An Italian adventure for the entire family

Rome, Italy’s capital and largest city, needs little introduction. One of the most history-rich and significant locations in the world, throughout your time in the city you will be exposed to numerous glorious reminders of Rome’s illustrious past. From the famous ancient Roman wonders to Renaissance masterpieces, all are on show, ready to allow you to experience a step back in time. That’s not to say that its cosmopolitan streets do not embrace the now; Rome is as exhilarating and forward thinking as ever, home to some superb dining, shopping and entertainment avenues.

No visit to Italy would be complete without tasting an authentic Italian pizza, but what better way to experience this iconic Italian dish than through making your own? You’ll be welcomed by a professional pizza maker and be taken through the process of pizza making. You'll get to knead the dough, create the topping, pop it into the oven and best of all, you'll get to eat your creation too.

Arrive at 7am at the Vatican when the museums are still closed. You'll have the chance to enter with just a few others and enjoy an American breakfast. Then you are ready to start the tour of the museums with your personal guide. You will pass through room after room full of treasures, before the culmination of the visit, Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel, home to the conclave that elects Popes. The ceiling frescoes and Last Judgement on the altar wall are probably the most viewed paintings in the world.

From here, enter St Peter's Basilica, one of the largest churches in the world and a triumph of Renaissance architecture, showcasing the work of Bramante, Michelangelo, Carlo Maderno and Gian Lorenzo Bernini. Once inside, having got over the feelings of awe inspired by the sheer size and magnificence of it all, one of the first things you will see is Michelangelo's Pieta. Sculpted by the artist at the age of 23, it must be the most moving of all Michelangelo's sculptures; a mother gazing lovingly at her child as if seeing the baby she gave birth to, but in fact it is the body of the 33-year-old Christ. Moving down the church, you will pass the statue of St Peter, whose bronze toes have been completely worn away by the millions of pilgrims who have stroked them, and arrive at Bernini's Baldacchino, under the centre of the dome and behind this, the throne of St Peter.

Built by the Emperor Vespasian in 72 AD, the Colosseum seated about 50,000 spectators and staged all the most blood-thirsty games known to ancient Romans, including gladiatorial combat, man against beast, beast against beast, land battles, sea battles and executions. All were designed to inspire and overawe the citizens at the heart of this mighty empire.

Appropriately attired in togas, wooden sword in hand, learn the basics of hand-to-hand combat at a gladiator school led by members of the Historic Group of Rome. You'll discover the secrets of Imperial Rome's infamous gladiator games, get hands-on with ancient history and be shown around the museum on this fun two-hour tour.

Designed by Italian architect Nicola Salvi and completed by Pietro Bracci in 1762, the vast Baroque Trevi Fountain is iconic of Rome, seen in countless films and is perhaps the most famous water feature in the world. Just remember that coins are meant to be thrown using the right hand over the left shoulder.

Sat within a shallow lagoon between the mouths of the Po and Piave rivers, Venice is formed of 118 islands which are dissected by some 170 canals and connected by over 400 bridges. The entire city is considered a UNESCO World Heritage Site, an extraordinary architectural masterpiece in which even the smallest building may contain works by some of Europe's greatest artists.

Iconic attractions on the main Rialto islands are evocative by name alone - Piazza San Marco, the Rialto Bridge, Doge’s Palace, Saint Mark’s Basilica and the Grand Canal - a unique collection of brooding Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque architecture. Days can be spent discovering tucked away galleries, museums and palazzos, while away from the crowds, you can discover other islands where traditional Venetian culture still runs deep.

Providing a real ‘backstage’ insight to how Venice's famous gondolas are crafted and maintained, this is a chance to see the boats out of the water, which allows visitors to appreciate the asymmetric shape and examine at all the boat’s components.

No visit to Venice would be complete without experiencing a gondola ride. Travel like a Venetian on a gondola down the city’s iconic canals, giving you a very special vantage point for absorbing the beauty of this city, as it is from the water that Venice offers its most spectacular views.

If you imagine landing in Venice from the sea, as did those who came inland by ship, the first thing you see rising out of the water is the unmistakable shape of the Doge's Palace - the city's most famous building. This building, considered the most representative symbol of Venice's culture, together with the Basilica of San Marco, forms one of the most famous scenes in the world. For centuries, the Doge's Palace had fundamental roles, as the Doge residence, the seat of government and as the palace of justice.

Your historical walking tour will then take you through the backstreets of Venice to the shimmering, mosaic-filled St. Mark's Basilica, the mightiest of Venetian monuments. Its architecture, a mixture of Byzantine, Roman and Venetian, is the work of artists and craftsmen who travelled from all over the world to contribute to the structure.

Visit Venice’s most famous islands, Murano, Burano and Torcello, and learn about their importance in history and trade. Your first stop will be in Murano, world-famous since the 1200s for the art of glassmaking, where you'll visit one of Venice’s most important glass factories and have a private show of how the intricate glasswork is made, as well as a tour of the showroom to spot works of great glass masters like Signoretto.

The second picturesque island is Burano, a fisherman island known for its brightly coloured houses and for its lace school. You'll see the women who still work this antique technique of lace-making by hand. The last stop is Torcello, the first island to be inhabited in the lagoon, where you'll hear the history and see its beautiful cathedral with its magnificent mosaics dating back to the 1100s. In Torcello, you'll also see the Locanda Cipriani where Ernest Hemingway stayed when in Venice and wrote A Farewell to Arms.

Transfer in a private vehicle to your hotel in Florence, stopping en route in the city of Bologna for lunch and a stroll around the historic city.

Surrounded by rolling Tuscan hills, the beautiful city of Florence is one of Europe's most enchanting and historically influential cities. If anywhere in the world can claim to have shaped modern Western consciousness, it is Florence's grand piazzas and palazzos. While here, you can discover the world's greatest Renaissance artworks, while sculptures can be found at every turn in the historical centre, an area that can be traversed on foot in under an hour but would certainly need infinitely longer to properly explore and appreciate.

Glide along the Arno River, floating by the Uffizi and passing under the Ponte Vecchio. You'll see the city in a new way as you drift towards the Santa Trinita bridge and Carraia bridge as your guide recounts amazing stories about the city and its architecture.

The boat is steered manually by a Florentine ‘renaiolo’ (boat captain), meaning there is no engine noise. This wonderful experience on the river is also characterised by the absolute absence of city noise. The boat tour lasts about an hour, then you will hop ashore where your guide will continue showing the city’s monuments from different perspectives, ending with a visit to the Santa Croce church with the tombs of Michelangelo, Machiavelli, Galileo and Rossini.

Discover the beautiful city of Florence with a fun and educational treasure hunt, suitable for children aged between 6 and 11. They’ll be given an old city map and a compass to guide them through the city, taking in the highlights. The focus of the hunt is Renaissance history and they’ll have fun learning how coded letters were written and deciphering them. Points and prizes will be earned along the way, which they can collect in their special prize bag, and the treasure hunt will end with them making an old Florentine craft and finding their final treasure.

This tour is all about gelato - Italian ice cream. Learn how gelato was invented, see how it is made on the premises of a gelato parlour, and naturally, lots of flavours will be tasted and compared in various local gelaterias.

Built on three steep hills and unchanged since medieval times, Siena is one of Tuscany’s most beautiful towns. Admire its major sites like the Piazza del Campo, where the famous horse race takes place every year, as well as explore quieter backstreets to appreciate Siena's complex and rich history. You will be introduced to the stunning Gothic cathedral, where you’ll enjoy a panoramic view from the Facciatone.

Continue on to San Gimignano, famous for its medieval skyscrapers, high walls and narrow streets that typify the image of a Tuscan hill town.

Draped along the cliffs on the southern side of the Sorrento Peninsula, between Salerno and the city of Sorrento, the Amalfi Coast is one of the most dramatic and glamorous spots in Italy. Between the two, Positano, Amalfi and Ravello’s candy coloured buildings spill their way down into blue bays.

The peninsula combines affluent sophistication with a honest simplicity, where super yachts and gurgling Italian sports cars sit amidst an unchanging rural way of life. The food gloriously reflects this and some of Europe’s finest restaurants can be found here, thriving on fresh local produce, whilst the rustic Neapolitan food found here is considered the epitome of Italian cuisine to many. The views and food are perhaps the main draw here, but there is a rich history to explore too, hidden beaches to discover and pristine trails in the Lattari Mountains to walk.

Head out into the Gulf of Naples across to the beautiful island of Capri, a draw to visitors for thousands of years.

The tour will visit Li Galli Islands, the legendary home of the sirens who lured Ulysses to the islands with their enchanting singing. This is also an ideal place for snorkelling, with its clear waters and underwater treasures. Tide permitting, you will approach the famous Blue Grotto where it will be possible to get inside using a sall local boat.

Discover the spectacular Amalfi Coast, situated like an amphitheatre among the mountains and the sea. Visit Ravello and the Villas Rufolo and Cimbrone, two sites not to be missed for their splendour and decorations. Both villas have amazingly beautiful gardens. You'll also take in the wonderful Positano, considered to be one of the most picturesque of all Italy's coastal resorts.

Handcrafted pasta is definitely something the Campania region can be proud of. Today you'll enjoy a tour of a local factory that has been producing pasta since 1848. Everything they make is handmade and the pasta is extruded through bronze, a method that has been used for centuries. The resulting rough, porous surface means the pasta holds the sauce well, giving dishes a wonderful flavour. You'll also visit a local mozzarella cheese factory, the oldest on the Sorrentine peninsula, that also produces the region's famous limoncello.

To visit Pompeii is as close as you can get to travelling in a time machine back to ancient Rome. In August of 79 AD, Vesuvius had been rumbling for some days and it is estimated that a large part of the population of 20,000 had been evacuated; those that were left were as if suspended in time, as the plaster casts made of the bodies that were found shows. Excavation started in the 18th century and continues to this day.

You will get to walk Roman streets, look into bars, stroll into Patrician villas, complete with frescoes and mosaics, there is even a mosaic doormat, saying ‘beware of the dog’. Graffiti (an Italian word) is written on some of the walls, reflecting a forthcoming election. When you see the baths, the central heating systems and the gentle fountains in the courtyards of the villas, you really feel it wouldn’t be too much of a hardship to live there.

Spend a final night in Rome before your international flight home.