Our experts have their own personal list of restaurant favourites in addition to those featured in this itinerary - if you're curious for more suggestions in any of these destinations or elsewhere please don't hesitate to Contact Us!

Day 1 - Naples

Upon arrival into Naples airport meet your driver for your private transfer to your hotel.

At the foot of Mount Vesuvius, Naples has been subject to the volcano’s perilous wrath for centuries, and yet it is still considered to be one of the most vibrant cities in Italy. Naples' historic city centre is the largest in Europe, covering 4,200 acres and enclosing 27 centuries of history. One of the oldest continuously-inhabited cities in the world with Bronze Age Greek settlements dating back to the second millennium BC, the area was re-founded as Neápolis (‘new city’) in the sixth century BC, becoming a lynchpin of Magna Graecia and playing a key role in the merging of Greek culture into Roman society. Naples is also a great base for visiting Pompeii and nearby Herculaneum, towns frozen in time since their burial in AD79 under the molten ash of Vesuvius. The excavations reveal everyday life held transfixed - the villas, the brothels, the marketplaces, temples and even its people.

Overnight: Grand Hotel Vesuvio

Day 2 - Naples

Head into the heart of the historic city centre with your expert guide to explore one of the best food markets around. Your guide leads you through the stalls and shops, where you can sample some of the delicious local specialties. Continue along the alleys to discover the most picturesque corners of Naples. Sites include the Greek ruins of Piazza Bellini, the musical and bakery-filled street of San Biagio dei Librai, Via San Gregorio Armeno (renowned for the elaborate nativity scenes on sale in its shop windows), the Decumani junctions, and magnificent old churches decorated in Rococo style.

Along the way, enjoy a bite of Naples’ famous ‘frittura’ street food, a sinfully delicious mix of deep-fried aubergines (eggplant), courgettes (zucchini), mozzarella, arancini (rice croquettes), cauliflower, or potato croquettes. Your tour includes a stop for a delicious pizza fritta at NONNA FERNANDA'S (as featured in Searching for Italy!), famed as a master of this Neapolitan street food variety.

A&K Italy tip for dinner: PIZZARIA LA NOTIZIA

Overnight: Grand Hotel Vesuvio

Meal Plan: B

Day 3 - Naples

Today’s excursion takes you along the romantic Amalfi coastal road, considered the most scenic in all of Europe, twisting, turning and looping along the full length of the coast from the glamorous resorts of Sorrento, Positano, Amalfi and Ravello. Once reachable only by mule, the isolation of this stunningly scenic region attracted writers and artists in abundance even before the completion of the coastal route in the twentieth century.

Enjoy lunch (payable locally) at LO SCOGLIO where you can taste Stanley Tucci’s favourite spaghetti and zucchini dish, spaghetti alla nerano. Continue to the small town of Minori to taste the delicious creations of the world-famous pastry chef Sal De Riso. Make sure to try a bite of his Delizia al Limone, a revolutionary confection otherwise known as Lemon Delight!

Overnight: Grand Hotel Vesuvio

Meal Plan: B

Day 4 - Naples

Today is yours to spend at your leisure. Explore your surroundings at your own pace, or simply relax and enjoy the amenities your hotel has to offer.

Alternative Option:

Travel outside Naples today for a half-day excursion to Pompeii. Upon arrival, enjoy a walking tour round this once opulent town. The extensive and varied ruins of Pompeii now provide us with a rich history of life at the time of the Roman Empire. Destroyed by the eruption of nearby Mt. Vesuvius eruption in 79 B.C., this dugout treasure represents an amazing day trip for children and adults alike. On view are temples, forums, amphitheatres, a brothel, and the casts of the people killed by the falling ash and pumice stone. Pompeii offers an unparalleled window into the quotidian life of classical antiquity. After your visit you are transferred back to your hotel in Naples.

Overnight: Grand Hotel Vesuvio

Meal Plan: B

Day 5 - Naples-Rome

Today meet your driver for your private transfer to Rome. The rest of your day is at leisure.

Italy’s capital city, Rome is a heady blend of artistic and architectural masterpieces, classical ruins and extravagant baroque churches and piazzas. The city's 2,700 years of history are on display everywhere; the term "living museum" has never been more appropriately used than here! Julius Caesar and Nero, the Vandals and the Borgias, Raphael and Caravaggio, Napoleon and Mussolini - they and countless other political, cultural, and spiritual luminaries have all left their mark on the city. This is where a metropolis once bustled around the carved marble monuments of the Roman Forum, where centuries later Michelangelo Buonarroti painted Christian history in the Sistine Chapel, where Gian Lorenzo Bernini's nymphs and naiads dance in their fountains, and where an empire of gold was worked into the crowns of centuries of rulers. Also nestled in the heart of Rome is the world's smallest state, the Vatican City, home to one of the most spectacular museums in the world and the breath-taking Sistine Chapel.

A&K Italy tip for dinner: POMMIDORO (as featured in Searching for Italy!)

Overnight: Donna Camilla Savelli Hotel

Meal Plan: B

Day 6 - Rome

After a light breakfast, transfer with your expert local guide to the lively Trastevere district for an unforgettable food adventure tailored to your individual tastes! Discover the lesser-known side of Rome as you get a sense of the city from a local's perspective, with its bustling market and ancient maze of streets. So called because it lies across the River Tiber, Trastevere was once the bohemian quarter of the city and still retains its arty edge today.

Start with a maritozzo at BAR SAN CALISTO, before perusing the displays of fresh produce at a local food market, where you taste mouth-watering traditional delicacies Your next stop is LA REGINELLA for lunch (payable locally) where we recommend you try the traditional carciofi alla giudia (deep-fried artichokes). At the end of the tour, you are transferred back to your hotel.

A&K Italy tip for dinner: BISTROT 64 (as featured in Searching for Italy!)

Overnight: Donna Camilla Savelli Hotel

Meal Plan: B

Day 7 - Rome

Explore the labyrinth of narrow streets and wide open piazzas of central Rome today. Discover a lively hub of Roman life at the Campo dei Fiori marketplace before the spectacle of the Piazza Navona opens before you. This stunning oval-shaped piazza maintains the form of its original purpose as a Roman athletics track. Today it is flanked by cafés and restaurant enjoying views of its centrepiece, Bernini's famous Quattro Fiumi fountain. A short stroll away is the Pantheon, the best-preserved of all Roman monuments in the city.

Have lunch nearby at ARMANDO AL PANTHEON for a classic Roman lunch (payable locally). You may like to taste the traditional rigatoni all’amatriciana, one of Rome’s famous four pastas (the others being gricia, cacio e pepe, and carbonara).

A&K Italy tip for dinner: SANTO PALATO (as featured in Searching for Italy!)

Overnight: Donna Camilla Savelli Hotel

Meal Plan: B

Day 8 - Rome

Today is yours to spend at your leisure. Explore your surroundings at your own pace, or simply relax and enjoy the amenities your hotel has to offer.

Alternative Option:

Your tour today leaves you in awe as your guide shows you the heart of the Roman Empire. Marvel at the imposing Colosseum, commissioned by Emperor Vespasian. The stadium accommodated up to 50,000 spectators who came to view the gladiatorial battles that sometimes lasted up to one hundred days! Adjacent is the Arch of Constantine; dating from AD 315, it is the template for many other triumphal arches around the world.

Next, discover the excavations of the vast Roman Forum, where remains of temples, streetscapes and palaces can be appreciated up close. Your guide helps brings to life the atmosphere of Rome's pulsating heart and also explains the other nearby Emperor Forums, those of Trajan, Augustus, and Caesar. Finally, discover the Palatine Hill, inhabited since the ninth century BC and believed by archaeologists to be the place where Romulus, founder of Rome, lived.

Overnight: Donna Camilla Savelli Hotel

Meal Plan: B

Day 9 - Rome-Florence

Today meet your driver for your onward transfer to Florence. Upon arrival, you may like to enjoy lunch at BABAE (payable locally).

Florence casts a spell in the way that few cities can. Perhaps because of its sublime art, perhaps because of the views at sunset over the Arno, perhaps because of the way Florentine food and wine delight the palate! Or maybe it's because the city has not changed much since the 16th century...

A monument to the Renaissance, visitors will delight in the architectural masterpieces of the Piazza della Signoria, the Ponte Vecchio, Pitti Palace and Brunelleschi's magnificent Duomo, whilst for art lovers the Uffizi Gallery, the Accademia and the Bargello Gallery represent a cultural pilgrimage.

Overnight: Plaza Hotel Lucchesi

Meal Plan: B

Day 10 - Florence

Along with your expert guide, enjoy an introduction to Italy’s favourite Renaissance city: Florence. Listen to intriguing tales of feuding painters, Medici rulers and religious fanatics, who all left their mark on the city. The excitement, artistry and intrigue of Medieval and Renaissance Florence truly comes alive as you stroll through the glorious city and maze of backstreets. Your guide points out Florence’s most important highlights, including the gigantic Duomo, the city’s most famous cathedral with its iconic dome. Your tour includes a visit to the Mercato Centrale, Florence’s central market to discover the main ingredients of the Tuscan food.

At the end of your tour sit down at the OSTERIA DELLE BELLE DONNE (as featured in Searching for Italy!) for a traditional Florentine lunch (payable locally).

A&K Italy tip for dinner: OSTERIA DEL CINGHIALE BIANCO

Overnight: Plaza Hotel Lucchesi

Meal Plan: B

Day 11 - Florence

Today, with your expert guide, head to the impressive Church of Santa Croce, which contains the tombs of many famous Florentines including Michelangelo, Machiavelli and Galileo. Inside you can see stunning frescoes by Giotto and one of his pupils, Taddeo Gaddi. Buzzing with local life, the area around Santa Croce is also of interest and boasts many quality leather boutiques. During your excursion, visit the liveliest market in Florence: the Mercato di Sant’Ambrogio. Just next door to the market, visit C.BIO (as featured in Searching for Italy!), the latest creation of acclaimed chef Fabio Picchi, where you can peruse and buy the best local and seasonal produce of a typical Tuscan delicatessen.

Overnight: Plaza Hotel Lucchesi

Meal Plan: B

Day 12 - Florence - Bologna

Today you are privately transferred to Bologna. The rest of your day is at leisure.

Rich in history and culture, Bologna is the lively capital of the Emilia-Romagna region in northern Italy, and is a city split into two halves. On one side, there is the modern affluent city in the Po Valley, full of some of the nation’s finest restaurants and trattorias. On the other side, there is the historical, culturally edgy city that is home to the world’s oldest university founded back in 1088, and now renowned for its vibrant student area. The city also celebrates a rich food legacy and is famous for its cuisine, la cucina bolognese. Therefore it is no surprise that the small medieval streets are full of quaint cafés and authentic restaurants. The attractive city is also known for its immaculate Renaissance buildings, such as the City Hall and the Basilica of San Petronio with their distinctive red terracotta roofs.

A&K Italy tip for dinner: OSTERIA IO E SIMONE

Overnight: Grand Hotel Majestic gia Baglioni

Meal Plan: B

Day 13 - Bologna

Meet your guide at your hotel for a half-day gourmet tour with your expert guide. During your tour, discover Bologna’s finest fares at the bustling medieval markets of the city - the Quadrilatero, Mercato di Mezzo, and Mercato delle Erbe. You also visit some of the city’s best-loved food stores to chat with some of the families who have worked hard to preserve Bologna’s food traditions for generations.

As you wander around the medieval markets, sample a selection of mouth-watering delights such as mortadella, ciccioli, salsiccia passita and chocolate. You also have the opportunity to watch a traditional pasta-making demonstration. With their expert skills and patience, local ladies share the secrets of making and rolling out pasta; beautifully-shaped tortellini, tagliatelle and lasagne suddenly appear as if my magic!

Overnight: Grand Hotel Majestic gia Baglioni

Meal Plan: B

Day 14 - Bologna

Today you are met by your driver and privately transferred to Modena, where you meet your local guide. As well as the city centre's UNESCO World Heritage Site status, Modena is well known for its opera heritage and balsamic vinegar. Discover its splendour in the graceful historic centre, learning about its in-depth and interesting history. Visit Modena’s monumental treasures including the cathedral, which is one of the finest masterpieces of European Romanesque architecture and Piazza Grande, with its Palazzo Comunale. Your tour includes a stop for lunch (payable locally) at FRANCESCHETTA 58, the newest restaurant of multiple Michelin-star chef Massimo Bottura.

Before returning to Bologna, stop at Gran Deposito Aceto Balsamico Giuseppe Giusti to visit the balsamic vinegar museum. This kind of vinegar is aged in barrels, which are stored away in a number of attics throughout the Modena province. The vinegar then undergoes a rigorous procedure of decanting and topping up through a number of barrels, each made from a particular wood to enhance the flavour. This lengthy process for even the ‘young’ product takes as long as 12 years of aging, while the 'extravecchio' vinegar requires a minimum of 25 years!

Overnight: Grand Hotel Majestic gia Baglioni

Meal Plan: B

Day 15 - Bologna - Milan

Today, meet your driver for your private transfer to Milan. The rest of your day is at leisure.

Located in Italy’s northern Lombardy region, Milan is a global metropolis of fashion and international business, and arguably the most modern city in Italy. Although it is the financial hub of Italy, as it is home to the national stock exchange, Milan breathes culture and versatility and hosts some of the most stunning buildings, such as the gothic Duomo, otherwise known as Milan’s cathedral. The Santa Maria delle Grazie convent houses Leonardo da Vinci’s world-famous fresco “The Last Supper,” and is testament to the city’s artistic and cultural heritage. This bustling metropolis has something for everyone and has managed to embrace the modern world whilst retaining its historical and cultural feel.

Overnight: Hotel Viu Milan

Meal Plan: B

Day 16 - Milan

Enjoy a 4-hour food-focused tour of Milan and experience a selection of memorable tastings. An expert local guide and food enthusiast takes you to places away from the normal tourist trail, to taste and learn about the finest-quality local Italian products. Appreciate the true flavours of traditional Italian pastry, ham, culatello, Mondeghili meatballs, gelato and more, and be entertained with stories and the origins of local food products and how they are made! Travel through time on the ancient crossing ways of the city, with the Navigli, the ancient system of navigable and interconnected canals where you have the chance to have an aperitivo at MAG CAFE (as featured in Searching for Italy!).

At the end of your tour enjoy a lunch (payable locally) at RATANA (also featured in Searching for Italy).

Overnight: Hotel Viu Milan

Meal Plan: B

Day 17 - Milan

Today is yours to spend at your leisure. Explore your surroundings at your own pace, or simply relax and enjoy the amenities your hotel has to offer.

Alternative Option:

It was in Milan where Leonardo da Vinci spent a long and fruitful period of his life as an artist. Immerse yourself in the cultural climate in which he lived and worked and gain a better understanding of his life and art. There is no better place to start than at the Pinacoteca Ambrosiana, an artistic treasure trove that holds Leonardo's 'Portrait of a Musician' and Atlantic Codex. The Codex is a stunning collection of studies and drawings that gives the measure of Leonardo's genius. Continue on to the Sala delle Asse in the Castello Sforzesco, where Leonardo's unmistakable personality and boundless creativity are also in evidence. Of course, your day wouldn't be complete without a visit to Santa Maria delle Grazie, a Renaissance jewel where Leonardo worked closely with another artistic genius, Donato Bramante. This church contains Leonardo's 'Last Supper', a masterpiece of realism and perspective.

Overnight: Hotel Viu Milan

Meal Plan: B

Day 18 - Depart Milan

Today you are privately transferred to Milan airport.

Meal Plan: B