THE GRAND
ITALY TOUR

Day 1: Arrival in Venice.

Landing in Venice airport – As with all our Italy tours, you’ll be warmly welcomed with a smile and a wave by both your private driver and Alma Italia tour host. Trips to Italy can be tricky but with Alma Italia guided tours of Italy you can relax knowing your Alma Italia host will take care of every little detail for you during your trip to Italy, ensuring you experience the very best of the soul of Italy. 

 The Alma Italia philosophy is that guided tours of Italy should be for rest, fun and adventure, to inspire and restore you. The day of your arrival is meant to be for you to recharge after your long flight. What better way to do that than by enjoying a cool glass of Veneto`s finest Prosecco and some Italian appetizers while gazing over the quiet canals of Venice from the rooftop bar of your beautiful boutique hotel. You will end the day with a private Gondola ride to transport you through the peaceful canals to an early dinner at a family run traditional local restaurant. Here you’ll get your first taste of the delicious Venetian regional cuisine before having a well deserved rest in the comfort of your canal side hotel.

Day 2 Venice

We like to begin our private guided tours of Italy  in style and  so we will start the day with a relaxing stroll in the city center of Venice. Venice is undoubtedly an icon and a must on any guided tours of Italy. You will have fun getting lost in the magical alleys and canals of the city while your tour host will entertain you and bring the history of the city to life recounting the fascinating stories of your surroundings. If you think the 2020`s are a crazy time to be alive you will be amazed at what the Venetians and their rulers got up to over the years!  After lunch we will head across the lagoon by boat to Burano island. You will fall in love with the explosion of colors of the buildings and the many artisanal shops specialized in Pizzo (lace) and glass.  We will finish the day with a delicious dinner at one of our favorite local restaurants, a real Venetian treasure . Chef Giusesppe never fails to delight us!

Day 3 The Venetian Islands, Murano and Burano

Glide away from Venice’s main canals in a private water taxi, the city’s reflections shimmering on the water as your day unfolds. A local guide joins you, their knowledge turning each passing island into a story, each corner into a discovery.

First, you arrive at Murano, the legendary island of glassmaking. Walking among its canals and artisan shops, you watch molten glass transformed into delicate vases and intricate sculptures. The guide explains centuries of tradition while you explore tucked-away workshops, hidden squares, and charming bridges. Every reflection in the water seems to echo the glimmer of the glass, lending the island an almost magical quality.

Afterward, your private water taxi carries you across the lagoon to Burano, a riot of color rising from the calm waters. The houses, painted in candy-bright shades, line narrow streets and canals like a painter’s palette come to life. The guide shares stories of the island’s lace-making heritage, while you stroll along the waterfront, discovering quiet corners, charming shops, and picture-perfect bridges. The sunlight bounces off the water, making the colors even more vivid and the atmosphere almost dreamlike.

With the water taxi at your disposal, you move freely, lingering where you wish, pausing for photos, gelato, or a coffee at a canal-side café. The day feels effortless—an intimate, private journey through islands that are both vibrant and timeless. By the late afternoon, you glide back toward Venice, carrying with you the glow of Murano’s artistry, Burano’s kaleidoscopic charm, and the gentle rhythm of the lagoon.

Day 4 Florence

A private water taxi picks you up directly from your Venice hotel, gliding quietly through the canals as the morning sun turns the city’s palaces and bridges to gold. The gentle motion of the boat, the reflections on the water, and the soft lapping of the canals set a serene tone for the journey ahead. At the train station, you board a first-class high-speed train to Florence. As the train sweeps through the Veneto and Tuscany countryside, rolling hills, vineyards, and small villages flash past the window, a cinematic preview of the landscapes to come.

Arriving in Florence, a private driver is ready to take you through the elegant streets directly to your hotel in the heart of the historic center. After settling in, the city’s charm unfolds effortlessly around you. You might wander along the Arno River, admiring the iconic Ponte Vecchio as sunlight glimmers on the water, or lose yourself in the vibrant energy of Piazza della Signoria, where statues and palaces tell stories of Renaissance grandeur. A leisurely stroll through the streets surrounding the Duomo offers glimpses of artisan shops and quiet cafés, perfect for pausing with an espresso as the city hums softly around you.

As the afternoon deepens into golden hour, a terrace bar or quiet square provides a peaceful spot to enjoy a glass of Chianti, watching Florence bathe in warm light. The combination of private transfers, first-class travel, and central accommodation ensures a smooth, luxurious start to your stay, leaving you free to embrace the city at your own pace and rhythm.

Day 5 Cooking class in Tuscan Villa

The private transfer from Florence winds through the sun-kissed Tuscan countryside, where rolling hills stretch endlessly, dotted with olive groves, vineyards, and golden fields that shimmer in the morning light. The air carries the faint scent of wild herbs and freshly turned earth, hinting at the flavors awaiting you.

Arriving at Villa Monte Oriolo, the villa rises gracefully among cypress-lined terraces, its warm stone walls bathed in soft light. Gardens spill with color and fragrance, and the distant hills roll like a living painting, inviting you to pause and breathe in the serene beauty of Tuscany.

Inside the villa’s kitchen, the private cooking class begins. Sunlight streams through the windows, catching the glint of copper pots and the vibrant colors of fresh vegetables, herbs, and local ingredients laid out before you. The chef guides you with gentle expertise, showing how to roll delicate pasta, craft rich sauces, and season each dish with precision and care. The air fills with intoxicating aromas—garlic sizzling, herbs releasing their perfume, olive oil glistening in the pan—each scent layering into a sensory tapestry that is both comforting and inspiring.

When the meal is ready, you sit to enjoy it in the villa’s dining room or on a terrace overlooking the rolling hills. Each bite is alive with the richness of Tuscany: creamy cheeses, sun-ripened vegetables, and hand-crafted pasta paired with local wines that glint like liquid amber in the afternoon light. Laughter, conversation, and the quiet murmur of the countryside complete the moment, making it feel timeless.

As the day winds down, your private transfer carries you back to Florence, the road framed by golden light and cypress shadows. You return not just with a meal prepared, but with the memory of flavors, scents, and the gentle rhythm of Tuscany lingering long after the last bite.

Day 6 Siena and San Gimignano

The Tuscan countryside unfolds in a patchwork of vineyards, olive groves, and gentle hills as you make your way toward Siena and San Gimignano, the sunlight warming the terracotta rooftops and cypress-lined roads.

In Siena, the medieval heart of the city welcomes you with quiet grandeur. The Piazza del Campo spreads out like a fan, its terracotta tiles glowing under the soft morning light. Wandering through winding streets at your own pace, you discover Gothic palaces, hidden chapels, and artisan shops tucked into narrow alleys. The city’s history feels alive here, from the intricate patterns of the Duomo to the delicate mosaics that catch the sun in quiet corners.

Midday brings a pause at Tenuta Torciano, a family-run estate perched among vineyards and olive groves. On the terrace, a private lunch awaits, featuring fresh pasta, seasonal vegetables, local cheeses, and wines poured straight from the estate’s cellar. The views stretch endlessly across sunlit hills, and every flavor carries the richness of the land, making the meal feel inseparable from the landscape itself.

In the afternoon, San Gimignano rises on the horizon, its slender medieval towers punctuating the Tuscan sky. Strolling through its narrow streets, you explore artisan shops, vibrant piazzas, and quiet corners at leisure. Gelato in hand, the surrounding countryside stretches in waves of vineyards and golden fields, bathed in the warm afternoon light, inviting pause and reflection.

As the day winds down, a private driver carries you back to Florence, leaving behind the towers, hills, and sun-drenched landscapes, but carrying with you the tastes, textures, and timeless charm of Tuscany.

Day 7 – Rome – Colosseum and Roman Forum

Leaving Florence, you board a high-speed train that sweeps southward through the heart of Italy. The Tuscan hills give way to the rolling landscapes of Umbria and Lazio, villages and vineyards flashing by as the countryside unfolds in a blur of green and gold. The ride is smooth and effortless in first class, offering comfort and quiet moments to watch the Italian scenery shift around you.

Arriving in Rome, the energy of the Eternal City immediately surrounds you—bustling piazzas, Baroque facades, and the hum of city life. By early afternoon, you meet your private guide for a tour of the Colosseum, stepping into the arena where gladiators once fought and imagining the roar of crowds that filled the ancient amphitheater. Every archway, corridor, and tier of seats tells a story, brought vividly to life by your guide’s expertise.

From there, the tour continues through the Roman Forum, wandering along streets that once formed the heart of the ancient empire. Temples, basilicas, and triumphal arches rise from the ground, whispering tales of political intrigue, ceremonies, and daily life thousands of years ago. Walking at a measured pace, you absorb both the scale and the intimacy of the ruins, the sun casting warm light across the columns and open spaces.

By the end of the afternoon, the combination of high-speed travel and private exploration has allowed you to move seamlessly from Renaissance Florence to ancient Rome, leaving you with the sense of having touched two eras of Italy in a single, unforgettable day.

Day 8 Vatican city tour

Stepping into the Vatican Museums, you are immediately immersed in centuries of art, history, and devotion. With a private guide, the experience unfolds at a pace that allows you to linger over every detail—majestic tapestries, intricate frescoes, and classical sculptures that line the grand galleries. The corridors themselves feel like a journey through time, each room revealing layers of artistic mastery and the stories behind them.

The tour leads naturally to the Sistine Chapel, where Michelangelo’s ceiling seems to float above you in a riot of color and expression. The quiet hush of the chapel accentuates the drama of each painted figure, from the creation of Adam to the prophets and sibyls, and your guide’s insight brings the narratives, symbolism, and genius of the work vividly to life. Standing beneath the frescoes, it’s impossible not to feel the weight of history and the extraordinary skill it took to create this masterpiece.

Finally, you enter St. Peter’s Basilica, a cathedral of awe-inspiring scale and beauty. Sunlight streams through soaring windows, illuminating gilded altars, marble floors, and the masterpieces of Bernini and other great artists. Every corner invites pause—the Pietà, the massive dome rising above, the sweeping nave leading to the high altar—creating moments of quiet wonder. With a private guide, you move seamlessly through the basilica, learning not just about its art and architecture but also about its profound spiritual significance.

Day 9 Sorrento

You start the day with a private van collecting you from your Rome hotel, gliding through the city streets toward the train station. The transition from Rome’s bustling avenues to the calm efficiency of the station feels seamless, setting the tone for a smooth journey south. Boarding a first-class high-speed train to Naples, you settle into comfortable seats, the Italian countryside unfolding beyond the window: rolling hills, sunlit fields, and glimpses of quaint towns passing in a blur of green and gold. The ride is quiet and effortless, a chance to watch the landscape shift from Lazio to Campania in comfort and style.

Arriving in Naples, your private van awaits to whisk you along the coastal roads toward Sorrento. The journey itself is a feast for the eyes: cliffs rising from the sparkling sea, lemon groves and olive trees dotting the hillsides, and the pastel-colored towns of the Amalfi coast appearing like brushstrokes along the shoreline.

Once in Sorrento, the afternoon is entirely at leisure. You might choose to wander the narrow streets of the historic center, lined with artisan shops, cafés, and gelaterias, or simply take a moment to relax on a terrace overlooking the Bay of Naples, letting the gentle breeze carry the scent of citrus and saltwater. The rhythm of the town invites calm exploration, whether savoring a leisurely lunch, watching the harbor, or enjoying the first golden light of the setting sun over the sea.

Day 10 Amalfi Coast Road Tour

The morning light casts a golden glow over Sorrento as your private vehicle winds out of town and onto the Amalfi Coast road, a breathtaking ribbon of cliffs, curves, and sea views. The air carries the scent of salt and citrus, and each turn reveals another postcard-perfect scene: pastel villages clinging to cliffs, the sparkling Mediterranean below, and terraces of lemon groves stacked on the hillsides.

Your first stop is Positano, where narrow streets cascade down toward the sea, lined with boutiques, cafés, and vibrant bougainvillea. Strolling at leisure, you can pause to admire the beach from above, sip an espresso in a quiet piazza, or simply take in the view as the town glimmers in the morning sun.

The journey continues to Amalfi, where history and charm meet on the bustling waterfront. The Duomo di Amalfi rises above the town, its striking façade a contrast to the pastel buildings and lively harbor. You can wander the small streets, browse artisan shops, or enjoy a moment of calm by the water, watching boats drift in and out of the harbor.

For those who wish, an optional detour leads uphill to Ravello, a serene hilltop town known for its gardens and sweeping vistas. Terraces overlook the coastline, offering panoramic views that seem to stretch endlessly toward the horizon. A stroll through Villa Rufolo or Villa Cimbrone rewards you with fragrant gardens, historic architecture, and a sense of quiet elegance high above the bustling towns below.

As the afternoon wanes, the road winds back to Sorrento, the cliffs and sea receding behind you, leaving memories of winding roads, sunlit villages, and endless turquoise horizons. The tour combines the thrill of the coastal drive with the freedom to explore each stop at your own pace, capturing the essence of the Amalfi Coast in a single, unforgettable day.

Day 11 – Capri by Private Boat

Your private Gozzo boat rocks gently in Sorrento’s marina as you set off along the sparkling turquoise waters of the coast. Cliffs rise dramatically on either side, dotted with lemon groves and pastel villages, while fresh fruit and chilled drinks on board promise a leisurely start to the journey. The soft rhythm of the boat cutting through the water creates an effortless, meditative pace, allowing you to soak in the sights and scents of the Amalfi coast.

As you approach Capri, the option to visit the Blue Grotto presents itself. Entering the narrow, shadowed cave, the sunlight transforms the water into an ethereal sapphire glow, casting reflections that dance across the walls. The nearby Green Grotto offers a different kind of magic, with sunlight filtering through a small opening to illuminate the water in shimmering emerald hues. The boat drifts quietly in these hidden corners, giving you time to marvel at nature’s artistry.

Once on Capri, the day unfolds at leisure. Stroll the island’s charming streets, browse boutique shops, or pause in a café overlooking the marina. Walking through the Piazzetta or along scenic paths, you catch breathtaking views of the Faraglioni rocks and the endless blue of the sea. The boat remains at your disposal for the return trip, letting you linger as long as you wish before gliding back toward Sorrento.

The return journey is a quiet, golden-hour passage along the coast, the cliffs and sea bathed in warm light. The gentle rocking of the Gozzo, the scent of salt and citrus, and the memory of grottoes and island streets leave a lingering sense of serenity, luxury, and the timeless beauty of the Amalfi coast.

Day 12 Pompeii on the way to Naples

Leaving Sorrento, your private van winds through the lush hillsides and coastal roads toward Pompeii, the ancient city frozen in time. Arriving at the archaeological site, your private guide leads you through the ruins with expertise and storytelling that brings the past vividly to life. You wander the streets once trodden by Romans, exploring well-preserved homes, temples, and amphitheaters, while mosaics, frescoes, and volcanic casts of Pompeii’s inhabitants tell stories of daily life, ambition, and tragedy. The scale and preservation of the city is breathtaking, and with your guide, every corner reveals hidden details and historical context that might be missed by casual visitors.

After the immersive tour, your journey continues through the rolling countryside toward Naples, stopping for a private lunch at Bosco de’ Medici. Nestled among vineyards and olive groves, the restaurant offers seasonal Tuscan-inspired dishes—fresh pasta, grilled meats or seafood, and local vegetables—paired with carefully selected wines. The rustic charm of the surroundings, combined with the flavors of the region, makes the meal a relaxed and indulgent pause, a perfect bridge between history and the present.

Once lunch concludes, your private van continues toward Naples, the coastline and countryside unfolding in golden afternoon light. The combination of a personalized tour, historical exploration, and leisurely lunch allows you to move seamlessly from Sorrento through Pompeii to Naples, experiencing the region’s history, landscapes, and flavors at an unhurried, private pace.

Day 13: departure from Naples airport

Departure from Naples airport. Enjoy the final Italian breakfast of your trip to Italy before heading to the airport by private transfer. We will have achieved our goal if you are feeling relaxed and inspired in equal measure, having created memories of a lifetime with your friends or family. It’s time for us to say goodbye…or maybe just `Ciao for now`! Now you have had a taste of Italy you can always come back to experience one of our signature ‘Go deeper’ regional Italy luxury guided tours 2022.

Unlock the beauty of the real Italy with authentic experiences and local expertise. Step out of the ordinary. Travel deeply.