ITALY

Home to more UNESCO World Heritage sites than any other place on earth, a country immersed in culture and beauty.  Italy is so beautiful it is easy to imagine Michelangelo may have designed it himself.  From medieval hilltop towns to sun-drenched Mediterranean islands and cities that are works of art in themselves — Venice, Rome, Florence are hosts to the greatest collection of art, architecture, and artists the world has ever seen.

Sample itineraries include:

• Cruise the romantic canals of Venice by gondola, accompanied by a live serenade and sampling local cuisines at a bacari (wine bar) while getting lost wandering down ancient cobblestone streets.

• Trace the picturesque Amalfi Coast on a walking tour; exploring its colorful cliff-top towns and centuries-old villages and afterwards step into the legendary time capsule of Pompeii, a first-century Roman city tragically destroyed by a sudden volcanic eruption from nearby Vesuvius, and soak up the sun on the dazzling island of Capri.

• Travel south into the beautiful Tuscan countryside of the Chianti region touring ancient wineries and medieval hamlets superbly set into the rolling green vineyards ending at the Tuscan gem of Sienna to take in the medieval flavor of the city on a walking tour.

• Visit the grandeur of Rome and Vatican City with their famed sites such as the Sistine Chapel, St. Peter’s Square, and the ancient Ruins of the Roman Forum and the Colosseum, where gladiators of old battled for spectators.

• Trek through the stunning mountain landscapes of the Italian Dolomites staying at charming alpine lodges tucked away into beautiful mountain valleys.