Grand Tour of Italy - The 5 Senses 2026-27 "Prestige"

Day-by-day itinerary

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1. 1Day 1Rome – Trieste, 670 km

   Departure from Rome for Trieste – lunch at leisure along the way – in the evening, accommodation at the hotel in Trieste – dinner at the hotel – after dinner, Trieste by night: a walking tour of the historic centre with the tour leader – overnight stay.

2. 2Day 2San Daniele del Friuli, “the home of prosciutto”, and Udine, 190 km

   Breakfast at the hotel – full-day guided excursion – a visit to San Daniele del Friuli (the former Church of Sant’Antonio Abate, known as the little “Sistine Chapel of Friuli” for its remarkable Renaissance frescoes, and a panoramic visit of the historic centre) – a visit to a prosciutto producer, with lunch – in the afternoon, a visit to Udine (a city tour in the footsteps of Tiepolo, taking in his splendid frescoes in the Oratory of the Purità and in the cathedral – a walking tour through Piazza Libertà, “the most beautiful Venetian square on the mainland”, Via Mercatovecchio and Piazza Matteotti, the old Piazza delle Erbe of Udine; a visit to the city’s oldest church, Santa Maria del Castello, and to the castle – seen from the outside) – return to the hotel in the evening – dinner at the hotel – after dinner, a walking tour with the tour leader – overnight stay.

3. 3Day 3Cividale del Friuli, “Italia Langobardorum, a UNESCO World Heritage…

   Site”, and Gorizia, 150 km. Breakfast at the hotel – full-day guided excursion – a visit to Cividale del Friuli (a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the leading town of the Italia Langobardorum project; Cividale brings visitors close to the Lombard world of the eighth century, with the Lombard Temple and the Christian Museum, and to earlier centuries too through the exceptionally rich collections of the National Archaeological Museum; a visit to the cathedral and a walking tour of the historic centre as far as the famous Devil’s Bridge) – lunch in a traditional osteria – in the afternoon, a visit to Gorizia and Nova Gorica (a panoramic coach tour of the provincial capital on the Isonzo, taking in the border crossing at Casa Rossa and continuing to the half-Italian, half-Slovenian Piazza Transalpina, the Austro-Hungarian railway station and Borgo Castello with its medieval castle) – onward along the scenic wine road through the Collio, a wine-growing area known the world over for the quality of its wines – a visit to a winery with a DOC wine tasting – return to the hotel in Trieste in the evening – dinner at the hotel – evening at leisure – the tour leader is at guests’ disposal – overnight stay.

4. 4Day 4Trieste, “Mitteleuropean charm” – Aquileia, “the ancient Roman colony,…

   a UNESCO World Heritage Site” – Padua, 280 km. Breakfast at the hotel – in the morning, a guided visit to Trieste (an extensive tour of the Borgo Teresiano, the Rive waterfront, Piazza Unità d’Italia, Porto Nuovo, the Risiera di San Sabba, one of the emblematic places of the Second World War – seen from the outside – San Giusto hill with the cathedral, and a walking tour of the historic centre and the Jewish ghetto) – lunch in a traditional beer hall – in the afternoon, a guided visit to Aquileia (a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where the ancient Roman colony reveals the glories of its past through the excavations of the forum, the former river port and the residential quarters, 2,000 years old) – in the evening, accommodation at the hotel in Padua – dinner at the hotel – after dinner, Padua by night: a panoramic tour by private coach and a walking tour of the historic centre with the tour leader – overnight stay.

5. 5Day 5Venice, “la Serenissima”

   Breakfast at the hotel – full-day excursion – transfer by coach to Padua railway station – departure by train for Venezia Santa Lucia – a full day given over to this UNESCO World Heritage city – in the morning, a guided visit of classical Venice (St Mark’s Square, St Mark’s Basilica, the Doge’s Palace – seen from the outside – then, threading through the narrow calli of the Castello district, on to Campo Santi Giovanni e Paolo and the famous Rialto Bridge over the Grand Canal) – lunch at leisure – afternoon at leisure for shopping or excursions to the lagoon islands, UNESCO World Heritage Sites (Murano, Burano, Torcello), or for a romantic gondola ride – return to the hotel in Padua in the evening – dinner at the hotel – evening at leisure – the tour leader is at guests’ disposal – overnight stay.

6. 6Day 6Padua – Verona, “the city of love and music”, 90 km

   Breakfast at the hotel – in the morning, a guided visit to Padua (the Basilica of St Anthony, the historic centre, the Palazzo della Ragione, the Scrovegni Chapel, and Palazzo del Bo with the University’s Anatomical Theatre) – lunch in a traditional restaurant – in the afternoon, a guided visit to Verona (a UNESCO World Heritage city: a panoramic coach tour of the hills and a walking tour of the historic centre taking in the Scaliger residences, Piazza dei Signori, Piazza Erbe, the houses of Juliet and Romeo – seen from the outside – and the Arena, also seen from the outside) – dinner at the hotel – after dinner, Verona by night: a walking tour of the historic centre with the tour leader – overnight stay.

7. 7Day 7Verona – Mantua, “the city of Virgil”, and Sabbioneta, “the Gonzaga…

   ideal city” – Parma, 110 km. Breakfast at the hotel – visits to two UNESCO World Heritage cities – in the morning, a guided visit to Mantua (Palazzo Te by Giulio Romano – interior visit – and the Ducal Palace, or Gonzaga Palace – seen from the outside) – a visit to a rice estate, walking through the paddy fields and visiting the historic rice mill – tasting lunch at the rice estate – in the afternoon, a guided visit to Sabbioneta (an intact star with six bastions at its points: such is the urban spectacle Sabbioneta offers – the Ducal Palace, the Palazzo Giardino with the Galleria degli Antichi, and the Teatro all’Antica) – arrival in Parma in the evening – dinner at the hotel – after dinner, Parma by night: a tour by private coach with the tour leader – overnight stay.

8. 8Day 8Parma, “Italian Capital of Culture 2021” – Langhirano, “Parma ham”…

   Fontanellato, “the Masone Labyrinth”, 100 km. Breakfast at the hotel – in the morning, a guided visit to Parma (the historic centre, the monumental Pilotta complex with the Farnese Theatre, the National Gallery and the Archaeological Museum, the cathedral and the baptistery) – a visit in Langhirano to a Parma ham producer – tasting lunch – in the afternoon, a visit in Fontanellato to the largest labyrinth in the world, created by the Franco Maria Ricci Foundation – return to the hotel in Parma in the evening – dinner at the hotel – evening at leisure – the tour leader is at guests’ disposal – overnight stay.

9. 9Day 9Parma – Milan, “the capital of fashion and new ideas” – Lake…

   Maggiore, 220 km. Breakfast at the hotel – full-day excursion to Milan – a full day given over to a guided visit of the city (the Duomo; the Sforza Castle with the Rondanini Pietà; the Brera Art Gallery with the Marriage of the Virgin and Bramante’s Christ at the Column; the Museum of Science and Technology; the Church of San Maurizio al Monastero Maggiore, “the Sistine Chapel of Milan”; and the Basilica of Sant’Ambrogio) – lunch in a traditional restaurant – in the evening, return to the hotel on Lake Maggiore, in Baveno or Stresa – dinner at the hotel – evening at leisure – the tour leader is at guests’ disposal – overnight stay.

10. 10Day 10Lake Maggiore and Villa Taranto, “the most beautiful garden in Italy”…

    30 km. Breakfast at the hotel – in the morning, a guided visit to the Borromean Islands by private motor launch (Isola Bella with the splendid Palazzo Borromeo and the marvel of its Italian garden, laid out over ten terraces sloping down to the lake; Isola dei Pescatori with its ancient alleys and evocative views) – lunch at the hotel – in the afternoon, a guided visit to Villa Taranto (a splendid botanical garden, considered the most beautiful in Italy and in the world) – return to the hotel in the evening – dinner at the hotel – overnight stay.

11. 11Day 11Lake Maggiore – Turin, “the Egyptian Museum and the Venaria Reale”, 150 km

    Breakfast at the hotel – departure for Turin – a full day given over to a guided visit of the city (a visit to the historic centre with Piazza San Carlo, Via Roma, Piazza Castello, Palazzo Madama and the Royal Palace – exterior visits – both UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the Church of San Lorenzo, the cathedral, Piazza Carignano, the Egyptian Museum – interior visit – and the palace and park of the Venaria Reale, a UNESCO World Heritage Site) – lunch in a traditional restaurant – dinner at the hotel – after dinner, Turin by night: a walking tour of the historic centre with the tour leader – overnight stay.

12. 12Day 12Turin – the Langhe, “UNESCO World Heritage Sites” – Genoa, 250 km

    Breakfast at the hotel – full-day guided excursion to the Langhe and its vineyard landscape, a UNESCO World Heritage Site – visits to La Morra, Barolo (the historic centre, Piazza Falletti, the Castello Comunale Falletti di Barolo), Serralunga and Alba (the heart of the Langhe, Piazza Risorgimento, the Town Hall, the cathedral, the Church of San Domenico) – lunch in a traditional restaurant – during the day, a visit to a winery with a DOC wine tasting – arrival in Genoa in the evening – dinner at the hotel – after dinner, Genoa by night: a walking tour with the tour leader in Nervi – overnight stay.

13. 13Day 13Genoa, “a jewel set between sea and mountains”

    Breakfast at the hotel – a full day given over to a guided visit of the city: the historic centre and its patrician residences, the Strade Nuove with the UNESCO-listed Palazzi dei Rolli (panoramic tour, Via Garibaldi, Piazza Caricamento, Palazzo San Giorgio, Piazza Bianchi, Piazza San Matteo, Piazza De Ferrari, Porta Soprana, the house of Christopher Columbus, the Royal Palace and Palazzo Spinola – interior visits), the Aquarium (self-guided visit) and the Old Port, with the chance to ride the Bigo, a panoramic lift 40 metres high with views over the city – street-food lunch at leisure – free time for shopping – dinner at the hotel – after dinner, Genoa by night: a walking tour with the tour leader – overnight stay.

14. 14Day 14Genoa – Florence, “the historic centre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site”…

    220 km. Breakfast at the hotel – departure for Florence – a full day given over to a guided walking tour of Florence’s UNESCO-listed historic centre (the Basilica of Santa Croce and the Pazzi Chapel, Piazza della Signoria, the Loggia dei Lanzi, Palazzo Vecchio, the Baptistery of San Giovanni and Giotto’s bell tower, the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, the Basilica of Santa Maria Novella, the Museum of San Marco with the frescoes of Fra Angelico) – lunch in a traditional restaurant – dinner in a traditional restaurant – after dinner, Florence by night: a panoramic minibus tour with the tour leader (Piazzale Michelangelo, San Miniato al Monte, Scandicci, the Certosa, Fiesole) – overnight stay.

15. 15Day 15Florence, “the Uffizi Gallery” – Rome, 280 km

    Breakfast at the hotel – in the morning, a guided visit of the Uffizi Gallery, a UNESCO World Heritage Site (the Gallery occupies the whole of the first and second floors of the great building raised between 1560 and 1580 to a design by Giorgio Vasari: it is one of the most famous museums in the world for its extraordinary collections of ancient sculpture and of painting from the Middle Ages to the modern era. Its fourteenth-century and Renaissance collections hold outright masterpieces of all time – one need only recall the names of Giotto, Simone Martini, Piero della Francesca, Fra Angelico, Filippo Lippi, Botticelli, Mantegna, Correggio, Leonardo, Raphael, Michelangelo and Caravaggio – alongside masterpieces of the European tradition, German, Dutch and Flemish above all) – lunch at leisure – free time for shopping – in the afternoon, onward for the return journey – arrival in Rome in the evening – dinner at leisure – the tour leader is at guests’ disposal – overnight stay.

16. 16Day 16Rome – Naples, 230 km

    Breakfast at the hotel – departure for Naples – street-food lunch at leisure – in the afternoon, a guided tour of Naples (a panoramic tour along the city’s great avenues, Piazza Municipio with the Maschio Angioino, the Teatro San Carlo and the Galleria Umberto I, Piazza del Plebiscito with the Royal Palace and the monumental Basilica of San Francesco di Paola, the Santa Lucia district – an old fishermen’s quarter – Via Caracciolo, the hillside district of Posillipo with stunning views over the whole bay, the National Archaeological Museum – interior visit – and the UNESCO-listed historic centre) – in the evening, accommodation at the hotel – dinner at the hotel – after dinner, Naples by night: a panoramic tour by private coach with the tour leader – overnight stay.

17. 17Day 17Naples – Pompeii, “the most visited archaeological site in the world”…

    Morano Calabro, “the heart of the Pollino National Park” – Vibo Valentia, 420 km. Breakfast at the hotel – in the morning, a guided visit of Pompeii, the most visited archaeological site in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site – onward to Morano Calabro, in the heart of the Pollino National Park – lunch in a traditional restaurant – in the afternoon, a guided visit of Morano Calabro, one of the most charming villages of the Pollino National Park (the historic centre, the monastic complex of San Bernardino da Siena, the Collegiate Church of Santa Maria Maddalena) – arrival in Vibo Valentia in the evening – dinner at the hotel – after dinner, Pizzo Calabro by night, by private coach with the tour leader – tasting of the famous artisan tartufo ice cream – overnight stay.

18. 18Day 18Vibo Valentia – Messina – Cefalù – Palermo, 330 km

    Breakfast at the hotel – departure for Messina – a tour of the city (the cathedral and Piazza Duomo) – street-food lunch at leisure – in the late afternoon, a guided visit of Cefalù (the historic centre and the UNESCO-listed cathedral) – arrival in Palermo in the evening – dinner at the hotel – after dinner, Palermo by night: a walking tour with the tour leader – overnight stay.

19. 19Day 19Palermo and Monreale, “UNESCO World Heritage Sites”

    Breakfast at the hotel – a full day given over to a guided visit of Palermo and Monreale and their UNESCO World Heritage Sites (the Palazzo dei Normanni with the Palatine Chapel – interior visit – San Giovanni degli Eremiti – interior visit – the cathedral – interior visit – followed by a panoramic tour with exterior visits of the Teatro Massimo, Piazza Pretoria, the Church of Santa Maria dell’Ammiraglio, known as La Martorana, and the cathedral and cloister of Monreale) – street-food lunch at leisure: we suggest taking the chance to try the classics of Palermo street food – panelle, crocchè (or cazzilli), boiled octopus, pani ca’ meusa, rice arancini and sfincione – dinner at the hotel – after dinner, Palermo by night: a panoramic tour by private coach and a walking tour with the tour leader – overnight stay.

20. 20Day 20Palermo – Agrigento – Modica, 270 km

    Breakfast at the hotel – departure for Agrigento – guided visit of the Valley of the Temples, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the largest archaeological area in Italy (the Temple of Concordia, the Temple of Juno, the Temple of Jupiter, the Temple of Castor and Pollux, the Temple of Hercules) – lunch in a traditional restaurant – arrival in Modica or Ragusa in the evening – dinner at the hotel – evening at leisure – the tour leader is at guests’ disposal – overnight stay.

21. 21Day 21Ragusa Ibla, “the other Sicily” – Modica, “a land without equal” Scicli.

    Breakfast at the hotel – in the morning, a guided visit of Ragusa (the old historic centre, which keeps its late nineteenth-century urban plan) – lunch in a traditional restaurant – in the afternoon, a guided visit of Modica, a UNESCO World Heritage Site (birthplace of the poet Salvatore Quasimodo, with a visit of its refined Baroque buildings and the Church of San Giorgio) and of Scicli, also a UNESCO World Heritage Site (a panoramic tour of the Baroque town, Via Mormino Penna and the visionary Palazzo Beneventano) – a stop at a famous pasticceria to taste the renowned Modica chocolate – return to the hotel in the evening – dinner at the hotel – after dinner, Modica by night: a panoramic tour by private coach with the tour leader – overnight stay.

22. 22Day 22Modica – Noto, “where the Baroque takes the lead” – Syracuse, “the Greek…

    city” – Catania, 150 km. Breakfast at the hotel – transfer to Noto – in the morning, a guided visit of this splendid UNESCO World Heritage town, the capital of European Baroque, with its magnificent cathedral, churches, monasteries and patrician palaces, the Porta Nazionale and the Town Hall – lunch in a traditional restaurant – in the afternoon, a guided visit of Syracuse, a UNESCO World Heritage Site: the archaeological area (the Greek Theatre, the Roman Amphitheatre, the Ear of Dionysius), the island of Ortigia and the cathedral – arrival in Catania in the evening – dinner at the hotel – after dinner, Catania by night: a panoramic tour by private coach with the tour leader – overnight stay.

23. 23Day 23Etna and Taormina, “myth and passion”, 100 km

    Breakfast at the hotel – in the morning, a guided excursion to Mount Etna, a UNESCO World Heritage Site – we climb to 1,900 metres to discover the wonders and lunar landscapes of Europe’s highest volcano, walking among the Silvestri Craters, now small and extinct – please note: guests who would rather not go up Mount Etna for health reasons may wait in the charming village of Zafferana Etnea, where lunch is served – lunch in a traditional restaurant – in the afternoon, a guided visit of Taormina (the Greek Theatre, the public gardens, the historic centre, Palazzo Corvaja, Corso Umberto) – free time for shopping – return to the hotel – dinner at the hotel – evening at leisure – the tour leader is at guests’ disposal – overnight stay.

24. 24Day 24Catania – Reggio Calabria – Tropea, “the balcony over the Tyrrhenian”…

    Cosenza, 330 km. Breakfast at the hotel – departure for Reggio Calabria – guided visit of the National Archaeological Museum with the famous Riace Bronzes – onward to Tropea – lunch in a traditional restaurant – guided visit of the town (the cathedral and the historic centre, with a stop at the Affaccio, a stunning balcony over the Tyrrhenian Sea) – tasting of traditional onion specialities at a local producer – in the afternoon, arrival in Cosenza – guided city tour (the old town with its UNESCO-listed cathedral) – dinner at the hotel – after dinner, Cosenza by night: a walking tour with the tour leader – overnight stay.

25. 25Day 25Cosenza – Matera, “the City of the Sassi”, 210 km

    Breakfast at the hotel – departure for Matera – a full day given over to a guided visit of Matera, the City of the Sassi, ancient dwellings now inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site (the cathedral, a walking tour through the Sassi districts of Sasso Caveoso, Santa Lucia alle Malve and Madonna de Idris – and, in the Petrapenta district, 14 km from Matera, a visit to the Crypt of Original Sin, known as the “Sistine Chapel” of rupestrian painting) – lunch in a traditional restaurant – free time for shopping – dinner at the hotel – after dinner, Matera by night: a walking tour with the tour leader – overnight stay.

26. 26Day 26Matera – Taranto, “the city of two seas” – Lecce, “the Florence of the…

    South”, 180 km. Breakfast at the hotel – departure for Taranto – guided visit of the city of two seas (the historic centre with the Aragonese Castle – seen from the outside – the Cathedral of San Cataldo, and a panoramic tour) – onward to Lecce – street-food lunch at leisure: we recommend trying the savoury rustico leccese and the sweet pasticciotto leccese – in the afternoon, a guided visit of Lecce (the Basilica of Santa Croce, the Church of the Gesù, San Matteo, the cathedral, Sant’Irene, along with a wealth of patrician palaces and Roman remains including the Theatre and the Amphitheatre) – a visit to a traditional papier-mâché workshop – dinner at the hotel – after dinner, Lecce by night: a walking tour with the tour leader – overnight stay.

27. 27Day 27Salento tour – Otranto – Santa Maria di Leuca – Gallipoli, 190 km

    Breakfast at the hotel – full-day guided excursion – a visit of Otranto (the historic centre and the cathedral with the precious mosaic of 1163 that covers its floor), of Santa Maria di Leuca, de finibus terrae, and of Gallipoli (from the Greek for “beautiful city”, with its characterful old town) – lunch in a traditional restaurant – return to the hotel in the evening – dinner at the hotel – evening at leisure – the tour leader is at guests’ disposal – overnight stay.

28. 28Day 28Lecce – Ostuni, “the white city” – the Itria Valley – Alberobello, “the…

    trulli” – Bari, 170 km. Breakfast at the hotel – full-day guided excursion – a visit of Ostuni, the “white city”, with an olive oil tasting at a working mill – the Itria Valley – Alberobello with its famous trulli, a UNESCO World Heritage Site – lunch in a traditional restaurant – arrival in Bari in the evening – dinner at the hotel – after dinner, Bari by night: a panoramic tour by private coach with the tour leader – overnight stay.

29. 29Day 29Bari – Trani – Castel del Monte, “a UNESCO World Heritage Site”…

    Campobasso, 280 km. Breakfast at the hotel – in the morning, a guided visit of Bari (the historic centre with the Basilica of San Nicola), followed by guided visits of Trani (the Romanesque cathedral “rising from the sea”, dedicated to Saint Nicholas the Pilgrim, with a tasting of Moscato di Trani at a wine bar) and of Castel del Monte (Frederick II’s castle, built on the model of the Palatine Chapel in Aachen, a UNESCO World Heritage Site) – street-food lunch at leisure: we recommend focaccia barese, sgagliozze and octopus rolls – arrival in Campobasso in the evening – dinner at the hotel or in a restaurant – after dinner, Campobasso by night: a walking tour with the tour leader – overnight stay.

30. 30Day 30Campobasso, “the Samnite Museum” – Agnone, “the Marinelli foundry” – Isernia…

    “the Palaeolithic Museum” – Rome, 290 km. Breakfast at the hotel – in the morning, a guided visit of Campobasso (the historic centre and the Samnite Museum) – onward to Agnone – light lunch with a tasting of cheeses and dairy specialities, a visit to a historic cellar and to a tuff cave used for ageing cheese – a visit of the Pontifical Marinelli bell foundry in Agnone – onward to Isernia – guided visit of the Palaeolithic Museum – arrival in Rome in the evening. Please note: the planned visits may be rearranged between days according to museum opening times or operational requirements, but the itinerary remains unchanged.

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