Flights
Short Break
Grand Hotel Minareto
Syracuse, Italy
superior
In a tranquil location, across the bay from Ortigia, Grand Hotel Minareto is 15 minutes’ drive from the centre, which can also be reached using the hotel’s private boat (charges apply). The resort is the only one inside the Plemmerio Marine Nature Reserve, so peaceful sunbathing and wonderful snorkelling off the secluded private sandy beach are guaranteed. Guests enjoy fabulous views from the gardens and terraces which are set amongst olive and lemon trees. There is a large outdoor swimming pool where light lunches are served in the summer, a spa, complimentary cycle hire for guests and a restaurant offering traditional Sicilian cuisine. The 96 arabesque bedrooms are dotted around the grounds and many look across the bay from private terraces. Hotel open 20 March – 31 October.
Speak to an Italy specialist
Contact our expert team for first-hand advice and a tailor-made quotation.
Michael Brewin
Reservations Consultant & Destinations Executive - Classical Europe & the Mediterranean
Short Break
Highly Recommended
Grand Hotel Parker's
Naples, Italy
deluxe
Following extensive renovation, this is our favourite hotel in the city. Located at the beginning of Corso Vittorio Emanuele, 20 minutes’ walk from Piazza Plebiscito, the Royal Palace and San Carlo Theatre, this elegant hotel has been welcoming guests since 1870.
Short Break
Villa d'Este, Cernobbio
Lake Como, Italy
deluxe
One of the best hotels in Europe, the Villa D’Este comes very highly recommended. It consists of two magnificent villas – the Cardinal’s Building and the Queen’s Pavilion – set 150 yards apart in spectacular gardens with fountains and terraces at the water’s edge. All the luxurious bedrooms have marble bathrooms and a blend of classical and antique furnishings.
Short Break
Antiche Mura
Sorrento, Italy
superior
Located in the heart of Sorrento and named after the ancient fortifications which once surrounded the town, the hotel is a few minutes’ walk from Piazza Tasso and a perfect base from which to explore the town and surrounding area – the Circumvesuviana train station with links to Pompeii and Naples is less than 10 minutes on foot.
Short Break
Albergo Villa Marta
Tuscany, Italy
superior
A beautifully restored 19th-century hunting lodge, Villa Marta is located in the countryside, just three miles from Lucca, and is recommended for those looking to combine sightseeing (Lucca, Pisa and Pietrasanta are all close by) with relaxation.
Short Break
Ca Maria Adele
Venice, Italy
deluxe
For those looking for an intimate, boutique hotel in a quiet location, we can highly recommend Ca Maria Adele.
Short Break
Mezzatorre Hotel & Thermal Spa
Ischia, Italy
superior
Located in the north of the island near the small village of Lacco Ameno, the Mezzatorre has a superb setting amongst seven hectares of beautiful pine forest. The views from the panoramic restaurant and the hotel terraces over the Gulf of Naples and Vesuvius are sublime.
Short Break
Balestri
Florence, Italy
superior
Sister hotel to the Santa Maria Novella and the L’Orologio, the Balestri reopened in January 2015 following a complete renovation. It is located in the heart of the Santa Croce district, 400 metres from the Ponte Vecchio and close to the Uffizi Gallery.
Short Break
Cala del Porto
Punta Ala, Italy
superior
Set in pristine gardens with wonderful views out over the marina towards the island of Capraia and beyond to Elba, Cala del Porto has just 38 bedrooms furnished in typical Tuscan style. It is a great place to enjoy relaxation, warm Tuscan hospitality and excellent Mediterranean cuisine.
Short Break
La Fiermontina
Lecce, Italy
deluxe
Located in the quiet streets of the old town, 500 metres from the Santa Croce Basilica, La Fiermontina is an urban resort offering a calm, oasis-like atmosphere.
Short Break
Mea, Lipari
The Aeolian Islands, Italy
On the hill above the main town and port of Lipari, the friendly and elegant Mea Hotel combines the Sicilian trademark mix of Roman and Moorish style in spacious surroundings.
Tailor-made Holiday
Puglia - The Heel of Italy: Matera, Locorotondo & Lecce
Matera, Locorotondo, Lecce
With private car transfers throughout, this itinerary combines unique Matera, just across the border in Basilicata, with two of Puglia’s most beautiful towns.
10 night price from £1,998 pp (low season), £2,996 pp (high season)
Includes
Transfers
Accommodation in Matera
Accommodation in Locorotondo
+2
Tailor-made Holiday
Verona & Lake Garda
Verona
The charming Roman city of Verona is famous for its summer opera festival but is a fascinating destination all year round with wonderful architecture, excellent restaurants, museums, markets and boutiques.
7 night price from £2,268 pp (low season), £2,998 pp (high season)
Includes
Flights
Private transfers
3 nights' accommodation in Verona
4 nights' accommodation in Lake Garda
+2
Tailor-made Holiday
The Italian Riviera: Genoa & The Cinque Terre
Genoa
Venice’s main Mediterranean rival for centuries, Genoa is a fascinating historic city, located on the Ligurian Riviera.
7 night price from £2,109 per person
Includes
Flights
Transfers
Accommodation in Genoa
Accommodation in Portovenere
+1
Tailor-made Holiday
Lake Como & Milan
Milan, Lake Como
The perfect combination of style, culture and relaxation, Milan and dramatic Lake Como make for a classic two-centre holiday.
7 night price from £2,498 per person
Includes
Flight
Private Transfer
Accommodation in Milan
Accommodation in Menaggio
+3
Tailor-made Holiday
Bologna, Parma & Ravenna
Ravenna, Bologna, Parma
Emilia-Romagna is the cultural, geographic and gastronomic heart of Italy. Here you will find revered culinary delicacies, historic universities, Renaissance art and ancient monuments.
7 night price from £1,688 per person
Includes
Flights
Rail
Transfers
Kirker Concierge
+4
Tailor-made Holiday
Art Cities of Emilia-Romagna
Bologna, Ravenna
Emilia-Romagna is a region in northern Italy, world-renowned for its gastronomy and beautiful medieval cities.
5 night price upon request
Includes
Flight
Transfers
Accommodation at the Corona d'Oro
Rail Tickets
+2
Tailor-made Holiday
Florence & The Chianti Countryside
Florence
The cradle of the Italian Renaissance, Florence is home to some of the world's greatest art and architecture. Stay for three nights at our favourite small hotel, the Antica Torre and take advantage of Kirker's timed entrance ticke...
7 night price from £1,980 pp (low season), £2,498 pp (high season)
Includes
Flights
Private Transfer
Car Hire
Accommodation at the Antica Torre
+4
Tailor-made Holiday
The Sicilian Quartet: Palermo, Agrigento, Syracuse and Taormina
Palermo, Agrigento, Syracuse, Taormina
In Palermo, the island’s capital, you will have time to explore medieval streets and perhaps catch a performance at the magnificent opera house before heading south.
9 night price from £2,498 pp (low season), £3,246 pp (high season)
Includes
Flights
Car Hire
Accommodation in Palermo
Accommodation in Agrigento
+4
Tailor-made Holiday
Venice, Florence & Rome - A Classic Italian Trilogy
Venice, Florence, Rome
Combine Italy’s great cultural cities in this nine-night holiday. Fly to Venice and back from Rome, travelling between each city on the high-speed Italo intercity service, with comfortable seating and sleek, modern trains.
9 night holiday price from £2,375 per person
Includes
Flights
Water Taxi
Accommodation
Transfers in Florence
+3
Tailor-made Holiday
The Amalfi Coast: Naples, Capri & Positano
Naples, Capri, Positano
Staying for three nights in Naples you’ll have time to explore nearby Pompeii and Herculaneum and to visit the magnificent Archaeological Museum where many of the most impressive finds from both sites are exhibited.
9 nights from £2,998 pp low season, £4,420 pp high season
Includes
Flights
Car Transfers
Ferry Tickets
Accommodation in Naples
+3
Cultural Tours & Music Holidays
Villas & Gardens Around Rome
Rome
Italy not only has many of the greatest 16th and 17th century gardens in Europe, it also has some which have been extensively restored and indeed created in the 20th century. We visit two of these at Ninfa and La Landriana.
5 nights price from £2645 per person
Includes
Flights
Accommodation
Meals
Sightseeing
+1
Cultural Tours & Music Holidays
Art, Cuisine & Conversation - Milan with Valentina Harris
Milan
From 'risotto' and 'parmigiano' to 'tiramisù' and 'cappuccino', the Italian language has become a culinary 'lingua franca' synonymous with some of our favourite dishes. Designed for those with a curiosity about Italian which extends beyond the menu, our new holiday combines the best of Milanese cuisine with informal conversation classes.
Includes
Flights
Accommodation
Meals
Cooking class
+3
Cultural Tours & Music Holidays
The Italian Lakes - Gardens & Villas of Lakes Como & Maggiore
Lake Como
After a morning walking tour of Como, we travel by hydrofoil to Bellagio, known as the ‘Pearl of the Lake’. At the Villa Melzi exotic species thrive in the warm climate – the garden is renowned in springtime for its riotous display of azaleas.
Includes
Flights
Accommodation
Meals
Entrance Fees
+1
Cultural Tours & Music Holidays
Bologna - Italy's Gastronomic Heart
Bologna
Join Italian food expert Valentina Harris for a tour of the culinary heartland of Italy. Based in Bologna, known as “la dotta, la grassa, la rossa” for its ancient university, rich cuisine and terracotta rooftops.
5 nights price from £2847 per person
Includes
Flights
Accommodation
Meals
Entrances Fees
+1
Cultural Tours & Music Holidays
Opera at La Scala, Milan
Milan
La Scala, Milan is, for most opera lovers, the world’s most revered and important opera house. The theatre opened in 1778 with a performance of an opera by Salieri and since then many of the greatest Italian operas have received their first performance on its hallowed stage.
Includes
Flights
Accommodation
Two Dinners
Opera ticket
+2
Cultural Tours & Music Holidays
Renaissance Art in Florence
Florence
Since the Renaissance, Florence has been one of the most important destinations for discerning travellers with an appreciation of art, but it was the Grand Tourists of the 18th century who made Florence an essential component in a cultural education.
5 nights price from £2349 per person
Includes
Flights
Accommodation
Dinners
Entrance Fees
+1
Cultural Tours & Music Holidays
The Grandeur of Rome
Rome
The 3rd century AD saw Rome at its Imperial peak, a densely populated city spreading out over its seven hills, a testament to the power and wealth of the vast Roman Empire. Many of the glorious buildings and sites survive today bu...
Includes
Flights
Accommodation
Entrance Fees
Meals
+1
Cultural Tours & Music Holidays
The Villa Medici Giulini Collection
In 2025 we are making our third visit to the Villa Medici, home of Fernanda Giulini, for a very special private house party hosted by Fernanda herself. Her magnificent 17th century villa is home to an extraordinary collection of historic keyboard instruments, which will be brought to life in a series of concerts given by pianist Melvyn Tan.
4 nights price from £2685 per person
Includes
Flights
Accommodation
Meals
Concerts
+3
Cultural Tours & Music Holidays
Wines of Sicily
Syracuse, Taormina
Sicily is the crossroads of the Mediterranean and waves of successive conquerors - from the Phoenicians to the Ancient Greeks to the Normans, have left behind their cultural legacies.
Includes
Flights
Accommodation
Meals
Wine tastings
+2
Cultural Tours & Music Holidays
The Rossini Festival in Pesaro
Held every summer in Pesaro, where the composer was born in 1792, the Rossini Festival has always attracted the world’s greatest bel canto singers. Marilyn Horne, Montserrat Caballe, June Anderson, Rockwell Blake, Chris Merrit and Juan Diego Florez are just a few of those who have sung in Rossini’s hometown.
5 nights price from £3397 per person
Includes
Flights
Accommodation
Performance Tickets
Meals
+2
Speak to an expert - 020 7593 2288
Our expert reservations team regularly travel to a wide range of destinations to explore new cities, visit hotels and to research museums, galleries and restaurants so that we can offer the most up-to-date advice and recommendations.
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