The Essence of Italy plus Sorrento
featuring Culinary Experiences
Spring 2025

Upon arrival at the Venice Airport, you’ll be met by your tour director for a transfer to your Venetian manor where you will be staying just outside of Venice. Take some time to settle in and rest up before enjoying a visit to a local Prosecco vineyard and winery. You'll enjoy appetizers and sample a variety of local wines during the tasting. Then, join us for a welcome reception at the hotel before experiencing a delicious, full-course Venetian dinner in the hotel restaurant with plenty of wine to culminate your very busy day. Rest up for another big day tomorrow.

After enjoying a leisurely breakfast, we will depart for a delightful cruise on the lagoon of Venice. Our first stop will be the island of Torcello, which is famous for being the place where Attila the Hun invaded and conquered Venice. Today, his throne still stands there. We will visit the first basilica of the first Venetian community before we head to our next destination. We will then board a private boat and cruise toward the colorful island of Burano, where we will learn how to make Aperol spritz and Risotto. After the fun and informative class, we will savor a delicious Venetian meal accompanied by superb regional wines, especially the Prosecco.

This morning, you'll have the opportunity to board a private boat and sail to the island of Murano, where you'll visit one of the oldest and most famous glass-blowing factories in the world. Witness the incredible craftsmanship of the artisans, whose skills have been passed down for hundreds of years. After that, you'll proceed to the heart of Venice and cruise along the famous Grand Canal, which is lined with beautiful palazzi. Enjoy an orientation tour of St. Mark’s Square, which includes iconic landmarks such as the Doge’s Palace, St. Mark’s Basilica & Tower, the Bridge of Sighs, and the Rialto Bridge. Take some free time to explore Venice or take an optional gondola ride through the Venetian canals. Tonight, you can relax in the beautiful restaurant of our villa and enjoy local specialties.

Our day will begin with an exciting tour of the Ferrari museum. Afterward, we will visit a local farm that is well- known for producing Balsamic vinegar. You will have the opportunity to witness a fascinating demonstration of how it is made and taste the unique flavor of the best Balsamic vinegar you have ever had. Modena is also famous for being the home of the legendary opera singer Luciano Pavarotti, and there is a museum in his honor that we will visit. Our special dining experience tonight will take place at the world-renowned Ristorante Europa 92, located next door to the Museo Casa Pavarotti. Pavarotti was a regular at this restaurant, and it became affectionately known as Ristorante Pavarotti.

Today, you will travel to Florence, the capital of Tuscany and the "Birthplace of the Renaissance". During the trip, a local expert will guide you on a sensational walking tour through the area, renowned for its art and museums. You will visit the Cathedral, Town Hall Square, The Old Bridge, the Holy Cross Church and the tombs of Michelangelo, Galileo, Joaquin Rossini, and Nicholas Machiavelli. The tour will be highlighted with a visit to The Academy of the Fine Arts, where you will see Michelangelo's Statue of David. You will also enjoy a demonstration at a local leather factory. After the tour, you will have some free time to shop and explore. Later, you will head to Montecatini for hotel check-in. Tonight's dinner will be in the hotel restaurant, with plenty of good wine.

This morning, we will take a short drive to the stunning Italian Riviera and visit La Spezia. In La Spezia, we will board a ferry boat and cruise to one of the beautiful Cinque Terre cliffside villages. This unique tourist destination boasts incredible landscapes of brightly-colored buildings with gorgeous terraces built on rugged, steep cliffs that overlook the Ligurian Sea. While the landscapes are a major draw for this area, the food of this region is equally impressive and will keep us coming back. While in Cinque Terre, we will take a boat and dock in one of the most beautiful Italian Riviera towns, where we will receive a cooking class lesson to learn how to make the legendary Italian pesto sauce. As we enjoy the fruits of our demonstration, we will also sample distinct, local wines and other delicacies from this region. We will have plenty of time to shop and explore and take a leisurely stroll along the pristine shores of the Mediterranean. We will then board a classic train back to La Spezia while taking in breathtaking views of the seascape. Back at the hotel, we can freshen up before taking a short trip to Lucca. Here, we will take a brief, but interesting tour of a local vineyard and then enjoy a festive Tuscan dinner with wine and music.

Today is our last full day in Tuscany and we have saved the best for last! We will be visiting San Gimignano, a beautifully preserved medieval town known for its tall towers. It is also known as the Town of Fine Towers. There will be plenty of opportunities to shop and explore in this gorgeous town, as well as countless vantage points to take stunning photographs of the Tuscan countryside. After exploring the town, we will enjoy a delicious lunch accompanied by some excellent Tuscan wine at a famous winery located just outside the town. Later in the day, we will visit Siena before retiring back to the Montecatini hotel. Dinner will be at your leisure.

After having breakfast and checking out of the hotel, we will depart for Rome. However, before leaving, we will visit one of the most iconic structures in Italy, the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Our tour director will lead the group to Miracle Square, where we can admire the tower and take dozens of corny photos of friends holding it up to prevent it from collapsing. Pisa is located along the Aurelian Way, an ancient trade route that leads to Rome, where we will check into our hotel and comfortably settle in. Later, we will enjoy a pizza party at a nearby Roman restaurant.

In the morning, a local historian will take you to Vatican City, which is the smallest independent state in the world. Firstly, you will visit the Vatican Museums to witness some of the great art treasures of the Church. Then, you will proceed into the Sistine Chapel and gaze in awe at the most famous and painstaking masterpiece of Michelangelo. After that, you will enter the majestic St. Peter's Basilica, where you can admire another masterpiece of Michelangelo, the Pieta on your right. In the afternoon, you will take a guided tour inside the Roman Colosseum and visit the Roman Forum.

Take your time in the morning with a lovely espresso or cappuccino in preparation for a late morning tour of the old Roman Jewish Ghetto in Rome. The Ghetto was established in 1555 in the Rione Sant'Angelo, near the Tiber River in the southern part of Campo de'Fiori. Your tour will start at the Teatro di Marcello an ancient open-air theatre in Rome, Italy, built in the last years of the Roman Republic as well as one of the seven hills, Capitoline Hill, one of the few ancient ground-level ruins that surround a piazza, an urban plan designed by Michelangelo. Our expert guide will take us through the region's honored family restaurants and trattorie (Italian-style eating establishments generally less formal than restaurants) and will be served favorite local fare such as Roman artichokes, bruschetta, and other classic appetizers along with plenty of distinctly Roman wines. Your afternoon is free for exploring, resting or sitting in a local café to watch Roman life pass you by.

Today marks the end of the Best of Italy tour for some of the guests. Those departing this day will be transferred to the Rome Airport for their return flights home. Thank you for traveling with Wherever Tours. We hope you had a wonderful time in Italy, and please keep us in mind for your future travel plans.
*For the others, the adventure continues onward to Sorrento.
Refer to the next sections to learn more about the amazing, extended itinerary to Sorrento.

After checking out of our hotel in Rome, we will board a motorcoach to Sorrento. During the journey, we will make a stop at Pompeii, an archaeological site that was entirely covered in ash by the catastrophic eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 AD. Our private expert will guide us through this incredible city that has been frozen in time for almost two millennia. We will then take a short drive to the slopes of Vesuvius for a unique lunch and wine-tasting experience. Here, we will have the opportunity to savor the famous Lacryma Christi (Tears of Christ) wines, which are produced only on this fertile volcanic soil. Later, we will arrive at our villa hotel in Sorrento for check-in.

After enjoying a leisurely breakfast, you can embark on an excursion to the Amalfi Coast, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Be sure to have your cameras ready for the breathtaking view of Positano, where you will have free time to shop and explore this stunning seaside town that has been featured in many famous movies and magazines. Take some time to relax on the beautiful beach before returning to Villa Giovanna. In the afternoon, get ready for your culinary experience with Riccardo at his villa, where you will learn to prepare ravioli, eggplant parmigiana, and a surprise dish. Afterward, you can unwind, eat your delicious food, and enjoy some local wine.

Today, you will be transferred to the famous and beautiful island of Capri by boat. A representative from Wherever Tours will be available at the hotel to offer suggestions prior to your transfer so that you can make the most out of your day. This tiny island, which was once the playground of ancient emperors, will leave you breathless due to its limitless charm and historical sights. Take some time to shop and explore, and most of all, enjoy the spectacular views from above. Upon your return, you can take some time to wander the streets of Sorrento before retiring back to the hotel for the farewell dinner and live music, along with a lot of wine.

It's time to bid farewell to Sorrento and conclude our amazing adventure through Italy. After having breakfast, we will provide you with a transfer to Naples airport for further travel. We would like to express our gratitude for choosing Wherever Tours as your travel partner. We sincerely hope that you had a memorable time in Italy. Please consider us for your future travel plans.