Italian Tapestry

9 days from Venice to Sorrento
Private, personally escorted tour by Shawnda McAlester, October 17 - October 25, 2026

If you could weave together the perfect Italy vacation,
what would you bring to the loom?

The pastel palaces of Venice? The muted frescoes of Florence? The ornate piazzas of Rome? The azure waters of Capri? We’ve selected the most stunning scenes across the country to create a rich and rewarding tapestry of experiences on this visual and tactile tour of Italy. A gondola serenade in romantic Venice, a balsamic vinegar tasting in culinary Modena, a walking tour of Pompeii’s excavations, a Limoncello sampling in sunny Sorrento—they’re all part of a perfectly woven itinerary that starts in the “Floating City,” coasts through the rolling green Tuscan Hills, explores the “Eternal City” and then saunters south to the fashionable resort of Capri. In true Italian fashion, this vibrant and vivid tour of Italy is a work of art.

Best of all, Shawnda McAlester at The Joy of Travel is offering this amazing experience as a private, personally escorted tour.

Tour dates October 17 - October 25, 2026

Tour price  $3399 per person

Single Supplement $920 (only two single rooms available)

We can easily as pre or post nights to this tour if you would like to extend your adventure in Italy.

Below are the day to day details.  Please contact Shawnda for more information about securing your space.

Shawnda McAlester
918-429-3267 or Shawnda@thejoyoftravel.net

 
 

Day-to-day Itinerary

1 ARRIVE ON VENICE ISLAND, ITALY

Welcome to Venice!

At 6 pm, meet your Tour Director and travel companions for a welcome dinner at your hotel.

  • dinner

Click on map to view larger

2 VENICE ISLAND

Italian Beauties

VENICE Take a private boat ride on the canals. Guided walking tour includes St. Mark’s Square and views of the Basilica, Doges’ Palace and the Bridge of Sighs. Glassblowing demonstration followed by a Gondola ride with music and free time.

  • breakfast

  • EPIC RIDE Centuries ago, gondolas were the main form of transportation in Venice, powered by a gondolier with a single paddle to navigate the canals of this historic city. Today, Venetian gondoliers continue generations of family tradition to squire visitors through the iconic waterways while serenading passengers with romantic Italian ballads.

3 VENICE ISLAND–MODENA–FLORENCE

Sweet & Sour in Modena

MODENA Enjoy a balsamic vinegar tasting at the renowned Acetaia Leonardi en route to Florence.
205 mi / 330 km

  • breakfast

  • CULTURE & TRADITION Creating classic Balsamic Vinegar requires the patience learned through four generations of devotion and respect for the 18th-century traditions at Acetaia Leonardi farm. The farm sits on 27 acres of vineyards where Trebbiano and Lambrusco grapes are grown to produce this delicate balance of sweet and sour Modena specialty.

4 FLORENCE–SIENA

Fine Art in Firenze

FLORENCE Guided sightseeing includes Michelangelo’s masterpiece, David, at the Academy of Fine Arts, Giotto’s Bell Tower, the Baptistry’s heavy bronze “Gates of Paradise,” and Signoria Square. Free time before departing for Siena.
62 mi / 100 km

  • breakfast

  • ART & ARCHITECTURE Those lucky enough to visit the Tuscan capital are witness to some of the world’s most magnificent art. Home to a wealth of Rennaissance masterpieces, Florence is famous for Michelangelo’s Marble Masterpiece, David, standing ready for battle in the Academy of Fine Arts. Outside, the Piazza del Duomo and Signoria Square offer spectacular sights of Florentine Gothic and Renaissance art, architecture, and monuments.

5 SIENA–PIENZA–ROME

Heart & Soul in Siena

SIENA Guided walking tour includes sights of the Duomo and Piazza del Campo.
PIENZA Enjoy an orientation walk and free time for lunch en route to Rome.
155 mi / 250 km

  • breakfast

  • CITY SIGHTS Perched within Italy’s stunning Tuscany region, the medieval city of Siena is a treasure trove of medieval architecture. The 13th-century Piazza del Campo remains the heart of Siena, where locals stroll and socialize as they have done for centuries. The Duomo di Siena stands majestically with its black and white marble façade amid the serenity of Siena’s streets and squares.

6 ROME

Spend your day your way in Rome

ROME Guided sightseeing includes the St. Peter’s Square and Basilica. Explore more of Rome with your choice of included Globus Choice excursions.

  • breakfast

  • A TASTE OF ROME: A GUIDED CULINARY TOUR: Enjoy the traditional delights of la dolce vita with a guided culinary tour in the Testaccio area, referred to by the locals as the “heart of Rome.” Taste authentic specialties, from Caprese with buffalo mozzarella and cherry tomatoes to savory bites of suppli. Indulge in Italian gelato and visit the old slaughterhouse and the archaeological site of Monte sei Cocci.
    OR:
    HISTORIC FAITH: Follow your guide on to the Jewish Ghetto to hear of its long and storied history—from the ruins of Republican and Imperial Rome to the medieval age; from the Renaissance Ghetto to the construction of the Synagogue and the ultimate tragic affront of Nazi deportation suffered by the oldest Jewish community in Europe. Taste a traditional Kosher pastry, then continue on to magnificent Basilica of Saint Mary the Major. Built in the 4th century to celebrate a miraculous August snowfall, the basilica was rebuilt in the 5th century with continued embellishments ever since. See the papal basilica’s Room of the Popes and the famed five-story Bernini staircase.

7 ROME–POMPEII–SORRENTO AREA

Time Stands Still in Pompeii

ROME Scenic drive en route to Sorrento.*
POMPEII Take a guided walking tour of the excavations, followed by free time for lunch.
174 mi / 280 km

* For operational reasons, schedule changes for the Rome program cannot be excluded.

  • breakfast

  • LEGENDS & LORE The fascinating archaeological site of Pompeii is a treasured glimpse into Roman life near the Bay of Naples. This once thriving and sophisticated Roman city was consumed by the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D., with its residents and structures buried beneath inescapable ash and stone. See the preserved site of excavated ruins that reveal remarkable frescoes, artwork, and artifacts within its streets and dwellings of the people who perished here.

8 SORRENTO AREA. EXCURSION TO CAPRI

Jetfoil ride to Capri.

CAPRI Take a funicular ride from the harbor to the village. Guided sightseeing includes the Augustus Gardens with free time for lunch before returning to Sorrento.
SORRENTO AREA Enjoy free time this afternoon before a farewell dinner with Limoncello at a local restaurant.

  • breakfast

  • dinner

  • NATURAL WONDERS Nestled high above the sea on the island of Capri lie the exquisite Gardens of Augustus. This natural paradise promises 180-degree panoramic views and a kaleidoscope of botanical beauty on the cliffs overlooking the island and the sapphire sea below. Toast the view with a glass of granita for a frozen treat amid the sun-washed monuments and mesmerizing vistas.

9 SORRENTO AREA

Safe travels until we meet again!

Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. The nearest airport is Naples.

  • breakfast

 

All payments are made directly to wholesale suppliers and any cancellations or changes are subject to their fee schedule and policies. Please be aware that deposits are non-refundable. If insurance has been purchased you may be entitled to a credit up to the full amount paid, minus the cost of the insurance. Exceptions may be made for medical reasons, but it is at the sole discretion of the insurance company. The Joy of Travel, LLC does not have any control over insurance claims or payments.