Celebrate Italy on a journey that will have you floating through history in Venice, admiring great art in Florence, tasting wines and olive oils at an agriturismo in Tuscany, and exploring Rome's magnificent sites with a private guide.

Request a Tailor-Made Itinerary Request Itinerary or Ask Us A Question or Call 855-215-8690
 Gondolas grace a Venetian Canal
 Piazza San Marco, Venice
 Basilica of San Marco
 Interior of the Basilica of San Marco
 The Grand Canal at dusk
 Panorama of Florence at dusk
 The iconic Duomo in Florence
 The Palazzo Vecchio at dusk, Florence
 Michelangelo's <i>David</i>, at the Accademia. Credit: John Kellerman/Alamy
 Botticelli's <i>The Birth of Venus</i> in the Uffizi in Florence
 Traveling with a small group of freinds
 Exploring sites your way
 A reunion of women friends
 Enjoying a reunion in Italy
 Taking a break over gelato
 Exploring the arts of Florence with your daughter
 Wine tasting in Italy
 Enjoying the wine and food of Italy
 A lesson in making pasta
 The Campo in Siena
 The facade and distinctive belltower of Siena's cathedral
 Vineyards and San Gimignano
 The Colosseum of Rome
 The Roman Forum
 St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City
 Interior of St. Peter's Basilica with Bernini's Baldocchio
 Michelangelo's iconic Sistine Chapel ceiling

Culture and Cuisine of Italy: A Tailor-Made Journey

From Venice to Rome

13 days from $10,995

Celebrate Italy on a journey that will have you floating through history in Venice, admiring great art in Florence, tasting wines and olive oils at an agriturismo in Tuscany, and exploring Rome's magnificent sites with a private guide.

Request a Tailor-Made Itinerary

or call 855-215-8690
Accommodations

* Click on hotel name to visit hotel web-site.

Hotel Palazzo Giovanelli

Venice, Italy

The Hotel Palazzo Giovanelli is a beautifully converted merchant’s palazzo in the heart of Venice that overlooks the Grand Canal. The building itself retains many of the palazzo’s original features, giving it plenty of authentic Venetian character. Arriving by water taxi, you’ll enter by the traditional private water entrance which has steps leading up from the Grand Canal. Many of the rooms contain exposed timber ceilings and, on some, the remnants of the palazzo's original frescoes can still be seen. The second floor sitting rooms, where the merchant family had their suite, contain Murano glass chandeliers along with the original imposing oak doors.

Hotel Bernini Palace

Florence, Italy

A luxury hotel in the center of Florence, the Hotel Bernini Palace is situated in a 15th-century palace with a storied history. Rooms and public spaces are appointed with period décor and antiques and equipped with modern amenities. The hotel features a  fine-dining restaurant and a handsome bar and lounge, and breakfast is served under a fresco-covered ceiling in the former Parliament Hall. The Piazza della Signoria and the Uffizi Gallery are just steps away.

Badia a Coltibuono

Chianti, Italy

On a hilltop in Chianti, the Badia a Coltibuono is an enchanting 11th-century monastery that has been transformed into a family-owned agriturismo. Guestrooms are beautifully refurbished monk’s cells—or private apartments—and the restaurant is housed within the former stables. The property includes extensive gardens, a pool, and intimate courtyards, as well as a working farm and vineyards. Wines and olive oils are produced here, and the wine cellar is well worth a visit. 

Crossing Condotti

Rome, Italy

While the Crossing Condotti does not have either a breakfast room or restaurant, and even the reception is very small, what available space they have has been allocated to the rooms. This has created a hotel offering a high standard of accommodation in an excellent location that is very good value for money. There is a small kitchen with tea, coffee, juice and snacks, and due to the location there are a number of excellent options for breakfast within a short distance. The rooms are well-designed, all with queen or twin sized beds, en suite bathrooms with rain showers, and a large TV with English language channels.

Tailor-Made Benefits

When you travel on a tailor-made journey, you will receive a Friends of the Smithsonian Archivist Circle membership. Benefits include:

  • Recognition in the Friends of the Smithsonian Honor Roll displayed electronically on the National Mall in the Membership Reception Center
  • Invitation to a special welcome tour for new members at a Smithsonian venue
  • A Smithsonian Institution annual engagement calendar with full color images of exceptional art and artifacts
  • A complimentary Smithsonian museum guidebook
  • Subscription to the award-winning magazine Smithsonian
  • 20% discount at Smithsonian Museum Stores, 10% discount at selected dining facilities, at SmithsonianStore.com, and Folkways Recordings
  • Special member rate for tickets to the Smithsonian's IMAX® theaters and Einstein Planetarium
  • Admission to Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum in New York City
  • Weekday access to the Friends of the Smithsonian Reception Center
Reading List

Highly Recommended

Italy in Mind: An Anthology
The Food of Italy
By: Waverley Root
DK Eyewitness Italy (Travel Guide)
By: DK Eyewitness
La Bella Figura: A Field Guide to the Italian Mind
By: Severgnini, Beppe

Also Recommended

Lonely Planet Italian Phrasebook & Dictionary 8
By: Iagnocco, Pietro, Beltrami, Anna, Cicioni, Mirna, Coates, Karina, Walker, Susie
City of Fortune: How Venice Ruled the Seas
By: Crowley, Roger
Brunelleschi's Dome: How a Renaissance Genius Reinvented Architecture
By: King, Ross
April Blood: Florence and the Plot against the Medici
By: Martines, Lauro
SPQR: A History of Ancient Rome
By: Beard, Mary
The Renaissance: A Short History (Modern Library Chronicles)
By: Johnson, Paul
La Bella Lingua: My Love Affair with Italian, the World's Most Enchanting Language
By: Hales, Dianne
The Italians
By: Hooper, John
Delizia!: The Epic History of the Italians and Their Food
By: Dickie, John
The Complete Italian Cookbook: 200 Classic and Contemporary Italian Dishes Made for the Modern Kitchen (Complete Cookbook Collection)
By: The Coastal Kitchen
D. H. Lawrence and Italy: Sketches from Etruscan Places, Sea and Sardinia, Twilight in Italy (Penguin Classics)
By: Lawrence, D. H.
Death at La Fenice: A Commissario Guido Brunetti Mystery
By: Leon, Donna
Smithsonian Journeys Quarterly (Winter 2015 - Venice)
24x36 World Wall Map by Smithsonian Journeys - Tan Oceans Special Edition (24x36 Laminated)
Travel Insurance

For the convenience of our travelers, Travel Guard provides an on-tour Insurance Plan. On-tour emergency evacuation insurance (up to $100,000), medical expense coverage (up to $25,000), dental expense coverage (up to $500), travel medical assistance and worldwide travel assistance (U.S. Residents only). It also includes up to $25,000 medical and up to $500 dental expense coverage, and 24-hour worldwide travel and medical assistance. Please click here to view complete coverage details.

Please visit www.TravelGuard.com/SmithsonianJourneys or call Travel Guard at 1-800-208-6142 to learn about additional (optional) coverage.

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