Best of Italy Family Holiday

Welcome to Venice, Italy. This watery wonderland of bridges, towers, piazzas, canals, churches and gondolas – practically unchanged for 600 years – is literally sinking under the weight of its sights. Your Italian adventure will begin with a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight. There are no activities planned before the meeting, but if you arrive early there are plenty of things to keep you and the family busy. Take a walk around the maze of streets behind Piazza San Marco and begin to understand the complex canal system of Venice. The Grand Canal is a great place to start, as you can stroll over the Rialto Bridge and browse the endless amounts of boutique shops that sell Venetian masks and handmade Murano glassware. After the meeting, enjoy dinner with the other families at a local restaurant.

After breakfast, venture out and explore Venice on an orientation walk. There are only two ways to get around this city – on foot or by boat. Wander around at the Doge’s Palace, the Piazza and Basilica di San Marco and the Bridge of Sighs, taking in the views of the waterways as you go. Once the walk comes to an end, take a quick gondola ride over to Rialto – the heart of the city. Take some free time to explore the city, and consider catching a vaporetto (water bus) to San Giorgio to climb the bell tower for a panoramic view of Venice. Otherwise, travelling down the Grand Canal via Venetian gondola is a great way to immerse yourself in the waterside culture, or the Palazzo Ducale overflows with paintings from Italian masters making it well worth a visit too. Meet up again in the afternoon at the private workshop of a professional mask maker, where you’ll learn to make your own mask using traditional working methods treasured by the people of the city.

Take a morning trip to the Italian Riviera – a region studded with tree-coated mountainsides and colourful townships sitting in the background of the tranquil Ligurian sea. The first stop on this trip through is Levanto – nestled between a thickly wooded valley and the ocean. During your stay here, chop and blend up basil, olive oil and other ingredients as you enjoy an authentic pesto making class with a local family. Once you’ve got a grasp of these traditional Italian culinary techniques, cooking at home will no doubt become that much better.

Venture out on the footpaths of Cinque Terre – a region of Italy famed for its coastline and pastel villages on sharp cliff faces. These paths weave between the villages past olive groves, vineyards and onwards to idyllic, breathtaking vistas. You can choose to walk just a few sections if you like – all of the available paths offer excellent views of the majestic scenery. Otherwise, you’re also more than welcome to take a train from village to village if you’d prefer to put your feet up and relax.

Spend some time relaxing on the beautiful Cinque Terre coastline – perhaps go for a dip in the waters or source out some fresh local seafood. Afterwards, travel on an early afternoon train to Pisa (approximately 2.5 hours). Once you arrive, take a bit of time to explore the Field of Miracles while taking in the intricately structured architecture of Duomo Cathedral, Piazza Del Duomo and of course, the World Heritage-listed Leaning Tower of Pisa.

Today you will take the train from Pisa to Rome but not before you get the chance to try some of the city’s famous gelato and snap some family photos with the iconic Leaning Tower of Pisa, or, if you’re daring enough, scale up the 300 spiralling stairs to get a better view of the field below (own expense). After you arrive in Rome, the evening is yours to enjoy your way. You may like to settle down to a traditional Roman dinner in a trattoria – known to be simple but full of flavour.

Vatican City is the smallest country on the planet yet holds many of the Catholic world’s most significant sites. Today you’ll get to explore some of its highlights including the St Peter’s Basilica, The Sistine Chapel, and Piazza San Pietro. Explore the wonders of the Vatican Museums using an audioguide so you and your family can go at your own pace. Tonight is free for you to eat the best Roman pizza and gelato in town – it’s not hard to find them, but it takes local knowledge to eat away from the tourist traps and in authentic places. Luckily you’ve got a local leader to show you the way and give you all suggestions!

Today will be a free day in Rome to further explore on your own.There are so many things to do in Rome – the Colosseum, the Forum, Piazza Navona, the Spanish Steps, Via Condotti and Piazza Venezia. For those captivated by the 'Eternal City', throw a coin into the Trevi Fountain to ensure a return visit to Rome.

Jump on board a train today as you journey to one of the world’s most famous ancient sites – the preserved city of Pompeii (3 hours). On 26 August 79AD, nearby volcano Mt Vesuvius erupted spewing molten rock and ash all over the city, causing this thriving Roman trading centre to be frozen in time – an ancient tragedy that allows modern visitors to take a unique look at the lives of the Romans, and how they lived and worked 2000 years ago. Spend a few hours on a walking tour around Pompeii – you and your kids will be captivated by the incredible stories behind this ancient tragedy as your local guide brings the fascinating history to life. The finely preserved ruins include villas, temples, theatres and a once-bustling marketplace. Your hotel this evening is located very close to the archaeological site, so you won’t have far to go once you decide to call it a day.

Wander streets lined with chariots, visit the magnificent amphitheatre and drop by the incredibly well-preserved Villa of Mysteries, where you and your family can wander between rooms and imagine what life would have been like as a wealthy Pompeii suburbanite. Take a short ride up mighty Mt Vesuvius and walk to the summit for staggering views over the Bay of Naples (45 minutes). Soak up the view and snap plenty of photos before walking across the cinders to the lip of the central crater (30 minutes). Don’t worry, although Mt Vesuvius is still considered to be an active volcano, the last eruption was in 1944 and there's no sign of recent volcanic activity. See first-hand the awesome power of the volcano that engulfed the cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum, then make the 30-minute descent. Continue to the Amalfi Coast town of Minori, a beloved holiday spot for thousands of years, and arrive around lunch time. With its fine piazzas, maze of old streets, sidewalk cafes and sparkling ocean, there is truly something for everyone here.

Take a free day to explore Minori at your own (or your kids) pace. There are many beaches to choose from, though be aware the nicer they are the more crowded they will be (particularly during Summer from June to August). Hire a few deck chairs if you want to relax, or alternatively if you’re feeling more active, you can rent a paddle boat or kayak and explore the sea. The walk from Minori to Ravello is also beautiful and a great way to see the region, while it’s only about an hour each way, it is steep in parts and there are a lot of steps, so it’s moderately difficult. The views along the way more than make up for any huffing and puffing – but remember to pack plenty of water and sunscreen before leaving. This evening, why not head out to a local restaurant with your family and try the Minori speciality, scialatielli (thick ribbons of fresh pasta).

Leave Minori in the rear-view mirror this morning and enjoy a stunning drive past mountains to an agriturismo, a working farm that also provides meals and accommodation. While you won’t be staying here tonight, you will get to spend 1.5 hours in gorgeous surrounds, sampling produce grown on site – a sure way to get your kids to eat their veggies! Continue to Sorrento, another beautiful resort town, famous for its lemons and surrounding plunging cliffs. Arrive early in the afternoon and enjoy free time to explore. Later, learn the secrets behind Italy's sweet treat in a gelato making demonstration, and perhaps indulge in some for a well-deserved dessert.

Head to the port this morning and board a lifted hydrofoil boat to Capri. Cruise across the glorious Bay of Naples for approximately 30 minutes before arriving in the holiday destination favoured by the Roman emperors. Capri’s dramatic rocky coastline is pierced by natural grottoes, while narrow roads wind inland through fragrant citrus groves, past villages of little white houses with flower-filled gardens. Though its unmatched setting and natural beauty means it’s popular with visitors, there are still many hidden corners and treasures to explore. On arrival, wander around the Marina Grande and the little town of Capri before taking a bus up to Anacapri to enjoy the best views of the island and bay from the top of Monte Solaro, reachable by cable car. Around mid-afternoon, take the 1-hour ferry back to Sorrento, where you’ll have a free evening to spend as a family.

There are many options for your free morning in this seaside town – make sure to grab a gelato (or three) while you’re here, Sorrento has some of the finest scoops in Italy. This afternoon you’ll get a hands-on lesson in crafting everyone’s favourite Italian dish – pizza! Enjoy a cooking demonstration and delectable dinner in an amazing location, an agriturismo with incredible views of Mt Vesuvius and the Bay of Naples. Eat, laugh and enjoy a glass of wine while the kids explore the farm alongside adorable wild rabbits. Enjoy southern Italian hospitality at its finest during your final night on this family adventure.

Wave arrivederci to Italy and your new friends. Those who have booked transfers will be taken to the airport to board their onward plane, while those who have not are free to leave at any time after check-out.