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Italian Elegance

Operated by: Insight Vacations

12 Days from $3,991 per person
APR - OCT 2023
Santa Maria Basilica from the Grand Canal, Venice, Italy

Countries Visited

Italy, Vatican City ...more Italy, Vatican City

Locations Visited

Rome, Vatican, Florence, Tuscany, San Gimignano, Lucca, Portofino, Santa Margherita Ligure, Cinque Terre, Lake Maggiore, Cortina d'Ampezzo, Venice ...more Rome, Vatican, Florence, Tuscany, San Gimignano, Lucca, Portofino, Santa Margherita Ligure, Cinque Terre, Lake Maggiore, Cortina d'Ampezzo, Venice
  1. Day 1 Welcome to the Eternal City of Rome

    Welcome to Rome, a glorious city filled with classic antiquities, medieval buildings, Renaissance palaces and baroque churches. Transfers depart from Rome's Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci Airport for your hotel at 09:30, 12:30 and 15:30. Relax and settle in before joining your Travel Director at 17:30, and get to know your fellow travellers over a delicious Welcome Dinner with wine at a local restaurant.

    meals Dinner with Wine
    hotel room 007 Select, Rome.
  2. Day 2 Rome with Vatican Dinner

    In the morning enjoy the very best of the city’s highlights including visiting the magnificent St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican with your Local Expert and see the Colosseum and Circus Maximus.  In the afternoon, enjoy fast-tracked priority entry into the Vatican Museums with a Local Expert. Admire the Papal art collection and observe the stunning Museo Gregoriano Profano which documents various moments and themes in classical art, from Ancient Greece through to the late Imperial Roman age. Enter the Sistine Chapel to marvel at Michelangelo’s masterpiece on its ceiling. Then you'll be privileged to an exclusive Highlight Dinner inside the Ethnological Museum.​

    meals Breakfast, Dinner with Wine
    hotel room 007 Select, Rome.
  3. Day 3 Renaissance Florence

    Take the autostrada north to Renaissance Florence. Explore Florence with Insight Choice. Choose to visit the Accademia Museum and see Michelangelo's David. Alternatively, wander through the market stalls on a shopping tour, enjoying all the Italian treats and finery on offer. From there, see the cathedral, campanile and the baptistery, adorned with the Gates of Paradise. Walk on to Piazza della Signoria with its open-air gallery of Renaissance sculpture. There is time to shop for Florentine leather or gold before continuing to your elegant hotel in Tuscany.

    meals Breakfast, Dinner with Wine
    hotel Villasanpaolo, San Gimignano.
  4. Day 4 The flavours of San Gimignano Relaxed Start

    Spend time exploring the maze of alleyways and admire scenic views across the valley. Ascend serpentine alleyways to the artisan gelato parlour of world champion gelato maestro, Sergio Dondoli, for a taste of his finest frozen treats.

    meals Breakfast
    hotel Villasanpaolo, San Gimignano.
  5. Day 5 The Chianti Hills to Pisa, Lucca and Santa Margherita

    Drive through the patchwork of vines, olives and cypresses that typify the Chianti hills before continuing to the delightful town of Lucca. Taste the lavish loaves of buccellato, Lucca's sweet raisin anise bread. Head for Pisa and see the incredible Leaning Tower, from which Galileo is said to have conducted experiments on velocity and gravity. See the splendid cathedral and baptistery, decorated with mosaics and designs in solid marble. Next, cruise along the rugged Ligurian coast to the elegant seaside village of Portofino, the epitome of la dolce vita (should weather permit). Continue along the coast to the pretty seaside resort of Santa Margherita Ligure.

    meals Breakfast, Dinner with Wine
    hotel Best Western Regina Elena, Santa Margherita Ligure.
  6. Day 6 The Cinque Terre and Portofino

    Head for the port of La Spezia for a highlight of your travels and one of Italy's most beautiful landscapes, the Cinque Terre. With a Local Expert, appreciate the views as you approach one of the picturesque fishing villages by boat. For lunch, enjoy a delicious Sea-to-Table dining experience. Enjoy leisure time to admire the coloured houses, browse the boutiques or simply stay a while in the cafe bars on the piazzetta, watching the yachts moored in the harbour.

    meals Breakfast, Lunch with Wine
    hotel Best Western Regina Elena, Santa Margherita Ligure.
  7. Day 7 Lake Maggiore Relaxed Start

    Head north to the beautiful Italian Lake District, a favourite retreat of the rich and famous where Alpine scenery combines with lush vegetation. Relax and enjoy an afternoon at leisure at this popular resort and beautiful lake.

    meals Breakfast
    hotel Hotel Simplon, Baveno.
  8. Day 8 Cortina d’Ampezzo

    Travel through the stunning northern Italian countryside to one of the world’s most breathtaking wine regions. Protected by the Alps to the north, and caressed by the warm breezes from the Adriatic, the vineyards of Conegliano produce Italy’s most famous sparkling wine.Stop at Carmina where great care is taken to ensure these hand-picked grapes produce the world's finest prosecco. See how production differs from its more famous French counterpart, champagne. Be tempted with a taste of the crisp and aromatic flavours prosecco is renowned for.Continue through the Dolomites to the mountain resort of Cortina d'Ampezzo.

    meals Breakfast, Dinner with Wine
    hotel Hotel de la Poste, Cortina d'Ampezzo.
  9. Day 9 Experience the Dolomites Relaxed Start

    The whole day is free for you to explore the colourful peaks and sheer valleys of the Dolomites, one of the most impressive mountain ranges in the Alps. During summer, once the snow and ice have melted away, a breathtaking landscape is revealed. There are a number of walking tracks through pristine Alpine wilderness for the adventurous to explore, or for a more relaxed pace, perhaps take a thrilling Optional Experience to the summit of one of the peaks for breathtaking panoramic views?

    meals Breakfast
    hotel Hotel de la Poste, Cortina d'Ampezzo.
  10. Day 10 Venice, Queen of the Adriatic Relaxed Start

    Descend through the mountains to the romantic city of Venice.  A private boat glides you past canals lined with ornate palaces to St Mark’s Square. See the basilica, the Doge's Palace and Bridge of Sighs, before checking into your luxurious hotel.  With the afternoon at leisure, why not cruise the Venetian Lagoon to the island of Burano for a meal of local specialities and wine?

    meals Breakfast
    hotel Splendid Venice - Starhotels Collezione.
  11. Day 11 Venice at Leisure Relaxed Start

    Join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience during a visit to a traditional arts centre, where you can see how beautiful handcrafted glass is made by expert glassblowers, safeguarding traditional skills.Then there is free time to enjoy the magical atmosphere of this incredible city at your own pace. Mingle with the locals at the open air markets near the Rialto Bridge and explore the back lanes and squares where Venetians go about their day. Later, on your romantic gondola serenade, glide along the atmospheric canals exploring the intimate and hidden parts of this unique city while musicians set the mood with traditional songs. This evening, stroll past the famous Opera House to La Fenice restaurant for a magical Celebration Dinner. Indulge in traditional Venetian dishes that are enriched with inspiration from seasonal produce.

    meals Breakfast, Dinner with Wine
    hotel Splendid Venice - Starhotels Collezione.
  12. Day 12 Arrivederci Venice

    Your departure transfer arrives at Venice Marco Polo Airport at 08:00 and 09:30.

    meals Breakfast
Italian Elegance Guided Tour Map
Price Includes

Dining Summary

  • 6 Dinner with Wine (DW)
  • 11 Breakfast (B)
  • 1 Lunch with Wine (LW)

Choice Highlights

  • Choose between two carefully selected activities
  • Florence: Stand beside Michelangelo's monumental statue, 'David', in the Accademia Gallery, and admire the exquisite technique and absorbing history behind the world's most famous sculpture.
  • Florence: Wander through the market stalls and browse for local Italian souvenirs and leather goods on a guided shopping tour.

Authentic Dining

  • Montelupo Fiorentino: Taste a nutritious meal at Rome's welcome dinner. The venue adopts a flexiterian philosophy; to them, sustainable consumption and healthy meals is what's important.
  • Vatican: Experience an exclusive VIP Highlight Dinner at the Vatican in the Ethnological Museum.
  • Lucca: Visit a traditional steam bakery and sample Buccellato, the sweet raisin bread typical of the region.
  • Veneto: Visit a local winery and delight in a tasting of their magnificent prosecco. Meet the vignerons and learn how to make the perfect Bellini.
  • Venice: Enjoy a special Venetian Celebration Dinner with wine at La Fenice, situated in the heart of this historic city.

Insight Experiences

  • Vatican: Gain priority access into the Vatican Museums, witness the genius of Michelangelo in the Sistine Chapel and view the splendid dome of St. Peter's Basilica.

Make Travel Matter

  • Venice: Witness the ancient skill of glassblowing, now practised by precious few masters. Watch artisans create delicate works of art using rare traditional practices. The workshop's master craftsmen teach visitors about the traditional craft of glassblowing and its history which dates back to the 15th century. Every visit helps to support the workshop and the survival of this traditional craft.  The workshop advances UN Sustainable Development Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities.

Top Rated Highlights

  • Rome: During your orientation with you Travel Director see the medieval buildings, including Renaissance palaces and Baroque churches, scattered throughout the city.
  • Florence: Stand beside Michelangelo's monumental statue, 'David', in the Accademia Gallery, and admire the exquisite technique and absorbing history behind the world's most famous sculpture.
  • Florence: Wander through the market stalls and browse for local Italian souvenirs and leather goods on a guided shopping tour.
  • Florence: Enjoy panoramic views over of the city and see the Florence Cathedral. During your guided walking orientation, see the bell tower, Gates of Paradise on the baptistery and visit Piazza della Signoria.
  • San Gimignano: Visit the medieval Manhattan of Italy!
  • Lucca: Your orientation with your Travel Director will show you the churches, squares and palaces within the medieval ramparts.
  • Pisa: During your orientation, your Travel Director will show you the baptistery bristling with marble spines, and the colonnaded bell tower lurches behind the 11th century cathedral - the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa.
  • Portofino: Cruise from Santa Margherita and get a taste of the sweet life in this elegant fishing village.
  • Cinque Terre: Led by your Local Expert, visit this unique UNESCO World Heritage Site, tucked away on the mountainous Italian Riviera coastline. Explore one of the five charming fishing villages for some memorable pictures.
  • Portofino: Cruise from Santa Margherita and get a taste of the sweet life in this elegant fishing village.
  • Cortina d'Ampezzo: Enjoy the stunning scenery of the Cortina, a small town framed by magnificent alps as your Travel Director conducts an orientation.
  • Venice: Delight in the magic of this charming city as you are serenaded, travelling through the atmospheric canals by gondola.

Dates & Prices

Prices shown are per person based on two people sharing a twin room. To request a personalized travel quote, click "Request Quote" and a Travel Specialist will send your custom quote including airfare if requested.

Online Booking Process

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June 2023
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WINTER TRAVEL SALE
Optional Add-Ons

Optional Experiences are subject to change. Your Travel Director will supply you with a final list of Optional Experiences available on your trip. Optional Experiences cannot be booked online; they can be purchased during your trip through your Travel Director.

Rome

Available on Day 2

Piazzas & Fountains

With our Local Expert, let's take a "passeggiata" (stroll) to enjoy the backstreets and secrets of pedestrian Rome. Be amazed at sights such as the fascinating Pantheon and the beauty of 17th-Century fountains and beautiful Piazzas. Come and enjoy the Rome of the Romans.
Adult Price: € 37

Radda in Chianti

Available on Day 4

Local Tuscan Dinner

The secret to dining well in Tuscany is knowing where to go, picking the small towns and restaurants where locals dine. Exploiting our countryside location, this evening we'll dine locally, keeping away from the big-city crowds. We'll enjoy classic Tuscan specialties, the favourites of the Sienese province, utilising the fresh territorial produce that makes this region so well known.
Adult Price: € 65

Italian Lakes

Available on Day 7

Isola Bella

The premier attraction of Lake Maggiore is the Borromean Islands. We'll take a private boat over to Isola Bella, the largest and most famous island, renowned for its incredible palace and stunning Botanical Gardens. Our Local Expert will take us on a guided tour of this privately-owned palace, with free time to admire the gardens. A must!
Adult Price: € 49
Note: This optional is only able to be operated between mid-March and the end of October.

Available on Day 7

Dinner on Isola dei Pescatori

This evening escape to the charming and tranquil island of Isola dei Pescatori. A short boat ride from the shores of Lake Maggiore, this fisherman’s Island is inhabited year round by only 50 permanent residents. Stroll through the small piazza, surrounded by tight and winding alleys, to enjoy dinner at one of the Island's restaurants.
Adult Price: € 73

Cortina d'Ampezzo

Available on Day 9

Dinner in the Mountains

This evening we'll drive through the countryside to the foot of the Tofane Mountain in the heart of the Dolomite Ranges, where we'll enjoy fantastic cuisine in a superb setting. We'll soak in the atmosphere of a popular local restaurant while enjoying traditional Northern Italian hospitality and sampling delicious regional specialties and local wine.
Adult Price: € 70

Available on Day 9

Grand Tour Of The Dolomites

Explore the colourful peaks and sheer valleys of the Dolomites – one of the most impressive mountain ranges in the Alps. Your full-day of discovery includes a thrilling cable car ride to the summit of one of the peaks for breathtaking 360 degree views. In a unique combination of nature and history, learn about the incredible war waged in the mountains with a visit to a WWI museum. Complimentary coffee and strudel is included.
Adult Price: € 63
Note: This optional is weather and season dependent.

Venice

Available on Day 10

Burano Excursion & Meal

Leave the hustle of St Mark's Square behind on a delightful private cruise around the islands of the Venetian lagoon. Alight at the island of Burano, a photographer's paradise, famous for its candy coloured houses, artisan lace makers and leaning bell tower that would give Pisa a good run for its money. Enjoy a superb meal sampling the local specialities with wine included. An excursion not to be missed!
Adult Price: € 72

Available on Day 11

Hidden Venice

To only experience Venice's big set pieces - St Mark's Square; the Rialto; the Grand Canal - is to miss out on a hidden world full of surprises! Join a Local Expert for a fascinating walk through some of the lesser known quarters of Venice. The back lanes and ‘campi’, small squares, where tourists seldom tread are full of history and great places to sample local life.
Adult Price: € 34

Available on Day 11

Magical Venice

Venice can be Europe's most romantic city in the evening, offering dramatic landscapes with buildings that dazzle as the sun sets and the lights go on. Sit back and take it all in as private water taxis take you to the centre of it all, Piazza San Marco, where we have seats reserved outside a famous Venetian cafe, in front of a live orchestra and in view of those illuminated St Mark's sights. Our private water taxis will also take us the length of the Grand Canal, under the Rialto Bridge, seeing Venice at its most magical.
Adult Price: € 55

Innsbruck

Available on Day 12

Tyrolean Evening With Dinner

Enjoy a lively evening including dinner, featuring dancers in national costume, yodelling and entertainment typical of the life, crafts and traditions of the Tyrolean people. Drinks are included.
Adult Price: € 76

Reviews
Service
Vacation
Independent Reviews
Trusted Customer
Sunday, June 4, 2023
Service
The rating is based on our experience with Rob, who was particularly helpful in providing us additional information about what to expect and available activities for our extra time on arrival into Rome. Plus, he was quite helpful & informative about other trips to consider
Vacation
First, we had arranged with GET for airport pickup & transfer to hotel to start our vacation, since we were arriving a day early. This was so poorly handled and such a disappointment, it got our trip off to a very rough start. Second, the hotel (Room 007) was/is not of the standard we’ve come to expect of Insight. Fortunately, the actual tour with Insight Vacations (Italian Elegance) was another excellent experience and largely made up for the less than stellar start . The 5-star rating gives pertains really only to Insight Vacations part of our experience
James Ellis
Wednesday, June 29, 2022
Service
Tour guide was very helpful and knowledgeable of all our stops.
Response from Grand European Travel:
We are so glad you enjoyed your Italian Elegance tour. Thank you for taking the time to write a review. We appreciate your feedback!
Tuesday, July 5, 2022
Vacation
We saw many sights and kept moving the whole trip!
Gretta Sencevicky
Wednesday, October 17, 2018
Service
In-sight Vacations was absolutely "incredible"...Anne Kennedy and Carlos, bus driver, handled the itinerary, the group, and the over-touristed venues with incredible ease! Anne made the arrangements "mesh" in situations which defied control...Rome, Venice! Her persona is exquisite and made each member of our group feel important and appreciated! Anne was also enabling for those of us who wished to do the Uffizy in Florence rather than the Academia. Above all, we had several members of the group who had difficulty walking, keeping up, or climbing stairs...Anne saw too it they were accompanied and kept track of their progress as we walked long distances, stairs (elevators were identified), dark allies, and boarding/disembarking from buses, boats, trains, and gondolas. Anne Kennedy is the best tour director in my experience! Carlos handled the bus beautifully...our tour took us through the busiest streets in Rome, Florence, and Venice... The Dolomites were beautiful, but the roads were built for one vehicle, not a bus and heavy traffic! We were never frightened or nervous! So many thank you's to both Anne and Carlos for a great vacation with In-Sight Vacations! Gretta Sencevicky, 10-17-18
Response from Grand European Travel:
How wonderful to hear that you had an incredible time on your Italian vacation. We'll pass on your wonderful compliments to the Insight team, I'm sure they'll be happy to know how delighted you were with both Anne and Carlos. Thank you for sharing your experience with us!
Thursday, October 18, 2018
Vacation
The tour was perfectly orchestrated...all the hotels were appropriate, the new bus with a highly skilled driver...the tour director was "the best I've ever encountered... Our itinerary was perfect... Will certainly use In-sight Vacations on my next bus trip!
Barbara Vosganian
Tuesday, June 5, 2018
Service
Everything, from the iternary to the time planning. The tour director, Jackie was excellent and taught us so much. The local guides really knew their areas. If you’ve never been to Italy, this is the trip to take. I especially liked seeing the Dolomites.
Response from Grand European Travel:
Thank you for sharing about your experience. We're so glad you had a wonderful time on your Italy vacation.
Tuesday, June 5, 2018
Vacation
Well worth the price of the trip!
Trusted Customer
Tuesday, July 25, 2017
Service
The itinerary was perfect! Our tour director was outstanding. He is very knowledgeable and was attentive to every detail. Our coach driver,too, did a wonderful job driving us and keeping us safe. There is so much that we would not have seen or heard if we did this trip on our own. Except for one dinner, all breakfasts and dinners were included. We enjoyed being with our fellow travelers and plan to stay in touch with them. My husband and I most definitely will seek out another Insight vacation and recommend them to our friends. M
Vacation
There were no optional tours to purchase while on Italian elegance
Trusted Customer
Wednesday, July 5, 2017
Service
Our vacation planning with Rob Rainwater started August 13 2016. We had done our research and had decided what we wanted before contacting him. He was most agreeable and showed us areas where we could save a little e.g the insurance and air fare had specials. Our seating arrangements was suitable and all our documents arrived in a timely manner. The trip itself was delightful and practically stress free. It was like making a pilgrimage to what you have read or heard of all your life.
Vacation
This trip was all inclusive. You have no idea how stress free that can be. All we did was show up and enjoy.
S Gorman
Tuesday, July 4, 2017
Service
Well organized tour director. Great locations. Loved Benito, our bus driver--excellent driver & extremely helpful & kind.
Vacation
I do not recommend Peruzzi leather shop. I purchased many gift items here, including a leather bag for myself, based solely on my tour company's recommendation (Insight Tours). The very day I purchased it I noticed the entire zipper had left a discoloration imprint along both sides of the leather closure. I immediately notified my tour director, who contacted Peruzzi immediately. I remained in Italy another two weeks and this company NEVER sent me an email or attempted to resolve the situation. I had to continue to reach out once I had returned home before I even received an email from this company to acknowledge the problem and flaws in the bag. Now we are in an email battle due to Peruzzi's refusal to handle the replacement of the bag in a fair manner. They clearly do not stand behind their inferior products, in spite of their stated "guarantee". I agree with the previous customer (j chiaro) -- Insight, Trafalgar and any other major tour companies who recommended this store should definitely rethink their stance until this company can learn (if ever) to appropriately resolve situations with their flawed products.
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