Additional Included Highlights

• You will be escorted by one of our fine Travelling Concierges, handpicked to serve as your expert guide, consummate organiser, and friend overseas.
• Personal radio headsets give you the freedom to wander during visits to famous highlights, without missing any of your Local Expert's fascinating commentary, available on departures with 15 or more guests.
• At every hotel, you'll be treated to seamless baggage handling, with prompt delivery inside your room.
• 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.
• Stay connected with friends and family with our complimentary coach and hotel Wi-Fi (where available).
• Complimentary, airport transfers are included on start and end dates and when additional accommodation has been booked through Luxury Gold. Guests will be transferred with fellow Luxury Gold Travellers that arrive on the same flight. Complimentary, private train station transfers are included when train travel is included within the itinerary. Transfers to train stations or alternate hotels, in the same start or end city of the itinerary, may be requested but are not guaranteed.

Choice Highlights

• Choose between two carefully selected activities
• Vatican City: Avoid the crowds of the general public with your VIP entrance to the Vatican Museums and join a Local Expert to walk through the art filled rooms and galleries to the Raphael Rooms, decorated by the famous painter and his students. See the School of Athens, probably the most acclaimed fresco of Raphael, depicting the greatest artists of the high Renaissance. Alternatively, join a Local Expert to discover the religious history of the Papal State as you make your way to the Sistine Chapel and St Peter's Basilica.
• Vatican City: Avoid the crowds of the general public with your VIP entrance to the Vatican Museums and join a Local Expert to discover the religious history of the Papal State as you make your way to the Sistine Chapel. Continue to the St Peter's Basilica and see Michelangelo's moving Pieta, another masterpiece of the great Renaissance artist. Alternatively, join a Local Expert to walk through the art filled rooms and galleries to the Raphael Rooms, decorated by the famous painter and his students.
• Choose between two carefully selected activities
• Assisi: Join a Local Expert for a guided visit to the imposing Basilica of St. Francis.
• Assisi: Treat your palate as you sample Umbrian specialities at a tasting experience.
• Choose between two carefully selected activities
• Florence: Join an art historian to immerse yourself in Renaissance Florence. Visit the Accademia Museum and marvel at the statue of David, a Michelangelo masterpiece. See the impressive trio of the Duomo, Bell Tower and Baptistery before arriving to Piazza della Signoria, traditionally the political heart of the city.
• Florence: Join a local foodie and get to know Florence one bite at a time on your walking tour. Learn about Florentine speciliaties, visit the lively Mercato Centrale and sample a selection of gourmet highlights.
• Choose between two carefully selected activities
• Venice: Join a Local Expert to go on a exploration of the hidden back lanes of Venice and hear the stories of La Serenissima's medieval grace and glory.
• Venice: Join a Local Expert to discover long-standing Venetian crafts. See how the iconic carnival masks are created and learn about marbelised paper and the art of bookbinding.

Well-being

• : Your Well-Being Director takes a proactive approach to your welfare ensuring all well-being regulations are met. On tours fewer than 15 guests, your Traveling Concierge will act as your Well-Being Director.
• : Luxury Gold is proud to offer various modes of transportation, from luxury coach to included train travel to boutique river cruising and more, so that you always travel in comfort and experience your journey and destination in the best possible and most appropriate way. 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.
• : Experience enhanced hygiene protocols to align with the latest guidance following COVID-19. All Travelling Concierge's, Well-Being Directors and Drivers have completed training in enhanced well-being and hygiene protocols.
• : We only work with establishments we are confident will consistently adhere to our high well-being standards, which include hotels, restaurants and sight-seeing venues.
• : Hand sanitizer is freely available on board for you to use throughout the day.

Exceptional Dining

• Rome: As night falls, delight in the romance of the Eternal City before gathering for a delicious Welcome Dinner of Italian cuisine and wine at a restaurant known only to locals, near Rome’s famous Pantheon. Watch the world go by as you savour a meal with new friends.
• Sorrento: On Summer Departures, visit the agricultural wine estate of Casa Barone. Savour a delicious meal accompanied with wine made from sustainable crops and enjoy panoramic views over the islands of the islands of Ishcia and Procida. On this MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience learn how Casa Barone works to maintain the biodiversity of the Vesuvian countryside. The organisation works to protect endangered food species such as the Piennolo tomato by developing a cultivation method with low environmental impact.
• Capri: After your morning cruise, cool off from the Mediterranean sun with a refreshing local beverage, the lemon granita. Freshly made with sweet Sicilian lemons, this tasty drink will add zing to your day before more exploring.
• Capri: Take in beautiful views of the Gulf of Naples from the privileged perch of Michelin-starred Mammà restaurant. Savour a delectable meal of Mediterranean flavours in perfect Caprese style, created with passion from fresh, local produce by chef Salvatore La Ragione.
• Assisi: Treat your palate as you sample Umbrian specialities at a tasting experience.
• Tuscany: Explore Guardastelle with a wine expert to learn about the various grape varieties and visit the ancient cellars, where you will enjoy a wine tasting. Afterwards, indulge in a lunch of Tuscan specialties and beautiful views of the rolling hills and vineyards.
• San Gimignano: Get a taste of magnificence in gelato form. Ascend serpentine alleyways to the artisan ice cream parlour of World Champion Gelato maestro, Sergio Dondoli, for a taste of his creamiest treats. It may be difficult to leave.
• Florence: Join a local foodie and get to know Florence one bite at a time on your walking tour. Learn about Florentine speciliaties, visit the lively Mercato Centrale and sample a selection of gourmet highlights.
• Florence: Enjoy dinner in an elegant Florentine villa, where you’ll dine on regional dishes including the famous local specialty 'Fiorentina' - a Tuscan beef steak, seasoned and grilled to perfection.
• Tuscany: Immerse yourself in the culture of Tuscan food with a hands-on cooking class in the former hunting lodge of the Medici family. Source fresh ingredients from the blooming garden and learn how to roll your own fresh pasta with a professional Italian chef.
• Venice: Learn how to make the perfect Bellini, the cocktail invented right here in Venice and named after a local artist. Afterwards, enjoy with a traditional Italian dinner at the atmospheric Taverna La Fenice, steeped in history.
• Dining Summary: 11 Breakfast (B), 5 Dinner with Wine (DW), and 3 Lunch with Wine (LW)

Journey Highlights

• Rome: Stroll around the Roman Forum, learning more about the ancient ruins of government buildings while enjoying the panoramic views over the Eternal City. Then, skip the queues to view the iconic Colosseum and hear the remarkable history of the largest amphitheater in the ancient world.
• Rome: Every side street has something to offer, as you’ll see on a guided exploration of the hidden sites of Rome with your knowledgeable Local Expert. Get away from the crowds and discover more culture and art in this living masterpiece.
• Pompeii: Walk with a Local Expert through the cobbled streets of this ill-fated town, frozen in time since the 1st century, when a volcanic eruption engulfed the streets. Hear more about the lavish lives the locals lived and visit well-preserved ruins of baths and local shops.
• Capri: Arrive in style for your overnight stay as the jet-set do, travelling to your luxurious Capri hotel by open-top taxi. Don’t forget your headscarf or hat and sunglasses so passersby can speculate about the visiting VIP.
• Capri: Embark on a private cruise that takes you around the dramatic coast of Capri to seek out hidden coves and grottos that few get to see. The White Grotto is a dazzling sight with the stalactites that dangle over its entrance.
• Assisi: Join a Local Expert for a guided visit to the imposing Basilica of St. Francis.
• Perugia: Meet Marta, fourth generation weaver and recipient of a TreadRight Foundation grant at Laboratorio Giuditta Brozzetti. Discover how she and her weavers are preserving the medieval Umbrian tradition of loom-weaving at their artisanal workshop and sharing their own piece of a colorful history. On this MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience Marta and her students help to safeguard the unique patterns while contributing to the protection of Umbria’s cultural heritage. The workshop is owned by women and actively empowers women and girls through its education and training programs.
• San Gimignano: Visit this small hillside city and find out why it's called the 'medieval Manhattan of Italy'. Enter the exquisite Porto San Giovanni, the main city gate, that's stood the test of time since the 13th century. Explore well-preserved streets and beautiful ceramic stores.
• Florence: Join an art historian to immerse yourself in Renaissance Florence. Visit the Accademia Museum and marvel at the statue of David, a Michelangelo masterpiece. See the impressive trio of the Duomo, Bell Tower and Baptistery before arriving to Piazza della Signoria, traditionally the political heart of the city.
• Pisa: Accompanied by your Local Expert, marvel at the gravity-defying Leaning Tower of Pisa and see the Duomo and baptistery.
• Cinque Terre: Experience some of the most awe-inspiring coastal scenery on earth at the UNESCO-listed Cinque Terre. Join your Local Expert and discover charming Manarola, a picturesque fishing village, before travelling by train to the historic and colourful resort town of Rapallo.
• Venice: Take a private water taxi along the Grand Canal to make an elegant arrival at your luxurious hotel, which sits right by the water’s edge. Soak up the romance of this enchanting city as you experience a relaxing journey on the water.
• Venice: Witness the ancient skill of glassblowing at a long-standing arts center, where you can see the artisans create singular works of beautiful art. On this MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience discover more about this incredible craft that has been part of Venetian culture for several centuries. Every visit helps to support the workshop and the survival of this traditional craft.
• Venice: Let yourself be swept away by romance with a ride on a traditional gondola through the canals of Venice. See hidden corners of the city and soak up the atmosphere while being serenaded by your gondolier.
• Venice: Join a Local Expert to go on a exploration of the hidden back lanes of Venice and hear the stories of La Serenissima's medieval grace and glory.
• Venice: Join a Local Expert to discover long-standing Venetian crafts. See how the iconic carnival masks are created and learn about marbelised paper and the art of bookbinding.

VIP Experiences

• Vatican City: Avoid the crowds of the general public with your VIP entrance to the Vatican Museums and join a Local Expert to walk through the art filled rooms and galleries to the Raphael Rooms, decorated by the famous painter and his students. See the School of Athens, probably the most acclaimed fresco of Raphael, depicting the greatest artists of the high Renaissance. Alternatively, join a Local Expert to discover the religious history of the Papal State as you make your way to the Sistine Chapel and St Peter's Basilica.
• Vatican City: Avoid the crowds of the general public with your VIP entrance to the Vatican Museums and join a Local Expert to discover the religious history of the Papal State as you make your way to the Sistine Chapel. Continue to the St Peter's Basilica and see Michelangelo's moving Pieta, another masterpiece of the great Renaissance artist. Alternatively, join a Local Expert to walk through the art filled rooms and galleries to the Raphael Rooms, decorated by the famous painter and his students.
• Venice: Triumphantly enter the Doge's Palace as a guardian permits only you and your traveling companions to enter for a private, after-hours tour. Discover the art, culture and history of the Venetian Republic in a small, intimate group.

Chairman's Collection

• Tuscany: If you are travelling on a Chairman's Collection departure, on Day 6 you are invited to an exclusive lunch and wine tasting with Marchese Mazzei at his centuries-old Tuscan estate. This experience will replace the lunch and wine tasting at the 'Guardastelle' estate.