Italian Connection | 1.800.462.7911 | www.italian-connection.com

If you long to explore the real Italy, then Italian Connection’s insider knowledge and personal approach to travel is for you. Let our exceptional guides bring you behind the scenes, allowing you to discover an Italy you’d never find on your own.

Our careful research means you are unencumbered by the details of organizing a trip, so all you have to do is relax and think about lunch. When you travel with us we want you to feel far away from your daily routine, to wake up each day with the delicious realization that you are in Italy.

Italy has a wealth of astonishing artistic treasures, a landscape to inspire poets, a richly varied cuisine, and a warm, generous people. To bring you the very best of each region in bell’Italia, we spend lots of time walking and tasting our way through a labyrinth of choices, and then distill our finds into a tour. We focus on Italy’s rich cultural heritage to make each of our trips absolutely unique.

Wherever we go, you can be sure we have personally selected every pathway, hotel and authentic trattoria, and we introduce you to the many welcoming Italian friends that we have made along the way.

Italy isn’t flat, so expect to be going up and down hills, and enjoying great views! Some tours have a range of walks indicated by levels, 1-2 or 2-3. Even our easy walking won’t be easy, if you haven’t done some pre-tour preparation, i.e. more than walking from the parking lot to your office. The best training for your Italian Connection walking tour is to do what you will do on tour - so get out there and walk, eat pasta and drink wine!

Level 1: Easy Distances are 8-10 km (5-7 miles) per day, which translates into 2-4 hours of walking. Walks are mostly on dirt paths and gravel roads, with uniform walking surfaces, and there is excellent van access, so you can get a lift at many points along the route. Sturdy walking shoes are advisable. Sicily’s Couscous Coast, Tuscany Hilltowns or Umbria are mostly level 1 walks, as well as Splendors of Sicily.

Level 2: Moderate Longer distances of 12-16 km (8-10 miles) on dirt paths, or steeper grades than Level 1. May include some cobblestone paths and steps or narrow paths along terraced hillsides. Some days have good van access; otherwise there are options for shortening the walks. Sturdy walking shoes or lightweight boots are recommended. Our Cinque Terre walking tour, as well as Piedmont and Amalfi Coast offer mostly level 2 walking.

Level 3: Fitness Overall distances as in Level 2, but with longer uphills and downhills. Walks are at a higher altitude, from 1200-2400 meters or 3500-8000 feet, following trails and forest service roads. Paths are well-marked but may include short sections that are narrow or exposed. Limited van access, but there are lots of options for shortening the route. Lightweight boots are best. Try our Wildflowers in the Dolomites for superb mountain walks and astonishing wildflowers and Dolomites High Routes for the most challenging walks with spectacular views.

View a complete list of our walking tours.

Great food and wine are an integral part of Italian life, and of every Italian Connection tour, with regional culinary delights that cry mangia!

Taste creamy cannoli in Sicily, exquisite white truffles in Piedmont, the freshest fish in Amalfi, amazing antipasti in Apulia, homemade pasta in Umbria, hearty polenta in the Dolomites, and the finest extra-virgin olive oil in Tuscany.

We dine in personally selected ristoranti and trattorie that serve authentic regional cuisine, and some of our favorite meals are in the private homes of our friends, where we are treated to warm Italian hospitality and fine home cooking.

An impressive selection of wine is included with our meals. Play ‘name that region’ with glasses of Barolo, Chianti, Amarone, Nero d’Avola, Primitivo, Sagrantino... or just quaff!

Don’t be surprised if many of the hotels we stay in have not yet made it into the guidebooks - we find them before anyone else! Our small groups enable us to use exclusive hotels not available to larger groups, and you’ll find our accommodations are superior to many higher-priced tours.

Many of our tours feature luxury hotels, but we believe that luxury is only a part of the tour experience. When we include a wonderful off-the-beaten-path destination, the hotels tend to be simpler, so some tours have a combination of both luxurious hotels and comfy inns. All our accommodations have been personally selected for their fine locations, comfortable rooms and welcoming staff.

Some hotels offer spa facilities with saunas and soothing massages. For the ultimate in a pampered made-to-measure vacation, book a Luxury Escape for your own private group.

We rate our trip accommodations from three to five diamonds as follows:

Comfortable inns and delightful farmhouses.

Very comfortable hotels in especially attractive settings.

Deluxe hotels or luxury inns with all amenities and excellent service.