Loading
Phone(210) 791-6668AustraliaMonday to Friday 8am - 9pm (AEDT)
Travel Agent Login

19-Day Italy Culture & Heritage

  • view trip mapView Trip Map
  • downloadDownload
  • shareShare

Overview

Take a journey through rich Italian heritage and culture on this just under three week trip to Italy!

This 19-day Italy trip will take you to discover some of the most beautiful attractions in Italy, taking the time at each place to visit the iconic monuments and explore at your own pace.

You will begin your holiday in Sicily experiencing the incredible cultural heritage and the impressive volcanoes, then you'll fly to Milan, the most important city of Northern Italy.

You'll be mesmerised by the floating city of Venice, where you'll explore the islands of this lagoon before catching the train to Florence. From Florence, the cradle of the Reinassance, you'll move on to Naples where you will visit also Pompei and Mount Vesuvius.

At the end of the tour, you will visit the eternal city of Rome, to admire its unique masterpieces!
Sightseeing
Culture & Arts
Outdoors & Nature
Hiking & Trekking
Wellness
Food & Drink

Itinerary

Day 1

Begin Your Ultimate Italy Tour

Hide details accordion
Begin Your Ultimate Italy Tour

Your driver will pick you up at the international airport of Catania to bring you to your accommodation in Milazzo. Once you have dropped off your bags you can relax for the rest of the day or spend the afternoon exploring the city of Milazzo. Take a stroll around the impressive walls of the Milazzo castle or take in the breathtaking architecture in the old town's medieval quarters.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Hotel Medici3 star

  • activities icon
    Activities

    Milazzo

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Catania Fontanarossa Airport to Milazzo

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Milazzo

Day 2

Lipari Free Time and Boat Trip to Panarea and Stromboli

Hide details accordion
Lipari Free Time and Boat Trip to Panarea and Stromboli

Take the Hydrofoil to Lipari. Lipari is the largest, busiest and most accessible of the Aeolian Islands and boasts of a little port with a pretty pastel-coloured seafront. Like its island neighbours, Lipari has volcanic origins. There is a panoramic headland walk from Lipari town. Today you will take a boat trip to visit Panarea and Stromboli and admire the explosions of the volcano by night.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Hotel Oriente Lipari3 star

  • activities icon
    Activities

    Boat Trip to Stromboli

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Boat from Milazzo to Lipari

    Walking from Port of Lipari to Oriente

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Milazzo

    Lipari

    Sicily

Day 3

Mud Bath and Vulcano Crater Tour

Hide details accordion
Mud Bath and Vulcano Crater Tour

Today you will explore the island of Vulcano, where you can relax at the beach, try the mud baths and hike to the crater. The warm mud is considered an excellent treatment for rheumatic pains and skin diseases. From the Vulcano harbour, hike until the crater for three hours, where you will see the visibly smoking crater and acrid sulphurous fumes. Today will be a highlight of this three week trip to Italy.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Hotel Oriente Lipari3 star

  • activities icon
    Activities

    Pozza dei FanghiOptional Activity: AU$ 11 per person

    Volcano Crater Tour

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Boat from Lipari to Vulcano

    Boat from Vulcano to Lipari

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Lipari

    Sicily

Day 4

Free Time in Lipari

Hide details accordion
Free Time in Lipari

This morning you will visit an archaeological museum to learn all about the history of the islands. The museum complex is located on the enormous rhyolitic rock of the Castello of Lipari, an imposing dome of volcanic formation with characteristics of natural defence. In the museum, you will find the world's largest collection of miniature Greek theatrical masks and ancient shipwreck cargoes. You can spend the afternoon exploring Lipari at your leisure.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Hotel Oriente Lipari3 star

  • activities icon
    Activities

    Museo Archeologico Eoliano LipariOptional Activity

    Free Time in Lipari

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Lipari

    Province of Messina

Day 5

Off to Syracuse Through Taormina

Hide details accordion
Off to Syracuse Through Taormina

You will take the hydrofoil boat to Milazzo in the morning. There your private driver will bring you to Syracuse with a stop in Taormina. Here you will take a guided tour of the ancient theatre of Taormina, which still hosts a plethora of concerts and plays. Once you reach Syracuse you can admire the stunning Baroque architecture in every street, including the cathedral of Syracuse, one of the oldest Doric Monuments built in the 5th century BC.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Hotel Gargallo3 star

  • activities icon
    Activities

    Ancient Theatre of Taormina

    Taormina Medieval Quarter

    SyracuseOptional Activity

    Cathedral of Syracuse

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Boat from Lipari to Milazzo

    Private Driver from Milazzo to Hotel Gargallo

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Lipari

    Taormina

    Syracuse

Day 6

Visit Syracuse and Catania

Hide details accordion
Visit Syracuse and Catania

Today set off for Catania with your private driver, with a stop at the Neapolis Archaeological Park of Siracusa in the morning. The park contains a large open-air museum and a magnificent Roman amphitheatre. Once you reach Catania, feel free to spend the afternoon discovering the sights in one of Sicily's largest cities. You can take a trip to the Cathedral of Sant'Agata or one of the many pretty monasteries built here.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Hotel Manganelli3 star

  • activities icon
    Activities

    Archaeological Park of Neapolis

    Catania

    Cathedral of Sant'AgataOptional Activity

    Monastero dei Benedettini di San Nicolò L' ArenaOptional Activity

    Monastero dei Benedettini di San Nicolò L' ArenaRequest to Book

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Syracuse to Catania

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Syracuse

    Catania

Day 7

Hiking to Mount Etna's Summit

Hide details accordion
Hiking to Mount Etna's Summit

With your walking guide, today you will enjoy an amazing excursion to Mount Etna. You will be collected at your hotel by a driver and taken to the volcano to begin your hike. Along with a small group, you will take a spectacular hike to the volcano's crater at 3300 metres. Take in the mesmerising views at the summit and of the active craters before you begin your descent.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Hotel Manganelli3 star

  • activities icon
    Activities

    Mount Etna Summit

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Catania to Catania

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Catania

    Sicily

Day 8

Arrival in Milan

Hide details accordion
Arrival in Milan

From your hotel in Catania, a driver will take you to the airport where you'll catch a short two-hour flight to Milan. Your driver will meet you at the airport to take you to your accommodation in the city centre of Milan. After checking in, you'll have the rest of the day free to explore Milan at your own pace.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    B&B Bed+Art Milan

  • activities icon
    Activities

    Free Time in Milan

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Catania to Catania Fontanarossa Airport

    Plane from Catania Fontanarossa Airport to Malpensa AirportRequest to Book

    Private Driver from Malpensa Airport to HouseHold - Settembrini 17

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Catania

    Milan

Day 9

Free Day in Milan

Hide details accordion
Free Day in Milan

Today, you'll have some free time to discover the most important city in northern Italy: Milan. Visit the iconic Milan Cathedral, the Sforza Castle and the city centre. You can also dedicate your time to going shopping! In the afternoon, you should also visit the Brera District. Home to an impressive number of art galleries and museums, in Brera you'll find famous paintings at the Pinacoteca, or head to the Braidense National Library, the Astronomical Museum and the botanical gardens.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    B&B Bed+Art Milan

  • activities icon
    Activities

    Milan CathedralRequest to Book

    Royal Palace of MilanRequest to Book

    Sforza CastleRequest to Book

    Brera District

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Milan

Day 10

Onwards to Venice

Hide details accordion
Onwards to Venice

By train, you'll reach one of the most beautiful cities in Italy, Venice! After checking into your hotel, you can begin to enjoy the grand atmosphere of the 'floating city'. You can start in the Jewish Ghetto and take a guided tour offered by the Museo Ebraico. During the Republic of Venice, people of Jewish culture were obliged to live in this neighbourhood. The English word "ghetto" is derived from the Jewish ghetto in Venice and is the oldest Jewish ghetto in the world.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Hotel Abbazia3 star

  • activities icon
    Activities

    Venice

    Saint Mark's Basilica

    St Mark's Campanile

    Rialto Bridge

    Jewish Ghetto

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Train from Milano Centrale Railway Station to Estacion venecia santa lucia

    Walking from Stazione di Venezia Santa Lucia to Hotel Ca Zusto Venice

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Milan

    Venice

Day 11

Explore Burano and Murano

Hide details accordion
Explore Burano and Murano

Today discover the secrets of Venice! Explore the beautiful islands of the Lagoon. Murano, the glassblower's island, Torcello, the oldest inhabited island of the area, and Murano, famous for its lace production. In the afternoon, you can also visit the Sestiere of Castello. The district includes luxury hotels on the waterfront promenade facing St. Mark's Basin, old Arsenale shipyards, working-class neighbourhoods and the residential area of Sant'Elena with its soccer stadium.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Hotel Abbazia3 star

  • activities icon
    Activities

    BuranoOptional Activity

    MuranoOptional Activity

    Sestiere Castello

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Boat from Venice to Burano

    Boat from Murano to Venice

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Venice

Day 12

Travel from Venice to Florence

Hide details accordion
Travel from Venice to Florence

In the morning you'll bid farewell to Venice and head to Florence by train. After checking into your accommodation, you'll have the rest of the day free to take in the main sights of the city. You can begin by visiting the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, a colossal Gothic architectural wonder in the heart of Florence. Then, you can visit the Piazza della Signoria, one of Florence's most famous squares and finally, Ponte Vecchio, the bridge that has become a symbol of Florence.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Hotel Palazzo Vecchio3 star

  • activities icon
    Activities

    Free Time in Florence

    Cathedral of Santa Maria del FioreOptional Activity

    Piazza della SignoriaOptional Activity

    Ponte VecchioOptional Activity

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Walking from Venice to Stazione di Venezia Santa Lucia

    Train from Stazione di Venezia Santa Lucia to Santa Maria Novella Station

    Walking from Santa Maria Novella Station to Hotel Aurora

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Venice

    Florence

Day 13

Explore Florence

Hide details accordion
Explore Florence

Today you have a free day in Florence to spend however you wish. You can visit the famous San Lorenzo Market, one of Florence's most popular markets that buzzes with locals. You can also visit Piazzale Michelangelo, known as the balcony of the city for providing one of the best views of Florence. You may also visit the famous Boboli Gardens and forget about time and everyday life among the green hedges, the English gardens and the beautiful flowers.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Hotel Palazzo Vecchio3 star

  • activities icon
    Activities

    San Lorenzo Market

    Piazzale Michelangelo

    Boboli GardensRequest to Book

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Bus from Florence to Piazzale MichelangeloOptional Activity

    Bus from Piazzale Michelangelo to FlorenceOptional Activity

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Florence

Day 14

From Florence to Naples

Hide details accordion
From Florence to Naples

Naples is famous for pizza, football, history, and for Spaccanapoli - the street that cuts the historical centre in two halves. Around this red line, many important monuments were built, the Monastery of Santa Chiara, the Chapel of San Severo where the Cristo Velato is kept and the Church of Gesu Nuovo. Walking up and down the streets that cross the historical centre is like reading the history of the city.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Palazzo San Michele B&B Residence de Charme4 star

  • activities icon
    Activities

    Naples

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Walking from Hotel Aurora to Santa Maria Novella Station

    Train from Santa Maria Novella Station to Naples

    Walking from Training Station to Palazzo San Michele B & B Residence de Charme

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Florence

    Naples

Day 15

Mount Vesuvius and Pompeii

Hide details accordion
Mount Vesuvius and Pompeii

With your private driver you'll first visit Mount Vesuvius and then Pompeii. With its 1281 metres of altitude, Mount Vesuvius dominates the Gulf of Naples. The climb of the crater will take you to the edges of the crater. The last eruption here was in 1944. After, visit the Pompeii Archeology Park, which dates back over 2,000 years. The city dominated the valley around the Sarno River and was home to a population of Etruscans, Greeks and other Italic people.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Palazzo San Michele B&B Residence de Charme4 star

  • activities icon
    Activities

    Mount Vesuvius

    Pompeii Archaeological Park

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Naples to Naples

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Naples

    Campania

    Pompeii

Day 16

Journey to Rome

Hide details accordion
Journey to Rome

Today, you'll reach Rome by train. In the afternoon, you'll head out on a guided tour of the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and St Peter's Basilica. The Vatican Museums are a labyrinth of artworks, guiding visitors through building after building, masterpiece after masterpiece. You'll then head to the Sistine Chapel to lay eyes on the most famous ceiling completed by Michelangelo in 1512. You'll finish the tour at St. Peter's Basilica.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Residenza Crescenzio

  • activities icon
    Activities

    Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel

    Villa Borghese

    Piazza del Popolo

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Train from Naples to Stazione di Roma-Termini

    Private Driver from Roma Termini to Residenza Crescenzio

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Naples

    Rome

Day 17

Rome Sightseeing

Hide details accordion
Rome Sightseeing

You will begin your day with a guided tour of one of the most iconic landmarks of Rome: the Colosseum, where you will take a journey back through Roman history. After exploring the Colosseum, you'll visit the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill. You will also have the chance to visit the Pantheon and the Trevi Fountain, both important monuments in Rome. The city's architecture is striking in design, proportions and elegance and stands testimony to the mighty Roman Empire.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Residenza Crescenzio

  • activities icon
    Activities

    The Colosseum

    Roman Forum

    Palatine Hill

    Pantheon

    Piazza Navona

    Campo de' Fiori

    Trevi Fountain

    Piazza di Spagna

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Rome

Day 18

Free Time in Rome and Pizza Making Class

Hide details accordion
Free Time in Rome and Pizza Making Class

Today you can spend your day exploring Rome at your leisure. Discover the beautiful architecture apparent in this city by visiting the Roman Forum or Piazza Navona. In the evening, you will enjoy a cooking class to learn how to prepare the most iconic Italian food: pizza! After you have finished the class, you will get to eat your delicious creation.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Residenza Crescenzio

  • activities icon
    Activities

    Free Time in Rome

    Cooking Class in Rome

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast and dinner

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Rome

Day 19

Arrivederci Italy!

Hide details accordion
Arrivederci Italy!

According to your flight details, your private driver will take you to the airport in plenty of time for your departing flight.

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Residenza Crescenzio to Leonardo da Vinci International Airport

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Rome

Included in Price

  • 18 nights accommodation
  • 32 activities
  • 17 breakfasts and 1 dinner
  • Airport transfer
  • Entrance fees
  • Ground transportation
  • Licensed English speaking guides

Not Included in Price

  • Alcohol beverages
  • Domestic flights
  • Entry visas / airport departure tax
  • Gratuities
  • International flights
  • Laundry
  • Personal expenses
  • Travel insurance
  • Trekking permits
pdf icon

Want to Read This Later?

Download this trip itinerary as a PDF and start planning your next trip offline!

Why Choose Designer Journeys

access

Access Exclusive Experiences

Open your eyes to a world of exclusive experiences that will make your next trip extraordinary. Designer Journeys’ local travel designers are connected to unique experiences that are out of reach for most people – so you’ll return with some amazing stories to tell.

local expertise

Extraordinary Local Expertise

Using highly experienced local travel designers means you have access to your very own local expert. You'll find experiences you never knew existed, avoid some of the common pitfalls and, most of all, feel like you have an insider guiding you every step of the way.

support

Supported Every Step of the Way

Our in-destination local travel designers are the first line of support when you are travelling. They are in your time zone and have the local expertise and knowledge to solve any issue that may arise – making you feel more confident about your trip.

custom travel designed

Travel Designed For You

Designer Journeys style of travel is all about how you want to travel – its private travel designed exactly to your needs. Our local travel designers customise every trip to suit you, whether completely bespoke or based on one or more of our 2,000+ gallery of itineraries.

Image - Designer Journeys
Image - Designer Journeys
DESIGN YOUR EXTRAORDINARY

Why Travel with Designer Journeys

Smile icon
Your Trip. Your Version of Extraordinary.

At Designer Journeys, we know that we all travel differently. That's why you decide where you travel, how you travel and your travel experiences when you design your trip with us.

Message icon
Connect and Design With an Expert.

Our trusted Local Designers use their destination insight, local knowledge and travel planning expertise to build your extraordinary trip. Our dedicated Travel Concierge team will be there every step of the way to ensure your perfect trip becomes reality.

Trust icon
Book with Confidence. We are Trusted.

Secure payment platforms, multiple accreditations, rigorous Local Designer selection process, and decades of travel expertise means you are in safe hands with Designer Journeys.

As seen on
Partners