Tar Heel Travel

From the breathtaking Amalfi Coast to eternal Rome, through the gentle Umbrian and Tuscan countryside to timeless Venice, this wide-ranging, 16-day tour showcases ancient sites, contemporary life, priceless art and beautiful natural scenery. Staying in unique accommodations in the Tuscan countryside and in a medieval village, you’ll especially appreciate traveling in a small group limited to 24 people. Begin on the storied Amalfi Coast with a three-night stay featuring a cruise along this matchless coastline, a visit to Pompeii’s exquisite ruins and a thrilling Amalfi Coast drive. Spending the next three nights in a well-located hotel in Rome, tour the heart of ancient Rome: the Colosseum and the Forum, the Vatican’s monumental St. Peter’s Square and Basilica, and the sublime Sistine Chapel, and enjoy independent exploration.

A three-night stay in Orvieto, dramatically set in Italy’s "green heart" of Umbria, follows. Attend an Italian cooking demonstration and explore Parco delle Grotte’s labyrinth of underground caves. On an excursion to beloved Assisi, stroll through the fountain-splashed piazzas and visit the renowned Basilica di San Francesco. Journeying next to alluring Tuscany for a three-night stay, tour Siena, which boasts one of Europe’s greatest public squares. Discover splendid Florence, living monument to the Renaissance, and its famed Galleria dell’Accademia; and the classic Tuscan hill town of San Gimignano. Sample a local winery’s offerings. In wondrous Venice, the final destination, tour vast St. Mark’s Square and surroundings and explore the city independently. Savor more time discovering this treasured city with an optional 3-day/2-night post-tour extension.