Top Italy Art & Culture - page 5

Many parts of Rome’s historic city center are closed to vehicles, but on this private golf cart tour, you’ll enjoy unobstructed views of the Eternal City’s top attractions. Cover top sights in just a few hours of sightseeing, from the Trevi Fountain and Pantheon to scenic Trastevere, and avoid walking long distances.

Getting around to see Rome's vast number of landmarks is tricky when you're short on time. This group tour is optimized for travelers without much time to spare. Learn about Rome's rich cultural, artistic, and architectural history from your guide as you follow them to multiple city highlights, including the Vatican and the Colosseum.

Give your feet a break and take in the sights of Capri from the sea. After choosing a departure time that works with your schedule, climb on board the boat and let the adventure begin. Over 1–2 hours, see the Villa Malaparte, pass the famed Faraglioni Rocks, and, weather permitting, head inside the Blue Grotto (own expense). Listen as the skipper gives background information on each point of interest, giving you a deeper understanding of the island.

Avoid the challenge of planning transport and fitting Italy’s most iconic coastal views and archaeological sites into one day. This guided trip from Naples combines the Amalfi Coast, Positano, and Pompeii in one seamless journey, with scenic drives and expert insight into Mt. Vesuvius’s history. Enjoy a limoncello tasting and optional lunch stop, all with convenient hotel pickup included.

Explore the dark side of Rome's past that traditional tours don't explore on this haunted walking tour. Take in some of the city’s squares, churches, and bridges after sunset as you listen to eerie tales of wandering ghosts, ghastly murders, and chilling executions involving infamous popes, emperors, and even artists. Discover a chapel decorated with human bones, a bridge long lined with corpses, and other spooky sights.

See Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper and La Scala opera house with a local guide on this half-day tour in Milan, and learn the history behind each of the sights. With a pre-booked ticket, you'll avoid the main entrance lines to see the ‘The Last Supper’ — a painting that attracts scores of visitors. In addition to spending some time with the masterpiece, you'll also explore La Scala Theater, the glamorous shopping arcade of Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, and the Milan Duomo.

The Uffizi Gallery is home to hundreds of Renaissance-era masterworks, including pieces from Michelangelo, Botticelli, and Caravaggio. Enjoy an intimate introduction to the iconic collection in a group of a maximum of fifteen people during this small-group guided tour, which includes fast-track admission tickets and audio headsets, so you can move freely without missing a word.

The Vatican Museums hold a collection so vast that first-time visitors lose hours finding the highlights. An art historian-guide cuts through it, with entry included and a route straight to the major works, ending at the Sistine Chapel and Michelangelo's ceiling. Hear the stories behind the art as you go, and upgrade to add a guided visit to St. Peter's Basilica.

The La Scala Theater in Milan’s city center is one of the world’s most famous opera houses, inaugurated in 1778. Join a small group and a guide to explore the temple of music and learn about its secrets and history. See a collection of set designs, musical instruments, and costumes that have been used for some of the greatest performances during your tour.

The Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill hold layers of history that are hard to piece together without context. This guided tour walks you through all three with a guide on hand to explain what you're seeing. Choose from a standard group tour, a small-group option, Arena Floor access at the Colosseum, or an evening exterior walk.

Experience the true flavor of the Tuscan countryside and taste wine without the worry of driving on this Chianti wine tour from Florence. Visit local wineries in scenic villages to sample revered Tuscan wines and learn winemaking secrets, or enhance your day with a morning cooking class and prepare traditional Tuscan recipes paired with premium wines.

If you've only got limited time in Siena, make sure you maximize your experience of the Tuscan hot spot on a sightseeing tour that includes skip-the-line entry. An expert guide gives you an insider's view of this UNESCO World Heritage-listed town. Linger for a while in Piazza del Campo and stroll the streets with your guide, learning about the history of the place and leaving the navigating to someone else. Visit the Duomo, Siena's stunning cathedral, and stroll right in thanks to your skip-the-line ticket.

Cinque Terre and Pisa are true wonders, usually requiring several days or more to explore. Ideal for travelers short on time, this one-day extravaganza covers both on an excursion from Florence. Travel by coach through the Tuscan countryside, enjoy a scenic train ride along the spectacular Cinque Terre coastline, explore colorful seaside villages, and see the world-famous Leaning Tower of Pisa.

Get more out of Rome's storied Borghese Gallery and Gardens when you explore as part of a guided, small-group walking tour. Admission tickets are included in the tour cost, so you guarantee your entry to the often sold-out attraction. Once inside, see works by Caravaggio, Bernini, Titian, and other Italian masters, and then stroll through the tranquil gardens for top-notch city views.

Whether you’re new to Rome or getting reacquainted as a return visitor, it can be hard to get oriented within the maze of streets and piazzas that make up the historical center ("centro storico"). On this walking tour, cover highlights such as Piazza Navona and the Trevi Fountain with a private guide filling you in on their history—capped off by a complimentary scoop or cone of gelato.

Maximize your time in the Vatican Museums on a guided group tour that takes you straight to the highlights of the enormous collection. Spend time admiring the artistic treasures of the Sistine Chapel, Belvedere Courtyard, Gallery of Maps, and more. Learn the history and legends behind the masterful frescoes, sculptures, maps, and relics from your guide, and then head to St. Peter's Basilica to explore on your own.

Make the most of your time in Pompeii with this archaeologist-led small-group tour starting at Porta Marina. Skip the hassle of following a map or guidebook and head straight to key sites like the basilica, forum, theater, and baths—plus visit intact shops, homes, and even a brothel—while delving into their history and architecture with your guide.

See the Tuscan gems of San Gimignano, Siena, and Monteriggioni in just one day on this tour from Florence. Stop in the medieval hilltop town of San Gimignano and see the intact walls of Monteriggioni. Refuel with a typical Tuscan lunch at a Chianti wintery that includes a wine tasting and “vin santo." Explore Siena's historic city center with a stop at the Duomo.

Get familiar with the ins and outs of Florence on this small-group walking tour of the city. Your local guide leads you through town, taking you past landmarks such as the Church of Santa Maria Novella, the Medici Chapels, the Duomo, and the Uffizi Gallery, sharing the history and culture of the city as you go.

Save precious vacation time when you book this tour of the Colosseum and Ancient Rome with either an audio guide or a tour guide, so you don't miss out on valuable information. Even better, it includes access to the reconstructed Arena Floor, usually off-limits to the public. After visiting the ancient gladiatorial arena, proceed to the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill, to recount the story of Rome’s founding.

Go beyond the boring group walking tours and head straight for the good stuff: the dark side. On this walking tour, you’ll meet up with your local guide and explore Florence’s lurid past, hearing tales of ghosts, scandalous murders, wild betrayals, and strange curiosities, all connected to gorgeous spots around the city. No guidebooks here—and yet every story will be 100% true.

Visit the historic vacation homes of the Roman elite on a Rome to Tivoli day trip. The full-day guided excursion includes tours of Tivoli’s two UNESCO-listed sites: Hadrian’s Villa and Villa d’Este. Hear Renaissance and Ancient Roman history and scandal, admire archaeological ruins and explore some of Italy’s most extravagant private gardens.

The Colosseum, the Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill are three of Rome’s notable attractions, but going alone risks leaving your many questions unanswered. Learn more by going with a guide on this sightseeing tour. Walk up Palatine Hill for panoramic views of the Eternal City, see where gladiators battled in the ancient Colosseum and discover centuries of ruins in the Roman Forum. Ideal for first-time visitors to Rome.

Discover several Venetian attractions in one itinerary with this full-day tour. Visit St. Mark’s Square, St. Mark’s Basilica, and the Rialto Bridge with an art historian guide leading the way. Stroll along Venice’s romantic canals and climb aboard a gondola for a scenic boat ride. After free time for lunch, skip the line for instant access into Doge’s Palace to see Casanova’s prison cell and walk across the Bridge of Sighs.