Grand Tour of Italy

Begin with a coffee break at Buronzo Castle before choosing to either go mountain biking or hiking in Oasi Zegna Park, along the Mountain Path in the Wild Valsessera Valley. Stop for lunch at a local mountain refuge. On the way to Borgo Ca del Becca you will have the opportunity to visit some local villages, and when you arrive you will take a short walk in the forest and enjoy a “merenda” of local cheese, prosciutto, beers and Bramaterra wine.

On the way to Florence, you’ll stop in the city of Pisa to see its famous leaning tower. It is the belfry for a magnificent cathedral complex with a baptistry and walled cemetery, and you’ll hear what inspired the artists and architects of this cathedral square, known as the ‘Field of Miracles’. Inside this square sits the tower, and you’ll wind your way to the top, feeling the ‘lean’ as you ascend.

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.

Your tour starts at the Piazza del Duomo with the spectacular Romanesque and Gothic cathedral. The square is surrounded by the Santa Maria della Scala Hospital, the Archbishop’s Palace, the unfinished Duomo, Opera del Duomo museum, the crypt and the baptistry. You’ll then reach the Piazza del Campo, a unique shell-shaped area which was paved with bricks in the 14th century.

On the way to Rome, make a stop in Orvieto. Located on a hilltop in the beautiful Umbrian countryside, this town is sure to capture your heart with its churches, cobbled lanes, and medieval piazzas; the stunning Gothic cathedral is not to be missed.

Discover the great Roman Forum, for centuries the centre of civic life. Then, along the Via Sacra (Sacred Way), head to the Palatine Hill, one of the most ancient areas of the city, where you’ll enjoy a breathtaking view of the Circus Maximus. Finally, enter the magnificent Colosseum, considered one of the greatest works of Roman architecture and Roman engineering, and capable of seating up to 50,000 spectators.

See the sights of Rome from the back of a vintage Vespa, in true ‘Roman Holiday’ style as you weave your way through everything from large avenues to tiny alleyways. The tour will be led by a private bilingual guide and will take in all the most important monuments and neighbourhoods in Rome.

Modica is famous for its chocolate, made here in the same way it was made in Mexico by the Aztecs. You’ll visit a local historical shop and try some of its delicious creations and receive a chocolate bar to take away.

On the way to Agrigento, you’ll stop in Ragusa. Walk around in Ibla, the old part of Ragusa, built in Baroque style and recreated on a medieval street plan, with its secret shrines, family crests and baroque fountains. Ibla is known for its typical oriel windows, showy staircases, tawny-coloured mansions and filigree balconies, secret arches and yellowing palm trees.

On the way to Taormina, visit the incredible remains of the Villa Romana del Casale, a 4th century Roman villa and UNESCO World Heritage Site. One of the most opulent residences in the Empire, it contains the richest, largest and most complex collection of Roman mosaics in the world.

Taormina sits on the east coast of the island and has long been home to artists and intellectuals. The town is filled with pretty churches, a Norman cathedral, impressive clock tower and a main square which overlooks the Gulf of Messina. It is also home to the Palazzo Corvaja palace, which housed the first Sicilian parliament in the 15th century. A real highlight is the Greek theatre from where you will get stunning views of Taormina’s two bays and across to Calabria, with Mount Etna as a backdrop in the other direction.