Eight Ways to Explore Italy in 2012
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| Get in the mood with this musical minute in Italy! |
No two Italy tours are alike, and we love them all
No other country is so overflowing with history, culture — and flat-out fun — as Italy. Maybe that's why Rick has designed more ways to explore this corner of Europe than any other.
Here is an antipasto platter of our eight Italy tours for 2012 — with links to departure dates, prices, group size, what's included, daily itineraries, related articles, video clips, reviews, maps and more!
To compare the basics of these tours: read Comparing Rick's 2012 Italy Tours
Best of Italy in 17 Days
Starting on beautiful Lake Como, in 17 days our most comprehensive tour of Italy takes you hiking over pristine Alpine meadows, then on to Italy's dream destinations — romantic Venice, Renaissance Florence, seaside Cinque Terre villages, towering Pisa, medieval Siena, St. Francis' Assisi, hill towns and vineyards of Umbria, ending with a wealth of must-see sights in the Eternal City — Rome. MORE...
Heart of Italy in 9 Days
In nine dazzling days, you'll experience the very heart of Italy. Beginning with the amazing art of Renaissance Florence, you'll journey to the cliff-hugging villages of the Cinque Terre, the pedestrian-friendly streets of Lucca, and the Tuscan hill town ambiance of Volterra, ending in the Eternal City of Rome. Along the way, you'll enjoy Italy's most distinctive art, wine and cuisine. MORE...
Venice, Florence & Rome in 10 Days
Your 10 masterpiece-packed days begin with Venice's timeless St. Mark's Square and Basilica, then on to Michelangelo's stunning David and the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, and ends with Rome's Ancient Forum, Colosseum, Pantheon, Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel. You'll also enjoy guided neighborhood walks, memorable meals, full-bodied Italian wines...and the best of Italy's three greatest cities. MORE...
Village Italy in 14 Days
Starting in elegant Padua, you'll spend two weeks immersed in the seductive countryside of Italy: artistic Ravenna, St. Francis' Assisi, Puccini's Lucca, cliff-hugging Cinque Terre harbors, and off-the-beaten-path hill towns and vistas. You'll also rub elbows with Italian culture, learning about pottery-making, marble-cutting, cooking, wine-making — even truffle hunting! MORE...
Best of South Italy in 13 Days
We'll dive into South Italy for 13 memorable days beginning in the eternal city of Rome. From there we'll discover the wild beauty of the Gargano Peninsula and Adriatic Coast. Then we'll meander through the untouristed Basilicata region, the historic must-see sites at Paestum and Pompeii, the jaw-dropping vistas of Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast and the raw, untamed energy of Naples. MORE...
Best of Sicily in 10 Days
Prepare to be happily immersed in the distinctive culture and history of Italy's largest island — spiced with guided neighborhood walks, memorable meals and friendly wine-tastings. Starting and ending in colorful, energetic Palermo, you'll see the best of Sicily: the steamy power of Mount Etna, Europe's most amazing Greek ruins, rustic country farms, mountain villages and some of Sicily's most picture-perfect seaside villages. MORE...
Best of Rome in 7 Days
During your week in Rome, you'll be amazed by Ancient Rome's Colosseum, Forum, Pantheon, and Ostia Antica. From the Renaissance and Baroque eras, you'll marvel at St. Peter's Basilica, the Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel, and Borghese Gallery. You'll also enjoy today's Rome, with a cooking demonstration, neighborhood walking tours, memorable restaurants, and time to explore on your own. MORE...
My Way: Italy in 13 Days
For those who want the freedom of independent travel — but with someone else handling all the hotel and transportation headaches — we've created My Way: Italy in 13 Days. This "un-guided" tour sets you free in Venice, Verona, Varenna (Lake Como), the Cinque Terre, Florence, Siena, Assisi and Rome — for $2,000 less than our fully-guided Best of Italy in 17 Days tour. MORE...