policy will apply according to the date that the cancellation notification is received. The MINIMUM cancellation penalty is the deposit amount.
- The purchase to trip cancellation insurance is strongly recommended.
Terms and Conditions
- Land only “from price” is per person based on two people sharing a room together and does not include airfare unless expressly stated.
- All prices are in US Dollars.
- A $200 non-refundable, non-transferable, per-person, per-vacation deposit is required to reserve space for you, with some limited exceptions, as noted below. Payment of the deposit indicates you have read and accepted theseall Terms & Conditions. Your booking is not confirmed until the deposit payment is processed and you receive a confirmation invoice.
- Final payment is due 60 days prior to departure, with some limited exceptions, as noted below. Within the final payment date, payment in full is required at time of booking to reserve space. Reservations (land, cruise, and air) are canceled if final payment is not received by the due date. The payment policy may vary for group reservations.
- Additional deposits or payments are required for international air added to the start and/or end of your vacation and/or for intra-vacation air, as specified in the itinerary (“air-inclusive vacations”). Air-inclusive vacation pricing is guaranteed upon receipt of full land plus air deposit or land deposit plus full airfare price, depending on type of airfare purchased (Flex-Air or Instant Purchase Air).
- For complete terms and conditions please visit the Trafalgar Terms & Conditions for more information.