Italian Holidays - Vacanze Italiane, LLC

​"Take the Road Less Traveled. ​Explore Italy's Hidden Gems"

Our Italy tours are guided by a bilingual and experienced tour guide, Michael Cross, who showcases particular regions throughout Italy.

Join us for our Italy Tours in 2025 !
Inquire today: email: [email protected] or call: 225-239-3897

---

OUR UPCOMING "BEST OF ITALY" TOURS FOR 2025

ROME & TUSCANY 2025
​Discover the Essence of Italy
(SOLD OUT)

Join us May 20 - 29, 2025 for a once in a lifetime tour of Rome and Tuscany! On your 10-day tour, experience stunning architecture, rich history, vibrant culture, and world-class cuisine as we make our way through two of the most beautiful and historic regions of Italy. Spend 4 nights in Rome as we explore the winding cobblestone streets and top highlights of the Eternal City. You'll take a private tour of the St Peter's Basilica and the Vatican, walk down the streets of the ancient forum, dine in the medieval Trastevere neighborhood, see the Pantheon, Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, sip wine on a rooftop bar, and get to truly live like a Roman. Enjoy a day trip outside the city to the famous Villa d'Este with its 51 fountains and nymphaeums, 398 spouts, 364 water jets, 64 waterfalls, and 220 basins, fed by 875 metres of canals, channels and cascades, and all working entirely by the force of gravity, without pumps. Spend 5 nights in Siena, the heart of Tuscany, exploring hilltop villages, dramatic landscapes, and historic vineyards all while being treated to first-class foods and top-notch wines. We will visit the famous villages of San Gimignano and Massa Marittima including a special lunch and wine tasting, plus a day trip to Florence and a private guided tour of the Accademia Gallery, which houses the famous Statue of David as well as the Uffizi Gallery which houses masterpieces of the Italian Renaissance. 

ITALIAN RIVIERA & CINQUE TERRE 2025
From Coastal Beauties to Inland Gems, Discover a Foodie Paradise
​(Only 6 Spots Left!)

Join us Sept 5 - 14, 2025 for a once in a lifetime tour of the Italian Riviera and Cinque Terre! On your 10-day tour, experience the beauty of the Ligurian coast, stunning architecture, rich history, vibrant culture, and world-class cuisine as we make our way through one of the most beautiful regions of the Mediterranean. This foodie centric tour includes cooking classes, a boat cruise, and several winery tours. You'll see Genova (Genoa) with its noble palaces and medieval alleyways, while the beauty and elegance of Portofino will amaze you. Cinque Terre, with its colorful little towns, picturesque landscapes and breathtaking views of the Mediterranean Sea will be a highlight of our tour. This culinary centric experience will take you throughout Liguria, allowing you to discover the culture of the region through its food. By moving just a few kilometers, you will discover radically different ingredients and culinary traditions, all the while immersed in breathtaking landscapes. Connect with local people and travel off the beaten path to get in touch with Italy’s most authentic side. Your journey begins with 2 nights in Milan, the city of the famous Duomo cathedral and the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, with its rich history, fashion culture and museums. We then venture to our boutique accommodation for 8 days on the Italian Riviera near Cinque Terre.

PAST TOURS

---

VENICE & NORTHEASTERN ITALY
​From the Dolomiti Mountains to the Adriatic Sea, Explore the Treasures of La Serenissima
​Trip Dates: September 10 - 19, 2024

Join us September 10 - 19, 2024 for a spectacular tour of Venice and Northeastern Italy including day trips to Verona, Vicenza, Padova, the rolling hills of Valdobbiadene and Conegliano, the Dolomiti Mountains, Trieste, and Istria. Experience one of the most beautiful regions in Italy with its stunning landscapes and architecture, to its rich history and vibrant culture. See the ancient treasures of the once majestic Venetian Republic. Journey with us for an iconic prosecco wine route experience in the rolling hills of Veneto just south of the Alps. Gaze upon timeless masterpieces of Italian Renaissance artists Giotto and Titian. Experience a luxury boat cruise of the Venetian lagoon. Taste Italian cuisine at its finest and the myriad of its regional flavors. You don't want to miss out on this once in a lifetime tour! Inquire: [email protected]

DATES & PRICES

Tour Dates:
September 10 - 19, 2024 

Pricing: 
Double: $2,800 per person
Single: $2,950 per person

Non-refundable Deposit: $300 per person
To reserve your place, email [email protected]. The tour coordinator will then contact you to complete your reservation and tour deposit.

RESERVE NOW
Questions about the tour? Schedule a call with the tour coordinator by email sending an email to: [email protected]

Le colline del Prosecco, Valdobbiadene, Veneto

The city of Verona on the River Adige

Villa Barbaro, Maser, Veneto

The Grand Canal in Venice

Castello di Miramare, Trieste

Rovigno, Istria

TRANSPORTATION

We have a professional chauffeur who will take care of all your transportation needs to and from the airport as well as to our various destinations on our trip.

HOTELS

​All of your premium hotels are included on tour. Our 4-star accommodations are perfectly situated in each destination, and private transfers to and from the airport are included in your tour experience. Breakfast is always included each day of your journey.

FLIGHTS

Tour members will fly into and out of Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE). If you are departing from the U.S., you will need to depart on September 9, 2024 in order to arrive in Venice on September 10. Tour will begin early afternoon of September 10, concluding in the morning of September 19, 2024. To allow for maximum flexibility, your flight arrangements are not included. Your tour guide, Michael Cross, can assist with booking airfare as requested, shopping out the best rates and flight schedules.

Basilica di Sant'Antonio, Padova

Piazza Unità d'Italia, Trieste

---

ITINERARY

(The meals included with the tour will be mentioned in the itinerary below: B = Breakfast ; D = Dinner ; L = Lunch)

​Day 1 | Relais Monaco Country Hotel & Spa, Venice

​Arrival & Treviso City Tour

Arrive at Venice Marco Polo International Airport (VCE), where your tour guide, Michael Cross, will welcome you. Our professional chauffeur will transfer you to the 4-star Relais Monaco Country Hotel & Spa, a majestic Venetian villa that dates back to the 1800s located just outside the hustle and bustle of Venice. The hotel offers an elegant and friendly atmosphere and includes indoor and outdoor pools as well as a spa. Our journey begins in the afternoon by exploring the beautiful town of Treviso, just outside Venice, known for being the birthplace of Italy's most famous dessert Tiramisù. After a walking tour of the historic old town, enjoy a welcome dinner alongside your fellow travelers, setting the stage for an incredible Italian experience.  D

Day 2 | Relais Monaco Country Hotel & Spa, Venice

Venice & Grand Canal Cruise

Enjoy a luxurious private boat cruise in the Venetian lagoon. From the water, you’ll see the Doge’s Palace, St. Mark's Basilica, and other beautiful palaces like never before. During the excursion, we'll visit the Island of Murano and tour one of the famous glass factories. After enjoying an authentic Venetian café, you will have the opportunity to walk across the picturesque Rialto Bridge over the Grand Canal. You'll see the Piazza San Marco and admire the interior of St Mark's Basilica, built in the 9th century with a private guided tour. If your heart so desires, you'll have the option to enjoy a gondola ride or take a tour of the Doge's Palace, Gallerie dell'Accademia, or S.Maria Gloriosa dei Frari which houses masterpieces of the Venetian Rennaissance. A gastronomic journey of fine Venetian cuisine awaits you at La Vigna Ristorante at the Relais Monaco upon our return.  B, D

Day 3 | Relais Monaco Country Hotel & Spa, Venice

Prosecco Wine Tour: Villa di Maser, Conegliano, & Valdobbiadene

Our third day brings you to the rolling hills of Veneto just 15 minutes from the Relais Monaco. Journey with us for an iconic prosecco wine route experience in the picturesque villages of Valdobbiadene and Conegliano, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In the afternoon, you will visit Villa di Maser (Villa Barbaro), a magnificent 16th century countryside villa adorned with frescoes by Paolo Veronese and built by Renaissance architect Andrea Palladio. Surrounded by vineyards, Villa Barbaro is the ideal place to enjoy an abundant apericena provided by Casa Diamante.  B, D

Day 4 | Relais Monaco Country Hotel & Spa, Venice

Padova & Scrovegni Chapel

Our day trip to Padova will be filled with history, culture, and beauty where you'll see the ancient University of Padova where Galileo Galilei and Nicolaus Copernicus walked its halls. You'll visit the Basilica di Sant'Antonio, a mix of Romanesque, Gothic, and Byzantine styles which houses the tomb St. Anthony. You'll see the Prato della Valle around which shoppers from around the globe flock, eyeing the latest in fashion. The afternoon brings us to a guided tour of the famous Scrovegni Chapel fully decorated with Giotto's frescoes. Enjoy dinner in Padova to close yet another beautiful day.  B, D

Day 5 | Relais Monaco Country Hotel & Spa, Venice

Verona & Vicenza

Today we venture towards Verona and Vicenza, bastions of art, history, culture, and good wine. You'll discover the place where the legendary lovers, Romeo & Juliet, lived and died in Verona, the city of love. After our tour of Juliet's house adorned with Rennaissance frescoes, you will see the impressive ancient Roman Arena of Verona, built in 30 A.D. during the reign of Emperor Tiberius Caesar.  After a pause for a delightful lunch break in Verona, you will visit the Palladian Basilica in Vicenza, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, built in 1546 by renowned Rennaissance architect Andrea Palladio. We conclude this splendid day in Vicenza where you'll have time to walk around the town, enjoying a private dinner on your own.  B

Day 6 | ​Cardo Boutique & Wine Resort, Trieste

Dolomiti Mountains 

After breakfast, our journey takes us through the picturesque and imposing Dolomiti Mountains and on to the next leg of your trip to Trieste. Enroute, explore the stunning 10,568 ft Monte Cristallo and then relish a delightful lunch on the Lago di Misurina where the 1956 Winter Olympic speed skating events were held – the last time Olympic speed skating events were held on natural ice. We then drive through the gorgeous countryside until we arrive at Cardo Boutique & Wine Resort where you will stay for the remainder of the journey. Nestled on the Karst plateau famous for its landscapes, the cliffs overlooking the crystal-clear Adriatic Sea, and the rolling hills of the hinterland from which magnificent panoramas can be enjoyed, Cardo is surrounded by organically cultivated property vineyards and orchards. A magical place, just a few minutes from Trieste, where local wines are made on property.  Savor a magnificent dinner upon arrival at Cardo.  B, L, D

Day 7 | ​Cardo Boutique & Wine Resort, Trieste

Trieste & Castello di Miramare

Spend the day in Trieste, a magnificent city with the largest square in Europe overlooking the sea. First, you'll tour the Castello di Miramare, a 19th-century castle with majestic gardens situated on the Gulf of Trieste on the Adriatic Sea. Built from 1856 to 1860 for Austrian Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian and his wife, Charlotte of Belgium, the castle is not only a beautiful architectural masterpiece but also a cultural icon that has inspired literature and film. You'll see the glorious Piazza Unità d'Italia and the Molo Audace and then experience the best of Italian coffee culture at Caffè degli Specchi. The afternoon will take us on a walk past the Piazza della Borsa and on to the Cathedral of San Giusto, built in the 6th century AD on top of a Roman temple. See the Roman ruins and amphitheater before enjoying a delicious Triestine dinner.  B, D

Day 8 | ​Cardo Boutique & Wine Resort, Trieste

Istria: Montona & Grisignana 

Today you will venture into the breathtaking peninsula of Istria, a heart-shaped peninsula and the largest peninsula in the Adriatic Sea. We begin with a tour of the medieval town Grisignana, known as the "city of artists". Then we'll visit the stunning mountain top village of Montona (Motovun), birthplace of racecar legend, Mario Andretti. We'll meet with expert tour guide Martina Dagostini who will show us the hidden treasures of these two villages. Central Istria is well-known for its truffles (tartufi) and its award-winning olive oil. Savor the local flavors with a typical Istrian dinner in the rolling hills of central Istria.  B, D

Day 9 | ​Cardo Boutique & Wine Resort, Trieste

Istria: Rovigno & Dinner on Adriatic Sea

The last full day brings you to one of the most picturesque and romantic places in the Mediterranean, Rovigno, Istria. The old town is built on an island, which was only connected with the mainland in the 18th century. In the morning, you'll stroll along the harbor, wander through the Old Town and climb the Bell Tower at the Cattedrale di Sant'Eufemia. In the afternoon, take a dip into the Adriatic Sea at one of Rovigno's stunning beaches. Rovigno also boasts one of the best culinary destinations in the region with access to superb truffles, olive oil and wine. Enjoy cocktails on the waterfront at sunset and a farewell dinner to remember. B, D.

Day 10 | Departure

Arrivederci (Farewell)

Enjoy a final breakfast at Cardo Boutique & Wine Resort as we depart for Venice airport. B

HOTELS

​​All of your premium hotels are included on tour. Hand selected 4-star accommodations are perfectly situated in each destination. 

Nights 1-5: ​Relais Monaco Country Hotel & Spa, Venice

Nights 5-9: ​Cardo Boutique & Wine Resort, Trieste

WHAT'S INCLUDED

A small group of just 7-15 people
9 nights premium, 4-star accommodation
Full-time services of expert tour host Michael Cross
Private Transportation by luxury vehicle with driver and tour director
Airport transfers to and from hotel on arrival and departure
18 meals (9 breakfasts, 1 lunch, and 8 dinners)