Country Roads of Italy, a Women-Only Tour

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. Relax and settle in before joining your Travel Director and getting to know your fellow travellers over a delicious Welcome Dinner with wine at a local restaurant.

Room 007 Select, Rome

• Rome

Vatican and Rome a Local

Today is devoted to The Eternal City. Join a Local Expert to discover the modern-day city and how people lived in Ancient Rome. See St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican City. Then cross the Tiber river to see the Circus Maximus and learn about the history, the construction and the legends of the iconic Colosseum on a guided visit. Imagine the roar of the spectators as you enter the arena and stroll around picturing the gladiators and their adoring fans.

Room 007 Select, Rome

• Rome
• Vatican City
• Rome

Sorrento

Venture south leaving the region of Lazio for Campania. Drink in the views of the Bay of Naples and the distinctive outline of Mount Vesuvius as you reach the resort town of Sorrento.

Majestic Palace Hotel, Sorrento

• Rome
• Sorrento

Capri, the Isle of Dreams and picturesque Amalfi Coast

Meet your Local Expert and cross the Bay of Naples to reach the beautiful Isle of Capri, a rock rising sheer from the Mediterranean. For 2,000 years, Capri has beckoned visitors from Tiberius Caesar to Gracie Fields. Arrive at the Marina Grande by boat and ascend to Capri town. Explore the narrow alleyways, browse in exclusive boutiques and wonder at the views over the Tyrrhenian Sea. Descend to the port by funicular railway and return to Sorrento. Travel along Italy’s finest coastline, the Amalfi Coast. Stop for a bird’s-eye view of the terraced houses of Positano.

Majestic Palace Hotel, Sorrento

• Sorrento
• Capri
• Positano
• Sorrento

Pompeii and Todi

Journey to the ancient Roman city of Pompeii to explore this extraordinary site with your Local Expert. Travel into the heart of Italy to enjoy free time in Todi, located on a hilltop pedestal overlooking a vineyard-covered plain. Savour the distinctly medieval ambiance during your orientation and admire the Piazza del Popolo where locals take their evening 'passeggiata'. Cap off the day dining at a local restaurant with a glass of Orvieto Classico wine - a magical culinary experience.

Fonte Cesia, Todi

• Sorrento
• Pompeii
• Todi

Todi

Journey through the undulating splendour of the Umbrian hills where the glossy green vine leaves reflect the warm sunshine of the region. Nestled in this glorious scenery is a family-owned business run by the females of the family. Taste the flavours of the region including Umbrian wine and olive oil. Learn how they have developed their business and produced award-winning wines before tasting the results of their work.

Fonte Cesia, Todi

• Todi
• Torgiano
• Todi

Assisi and on to Perugia Relaxed Start

In Assisi see St. Clare’s Church and the cathedral. Continue to walk down the Via San Francesco and visit the huge Basilica of St. Francis with a Local Expert. Journey to beautiful Perugia - the jewel of Umbria. Your guided walking exploration begins in the main street of Perugia's Old Town. See the Collegio del Cambio, the splendid Priors' Palace, the Cathedral and the finely sculptured Great Fountain in the magnificent main square. In the evening there is the option to discover the edible treasures of a traditional Umbrian kitchen, accompanied with wines of the region.

Sangallo Palace Hotel, Perugia

• Todi
• Assisi
• Perugia

Perugia, the Jewel of Umbria Relaxed Start

In Perugia, explore more of this gem of a town. Join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience as you visit a women-run artisanal workshop and meet Marta, a recipient of a TreadRight Foundation grant. Learn how Marta and her weavers are preserving the ancient craft of loom-weaving. With the rest of your day at leisure, perhaps visit Cortona, one of the oldest hill towns in Tuscany. On this Optional Experience, journey to a recently unearthed Etruscan Temple before a guided exploration through the town's historic centre with views of Lake Trasimeno and the Val di Chiana.

Sangallo Palace Hotel, Perugia

• Perugia

Siena and San Gimignano Relaxed Start

This morning, soak up the waters of a natural thermal spa, renowned through the centuries for the beneficial effects on the body, delighting the Etruscans, Romans and modern-day visitors. Explore Siena with Insight Choice. Choose to visit the medieval Basilica of St. Catherine or alternatively, sample panforte, a traditional Tuscan dessert. Continue to the hilltop town of San Gimignano. Enjoy a tasting with award-winning master gelato maker, Sergio Dondoli, whose great inventions include innovative and mouth-watering flavour combinations. Journey through the rolling, cypress-clad hills and vineyards of Tuscany and enjoy a delicious exploration of Tuscany's red wines, discovering their robust flavours and absorbing history before arriving at your elegant hotel.

Relais Certosa, Florence

• Perugia
• Rapolano Terme
• Siena
• San Gimignano
• Monteriggioni

Florence

Embark on your journey to renaissance Florence. Join a Local Expert to see the marble-clad cathedral, bell tower and Gates of Paradise on the baptistery. Enjoy time at leisure to explore Piazza della Signoria, still the political heart of Florence and an open-air gallery of Renaissance masterpieces. Spend time gazing at the fountains and sculptures along the front of the Palazzo Vecchio. Wander the area around Santa Croce Basilica, famous for the quality of its luxury goods of gold and leather. Cap off your day with a tasty cocktail class, learning the art of cocktail-making from a local mixologist.

Relais Certosa, Florence

• Monteriggioni
• Florence
• Monteriggioni

On to Lucca Relaxed Start

Travel to Lucca to view the churches, squares and palaces, perfectly preserved within encircling medieval ramparts. Pause a while and taste the lavish loaves of buccellato, Lucca's sweet raisin anise bread, said to be a favourite of the ancient Roman army. Later, you could take the opportunity to explore Pisa.

Villa La Principessa, Lucca

• Monteriggioni
• Lucca

Exploring the Cinque Terre

Get ready to explore the Cinque Terre, or five villages, which for years were only accessible by foot. This UNESCO World Heritage site is one of Italy's most beautiful landscapes. Join a Local Expert in one of the picturesque fishing villages, before cruising along the rugged coastline (weather permitting). There is plenty of time to explore the old medieval quarter and popular sandy beach before returning to your hotel in Lucca.

Villa La Principessa, Lucca

• Lucca
• Cinque Terre
• Lucca

On to Parma

Journey to the beautiful university town of Parma, world-famous for its local ham and cheese. Meet one of the locals, Paolo. Learn about the process of making Parmigiano-Reggiano as Signor Paolo shares with you his passions for Italian food, especially excellent quality Parmesan cheese. Taste samples of the famous Parmigiano-Reggiano, accompanied by a glass of wine.

Starhotels Du Parc, Parma

• Lucca
• Parma

Modena and on to Venice

Visit one of Modena's top producers of authentic, traditional, artisan balsamic vinegar and take a master class to understand what makes this vinegar as expensive as top-rated wines. Continue through the Soave vineyards past Padua to Venice, Queen of the Adriatic. To the tune of accompanying musicians, you will be serenaded through the atmospheric canals as you glide by gondola past water-lapped doorways and rococo palaces.

Hilton Molino Stucky, Venice

• Parma
• Modena
• Venice

The Magic of La Serenissima

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. 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. Cruise the islands of the Venetian Lagoon to arrive at Burano, famous for its candy coloured houses. Over another MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience, meet artist and environmentalist Allison Zurfluh for a boat ride and art show over a glass of Prosecco. Conclude your women-only tour over a sumptuous celebration dinner with wine, sampling the local specialties.

Hilton Molino Stucky, Venice

• Venice

Arrivederci Venice

Your departure transfer arrives at Venice Marco Polo Airport.

• Venice