• Aarp Logo Red
    AARP Members Save $100 AARP SAVE $100 on select vacations booked with us on select vacations
    Learn More

Treasures of Italy

Operated by: Insight Vacations

11 Days from $4,123 per person
APR - OCT 2023
Treasures Of Italy

Countries Visited

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

Locations Visited

Rome, Vatican, Pompeii, Sorrento, Capri, Florence, Cinque Terre, Santa Margherita Ligure, Lake Maggiore, Lake Iseo, Venice ...more Rome, Vatican, Pompeii, Sorrento, Capri, Florence, Cinque Terre, Santa Margherita Ligure, Lake Maggiore, Lake Iseo, 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 Hotel Romanico Palace, Rome.
  2. Day 2 Vatican City and Rome with a Local

    The day is devoted to the Eternal City. Join a Local Expert for an in-depth visit to the Vatican Museums, full of priceless art treasures collected by the Popes. Insight has arranged special priority entry to gain behind-the-scenes access to the Bramante Staircase, a marvel of Renaissance architecture, normally off-limits to visitors. Visit the Sistine Chapel, where Popes are elected, to admire Michelangelo’s famous ceiling. Continue to St. Peter’s Basilica, to wonder at another of his works, the emotive ‘Pietà,’ and stand beneath the dome completed after his death. Cross the Tiber river to enjoy ancient Rome. See the incredible Circus Maximus. Come up close and personal with the beautifully preserved Arch of Constantine, walking on the ancient pavement. Discover the history, the construction and the legends of the iconic Colosseum as you stroll around the exterior of this amazing structure. Later, perhaps continue your exploration of Rome to see the Pantheon, toss a coin in Trevi Fountain and enjoy free time around Piazza Navona?

    meals Breakfast
    hotel Hotel Romanico Palace, Rome.
  3. Day 3 Ancient Pompeii and Sorrento

    Journey to the ill-fated town of Pompeii, frozen in time when it was engulfed by an eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD. Walk with a Local Expert through cobbled streets to learn about Roman life in the first century before enjoying a refreshing lemon granita. Then continue to your hotel in the charming town of Sorrento. The afternoon is yours to explore as you wish, or perhaps join an Optional Experience to the artist's paradise of Positano.

    meals Breakfast
    hotel Hotel Isabella, Sorrento.
  4. Day 4 The Isle of Dreams

    Enjoy a morning in the town of Sorrento before heading off to the port to board your jetfoil to the Isle of Capri. Enjoy a scenic drive by open-top taxi past orange and lemon groves to your hotel, then appreciate the glorious vistas over the rugged coastline and sparkling sea.Visit Capri town, with its whitewashed houses, winding alleyways and small cafes. A Local Expert escorts you to the lush Gardens of Augustus for views of the Faraglioni rocks. As the glow of twilight descends and the day-trippers have returned to their mainland hotels, the island is yours to saunter along scenic paths, gather with the locals in the piazzetta or relax with a glass of wine at an al-fresco restaurant.

    meals Breakfast
    hotel Gatto Bianco Hotel & Spa, Capri.
  5. Day 5 The Autostrada del Sole to Florence

    Descend to the port by private open-top taxis and take the jetfoil across the bay to Naples. Follow the Autostrada del Sole north passing Rome and continuing through the Province of Umbria. Journey through idyllic Tuscan landscapes to Florence, centre of art and culture, and the heart of the Italian Renaissance.

    meals Breakfast, Dinner with Wine
    hotel NH Firenze, Florence.
  6. Day 6 Florence, birthplace of the Renaissance

    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.  Continue to the multi-coloured marble cathedral to admire Giotto's bell tower and Gates of Paradise. Visit Piazza della Signoria and explore the area around Santa Croce Basilica. After a demonstration of leatherwork, there's free time to shop or explore Florence on your own. In the evening, why not sample fine Florentine cuisine of tasty starters and typical Tuscan dishes accompanied by Chianti wine?

    meals Breakfast
    hotel NH Firenze, Florence.
  7. Day 7 Cinque Terre and Portofino to Santa Margherita

    The famous Italian Riviera and the Cinque Terre are a highlight of your journey as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Italy’s most beautiful landscapes. With a Local Expert, appreciate the views as you approach one of the picturesque fishing villages by boat. Spend some time exploring the old medieval quarter or the popular sandy beach. Our journey continues to the elegant seaside village of Portofino, epitome of la dolce vita. Admire the colourful houses, browse the boutiques or stay a while in the cafe bars on the piazzetta, watching the yachts moored in the harbour.

    meals Breakfast, Dinner with Wine
    hotel Best Western Regina Elena, Santa Margherita Ligure.
  8. Day 8 Lake Maggiore

    In the morning, journey north to the beautiful Italian Lake District, a favourite retreat of the rich and famous where alpine scenery combines with lush subtropical vegetation. Relax and enjoy an afternoon at leisure at this popular resort and beautiful lake or perhaps take a cruise out to the lovely Borromean Islands? For your dining pleasure, you are invited to choose from a hand-picked selection of local restaurants for your Dine-Around Evening.

    meals Breakfast, Dinner with Wine
    hotel Hotel Simplon, Baveno.
  9. Day 9 To Venice With Wine Along the Way

    Follow the southern fringes of the Alps to the vineyards by the shores of Lake Iseo.Here, winemaking traditions run deep. Taste the delicious vintages produced with a master vintner at a family-owned estate.Continue to the unique city of Venice and step back in time to the 16th century.

    meals Breakfast
    hotel Hilton Molino Stucky, Venice
  10. Day 10 Venice and the Magic of La Serenissima

    Visit St. Mark’s Square where the city’s former wealth and power is evidenced by the riches of St. Mark’s Basilica and admire the Doge's Palace with its adjoining Bridge of Sighs. Take your seat on a gondola and be serenaded through the myriad of beautiful canals, passing water-lapped doorways and Rococo palaces. The rest of the afternoon is yours to discover Venice at leisure. 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. Cruise the Venetian lagoon to Burano and sit down to a sumptuous Celebration Dinner with wine, sampling the local specialities.

    meals Breakfast, Dinner with Wine
    hotel Hilton Molino Stucky, Venice
  11. Day 11 Arrivederci Venice

    Alas, you must bid farewell to this enchanting city. Your departure transfer arrives at Venice Marco Polo Airport at 08:00 and 09:30.

    meals Breakfast
Map Treasures Italy Guided Tour 2023
Price Includes

Dining Summary

  • 5 Dinner with Wine (DW)
  • 10 Breakfast (B)

Choice Highlights

  • Choose between two carefully selected activities
  • Florence: Wander through the market stalls and browse for local Italian souvenirs and leather goods on a guided shopping tour.
  • 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.

Additional Included Highlights

  • : Personal radio headsets give you the freedom to wander during visits to famous highlights, without missing any of your Local Expert's fascinating commentary.
  • : Hotel and restaurant tips are included - you'll never have to worry about how much to give, nor search for foreign currency. We also include all taxes and porterage charges at hotels.
  • : We carry your bags for you and promptly deliver them to your hotel door.
  • : From time to time, your Travel Director will delight you with an Insight Flourish, which is a local specialty representing the destination.
  • : Stay connected with friends and family with our complimentary coach and hotel Wi-Fi (where available).
  • : If your arrival and/or departure flights are as per the itinerary start and end dates, then transfers are available at scheduled times. If your flights are outside these times, or you have booked additional nights accommodation with Insight Vacations, you may purchase transfers or make your own way from/to the airport.

Authentic Dining

  • Rome: Enjoy a Welcome Dinner with your fellow travellers at a uniquely Roman local restaurant.
  • Italian Lakes: For your Dine-Around Evening, you are offered a selection of hand-picked local restaurants to choose from, each with its own distinctive ambience and cuisine.
  • Lake Iseo: Learn about this historic winery, passed down through the generations, and taste its latest vintages.
  • Burano: Cruise to the charming fisherman's island of Burano to enjoy a delicious Celebration Dinner with wine and new-found friends.

Insight Experiences

  • Vatican: Gain priority access into the Vatican Museums and admire the famous Bramante Staircase. 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: Discover ancient treasures of Rome with a passionate local. See Circus Maximus and the Ancient Forum, and stand beside the Colosseum, which bears witness to the limitless courage of the gladiators.
  • Pompeii: Walk with a Local Expert through the cobbled streets of this ill-fated town, frozen in time since the 1st century.
  • Capri: Explore Capri town with your Local Expert and see the whitewashed houses, winding alleyways, small cafes, fashionable boutiques and artisans studios.
  • Capri: Discover the luxuriant Gardens of Augustus with a Local Expert and admire views of the Faraglioni rocks.
  • Florence: Wander through the market stalls and browse for local Italian souvenirs and leather goods on a guided shopping tour.
  • 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: See the area around Santa Croce Basilica, famous for the quality of its luxury goods and witness a gold and leatherwork demonstration.
  • 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.
  • 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: Visit this elegant fishing village and admire the coloured houses and yachts moored in the harbour.
  • Venice: With your Travel Director cruise to St. Mark's Square and see the Doge's Palace, Bridge of Sighs and St. Mark's Basilica.
  • Venice: Delight in the magic of this charming city as you are serenaded, travelling through the atmospheric canals by gondola.

Well-being

  • : Enjoy the comfort of Insight's luxurious, air-conditioned, 40-seat coach with double the standard legroom and onboard washroom. Our customized luxury coaches are sanitized before the start of your tour and are maintained to very high standards. Physical distancing measures have been implemented on our customized luxury coaches.
  • : Hand sanitizer is freely available on board for you to use throughout the day.

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

Onlinebookingprocesssteps
June 2023
AARP Members Save up to $100
Jun 26 Mon
Jul 6 Thu
AARP Members Save up to $100
Guaranteed Departure This departure is guaranteed
DOUBLE OCCUPANCY PRICE/PERSON
$4,950
July 2023
AARP Members Save up to $100
Jul 31 Mon
Aug 10 Thu
AARP Members Save up to $100
Guaranteed Departure This departure is guaranteed
DOUBLE OCCUPANCY PRICE/PERSON
$4,850 $4,123 Save $728
GETAWAY DEALS
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

Available on Day 2

Roman Dinner Party

Enjoy an evening of delicious Roman cuisine with drinks and a great Italian ambiance.
Adult Price: € 62

Capri

Available on Day 4

Tour of Capri

Experience the spectacular cliffs and famous turquoise waters of Capri during a relaxing cruise to the most beautiful part of the island, the southern side. You descend to the port by funicular with your local expert and board your private boat to view the beautiful grottoes and unique coastline!
Adult Price: € 43
Note: This optional experience is weather dependent and may be replaced by a minibus tour of the Island with a visit to Anacapri and the Villa San Michele.

Florence

Available on Day 6

San Gimignano Excursion

A wonderful excursion with our Local Expert to Tuscany's most famous hill-top town! Visit San Gimignano, considered a medieval Manhattan, due to its towers which dominate the skyline. Soak up the unique atmosphere of this ancient gem which has remained intact since the 14th century and today is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Adult Price: € 36

Available on Day 6

Tuscan Dinner & Cooking Demonstration

Florence and Tuscany are renowned for their rich gastronomic heritage. Tonight we'll travel into the hills near Florence to the northernmost part of the Chianti, where a local chef will introduce you to the dishes that make Tuscan cuisine famous throughout the world. This wonderful cooking demonstration, with superb food and wine, will provide warm and genuine Tuscan hospitality.
Adult Price: € 71

Available on Day 6

Tuscan Dinner at Villa Machiavelli

Through the Chianti hills, we'll drive past vineyards to a delightful hamlet. Our destination is the ancient stone house of Machiavelli, where the great political theorist wrote his immortal work, ‘The Prince'. After a welcome drink and a visit of the villa and its wine-cellars, we'll enjoy the best of Tuscan cuisine accompanied by great music and drinks, including of course, Chianti from the Villa's own vines.
Adult Price: € 68

Italian Lakes

Available on Day 8

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.

Venice

Available on Day 9

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

Available on Day 10

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 3 & 4

Positano Visit

From one paradise to another. Late this morning we take a hydrofoil across to the pristine waters from Capri to Positano. There is no better way to witness the dramatic beauty of the Amalfi Coast's gravity-defying, vertical towns and spectacular coastline. We'll disembark to explore Positano, the pearl of the Amalfi Coast, with all of its colours, wonderful aromas, local shops and a small beach on the Mediterranean sea.
Adult Price: € 62
Note: This optional is weather dependent.

Reviews
Service
Vacation
Independent Reviews
Trusted Customer
Review date: Saturday, January 4, 2020
Service
Booking was easy.
Vacation
The vacation was great, but the travel guide seemed to not want to offer other options for guests to do. Some times my group would like to go off and do other things and the guide would discourage this.
Trusted Customer
Review date: Thursday, June 13, 2019
Service
I booked my trip with a travel specialist who left the company at the end of Dec. She was very helpful in finding the exact trip in Italy that I wished to book. She also booked my flight information, which was changed without notification several times afterward an d I had to calll and find different flights. The worst was the return flight through JFK That wa a nightmare! We just barely made out flight to MSP because of the lengthy hallways and the crowds at Customs.
Vacation
Excellent Tour Leader, Daniele Nannetti! We saw a lot of Italy with comfort and ease. Good travel companions and good weather helped to make this a wonderful experience. The crowds were thick everywhere even though this was a late May, early June trip. I would book April or very early May next time.
Lynda Ficili
Review date: Friday, April 19, 2019
Service
The process was very easy
Vacation
The hotels were great, the excursions terrific
Trusted Customer
Review date: Thursday, October 11, 2018
Service
GET made our 30th wedding anniversary one of our best vacation experiences ever! We had the best rooms at all the hotels! Everything was very organized and professionally handled. There were no glitches whatsoever!! We will highly recommend booking through GET to all our friends!
Response from Grand European Travel:
Wow! We're delighted to hear that you had an amazing time in Italy for your anniversary. How wonderful to have been a part of such an important milestone and celebration. Thank you for sharing about your vacation, we can't wait to help you start planning your next trip!
Thursday, October 11, 2018
Vacation
We thoroughly enjoyed everything about this trip! We enjoyed our driver Benito and our tour guide Bradford McEwen! Can't wait to book another trip with GET!
Jeanne Dale
Review date: Thursday, September 13, 2018
Service
Our tour director, Francis T was absolutely fabulous. We got what amounted to a brief history lesson before going to each new place and made us appreciate what we were seeing so much more. Everything was first rate- from the hotels, to the local tour guides to the meals. The fact that our luggage was transported every day for was a real bonus. Looking forward to touring with GET and Insight in the future. Thanks for a truly lovely trip.
Response from Grand European Travel:
Thank YOU for sharing your experience and for being a part of our travel family! We're so happy to hear that your Italian vacation was first-rate and amazing. We're excited to help you start planning your next trip!
Friday, September 14, 2018
Vacation
Great trip.. would definitely use again
Gisela Nobinger
Review date: Monday, June 11, 2018
Service
Excellent tour director: Belinda Richardson, simply outstanding.
Response from Grand European Travel:
We're so pleased to hear you had a wonderful time on your trip through Italy! Thank you for sharing, happy travels!
Tuesday, June 12, 2018
Vacation
Easy and well executed. Good service
Trusted Customer
Review date: Sunday, October 8, 2017
Service
The agents we talked to were so friendly and helpful! We needed to make a change in our airline portion because we were extending our stay by traveling to another country and that was not a problem; we even received a refund on our air portion. The hotels we stayed at were wonderful! We felt like we were staying in another country, not an American hotel but beautiful enchanting Italian hotels! There were several special little extras included, such as specialty food items from different locations that added to our experiences. We saw more and did more in each location then we thought was possible. Our tour guide Daniele Nanetti was the best guide we have ever had. We will definitely travel with this company again.
Vacation
We saw everything we wanted and more, the hotels were great, our tour guide was excellent and his little extras were so much fun. The agents we talked to were very helpful and friendly. We got our moneys worth.
Trusted Customer
Review date: Saturday, October 7, 2017
Service
We had a marvelous tour guide, better than many we had considered to be very good. We were able to get the flights to fit around other travel plans we had in conjunction with this particular tour. Insight was the tour company, but we booked it through GET and we are very happy with the trip.
Vacation
we found many treasures in Italy.
Mary Whitaker
Review date: Thursday, October 5, 2017
Service
Everyone was always very helpful and since this was my first experience going to Europe it made the trip so enjoyable!
Vacation
The Treasures of Italy was exactly what I wanted to experience in Italy, thank you!! Every city was beautiful and unique in it's own special way, so diverse.
Trusted Customer
Review date: Wednesday, July 5, 2017
Service
They did a great job making airline reservations to suit our travel dates. We have already recommended them to friends & family!
Vacation
Good value for money. Two things would have made it perfect. 1. All people on the tour don't get the same class of rooms. Few people in our group had rooms with great views whereas we did not. 2. The "private" gondola ride in Venice wasn't really private. We as a couple got split up on the boat & could not even take a photo together.
See More Reviews
Terms & Conditions
Click here to view Terms and Conditions for this guided vacation
Back To Top