Introduction
Relatively compact and easily navigable, Italy is an ideal destination for a multi-city or multi-centre holiday. You could visit the ancient relics in Rome before heading to the sunny shores of Sorrento on the Campania coastline, or venture further along the Amalfi Coast for a classic coastal getaway. Or, why not start off in the scenic countryside of Tuscany and enjoy its fabled cuisine before journeying to historic Florence, admiring its wealth of architectural and artistic monuments on a cultural holiday?
If fashion's your thing, indulge in the boutiques and designer brands of Milan, a shoppers paradise, before heading north to the stunning mountain scenery of the Italian Lakes or head east to romantic Venice or Verona, home of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. For inspiration, below are just some of the combinations you can explore on a tailor-made Italian holiday.
Rome and Sorrento
Rome, Italy's magnificent capital city, needs no introduction. You can explore its range of Roman monuments - such as the Pantheon and Coliseum - as well as Vatican City's famous Sistine Chapel and St Peter's Basilica in a few days before driving the scenic coastal roads around Naples to Sorrento's lush valleys and mountains. From Sorrento it's just a short journey off the shoreline to the island of Capri or a 40-minute drive north to Pompeii.
Sorrento, Italy
Rome and Florence
Combining Rome and Florence is an artist's dream come true. Visit the painted frescoes of the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican City in Rome and the archaeological works of art in the Piazza Navona and Piazza di Spagna before travelling just three hours to Florence. In Florence, admire Michealangelo's statue of David and the works of art in Galleria degli Uffizi and head out of the city centre to see the magnificent Medici Villas, which are scattered throughout the Tuscan countryside.
Duomo, Florence
Florence and Siena
Explore the Tuscany Region's undulating rural landscapes and delectable cuisine with a visit to its capital, the Renaissance masterpiece of Florence, and see art from Michelangelo, Botticelli and Leonardo da Vinci before driving through the Chianti Wine Region to the medieval town of Siena, just a short distance away.
Siena, Tuscany
Milan and The Italian Lakes
Take a tour of Italy's fashion capital, glamorous Milan. See Leonardo da Vinci's famous painting, The Last Supper, in Milan's marble cathedral and sample the hustle and bustle of the busy city centre before heading north to the peaceful scenery of the Italian Lakes. Lake Como with its rugged peaks and pretty hill towns of Bellagio and Menaggio and Lake Maggiore's flower-filled islands are less than an hour away.
Lake Como, Italy
Milan and Venice
Shop until you drop on Milan's Quadrilatero d'Oro (golden quad), home of the flagship stores of Gucci, Versace, Prada and Dolce and Gabbana. Soak up the city's vibrant, cosmopolitan atmosphere before driving a coupe of hours to Venice, Italy's floating treasure. Cross one of Venice's countless bridges and wander its 118 islands and take a gondola boat trip up the Grand Canal in this romantic city or relax on the beaches of The Lido.
Venice's Grand Canal
Venice and Verona
Mix romance and music with a trip to Venice, one of the most picturesque cities in the world, and a visit to the ancient city of Verona to attend an opera in the 1st century Verona Arena. Verona is found on the Veneto Plain alongside the Dolomites and Lake Garda, just two hours drive from Venice.
Verona, Italy