Tours and Trips in Italy

At the behest of Pope Saint Pius V (1566-1572), in order to keep the chapels of the Porziuncola, the Transito and the Roseto and other places made sacred by the memory of St. Francis, and welcome the many pilgrims who come to visit them, between 1569 and 1679 the great Basilica of S. Maria degli Angeli was built. The original project of Galeazzo Alessi (1512-1572) is foreseen by a rigorous structural simplicity, conforming to the Franciscan ideal of poverty. The strong telluric events that shake Umbria in 1832 cause serious damage to the Basilica. At the end of a long and complex restoration, directed by the architect Luigi Poletti, it was reopened to worship on 8 September 1840. The façade is radically reworked on a project by Cesare Bazzani, with the intention of conferring a monumentality worthy of the importance of the Sanctuary. This was inaugurated on June 8, 1930 and at its summit an imposing statue of the Virgin in gilded bronze was placed.

Cruise through Rome on two wheels with this cycle through the Appia Antica Regional Park. Customize the itinerary according to your interests and cover ground quickly as you explore the bicycle trails of this ancient highway, home to several historic landmarks including the Villa of Massenzio. Helmets and locks are included.

Tantalize your taste buds while soaking up the romantic atmosphere of Venice at twilight on this evening food and wine walking tour. As darkness settles over the city and lights begin to twinkle in its famous canals, follow a foodie guide to some of Venice's best "˜bacari,' or bars, to sample authentic Venetian snacks known as "˜cicchetti' paired with traditional beverages. Avoid the crowds and tourist traps while learning about the rich history of this enchanting city and its cuisine.

You will see Albano, Ariccia with its famous village and bridge, the volcanic lakes of Nemi and Castelgandolfo and their respective villages that have made the history of Rome and the Popes.We will offer you a lunch or dinner in the typical "fraschetta" unique and characteristic environments where you can eat typical food and drink the wines of the famous castles.

Leave your cruise ship at the port and see the sights of Venice with a private guide. The 3-hour shore excursion is tailored to you, so you decide what you want to see and when. Go off the well-trodden tourist track to visit the neighborhood of Cannaregio, or scout out the wares of Rialto fish market. Check out tucked-away churches, and then finish with a glass of wine and nibbles in a local bar. It's a great way to see a side of Venice that many visitors miss.

What if Shakespeare's starcrossed lovers Romeo and Juliet actually had a different fate? When visiting Verona, solve a mystery based on the Bard's tragic tale by solving a series of puzzles and clues that take you through the "˜City of Love.' Have fun putting the pieces together as you travel to landmarks like Juliet's House, Piazza delle Erbe, the Scaliger Tombs and Forti Palace. Along the way, boost your brain power with a complimentary snack and drink.

Discover our small group tour of the crypts and the catacombs sitted in the roman territor:The crypts are undergrounds (or partly undergrounds) chambers, usually located beneath the chancel, for holy relics and burials. Crypts could be extremely large and might contain one or more altars in separate chapels. Crypts might hold the shrine of a saint, and thus woulds have to be large enough to accommodate pilgrims coming to pray at the shrine. Most cathedrals have sizeable cryptsThe catacombs are  series of underground passages and rooms where bodies wereburied in the past.

Intrigued by the sights of Italy's south? Take a day trip from Rome to Naples and Pompeii, and discover their sights as you listen to tales of Bourbon kings and ancient volcanic eruptions. Travel around Naples by coach to see Castel dell'Ovo, Piazza del Plebiscito and Naples Royal Palace. Then, enjoy lunch and finish with a tour of Pompeii's UNESCO-listed archaeological ruins to see the monuments that lay buried for centuries.

Discover the stories and secrets behind the most unusual staircase in Venice, the Scala Contarini del Bovolo. Pre-book your admission ticket and visit anytime during opening hours to climb this architectural curiosity, which spirals up the side of an ancient palazzo tucked within the city's maze-like streets.

Discover the highlights of romantic Verona during a hop-on hop-off bus tour aboard an open-air double-decker bus. Enjoy panoramic views from the top deck while you ride past the city's main attractions and listen to informative audio commentary along the way. There are 2 different bus routes included on your ticket, and 16 stops between them so you'll see the best of Verona. Your ticket is valid for 24 hours.

Enjoy a memorable night out in Venice with this package that includes dinner at a top-rated local restaurant, followed by a chamber music concert at a historic church. Enjoy a savory three-course meat or fish meal at Osteria Leon Bianco, and then make your way to the 17th-century Church of San Vidal for an intimate performance by the renowned Interpreti Veneziani ensemble. Immerse yourself in the atmospheric setting as the talented musicians bring to life classic Baroque compositions by maestros such as Bach, Mozart, Handel and Vivaldi.

Escape the heat and hustle of Rome with a half-day trip around the hill towns of Castelli Romani. Visit Lake Albano, Rocca di Papa, Castel Gandolfo, Grottaferrata and Frascati, and sample locally-made wine while learning about wine production in the area. This half-day tour is an excellent opportunity to see an untrammeled swath of the Roman countryside while learning about the history of the area from your local guide.

Experience one of the most truly Venetian moments with a 30-minute gondola ride. See the beauty of this unique city from the perspective of its most iconic symbol as you glide through the canals in a gondola. See the hidden places only accessible by gondola, as you get a totally different vantage point than with a walking tour.

Immerse yourself in the sights and sounds of Baroque music at this authentic chamber performance in Venice. The 17th-century Church of San Vidal provides an intimate historic setting and fantastic acoustics for concertos and sinfonias by European masters such as Mozart, Bach, Vivaldi and Handel. The talented members of the Interpreti Veneziani ensemble bring these musical masterworks to life for a night out you won't soon forget.

Enjoy a scenic and relaxing trip to Roman countryside in this comfortable and customizable private tour, with private roundtrip transportation from your centrally located hotel in Rome, and a knowledgeable & enthusiastic driver to lead the way.Plenty of photo opportunities along the route as we visit Nemi, Ariccia, Castelgandolfo and Frascati.

Travel to your cruise port the easy and stylish way with this private motorboat transfer. A professional driver will pick you up at your central Venice hotel in a clean and comfortable motorboat and transport you directly to the cruise port (either Venezia Marittima or San Basilio). Relax and enjoy the ride as you whizz by Venice's historic palaces and beautiful lagoon on the way to your waiting ship.

Santa Maria Novella, a unique combination of Gothic and Renaissance architecture, was referred to by Michelangelo as his bride. Skip the lines waiting to enter this iconic site, learn about its history with a multimedia guide, and admire its art.

Visit the famous artisan islands of the Venetian Lagoon on a half-day motorboat trip from central Venice. Soak up fantastic views of the city's waterside highlights as you cruise to Murano, known for its centuries-old glassmaking industry. Watch master glassblowers create candy-colored shapes at a factory, or simply stroll around the island at your leisure. Continue on to the pretty island of Burano, home to brightly hued buildings and traditional lacemaking workshops.

Verona Arena is the third largest Roman amphitheater in the world and host to the renowned Verona Summer Opera Festival, but it's not unusual to spend over an hour queuing to get in. This 1-hour guided tour ensures skip-the-line entrance, so you can explore inside the ancient wonder without having to wait in line.

Explore Palazzo Vecchio, the symbol of civic power in Florence for centuries, on a multimedia-guided tour. Learn about the rich history of this important structure that became the residence of the Medici family, and admire its magnificent works of art.