Culture and Cuisine of Italy

13 days from $9,995 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.

WHERE TO STAY Hotel Palazzo Giovanelli

A beautifully converted palazzo in the heart of Venice that overlooks the Grand Canal.

Hotel Bernini

Palace – A luxury hotel and former 15th-century palazzo, just steps from the Uffizi and Palazzo Vecchio.

Badia a Coltibuono Hilltop

A former monastery that has served as an organic farm and winery for centuries.

Crossing Condotti

A charming boutique hotel, just one block away from Rome’s Piazza di Spagna and the Spanish Steps.

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 truffle 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 Uffizi galleries. Spend a day in the woodlands outside Florence, hunting for truffles on a private excursion with an expert and his truffle dog. Your hunting expedition concludes with a lunch of local dishes featuring your truffle 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 magnificent 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 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.