THE GRAND TOUR: ITALY

Day two see us follow the coast to Pisa with a chance to see the UNESCO listed leaning tower, before heading in land into the mountains. Your destination for the next two night is Florence, capital of the Tuscany region and birthplace of the Renaissance. It is home to masterpieces of art and architecture including Michelangelo’s “David” at the Galleria dell’Accademia. Your tour includes a walking tour of some of the highlights of the city, leaving time for you to visit the galleries and museums at your leisure.

Form here you head on to the medieval town Of Assisi dominated by two castles as well as being home to the Franciscan order. From Assisi you are heading to one of the many tour highlights – Three nights in Rome.

Too much to see and too much to do, however many days you are in Rome it will not be enough. You have two full days to see the Colosseum, Visit the Vatican, Gaze at the Trevi Fountain, wander the Pantheon, marvel at the Basilicas or stroll the PIazza del Popolo. So much European history has been centred on this city and it remains a captivating place. Another half day walking tour is included here to make sure you get the most from your time in Rome.

Then it is south to the much photographed Sorrento famed for its sea cliffs. The town’s steep slopes look out over azure waters to Ischia, Capri and the Bay of Naples. Kick back and relax in Sorrento or hop on one of the regular trains for the 30 minute ride to wander the ruined streets of Pompeii under the menacing shadow of Vesuvius. After two nights in Sorrento you are heading to the heel of Italy and Alberobello with it’s unique picturesque Trulli houses. Then it is on to Sicily via Tropea on the Tyrrhenian Sea. Take the short ferry to the home of Mount Etna, still one of the most active Volcanos in the world. You have two nights in Sicily and we recommend a visit to the UNESCO listed Valley of the Temples where the temples of ancient Akragas are sited: the Temples of Juno, Lacinia, Concordia, Hercules, Jupiter, Castor and Pollux and Vulcan.

You leave Sicily by way of Palermo and an overnight ferry to Genoa but not before riding through the infamous village of Corleone. You will arrive quite late in Genoa, but we are staying close to the port and the centre so there is still an opportunity to see some of this ancient and bustling town. The following day you are riding back to Nice to enjoy our farewell dinner and try and recall everything that you have packed in to just two weeks. The next morning you are free to start the ride home.