Detail of The Birth of Venus, Sandro Botticelli, c. 1485
The land of Dante and Galileo, of Da Vinci and Gentileschi, Italy has been the birthplace of so many of the world's best known creatives, scientists, and artistic movements, and has long inspired those who travel there to see its architecture and landscapes. Our collection of Italian art tours take in monuments and artworks beloved around the world, from the Renaissance beauty of Florence to the sparkling colours of Venice. Read on to view our departures.
A map of our Italian art tours - read on to view more details of each.
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Turin: Art & Architecture of the Kingdom of Savoy24 - 30 September, 2024 With Sarah Burles
Our itinerary will take us to the most important palazzi and churches in Turin, around its museums and galleries, and beyond the city to see two of Juvarra’s masterpieces: the Basilica di Superga and the Palazzina di Caccia di Stupinigi. We will also travel into the Piedmont countryside, to discover the late Gothic painted hall of the Castello della Manta and the medieval town of Saluzzo.
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On the Trail of Caravaggio: His Life, Works & Muses29 October - 9 November, 2024 With Marie-Anne Mancio
This tour explores Caravaggio's dramatic trajectory, from his origins in Lombard naturalism through to the mature style of his Neapolitan works. On a journey in the artist’s footsteps, from Milan to Malta via Rome, Naples and Sicily, we will see some of Caravaggio’s greatest works – many of which are still in the locations for which they were originally painted.
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Piero della Francesca21 - 28 October, 2024 With Lucrezia Walker
Through medieval walled towns and rural villages, follow in the footsteps of Piero della Francesca as we see his work in situ in the region’s palaces, churches, chapels and museums. We will trace Piero’s development from his artistic beginnings at Sansepolcro, through the important commissions he carried out at Arezzo, to the final flowering of his art at the enlightened court of Urbino.
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The Riviera di Levante10 - 17 October, 2024
For centuries the maritime republics of Italy dominated the Mediterranean. These powerful city-states were fiercely competitive, and our tour will trace the history of their stormy rivalries and the art and architecture they produced, as we make our way along the Riviera di Levante (‘coast of the rising sun’) through the Cinque Terre between Genoa and Pisa.
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From Bologna to Parma: A Feast for the Soul & Senses11 - 17 November, 2024 with Andrew Spira
Experience the artistic highlights of northern Italy from bases in historical Bologna and Parma, while enjoying the region’s wider cultural and culinary heritage. Highlights include Mantua’s sumptuous Palazzo Te, the Renaissance walled town of Sabbioneta, and Bologna's Pinacoteca Nazionale, considered one of Italy’s most important galleries.
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Art Treasures of Naples: From the Romans to the Baroque24 February - 3 March, 2025 with Alex Koller
Discover centuries of Neapolitan art, with a particular focus on the city's Baroque treasures. Attention will be paid to religious buildings containing art of the highest order, including the medieval royal tombs at Santa Chiara, Caravaggio's Seven Works of Mercy at Pio Monte della Misericordia, and San Gregorio Armeno, decorated by Luca Giordano.
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Art & Architecture of Puglia18 - 25 November, 2024 with Andrew Spira
From bases in the port city of Bari and the Baroque city of Lecce, we will explore a variety of fascinating sites in this beautiful region. Highlights include the 12th century Tree of Life mosaic in Otranto cathedral, and the celebrated 15th century fresco cycles in the Church of Santa Caterina d’Alessandria at Galatina.
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Palladio: Venice & the Villas of the Veneto (RI)October 2025 with Charles Hind
Andrea Palladio (1508–1580) remains one of the most distinguished figures in the history of western architecture. Born in Padua, Palladio trained as a stonecutter and mason in Vicenza. Previous departures of this tour have visited Palladian highlights in the countryside outside Vicenza and in Venice.
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Renaissance Florence: City of Wonders11 - 18 November, 2024 with Sarah Burles 10 - 17 February, 2025 with Sarah Burles
Explore Florence's most famous museums, galleries and churches, alongside some of the city’s less well-known treasures - from the spectacular Duomo with Giotto’s dramatic campanile and Brunelleschi’s astonishing dome, to Benozzo Gozzoli's frescoes in the Palazzo Medici Riccardi, and the many ‘cenacoli’ (Last Suppers) by artists such as Ghirlandaio and Andrea del Sarto.
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Venice: The Triumph of Light & Colour4 - 10 February, 2025 with Tom Abbott 11 - 17 November, 2025 with Tom Abbott
Immortalised in paint by artists ranging from Canaletto to Turner, this tour delve into the richness of the Venetian palette with visits to palazzi, galleries and churches. Highlights include the famous Doge's Palace, the Galleria dell'Accademia, and the lesser known museum at Ca'Rezzonico and the stunning Baroque interior of Santa Maria Assunta.
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