Family Exploration of Italy's Historic Cities & Enchanting Countryside

Venice intertwines legends of old and modern stories along the iconic canals that twist and turn between islands that carry the weight of the city’s folklore, culture, and charms. The cityscape stands proudly beneath the glimmering Venetian sun, boundless with experiences that will invite you to discover the hidden secrets and famous facets of the Adriatic jewel. You will arrive at the international airport of Venice and transfer to accommodation suitable for families of all ages. This will represent your home away from home, from which you will explore the pleasures of Italy’s floating city.

Venice brims with highlights and gorgeous Venetian Gothic architecture will command your attention with each swivel of your head. On a walking tour of the Italian city, your guide will escort you to the most memorable landmarks, starting at St. Mark’s Square. You will stroll from the bustling Piazza to the dramatic Doge's Palace to view the medieval facade and explore the hidden dungeons few have the privilege of visiting. After lunch you will delve into the art of Venetian mask-making and relish a sunset gondola cruise, before indulging in gourmet Venetian cuisine for dinner.

You will leave Venice with your concierge after breakfast and transfer across the Italian countryside to the rolling hills of Tuscany. The region’s capital city, Florence, is a treasure trove of Renaissance art and architecture that you will stop at to discover what makes Tuscany tick. The Uffizi Gallery is an art aficionado’s playground that protects the great works of Botticelli, Michelangelo, and more. It is the first stop on a walking tour that will introduce your family to the breathtaking masterpieces of Florence within Uffizi and the Accademia Gallery, before you reach the Tuscan wine country of Chianti.

The Tuscan hills of Chianti grow some of the country’s finest red wines and are also home to agricultural pastures that produce exceptional culinary ingredients. You will dedicate your day in Chianti to exploring the region’s depth of flavors as you and your family frolic through the flourishing fields to a cooking school at an elite estate on the slopes of Tuscany. Your chef will introduce you to regional flavors and guide you through the creation of intricate Italian dishes, which you will share around the table family-style and toast your culinary renditions.

Your chauffeur will collect you at your accommodation after breakfast and take you and your family on a tour of the Tuscan city of Siena. Medieval architectural marvels dominate the historic settlement and there are narrow cobblestone streets for you to venture down in search of Siena’s scintillating culinary and cultural secrets. From the vibrant Piazza del Campo town square to the Gothic Siena Cathedral, you will trace Roman and Middle Ages history as it remains reflected from the century-old walls of Siena’s greatest landmarks.

Your family adventure in Italy will continue after breakfast as your guide shows you to the ancient capital of Rome, stopping at Orvieto en route. Orvieto is a city on rocky cliffs in the Umbria region that boasts an underground town for travelers to explore the origins and history of Orvieto’s famous cave system. The millennia-old network of caverns once protected residents during wars, also concealing historic barrels of wine and reservoirs of water. The caves reveal the ancient stories that underpin Orvieto as it stands today and your family is sure to be blown away.

Ancient Rome is gone but never forgotten as monuments, landmarks, and colossal complexes remain open for visitors to explore the history of the powerful empire. Your guide will escort you to the Colosseum and the Roman Forum, where you and your family will feel the haunting atmosphere that envelops the former combat grounds of Roman gladiators. You will delve into ancient Roman life as you browse exhibits showcasing traditional gladiator armor, iron weaponry, and the stands where crowds of Roman residents would cheer and jeer the battling soldiers.

After breakfast you will transfer from the city of Rome to the smallest country in the world, the Vatican City. Home of the Pope and the Roman Catholic headquarters, the Vatican City is the most impressive Catholic complex in the world, abounding with historic discoveries for you and your family to explore. You will step foot inside the great walls of St. Peter’s Basilica, gaze upon the famous frescoes of Michelangelo that veil the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, and walk amongst the crowds within the iconic St. Peter's Square plaza, before you return to Rome.

Your departure from Italy will be bittersweet as you think back to the moment you first arrived and caught a glimpse of Venice’s breathtaking cityscape. Before you go and take magnificent memories back with you, you can make the most of your last morning in Italy by searching the streets of Rome for keepsakes to celebrate your family adventure. You may explore fashion boutiques for luxurious leather and faux-fur pieces, browse cobblers’ reservoirs of stylish shoes, and peruse ceramic galleries for fascinating pots and bowls designed in the image of Ancient Rome. You will enjoy every second before your flight.