Grand Tour of Italy

Milan’s cathedral is the fourth largest in the world and is a spectacular example of Gothic architecture. You’ll also visit the beautiful Galleria Vittorio Emanuele, one of the world’s oldest shopping malls. Together with Via Montenapoleone and Via della Spiga. Continue to the Piazza della Scala, home to La Scala Theatre, and the majestic Castello Sforzesco. The Dominican convent adjoining the church of Santa Maria delle Grazie houses one of the most important masterpieces in the world, Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper. 

Begin with a coffee break at Buronzo Castle before choosing to either go mountain biking or hiking in Oasi Zegna Park, along the Mountain Path in the Wild Valsessera Valley. Stop for lunch at a local mountain refuge. On the way to Borgo Ca del Becca you will have the opportunity to visit some local villages, and when you arrive you will take a short walk in the forest and enjoy a “merenda” of local cheese, prosciutto, beers and Bramaterra wine.

Five perfectly preserved fishing villages, laced together with hiking paths that meander between vineyards and the deep blue sea; this is the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Cinque Terre (Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore). Over the centuries, people have carefully built terraces on the steep landscape, right up to the cliffs that overlook the sea.

On the way to Florence, you’ll stop in the city of Pisa to see its famous leaning tower. It is the belfry for a magnificent cathedral complex with a baptistry and walled cemetery, and you’ll hear what inspired the artists and architects of this cathedral square, known as the ‘Field of Miracles’. Inside this square sits the tower, and you’ll wind your way to the top, feeling the ‘lean’ as you ascend.

Explore Renaissance Florence today, with a tour of the highlights of this exciting period in the history of this fascinating city. Start with the Academia Gallery, home of Michelangelo’s incredible David; you will see copies all over Florence, but this is the real thing! A short walk will bring you to the Duomo, Santa Maria del Fiore with Brunelleschi’s magnificent dome and alongside it, Giotto’s Campanile.

This tour is all about gelato – Italian ice cream. Learn how gelato was invented, see how it is made on the premises of a gelato parlour, and naturally, lots of flavours will be tasted and compared.

Your tour starts at the Piazza del Duomo with the spectacular Romanesque and Gothic cathedral. The square is surrounded by the Santa Maria della Scala Hospital, the Archbishop’s Palace, the unfinished Duomo, Opera del Duomo museum, the crypt and the baptistry. You’ll then reach the Piazza del Campo, a unique shell-shaped area which was paved with bricks in the 14th century.

A bike ride is the perfect way to see the beautiful Chianti countryside. You will be provided with 21-speed mountain bikes, helmets and water bottles and set off on your adventure, riding past rolling green hills along roads lined with cypress trees. You will also have the chance to visit local churches and small medieval villages and visit a winery. The tour ends with a delicious Tuscan meal.

On the way to Rome, make a stop in Orvieto. Located on a hilltop in the beautiful Umbrian countryside, this town is sure to capture your heart with its churches, cobbled lanes, and medieval piazzas; the stunning Gothic cathedral is not to be missed.

Arrive at the Vatican early when the museums are still closed. You’ll have the chance to enter with just a few others and enjoy an American breakfast before your tour with your personal guide. The culmination of the visit is Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel, home to the conclave that elects Popes. The ceiling frescoes and Last Judgement on the altar wall are probably the most viewed paintings in the world. From here, enter St Peter’s Basilica where one of the first things you will see is Michelangelo’s Pieta.

Discover the great Roman Forum, for centuries the centre of civic life. Then, along the Via Sacra (Sacred Way), head to the Palatine Hill, one of the most ancient areas of the city, where you’ll enjoy a breathtaking view of the Circus Maximus. Finally, enter the magnificent Colosseum, considered one of the greatest works of Roman architecture and Roman engineering, and capable of seating up to 50,000 spectators.

See the sights of Rome from the back of a vintage Vespa, in true ‘Roman Holiday’ style as you weave your way through everything from large avenues to tiny alleyways. The tour will be led by a private bilingual guide and will take in all the most important monuments and neighbourhoods in Rome.

Modica is a pretty historic town, with tiers of churches and palaces stacked up on the hill. Once you have arrived you will hop into a classic Italian Fiat 500 and spend an hour exploring the city, weaving in and out of the streets discovering its gems.

Modica is famous for its chocolate, made here in the same way it was made in Mexico by the Aztecs. You’ll visit a local historical shop and try some of its delicious creations and receive a chocolate bar to take away.

On the way to Agrigento, you’ll stop in Ragusa. Walk around in Ibla, the old part of Ragusa, built in Baroque style and recreated on a medieval street plan, with its secret shrines, family crests and baroque fountains. Ibla is known for its typical oriel windows, showy staircases, tawny-coloured mansions and filigree balconies, secret arches and yellowing palm trees.

Founded as a Greek colony in the 6th century BC, Agrigento became one of the leading cities in the Mediterranean. The area is home to the Valley of the Temples. The temples are spread over 1,300 hectares and most are situated on rocky crests south of modern day Agrigento. The best preserved is the Concordia temple, one of the most impressive examples of a Greek Doric temple.

On the way to Taormina, visit the incredible remains of the Villa Romana del Casale, a 4th century Roman villa and UNESCO World Heritage Site. One of the most opulent residences in the Empire, it contains the richest, largest and most complex collection of Roman mosaics in the world.

Enjoy an off-road excursion on a comfortable 4WD, and explore the area around the tallest active volcano in Europe with a vulcanologist as your guide. As you ascend to the summit at 2,000m, you’ll pass through enchanting forests and experience a walk through tubular lava caves. Enjoy breathtaking views over the Ionian Sea and the vineyards and orchards that sprawl across the lower slopes. You’ll enjoy lunch at a local winery and  sample delicious wines.

Taormina sits on the east coast of the island and has long been home to artists and intellectuals. The town is filled with pretty churches, a Norman cathedral, impressive clock tower and a main square which overlooks the Gulf of Messina. It is also home to the Palazzo Corvaja palace, which housed the first Sicilian parliament in the 15th century. A real highlight is the Greek theatre from where you will get stunning views of Taormina’s two bays and across to Calabria, with Mount Etna as a backdrop in the other direction.