Living The Italian Dream Grand Tour

Living The Italian Dream Grand Tour | 21 Nights/22 Days

Day 01: Venice Arrival | On your arrival at Venice Airport, our local English speaking representative will be waiting to welcome you to Venice. You will be transferred by private limo and then by private motorboat to your hotel in central Venice. The rest of the day is at leisure. Overnight in Venice.

Day 02: Venice Private Guided Tour with Gondola Ride and Bacari Tour | This morning after breakfast meet your Personal Guide at the Hotel lobby. Enjoy a 4-hour enchanting walking tour of Venice: 2 Hours in the morning and 2 hours in the afternoon with lunch at leisure. You will first admire all the landmarks of the famous St. Mark’s Square. You will visit St. Mark’s Church with its breathtaking glittering mosaics. Then you enter the Gothic Doge’s Palace, where the Doge, his advisors, and politicians decided the fate of Europe in the 15th and 16th C.  Leaving the crowd behind, strolling about the narrow alleys, you will see the non-touristy areas of the city. Your tour will continue first to Santa Maria Formosa and then to Campo St. Giovanni e Paolo.  In the late early evening meet with our expert Guide-Sommelier for a “ Bacari Tour “, a local down-to-earth version of wine bars, serve tapas like “cicheti”, traditionally washed down with a glass of wine. At the end of the tour enjoy a Private Gondola ride. Overnight in Venice.

Day 03: Murano and Burano Islands Private Boat Tour | Breakfast at the hotel. Meet your guide at the hotel lobby. This morning, enjoy an excursion into the Venetian lagoon to escape the crowds of Venice to enjoy the peace and tranquility of the Venetian lagoon. You will start your Private Murano & Burano Boat Tour itinerary visiting the island of Burano, one of the most picturesque of the Venetian lagoon. Burano’s brightly colored houses line its boat-filled canals. After a pleasant stroll around the Island of Burano, you will make your way to Murano which is the most famous of the Venetian Islands, thanks to the world-known “Murano Glass”. You’ll visit a selected glass-factory. You’ll see a demonstration of glassblowing as well as visit the factory’s showroom full of beautiful glassware. Return to Venice for lunch and the rest of the day at leisure. Overnight in Venice.

Day 04: Transfer from Venice to Lake Como via Milan | Breakfast at the Hotel. Private Transfer by boat and meet your Driver at Piazzale Roma. Today, travel through the Veneto and Lombardy countryside, On route to your Hotel on Lake Como, stop in Milan. Lunch at leisure. In the afternoon enjoy a Milan Private Guided Tour. Together with your Private Guide, visit Leonardo da Vinci’s masterpiece, The Last Supper. Stop by the alluring Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II shopping gallery. Visit the medieval Sforza Castle. Next, tour the splendid Duomo and the fabulous La Scala Opera House. Late afternoon, continue to your Lake Como Hotel. Overnight on Lake Como.

Day 05: Lake Como Private Guided Tour | Breakfast at the Hotel. Today enjoy a beautiful and relaxing private day trip to Lake Como to see the city of Como and its jewel, Bellagio. Your driver and guide will pick you up at your hotel and drive you to Como historic city center, where you will visit its architectural wonders to include the Duomo, the Broletto, the Temple of Volta, and Terragni Palace. Your private tour then takes you to Bellagio, one of Italy’s most breathtaking towns. After lunch in a characteristic local restaurant, enjoy a guided walking tour in the historical center. From the lakefront reach La Punta (the tip of the peninsula), where the three arms of the lake divide. Visit St. James church then continue to the beautiful little borough of Pescallo. Walk by Villa Giulia and head back to the Como side of the lake, to see the little fishing harbor of Loppia. Overnight on Lake Como.

Day 06: Lake Como at Leisure | Breakfast at the Hotel. Lake Como at Leisure. Overnight on Lake Como.

Day 07: Lake Como – Portofino and San Fruttuoso – Cinque Terre | After breakfast at the hotel, meet your driver in the lobby for a Private Transfer to your hotel in Cinque Terre. On Route stop in Portofino for lunch in a typical Ligurian restaurant. After lunch, meet your guide for a Private Tour of Portofino and San Fruttuoso. The most popular resort towns on the Italian Riviera, little Portofino with just over 500 permanent residents.  Visit the Church of San Giorgio and take a stroll down to the lighthouse. A ferry trip to San Fruttuoso is included in the tour. This small fishing village located in a bay can be reached only by boat or on foot. Late afternoon, continue to your Hotel. Overnight in Cinque Terre.

Day 08: Cinque Terre Private Guided Tour | Breakfast at the Hotel. Meet your Private Guide at the Hotel Lobby for a Private Tour of The Cinque Terre (5 Lands), featuring some of the Mediterranean’s most picturesque seaside villages. Today you will explore 3 of the 5 Borgos: You Tour starts in the old part of Monterosso, dominated by the walls of the ancient fortress, the remains of Fieschi Castle and the Aurora Tower. Monterosso has brightly colored houses and narrow alleyways. Continue to Vernazza where you will enjoy the view from the Doria Castle. Lined with cozy cafes, craft shops, and wine bars, the seaside Piazzetta (Piazza Marconi) hides a little jewel of a chapel: the Chapel of Santa Marta. After lunch in a characteristic local restaurant and a short boat tour ride, you will each Riomaggiore. Most of the village of Riomaggiore is squeezed into a narrow and steep valley, with tall colorful houses on either side of the main road and a small harbor below. Late afternoon return to your Hotel. Overnight in Cinque Terre.

Day 09: Cinque at Leisure | Breakfast at the Hotel. Cinque Terre at Leisure. Overnight in Cinque Terre.

Day 10: Cinque Terre – Pisa Private Tour – Florence | Breakfast at the Hotel. Meet your driver at the Hotel Lobby to private transfer to your Florence Hotel. On route visit Pisa, undoubtedly among the richest cities in the world for architecture and history. Once in Pisa,  meet your Private Guide: the tour starts in the incredible Piazza dei Miracoli: here you can admire the baptistery and the famous Leaning Tower, together with a guided visit in the majestic Cathedral. Lunch/Food & Wine Tour in a Wine Estate before continuing to Florence. Overnight in Florence.

Day 11: Florence Private Guided Art Guided Tour: Breakfast at the Hotel. Meet your guide at the hotel lobby. This morning you will enjoy a 3 Hours Florence Private Walking Guided Tour. As you walk through the streets and piazzas of Florence, you’ll discuss the ideas of the Renaissance, and the lives of many famous artists In between the famous landmarks, you’ll take enchanting backstreets and alleys.  After enjoying a walk through the historical center follow your guide along the windy pathways to a stop in Piazza del Duomo. Continue to the Accademia Gallery, home to Florence’s most treasured work of art – “Michelangelo’s David”. In-between the famous landmarks, you will find backstreets and alleys paved with the original stones from ancient times. You will visit Piazza Della Signoria and Ponte Vecchio. Return to your Hotel. Overnight in Florence.

Day 12: San Gimignano and Siena Private Guided Tour | After breakfast at the hotel, meet your driver and guide in the lobby. You will visit San Gimignano, a fantastic example of medieval architecture declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, famous for its medieval skyscrapers. These tower houses were built by local families at the height of the Guelph-Ghibelline conflict. Stop in a Wine Estate where you will enjoy a Lunch/Food a Wine Tasting. Then continue on to Siena, Italy’s loveliest medieval city. Enjoy a private guided visit of the old city center; walk along the narrow medieval streets, you will admire the splendid Cathedral, the Libreria Piccolomini and Piazza del Campo, where the famous Palio horse race is held twice a year, overlooked by the Palazzo del Comune. Free time to stroll around, before returning to your hotel in Florence. Overnight in Florence.

Day 13: Florence – Naples – Pompeii – Sorrento |Breakfast at the Hotel. This morning you will be privately transferred to Florence train station where you will meet your Assistant and porter who will facilitate your boarding a fast train to Naples. Upon your arrival at Naples Train Station, meet our local English-Speaking representative who will assist you with Porterage Services and facilitate your private transfer to your Hotel in Sorrento. En route, stop first for a fantastic Eno-Gastronomic experience. The Estate is the most important winemaker of Lachrima Christi, located just a few hundred meters below the peak of the Volcano Vesuvius. After lunch, continue to Pompeii, meet your Private Guide, and enjoy a Private Guided Tour. Pompeii was buried under lava and ash from Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD and lay forgotten for hundreds of years. After the Tour, continue to your Hotel in Sorrento. Overnight in Sorrento.

Day 14: Sorrento Villages Tour and Terranova Farm Private Guided Tour | Breakfast at the Hotel. Meet your Driver at the Hotel Lobby. Your private tour today will start with a visit to Sorrento Peninsula Villages of Nerano and Marina Del Cantone. On your way to the next stop, the mozzarella and cheesemakers, we stop for a fantastic photo opportunity over the two bays’, the Bay of Salerno and the Bay of Naples, for a bird’s eye view of the famous Amalfi Drive. You will be welcomed with open arms by the family at the cheese farm, who have over 50 years of experience. After touring the farm, watch the making of mozzarella and participate in a wonderful explanation of the entire process. Sit back and relax with an antipasto of local ‘in season’ vegetables, salami then followed by freshly made pasta. Tasting the fresh mozzarella you have just witnessed being made. Lunch is served with local wine, followed by Limoncello. Then return to Sorrento through Massa Lubrense and Marina Della Lobra. Overnight in Sorrento.

Day 15: Capri Private Guided Tour | This morning you will be privately transferred to Sorrento Marina Piccola to meet your guide and to board a fast ferry to Capri. First, you visit Marina Grande with his classy restaurants and sidewalk cafés. You will then visit Anacapri, 1,800 feet above sea level, where you will visit Villa San Michele and the Axel Munthe Gardens. After lunch in a characteristic Caprese restaurant, continue to the main town of Capri, where you can visit La Piazzetta, the Gardens of Augustus, Faraglioni, and the distinctive rocks. Capri is a very exclusive travel destination, it is here to spot the occasional unassuming celebrity. Late afternoon you will re-board the fast ferry to Sorrento Port to be transferred to your Hotel. Overnight in Sorrento.

Day 16: Sorrento & Amalfi Coast Private Boat Guided Tour: Dropoff Amalfi Hotel | Breakfast at the Hotel. Meet your driver at the hotel lobby and transfer to Sorrento pier where you will meet your English-Speaking Captain. Embark on a Private Boat Tour. On route to your Hotel in Amalfi cruise the Sorrento and Amalfi Coast. As you depart from Sorrento Pier and pass through Marina Grande fishing village, you will discover the hidden treasure of Regina Giovanna Bath, once a Roman Villa. Continue to the beach of Cala di Puolo, a small fishing village; Massa Lubrense and Marina dell Lobra; Marciano; Mitigliano Bay, accessible only by sea​. You will pass by the legendary Li Galli Islands, a small island archipelago. Stop for lunch in Positano in a characteristic local restaurant and then enjoy some time at leisure walking to the lower part of the town. Positano is a maze of alleys and steps with small shops and Boutiques displaying fresh linen dresses in style “Positano fashion”, the leather sandals and, the colorful ceramics. Reembark your Private Boat and continue your Cruise by passing through Praiano and Conca dei Marini. Late afternoon, reach Amalfi Pier where you will meet your driver. Private Transfer to your Hotel. Overnight in Amalfi.

Day 17: Amalfi Coast Private Guided Tour | Breakfast at the Hotel. Meet your driver and guide at the hotel lobby. This morning you will first visit the beautiful town of Amalfi. Historically the most important town of the area, Amalfi is a town in a dramatic natural setting below steep cliffs on Italy’s southwest coast. Between the 9th and 11th centuries, it was the seat of a powerful maritime republic. After Lunch in a Characteristic Local Restaurant, continue to the top of the mountains to Ravello, situated at 1100 feet above the sea level, the views of the coast below are for sure the most breath-taking scenery. The town of Ravello is for sure the best place where to leave the crowds and where to enjoy the quiet of a village. Here you will visit Villa Rufolo. The villa was built in the 13th century for the wealthy Rufolo dynasty. Late afternoon return to your Hotel. Overnight in Amalfi.

Day 18: Amalfi Coast at Leisure | Breakfast at the Hotel. Today is for you to spend at leisure on The Amalfi Coast. Overnight in Amalfi.

Day 19: Sorrento – Rome   | After Breakfast, you will meet your driver at the hotel lobby. Enjoy a Private transfer from your Sorrento Hotel to your hotel in Central Rome. Check-in at the Hotel and the rest of the day at leisure. Overnight in Rome.

Day 20: Private Guided Vatican Tour | In the morning meet your driver at the hotel lobby. Transfer to the Vatican to meet your Private Guide for a 4 hours Vatican Private Guided tour. First Visit Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, Raphael Rooms. Here we will spend plenty of time to absorb the atmosphere of this unique building. You will learn about the life and times of Michelangelo at the Vatican, his relationship with Pope Julius II and relive how he worked and lived. You will then move onto visit Saint Peter’s Basilica – the world’s most famous Catholic Church. The final part of the tour will focus on Saint Peter’s Square. Late morning return to your hotel. Lunch and rest of the day at leisure. Overnight in Rome.

Day 21: Private Guided Ancient Rome Tour | After breakfast meet your driver and guide at the hotel lobby. Morning Private tour of the wonders of the Ancient Romans. You will be transported back to the days of the Caesars and the Roman legions as you visit, together with your private local guide. This tour begins with a visit to the most famous monument of Ancient Rome – the Colosseum. From here, your guide will take you through the Roman Forum, which was the center of politics as well as public life in Ancient Rome. Lunch and afternoon at leisure. *Afternoon Optional Tours available. Overnight in Rome.

Day 22: Rome Departure | At a time of your convenience enjoy a Private Transfer to Rome Airport. Unfortunately, it is time to say Arrivederci! Ciao!

• 3 Nights in Venice:
• 3 Nights on Lake Como:
• 3 Nights in Cinque Terre:
• 3 Nights in Florence:
• 3 Nights Sorrento:
• 3 Nights in Amalfi:
• 3 Nights in Rome:
• Assistance and Porterage at Airports, Train Stations and Hotels
• Private Transportation by Mercedes E or V Class with English Speaking Driver
• Private Guided Tours with Professional Local Guides | Door to Door Service
• Entrances to Museums, Galleries, Archeological Parks and other Venues
• Breakfast at Hotels, All Food & Wine Tours/Enogastronomic and Most Lunches.
• 24/7 Assistance and Support from our Ground Operational Office in Italy