Family Italy

Arrive in Rome and transfer to your hotel. Tonight, gather with fellow guests for a welcome dinner.

Your journey through Roman history begins at the Imperial Roman Forum and the Colosseum, where fierce gladiators once battled wild animals as well as each other. For lunch, dive into Eataly’s four-story flagship emporium, brimming with gourmet products and buzzing with Italian shoppers. In the afternoon, check in for Roman gladiator school, where you dress in costume, take a lesson and then engage in mock combat. On your third day, tour the Vatican, viewing the Sistine Chapel with its jaw-dropping, frescoed ceiling painted by Michelangelo. Step inside St. Peter’s Basilica and marvel at Bernini’s soaring altar canopy. Stroll by the wide Spanish Steps and the majestic Trevi Fountain, where it’s tradition to toss in a coin while wishing for a return to Roma. Tonight, enjoy a casual Family Foodie Experience with a lesson in Roman pizza-making and the chance to feast on your creation.

Travel to the sprawling landscapes of Tuscany and stop in medieval Siena. Here, your local expert introduces you to the popular Piazza del Campo, home of the exciting Palio di Siena horse race. Continue to Florence, where you check in to your resort, a collection of 16th-century villas set on the bank of the Arno River. Gather for Tuscan cuisine at the osteria (tavern) within your hotel. The next day, visit the Palazzo Vecchio (city hall) before a tour of the museum devoted to Leonardo da Vinci and his many astonishing inventions, including 40 machines built to scale according to Da Vinci’s plans. Later, look forward to a guided visit to the Accademia Gallery, home of Michelangelo’s David. Tonight, enjoy dinner on your own and at your leisure, followed by an optional movie night in the comfort of your villa.

Drive to coastal Pisa, where you explore with a local guide. Enter the Campo dei Miracoli and behold the world-famous Leaning Tower, where children (eight years old and up) can venture inside the 14th-century structure. Return to the Renaissance gem of Florence. This evening, enjoy time to discover at your own pace, whether relaxing at your villa or exploring more of the city on foot before dinner at leisure.

Step aboard a high-speed train for the chance to Ride Like a Local to Bologna. At the heart of the Emilia-Romagna region, this medieval city is also the gateway to the verdant Po Valley and a food legacy that includes Parmigiano-Reggiano, prosciutto di Parma and tortellini. Dive into the breadbasket of Italy with a Family Foodie Experience, during which you learn to make pasta and then enjoy it for lunch. Later, join a local expert for a fascinating walking tour of the ancient city center, where you find the world’s oldest university and also explore the laneways of the medieval market area. Check in to your hotel in the heart of the city.

Today begins with a visit to the hometown and birthplace of Enzo Ferrari. Your guided tour takes you inside the Ferrari Museum with its candy-colored collections of spectacular racing and driving machines. You also visit the Fiorano Circuit, a private racetrack built by Ferrari for the purpose of test driving his vehicles. Cool off from the thrilling rush with a visit to the world’s only university of gelato, where you attend a specially arranged class and tasting. Continue in the afternoon to Venice, the magical city of canals and gondolas.

Few cities can claim the miraculous feat of engineering that Venice can, built entirely amid a lagoon that served as its defense for centuries. Today, your family explores Italy’s canal-laden wonderland, also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Begin with a visit to St. Mark’s Basilica, opulently decorated with its marble and golden mosaics, and the exquisite Doge’s Palace, a Gothic masterpiece. Later, travel to the island of Murano, home of Venetian glass, for a specially arranged interactive tour of the Murano Glass Museum, founded in 1961. This evening, gather for a farewell dinner with the new friends you’ve made.

Transfer to the airport for your flight home.