Day 1
ARRIVE IN ROME, ITALY
Your Small Group Discovery Begins!
At 6 pm, meet your Tour Director and travel companions for a welcome dinner at a local restaurant. (D)
Day 2
ROME
A Little Romance
Join your group for an informative orientation tour to get to know the Eternal City with striking views of its legendary landmarks. Work up an appetite for a food tour of romantic Roma! (B)
Tour Highlight: Time stands still with a small group walk through the Eternal City. Join your personal Local Guide to be amazed by the monumental, artistic, and religious buildings of Rome. Along the way, stop in three local venues that are perfect for small groups to taste local specialties.
Day 3
ROME–NARNI–PERUGIA
Small Pleasures in Perugia
Enjoy an intimate walking tour to explore the sights of the ancient hilltop town of Narni. Next, visit a local frantoio farm for a special olive-oil tasting and light lunch in the 14th-century city of Perugia—one of the most beautiful and beloved villages in Italy. (B, L)
Tour Highlight: For generations, the same family has cared for hectares of fertile ground in the green hearth of Umbria. Take in the scent and the color of the excellent olive oil in this timeless mill as the family shares their history of cultivating Frantoio olives to achieve the authentic characteristic of its delicious flavor.
Day 4
PERUGIA–PIENZA
Sweet Expectations
Enjoy the sweet experience of a guided walking tour, including an exclusive chocolate-tasting experience in Perugia. Keep the samples coming with a savory Pecorino cheese-tasting in Pienza. (B)
Tour Highlight: The town of Perugia is widely known for its love affair with chocolate. Every year, this beautiful capital of Umbria hosts the annual Eurochocolate festival, chocolate enthusiasts from around the world to gather and indulge in chocolate tastings and special events.
SMALL GROUP EXCLUSIVE ACCOMMODATION Settle in with your small group to enjoy two nights in the serenity of The Relais Chiostro di Pienza hotel. This former 13th-century Monastery of St. Francis combines austere elegance with Tuscan luxury in the centre of the historic hamlet of Pienza.
Day 5
PIENZA–EXCURSION TO BAGNO VIGNONI
A Toast to Tuscany
Visit the small village of Bagno Vignoni in the Val D’Orcia region of Tuscany, renowned for its unique thermal baths which have been used since Roman times. Globus Local Favorite Join your small group for a unique wine tasting in the Montepulciano region. (B)
Local Favourite: A big advantage of small groups becomes clear when enjoying unique experiences like a visit to a sustainable and organic winery in the heart of Montepulciano region. Learn about local winemaking traditions that produce exceptional wines while caring for the environment and preserving the local ecosystem.
Day 6
PIENZA–MONTERIGGIONI–SAN GIMIGNANO–FLORENCE
Secret Recipes
Enjoy a private cooking class in Monteriggioni, followed by lunch in one of Italy’s oldest villages. In San Gimignano, join your group for an enlightening orientation walking tour. (B, L)
Tour Highlight: Roll up your sleeves with a personal, professional chef to learn the techniques of preparing an authentic Tuscan meal. Master the secret methods of creating your own mouthwatering dishes using fresh, seasonal, and organic ingredients.
Day 7
FLORENCE
Fashionably Great
Take a guided walking tour in Florence with a visit to the Ferragamo Museum. Celebrate in style with a wine tasting served from a buchetta del vino (wine window). (B)
Tour Highlight: Follow your expert Local Guide through a maze of must-see-sights and legendary landmarks. Hear the story behind Florence's "buchette del vino" (wine doors) in the style of the Renaissance period. Here, winemakers continue the tradition of offering wine to passing patrons just as past vendors had done to avoid the16th- to 17th-century wine taxes of their day.
Day 8
FLORENCE–VENICE
Via Venezia
Travel to Venice via high-speed train. Later, grab your favourite few for a private Gondola ride followed by a farewell dinner at a local restaurant. (B,D)
Tour Highlight: Enjoy the quintessential Venetian experience with a Gondola ride on the iconic canals. Glide through the narrow waterways with the expert maneuvers of your gondolier who navigates with just a single oar—while possibly offering a serenade or two. Get a new perspective of the city sights, architecture, picturesque bridges, and bustling waterfronts from the comfort of your private water taxi. Mama mia!
Day 9
VENICE
Safe travels until we meet again!
Your tour ends with breakfast this morning. (B)