Twelve Days of Travel: Explore Italy with a Tauck Bridges Family Tour

Tauck has been named to the “World Best” list with Travel + Leisure for 25 years and counting, and for good reason: They really are one of the very best tour providers in the world, and truly offer something for everyone. One of my favorite reasons for exploring the world by tour is because of the friendships formed and the fact that there are so many handcrafted and personalized activities and excursions that an individual traveler may not get to encounter on their own. Plus, there are so many advantages to having a trip planned for you as part of a small group tour: Your transportation is arranged, your activities are coordinated, your meals are paid for, and your lodging is taken care of— all in addition to the memorable experiences that are one-of-a-kind through a company like Tauck. As Tauck says, “The best travels bring the right kind of connections, with locals who share their daily lives along with cultural insights, secrets of nature, stories of the past that define the present, and special skills – and a journey becomes both enriching and everlasting. The most memorable trips aren't just about the grand sights you see. They're also about the little experiences you have along the way, those personal encounters and unexpected moments that make your visits – and your memories – extraordinary.”

While Tauck offers a variety of tours such as river cruises, land-based tours, expedition tours, and tours geared more towards adults, they offer a specialized multi-generational tour option called Tauck Bridges, which is what will be featured today. Tauck Bridges tours offer families with children, teens, and adults the opportunity to enjoy destinations around the globe with personally-tailored experiences designed for everyone in mind, visiting destinations such as the Canadian Rockies, safaris in Africa, Peru, The Galapagos Islands, mulitiple destinations in Europe, and more.

One of the tours that I am excited to show case today is their Italia Bella Tour, which visits Rome, Florence, Tuscany, Pisa, Venice, extra time to explore St. Peter’s Basilica, Doge’s Palace, and more. Who wouldn’t love to stroll the streets of Venice, stopping in a fragrant coffee shop for some espresso, or touring some of the most famous galleries in the world? This tour includes:

• TAUCK EXCLUSIVE – After-hours tour of the Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel, without the lines or crowds, for unhurried viewing

  • Exclusive dinner and evening aboard a pirate ship cruising the waterways of Venice

  • Vintage Fiat 500 ride (with a driver) across the Arno River for a great overview and gorgeous views of Florence

  • Visit to a 17th-century cooking school in Rome to learn to make gelato

  • All gratuities to Tauck Director, local guides, and drivers

• Multiple-night stays in historic hotels in the heart of Rome and Florence at the Hotel Splendide Royal Roma

• Two nights on a private island in the Venetian Lagoon at San Clemente Palace Kempinski Venice, winner of Condé Nast Traveler's 2018 "Top Hotels in Italy/Venice" Reader's Choice Award

• Visit to the hilltop town of Orvieto, including a tour of its underground Etruscan caves and honeycombed tunnels

• Guided tours of the Uffizi Gallery and Galleria dell'Accademia in Florence

• Visit to Pisa and the famed Leaning Tower

• First class high-speed rail travel from Florence to Venice

• Hands-on pizza making in Florence

• Airport transfers on arrival and departure as noted

• 14 meals, service charges, taxes and porterage

• Stay in luxury accommodations throughout your tour in centrally located areas

Pricing starts at $6,390 per person for eight nights in 2023; pre and post-trip lodging is optional and will be a separate charge.