odyssey tours

Odysseys Unlimited

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$2,895 — 7,984

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Odysseys unlimited reviews & ratings, it was a dream come true trip.

We just finished our Tanzanian Adventure tour to Tanzania and Zanzibar. It was a dream come true trip! On safari, our guide Augustine, was stellar, and our driver, M...

The limited size of the group, meeting interesting other travelers, great accommodations, superb guides, fun and active agendas, and have someone else sweat out the ...

Excellent, experiences interesting and worthwhile.

Just finishing up my first tour with OU...Insider’s Japan. We experienced 2 typhoons during this trip (we purposely went the later part of October because typhoon se...

Everything went as planned and even more!!

Went with Odysseys from a tip from a friend and was not disappointed. Everything went as planned and even more!! Tarek our tour director could not have been better. ...

A fabulous adventure

Really loved recent trip to UK. Trip covered Scotland, Wales, and London. highlights of the trip included the Fringe fest in Edinburgh, Tattoo at the castle, the bea...

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Editoral Review of Odysseys Unlimited

Since 1989 Odysseys Unlimited have created custom-designed tours for more than 100 of America’s most prestigious non-profit organizations, including Smithsonian Journeys, as well as many well-known college alumni associations. They now have expanded to offer their tours to the general public as well.

What Makes Odysseys Unlimited Stand Out?

• Flexibility and free time
• Airfare included
• Culturally immersive
• Small groups (24 max)
• Premium level accommodation and transportation

Tours with Odysseys Unlimited are custom-designed specifically for small groups, with a balanced mix of sightseeing, traveling, cultural encounters, and free time. Guests enjoy a personal and authentic travel experience provided by knowledgeable guides. They focus heavily on ensuring a unique, and comfortable small group experience, with flexible itineraries.

Who Will Enjoy Traveling With Odysseys Unlimited?

• History and culture lovers
• Active and able

Odysseys Unlimited is the type of tour company for travelers seeking a well organized small group experience - tour attendance is strictly limited to be between 12 to 24 guests. If you’re interested in visiting the top sites, and maybe venturing into the realm of a funky bed and breakfast or two, and enjoying local meals vetted by your guide, this company could be a good choice.

They present solid, easy itineraries, with an eye towards historic and cultural landmarks. Odysseys Unlimited might not be for you if venturing far off the beaten path is an important facet of your travel experience.

Travelers with Odysseys Unlimited are typically between the ages of 50 and 80 - and this age group is where they focus. Activities are generally not too physically demanding, accommodations are comfortable.  Most tours involve a lot of walking, with slight elevation changes.

Odyssey's does require that travelers be relatively physically fit and able. Wheelchair access is unfortunately not an option. 

Free time is readily available for those wanting to explore a bit on their own, going shopping or visiting more local areas.

This is adventure and thrills recalibrated for an older audience. You might not be exploring too far off the beaten path, but that doesn’t mean boring and static. Odysseys is for those older travelers who want an African safari, for example, that doesn't require the stamina of a 30 year old, yet are maybe unwilling or unable to spring for a luxury safari. 

Odysseys fits comfortably in the middle. Don’t expect full private access everywhere you go, but you can expect a dedicated guide and a fun group of travelers to enjoy the experience with.

Under 50 and families are welcome as well (no children under 15), but the mix in your group will definitely skew older.

Top Destinations

Odysseys Unlimited tours travel around the world, making seemingly exotic far reaching locations accessible and reachable, both from a cultural standpoint as well as a logistical standpoint. Think small ship cruises in Patagonia, premium history tours in Egypt, and first class hotels in China.

Because their tour directors are often from the destinations, Odysseys can claim destination expertise across the board. The focus is on quality tours rather than quantity, so they can continue to provide travelers with this expertise from their specialized guides.

Tours with Odysseys Unlimited travel to Europe, Asia, South America, Australia & New Zealand, North America, Africa and the Middle East. The largest number of tours are offered in Asia and Europe.

Odysseys Unlimited Travel Style

The Odysseys Unlimited travel style is one of comfort and ease, but budget friendly. The sheets might not be silk, but you’ll have a comfortable bed and welcoming hosts.

Tours are fully escorted so if you feel like you want to venture beyond your comfort zone - perhaps a language barrier always got in the way, or safety concerns - Odysseys Unlimited is a great way to visit without having to worry. Your tour size will never exceed 24 people, allowing for many friendships to blossom among like minded travelers.

Their tours are around 10-20 days long; an ideal amount of time for getting to know your tour companions, visit tourist spots as well as enjoy more local and cultural activities.

Transportation is in large motorcoaches throughout the destination. During the trip you may experience other modes of transportation, such as ferries, trains, small planes, even motorbikes.

Your tour directors are professional and knowledgeable in the destination, able to provide interesting local and cultural context beyond the tourist sites.   

Why Choose a Tour With Odysseys Unlimited?

If you don’t think small group travel is for you, or you’re unsure about a certain destination whether for safety reasons, language barriers, or other factors - traveling with Odysseys Unlimited is a good place to start.

Their tours are specifically designed to be flexible - a good amount of free time is allotted for the more “independent minded,” yet if you’re more comfortable hanging out with the guide, that’s fine too. Traveling to the next destination is not just a bus ride; you’ll have plenty of opportunities to stop and explore local villages and historical sights.

And if that wasn’t enough, a special perk when traveling with Odysseys Unlimited is the inclusion of international airfare in the trip price!

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About the company.

Small Groups: Our Only Focus

Small group travel is all that we do – just 12 to 24 guests on our own custom-designed tours. And it’s all we’ve ever done, from the day we opened our doors in 1998.

We design and operate our tours specifically for small groups, rather than adapt a conventional tour to take fewer guests. And while you’re sure to find tours with fewer guests, or lower prices, or labeled “Deluxe” (with the prices to match), you won’t find the combination of value, quality, superior accommodations and amenities, and guaranteed small groups that we offer.

We do this by creating and operating our own tours, and offering them to you without any middlemen. We work closely with our airline, hotel, and other travel partners to secure the lowest rates possible. Then we put those rates to good use by offering our tours at an excellent value – not necessarily the lowest price, but the best ratio of price to experiences, quality, and service.

We invite you to compare our tours with those of other travel companies and see for yourself. You’ll find that Odysseys Unlimited offers the best package of small group travel and premium quality – at an excellent value.

The Small Group Experience

The small size of our tour groups allows us to move about more flexibly and efficiently; enjoy more spontaneous encounters; and experience a degree of freedom and independence simply not available to travelers on conventional group tours of 40 or more.

Traveling on your own you’d see the major sights, but chances are you’d stick close to the traditional tourist routes. Our goal is to show you the major sights and take you behind the scenes: into private homes and traditional villages, to local schools and neighborhood restaurants. And you’ll travel in the company of experienced, knowledgeable tour directors and guides who share their countries – and their lives – with you, bringing destinations alive in a truly personal and meaningful way.

Not only do these opportunities enhance your travels, but someone else makes the arrangements and manages all the details – leaving you free to savor the small group experience.

Extensive Included Sightseeing

Our small group tours include a great deal of thoughtful and engaging sightseeing and activities, from camel-back rides, rainforest walks, and scenic excursions to guided museum tours, home visits, cultural performances, and wine tastings. In major cities there’s usually free time to explore on your own after a guided city tour. 

Respect for Your Freedom and Individuality

If you’ve avoided taking group tours, preferring to travel on your own, we think you’ll be pleasantly surprised by our level of service, independence, and value. And if you’re a veteran of traditional group tours, we’re confident you’ll be impressed by the many advantages of small group travel, as well as by the high quality and outstanding value you’ll enjoy with Odysseys Unlimited.

We offer the best of both worlds: the value, ease, and comprehensive itinerary of a group tour, and the freedom, quality, and service that sophisticated travelers demand, and deserve. Should you choose to sit out an included tour or two and go off on your own, you’re entirely welcome to do so. And we think you’ll appreciate having the occasional lunch or dinner on your own, away from the group.

Our Tour Directors Make the Difference

We believe personal attention is key to an outstanding travel experience, so we’ve ensured that it’s a hallmark of Odysseys Unlimited. It starts with our travel counselors when you reserve your trip, then continues on the road with your tour director. Our professional tour directors rank among the best in the business; their love of travel is surpassed only by their desire to share their enthusiasm and knowledge with others. And traveling in a small group means your tour director will have more time to spend with you and to share the personal insights that can add so much to your experience. 

A Variety of Accommodations

We know that hotels aren’t the main reason for traveling. But good accommodations can enhance your overall tour experience, and great accommodations can contribute to a great trip. So we select hotels that we believe are best for a particular trip and experience – those that offer the best combination of quality, value, and atmosphere for each destination. Our hotels in major cities are usually centrally located so guests can get around easier; our unique lodgings are often out of the way, offering our tour members a local ambiance larger groups never experience.

Our lodging options are divided into three segments:

Excellent Hotels

These are the Deluxe, Superior First Class, and First Class accommodations we use in major cities, including well-known chain hotels and independently owned properties. You can expect excellent service and amenities in these well-located properties.

Unique Lodgings Perhaps our most interesting lodgings, these properties cater to small groups and independent travelers, and generally are not available to conventional groups of 40 or more. From the historic  paradores  of Spain, to a French farmhouse, to a Japanese ryokan or a Tuscan villa, these accommodations often are destinations in themselves.

Small Ships We leave the mass-market big ship cruise experience to others, and instead focus on the smaller, more intimate ships that ply distinctive waterways. As you cruise along the Yangtze River, the Turquoise Coast, or through the Patagonian ice fields, among others, your small ship is as much a part of the journey as the places you visit. These vessels let you see the life of a country up close, and allow you to disembark frequently to explore. And while they may vary from simple and comfortable to truly deluxe, these ships generally feature a casual onboard atmosphere, single-seating dining, and amenities such as lounges, boutiques, and plenty of open deck space.

Most Gratuities Included

Experienced travelers know that tipping is an expected element of worldwide travel; but at times it can become a nuisance or inconvenience. For that reason, we’ve eliminated the worry by including in your tour price all gratuities for local guides and drivers, hotel and airport porters, and dining room servers. Gratuities for your Odysseys Unlimited Tour Director and shipboard personnel (if your tour includes a cruise) are not included and should be extended on a voluntary basis, in recognition of truly excellent service.

What Your Tour Price Includes

We design our tours to be highly inclusive, while still making it possible for you to exercise some personal preferences. So we include all the essentials – airfare, accommodations, most meals, extensive sightseeing – but leave some room for you to explore on your own or to enjoy a few meals away from the group.

In general, every Odysseys Unlimited trip includes:

• Travel in a small group of just 12 to 24 guests – guaranteed
• Round-trip air transportation from listed cities; plus all flights within your tour
• Accommodations
• Many meals: all breakfasts, many lunches and dinners – and you’ll also have the opportunity to dine on your own, without the group
• All advertised sightseeing (plus all entrance fees and admissions)
• Singular activities and more intimate cultural encounters possible only with a small group
• The services of an experienced, professional Odysseys Unlimited Tour Director
• Gratuities for local guides, dining room servers, airport and hotel porters, and all drivers
• Luggage handling for one bag per person
• $100 frequent traveler credit toward your next Odysseys Unlimited tour ($200 after three tours; $300 after 10 tours)

Fully Refundable Deposits

A deposit of just $375 confirms your reservation, which you can make with a personal check or major credit card: American Express, MasterCard, Discover, and VISA are all accepted. Best of all, your deposit is fully refundable up to 95 or 125 days before departure (depending on the tour). It’s easy to reserve your tour with us; simply call toll-free, 1-888-370-6765, Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Eastern Time.

Six-Time Honoree Travel + Leisure’s “World’s Best Tour Operators” Award

We are honored that Odysseys Unlimited has been named six times as one of the “World’s Best Tour Operators” by readers of Travel + Leisure in the magazine’s prestigious annual poll. Based on surveys completed by thousands of readers and travelers, the “World’s Best” list judges tour operators on their staff and guides, itineraries, activities, destinations, accommodations, food, and value.

Odysseys Unlimited Trips & Specials

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Want a tailor-made trip instead, your trip, your way, planned by an expert:.

• You choose budget, destinations, activities, transport & lodging type
• Expert designs the itinerary for you, and once approved, takes care of logistics

Top Odysseys Unlimited Trip Categories

Odysseys unlimited company ranking by category, similar companies.

• Six-time honoree Travel + Leisure's World's Best Tour Operators awards
• Ranked # 2 Best Group Tour Company 10Best Readers' Choice poll

About Travelstride

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North america:  the possibilities are endless..

Set to a backdrop of an impressive variety of landscapes, from lush tropical rainforests to the breath-taking Rocky Mountain range, North America offers a unique adventure for every traveler.

Take a road trip along the Pacific Coast highway, zip-line through Canada’s temperate rainforests, or journey through Mexico’s Copper Canyon by train. The endless opportunities of the land will leave you wanting to discover more.

Contact Odyssey Travel

Whether you’re looking to explore a city, or soak in iconic sites, our advisors will help you find everything you want.

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*Prices below are per person based on double occupancy and include airline taxes, surcharges and fees of $0, which are subject to change until final payment is made. All tour prices (excluding airline taxes, surcharges, and fees) are guaranteed.

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Explore our New 2021 Tours

While travel in 2020 has been necessarily curtailed, we've been hard at work planning a variety of new tours for next year. And when when the rhythms of life return to normal, we hope you’ll join us with a renewed desire for exploration, from the historic Silk Road, to the fascinating Balkans, to historic Germany, to the continent-spanning Caucasus, and beyond!

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Heritage, Culture and History of Italy | Small Group Tours for Seniors

Rome, the world’s first superpower, lasted for almost a thousand years. In this small group tour for senior couples and solo travellers we thread our way through the Rome of the Emperors , then through the Italy of the Renaissance , Michelangelo, the Medici , and the Borgia. In the south, we visit the cosmopolitan city of Naples as well as Pompeii and the island retreat of Capri.

From $8,799 USD

Departing Sep, Apr, Mar

• 1. Trace the hub of Europe's greatest empire through the fascinating Roman Forum, Colisseum, and Vatican Basilica.
• 2. See the treasures of Tuscany, including the Florence of Botticelli, Michelangelo, and Donatello.
• 3. Learn about the Franciscan religious order while visiting the Basilica of San Francesco in Assisi, Umbria.
• 4. Explore Campania, see the earliest Greek settlement of Cuma, and marvel at the Roman ruins of Pompeii.

• Departure Dates

An Italy Tour for Seniors: explore the heritage, culture & history of Italy

Odyssey offers easy, convenient, and relaxed escorted small group tours across Western Europe and beyond. We explore Italy's’s fairy-tale natural beauty, its ancient Roman , and Imperial heritage, its World Heritage Sites, and world famous cities, all with some truly spectacular scenery along the way. This and more is all waiting to be explored on one of Odyssey’s small group tours of Italy, designed for the senior traveller, including solo and led by experienced, and enthusiastic like minded people.

This escorted small group tour exploring the heritage, culture, and history of Italy is a popular 22-day program for couples and solo travellers. Beginning in Rome , this trip to Italy, especially designed for mature-aged and senior travellers , is a fully escorted tour with a Program Leader local guides.

This small group tour of Italy examines the heritage, culture, history of this country. This tour includes expert local guides who share their knowledge of the culture and heritage of Italy. The program leader and the local guides are all passionate about the places they are leading the group. They are delighted to share their enthusiasm with you.

Heritage, culture, history of Italy, small group tour, takes you from the eternal city of Rome into the rolling terracotta countryside of Tuscany with its hilltop towns and on to the olive-clad slopes of the Paduan Hills. We stay in the green and craggy landscape of Umbria and spend 5 days at Castellammare di Stabbio on the Bay of Naples where we have the chance to view the breathtaking scenery of the UNESCO World Heritage Site , Amalfi Coast, with its whitewashed villages tumble into azure blue seas.

Our fully escorted small group tour of Italy features guided walks through the best of the Italian countryside. We also take in many of Italy’s major cities. These include viewing the Renaissance cities of Florence , Pisa, and Lucca. We also visit the Umbrian medieval cities of Perugia, Gubbio, and St Francis' Assisi . In the north of Italy, we visit the ancient university seats of Verona and Padua . We take in the stunningly beautiful Venice . Meanwhile, in the south, we visit the spectacularly cosmopolitan city of Naples, the Roman remains of Pompeii and the island retreat of Capri.

Articles and Other Italy tours for seniors by Odyssey Traveller

As a small group tour of Italy, it is perfect for the mature single traveller or couple seeking to learn about this collection of Italian cities and principalities while enjoying the country's many splendours.

Odyssey Traveller also offers a short, 11-day version of this tour .

We have a collection of guided tours for mature-aged and senior travellers seeking to see, feel and learn about this country. Click here for our other tours to Italy , and our tours to Europe .

We have a tour focused on Southern Italy and Sicily . Click here to see this tour package.

To prepare for the trip, check out our blog post listing 10 great books to read before travelling Italy! You can also see our other Italy-related articles here .

For more details about this tour from Odyssey Traveller or other small group tours of Italy offered, click the ‘Top 5’ or ‘Itinerary’ buttons above! If you’re keen to experience this tour, please call or send an email. Or, to book, simply fill in the form on the right hand side of this page.

Day 1: Rome

Accommodation: 2 nights at Milani Hotel or similar.

Upon arrival in Rome we will come individually to the hotel. In the evening we will walk to a local restaurant for a briefing on the tour and dinner.

Founded by the Etruscans, Rome became the centre of Europe’s greatest empire and one of the world’s great religions. It still offers an astonishing array of outstanding sights, from the Roman Forum and Colosseum, to the great Vatican Basilica of St. Peter. The city is full of rich churches, monuments, and museums. Rome is a city in which a phenomenal concentration of history, legend, and icons co-exist with the hustle and bustle of its 4 million inhabitants.

Day 2: Rome

Accommodation: Milani Hotel or similar.

Today we will enjoy a morning city tour and learn more about the culture and history of the people of Italy. The afternoon is free to explore the city on our own.

Day 3: Castellamare di Stabia

Accommodation: 5 nights at Castellammare di Stabia or similar.

This morning we travel to Castellamare di Stabia near Naples, which is associated with the Etruscans and the Greeks. On the way we will pause in Cassino for a visit to the Abby. After we have lunch individually, we will continue on a guided tour of the preserved Roman city of Herculaneum, before arriving at our hotel in Castellamaare di Stabia in time for dinner.

Day 4: Castellamare di Stabia

Accommodation: Castellammare di Stabia or similar.

Today we will learn about Italy’s earliest Greek settlement, Cuma, where we will visit the Cave of Cumean Sybil. We will have time to explore the archaeological site before getting lunch individually and enjoying the afternoon at leisure.

Day 5: Castellamare di Stabia

Accommodation: Castellammare di Stabiaor similar.

This morning we will visit Pompeii with our local specialist guide and have a tour of the archaeological site. This region experienced a period of great prosperity under Roman leadership, as can be seen in the superb remains at Pompeii and Herculaneum. We discover the rich Roman heritage as we visit the excavated site of Pompeii, then we will transfer to Naples where we have lunch individually before having a guided tour of the main sights of the city. We visit the National Archaeological Museum and then enjoy some free time to explore the city on our own. We also visit the city of Naples and experience the awesomely stunning coastal scenery of the Amalfi Riviera where beautiful villages such as Positano and Amalfi cling to the dramatic rocks above the Gulf of Salerno.

We return to the hotel in the evening in time for dinner.

Day 6: Castellamare di Stabia

This morning we will travel to Paestrum and visit its archaeological site with our specialist guide. We will see the remains of superb Greek Temples. We will return to Castellamare di Stabia and enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure.

Day 7: Castellamare di Stabia

This morning we drive the Amalfi Coast, pausing at some of the beautiful villages clinging to the rocks. We will meet our local guide and board the fast ferry from Sorrento across to Capri. We will learn about the Roman era as we visit Capri, from where Tiberius ruled the Empire.

We will visit the Blue Grotto before taking the funicular to the town of Capri, where we have a walking tour. We will transfer to Anacapri for another walking tour prior to taking the fast ferry back to the mainland. Lunch today is at our own arrangements on Capri and dinner is back at our accommodation.

Day 8: Assisi

Accommodation: 3 nights at Domus Pacis or similar.

Today we will leave the Bay of Naples for Assisi. En route we will visit the magnificently opulent Palazzo Reale at Caserta, a Versailles style palace built for Bourbon King Charles III, and pause at the Etruscan city of Orvieto, with its impressive cathedral. Lunch will be at our own arrangements and dinner will be at our hotel in Assisi.

Long dismissed as Tuscany’s “gentler sister,” Umbria has recently emerged from the shadow of its better-known western neighbour. Forming an expanse of gentle pastoral countryside and high mountain wilderness of oak woods and ice-clear streams, the picturesque region has been dubbed the “Green Heart of Italy.” It is a strikingly beautiful area with a profusion of fine historic hill-towns, such as Perugia, the region’s capital, Gubbio, Todi, and Spoletto. The region also boasts some fine Roman remains and some of Italy’s oldest churches. Assisi, the birthplace of St. Francis, contains the Basilica di San Francesco, frescoed in part by Giotto and Orvieto, magnificently situated on a volcanic crag.

Day 9: Assisi

Accommodation: Domus Pacis or similar.

Today we will meet our local guide for a morning walking tour of Assisi including a visit to the Basilica. In the afternoon we travel to Spoleto for lunch at our own arrangements and enjoy some time to explore this former Roman colony at leisure.

Day 10: Assisi

This morning we will visit Gubbio. This beautiful Umbrian town has much to offer. We visit the Church of St Umbaldo, raised above Mount Ingino, which offers stunning views of the town and surronding countryside. After lunch we will then transfer through to the university town of Perugia for lunch at our own arrangements, followed by a guided tour of the main sights of the city.

Day 11: Padua

Accommodation: 5 nights at Padova or similar.

Today we will leave Assisi and head north to Padua. En route to Veneto we will pause in Europe’s oldest and scenically located republic, San Marino. We will also see Ravenna, site of Dante’s tomb. Ravenna is renowned for its Byzantine mosaics. We will arrive in Padua in time for dinner at our hotel.

The Veneto is a region of great diversity, from the foothills of the Dolomites to the flat marshlands of the Venetian lagoon. It is a fertile land where many crops are raised on silt deposits. The Romans built their frontier posts here and many of these, such as Vicenza, Padua, and Verona survive to this day. Strategically placed at the hub of the empire’s road network, these cities prospered under Roman rule but suffered under the subsequent Germanic invasions. It was only with the rise of the Venetian Empire that the region’s fortunes revived. The medieval cities of the Veneto were located on important trade routes and the consequent wealth gained is reflected in Renaissance palaces and fine Palladian villas.

Day 12: Padua

Accommodation: Padova or similar.

This morning we will meet our local guide and visit the highlights of Padua, including its impressive Basilica and Scrovegni Chapel. Lunch is at our own arrangements and the afternoon is free to explore at leisure.

Day 13: Padua

Today we will explore Venice. We take the Vaporetto to transfer to Piazza San Marco where we meet our local guide for a walking tour, including visits to St. Mark’s Basilica and Doge’s Palace. The afternoon is at leisure to enjoy this fantastic city. We will come individually to Piazzale Romana to board the Vaporetto back to the mainland and transfer to Padua. Dinner will be at our hotel.

Day 14: Padua

Today we will travel to Vicenza and our local guide will lead us on a walking tour of this beautiful city, birthplace of Andrea Palladio. WE will explore the sights of the city and vist the impressive Teatro Olimpico. The afternoon is at leisure to enjoy the city on your own before we return to our hotel in Padua for dinner.

Day 15: Padua

Today we will travel to Vicenza and our local guide will lead us on a walking tour to explore the sights of the city including the Teatro Olimpico. The afternoon is at leisure to enjoy the city on our own before we return to our hotel in Padua.

Day 16: Florence

Accommodation: 5 nights at Istituto Suore Di S.Elisabetta or similar.

En route to Florence we will pause in the city of Verona with its fascinating Roman remains and “Romeo & Juliet” balcony, and enjoy a guided walking tour. We arrive in Florence in the evening for dinner at a local restaurant nearby our hotel.

Renowned for its art, history and evocative landscape, Tuscany is a region where the past and present merge in pleasant harmony. Hill-towns gaze across the countryside from on high, many circled by Etruscan walls and slender cypress trees, olive groves, or vineyards. Handsome palaces testify to the region’s wealth, while medieval town halls indicate a long-standing tradition of self-government.

Day 17: Florence

Accommodation: Istituto Suore Di S.Elisabetta or similar.

This morning we will explore the remarkable city of Florence with our local guide. We will visit the Duomo, including the Baptistery, and also the Accademia. Lunch will be at our own arrangements and in the afternoon we will explore the Uffizi gallery on our own (entrance included).

Day 18: Florence

This morning we will view the ancient Roman colony of Lucca, with its fine medieval streets. This afternoon, after lunch at our own arrangements, we will explore the city of Pisa with its infamous leaning tower. Our guided tour includes entrances to the Duomo, Baptistery, and Campo Santo. We will return to Florence in the evening for dinner at a local restaurant.

Day 19: Florence

Today we will have a guided walking tour of medieval Siena and view the main sights of the city. The remainder of the day will be at leisure in Florence.

Day 20: Florence

We spend today in the Tuscan countryside as we visit the hilltop village of San Gimigniano with its 13 medieval towers. After lunch at our own arrangements, we visit the Etruscan city of Volterra before returning to Florence.

Day 21: Rome

Accommodation: 1 night at Milani Hotel or similar.

En route to Rome we will visit Arezzo, whose 13th century church of San Francesco houses one of Italy’s greatest fresco cycles, and pause in the model Renaissance town of Pienza. Tonight we enjoy farewell dinner at a local restaurant.

Day 22: Rome

Our tour will conclude after breakfast.

Includes / Excludes

What’s included in our Tour

• Transport and field trips as indicated.
• Services of a Tour Leader.
• 21 nights accommodation.
• Applicable entry fees and services of local guides.
• Service charges and gratuities.
• Touring by comfortable and modern coach.
• Detailed tour information booklet.
• 21 breakfasts and 21 dinners.

What’s not included in our Tour

• Items of a personal nature such as telephone calls and laundry.
• Any international or domestic flights.
• Comprehensive travel insurance
• Airport transfers.

Participants must be able to carry their own luggage, climb and descend stairs, be in good health, mobile and able to participate in 3-5 hours of physical activity per day, the equivalent of walking / hiking up to 8 kilometers per day on uneven ground.

29 April 2024

Ends 20 May 2024 • 22 days

Change departure date

By booking two travellers sharing a room you save $1650 per person.

Payment Type

You can reserve your spot by paying a $1,000 pp deposit, for full details please see our Terms & Conditions .

Prices are per person and valid until 30th December 2024.

Make it a private tour

Easing your journey.

Crossing international borders with restrictions

The list of requirements to travel internationally has changed and will continue to change for several years. Odyssey is here to assist you in managing your way through these requirements:

For more information see our Crossing international borders with restrictions page.

Book With Confidence

If less than 30 days before your tour starts you are unable to travel as a result of Government travel restrictions, Odyssey Traveller will assist you with a date change, provide you with a credit or process a refund for your booking less any non-recoverable costs.

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Peace of Mind Travel

The safety of our travellers, tour leader, local guide and support staff has always been our top priority and with the new guidelines for public health and safety for keeping safe for destinations around the world, we’ve developed our plan to give you peace of mind when travelling with us.

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The tour would be of particular interest to anyone with an interest in Roman and Italian Renaissance history. It would appeal particularly to those with an interest in sacred art and architecture. Participant May 2018

One of my most pleasurable holidays, and one I must repeat, as it was not long enough. We were most fortunate in having our marvellous tour leader.

• It was a marvellous tour. I was privileged, as we all were, to see so many things of beauty, and so much history, in your very capable hands. Thank you for passing on some of your knowledge, and for your ready assistance. Thank you also for the photos and the list of guides; I'd been trying to remember the name of that rather good, but unusual fellow we met in Siena. No doubt because of his enthusiasm - and eccentricity - I remember Siena so well. (BH - Heritage Italy)

Participant May -15

• Thank you so much for being a wonderful leader for the Heritage Italy tour. It was so interesting and has left me with lots of things to think about and follow up in my reading. I found I had an old book giving the history of Greek science, i.e. the thinking of the Greeks in the early BC time. An interesting addition to our visit to Paestum and Cumae. The whole experience was marvellous and I have to thank you again for your kindness and consideration and the generous amount of time you gave to us all. I really appreciated that. (MB - Heritage Italy)

Apart from just touching base and saying hi, I wanted to thank you for such a wonderful trip. Fourth time in Italy for me but the chance to get a little off the beaten track was really special... not to mention I got so much more insight into Italy than I had before. (KG Heritage Italy)

Participant Sep -15

Reading List Download PDF

The italians.

John Hooper

Sublime and maddening, fascinating yet baffling, Italy is a country of endless paradox and seemingly unanswerable riddles.

John Hooper's marvellously entertaining and perceptive new book is the ideal companion for anyone seeking to understand contemporary Italy and the unique character of the Italians. Looking at the facts that lie behind - and often belie - the stereotypes, his revealing book sheds new light on many aspects of Italian life: football and Freemasonry, sex, symbolism and the reason why Italian has twelve words for a coat hanger, yet none for a hangover.

The Pursuit of Italy: A History of a Land, its Regions and their Peoples

David Gilmour

Visiting a villa built by Lorenzo de Medici outside Pisa, David Gilmour fell into conversation about the unification of Italy with a distinguished former minister: '"You know, Davide," he said in a low conspiratorial voice, as if uttering a heresy, "Garibaldi did Italy a great disservice. If he had not invaded Sicily and Naples, we in the north would have the richest and most civilized state in Europe." After looking cautiously round the room he added in an even lower voice, "Of course to the south we would have a neighbour like Egypt."'

Was the elderly Italian right? Was the unification of Italy a mistake? The Pursuit of Italy traces the whole history of the Italian peninsula in a wonderfully readable style, full of well-chosen stories and observations from personal experience, and peopled by many of the great figures of the Italian past, from Cicero and Virgil to Dante and the Medici, from Cavour and Verdi to the controversial political figures of the twentieth century. The book gives a clear-eyed view of the Risorgimento, the pivotal event in modern Italian history, debunking the influential myths which have grown up around it.

Gilmour shows that the glory of Italy has always lain in its regions, with their distinctive art, civic cultures, identities and cuisine. The regions produced the medieval communes and the Renaissance, the Venetian Republic and the Grand Duchy of Tuscany, two of the most civilized states of European history. Their inhabitants identified themselves not as Italians, but as Tuscans and Venetians, Sicilians and Lombards, Neapolitans and Genoese. This is where the strength and culture of Italy still comes from, rather than from misconceived and mishandled concepts of nationalism and unity.

This wise and enormously engaging book explains the course of Italian history in a manner and with a coherence which no one with an interest in the country could fail to enjoy.

Florence: The Biography of a City

Christopher Hibbert

This book is as captivating as the city itself. Hibbert's gift is weaving political, social and art history into an elegantly readable and marvellously lively whole. The author's book on Florence will also be at once a history and a guide book and will be enhanced by splendid photographs and illustrations and line drawings which will describe all teh buildings and treasures of the city.

Rome: The Biography of a City

This beautifully written, informative study is a portrait, a history and a superb guide book, capturing fully the seductive beauty and the many layered past of the Eternal City. It covers 3,000 years of history from the city's quasi-mythical origins, through the Etruscan kings, the opulent glory of classical Rome, the decadence and decay of the Middle Ages and the beauty and corruption of the Renaissance, to its time at the heart of Mussolini's fascist Italy. Exploring the city's streets and buildings, peopled with popes, gladiators, emperors, noblemen and peasants, this volume details the turbulent and dramatic history of Rome in all its depravity and grandeur.

The Popes: A History

John Julius Norwich

John Julius Norwich examines the oldest continuing institution in the world, tracing the papal line down the centuries from St Peter (traditionally - but by no means historically - the first Pope) to the present. Of the 280-odd holders of the supreme office, some have unquestionably been saints; others have wallowed in unspeakable iniquity.

One was said to have been a woman, her sex being revealed only when she improvidently gave birth to a baby during a papal procession. Almost as shocking was Formosus whose murdered corpse was exhumed, clothed in pontifical vestments, propped up on a throne and subjected to trial.

From the glories of Byzantium to the decay of Rome, from the Albigensian Heresy to controversy within the Church today, The Popes is superbly written, witty and revealing.

The Borgias

The name Borgia is synonymous with the corruption, nepotism, and greed that were rife in Renaissance Italy.

The powerful, voracious Rodrigo Borgia, better known to history as Pope Alexander VI, was the central figure of the dynasty. Two of his seven papal offspring also rose to power and fame - Lucrezia Borgia, his daughter, whose husband was famously murdered by her brother, and that brother, Cesare, who served as the model for Niccolo Machiavelli's The Prince. Notorious for seizing power, wealth, land, and titles through bribery, marriage, and murder, the dynasty's dramatic rise from its Spanish roots to its occupation of the highest position in Renaissance society forms a gripping tale.

Erudite, witty, and always insightful, Hibbert removes the layers of myth around the Borgia family and creates a portrait alive with his superb sense of character and place.

SPQR: A History of Ancient Rome

Ancient Rome matters.

Its history of empire, conquest, cruelty and excess is something against which we still judge ourselves. Its myths and stories - from Romulus and Remus to the Rape of Lucretia - still strike a chord with us. And its debates about citizenship, security and the rights of the individual still influence our own debates on civil liberty today.

SPQR is a new look at Roman history from one of the world's foremost classicists. It explores not only how Rome grew from an insignificant village in central Italy to a power that controlled territory from Spain to Syria, but also how the Romans thought about themselves and their achievements, and why they are still important to us. Covering 1,000 years of history, and casting fresh light on the basics of Roman culture from slavery to running water, as well as exploring democracy, migration, religious controversy, social mobility and exploitation in the larger context of the empire, this is a definitive history of ancient Rome.

SPQR is the Romans' own abbreviation for their state: Senatus Populusque Romanus, 'the Senate and People of Rome'.

The Roman Forum

David Watkin

There are few more historic and evocative places in the world. Caesar was cremated there. Charles V and Mussolini rode by it in triumph. There Napoleon celebrated his festival of liberty. In this radical reappraisal David Watkin teaches us to see the Forum with new eyes and helps us to rediscover its rich history. This is as stimulating to the armchair traveller as it is useful as a guide to the Forum itself.

'With verve, authority and no little humour, Watkin tells the detailed and complex story of this great but mutilated landmark ... it is an almost impossible task, superbly done' Peter Jones, BBC History Magazine

'In this sprightly volume ... the distinguished architectural historian David Watkin charts the shifting fortunes of the site ... he has an engagingly romantic feeling for the place... deploying a good deal of sharp wit, he reveals how the relatively recent obsession with recovering the Forum's classical past has led to much unhappy destruction and much less scarcely happy invention' Matthew Sturgis, Country Life

The Rise and Fall of the House of Medici

At its height Renaissance Florence was a centre of enormous wealth, power and influence. A republican city-state funded by trade and banking, its often bloody political scene was dominated by rich mercantile families, the most famous of which were the Medici. This enthralling book charts the family’s huge influence on the political, economic and cultural history of Florence. Beginning in the early 1430s with the rise of the dynasty under the near-legendary Cosimo de Medici, it moves through their golden era as patrons of some of the most remarkable artists and architects of the Renaissance, to the era of the Medici Popes and Grand Dukes, Florence’s slide into decay and bankruptcy, and the end, in 1737, of the Medici line.

The Black Prince of Florence: The Spectacular Life and Treacherous World of Alessandro de' Medici

Catherine Fletcher

'Nothing in sixteenth-century history is more astonishing than the career of Alessandro de' Medici' Hilary Mantel

In The Black Prince of Florence, a dramatic tale of assassination, spies and betrayal, the first retelling of Alessandro's life in two-hundred years opens a window onto the opulent, cut-throat world of Renaissance Italy.

‘Astonishing … gripping and original … a compelling portrait’ Financial Times

‘Packed with intrigue … Fletcher describes with cool menace the plotting and politicking that dominated Alessandro’s rule … brought splendidly to life in this excellent book’ Sunday Times

‘Engrossing … bursts with stabbings, poisonings, duels, eye-gougings, arquebus shootouts and people being run through with swords. Fletcher’s approach is scholarly yet dramatic, immersed in Renaissance glamour … a tremendous step forward in our knowledge of this intriguing man’ Spectator

‘Scintillating. This is everything a historical biography should be’ Ian Mortimer, author of The Time Traveller's Guide to Medieval England

The year is 1531. After years of brutal war and political intrigue, the bastard son of a Medici Duke and a ‘half-negro’ maidservant rides into Florence. Within a year, he rules the city as its Prince. Backed by the Pope and his future father-in-law the Holy Roman Emperor, the nineteen-year-old Alessandro faces down bloody family rivalry and the scheming hostility of Italy’s oligarchs to reassert the Medicis’ faltering grip on the turbulent city-state. Six years later, as he awaits an adulterous liaison, he will be murdered by his cousin in another man’s bed.

From dazzling palaces and Tuscan villas to the treacherous backstreets of Florence and the corridors of papal power, the story of Alessandro’s spectacular rise, magnificent reign and violent demise takes us deep beneath the surface of power in Renaissance Italy – a glamorous but deadly realm of spies, betrayal and vendetta, illicit sex and fabulous displays of wealth, where the colour of one’s skin meant little but the strength of one’s allegiances meant everything.

‘Bold, breathless and full of suspense’ The Times

‘Original, revelatory and gripping’ Jessie Childs, author of God's Traitors

‘Gripping … Fletcher describes in detail without losing momentum’ Economist

‘Fascinating and profound’ Paul Strathern, author of The Medici

‘Accomplished and original. A newly sympathetic portrait of a monarch whose rule in Florence was even more unlikely than Henry VII’s presence on the English throne’ Diarmaid MacCulloch, author of A History of Christianity

‘Brilliantly written and impeccably researched. A stunning book’ Tracy Borman, author of Thomas Cromwell

The Land Where Lemons Grow: The Story of Italy and its Citrus Fruit

Helena Attlee

Travellers have always been thrilled by the sight of citrus in Italy, where dark leaves and bright fruit seem to charge the landscape, making the trees symbols of a sun-soaked, poetic vision of the country. Citrus also holds a special place in the Italian imagination, and in The Land Where Lemons Grow, Helena Attlee sets out to explore its curious past and its enduring resonance in Italian culture. The Land Where Lemons Grow is a heady mixture of travel writing, history, horticulture and art; a unique journey through Italy's cultural, culinary and political past. Helena Attlee is the author of four books about Italian gardens, and others on the cultural history of gardens around the world. Helena is a Fellow of the Royal Literary Fund and has worked in Italy for nearly 30 years.

The Civilization of the Renaissance in Italy

Jacob Buckhards and Peter Murray

For nineteenth-century Swiss historian Jacob Burckhardt, the Italian Renaissance was nothing less than the beginning of the modern world - a world in which flourishing individualism and the competition for fame radically transformed science, the arts, and politics. In this landmark work he depicts the Italian city-states of Florence, Venice and Rome as providing the seeds of a new form of society, and traces the rise of the creative individual, from Dante to Michelangelo. A fascinating description of an era of cultural transition, this nineteenth-century masterpiece was to become the most influential interpretation of the Italian Renaissance, and anticipated ideas such as Nietzsche's concept of the 'Ubermensch' in its portrayal of an age of genius.

Art in Renaissance Italy

John T. Paoletti and Gary M. Radke

With a freshness and breadth of approach that sets the art in its context, this book explores why works were created and who commissioned the palaces, cathedrals, paintings, and sculptures. It covers Rome and Florence, Venice and the Veneto, Assisi, Siena, Milan, Pavia, Genoa, Padua, Mantua, Verona, Ferrara, Urbino, and Naples. Chapters are grouped into four chronological parts, allowing for a sustained examination of individual cities in different periods. "Contemporary Scene" boxes provide fascinating glimpses of daily life and "Contemporary Voice" boxes quote from painters and writers of the time. Innovative and scholarly, yet accessible and beautifully presented, this book is a definitive work on the Italian Renaissance. This revised edition contains around 200 new pictures and nearly all colour images.

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