
Italy
Our Italy tours are among our most popular and it's no surprise as to why. This European country with a long Mediterranean coastline has left a powerful mark on western culture and cuisine. As a result, a holiday to Italy is sure to be incredibly memorable. From its spectacular ancient remains to its mosaic and gold leaf-filled churches, and from its delicious regional cuisine to its glorious weather, there's something for every traveller.
Where to begin?
Among our portfolio, you will find our best-selling tours such as Classical Sicily and Pompeii, Herculaneum & Classical Campania - always a great place to start if you're an Italy holiday first-timer.
Discover the highlights
Many people travel on holiday to Italy to visit the iconic archaeological sites - and there are plenty to see. With Andante, you don't only visit these hotspots, you explore them in depth alongside expert Guide Lecturers.
Discover Rome's Colosseum, wander among the UNESCO-listed Valley of the Temples in Agrigento, take a day's tour of Pompeii and see how citizens of this ill-fated town lived their daily lives - the choice is yours. We can also take you to the Sassi area of Matera, a complex of cave dwellings carved into the mountainside; you can gaze in awe at Ravenna's unbeatable mosaics or you can even hop aboard a northern Italy cruise that stops in both Venice and Verona.
Italy's history
Its capital, Rome, is home to the Vatican as well as landmark art and ancient ruins. Other major cities include Florence, with Renaissance masterpieces such as Michelangelo’s "David" and Brunelleschi's Duomo; Venice, the city of canals; and Milan, Italy’s fashion capital.
Despite Italy’s archaeological record stretching back tens of thousands of years, Italian history starts with the Etruscans, an ancient civilisation that grew between the Arno and Tiber rivers. The Etruscans were replaced by the Romans in the 3rd century BCE, which dominated the Mediterranean world with an empire stretching from India to Scotland by the 2nd century CE.
The Roman Empire was unstable, often due to the unwillingness of conquered peoples to stay conquered coupled with power struggles between competing Roman political factions, military leaders, families, ethnic groups, and religions. The Roman Empire fell in the 5th century CE after a succession of barbarian invasions through which Huns, Lombards, Ostrogoths, and Franks—mostly previous subjects of Rome—seized portions of Italy.
Although the Normans were successful in establishing a modest empire in southern Italy and Sicily in the 11th century, rule devolved to the level of the city-state. Some of these city states flourished during the Renaissance era. This time period saw the rise of intellectual, artistic, and technological advances. Yet it was also plagued by savage warfare between states loyal to the pope and those loyal to the Roman Empire.
Italy has so much to offer – spectacular cities, ancient ruins, wonderful museums, soaring mountains, great beaches, and beautiful natural scenery. It is not to be missed.
Upcoming Departures
8 days
£2,895
2 October 2023
10 days
£4,295
19 October 2023
9 days
£3,845
22 October 2023
8 days
£3,810
1 April 2024
7 days
£3,395
20 October 2023
8 days
£3,990
27 May 2024
6 days
£2,995
21 December 2023
8 days
£2,905
30 October 2023
6 days
£3,295
28 December 2023
10 days
£4,930
24 May 2024
5 days
£1,895
12 November 2023
7 days
£3,250
14 October 2024
8 days
£3,980
16 May 2024
8 days
£3,750
1 November 2023
9 days
£4,250
16 April 2024
6 days
£3,460
28 March 2024
10 days
£5,395
12 October 2023
8 days
£2,895
7 October 2023
12 days
£5,560
15 May 2024
7 days
£3,940
3 June 2024
8 days
£3,560
20 May 2024