Culture and Cuisine of Italy

13 days from $10,995

Celebrate Italy on a journey that will have you floating through history in Venice, admiring great art in Florence, tasting wines and olive oils at an agriturismo in Tuscany, and exploring Rome’s magnificent sites with a private guide.

Highlights

� Get an insider’s view of world-renowned sites on private tours of the Doge’s Palace in Venice, the Roman Colosseum, and Florence’s art museums.

� Learn to make Italian specialties with a top chef during a private cooking class in Florence.

� Go truffle hunting in the Tuscan countryside with a guide and his truffl e dog, and sample your bounty in traditional Tuscan dishes.

� Zip around Rome as the locals do on a guided Vespa tour.

The itinerary below is a sample of what’s possible. Your Smithsonian Tailor-Made Journey will be handcrafted just for you.

Days 1–3 – Venice, Italy

Travel by private boat along the famous Grand Canal to your hotel, located near St. Mark’s Square. The next morning, set out on a private tour of Venice’s most celebrated sites, including St. Mark’s Basilica and the Doge’s Palace. Enjoy a full day at leisure—your guide will provide plenty of ideas on how to spend it, from visiting the city’s museums to exploring the nearby islands of Murano and Burano.

Days 4–7 – Florence

Gaze at Italy’s languid landscapes from a train window as you travel to Florence. Here, join a top chef for a private cooking class. Make a local specialty like pasta or gelato from scratch, then sit down together to taste your creations. Gain insight from a local art expert on a full-day private tour of the Accademia and Uffi zi galleries. Spend a day in the woodlands outside Florence, hunting for truffl es on a private excursion with an expert and his truffl e dog. Your hunting expedition concludes with a lunch of local dishes featuring your truffl e bounty.

Days 8 & 9 – Tuscany

Settle into a beautiful agriturismo in the heart of Tuscany and discover this fabled region with a private guide. In Siena you’ll see the magnifi cent facade of the cathedral, and stroll across the vast Piazza del Campo where the medieval bareback horserace known as the Palio takes place every summer. Visit the beautiful hilltop town of San Gimignano and savor a traditional Tuscan farmhouse lunch as you enjoy a panorama of vineyards and olive groves.

Days 10–13 – Rome

Head south by train to Rome, where a private guide will provide in-depth tours of ancient Rome and the Vatican. Skip past the lines at the Colosseum and gain direct entry into this legendary site as your guide explains its architecture and history; then continue to the Roman Forum and learn about its many temples and buildings. Spend a morning at Vatican City where your guide ushers you to the important artwork of the Vatican Museums, the incomparable Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s Basilica. Cap off your time in Rome on a Vespa tour, discovering different perspectives of the Eternal City.

Southern Italy: Naples, Pompeii, and the Amalfi Coast

8 days from $6,420

Encounter stunning scenery and vivid history from Naples to the Amalfi Coast, discovering legendary sites like Pompeii and the Roman villas of Capri, and staying in the seaside gems of Sorrento and Positano.

Highlights

� Explore the delightful street food scene of Naples on a guided tour.

� Peer into the crater of Mount Vesuvius, and visit the ancient cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum with a private guide.

� Hike Capri’s glorious coast with a private guide, and enjoy a cooking class in a family home.

� Stay in the two beloved coastal towns of Sorrento and Positano, and discover the Amalfi Coast.

The itinerary below is a sample of what’s possible. Your Smithsonian Tailor-Made Journey will be handcrafted just for you.

Day 1 – Naples, Italy

Arrive in Naples and meet your private driver. After time to relax at your hotel, join your private guide this evening for a walking tour of Naples. Along the way, sample some of the best street food the city has to offer.

Day 2 – Sorrento

Travel by private car to Mount Vesuvius, where you’ll have the opportunity to take a short hike to the volcano’s crater. Then follow the coast to Sorrento and check in to your hotel. Catch the sunset over the Gulf of Naples and enjoy an evening stroll through town.

Day 3 – Pompeii and Herculaneum

Venture to Pompeii and Herculaneum, cities famously devastated when Mount Vesuvius erupted in A.D. 79. With your private guide, visit elegant villas adorned in frescoes, explore amphitheaters and Roman boulevards, and encounter haunting scenes of everyday life frozen in time. Between visits, enjoy lunch and a wine tasting at a nearby winery. Return to Sorrento for the evening.

Days 4 & 5 – Capri

Sail by private boat to the beautiful island of Capri. Transfer to your hotel by taxi and enjoy a free afternoon to discover this fabled island. The next day, join a private guide for a hike on the Path of the Forts, which traces Capri’s coast, linking the famous Blue Grotto to the island’s historic forts. Enjoy free time this afternoon before a cooking class in a family home. Learn the secrets of southern Italian cuisine and dine on the meal you’ve created.

Day 6 – Positano

Spend a leisurely morning on Capri before returning to the mainland by private boat. Travel to your hotel in Positano on the Amalfi Coast and enjoy the afternoon to explore this picturesque town.

Days 7 & 8 – Amalfi Coast and Naples

Set out with your private guide on a full-day discovery of the Amalfi Coast. Stroll the stunning gardens of historic Villa Rufolo and visit Villa Cimbrone, which offers exceptional views of the coast. Enjoy a final evening on the Amalfi Coast before returning to Naples the next morning.

WHERE TO STAY Grand Hotel

Oriente – A stylish hotel set in the heart of Naples offering panoramic views of the city.

Hilton Sorrento Palace – A hilltop property with a rooftop pool and superb views of the sea and Sorrento’s center.

Villa Brunella

An intimate villa surrounded by gardens that boasts an excellent restaurant and fantastic views of Capri’s coast.

Covo dei Saraceni

A 19th-century beachfront hotel at the foot of Positano with elegant rooms and a rooftop pool.

Where To Stay

Les Jardins du Marais – A peaceful courtyard hotel in the fashionable Marais district of Paris.

Hotel le Dauphin les Loges

A family-run hotel set in three 17th-century houses in the heart of Honfleur.

Hotel Villa Lara

An intimate, familyrun property located on a tree-lined square in old Bayeux.

La Maison des Armateurs

A stylish boutique hotel within the walls of Saint-Malo’s historic Intra Muros district.

Le Clos d’Amboise

A 17th-century home offering easy access to the châteaux of the Loire Valley.

France: Paris, Normandy, and the Loire Valley

12 days from $9,850

Immerse yourself in the rich history and culture of France as you make your way from incomparable Paris to Normandy, Brittany, and the châteaux of the Loire Valley.

Highlights

� Enjoy guided tours of treasured sites, from Le Marais to the Opéra Garnier and Versailles.

� Trace the events of D-Day with a private guide on a visit to the beaches of Normandy.

� Explore the medieval abbey of Mont-SaintMichel and spend a night in enchanting Saint Malo.

� Sample France’s legendary flavors on visits to cheesemakers, wineries, and artisanal shops.

The itinerary below is a sample of what’s possible. Your Smithsonian Tailor-Made Journey will be handcrafted just for you.

Days 1–3 – Paris, France

Arrive in Paris and transfer by private car to your hotel in Le Marais. Join a private guide for a walking tour of the historic quarter, and stop at epicurean shops to sample their wares. On a private orientation tour of Paris’s Right Bank, see the Arc de Triomphe, the Champs-Elysées, the Jardin de Tuileries, and the Louvre. Take in views from Montmartre, once the haunt of Picasso, Renoir, and Van Gogh; then enjoy a private tour of the Opéra Garnier. Tour the Louvre or the Musée d’Orsay, and take a private walking tour of Île de la Cité and Île Saint-Louis.

Day 4 – Versailles

Travel to the Château de Versailles with your driver and guide. Tour this extravagant palace, built by Louis XIV, and explore the vast gardens. Later, head to Paris’s

Marché d’Aligre. Stroll past stalls filled with local produce, and enjoy a wine and cheese tasting.

Day 5 – Giverny and Honfleur

Travel to Normandy, stopping to visit the house of Claude Monet at Giverny and the picturesque village of Les Andelys. Venture into the 7th-century Jumièges Abbey before checking in to your hotel in Honfleur.

Days 6–8 – Normandy and Brittany

Discover the celebrated flavors of Normandy. Sample the apple brandy called calvados on a guided tour of an apple cider distillery, and taste traditional cheeses at the medieval Domaine Saint-Hippolyte. On a full-day excursion to the D-Day landing sites, stroll Omaha and Utah Beaches, and visit the poignant Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial. Spend the night in Bayeux. Drive to Brittany, stopping en route at MontSaint-Michel, a fortified medieval abbey built on a tidal island. Travel to a seaside town for lunch and a tasting of fresh oysters, and enjoy a free afternoon to discover the walled city of Saint-Malo.

Days 9–12 – Loire Valley and Amboise

Continue to the Loire Valley with your private driver, stopping to see the extraordinary Apocalypse Tapestry in Angers and visit the World Heritage-listed Fontevraud Abbey, where Richard the Lionheart and Eleanor of Aquitaine are buried. From your base in Amboise, take guided tours of the Château d’Amboise and Clos Lucé, where Leonardo da Vinci spent his last three years. At elegant Chenonceau, glide under the archways on a shared boat ride. Visit the private residence of Château de Cheverny and the magnificent Chambord before your final evening in France.

Athens and the Greek Isles

12 days from $8,995

Experience Greek culture and the tranquil beauty of the Cyclades as you explore Athens and the islands of Milos, Santorini, Mykonos, and sacred Delos.

Highlights

� Enjoy a traditional Greek meal in the home of a native Athenian and a cooking class on Mykonos.

� Set out on a private geological tour of Milos and delve into the volcanic past of the Cycladic Islands.

� Explore Santorini’s interior villages, gaining insight into local life, and stop for lunch at a farm.

� Venture to the archaeological ruins of Delos with a private guide.

The itinerary below is a sample of what’s possible. Your Smithsonian Tailor-Made Journey will be handcrafted just for you.

Days 1–3 – Athens and Hydra, Greece

Arrive in Athens and take a private transfer to your hotel. After time to relax, enjoy dinner and conversation at the home of a native Athenian. Meet your private guide the next morning for a tour of the legendary Acropolis and the Acropolis Museum. Then set out by ferry for a day trip to the island of Hydra in the Saronic Gulf. Explore the cobbled lanes and stone architecture of its port town, where no motorized vehicles are allowed.

Days 4–6 – Milos

Take the ferry to the Cycladic island of Milos, where you’ll be escorted to your hotel in Pollonia. Enjoy free time to discover the island and its beaches on your own. Venture out on a private tour of Milos the next day, visiting villages and ancient catacombs, and seeing the spot where the Venus de Milo was discovered. Relax this afternoon at Sarakiniko, a stunning moonscape of sun-bleached rocks and turquoise sea. Focus on geology the following morning on a private tour of the island’s volcanic fields, red beaches, and the ghost town of an abandoned sulfur mine right on the water.

Days 7–9 – Santorini

Your next stop is fabled Santorini, where you’ll be met at the port by a private driver and delivered to your hotel in the cliff-top town of Oia. During a free afternoon, explore the whitewashed alleyways of the town and take in spectacular views of the caldera. Set out the next morning on a private tour of the traditional villages of the interior, and visit a local farm for lunch. After a free morning your final day, join a small-group catamaran cruise around Santorini. You’ll have a chance to swim and take in the sunset from the water.

Days 10–12 – Mykonos

Take the ferry to Mykonos Town and relax at your hotel. In the evening, meet with an islander to learn about traditional Mykonian cuisine during a lively cooking class in her home. Embark on an excursion to the World Heritage site of Delos with your private guide. Tour the archaeological ruins of this mythical birthplace of Apollo and Artemis, one of the most sacred places in the ancient Greek world. Enjoy a free afternoon on Mykonos before your departure the following day.

Where To Stay

NEW Hotel – A stunning reincarnation of a 1950s Athens hotel, incorporating innovative architecture and design.

Salt Suites – A waterfront boutique hotel with Cycladic character and expansive views of the Milos coast.

Santorini Secret Suites & Spa – An intimate hotel with terraces, perched on the caldera’s edge in the village of Oia.

Belvedere Hotel – A Mykonos mainstay that blends nostalgia of old Mykonos with modern style and amenities.

Where To Stay

Intercontinental Edinburgh The George A historic property built around five Georgian townhouses that date back to the 18th century.

Loch Lomond Arms – A 17th-century inn with several rooms above its bar and restaurant.

Ballachulish Hotel – A traditional stone manor on the shores of Loch Linnhe outside Glencoe Village.

Eilean Iarmain – A Victorian pub-style property set on the water’s edge on the Isle of Skye.

Glenmoriston Town House Hotel – A stylish property on the River Ness near the heart of Inverness.