Top Italy Art & Culture - page 4

Venture into Tuscany on this day trip from Florence and discover the region's highlights with the help of a local guide. Explore the medieval city of Siena and its cathedral before heading to the hills of Chianti for a Tuscan lunch and wine tasting (optional). Roam the streets of San Gimignano and travel to Pisa to admire the architectural drama of Cathedral Square—home to the UNESCO-listed Leaning Tower of Pisa. Upgrade to include admission to climb the tower.

Tuscany is notable for its food, wine, and scenery, but exploring the region in a limited time isn’t easy. Enjoy a stress-free sampler of locations in the captivating Val d’Orcia region on this full-day tour from Rome. With a guide at your side, visit the wine town of Montepulciano, have lunch surrounded by vineyards, explore the historic center of Pienza, and relax on the return journey to Rome.

Experience more than 2,500 years of history—and see the best of Rome's attractions—on this private tour. Roam the streets of this city in a comfortable, covered, street-legal golf cart. This family-friendly sightseeing tour offers a narrated journey of the palaces, monuments, churches, fountains, and statues that define the rich heritage of Italy's capital. Plus, the itinerary is customized to your preferences, so you can see the sights that interest you most.

Save time and energy when visiting the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel with this guided tour. Instead of getting overwhelmed knowing what to priortize, let your guide lead you to the collection's highlights. Learn about history, art, and architecture as you make your way through the galleries. Upgrade to a small-group or private tour for a more personalized experience, or choose to add access to St. Peter's Basilica.

Rome's underground sites are scattered, and piecing together their history and getting between each in a day takes planning. Follow a guide between them instead, with admission included, so you skip any long lines. See the Catacombs, the bone-lined Capuchin Crypt, and the Basilica of San Martino ai Monti, with the route and timing handled.

Immerse yourself in Roman history and learn information you’d unlikely encounter on your own on this small-group tour of Rome’s underground. Discover the Mausoleum of Cecilia Metella and learn about its history. Then, visit the Catacombs of San Sebastiano or Domitilla (depending on the day), home to stunning frescoes and thousands of centuries-old bones. Learn about early Christianity from your guide while meandering the endless darkened tunnels.

Centrally located near Barberini Station, the Capuchin Crypts are one of Rome’s most popular religious sights, while the Roman Catacombs are just outside the city. With this tour, visit both ancient burial sites and the Mouth of Truth in just a few hours without stressing about transportation. Travel with a fun tour guide who gives historical context to some of Rome’s most unusual attractions.

Cover the Renaissance highlights of Florence without getting lost or overwhelmed with this small-group choose-your-own-adventure tour. Choose to explore just the Accademia Gallery, home to Michelangelo's iconic "David" statue, or add on the Uffizi Galleries to admire more Renaissance artworks, with a brief tour of Florence's highlights in between. Ideal for time-pressed travelers who want to fit in as much art and history as possible.

Seeing the sights of Florence can involve a lot of walking. Cover the ground, including hidden lanes that traditional cars can’t enter, without wearing out your shoe leather on this private tour. Open sides offer wraparound views of the city’s UNESCO World Heritage–listed historic center. Upgrade to the panoramic tour to include a stop at a romantic fountain and Piazzale Michelangelo for sweeping rooftop vistas.

Avoid waiting in long lines at one of Florence's top attractions when you book this priority access tour to the Duomo. On this express tour, you can maximize your time while seeing much of the architectural masterpiece with a guide. This tour includes admission to the Museum of Mercy and an upgrade option to climb Brunelleschi’s dome to admire Florence from its best viewpoint.

Reaching both Pompeii and Mt. Vesuvius by public transportation in one day can be a hassle. With this group day trip, round-trip transportation from Sorrento gives you enough time to explore the UNESCO-listed ruins of Pompeii, plus walk up to the crater of Mt. Vesuvius. Bypass the crowds with skip-the-line admission to Pompeii, then delve into the ancient city with a guided tour. Afterwards, take a short hike up to the rim of the Mt. Vesuvius volcano for sweeping views of the Bay of Naples.

Not all visitors to the Colosseum get to see all of its areas. This guided tour provides access to parts of this ancient arena that are usually off-limits. Choose to explore either the arena floor or the underground during this guided experience, or discover the Colosseum at your own pace with the freedom experience (does not include arena floor or underground). After your visit, continue on a guided tour at the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill and gain deeper insight into Ancient Roman life.

Walk in the footsteps of ancient gladiators with a group or private tour. Stand where gladiators once fought and hear stories of Rome's ruthless games and battles, then explore the Colosseum's first and second levels with your guide. Finish with a visit to Palatine Hill and the Roman Forum to complete your journey through ancient Rome.

Discover the highlights of the Amalfi Coast without the stress of planning or driving on this full-day trip from Rome. Focus on the scenery rather than the road on a Wi-Fi–equipped coach as you journey toward the coast. In Positano, enjoy free time to explore. Then, if you’ve selected the Amalfi option, board a cruise from Salerno and admire the coastline before exploring Amalfi and its Duomo. If you’ve chosen the Sorrento option, travel by land to the clifftop town to soak up its historic charm and sweeping views. Both itineraries include limoncello tasting.

Travel to the highest point reachable by train in Europe on this full-day tour of the Swiss Alps and Saint Moritz, a luxury alpine resort town in Switzerland’s Engadin Valley. After some free time in Saint Moritz for shopping or pastry tastings (own expense), hop aboard the Bernina Red Train for a cliff-hanging 2.5-hour ride through the Alps—on a route with UNESCO World Heritage status.

See what Tuscany has to offer without breaking the bank on this budget-friendly day trip to the region's highlights from Florence. Save hours with coach transportation and enjoy free time to explore the medieval old towns of Siena and San Gimignano, plus the sights of Pisa. Upgrade to a guided tour of Siena, or add-on a 2-course lunch with wine pairing for a hassle-free, all-inclusive day.

The Vatican complex is vast and often packed, and working out a route through the museums on your own eats into the day. Follow a guide through the Vatican Museums instead, taking in the main works on the way to the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica. Upgrade to a private tour, or choose a family-focused version if you have kids.

Immerse yourself in Tuscan culture, cuisine, and history on a full-day group shore excursion from Livorno. This comfortable and efficient transfer by coach ensures you maximize your day on dry land and return to port with time to spare before your ship’s departure. Florence highlights include the San Lorenzo Market, Ponte Vecchio, and multiple iconic piazzas. Round out your Italian adventure with a visit to the Piazza dei Miracoli in Pisa.

Short on time? Join this compact guided tour of Leonardo's Last Supper Museum with skip-the-line tickets included. Get an up-close look at da Vinci's masterpiece while listening to engaging commentary from your guide via a handy headset. Dive into the history behind The Last Supper and learn more than a visit on your own would offer. This tour is a must for first-time visitors in Milan.

Experience the tranquil beauty of Venice from the water on a private gondola ride that takes you through the city's less-traveled canals. Relax onboard a traditional Venetian boat as a gondolier navigates past historic palaces, churches, and landmarks that most tourists miss. Booking in advance guarantees your party’s seats and saves you the hassle of payment on the spot, so you can sit back and enjoy the ride.

Exploring Rome’s ancient sites independently can be confusing and time-consuming, especially when trying to make sense of what you’re seeing among vast ruins. With this self-guided visit to the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill, you set your own pace while discovering the stories behind each landmark. A mobile audio guide helps highlight key historical moments inside the Colosseum, and local assistance is available to help you navigate entry logistics and get oriented throughout your visit.

The UNESCO-listed Sassi di Matera is both captivating and mysterious. With this guided tour, take a deep dive into the history of this unique rupestrian city, named a 2019 European Capital of Culture. Explore its hidden dwellings and churches carved directly into the cliff, the setting for a number of films, including Ben Hur.

Discover the Vatican complex without the daytime crowds on this small-group or private early-morning tour. Enter with your guide first thing, as they take you around the museum's vast collections and to its highlights. Explore the papal art collection, including the Raphael Rooms, the Gallery of Tapestries, and the Pinecone Courtyard. Visit Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel before ending at St. Peter’s Basilica.

Lake Como is known as one of Italy’s most stunning districts, but visitors unfamiliar with the area risk missing out on the best locations. Enjoy an in-depth, intimate introduction to the lake and its surrounding towns during this small-group, full-day tour from Milan. A boat cruise is included, plus get-down stops in Bellagio and Varenna, with a return train to Milan.