Arrive the Venetian Way
Private water-taxi arrival from Marco Polo Airport, an evening Discovery Walk around St. Mark’s with your Tour Captain, and an included gondola experience with live musicians.
Now Journey signature tour
Italy's Great Cities
The Original 12-Day Small Group Italy Journey.
Venice → Florence → Tuscany → Rome → Sorrento & the Amalfi Coast
- 8 to 12 guests
- Max 16
- Tour Captain hosted
- Deluxe hotel collections
- 50+ five-star reviews
No obligation. No pressure.
12 Days / 11 NightsBalanced pace
Venice to AmalfiIconic route
8–12 GuestsMax 16
Deluxe CollectionsSignature & Elevated
Tour CaptainHosted throughout
Choose your Journey
Three editions. One design philosophy.
Italy's Great Cities is available in three thoughtfully crafted small group journeys, each designed around the same Now Journey philosophy of elegant pacing, exceptional hospitality, and unforgettable experiences. Whether you're looking for a focused Venice-to-Rome tour, our flagship journey Venice to the Amalfi Coast, or our most complete Italy tour from Lake Como North to South, simply choose the edition that best fits your time and travel style.
Three ways to experience Italy’s Great Cities. Choose the Journey that best fits your time and travel style.
Italy was never meant to be rushed
The Italy tour people hope exists.
Italy's Great Cities was created for travelers who want the famous places - Venice, Florence, Tuscany, Rome and the Amalfi Coast - without the big-bus feeling, rushed pacing, or generic group-tour machinery.
This is a hosted, thoughtfully paced journey with boutique hotels, memorable dining, local guides, and enough breathing room for Italy to feel personal.
"Every day, every place, every meal, every experience was amazing." Edward K., Now Journey guest
Journey at a Glance
Journey at a Glance
Five Italian Chapters. One seamless story.
From Venice to the Amalfi Coast, one beautifully paced journey.
Scroll through citiesSwipe through cities
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01 VeniceWhere canals replace streets and mornings begin with church bells across the lagoon. Arrive by water, settle in, and let Italy reveal itself at an unhurried pace.
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02 FlorenceRenaissance masterpieces, artisan workshops, and evenings that linger long after sunset. Florence invites you to slow down and savor every beautiful detail.
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03 Cortona & TuscanyWinding vineyard roads, timeless hill towns, and long lunches beneath the Tuscan sun. This is the Italy travelers imagine—and the one they'll remember.
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04 RomeAncient ruins, lively piazzas, hidden neighborhoods, and unforgettable evenings. Every day reveals another layer of the Eternal City.
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05 Sorrento & the Amalfi CoastHigh above the blue Mediterranean, the journey concludes with dramatic coastal views, relaxed seaside elegance, and one final taste of la dolce vita.
- Venice2 Nights
- Florence2 Nights
- Cortona & Tuscany2 Nights
- Rome3 Nights
- Sorrento2 Nights
Why travelers choose Now Journey
50+ five-star TripAdvisor reviews
A true small group of 8–12 guests, with a maximum of 16. Hotels in the heart of each destination, thoughtfully arranged transportation and sightseeing, priority admissions where available—and no upselling while you’re on tour.
Read Our TripAdvisor ReviewsFive destinations. Five distinct experiences.
Why this Journey feels different.
Each chapter has its own rhythm, with signature arrivals, guided discovery, thoughtful dining and time to experience Italy beyond the headline sights.
Renaissance Italy, Without the Rush
High-speed rail brings you into Florence for guided sightseeing at the Accademia and through the historic center, followed by an intentionally open afternoon to explore at your own pace.
The Tuscan Life
A Vernaccia toast in San Gimignano, a guided visit and tasting at a family-run wine estate, a farm-to-table winery lunch, and a full day to slow down in Cortona.
The Eternal City, in Layers
Three nights near the historic heart, with Old Rome, guided visits to Vatican City and Imperial Rome, an open afternoon, and a Farewell to Rome dinner.
The Coast at Your Pace
An expert-guided Pompeii visit leads into two nights in Sorrento, with a Tour Captain Discovery Walk, an intentionally open coastal day, and a Farewell Apericena.
12 Days from Venice to the Amalfi Coast
The Complete Itinerary
See exactly how each day unfolds—from your arrival by private water taxi in Venice to the final days overlooking the Bay of Naples.
Chapter One
Days 1–2
Venice
The Journey begins on water: a private arrival, San Marco light, hidden passages, music on the canals and the strange, impossible beauty of a city that should not exist.
Gondolas glide as Venice whispers its secrets.
Venice is less an introduction than a spell. The first days are designed to orient you gently—not by rushing from site to site, but by letting the city reveal its rhythm.
Day 1
Welcome to beautiful Venice
Arrive at Venice Marco Polo Airport, where a warm welcome and your included private water-taxi transfer bring you into Venice by water. After reaching the hotel, check in, refresh and let Venice begin gently.
Later, meet your Tour Captain for a Discovery Walk through the St. Mark’s area and the practical rhythms of the Journey. The evening is intentionally unhurried, allowing Venice to set the tone.
Included Today
- Arrival support at Venice Marco Polo Airport
- Private water-taxi arrival transfer
- Tour Captain-led Discovery Walk
- Welcome Dinner in Venice
Day 2
Venice: the Story begins
With an expert local guide, explore the St. Mark’s area and Venice’s layered history, including St. Mark’s Basilica, the Doge’s Palace, the historic prisons and the Bridge of Sighs. The day is designed to reveal Venice not as a postcard, but as a republic shaped by power, intrigue, faith and extraordinary beauty.
Later, as Venice begins to glow in the evening light, glide through the city’s quieter canals on the included gondola experience, accompanied by live musicians.
Included Today
- St. Mark’s Basilica and Piazza San Marco
- Doge’s Palace, historic prisons and Bridge of Sighs
- Expert-guided Venetian history and context
- Gondola experience with live musicians
Where You Stay
Your Home in Venice
Venice: Hotel Saturnia & International or similar. This refined, family-owned stay keeps you within easy reach of St. Mark’s while supporting the best kind of Venice evening: a quiet wander after the day visitors have drifted away.
Other Deluxe hotels we sometimes use: Monaco & Grand Canal or similar.
“This is the kind of Venice hotel I love: close enough to wander to St. Mark’s Square, but tucked into a quieter rhythm where the city feels like it belongs to you for the evening.”HOW WE CHOOSE
Chapter Two
Days 3–4
Florence
Venice fades behind you. Florence arrives with bells, stone, Renaissance proportion, river light, artisan windows and the quiet confidence of a city that changed the world.
David’s city, Florence of the Renaissance.
Florence is approached with elegance: by water, rail and then on foot. The days balance guided discovery with space to wander, shop, sit, sip and look up.
Day 3
Onward to Florence
A private boat transfer brings you to Venezia Santa Lucia, where you board a comfortable high-speed train bound for Florence—a seamless transition from lagoon light to Renaissance stone.
Upon arrival, your Tour Captain leads a Florence Discovery Walk through the historic center, including Giotto’s Campanile, the Baptistery, the Duomo and Ponte Vecchio. That evening, gather for a hosted Tuscan dinner.
Included Today
- Private boat transfer to Venezia Santa Lucia station
- High-speed rail to Florence
- Tour Captain-led orientation through Florence’s historic center
- Welcome Dinner in Florence
Day 4
Florence: birthplace of the Renaissance
Begin at the Accademia Gallery with Michelangelo’s David, then continue through the historic center with your guide: Santa Maria del Fiore, Giotto’s Bell Tower, the Baptistery, the Gates of Paradise, Piazza della Signoria and Piazza della Repubblica.
The afternoon is intentionally open: time to wander, shop, linger over lunch, visit Santa Croce, choose another gallery or simply look up.
Included Today
- Accademia Gallery and Michelangelo’s David
- Guided morning discovery
- Florence’s historic center and Renaissance landmarks
- Open afternoon for independent exploration
This evening, your Tour Captain may invite you to join the group for an optional dinner, or the evening is entirely yours.
Where You Stay
Your Home in Florence
Florence: Grand Hotel Cavour or similar. This historic city stay places the Renaissance chapter close to Florence’s treasures, with rooftop views and a central setting that keep the city present even between guided moments.
Other Deluxe hotels we sometimes use: Bernini Palace, Hotel L’Orologio or similar.
“In Florence, the right hotel should keep the Duomo, the river, the piazzas and the evening streets within easy reach. The city is best when you can step back into it after dinner.”HOW WE CHOOSE
Chapter Three
Days 5–6
Tuscany
Vine-covered hills, a white wine toast in San Gimignano, a family-run estate, Cortona at golden hour and the permission to slow down.
Vineyards, hill towns and the art of lingering.
Tuscany is the hinge of the Journey: a shift from major-city wonder into countryside texture, regional life and time that feels less scheduled.
Day 5
Tuscany: a day of flavor and tradition
The landscape shifts as rolling hills and cypress trees guide you into the Tuscan countryside. Begin in San Gimignano, famed for its medieval skyline and artisan streets, with a toast of Vernaccia, the town’s signature white wine.
Settle into a family-run Tuscan estate for a guided cellar visit, curated tasting and leisurely farm-to-table lunch. Later, continue to Cortona, where your Tour Captain handles check-in before leading a gentle Discovery Walk into the historic center.
Included Today
- San Gimignano visit and Vernaccia toast
- Family-run wine-estate visit and curated tasting
- Regional farm-to-table winery lunch
- Cortona Discovery Walk
- Cortona Apericena
Day 6
Cortona: slow moments and simple pleasures
Enjoy a full day at leisure in Cortona. The day can be as quiet or active as you wish: a long piazza morning, a countryside walk or time exploring Cortona’s upper streets and Etruscan layers.
Your Tour Captain can help shape the day around your style, and the evening remains open for an unhurried night in one of Tuscany’s loveliest hill towns.
Included Today
- Full day of independent time in Cortona
- Tour Captain recommendations for pacing and local possibilities
This evening, your Tour Captain may invite you to join the group for an optional dinner, or the evening is entirely yours.
Where You Stay
Your Home in Tuscany
Cortona: Villa Marsili or similar. This intimate hillside stay suits the slower rhythm of the Tuscan chapter, keeping you close to the old town while giving the Journey a warmer, more rooted sense of place.
Other Deluxe hotels we sometimes use: Hotel San Michele, Monastero di Cortona or similar.
“Cortona works best when the hotel has a sense of place. It should feel smaller, warmer, and more rooted in the Tuscan hillside than a grand-city hotel ever could.”HOW WE CHOOSE
Chapter Four
Days 7–9
Rome
The Eternal City does not arrive quietly. It appears in domes, ruins, fountains, piazzas, empire, faith, dinner tables and the hum of modern Roman life.
There once was a dream that was Rome.
Rome is three days of layers: the Pantheon and piazzas, Vatican City, imperial stones and the everyday beauty of a city that never stopped being alive.
Day 7
The road to Rome
The Journey leaves Tuscany and continues south toward the Eternal City. After arriving and checking in near the historic center, join your Tour Captain for a Discovery Walk through Old Rome.
Around the Pantheon, continue through Piazza Navona, Campo de’ Fiori and Largo di Torre Argentina, where stories of emperors, markets, fountains and modern Roman life overlap at street level.
Included Today
- Journey from Tuscany to Rome
- Hotel arrival and Old Rome Discovery Walk
- Pantheon-area streets, piazzas and fountains
- Welcome Dinner in Rome
Day 8
Vatican City
Begin with a guided morning in Vatican City, exploring the Vatican Museums and Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel. When visitor operations and access permit, continue to St. Peter’s Basilica and Square as your guide brings context to the art, ritual and architecture of Vatican City.
The afternoon and evening are intentionally open for independent discovery, with suggestions from your Tour Captain.
Included Today
- Guided morning discovery in Vatican City
- Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel
- St. Peter’s Basilica and Square, when operationally appropriate
- Open afternoon and evening
This evening, your Tour Captain may invite you to join the group for an optional dinner, or the evening is entirely yours.
Day 9
Imperial Rome
Set out through Rome’s ancient heart, where ruins and modern life share the same streets. Through the Roman Forum and the surrounding imperial landscape, your guide traces the layers of the ancient city, from Palatine and Capitoline context to triumphal arches and views across the historic center.
Tonight, join your Tour Captain for a Farewell to Rome dinner—a moment to reflect before the Journey turns south toward the coast.
Included Today
- Guided discovery of Imperial Rome
- Roman Forum and ancient-city context
- Palatine and Capitoline perspectives
- Farewell to Rome dinner
Where You Stay
Your Home in Rome
Rome: Palazzo Navona or similar. This central Rome stay keeps the Eternal City close: the Piazza Navona neighborhood, rooftop moments, evening strolls and easy walks toward many of Rome’s great sights.
Other Deluxe hotels we sometimes use: Pantheon Iconic, La Minerva, Hotel L’Orologio or similar.
“Rome rewards location. When your hotel sits near the historic heart, the city stays with you between the guided moments: a fountain at night, a piazza after dinner, a short walk that becomes a memory.”HOW WE CHOOSE
Final Chapter
Days 10–12
Sorrento & the Amalfi Coast
The final chapter turns toward the sea: Pompeii, lemon groves, coastal light, Sorrento evenings and the sense of arrival that only Southern Italy can give.
The coast becomes the finale.
Pompeii gives the final chapter its ancient depth; Sorrento gives it sea air, open time and room to let the Journey settle.
Day 10
Pompeii, Sorrento and the coast
Leave Rome as the Journey turns south toward Pompeii, the ancient Roman city lost for nearly 1,700 years before its rediscovery. With an expert local guide, explore the site and hear the human story behind its dramatic history.
After Pompeii, continue to Sorrento. Following check-in and time to relax, your Tour Captain leads a Discovery Walk into the heart of town, and the final coastal chapter begins beside the Bay of Naples.
Included Today
- Travel from Rome to Pompeii and Sorrento
- Expert-guided Pompeii archaeological experience
- Tour Captain-led Sorrento Discovery Walk
- Welcome Dinner in Sorrento
Day 11
The coast, at your own pace
Today is intentionally open for the coast. Stay in Sorrento, follow your Tour Captain’s recommendations, or let the Sorrento Peninsula unfold at your own pace.
There is no need to schedule the day. The pleasure may be simply wandering, lingering over lunch and letting the Bay of Naples set the pace.
Included Today
- Independent time in Sorrento and on the Sorrento Peninsula
- Tour Captain recommendations for coastal possibilities
- Farewell Apericena
Day 12
Arrivederci, Italy
As the Journey closes, your Tour Captain or the Now Journey team can assist with practical departure guidance.
An optional transfer to Naples Airport may be requested separately and is not included in the base Journey. If you would like more time in Southern Italy, ask about extending your stay when appropriate and subject to availability.
Included Today
- Departure guidance and assistance from the Now Journey team
Where You Stay
Your Home in Sorrento
Sorrento: Grand Hotel Capodimonte or similar. This coastal stay lets the final chapter soften into the Bay of Naples: sea-view terraces, cascading multi-level pools and the pleasure of ending somewhere made for lingering.
Other Deluxe hotels we sometimes use: Bellevue Syrene, Hilton Sorrento Palace or similar.
“Sorrento should feel like a conclusion, not just a final hotel stop. The views, terraces, pools and sea air help the Journey slow into its last beautiful chapter.”HOW WE CHOOSE
What's included
The details are handled. The discoveries still feel yours.
Your 12-day Journey includes 11 hotel nights, daily breakfast, included dining, expert-guided sightseeing, admissions and planned transportation.
Your dedicated Tour Captain
Your host throughout the journey—coordinating transitions, orienting you in each destination, offering personal recommendations, and helping solve the practical questions that arise along the way.
11 hotel nights & daily breakfast
Eleven breakfasts are included; departure-morning breakfast is subject to flight timing.
Included dining
5 dinners, 1 included winery lunch and 2 Apericena experiences.
Sightseeing & transportation
All itinerary-listed admissions and guided sightseeing, plus the private Venice arrival water taxi, high-speed rail and planned intercity transportation.
International airfare, optional experiences, and the Naples Airport departure transfer are not included.
Guest reviews
The proof is in the way guests talk about it.
Now Journey guests consistently mention the same things: thoughtful planning, seamless logistics, special surprises, beautiful hotels, and the feeling of being genuinely cared for.
"I can't say enough about our recent trip to Italy. It was perfection from beginning to end."Esther P., Now Journey guest
"We all were made to feel special, almost like royalty, with skip-the-line access, personal service by fabulous chefs, and seamless check-ins at our gorgeous hotels."
Teresa C."Our hotel accommodations were all perfect. Now Journey did an exceptional job planning and we even got surprises along the way."
Tammy A.Now Journey Hotels Collections
Stay Where the Journey Lives
At Now Journey, we believe where you stay should be every bit as memorable as where you go. Our Hotels Collections are curated for location, atmosphere, service and the authentic sense of place each property brings to the Journey.
Signature Collection
DELUXE
The signature Now Journey experience, featuring a thoughtfully curated collection of 4- and 5-star hotels chosen for location, character and comfort. Our 4-star stays feature rooms one category above entry level or higher whenever available; at our 5-star properties, accommodations begin with the hotel’s refined entry-level rooms and extend upward.
Elevated Accommodations
DELUXE | ELEVATED
Our signature journey, enhanced with our most elevated hotel accommodations — preferred upper room categories across our 4- and 5-star collection, while the itinerary and experiences remain unchanged.
Curated for character. Chosen for location. Selected for comfort.
Venice
Historic palace-style Deluxe stays near San Marco, including Saturnia & International, Monaco & Grand Canal or similar.
Florence
Elegant, centrally located Deluxe stays such as Grand Hotel Cavour, Bernini Palace, L'Orologio or similar.
Cortona
Rustic Tuscan manor houses, villas and hill-town Deluxe properties including Villa Marsili, Hotel San Michele, Monastero di Cortona or similar.
Rome
Perfectly placed Deluxe stays near the historic heart, including Palazzo Navona, Pantheon Iconic, La Minerva or similar.
Sorrento
Coastal Deluxe stays such as Grand Hotel Capodimonte, Bellevue Syrene, Hilton Sorrento Palace or similar.
Dates & prices
Choose your season.
Prices are per person based on double occupancy. Deluxe supplement for a double room for solo use: $3,790. Deluxe | Elevated is subject to preferred-room and accommodation availability.
DELUXESignature Collection
DELUXE | ELEVATEDPreferred upper-room categories
Best dates to consider first
If you are comparing options, start here. These departures represent the most compelling seasonal choices - spring ease, early summer energy, harvest season, and October value.
Sep 8-19, 2026
DELUXE$10,579per personDELUXE | ELEVATED$14,879per person
Limited availabilityRequest a Journey ProposalSep 29-Oct 10, 2026
DELUXE$10,579per personDELUXE | ELEVATED$14,879per person
Promo availableRequest a Journey ProposalOct 6-17, 2026
DELUXE$10,579per personDELUXE | ELEVATED$14,879per person
Promo availableRequest a Journey ProposalAll 2026 departures 12-day Venice to Amalfi Coast
July & August
Summer in Italy - warm days, long evenings, and a festive city energy.
Aug 11-22
DELUXE$10,579per personDELUXE | ELEVATED$14,879per person
InquireRequest a Journey ProposalHarvest Season
September brings Tuscany's harvest mood, softer light, and high-season demand.
Sep 1-12
DELUXE$10,579per personDELUXE | ELEVATED$14,879per person
InquireRequest a Journey ProposalSep 8-19
DELUXE$10,579per personDELUXE | ELEVATED$14,879per person
Limited availabilityRequest a Journey ProposalSep 15-26
DELUXE$10,579per personDELUXE | ELEVATED$14,879per person
Sold outAsk about waitlistSep 22-Oct 3
DELUXE$10,579per personDELUXE | ELEVATED$14,879per person
Limited availabilityRequest a Journey ProposalOctober
Warm days often linger, while crowds begin to soften and the cities feel a bit more relaxed.
Sep 29-Oct 10
DELUXE$10,579per personDELUXE | ELEVATED$14,879per person
Promo availableRequest a Journey ProposalOct 6-17
DELUXE$10,579per personDELUXE | ELEVATED$14,879per person
Promo availableRequest a Journey ProposalOct 13-24
DELUXE$10,579per personDELUXE | ELEVATED$14,879per person
AvailableRequest a Journey ProposalAll 2027 departures Spring through October
Spring
One of the best times to be in Italy: moderate temperatures, fewer crowds, and spring atmosphere.
Mar 16-27
DELUXE$10,579per personDELUXE | ELEVATED$14,879per person
AvailableRequest a Journey ProposalApr 6-17
DELUXE$10,579per personDELUXE | ELEVATED$14,879per person
AvailableRequest a Journey ProposalApr 13-24
DELUXE$10,579per personDELUXE | ELEVATED$14,879per person
AvailableRequest a Journey ProposalApr 20-May 1
DELUXE$10,579per personDELUXE | ELEVATED$14,879per person
AvailableRequest a Journey ProposalMay
Near-perfect weather, flowers, sunshine, and la dolce vita.
Apr 27-May 8
DELUXE$10,579per personDELUXE | ELEVATED$14,879per person
AvailableRequest a Journey ProposalMay 4-15
DELUXE$10,579per personDELUXE | ELEVATED$14,879per person
AvailableRequest a Journey ProposalMay 11-22
DELUXE$10,579per personDELUXE | ELEVATED$14,879per person
AvailableRequest a Journey ProposalMay 18-29
DELUXE$10,579per personDELUXE | ELEVATED$14,879per person
AvailableRequest a Journey ProposalJune
A classic Italy window with warm days and high-demand departures.
May 25-Jun 5
DELUXE$10,579per personDELUXE | ELEVATED$14,879per person
AvailableRequest a Journey ProposalJun 15-26
DELUXE$10,579per personDELUXE | ELEVATED$14,879per person
AvailableRequest a Journey ProposalJun 22-Jul 3
DELUXE$10,579per personDELUXE | ELEVATED$14,879per person
AvailableRequest a Journey ProposalJun 29-Jul 10
DELUXE$10,579per personDELUXE | ELEVATED$14,879per person
AvailableRequest a Journey ProposalSummer
Fresh, hot Italian summer days and long golden evenings.
Jul 13-24
DELUXE$10,579per personDELUXE | ELEVATED$14,879per person
AvailableRequest a Journey ProposalAug 10-21
DELUXE$10,579per personDELUXE | ELEVATED$14,879per person
AvailableRequest a Journey ProposalAug 31-Sep 11
DELUXE$10,579per personDELUXE | ELEVATED$14,879per person
AvailableRequest a Journey ProposalHarvest Season
September brings Tuscany's harvest, late-summer warmth, and some of the year's most requested weeks.
Sep 7-18
DELUXE$10,579per personDELUXE | ELEVATED$14,879per person
AvailableRequest a Journey ProposalSep 14-25
DELUXE$10,579per personDELUXE | ELEVATED$14,879per person
Hosted by Mark StoryRequest a Journey ProposalSep 21-Oct 2
DELUXE$10,579per personDELUXE | ELEVATED$14,879per person
AvailableRequest a Journey ProposalSep 28-Oct 9
DELUXE$10,579per personDELUXE | ELEVATED$14,879per person
AvailableRequest a Journey ProposalOctober
Autumn atmosphere, softer crowds, and warm days that often linger into the month.
Oct 5-16
DELUXE$10,579per personDELUXE | ELEVATED$14,879per person
AvailableRequest a Journey ProposalOct 12-23
DELUXE$10,579per personDELUXE | ELEVATED$14,879per person
AvailableRequest a Journey ProposalNot sure which departure is best?
Explore the complete Journey before requesting your proposal, or tell us your preferred season, travel style, and hotel collection. We will help you compare dates without pressure.
50+ five-star reviews
American owned & operated
8–12 guest groups
Personally reviewed proposals
Make the Journey Your Own
Open time is part of the Journey.
Some of the most memorable travel moments happen when the schedule opens up. Enjoy that time completely at leisure, follow your Tour Captain’s suggestions, or choose from a collection of curated experiences we can help arrange.
Plan & Prepare
Practical Information for Your Journey
A few useful details help you arrive prepared, while your Tour Captain and the Now Journey team take care of the Journey’s rhythm and transitions.
Walking & historic centers
Expect moderate walking in historic centers, often on cobblestones and stairs, at a pace designed to feel thoughtful rather than rushed.
Pacing & your Tour Captain
Guided discovery is balanced with intentional open time. Your Tour Captain helps with orientation, recommendations and the practical questions that arise along the way.
Hotels & upgrade requests
Room sizes and layouts can vary in historic European properties. Upgrade requests may be considered when available and are confirmed individually.
Moving between chapters
Groups travel in appropriately sized private vehicles or luxury micro-coaches, with Italian rail on selected segments. Planned tour-day transportation is coordinated for the group.
Arrival & departure
The private water-taxi arrival transfer in Venice is included. A Naples Airport departure transfer may be requested separately; it is optional and not included in the base Journey.
Open time & solo travel
Open time is intentional. Curated optional experiences are available when something special interests you, but the Journey is complete without them. Solo travelers may ask the Now Journey team about current room arrangements and guidance before reserving.
Frequently asked questions
A few things travelers ask first.
The essence of this Journey: Premium small-group travel with carefully chosen hotels, authentic experiences, personal support every step of the way, and the freedom to enjoy each destination — not just see it.
How many people are on the tour?
Small groups typically range from 8 to 12 guests, with a maximum of 16. It's large enough to enjoy the camaraderie of shared travel, yet small enough to remain personal, flexible, and remarkably effortless.
Is the tour fast-paced?
No. Guided discovery is balanced with open time. Guests should still be ready for moderate walking in historic centers, including cobblestones and stairs, but the pace is designed to leave room to linger and enjoy each destination.
Are meals included?
Select meals are included as shown in the day-by-day itinerary, with open time built in for independent dining as well.
Is this a bus tour?
No. Depending on group size and route, the Journey uses appropriately sized private vehicles or luxury micro-coaches, plus Italian rail and boat transfers where noted.
Is this good for first-time Italy travelers?
Yes. It is one of Now Journey's strongest choices for first-time visitors who want the classics with polish and ease.
How do the hotel collections work?
DELUXE is the signature Now Journey experience, featuring carefully selected 4- and 5-star hotels. DELUXE | ELEVATED follows the same itinerary with preferred room categories and our most elevated hotel accommodations. Exact properties and room categories are subject to availability and comparable substitution.
Your Journey Begins Here
Can you picture yourself in this Italy?
The only thing left is deciding whether you’d like to experience it yourself. If this feels like the Italy you’ve been hoping for, we’d be honored to help you begin.
No obligation. No pressure. Just a thoughtful conversation about your Italy.
Venice was not created merely as a beautiful refuge on the lagoon. It grew into an independent maritime republic whose merchants, diplomats and ships connected Europe with the eastern Mediterranean and beyond. That exchange brought wealth, rare materials and ideas into a city where trade, government and faith were deliberately staged together.
Seen with that story in mind, St. Mark’s is more than an ornate church and the Doge’s Palace more than a graceful façade. They expressed the confidence of a trading power whose political life unfolded within sight of the water that made it possible. Venice’s beauty was also its public language.
A detail worth noticingLook for the winged lion of St. Mark. It appears across the city as an emblem of Venice and its former republic.
Renaissance Florence was not simply fortunate enough to contain great artists. It created an unusually concentrated world in which merchants, bankers, civic leaders, religious institutions, workshops and ambitious patrons all competed to shape the city. Art and architecture became expressions of faith, status, public pride and new ways of understanding the human figure and the natural world.
That is why Florence can feel so coherent when you walk it. The cathedral, baptistery, palaces, sculpture and streets are not isolated masterpieces; they are parts of an ongoing civic conversation. Knowing this changes the experience from checking off famous works to seeing how creative energy was woven into everyday urban life.
Look forThe way major works address public space: doors face piazzas, sculpture meets the street and Brunelleschi’s dome organizes the skyline.
In Tuscany, food and wine make the landscape legible. Regional cooking grew from what the land, season and household could provide: olive oil, bread, beans, garden vegetables, herbs, cured meats and wines shaped by particular hills and soils. The result is not elaborate for its own sake. Its character comes from restraint, good ingredients and a close relationship between place and table.
A Tuscan meal also follows a different social clock. Conversation matters; courses arrive with room between them; wine is understood alongside food rather than apart from it. That is why this winery visit and lunch are allowed to breathe. The unhurried pace is not empty time around the experience—it is part of the experience.
A detail worth noticingListen for how the hosts describe the estate, the vintage and the meal together. Here, provenance is a family story as much as a label.
Rome rarely presents its history in a neat sequence. An ancient column may be built into a later wall; a Renaissance palace may face a Baroque fountain; a modern street may cross the footprint of an imperial complex. Christian Rome reused, preserved and sometimes transformed the fabric of the ancient city, while later generations added their own ambitions above and beside it.
This is why Rome is best understood as a palimpsest rather than a timeline. The Vatican, the Forum, neighborhood churches and everyday piazzas belong to different eras, yet they remain physically and visually in conversation. As you move through the city, history does not stay behind glass. It keeps interrupting the present.
Look forChanges in street level, reused stone and fragments embedded in later buildings—small clues that another Rome often survives directly beneath or within the one you see.
It is easy to arrive thinking of Pompeii as a field of ruins. The site becomes far more affecting when you picture it as a working city: homes opening onto interior courtyards, shops facing busy streets, public baths, places to eat, workshops, painted walls and messages scratched by ordinary people. These details reveal routines that are unexpectedly recognizable.
The eruption of Vesuvius in AD 79 was catastrophic, but the city’s burial also preserved an extraordinary amount of evidence about daily Roman life. Pompeii’s power comes from that tension. The streets are ancient, yet the human impulses visible in them—commerce, humor, hospitality, display and domestic comfort—feel close. The tragedy matters precisely because the people who lived here stop feeling abstract.
A detail worth noticingWatch for stepping stones across the streets, worn thresholds and traces of painted shop signs. They help turn an archaeological plan back into a lived neighborhood.
Sorrento is a natural finale because it changes both the view and the tempo. The town looks across the Bay of Naples toward Vesuvius, while its terraces, citrus gardens and evening streets hold the coast close without requiring every hour to be scheduled. After the scale of Rome and the intensity of Pompeii, that openness feels earned.
The local passeggiata—the evening ritual of walking, greeting and lingering—captures the rhythm beautifully. You can stay near town, follow the peninsula, look toward the islands or simply let the day remain spacious. Ending here gives the Journey room to become personal again: not one last list of sights, but a final stretch shaped by sea air, conversation and choice.
Look forThe changing relationship between the town and the bay as evening arrives. The water becomes less a backdrop than the quiet center of the finale.