Hilltop Towns of Italy - Plus Rome and Venice
Active pace with longer touring days. Expect intermittent walking at a moderate pace for 2–3 hours over a variety of terrain, including cobblestones, hills and uneven pavements. Must be able to negotiate stairs of varying heights, sometimes without handrails. Can tolerate periods of standing during guided tours and be able to climb in/out of various modes of transportation. Some days may include 5–7 km of walking over the course of the day.
Depart for Rome.
Land in Rome and proceed to Perugia, the Umbrian capital. Take a city tour along the bustling Corso Vannucci.
In Assisi, visit the majestic Basilica of St. Francis and 13th-century church of Santa Chiara. Enjoy afternoon free time to shop for locally made ceramics before returning to our hotel in Perugia.
Travel to atmospheric Gubbio, whose buildings seem to barely fit on Monte Ingino’s steep mountainside. Visit the Ducal Palace’s amazing architecture, then continue to the resort town of Rimini.
Tour hilltop San Marino, Europe’s oldest and smallest republic. Return to Rimini for an afternoon at leisure.
Traverse the Adriatic coast to Ravenna, burial place of Dante, father of the Italian language. Visit the Byzantine-style tomb of Galla Placida before arriving in Preganziol for the evening.
Cross the Venetian Lagoon by private boat for a full day among Venice’s divine sights—St. Mark’s Square, the Bridge of Sighs, Doge’s Palace and more. Enjoy free time to shop, explore, and take pictures.
Visit Padua, where Dante and Galileo studied, and walk among the walled streets, piazzas and arcaded pathways. See the Palazzo della Ragione, Prato della Valle and incredibly elaborate Basilica of Saint Anthony.
Enter Tuscany and stop in Lucca, a charming Renaissance town where every corner reveals a piece of history. Continue to the famed spa town of Montecatini for a four-night stay.
Take an excursion to Pisa! Spend time at the Campo dei Miracoli, which includes the leaning tower, Duomo and Baptistery. After, travel to a local farm where you’ll tour the vineyards before enjoying a typical Tuscan dinner with local wines and farm-grown foods.
In Florence, take a walking tour of the Duomo, 13th-century Palazzo Vecchio, Church of the Holy Cross, and statue of Michelangelo’s David.
Tour medieval Siena, where you’ll see the Gothic town hall and fanshaped Piazza del Campo—site of the legendary Palio horse race and Palazzo Pubblico. Optionally, climb the 14th-century Torre del Mangia tower with sweeping city views.
Proceed to the Tuscan spa town of Chianciano, stopping enroute to visit Cortona, made famous by the hugely popular book and movie Under the Tuscan Sun.
Montepulciano’s well-preserved blend of Renaissance, medieval and Baroque architecture makes it uniquely lovely. Discover the city’s churches, palaces, and incredible views. Savour a fresh lunch with historic local wine at a nearby working farm.
Proceed to Rome for a panoramic tour of the absolute classics—Roman Forum, Circus Maximus, Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps and more before checking into your hotel.
Visit magnificent St. Peter’s Basilica and Vatican City. Enjoy an afternoon at leisure before our Farewell Dinner at a local restaurant.
Fly home with Air Canada.
You may cancel your tour up to 60 days prior to departure (90 days prior for tours requiring a visa, cruises or rail journeys) for any reason, and receive a full refund of your deposit / payment (less the $75 administration fee).
Cancellation & trip interruption insurance included!
Included in the cost of your tour is our Cancellation Insurance Policy, which provides coverage in case of emergency injury or illness (including Covid), right up to your date of departure (terms and conditions apply).
Our Manulife Out-of-Country Health Insurance Plan covers expenses related to Trip Interruption in case of emergency injury or illness. For tours within Canada, Senior Discovery Tours will cover such expenses (terms and conditions apply to all policies).
