Flights
Short Break
Grand Hotel Villa Cora
Florence, Italy
deluxe
This elegant villa was built in 1868 by Baron Oppenheim for his wife and later purchased by Napoleon III’s widow, the Empress Eugenié; it is one of the most opulent of the splendid villas that stand on the hillside to the south of the city.
It reopened in 2010 as a stylish hotel combining elegant furnishings with personal service. It has a peaceful setting in its own rose-filled gardens above the tree-lined avenue that winds its way up the hill from Porta Romana, the southern gate into the old city. Piazzale Michelangelo, a classic viewpoint over the city, is 10 minutes’ walk uphill and just above that stands the Romanesque church of San Miniato.
There are 30 rooms in the main villa and 14 in the ‘villino’ Eugenia, the former stables which also houses the spa. Rooms overlook the large heated swimming pool or the gardens and are beautifully furnished with restored period furniture and art from the family’s eclectic private collection. Public rooms feature trompel’oeil frescoes, decorative stucco, parquet floors and elaborate chandeliers. The ‘Le Bistrot’ restaurant occupies the splendid Sala Moresca in winter, and moves poolside in the warmer months. A complimentary shuttle operates from 9am to 9pm, stopping at key points in the city.
Speak to an Italy specialist
Contact our expert team for first-hand advice and a tailor-made quotation.
Pat Bellieni
Senior Reservations Consultant
Short Break
Grand Hotel Des Iles Borromees, Stresa
Lake Maggiore, Italy
superior
This grand, imposing hotel has a great position in the centre of Stresa, set in its own extensive park and overlooking the lake. Since 1861 it has welcomed distinguished guests from around the world. Now travellers come to appreciate the Belle Époque atmosphere and style, the magic of a past rich in tradition and history, whilst at the same time enjoying modern facilities.
Short Break
Monti Palace
Rome, Italy
superior
Opened in 2016, the Monti Palace is located in the middle of the fashionable and picturesque Monti district. The church of Santa Maria Maggiore, the Colosseum, Piazza Venezia, the Roman Forum and the famous shopping streets, via Nazionale and via del Corso are all within 10 minutes’ walk.
Short Break
Sotto Le Cummerse Albergo Diffuso
Locorotondo, Italy
‘Albergo Diffuso’, meaning a scattered or spread-out hotel, refers to an increasingly popular form of accommodation whereby guests stay in a series of apartments dotted throughout a characterful town, and experience living in close contact with residents rather than tourists.
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
Belmond Grand Hotel Timeo
Taormina, Italy
deluxe
Now owned by Belmond Hotels, the Timeo is Sicily’s finest deluxe property and certainly our favourite. The unique terrace has a restaurant offering guests delicious cooking and spectacular views over the Bay of Naxos with Mount Etna in the distance.
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.
Short Break
Sina Centurion Palace
Venice, Italy
Located in the quieter Dorsoduro district, the Centurion Palace stands on the Grand Canal, a few steps from the Santa Maria della Salute and two contemporary art museums, the Guggenheim and the Punta della Dogana Gallery.
Short Break
Gran Melia Villa Agrippina
Rome, Italy
deluxe
This stylish property offers great facilities, especially for the warm summer months and is well located just five minutes’ walk from the Vatican and close to the atmospheric streets of Trastevere.
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
Excelsior, Venice Lido
Venice, Italy
Unveiled in 1908, the Excelsior quickly became one of the most eminent hotels of Europe and to this day, maintains an air of sophistication. The property was renovated in 2018 and has some superb facilities, including its own extensive private beach, swimming pool, gastronomic restaurant and large terraces.
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 boutiq...
7 night price from £1,998 per person
Includes
Car Transfer
Accommodation
Kirker Concierge
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 £2,889 per person
Includes
Flight
Transfer
Accommodation
Kirker Guided Notes
+2
Tailor-made Holiday
Puglia - The Heel of Italy: 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 per person
Includes
Flights
Car hire for the duration
Accommodation
Concierge
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 £1,398 per person
Includes
Flights
Car Transfer
Car Hire
Accommodation
+2
Tailor-made Holiday
Classical Italy: Rome, Naples & Pompeii
Rome, Naples
Uncover the fascinating history of the Roman Empire from the Roman Forum and the Pantheon to the Bay of Naples and the well-preserved ruins of Pompeii and Herculaneum.
7 night price from £2,055 per person
Includes
Flights
Car Transfers
Kirker Concierge
Accommodation
+3
Tailor-made Holiday
Bologna, Parma & Ravenna
Bologna, Ravenna
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 £1,898 per person
Includes
Rail
Car Transfers
Kirker Concierge
Accommodation
+1
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
Car Transfers
Accommodation
Kirker Concierge
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 per person
Includes
Flights
Car Transfers
Ferry Tickets
Accommodation
+1
Tailor-made Holiday
Art Cities of Emilia-Romagna
Bologna
Emilia-Romagna is a region in northern Italy, world-renowned for its gastronomy and beautiful medieval cities.
Includes
Flight
Transfer
Rail Tickets
Accommodation
Tailor-made Holiday
The Sicilian Quartet: Palermo, Agrigento, Syracuse and Taormina
Palermo, Agrigento, Syracuse
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 £2,998 per person
Includes
Flights
Car Hire
Accommodation
Kirker Concierge
Cultural Tours & Music Holidays
Umbria - The Essence of Italy
Umbria
Perugia, the capital of Umbria and one of the finest cities in Italy is the centre from which we explore this fascinating region. Umbria is filled with historic art towns, perched on their hilltops with wonderful views of the rolling Umbrian countryside planted with olive groves and vineyards.
7 nights price from £2798 per person
Includes
Flights
Accommodation
Meals
Entrance Fees
+1
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.
6 nights price from £3989 per person
Includes
Flights
Accommodation
Meals
Entrance Fees
+1
Cultural Tours & Music Holidays
Sicily - An Enigmatic Island
Syracuse, Agrigento, Palermo
The largest island in the Mediterranean, Sicily’s strategic importance has given it a violent, eventful and colourful history. Doric temples, Roman mosaics, elegant and powerful Norman architecture and a wealth of Baroque and Renaissance palaces and churches are a reminder of its great past.
9 nights price from £3986 per person
Includes
Flights
Accommodation
Five Dinners
Sightseeing
+1
Cultural Tours & Music Holidays
Sailing Sicily & The Amalfi Coast with Valentina Harris
Join Italian chef Valentina Harris for a tall-ship voyage to Sicily and the Amalfi Coast. We stay for one night in ancient Ostia Antica before boarding Star Flyer at the port of Rome and enjoying a six-night cruise on board this elegant sailing ship, with its gleaming brass and flying sails.
7 nights price from £3215 per person
Includes
Flights
One night in Rome
Six nights onboard Star Flyer
Seven dinners and six lunches
+2
Cultural Tours & Music Holidays
The Bay of Naples
Naples
The ancient, imperial history of Naples and its glorious bay is so powerfully etched into the minds of travellers to the region that it often comes as a shock to remember that, after the fall of the Roman Empire, Naples was reborn and went on to establish itself as a major cultural centre.
6 nights price from £2547 per person
Includes
Return Flights
Accommodation
Dinners
Sightseeing
+1
Cultural Tours & Music Holidays
Parma, Cremona & Mantua
Celebrate the very best of Italian culture – art, music and delicious cuisine – in the company of popular Kirker lecturer, Andrew Allen. Based in Parma, a city synonymous with the best of Italian culinary ingredients and with a key role in the history of Italian music, we will also explore the nearby cities of Cremona and Mantua.
5 nights price from £2459 per person
Includes
Flights
Accommodation
Meals
Entrance Fees
+1
Cultural Tours & Music Holidays
The Kirker Music Festival on Lake Como
Lake Como
We will be returning to the romantic and beautiful shores of Lake Como for another Kirker Music Festival at the lakeside Hotel Imperiale in Moltrasio.
Includes
Flights
Accommodation
Meals
Concerts
+2
Cultural Tours & Music Holidays
The Kirker Ischia Music Festival
Ischia
Our annual visit to the beautiful and verdant island of Ischia in the Bay of Naples is a highlight in the Kirker calendar.
7 nights price from £3389 per person
Includes
Flights
Accommodation
Dinners
Concerts
+3
Cultural Tours & Music Holidays
The Puccini Opera Festival
Lucca
Giacomo Puccini was born into a musical family in Lucca on 22 December 1858. As a boy Puccini sang in the choir of the Cathedral of San Martino and later received his musical education at the conservatory in Milan.
Includes
Flights
Accommodation
Dinners
Three performances
+2
Cultural Tours & Music Holidays
Puglia & Basilicata: The Lands Between the Seas
Lecce
Puglia, the ‘heel’ of Italy, is an ancient land that produces more olive oil and wine than any other region of Italy. It is highly fertile despite its harsh limestone landscape typical of the Mezzogiorno.
6 nights price from £2989 per person
Includes
Flights
Accommodation
Dinners
Sightseeing
+1
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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