The morning sun welcomes you to the outskirts of Rome, the mighty capital of Italy and a city filled with a history that few places on Earth can match. A private driver will be waiting at the airport, ready to take you through the bustle of the city’s streets to the tranquil setting of your hotel, mere steps from the remains of the Colosseum.

You can take the rest of the day to accustom yourself to the feel and swing of life in Rome before setting out for dinner at one of the city’s very best restaurants, boasting cuisines from all countries and traditions, with charming atmospheres and exemplary waitstaffs to match.

Charge headlong into the history of Rome as today is a tour-filled excursion deep into the heart of this engaging and incredible city. You’ll start at the ruins of the Roman Forum, where an expert guide will show you all of the notable structures, regaling you with the stories of the men who lived here and their noble and savage deeds. Then you’ll skip the lines and pass undisturbed through the gates of the world’s most famous sporting structure: the incomparable Roman Colosseum. You’ll discover the events that happened here, and the structure’s legacy in the history of ancient Rome, gaining a new understanding and appreciation of this complex society.

After a delicious and filling lunch, you’ll be led on a small group tour of the sites of the Holy See, the center of Catholicism, and the main residence of the Bishop of Rome. Enter the cavernous nave of St. Peter's Basilica —by some measures the largest church structure in the world—and gaze in awe at the incredible art that fills this mammoth structure, from the tiny memorial of St. Peter (whose foot has been rubbed raw by the passing hands of millions of pilgrims) to the astounding grace of Michelangelo’s Pieta, a treasure of Renaissance sculpture that was completed before the artist turned 30.

Then, visit the seemingly endless halls of the Vatican Museums, filled with some of the greatest art the West has ever known. From the Gallery of Maps to the Raphael fresco rooms, you’ll make your way past more than 50 salas, gazing at a collection so massive that it must be among the largest in the world. That is, until you reach the final moment, the climax of Italian art: the stunning and stirring Sistine Chapel. Its frescoed ceiling and frightening Last Judgment altarpiece are among the most incredible accomplishments of artistic expression known to exist.

After an exhaustive survey of the capital, spend today exploring the environs of Rome, where you’ll encounter a fallen civilization encased for all of the future and one of the most beautiful shorelines on Earth. You’ll start on the slopes of Mount Vesuvius, where a local guide will show you all of the mysteries and remains of the city of Pompeii, destroyed by a volcanic eruption in 79 AD. Make your way along the narrow streets and alleyways, past the home of wealthy aristocrats and the former public buildings dedicated to worship and entertainment. There are still human remains here, and everywhere the reminders of the charms of this ancient civilization.

From the remnants of Pompeii, visit the vibrant coastal town of Positano, one of the main cities in the famed Amalfi Coast, a spectacular stretch of beach that rivals anywhere along this Mediterranean coastline. Walk the shore and gaze upon the craggy bluffs that surround the cities, towns, and villages here. Lose yourself in the rich, yet cool palette of blues and greens and the warm earth tones of the sharply rising peaks and gently sloping roofs, or spend some time enjoying the simple pleasures of southern Italy. 

You leave the Italian south and board a first-class train that will take you through the rich farmlands and vineyards of transfixing Tuscany. Admire  the sensational scenery and the undeniable charm of the region’s most delightful villages and towns, places like Montereggioni and Siena and San Gimignano. The early afternoon sees you arriving in the train station on the outskirts of Florence, the greatest city of the Italian Renaissance and one of the country’s best tourist attractions, where a car will be waiting to take you to your hotel.

While in Florence, you’ll experience unparalleled luxury as you spend your evenings at a boutique hotel, an oasis of serenity that is minutes away from the heart of Florence. This recently refurbished, four-star gem offers unbeatable views of the city from the rooftop terrace. This evening, enjoy an authentic Tuscan meal at a local trattoria, where the beef is sure to be incredible and the wines are sure to be succulent.

There is truly no place to experience the Italian Renaissance that is quite like Florence; the genius and brilliance of the minds who called this city home still seem to haunt the air, gently recalling their greatest successes. This morning, you’ll enjoy a small group tour of the city that will get you past all the crowds and knee-deep into Florentine history and culture. You’ll make your way past the bustling Piazza della Signoria and the imposing Palazzo Vecchio, its off-center tower jutting awkwardly and slightly menacingly into the crisp blue air. Revel in the splendor of Giotto’s campanile and the multi-colored façade and crowning dome of the Duomo of Florence, one of the greatest architectural feats of the Renaissance era.

Then, make your way past the throngs of people eagerly awaiting admittance, and get an in-depth look at Michelangelo’s David at the Accademia of Florence. An informative guide will tell you all about this incredible piece, one of the finest examples of Renaissance humanism in the world, as well as the artist’s tortuous—and sometimes tortured—life.

Depart from the ordinary as you make your way to the far northwest of Italy to discover the five coastal villages known as Cinque Terre. Your small group tour will allow you the opportunity to explore four of these darling villages and soak up the Italian Riviera to the fullest. Make your way down the rugged and romantic coast before casting out into the sapphire waters of the Mediterranean to get a glimpse of these spectacular villages from sea level. The pictures you take today are sure to be some of your favorites, the sparkling weather offering the perfect addition to the broad smiles brought about by the incredible natural beauty and the irresistible charm of this special stretch of Italy. This evening sees you back in Florence.

Say goodbye to the draws of Tuscany, and head across the Northern Italian countryside until reaching the lagoons and canals of the romantic and resplendent city of Venice. Witness the Grand Canal cutting its way past beautiful town homes and through the closely-knit neighborhoods of this one-of-a-kind city. A private water taxi will be waiting for you at the train station, ready to deliver you to the door of the Hotel Saturnia, a Venetian-styled delight that echoes the city’s spirit while offering all of the modern luxuries, located a short stroll from the stretching Piazza San Marco, the famous heart of Venice.

This evening, you’ll get a perfect first glimpse of the appeals of Venice as you set out on a boat tour of the Grand Canal, Venice’s main thoroughfare, where you’ll catch the incredible skyline of the neighboring islands and the dying sun falling under the horizon and bathing the city in a heavenly glow.

Today, you explore the City of Canals by land and sea, taking a morning walking tour of the city’s vibrant city center before embarking on a gondola ride that simply cries intimacy. You’ll start in the sprawling city square of the Piazza San Marco, crowned by the soaring red brick campanile and surmounted by the elegant graceful domes of St. Mark’s Basilica, perhaps the best example of Byzantine architecture left in Europe. You’ll uncover the incredible opulence of the interior of the basilica, filled with brightly colored mosaics flecked with glints of gold, before setting out to learn about hidden Venice. Discover the gems nestled off the Grand Canal, where the waterways ripple with a gentler wake and where the best cafes and restaurants are waiting for you to stop by.

This afternoon, tour the city in true Venetian fashion as you take to the labyrinthine waterways in a sleek, jet-black gondola. With a charming and skilled gondolier at the helm, you’ll float through one of the most unforgettable cities on Earth, an inspiration to artists and poets for centuries, a marvel of Italy and a place that you can, quite simply, never forget.

Today sees the conclusion of an incredible nine days, filled with excitement and attractions, with world-class culture and filling food, with aimless explorations, languid walks by the beach and conversations in a Venetian café. Why ever you chose to come to Italy, you’ll find you’ll have seven times as many reasons to return again soon.