Today your journey to Italy begins with an overnight flight to Florence, the birthplace of the Renaissance.

Arrive in Florence today. If you purchased your airfare from Vantage, you’ll be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel in Florence’s center. Get settled in and enjoy a Welcome Dinner at the hotel tonight.

Embark on a guided sightseeing tour of Florence, including its UNESCO-listed historic center. A tour of the Accademia Gallery, whose world-renowned art collection counts with Michelangelo’s David, will introduce you to the city’s rich artistic history. 

The afternoon and dinner will be on your own, where you can explore more of the city, shop its famous leather markets, and join locals on some merendas, or traditional snacktime.

Included Features:

• Florence sightseeing tour

Cultural Discovery:

• Tour of the Accademia Gallery

Delve even deeper into Florence’s artistic heritage at the renowned Uffizi Gallery. Here, you’ll explore work by some of Italy’s revered Renaissance masters: Michelangelo, da Vinci, Botticelli, and Raphael. Afterward, you’ll lunch in one of Florence’s wonderful local restaurants. Florentine cooking is world-renowned, and this is your chance to splurge on local delicacies including wild boar ragú, ribollita soup, and — if you’re bold and ravenous — a fine Florentine steak.

Afterward, you’ll board the high-speed train to Rome. There will be a private luggage transfer service, so you can simply relax and enjoy the day knowing the details have been handled! When you check into your Rome hotel, your luggage will be waiting for you.

Included Features:

• Tour of the Uffizi Gallery
• High-speed train to Rome

Cultural Discovery:

• View works by the grand masters of the Italian Renaissance

Depart Rome via high-speed train to Florence. There will be a private luggage transfer service, so you can simply relax and enjoy the day knowing the details have been handled! When you get to your hotel in Florence, your luggage will be waiting for you.

After arrival in Florence, you’ll lunch in one of Florence’s wonderful local restaurants. Florentine cooking is world-renowned, and this is your chance to splurge on local delicacies including wild boar ragú, ribollita soup, and — if you’re bold and ravenous — a fine Florentine steak. Then, embark on a guided sightseeing tour of Florence, including its UNESCO-listed historic center. A tour of the Accademia Gallery, whose world-renowned art collection counts with Michelangelo’s David, will introduce you to the city’s rich artistic history. 

The afternoon and dinner will be on your own, where you can explore more of the city, shop, and join locals on some merendas, or traditional snacktime.

Included Features:

• Florence sightseeing tour
• High-speed train to Florence

Cultural Discovery:

• Tour of the Accademia Gallery

Delve even deeper into Florence’s artistic heritage at the renowned Uffizi Gallery. Here, you’ll explore work by some of Italy’s revered Renaissance masters: Michelangelo, da Vinci, Botticelli, and Raphael. Your afternoon is at leisure to explore more of Florence. Farewell Dinner is in the hotel tonight.

Included Feature:

• Tour of the Uffizi Gallery

Cultural Discovery:

• View works by the grand masters of the Italian Renaissance

Today, head to Florence’s airport for your return flight home.

Depart Venice today by high-speed train to Milan. There will be a private luggage transfer service, so you can simply relax and enjoy the day knowing the details have been handled!

Upon arrival in Milan, you’ll have a guided panoramic and walking tour of Milan’s historic city center before lunch on your own. Afterward, you’ll transfer to Stresa by motorcoach. When you check into your Stresa hotel, your luggage will be waiting for you. Get settled in and later enjoy dinner at the hotel.

Included Features:

• Panoramic and walking tour of Milan
• High-speed train transfer

Set off on a private Lake Maggiore cruise to the enchanting Borromean Islands, a trio of tiny islands settled in the 16th and 17th centuries by an aristocratic Italian family. Your adventure begins on Isola Madre, where you’ll enjoy a guided walking tour of its English-style botanical gardens. Continue on to Isola Bella for a tour of its stunning baroque palace, with time to explore its lovely grounds and Italian gardens. Conclude your island tour on picturesque Isola dei Pescatori, where you’ll have an opportunity for lunch on your own or some shopping in the quaint fishing village.

Upon return to Stresa, you can explore more of Stresa on your own. Later, an enlightening lecture offers an inside look at the daily life in Italy’s lakes region.

This evening, you’ll be amazed at the stunning views of Lake Maggiore from Stresa’s only rooftop bar — in your hotel! The La Palma Sky bar is the perfect idyllic setting to unwind and savor the Italian experience. You’re free to dine as you wish tonight at any of the delectable restaurants in Stresa.

Included Feature:

• Private boat tour to Isola Bella, Madre, and Pescatori

Cultural Discovery:

• Lecture about daily life in Italy’s lakes region

After breakfast, we’ll depart Stresa by private boat for one of the most illustrious parts of the Italian Lakes — Lake Como. Here, movie stars like George Clooney come to play and movies like Casino Royale are filmed.

On a guided tour, you’ll take in the town’s neoclassical villas on a walk that leads you to the historical center, watched over by the towering duomo. You’ll then depart by private boat for Bellagio, another town hugging the shores of Lake Como. Enjoy a panoramic view of the lake along the way, known as the “Amalfi Coast road of Lake Como.” Once in Bellagio, set off on another walking tour that introduces you to a classic Italian medieval town known as a borgo. You’ll have free here to shop, photograph, and dine on your own. Your time in Bellagio will conclude by hopping on a ferry to Cadenabbia, where you’ll transfer back to Stresa by motorcoach. Dinner is on your own in Stresa.

Included Features:

• Walking tours of Lake Como and Bellagio with private boat transportation

Today, you’ll transfer to Milan and fly home from its airport.

Today your journey to Italy begins with an overnight flight to Italy’s fashion epicenter, Milan.

You’ll arrive in Milan today. If you purchased your airfare from Vantage, you’ll be met at the airport by one of our representatives who will assist you with your transfer to your Stresa hotel, where you’ll enjoy a lake-view room. Get settled in and later enjoy dinner with your City Host at the hotel.

Set off on a private Lake Maggiore cruise to the enchanting Borromean Islands, a trio of tiny islands settled in the 16th and 17th centuries by an aristocratic Italian family. Your adventure begins on Isola Madre, where you’ll enjoy a guided walking tour of its English-style botanical gardens. Continue on to Isola Bella for a tour of its stunning baroque palace, with time to explore its lovely grounds and Italian gardens. Conclude your island tour on picturesque Isola dei Pescatori, where you’ll have an opportunity for lunch on your own or some shopping in the quaint fishing village.

Upon return to Stresa, you can explore more of Stresa on your own. Later, an enlightening lecture offers an inside look at the daily life in Italy’s lakes region.

This evening, you’ll be amazed at the stunning views of Lake Maggiore from Stresa’s only rooftop bar — in your hotel! The La Palma Sky bar is the perfect idyllic setting to unwind and savor the Italian experience. You’re free to dine as you wish tonight at any of the delectable restaurants in Stresa.

Included Feature:

• Private boat tour to Isola Bella, Madre, and Pescatori

Cultural Discovery:

• Lecture about daily life in Italy’s lakes region

After breakfast, you’ll depart Stresa by private boat for one of the most illustrious parts of the Italian Lakes — Lake Como. Here, movie stars like George Clooney come to play, and movies like Casino Royale are filmed. 

On a guided tour, you’ll take in the town’s neoclassical villas on a walk that leads you to the historical center, watched over by the towering duomo. You’ll then depart by private boat for Bellagio, another town hugging the shores of Lake Como. Enjoy a panoramic view of the lake along the way, known as the “Amalfi Coast road of Lake Como.” Once in Bellagio, set off on another walking tour that introduces you to a classic Italian medieval town known as a borgo. You’ll have free here to shop, photograph, and dine on your own. Your time in Bellagio will conclude by hopping on a ferry to Cadenabbia, where you’ll transfer back to Stresa by motorcoach. Dinner is on your own in Stresa.

Included Features:

• Walking tours of Lake Como and Bellagio with private boat transportation

Today you'll board a private motorcoach to Milan, Italy's city of the future. Famed for its ties to art, fashion, and design, you'll enjoy a guided panoramic and walking tour of the city's historic center. This area is home to its most famous landmarks, including the Duomo di Milano, the Galleria Vittorio Emmanuelle shopping arcade, and the Teatro alla Scalla opera house. After your tour, you'll have time for lunch on your own before heading to the Milan train station, where you will board a high-speed train to Venice, where you’ll join Day 2 of the base program. We’ve coordinated with a private luggage transfer service, so you can simply relax and enjoy the day while we take care of the details! When you check into your Venice hotel, your luggage will be waiting for you.

Included Features:

• Panoramic and walking tour of Milan
• High-speed train transfer