Senior Tour of Venice, Florence, Rome, and Amalfi Coast Tour

The winding alleys and watery corridors of Venice will be your playground for the first leg of your 12-day Italy tour. Upon arrival, you will be transferred by private car and then a water taxi to ensure your rapid transfer to the city center and your luxurious accommodation. After settling in, a private gondola tour will help orient you to your new surroundings. A few steps from your accommodation, you will board a comfortable craft that will carry you through the city and introduce you to the major spots that you can later explore on foot.

Leisure will be the theme of your first morning in Venice. With nowhere to be, you can either hit the snooze button or explore this magical setting as the morning gently arrives. After you have enjoyed a leisurely morning of exploring the piazzas, shops, and cafes of Venice, you will have a chance to immerse yourself in the composition of one such artist. Antonio Vivaldi was an 18th-century composer whose musical genius gained him international notoriety at a young age. In the evening, you will enjoy a short walk from your hotel to a nearby music hall, where you will enjoy a live performance of Vivaldi’s most famous work.

Today, you will return to the waves to explore some of the countryside outside the city. A short stroll from your hotel will allow you to board a private boat for your tour of the Brenta Riviera. This waterway stretches from Venice to Padua and is known for its breathtaking villas and regal palaces. As the breeze coming off the Adriatic gently ruffles your hair, you will be able to see Venice from the waves before making your way into the canal that leads you inland. With over 50 historic palaces that line the banks of the Brenta River, you will have plenty to entertain you.

Today you will turn your back on the sea and venture to the fabled region of Tuscany. Tuscany beckons you, and it is by rail that you will make your way to its capital city of Florence. A private transfer will ensure your timely arrival to the St. Lucia station in Venice, where a comfortable train journey is all that separates you from the rolling hills of Tuscany. Upon your arrival in Florence and your accommodation, you will be able to take some time to rest and orient yourself to your new surroundings. This evening, you will be introduced to the most important institution of Italian culture: cooking.

You will have the day to chart your own course through the many galleries, museums, palaces, and churches throughout Florence. Like Venice, the city enjoyed special prominence along the Mediterranean trade routes. Florence is considered by many to be the birthplace of the Renaissance because it contained the perfect blend of wealth and artistic talent to produce some of the world’s best examples of sculptures and paintings. Today, you will witness these examples with a stop at the Uffizi or Academy galleries, where the work of Michelangelo, Caravaggio, and Da Vinci are displayed.

For your final day in the living masterpiece of Florence, you will visit one of the Florentine structures that dominate the skyline. Florence’s main cathedral offers visitors an excellent example of Gothic and Romanesque architecture and some of the best views of the city. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the cathedral is capped by the largest brick dome in the world, and daily tours are led up to the Duomo. You will be met at your accommodation by a guide experienced in the history and artistic significance of this staggering basilica before you engage in a private tour.

When you are ready this morning, a driver will transfer you to the nearby train station for your first-class journey out of Tuscany. Your destination will be the capital of Italy, and the palaces, villas, and other stunning sights of Rome will afford you a thrilling playground for the next two days. When you arrive in Rome, you will swap your train for a private car to ensure your timely arrival to your elegant accommodation. After settling in and finding relief in the hospitality of the friendly staff, you will celebrate your Roman arrival with a trip to the nearby Villa Borghese gardens and its stunning art gallery.

Arguably the best place to witness the architectural splendor on display in Rome is situated on the other side of the Tiber River. Vatican City remains an independent, sovereign state and the seat of the globe-spanning Catholic Church. From the expansive St. Peter’s square to the Basilica of the same name and to the numerous gardens and museums that lie on this sprawling estate, you can easily spend a full day in this breathtaking place. A thrilling drive from your hotel will lead you to the entrance to the Vatican, where you will be met by a private guide.

Today, you will take a step back into history to the city’s origins of the Roman empire. This exploration will include the Colosseum and the Forum. These two sites afford the best glimpse of the ancient world. Meeting you at your hotel, your guide will provide you with an orientation of the early Roman Republic before leading you to the Colosseum. Upon departing the massive arches and dome of the amphitheater, you will have the option to continue the tour at the nearby Forum or chart your own course in search of more modern Roman delights.

For the final leg of your Italian tour, you will abandon the series of landlocked cities and make your way to the region of Campania and the stunning coastline on display. The Amalfi Coast marks the southern side of the Sorrentine Peninsula.  A comfortable train ride will be all that separates you from this coastal paradise. Upon reaching the urban area of Naples, a skilled driver will navigate the rural highways and lead you to the town of Amalfi. Upon settling in to your new hotel, you will have the remainder of the day to explore the restaurants, shops, and beaches that make this town a favorite at your leisure.

For your final full day in Italy, you will bask in the stunning panoramas that are available on a boat tour of the coast. Your record of elegance and leisure will continue, and a private boat will pick you up at the Amalfi marina. Your captain will provide you with a thorough and comfortable excursion along this fabled coast. During your outing, you will have the option to stop at a nearby town to enjoy a full-course Italian meal.

For 12 days, you have delved deep into the land and culture of Italy. After a leisurely final morning, your driver will greet and transfer you over the beautiful mountains back toward the more urban Naples district. Naples International Airport will be your departure point, and it is not without a wistful glance backward that you will board your flight home.