Italy Experience
Italy
Loading...
Take a trip to Italy, from the canals of Venice to the cobblestone streets of Rome. On this ten-day trip, you’ll explore historic sites and small villages and indulge in as much food and wine as you can handle. Start in the canal-laden Venice and you walk the streets on a cicchetti crawl, then visit the gorgeous Cinque Terre for hikes, photos and a pesto-making class. Soak in the coastal colours, then head to Pisa, home to that tilted tower. Explore Florence’s art, history and culture with loads of free time, then go on to discover the rolling hills of Umbria. Sample wine, local cuisine and great company, then move on to mighty Rome.
Availability
From 28/04/2025 to 10/11/2027
Departure dates & prices
Dates
Availability
Price
What's included
Take a daytrip to Perugia’s ancient town of Spello.
Walk the winding laneways and cobbled streets, then sample the local wine and regional delicacies at a local enoteca for lunch.
See some iconic sites like the canals of Venice, the Duomo’s gorgeous exterior in Florence and the endless sights of Rome.
Find out why these cities are loved by so many and enjoy plenty of free time to make your own discoveries.
Eat your way through this foodie’s paradise with a cicchetti (small bites) tour in Venice, a pesto-making class in Cinque Terre and a local leader to point out all the best spots for espresso, gelato, wine and pasta.
Explore Cinque Terre with a group hike – a series of walking paths connect the pastel villages of Monterosso, Corniglia and Riomaggiore.
(make sure you bring your camera).
Support the local community with a farewell dinner in Trastevere – a gorgeous area in Rome popular for its summer dining and aperitif culture – at a local cooperative that employs people living with disabilities and provides hospitality training.
Breakfasts Included: 9.
Lunches Included: 1.
Dinners Included: 3.
Hotel (9 nights).
Train,Public bus,Ferry,Metro,Taxi.
Age: min 15.
Group Size: 1 - 12.
Venice - Cicchetti tour.
Venice - San Giorgio Bell Tower.
Venice - Traghetto Ride.
Venice - Vaporetto return ticket to San Giorgio bell tower.
Cinque Terre - 'Il Laboratorio del Pesto' Making & Demonstration.
Cinque Terre - Cinque Terre Pass and leader-led hike.
Pisa - Half Day Trip to Pisa.
Florence - Piazzale Michelangelo.
Perugia - Leader-led orientation walk.
Spello - Enoteca Wine Tasting & Lunch.
Rome - Leader-led orientation walk.
.
Itinerary
-
1 - Venice Ciao! Welcome to Venice. This watery wonderland of bridges, towers, piazzas, canals, churches and gondolas - practically unchanged for 600 years - is literally sinking under the weight of its iconic sites. There are no activities planned before tonight's welcome meeting at 6 pm, so if you arrive early, there are plenty of things to keep you busy. The Grand Canal is a great place to start, as you can stroll over the Rialto Bridge and browse the endless boutique shops selling Venetian masks and handmade Murano glassware. Tonight, discover some moreish Venetian bites on a cicchetti crawl through the city's fabulous bacari (wine bars).
-
2 - Venice After breakfast, venture out and explore Venice. There are only two ways to get around this city - on foot or by boat. This morning, get a taste of both. Take the Vaporetto (water bus) over to the island of San Giorgio to climb the bell tower for the best view of Venice. Your afternoon is free to take a trip in a Venetian gondola, enjoy an espresso and people watch in San Marco Square or discover the artwork at the Palazzo Ducale or the Peggy Guggenheim Collection. In the evening, maybe join your fellow travellers for a group dinner at a local restaurant. Venice is famous for its specialities of fresh lobster and squid ink spaghetti dishes, so make sure you give one a try.
-
3 - La Spezia Spend the day travelling by train to the once important naval base of La Spezia - now the gateway to the Cinque Terre (Five Lands). The name comes from the five tiny villages - Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Venranzza, Monterosso - whose position, wedged into a series of coves between sheer cliffs, makes it one of the highlights of the whole of Italy. When you arrive in La Spezia there won't be too much time to explore, but after checking into your hotel, you can get your bearings with a short walk around the pedestrian zone on Via del Prione to the gardens along the harbour or head out for dinner with the group.
-
4 - La Spezia This morning, venture out on the footpaths of the Cinque Terre for a leader-led hike. The footpaths between the villages were once the only way to travel in the region and take you through olive groves and vineyards. You can walk just a few sections, as some path sections can be difficult with challenging uphill stretches, narrow sections, steep cliffs and foot bridges. If you're not up for the hike, you can take the train between the villages or back to the group's base. After working up an appetite, take advantage of the Liguria region with a pesto-making demonstration and the chance to create your own pesto. Of course, you'll try your creation with a glass of wine afterwards. The rest of the day is free. In the evening, there's no better way to recover from your day of walking than with more indulgence in delicious Mediterranean food.
-
5 - Pisa - Florence Depart Cinque Terre today and catch a train to Pisa. Divided in two by the River Arno, the heart of Pisa is the Santa Maria quarter on the north bank. You can visit the world-famous Leaning Tower, as well as the Duomo (Piazza dei Miracoli, once the largest in Europe) and Pisa Baptistry, or explore the town, maybe enjoying lunch and an aperitif in a backstreet restaurant. Return to the station in the afternoon and take the train to Florence. After checking into your hotel, the rest of your evening is free to explore the city of the Renaissance.
-
6 - Florence Today is free for you to explore all that Florence has to offer. It's impossible to see everything in this Renaissance wonderland, so take your time to work out a plan. The principal sights are easily discovered on foot - the Pitti Palace, Ponte Vecchio, Arno riverside, the many statues and monuments of the Piazza della Signoria, Palazzo Vecchio, Santa Maria del Fiore cathedral, the Baptistry and the Belltower, and the Santa Croce Church. Otherwise, you can visit the Uffizi - one of the world's oldest art galleries and a work of art in itself. If you want to see Michelangelo's iconic statue of David, head to the Galleria dell' Accademia. In the evening, climb the steep stairs uphill to Piazzale Michelangelo for a renowned sunset view across the rooftops of Florence before an included dinner of Tuscan specialties at a local restaurant.
-
7 - Perugia After a free morning in Florence, travel by train to Perugia. The once-Roman settlement of Perugia sits atop a rocky hill with views over the green hills of the Umbria region and is now a university town with one of Italy's largest schools. When you arrive, head out on an orientation walk of the city's medieval streets. For an insight into local history, use your free time this afternoon to visit the National Gallery of Umbria - an impressive collection of Umbrian art housed in the Palazzo dei Priori (a grand stone building from the 13th century). With the city's population of students filling the streets with nightlife, you might like to head out tonight and explore. Pause for a glass of prosecco along Corso Vannucci, the city's main street, as you take a very Italian passeggiata.
-
8 - Perugia Take a train to the nearby medieval town of Spello - a Roman town that straddles a thin ridge at the base of Mount Subasio, which is the mountain where St Francis was said to have talked to the animals. It's a place known for its wine and rural charm. Two of the local churches feature frescoes by famed Renaissance painter Pinturicchio, who later lent his hand to works in the Vatican and Siena's Cathedral. Sample the local wine and regional delicacies with lunch at a local enoteca. Tartufo and porcini make up the base of many pasta and risotto dishes, while whole stuffed pig with rosemary is a signature dish of the region. Back in Perugia, the rest of your evening is free.
-
9 - Rome This morning, take a comfortable bus to Rome and remember that while here, the best attitude is 'when in Rome'! Join your leader on an orientation walk around the city, where you will pass by some of the iconic sights such as the Colosseum (one of the Seven Wonders of the World) and Arch of Constantine, the Forum, Piazza Navona, the Pantheon, the Trevi Fountain and Spanish Steps. If you have time take a visit to the Vatican City and St Peter's Basilica. Entry to the Basilica is free, and there's a small charge to climb the dome for a panorama over the city. Head out to the Trastevere region tonight with your group for a final farewell dinner - this artsy part of the city is always a great spot for dinner, drinks and wandering around the winding lanes in the evening. Your local restaurant for tonight - Trattoria De Gli Amici - is run by a social cooperative promoted by the community of Sant 'Egidio - they train and employ people living with disabilities, supported by management and locals.
-
10 - Rome There are no activities planned today, and your trip will come to an end. If you'd like to extend your stay in Rome (and it's recommended that you do), just speak to your booking agent.
- The following product terms and conditions apply in addition to our Booking Terms and Conditions (available on our website) and terms and conditions of the relevant travel service provider.
- Prices quoted valid for sale until 26 April 2025 for travel during the period specified (if applicable) unless otherwise stated or sold out prior.
- All prices are per person (unless otherwise stated), subject to availability and may be withdrawn or varied without notice. Accommodation (if included) is based on twin share unless otherwise stated.
- Advertised price includes bonus nights and/or stated saving (if applicable).
- Additional supplier conditions and travel restrictions may apply. Please enquire for further details.
- Airfare (including internal flights) is not included unless otherwise stated and, if included, is economy class unless otherwise stated.
- Components of the total price including local payments, "resort fees", "national park fees", "trip kitties" and food funds (if applicable) may be payable direct to the supplier on arrival or to your travel consultant prior to your departure. Where applicable, these payments are included in the total price quoted.
- Gratuities are not included unless otherwise stated.
- Prices shown are fully inclusive of taxes, levies and government charges current at the time of publication.
- Additional levies, government charges & other applicable fees, including additional taxes, surcharges and visa fees specific to your departure date or flight routing, may apply and are beyond our control.
- Seasonal surcharges and blackout dates may apply depending on date of travel.
- Prices shown are for payments made by cash in store or by BPAY.
- Payments made in store by credit card will incur a surcharge (see Booking Terms and Conditions for further details).
- These prices are a guide to the best price and are subject to change without notice, due to matters outside our control, such as adverse currency fluctuations, fuel surcharges, taxes and airfare increases. Please enquire for further details..
- We receive payment from third party travel service providers when you use us to book travel and travel-related products and services with them on your behalf.
- Our liability to you is limited in certain situations, and we may charge you a cancellation fee(s) in certain circumstances. See our booking terms and conditions for further details.
- We may provide your personal information to third parties, including travel service providers with whom you make a booking. See our privacy policy for further details.
Tell us about your travel plans
Loading...
Why choose Flight Centre?
Not only do we have an incredible, worldwide team with decades of experience and a genuine passion for travel, we also have the widest choice of travel options covering tours, cruises, holiday packages and more. Flight Centre gives you free holiday planning and personalised service, Interest Free* Holiday Finance so you can book now, pay later, and 24/7 worldwide customer care on 133 133.