Venice – Rome – Tuscany – Lake Maggiore

Venice - canals and gondolas

Oak Hall’s tour of Italy provides thirteen days of tremendous interest as we visit some of the most historic sights in the world. Following our overnight journey, we arrive the next morning in Lido di Jesolo where we spend two nights. This famous beach resort on the Italian Adriatic provides an excellent base from which to explore Venice. We take the waterbus across the lagoon to visit this unique city comprised of a myriad canals and an abundance of elegant palaces and fine buildings.

Ancient city of Rome

We travel south to spend three nights just outside Rome. We will take you into the centre of this amazing city, steeped in history, which is the heart of the ancient Roman Empire and of modern-day Italy. The capital city boasts a stunning array of sights to match its celebrated past and present. You will have two full days to explore the remarkable sights of Rome, including the Colosseum, the Sistine Chapel, and the Trevi Fountain.

Exploring the delights of Tuscany

From Rome we travel north through the beautiful, green, rolling hills of the Umbria region to the town of Poggibonsi, where we spend four nights. This is an ideal location to explore the highlights of Tuscany.

Florence is home to many of Italy’s Renaissance treasures, with its spectacular Duomo dominating the city’s skyline and the absorbing art galleries with, amongst others, Michelangelo’s masterpieces. The city of Siena, with its narrow streets and rose-coloured brick medieval buildings has many fine sights to view, particularly around the Piazza. We also visit the typical, unspoilt culture of San Gimignano. Known as the ‘city of beautiful towers’, it is one of the best-preserved medieval towns in Tuscany.

Pisa and the Leaning Tower

No trip to Italy would be complete without a visit to the Leaning Tower of Pisa and the other splendid buildings that rise from the emerald-green lawns of the Camp dei Miracoli. Included in our visit to Pisa will be a short journey to the beach, where we will have a chance to relax by the Mediterranean and enjoy another aspect of the beauty of Italy.

Lake Maggiore – in the spectacular Italian Alps

The Italian Lakeland provides a superb conclusion to our tour, an idyllic combination of lakes and mountains. Bathed in brilliant sunshine, Lake Maggiore is the ideal place to relax for the final part of the tour. You might choose to stroll along the lakeside, explore the area with water pedaloes and bicycles, or take a cruise to the islands to explore the château and terraced gardens.

The evening meetings, with a Bible talk and time of singing, are always a highlight of the trip.

This year, we are also pleased to be able to offer the option of seeing the highlights of Italy with camping – click here for details.