Essence of Italy Tour: Cities, Ruins, Canals, History & Beauty

Welcome to Rome, a city that has seen history from the Etruscans to the Visigoths and the modern European Union.  You will be met at the airport and taken to your luxurious accommodation situated within the city center. Venture out onto a guided walk through the ancient buildings to get acquainted with the “Eternal City.”  The buildings help guide you through the maze-like walkways to an open square where you find the large stone façade of the Pantheon.

The imposing building was built during the reign of Hadrian around the second century to replace the once burnt down Pantheon commissioned by Emperor Augustus. The portico boasts magnificent Corinthian columns made of granite, while the structure itself continues to have the largest unreinforced concrete dome in the world. When you enter you find an interior that was once dedicated to the many gods of pagan Rome. 

Be guided through the city to see the iconic images of Rome, from the Roman Forum to the inspiring Colosseum. There is no confusing the structure with any other; it is unique in its build and size, rising 157-feet in height at the outer wall.  You can hear your guide tell stories of gladiators and possible reenactments of naval battles that took place along the theater floor as an estimated 50,000 people watched mesmerized by every advance. 

There are many things to do and see when in Rome, but one site not to be missed is the Vatican Museum. You continue to Saint Peter’s Basilica, watched over by Michelangelo’s dome, where the large piazza is encircled by pillars that guide you directly to the cathedral. The excitement isn’t just from the image that has garnered illustriousness over centuries but also from the varied and gathered history of the area. 

The allure of Rome’s vitality isn’t just within its ruins and history but also within the praised food that has helped bring Italian cuisine to the forefront of the world’s palette. Spend the morning traversing the coveted markets of the city including one of Rome’s oldest, in Campo dei Fiori, which has been bustling since 1869. Your cooking course will begin before you ever touch a pan, as you delight in the vibrant variety of vegetables and fruits expanding across the piazza. Savor the typical Italian cuisine that brings you deeper into the zesty flavors of Rome and your time within Italy. Learn the delicate flavors of carciofi all giudia, lightly fried artichoke in olive oil.

Venture outside of Rome in the early morning to traverse the preserved city of Pompeii. The ruins and the ash-covered city have been protected from the elements of time by the very thing that caused the opulent city’s demise. You can see Mount Vesuvius peeking into the sky, towering above the city it once erupted over in the year 79AD.

Follow your guide through the large expanse of streets to explore the highlights of the city’s vast history. The Central Thermal Baths sit within a remarkable complex constructed after an earthquake in 62AD, taking much of the needed material from nearby fallen buildings. The lavish decoration and grander space come from the windows that open outward, giving needed light to the dark stone. Whether discovering the multitude of mosaics or traversing the Roman temples, you will find Pompeii is a city that continually combines both beauty and history.

Today you will enter the region of Umbria, known for its lush hills that are often overshadowed by the fame of Tuscany. The landscape is its own reward offering natural beauty along with greenery that will fade to a brilliant gold. You will arrive in Assisi, a town situated on a hill that climbs over the valley. The cathedral’s exterior is a stretching magnificence that reaches the sheer decline of the bluff. The connection of art and deep spirituality is apparent in the interior double-leveled basilica constructed in the 13th century. The subdued light of the lower church offers a quieter scene of the verve and piety of Saint Francis with frescoes that depict the saint in his earlier life. 

Today you will explore the vast beauty of the city just by walking through the streets. The Duomo, or Santa Maria del Fiore, is an example of brilliance and ingenuity, maintaining its status as the largest brick dome in the world. The construction took almost 80 years to complete and was eventually finished in 1380, with the exception of Brunelleschi’s dome, completed in 1436.  The intricate gothic façade shimmers with colorful marble while the interior is a marvelous cavern decorated with luscious stained glass windows and a fabulous fresco celebrating Dante’s Divine Comedy.

Step into the Galleria dell’Accademia, an art school that has continually taught countless students the diverse crafts of the art world. The walls are pristine and the halls are quiet. The open space of the museum is filled with classic musical instruments and intricate sculptures, none more iconic than Michelangelo’s David standing proudly on its own at the end of a long hall. Its allure is unquestionable. 

Strolling through Piazza Signoria you will witness the imposing brick façade of the Palazzo Vecchio which gives way to the neo-classical beauty of the Uffizi Gallery as it stretches along and encircles the cobblestone plaza. Originally constructed for the Medici, the museum took its current form in the 18th century when it opened to the public. It feels like walking through the hallways of a palace. Botticelli’s Primavera, is on display. It was painted in the late 15th century and continues to mesmerize audiences today.

As you explore the gallery you will come to the secret passageway of the Medici’s, known as the Vasari Corridor, usually closed to the public. The corridor was built in 1564 linking the Old Palace with the Pitti Palace across the Arno River.

The Renaissance streets of Florence will soon be left behind as you make your way northbound towards the canal city of Venice. En route, you will stop at Ravenna whose charm was once within reach of the Venetian empire. Much of the city’s character lies in its stone buildings, open squares, and the celebrated churches that have graced Ravenna since the ages of the Byzantines. The Neonian Baptistery is an octagonal building that was constructed in the 5th century and is the oldest monument in the city. It looks as though the building has been sucked beneath the level ground until you are told that street level in the city has risen almost 10 feet since its original construction. 

The morning sun glistens off of the waterway getting you ready to explore the iconic Italian city. Follow your guide through the staples of the city, over the Rialto Bridge, through the Rialto Market and into “hidden Venice,” found in the Chiesa dei Frari. The construction of the church was completed in 1396 giving rise to the Italian Gothic style brick that rises over the low-lying square.

The magnificent church houses the tomb of the Renaissance master Titian, along with several masterworks themselves. The series of vaulted windows rises behind the altar giving natural light to polished columns and lofted interior. Left of the aisle you can see Titian’s Madonna di Ca’ Pesaro; those who looked closely at the Madonna said that she was modeled after Titian’s late wife. Soon you will find yourself in the open air of the city, climbing aboard a gondola and journeying down the treasured canals, romanticized in stories, movies, and music.

Soon you will leave the famous waters of Venice beyond, watching the Byzantine domes of Saint Mark’s Square fall behind the horizon in exchange for the luxuries of Rome. The city once again comes alive for you, vivacious in its never-ending display of history. The afternoon is yours to explore the streets at your own pace, whether with speed and focus or meandering discovery. For an enjoyable moment in the sun you can do as many Romans do and linger along the Spanish Steps. The stairway mixes curves, vistas, terraces, and straight flights into a Roman Baroque style dating back to 1725. 

There is an effortlessness to the morning in Rome; you can look out and see the day begin with the scent of fresh espresso and sweet brioches. People stroll to work while vibrant florists stay open all evening for a reason of which no one is certain. Before a private transfer takes you to the airport you can enjoy one last walk through the historic center, taking in the grandeur of the Trevi Fountain in the morning shade. Turn around, throw a coin over your shoulder and make sure it goes in; it’s a sign that you will soon return to Rome.