Ciao Bella! A Women’s Tour to Italy (with Venice extension)

1st - 14th Sept, 2018

4th May - 17th May, 2019 (9 spots available)

17th May - 20th May, 2019 Venice Extension

22nd August - 4th September, 2019

4th - 7th September, 2019 Venice Extension

Combine this with our Women's Tour to Greece! in 2019

Visit Rome, Amalfi Coast (Positano), Isle of Capri, Pompei, Florence, Siena, San Gimignano, Chianti, Tuscan walled towns, Florence (and Venice)

Ciao Bella Women's Tour to Italy - Perfect!

Sometimes finding travelling partners can be difficult but with a small group women’s tour to Italy you have the added benefit of being in a group of women, just like you.

Join us for a holiday of a lifetime, travelling solo but never alone. New friends are just around the corner.

Our Italian Indulgence Ciao Bella Tour – Group size up to only 12

3 nights Rome

3 nights Positano

4 nights Chianti

3 nights Florence

We also offer a 3 night Venice extension tour immediately following our Ciao Bella Tour. Check out our Venice Extension Tour here

Discover Ciao Bella Italia on this special women’s tour to Italy. Our fully escorted women’s tour will experience the history and art with expert local guides, sip an aperitivo in the piazza of a Tuscan hill town, walk along ancient cobbled stone streets, window shop in the most chic of places, visit markets and galleries, taste the regional cuisine and wine and still have enough time to relax and soak up the atmosphere of this beautiful country. Our small tours for women to Italy are designed by women, for women, and are fully escorted by an Italian Indulgence Tour escort.

Specialists in Women’s Tours to Italy and Greece

Like to view our wonderful tour to Greece for women? More here…..

Details

Number of Days
14
Number of Nights
13
Cost
$ 7300 Twin Share
Single Supplement
$ 1980
Start Location
Rome
End Location
Florence
Activity Level
Moderate
Your Ciao Bella! A Women’s Tour to Italy (with Venice extension) Includes

This tour is fully escorted by the Australian owner of Italian Indulgence, Annette Blight, or by our wonderful Italian guide Michela who lives in Rome (they are both amazing tour leaders, very caring and experienced)

So many inclusions.
- Breakfast daily, meals as indicated in the itinerary
- Private guided tour of Ancient Rome & the Colosseum (with an expert Roman guide….. P.S. some tours don’t use registered guides)
- Our tours are genuinely small – up to only 12 and we don’t herd you with bigger groups
- Visit the iconic Tuscan hill towns of San Gimignano and the lesser known towns with time to do some amazing shopping
- Private guided tour to the Vatican in a special early morning entry (be in the Sistine Chapel before the crowds)
- Stays of 3 or 4 nights (no constant packing and unpacking)
- Amazing day on the water visiting the stunning Isle of Capri in our own private boat
- Swimming in one of the grottoes of Capri surrounded by brilliant blue water
- A walk through the town of Positano to find all of the best products of the coast i.e, locally made linen and sandals
- Private guided walking tour (with an official guide) of the stunning Tuscan town of Siena – visit the famous Il Campo, the star of so many films (think James Bond)
- Visit to the ancient city of Pompei (with an expert guide to Pompei)
- Wine tour and tasting in an ancient villa producing the best Chianti wine in the area
- Special Tuscan picnic on the terrace overlooking the vineyards in our Chianti hotel
- A special dining experience in Florence where we eat like the ancient Tuscans – such fun
- Lunch in an ancient villa, just for our group
- Delicious local food
- ‘Special’ dining experiences with spectacular views
- ‘Skip the line’ tickets to see Michelangelo’s David
- ‘Skip the line’ tickets to view the best renaissance art in Italy at The Uffizi in Florence
- Very small group of up to 12 (most times less)
- 3 and 4 star superior hotels placed right in the centre of the towns we visit (always so close to the special places we want to visit)
- Entrances into galleries and attractions when accompanied by a guide
- Group ground transportation throughout the tour including chauffeur driven vans, very fast train, ferries (a local bus may be used in Amalfi) taxis at times
- Time for shopping and your own discovery
- Visit to a stunning castle in Chianti where we learn of the very important inhabitants
- All table wine with meals
- All tips and gratuities
- Every detail is taken care of so you don’t need to worry
- We only use special local guides to take our tiny groups into the monuments – this is required under Italian law
Occasionally this tour will visit Chianti before Florence
Excludes
Flights and items of a personal nature.

Please see our Terms and Conditions for more information.

Itinerary

Day 1 – Rome. Welcome to Roma

Bella Roma!! Freshen up before we start on our exciting discovery of Rome. In the early evening we meet for a stroll to some of the best piazzas before welcome drinks and dinner in the historical heart of Rome. Our hotel is so centrally located, just two minutes from the Pantheon, five from Piazza Navona and eight minutes from the Trevi Fountain. We love to discover these places when the sun goes down.
Tonight we'll indulge in an authentic Roman meal and get to know our Ciao Bella travelling companions, with some lovely local wine of course.

Drinks, dinner and wine included.

Day 2 – Rome. Ancient Rome Tour

Discover ancient Rome with our small group Emperor and Gladiators tour today. We walk in the path of the Gladiators and discover the Colosseum and the amazing structure that has stood the test of time for 2,000 years and hear of its bloody history. We also discover the Roman Forum, Capitoline Hill and Venice Square. Tonight we'll enjoy an aperitivo on the rooftop of a local bar looking out onto gorgeous Rome before dinner. (Aperitivo is the best part of the day. It's where we enjoy a lovely local wine with the compulsory delicious morsels that always accompany a glass of wine in Italy).

Breakfast

Day 3 - Rome. Early Entry into the Vatican Museum (skip the lines with an expert guide)

Today is special. We have exclusive early entry tickets to the Vatican and will be in the Sistine Chapel before the crowds. Who would come to Rome and miss the Vatican and what better way to discover it than to have a special entry? We discover the most amazing collection of art assembled over the centuries by the most well loved artists that have ever lived. We discover Michelangelo’s Pieta and learn of the history and intrigue of the Roman Emperors and Popes. In the afternoon we walk back through the most historic parts of Rome - Campo di Fiori, Piazza Navona etc., to sit in a quaint piazza for lunch. You will have ample time to discover the many other fascinating museums and galleries that make Rome so exciting.
Or a little window shopping might be more to your liking?

Breakfast

Day 4 – Rome to Pompeii and Positano. The mystery of Pompei will be revealed

We say goodbye to the eternal city and travel to Pompeii. What a fascinating city. We will have our expert guide to make this ancient city come alive revealing the secrets behind the time capsule left behind after the eruption of Mt Vesuvius. We can peek into homes and shops and also read graffiti telling us so much of the daily life. We journey to beautiful Positano where, perched high above the water, the houses seem to cling to the cliffs and have been the subject of a thousand postcards. Dinner tonight in gorgeous Positano, over looking the town - the prettiest town on the Amalfi coast. This really is a magical place.

We only use expert guides for our 'special' visits as Italian law restricts guides unless they have the correct license.

Breakfast and dinner with wine

Day 5 - Positano. Shopping, Walking or Cooking?

In the morning, you will have time to explore the gorgeous town of Positano. This delightful town is one of the the pearls of the Amalfi coast. You could spend hours here discovering wonderful small shops selling the best produce from the coast. Ceramics, linen and hand made shoes....this place is a shopper's paradise. For lunch, you could venture out to the very next bay and enjoy a delightful lunch sitting in the sand with the best local seafood.
Or as an exciting option, you could take part in a fun cooking class at one of Positano's best known restaurants (optional).
Also optional is 'The Walk of the Gods' which is a spectacular walk along the mountain behind Positano - 3 hours.

Breakfast

Day 6 - Positano. A day on the water experiencing the Amalfi coast

A fabulous day on the Amalfi coast! How decadent. We have our own private boat to take us for an exciting journey along the Amalfi coast to the stunningly beautiful Isle of Capri, the playground of the rich and famous (we might even do some star spotting). On arrival into Capri we take the funicular up to the town where we'll take a delightful walk through the villas to Marina Piccola and find somewhere delicious for lunch. This island was home to the bloodthirsty Emperor Tiberius.
After lunch, it's back on our boat where we will spend some time finding the perfect swimming spot and exploring the gorgeous island. The geology of the island is ancient and fascinating. We will explore the grottoes that can only be found with a smaller boat and might be able to swim in the brilliantly coloured waters. Imagine sitting on our private boat sipping prosecco and munching on the delicious sweet delicacies of the Amalfi coast, wondering what our mates back home are doing.

Breakfast

Day 7 - Florence. North to Tuscany

We take the red, fast Ferrari train to Tuscany, sometimes travelling at 300 km per hour north to Tuscany. We pass through the wonderful landscapes of Lazio and Umbria until we reach the centre of Tuscany, Florence, where the great renaissance artists such as Michelangelo and Leonardo called home. Our hotel is right in the centre of Florence, just a skip from all of the important monuments, museums and galleries. Discover the stunning town of Florence with its Ponte Vecchio amazing architecture and quiet piazzas. We meet tonight and visit a very fun and authentic restaurant where we can taste the best Tuscan products: delicious pecorino cheese, sliced meats, pasta and of course, Tuscan wine.

Breakfast and dinner with wine

Day 8 - Florence. The streets of Leonardo and Michelangelo's home

This morning we will have 'skip the line' tickets for the most amazing array of renaissance art in Italy when we visit The Uffizi. If you've ever wondered what Botticelli's magnificent 'Birth of Venus' or the 'Primavera' look like, close up - here is your chance. Florence is the centre of Renaissance art. Later we'll discover the amazing architecture, history, grand palazzos and more.
In the afternoon you might decide to visit one of the excellent galleries or museums for which Florence is famous.

Breakfast

Day 9 - Florence. Discover Michelangelo's 'David'

Imagine discovering a renaissance house in the centre of Florence where you can peer into the rooms and appreciate the gorgeous frescoes on the ceilings. We will discover the holes in floor of the second level used to pour hot oil on the unsuspecting burglars who might have been trying their luck.
Following our experience in the palazzo we discover the central food market, the bustling heart of the city. Tasting and sampling as we go, we'll enjoy the best products of not only Tuscany but the whole of Italy. After our morning in the market, you will have 'skip the line' tickets to view Michelangelo's David in the Accademy.
Free time this afternoon and you might decide to spend time visiting the hundreds of museums and galleries like the Pitti Palace, Bargello, Salvatore Ferragamo or the new Gucci museum... or hit the shops and markets where you can pick up your new Italian bag or jacket.

Breakfast

Day 10 - Chianti. Lunch in an ancient villa

We travel through wooded hills and lush valleys where we will discover quaint Tuscan towns, everyone a picture waiting to be taken. Travelling through the Tuscan hills, we explore an ancient winery and are treated with a private guided tour to discover the process of making delicious Chianti wine. Following our informative tour we enjoy a scrumptious lunch in the villa dining room, cooked just for us! This is such a special place. We continue on to our next destination our gorgeous Tuscan town where we’ll be spending the next 4 nights.

Breakfast and lunch with wine

Day 11 - Chianti. A day of leisure in the centre of Tuscany

Kick back and enjoy a leisurely morning and a late breakfast, you are on holidays after all. Today you can be as busy as you'd like exploring our gorgeous Tuscan town or relax by the hotel pool overlooking the vineyards, this is the picture perfect place to spend a wonderful day in Tuscany. Our hotel is over 500 years old and gives wonderful views across the most stunning Chianti countryside. Nearby you might want to visit the tombs of the Etruscans, a civilisation dating back to 600BC. At lunch time we meet on the terrace of our ancient hotel for a Tuscan picnic filled with salami, prosciutto, Tuscan dips and local wine all made near the village.

Breakfast, picnic lunch with Chianti wine

Day 12 - Chianti. San Gimignano, the perfect Tuscan town

We visit the quintessential Tuscan hill top town - San Gimignano. We journey through the verdant landscapes of Tuscany to experience the quaint hill top town of San Gimignano and its magnificent towers. We will venture to the highest point giving us spectacular views of the Val d’Elsa and wander through the quaint shops maybe looking for that perfect ceramic plate or chic Italian bag. This is the most well known of the Tuscan walled towns and even though it does become busy, it is so picturesque and should not be missed. Our travels will take us to other Tuscan hill towns some much smaller and not well know and although quite different, they are all delightful.

Breakfast

Day 13 - Chianti. Siena

We explore ancient Castello Brolio today, a castle placed on top of the valley giving amazing views. The castle has such interesting history and was the place where the original recipe for Chianti wine was invented by Barone Ricasoli, a politician with innovative ideas for his time. Following our tour of Brolio we visit the medieval town of Siena which was the arch rival of Florence. This town is a joy to explore, has stunning architecture and a wonderful Il Campo, or centre piazza, the star of many films. We will have a walking tour to discover the incredible duomo before stopping for lunch in a lovely quiet piazza. Tonight is our last night in Tuscany so we meet at a local restaurant to indulge in delicious Tuscan cuisine to celebrate our time together.

Breakfast, aperitivo, dinner with wine included.

Day 14 - Venice (our Venice extension tour). Goodbye to Tuscany, Hello to Venice

We say goodbye to our Ciao Bella friends and beautiful Tuscany. You will be transported to the train station in the centre of Florence in the morning where our wonderful discovery of Italy and our Ciao Bella Tour ends.

Don't want to leave Italy? Why not join your group on a further exploration of Venice? This amazing city, built in the most inhospitable of places, a lagoon, is such a wonderful jewel to explore. The magnificent villas lining the Grand Canal and the tiny calles (lanes) are so atmospheric....sometimes eery at night.

This morning we will take the fast train from Florence to the island of Venice and it's not until you pass over the rail bridge that you realise what an amazing engineering feat Venice is. Every building and bridge uses as its base vertical poles rammed into the earth and water to support the most beautiful villas lining the Grand Canal. This is a city unlike any other. So atmospheric, you could be forgiven for thinking that you were walking back in time when venturing out to the tiny streets away from St Mark's Square (which happens to be the most beautiful in all of Italy).

After settling in to our hotel, near the Rialto Bridge, we'll take an orientation walk to St Mark's and meet our guide Antonella who, along with our trusty private boat captain (in his gorgeous wooden boat), will take us on the most amazing exploration of the back canals of Venice.

We'll find out how the real Venetians live, how they get around this island without the use of cars, how they live and work in a world quite different from other cities. We'll learn how they bury their dead, school the children and why it's so difficult for young Venetians to live on the island. The stunning villas lining the Grand Canal can only be truly appreciated by travelling in a private boat.

Tonight let's enjoy the Venetian pastime of cicchetti - where we will enjoy delicious snacks with the local Venetian wine, before our dinner.
Venice is also filled with music and most nights it's possible to enjoy a concert or opera all set in lovely palazzos.

Breakfast

Day 15 - Venice. Learn the secrets of Venice with a local

Antonella will take us on a walk through the back streets of Venice until we reach the seat of power, the Doge's Palace. This magnificent building is placed in the most prominent of places, St Mark's Square and we will discover the history of the Doges (the rulers of Venice). We'll discover the Bridge of Sighs and find the rare Byzantine art of St Mark's church. When we're with an expert guide of Venice, we can skip almost all the long lines.

This afternoon at leisure, it will be possible to take the local ferry to Murano, the only place where glass can be blown, away from the main island of Venice as they feared any fires on the main island. We'll be able to watch artisans ply their trade and maybe take home a beautiful momento of Venice.

Who's up for an evening gondola ride? Tonight we'll do what all good tourists do and share a gondola ride through the magical back canals of Venice.....couldn't be more perfect than to be on the water in Venice.

Breakfast and gondola ride through the canals.

Day 16 - Venice

Venice is divided into sestiere (suburbs) and this morning we will venture to the other side of the river using a local traghetto (the local's version of the gondola). We will visit the local fish market and do some exploration of this side of Venice. A favourite pastime is sitting in front of the Grand Canal watching the goings on with the transport boats, the many gondolas and the local ferries enjoying a coffee. We'll have time to discover the many artisans of Venice, the hand made shoes, the ancient art of mask making, and of course, the glass.
Tonight we'll dine in a tiny restaurant off the beaten track, producing truly authentic Venetian cuisine.

Breakfast, Dinner with wine

Day 17

This morning we say goodbye to La Serenissma and our Ciao Bella friends. Italy leaves such sweet memories. Your tour escort will help with planning your journey to either to train station or the airport.

Our itineraries are carefully planned and well thought out but touring Italy can sometimes offer wonderful surprises. The magic of travelling in such a small group allows us to cater for this spontaneity and it is sometimes these unplanned occurrences that can be the most memorable. The rich tapestry of experiences and the characters you meet along the way will make this tour of Italy something special.