Highlights and Hidden Treasures of Italy
Wine tastings, cooking lessons and visits with artisans
set these escorted tours apart
By Emily Coleman
Tombaky/Fotolia
Many itineraries hit the major cities and big-name attractions like the Colosseum and Pantheon in Rome or the Piazza del Duomo and Uffizi Gallery in Florence. Some tour operators, however, create unique experiences that make your trip even more memorable. Below, we've selected more than a dozen tours that hit the highlights of Italy and mix in something special as well. You can learn a new skill, like how to roll a cannoli or cook up the perfect pasta sauce. You might visit spiritual destinations connected to the Roman Catholic Church, or the hometown of Leonardo da Vinci.
Venice is stitched together by waterways and is the inspiration for countless artists. On Globus' "Ciao, Italia!" itinerary, guests can demonstrate their own artistry by crafting a Venetian mask. Traditionally made with papier-mache and ornamented with gold leaf, feathers and faux gems, the masks are worn during the annual Carnival of Venice, a street festival celebrated prior to Ash Wednesday.
Other artistic pursuits on this eight-day tour are the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel in Rome; the Galleria dell'Accademia, home of Michelangelo's "David," in Florence; and the Leaning Tower in Pisa. Globus concludes this vacation with walking tours and canal rides through Venice and dinner on the city's colorful island neighbor, Burano.
Gutsy Women Travel takes female-only groups to southern Italy with "Amalfi Coast Discovery." The eight-day trip visits the impressive ruins of Pompeii, where visitors can walk the streets of a centuries-old Roman town preserved by the volcanic ash of Mount Vesuvius. Later, participants board a speedboat bound for the island of Capri, a popular resort destination since the days of the Roman Republic.
Later in the tour, guests head to the Sorrento Cooking School for a lesson in local cuisine and prepare their own lunch, a traditional Neapolitan meal paired with a glass of wine. The school has an idyllic setting, located a short distance from the sea and surrounded by lemon and orange trees. This tour itinerary also includes a stop at a working farm near Sorrento that produces the trademarked Mozzarella di Bufala Campana, which by law must be made with whole buffalo milk. While on-site, guests tour an agricultural museum and pause for lunch, which features some of the farm's fresh and delicious products.
Another opportunity to hone your cooking skills is provided on a nine-day expedition, "Discover Sicily" from Collette Vacations. After a thorough exploration of this oft-overlooked corner of the Mediterranean, the itinerary closes with a farewell dinner at a popular restaurant in Taormina. The chef demonstrates culinary techniques for many popular Sicilian dishes, including cannoli. The pastry's rich, sweet filling is typically made from sugar and ricotta cheese, often with an added indulgence of chocolate chips. For the best result, cannoli should be served immediately after they're filled, so the crisp outer shell doesn't turn soggy. With this demonstration under your belt, you'll have recipes to take home along with your memories.
Collette offers another island itinerary with the 11-day "Smithsonian Journeys: Crossroads of Sicily." The Smithsonian series of tours focus on education and delve into the history, culture and art of the destinations. Local experts discuss topics like Sicily's importance as a Greek colony, the prevalent Baroque architecture and Palermo's stunning cathedral and the sparkling imperial crown it houses.
One afternoon of the tour is spent in the town of Licata, at Tenuta Barone La Lumia, estate of a local baron. Guests are welcomed into the family's farmhouse and winery to learn about their history. The baron was a small boy when the Allies occupied Licata during World War II and can speak about this period, as well as his family's connections to the area. He's also happy to share with guests a sampling of Sicily's finest wines.
Trafalgar Tours also has Italian itineraries with an extra dose of hospitality. Special dining experiences are planned for the tour operator's Be My Guest events, where travelers get a taste of authentic local fare. On the 14-day "Best of Italy" and 17-day "Grand Tour of Italy" vacations, guests can enjoy a dinner high in the hills above Sorrento at the Esposito family farmhouse. These visits include a walk through the lemon groves on the working farm and dinner overlooking the Gulf of Naples. The menu for the feast includes lamb, swordfish, barbecued veal and lemon cake. The Espositos' homemade limoncello or a local wine can quench your thirst. On Trafalgar's 12-day "Italy Bellissimo" tour, visitors are welcomed to a Tuscan villa near Florence to drink in the vast scenery of rolling hills while they dine among olive groves.
After taking in the endless sights of Rome, travelers on Cosmos' "Splendors of Italy" venture northwest of the city to Orvieto in the region of Umbria. The Duomo di Orvieto, a yellow limestone and black basalt cathedral, is the quintessential picture of Italian Gothic architecture. The 10-day tour also veers into the heart of Chianti country, where the wine's flavorful grapes are grown. In Greve, guests stop at a local vintner for a wine tasting.
Northwest of Florence lies Montecatini, a fixture of the Renaissance and once dominated by the Medici family. Visitors past and present have sought the restorative powers of its mineral springs and relaxing treatments at a terme (spa). Montecatini is a quiet haven for this Cosmos tour, especially the historic center, where car traffic is prohibited and visitors are free to stroll the streets on foot.
GAP Adventures offers the ambulatory "Cinque Terre Coastal Walk" a five-day independent tour, which allows for the greatest amount of flexibility. Enjoy the destinations at your own pace and pick what interests you most. One day can be spent investigating Cinque Terre National Park as you walk along the trail that links these five isolated Ligurian towns clinging to the coastal cliffs. The journey leads you through olive groves, secluded beaches and grottoes and provides spectacular views of the water.
If you're looking for an independent trip with lots of autonomy, Gate 1 Travel has an eight-day tour called "Tuscany Fly and Drive." With Montecatini as a home base, you can drive in a rental car to nearby destinations on a suggested itinerary mapped out for you by Gate 1. Not far are La Spezia and Cinque Terre, where you can enjoy fresh-caught seafood or local grappa, an alcoholic brandy made from grapes.
Another stop is Vinci, hometown of the amazing inventor, painter, mathematician and Renaissance man Leonardo da Vinci. Learn more about him at the Leonardo Museum in the medieval Castello dei Conti Guidi. In the same day you also can visit the village of Collodi, associated with Carlo Lorenzini, author of "The Adventures of Pinocchio," who used the town in his pen name (Carlo Collodi). The town has embraced this legacy, and visitors will find a Pinocchio amusement park here. Make time to stop at the historic Garzoni Gardens, a beautiful example of an 18th-century Italian garden.
Most Italy trips that stop in Rome spend time in Vatican City, but travelers who want an in-depth look at religious sites can opt for Globus' "Grand Catholic Italy." The 11-day schedule begins with several days in Rome, with plans to visit the Vatican and its museums as well as the Catacombs of San Callisto. These eerie tombs began as burial grounds but later became centers of devotion for early Christians.
South of Rome, the itinerary continues to the Abbey of Montecassino, the first Benedictine monastery founded by St. Benedict in the sixth century. Travelers also can attend morning mass in Assisi, followed by a guided walking tour of the city.
Perillo Tours specializes in Italian vacations and has decades of experience in the country. All itineraries that overnight in Rome include a lavish evening at Casina di Macchia Madama. Located north of the city on Monte Mario, the venue boasts impressive views. The spot is said to be where emperors rested in the woods on the eve of their coronations. The property changed hands many times among well-known Italian families (Medici, Farnese and Bourbon) and was later abandoned. In 1929 the manor was restored by the Vanni family and opened to the public. Perillo uses the delightful location for its Gala Party, where wine flows freely and an orchestra provides the evening's soundtrack.
Discover stunning beauty at the top of Italy's "boot" on the 11-day "Bellissima Northern Italy" from Tauck World Discovery. Sprawling 17th-century gardens surround Villa Carlotta in the town of Tremezzo, and sculptures, stairways and fountains decorate the immaculate grounds. Guests of this tour also take a private cruise across Lake Como to grand Bellagio, where the villas of the rich and famous are tucked away.
For a luxurious overview of Italy with all the perks (and a somewhat larger price tag), "An Italian Adventure" from Abercrombie & Kent has plenty of personalized experiences and luxury accommodations. Each city visited offers an interesting demonstration or lesson. In Florence, witness artisans crafting leather and applying gold leaf to delicate artworks. While in Pisa, taste rich chocolates at De Bondt's "laboratory" and learn how these confections are made. On Murano Island in Venice, watch artists craft objects out of glass. In Rome, visit the Colosseum, the ancient arena that held gladiator fights, and then train with modern-day "gladiators" for a glimpse of the ancient warriors' combative lives.
Information: To view detailed itineraries, rates and departure dates for these tours, visit Houston-based travel discounter Vacations To Go. To speak with one of the company's travel counselors, call (800) 680-2858.
The information in this story was accurate at the time it was published in May/June 2010.
Please visit Vacations To Go or call (800) 680-2858 for current rates and details.
