This 10-day tour eschews the major sites for quieter, small town Italy. Focusing on the foods that make the Tuscany and Umbria regions so unique, you will enjoy a hands-on cooking lesson in Spoleto, known for its pasta, sample fresh local olive oil at a factory in Trevi, and watch butchers craft flavorful handmade sausages in Norcia. As of 2010, rates for this tour begin at $2,749.
Based in Montecatini Terme, a historic resort town, Discover Tuscany explores the region with day trips to Florence, Siena, Lucca, San Gimignano and Pisa. In Siena, a visit to the family-owned Pierotucci Leather Shop reveals ancient Italian leather-making techniques, and a tour and tasting at a winery near San Gimignano acquaints you with the winemaking process and the region's renowned wines. As of 2010, rates for this tour begin at $1,599.
Beginning in Rome, Reflections of Italy zigs zags through Italy's most notable cities on a nine day tour. From Rome, the tour moves to Assisi through Umbria, on to Florence and then west to Venice. Weather permitting, a morning boat ride in Venice will escort you to Murano Island, center of the Venetian glass making trade. The tour winds up in the Lake Como area, with a visit to the resort town of Lugano, before heading back to Milan for a final dinner and the flight home. As of 2010, rates for this tour begin at $2,149.
Rome and the towns along the Amalfi Coast feature some of the most notable and well-preserved ancient ruins in Italy. In Paestum, experience the majesty of the Greek Temples, while in Pompeii, a congenial and highly knowledgeable guide will escort you through the vast city's streets, homes, and stores. The National Archeological Museum in Naples, which you'll visit the next day, preserves many artifacts from Pompeii, including complete friezes. As of 2010, rates for this tour begin at $1,949.
During this 10-day tour, enjoy six nights on the mysterious island of Sicily. The tour begins in Palermo, a city with almost schizophrenic architecture. Over the centuries, Greek, Arab, Norman and Spanish powers have controlled the city, and this melange of cultures is particularly evident in Palermo's historic buildings. From Palermo, you will visit the Valley of the Temples, a hugely important ancient Green archeological site, before traveling north through scenic Taormina and the Amalfi Coast. As of 2010, rates for this tour begin at $1,999.
