That’s Amore

Upon your arrival at Naples airport, you will meet your driver for a private transfer to your hotel. At the foot of Mount Vesuvius, Naples has been subject to the volcano’s wrath for centuries, and yet it is still considered one of Italy’s most vibrant cities. The historic city center is the largest in Europe, covering 4,200 acres and encompassing 27 centuries of history. Naples is one of the oldest, continuously inhabited cities in the world, with Bronze Age Greek settlements dating back to the second millennium BC. It’s also a great home base for visiting Pompeii and nearby Herculaneum, towns frozen in time since their burial in AD79 under the molten ash of Vesuvius.

Head into the heart of the historic city center of Naples today with your expert guide. You will explore one of the best food markets around, wander the stalls and shops, and sample some of the delicious local specialties. Continue along the alleys to discover the most picturesque corners of the city. Sites include the Greek ruins of Piazza Bellini, the bakery-filled street of San Biagio dei Librai, Via San Gregorio Armeno (renowned for the elaborate nativity scenes in shop windows), the Decumani junctions and magnificent churches decorated in Rococo style.

Along the way, enjoy a bite of the city’s famous street food, a delicious mix of deep-fried aubergines (eggplant), courgettes (zucchini), arancini (rice croquettes) and potato croquettes. Your tour includes a stop for a pizza fritta at Nonna Fernanda’s.

Today’s excursion takes you along the romantic Amalfi coastal road, considered the most scenic in all of Europe, twisting, turning and looping along the length of the coast to the resort towns of Sorrento, Positano, Amalfi and Ravello. Once reachable only by mule, this scenic region attracted writers and artists in abundance well before the completion of the coastal route in the twentieth century.

You will stop for lunch at Lo Scoglio, where you can taste Stanley Tucci’s favorite spaghetti and zucchini dish – Spaghetti Alla Nerano. Continue to the small town of Minori to taste the creations of world-famous pastry chef Sal De Riso. Make sure to try a bite of his Delizia al Limone, a confection otherwise known as Lemon Delight.

Today is yours to spend at your leisure. Explore your surroundings at your own pace, or simply relax and enjoy the amenities your hotel has to offer.

Today, you meet your driver for a private transfer to Rome. The rest of your day is at leisure. Dinner tonight is at Pommidoro, which was featured in “Searching for Italy.”

Italy’s capital city is a heady blend of artistic and architectural masterpieces, classical ruins, and extravagant baroque churches and piazzas. The city's 2,700 years of history are on display everywhere. Julius Caesar and Nero, the Vandals and the Borgias, Raphael and Caravaggio, Napoleon and Mussolini –countless political, cultural, and spiritual luminaries have all left their mark on the city. This is where a metropolis once bustled around the carved marble monuments of the Roman Forum, where centuries later Michelangelo painted Christian history in the Sistine Chapel, and where an empire of gold was worked into the crowns of centuries of rulers. Nestled in the heart of Rome is the world's smallest state, Vatican City, home to one of the most spectacular museums in the world.

After a light breakfast, a local guide will take you to the lively Trastevere district for an unforgettable food adventure tailored to your tastes. Discover the lesser-known side of Rome, with its bustling markets and ancient maze of streets. Trastevere was once the bohemian quarter of the city and still retains its arty edge today.

Start with a maritozzo cream bun at Bar San Calisto before perusing the displays of fresh produce at a local food market, where you taste mouth-watering traditional delicacies. Your next stop is La Reginella for lunch, where we recommend the traditional carciofi alla giudia or deep-fried artichokes. Dinner is at Bistrot64, as featured in “Searching for Italy.”

Today, you explore the labyrinth of narrow streets and wide-open piazzas of central Rome. Discover a lively hub of Roman life at the Campo dei Fiori marketplace before the spectacle of the Piazza Navona opens before you. This stunning oval-shaped piazza maintains the form of its original purpose as a Roman athletics track. Today it is flanked by cafés with patrons enjoying views of its centrepiece, Bernini's famous Quattro Fiumi fountain. A short stroll away is the Pantheon, the best-preserved of all Roman monuments in the city.

Have a classic lunch nearby at Armando Al Pantheon. You may want to taste the traditional rigatoni all’amatriciana, one of Rome’s famous four pastas – the others being gricia, cacio e pepe and carbonara. Dinner tonight is at Santo Palato, as featured in “Searching for Italy.”

Today is yours to spend at your leisure. Explore your surroundings at your own pace, or simply relax and enjoy the hotel amenities.

Make your onward transfer today to Florence. Upon arrival, you may want to enjoy lunch at Babae. Florence casts a spell in the way that few cities can. The exquisite art, the sunset views over the Arno, the Florentine food and wine – all add to the sublime experience, an environment that hasn’t changed much since the 16th century.

A monument to the Renaissance, the city is filled with architectural masterpieces: the Piazza della Signoria, the Ponte Vecchio, Pitti Palace and Brunelleschi's magnificent Duomo. Art lovers can make a cultural pilgrimage to the Uffizi Gallery, the Accademia and the Bargello Gallery.

Along with your expert guide, you will enjoy an introduction to Italy’s favorite Renaissance city. Listen to intriguing tales of feuding painters, Medici rulers and religious fanatics. The excitement, artistry and intrigue of medieval and Renaissance Florence truly comes alive as you stroll through the avenues and backstreets. Your guide will point out the most important highlights, including the gigantic Duomo, the city’s famous cathedral with its iconic dome. Your tour also includes a visit to Florence’s central market to discover the main ingredients of Tuscan cuisine. At the end of the tour, you can enjoy a traditional lunch at the Osteria Delle Belle Donne, as featured in “Searching for Italy.” Dinner tonight is at Osteria Del Cinghiale Bianco, one of Tucci’s favorites.

Today, your guide will take you to the impressive Church of Santa Croce, which contains the tombs of many famous Florentines, including Michelangelo, Machiavelli, and Galileo. Inside, you can see stunning frescoes by Giotto and one of his pupils, Taddeo Gaddi. Buzzing with local life, the area around Santa Croce also has many quality leather boutiques. During your excursion, you visit the liveliest market in Florence: The Mercato di Sant’Ambrogio. Next door at C.BIO food market, you can try the latest creations of Chef Fabio Picchi and peruse the shelves for Tuscan specialties.

Today, enjoy a private transfer to Bologna, where the rest of the day can be spent at your leisure. Dinner tonight is at Osteria io e Simone.

Rich in history and culture, Bologna is the lively capital of the Emilia-Romagna region in northern Italy. It has a modern edge befitting its energetic lifestyle, balanced with a historic core, as evidenced by the immaculate Renaissance buildings and the world’s oldest university. The city also celebrates a rich food legacy and is famous for its cuisine, la cucina Bolognese. Therefore, it is no surprise that the small medieval streets are full of quaint cafés and authentic restaurants.

Meet your guide at the hotel for a half-day gourmet tour. Discover Bologna’s finest fare at the bustling medieval markets of the city – the Quadrilatero, Mercato di Mezzo and Mercato delle Erbe. You will also visit some of the city’s best-loved food stores to chat with the families who have worked hard to preserve Bologna’s food traditions for generations.

As you wander around the medieval markets, you can sample mouth-watering ciccioli, salsiccia passata and chocolate. You also have the opportunity to watch a traditional pasta-making demonstration – tortellini, tagliatelle, and lasagne suddenly appear as if by magic.

Today, you make the private transfer to Modena, where you will meet a local guide. As well as the city center’s UNESCO World Heritage Site status, Modena is well-known for its opera heritage and balsamic vinegar. Discover the splendour of the historic old town and learn about its interesting history. Modena’s treasures include the cathedral, which is one of the finest masterpieces of European Romanesque architecture, and Piazza Grande, with its Palazzo Comunale.

Your tour makes a stop for lunch at Franceschetta 58, the newest restaurant of multiple Michelin-star Chef Massimo Bottura. Before returning to Bologna, you will drop in at Gran Deposito Aceto Balsamico Giuseppe Giusti to visit the balsamic vinegar museum.

Today, enjoy a private transfer to Milan and spend the rest of your day at leisure.

Located in Italy’s northern Lombardy region, Milan is a global metropolis of fashion and international business, and arguably the most modern city in Italy. Although it is the financial hub of the country, it oozes culture, embracing the modern world while retaining a celebrated historical standing. You can visit the Gothic Duomo, Milan’s cathedral, and seek out Leonardo da Vinci’s famous “The Last Supper.”

Enjoy a four-hour food tour of Milan today and experience a selection of memorable tastings. An expert local guide and food enthusiast takes you to places away from the tourist trail, to taste and learn about local Italian products. Appreciate the true flavors of traditional Italian pastry, ham, culatello, Mondeghili meatballs, gelato and more, and be entertained with stories and the origins of local food products and how they are made. Lunch today is at Ratana, as featured in “Searching for Italy.”

Today is yours to spend at your leisure. Explore your surroundings at your own pace, or simply relax and enjoy the hotel amenities.

Today, enjoy a transfer to the airport ahead of your return flight home.