tour of italy photos

Italy Photo Tour

Your photo tour leaders have led photo tours & workshops across the globe. Along with expert guides, they’ll take you from Rome to Tuscany , Florence , and Cinque Terre highlighting some of the premier photography spots that each region has to offer.

We’ll visit some of the most beautiful and photogenic portions of Italy as we lead you on various winery tours, tastings and history tours, all blending beautifully with the unique photographic opportunities and instruction. While we have specific itineraries planned, we also allow some flexibility to take advantage of photographic opportunities we encounter along the way.

So travel back in time with us on this one-of-a-kind Photo Tour of Italy!

Accommodation:

Small, locally owned agriturismo, guesthouses and hotels

Transportation:

Minibus, local bus, train, walking

Physical Rating: Average

Trip type: small group.

Small group experience (max 12)

Tour Length: 8 Days

April 19th-27th, 2018 (with arrival & departure)

Location: Italy

Rome, Tuscany, Florence, Cinque Terre, Viterbo

Tour Price: $5,395 USD

$1000 USD deposit required to reserve your spot

Tour Leaders *

Primary Leader: Elia Locardi Secondary Leader (subject to change):  Naomi Locardi

Register for the Italy photo tour

Select your room type and payment amount below, then add it to your cart and finalize your registration and payment.

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Italy Photo Tour Itinerary

From Venice to Rome: 21 photos of a trip through Italy’s highlights

On some level, at least sometimes, we all dream of Italy.

It’s not just the pizza and pasta, the landmarks and the icons, but it’s that quintessentially Italian way of life. A life filled with coffee and class, with culture and, um, other great things that don’t begin with the letter ‘C’…

But, seriously, Italy is one of those countries you have to visit at least once. Your life will quite possibly be incomplete if you don’t take in Venice’s dreamy waterways, Cinque Terre’s colourful villages, and Rome’s majestic sites.

And if you’re pressed for time, or just want to blitz through the country’s top spots, we have the trip for you. An 8-day Highlights of Italy trip that takes you through everything listed above, and more. Here’s a bunch of photos from an actual Intrepid tour there, so you can get a glimpse into some of Italy’s top attractions, and a destination that’s a strong contender for your very next adventure…

Day 1: Venice

A floating city of canals, alleyways and magnificence, it’s hard to put Venice’s magic into words. Meet fellow like-minded travellers on the first day of your Intrepid trip, and get to grips with this stunning place.

An Intrepid group exploring Venice

Enjoying the canals!

READ MORE: HOW TO BEAT THE CROWDS IN VENICE

Day 2: Venice

It might be worth waking up early to discover the spellbinding islands of Burano (pictured just below). Catching the sunset from San Giorgio’s bell tower is also a great option, as is a quintessential gondola ride.

Picture perfect Burano

Taking in the view from San Giorgio bell tower

Day 3: La Spezia

It’s time to take the train to La Spezia, the gateway to the five dazzling villages of Cinque Terre. The journey isn’t short, but it is a very scenic one. Consider venturing on a close-by optional boat trip in the evening (focaccia bread and Prosecco included).

Accommodation in La Spezia

A sunset boat ride in Cinque Terre

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Day 4: Cinque Terre

Put some hiking boots on and get walking the footpaths of Cinque Terre. Today is the day to wind through vineyards and vistas as you enjoy the wonders of these pastel-coloured villages. A pesto-making class is also an option!

A lookout in Vernazza, one of Cinque Terre’s five villages

So much seafood in Cinque Terre

HIKE, BIKE & KAYAK THROUGH CINQUE TERRE ON THIS 8-DAY ADVENTURE

Day 5: Florence

Tuscany’s capital is simply captivating. Pre-book your visit to the Uffizi Gallery (so you don’t have to wait in line), or wander in awe around the atmospheric streets.

An Intrepid group walking around Florence

Unparalleled shopping opportunities in Florence

READ MORE: 5 CAN’T-MISS RESTAURANTS IN FLORENCE

Day 6: Florence

Continue your explorations of Florence. Browse museums aplenty, taste local specialties, and consider enjoying sunset from the iconic Piazzale Michelangelo.

You can’t come to Italy and not indulge

The Duomo, illuminated by sunset

Picnic time at Piazzale Michelangelo

READ MORE: THE UNEXPECTED BENEFITS OF VISITING ITALY ON A SMALL GROUP TOUR

Day 7: Rome

Italy’s capital city is jam-packed with spectacular sights – from the Colosseum to the Trevi Fountain to the Pantheon. After walking round it all, you’ll deserve a typical, carb-heavy Italian meal (or three).

The iconic Colosseum

Trattoria Da Enzo always delights

CHECK OUT INTREPID’S RANGE OF TRIPS IN ITALY

Day 8: Rome

Your trip is coming to an end, so time to tick off any last bucket list sites! The atmospheric, cobblestone streets of the neighbourhood of Trastevere might also be calling your name. Alternatively, take a day trip with Urban Adventures .

The lovely neighbourhood of Trastevere

An Intrepid group at the Pantheon

These photos were all taken on our 8-day Highlights of Italy trip. For our vast range of other tours in Italy, click here !

(All images taken by Cliff Bielawski on Highlights of Italy.)

Feeling inspired?

Bex Shapiro

Born in London and based in Toronto, Bex is happiest anywhere she can connect with interesting people over good food. She's passionate about sustainable travel and powerful storytelling, and her favourite cities are New York and Shanghai. She's also the Senior Editorial Manager at Intrepid. Follow her adventures on Twitter and Insta @BexShapiro.

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Grand Tour of Italy

4.7 out of 5 stars

You have up to 60 days to get a full refund

Feel good about putting a tour on the calendar today: Enroll in AutoPay or pay in full when you book, and if you change your mind,  you’ll get your money back .†

Immerse yourself in Italy’s history and beauty on a grand journey from Milan to Rome.

From wandering through medieval piazzas, to basking in postcard-worthy views of Naples and sampling antipasti in Umbria, a tour of Italy is a feast for the eyes—and your taste buds. Our enchanting two-week tour will guide you through the iconic cities you’ve been dreaming of, including Florence, Rome, and Venice, as well as the smaller treasures of Lake Como, Assisi, and Sorrento. Add a can’t-miss excursion and venture to Tuscan hill towns or the island jewel of Capri or use your downtime to experience the Italian art of dolce far niente—the sweetness of doing nothing. Not ready to leave? We wouldn’t want to, either. Take advantage of our two-day Rome extension—and take your time.

Your tour package includes

• 13 nights in handpicked hotels
• 13 breakfasts
• 6 dinners with beer or wine
• 7 sightseeing tours
• Expert Tour Director & local guides

Included highlights

• Villa Carlotta
• Roman Theater of Verona
• St. Mark’s Basilica
• Florence Duomo
• Assisi’s basilicas

An expert specializing in tours of this region is here to help.

Day-by-day itinerary

Board your overnight flight to Milan today.

Take a deep respiro, or breath—you’re in Italy! After arriving in Milan, you’ll transfer to your hotel in the Lake Como region. Relax and unpack before meeting your Tour Director and fellow travelers for a welcome dinner served with beer or wine.  

Start the day with a visit to Villa Carlotta, a lush botanical garden and art museum with striking, sparkling views of Lake Como. Built at the end of the 17th century by the marquises Clerici of Milan, it boasts fragrant rose gardens, splashy azalea bushes, and a pair of citrus-rimmed tunnels that date to the first occupants of the villa.

Afterward, you can choose to return to your hotel and unwind, or do some solo exploration. Alternatively, take to the glittering waters of Lake Como by adding a scenic cruise to your itinerary. You’ll float by some of Italy’s most sumptuous residences and gardens, and stop in the village of Bellagio for good measure.

Please note: From November through March, an ascent by funicular to the village of Brunate will replace the visit to Villa Carlotta—another breathtaking way to take in a panoramic view of Lake Como and the Alps

Lake Como Cruise & Bellagio

From $105 per person

It’s easy to fall in love in, and with, Verona and its maze of ancient Romanesque, Gothic, and Byzantine architecture tucked into the bends of the Adige River. No wonder it served as the backdrop for Romeo and Juliet . Join your Tour Director for a walk through this UNESCO-recognized city center.

• Imagine your own “Oh, Romeo, Romeo” moment with a visit to Casa di Giulietta, site of the famous balcony built in honor of Shakespeare’s tale of the ill-fated lovers.
• Soak in the history in the oldest square in Verona, Piazza delle Erbe, then enjoy some free time to explore the less crowded Gothic architecture of Piazza Dante—named for Italian poet Dante Alighieri of The Divine Comedy fame.
• Marvel at the grandeur of the 2,000-year-old Verona Arena, still in use today, whose pink and white stones have stood witness to gladiator shows, opera productions, and modern concerts.
• Enjoy free time to explore Verona on your own.

Continue to Venice where you’ll wind down the day with your fellow travelers over an included dinner served with beer or wine.

Surrender to the beauty of Venice’s labyrinthine canals, elegant bridges, and ornate Gothic and Renaissance architecture. Close your eyes and let the sound of lapping water and the passing gondolas soothe you, but not for too long—there’s so much to see! You’ll meet up with your local guide and explore the heart of Venice on foot and by vaporetto, or water taxi.

• Feel the energy of St. Mark’s Square, with its thriving cafes and sumptuous buildings, and marvel at St. Mark’s Basilica.
• See the Bridge of Sighs, named after the suggestion that prisoners would sigh at their final view of their beloved Venice through the window before being taken down to their cells in the New Prisons.
• Watch a Murano glass blowing demonstration where artisans keep the Venetian glasswork tradition alive. Observe as they skillfully use the distinctive millefiori technique—where intricate patterns are created by fusing together tiny glass rods.

Spend a free afternoon exploring Venice’s canals or add an excursion.

Please note: On some departures travelers may enter St. Mark's Basilica after the sightseeing tour based on ticket time availability.

Gondola Ride: Venice Canal Cruise

From $89 per person

Private Gondola Ride: Canal Cruise for Two

From $165 per person

Sulla strada per Firenze (that’s Italian for “on the way to Florence”), stop in Ferrara, a city center wrapped in defensive walls and surrounded by agricultural land. You’ll immerse yourself in the Renaissance splendor of the city center as you wander along its cobblestone streets. Take in the majestic Este Castle—watch out for the moats—and the Palazzo dei Diamanti, named for the 8,000 pink and white diamond-shaped blocks that cover its facade. 

End the day in Florence and linger with your fellow travelers over an included dinner, served with beer or wine.  

Florence was the beating heart of the Renaissance period and is the final resting place of luminaries such as Galileo, Michelangelo, and Machiavelli.

• Admire the architectural masterpiece of Florence Cathedral (Duomo) with its iconic dome, complemented by the Gothic beauty of Giotto’s Campanile—a freestanding bell tower adorned with colorful marble panels and detailed relief work.
• Wander across the iconic Ponte Vecchio, a medieval bridge lined with charming shops, offering stunning views of the Arno River.
• Explore the renowned Basilica of Santa Croce, a 13th-century Franciscan church containing magnificent frescoes depicting the life of St. Francis and the tombs of Michelangelo and Niccolo Machiavelli.

Enjoy free time in Florence or add an excursion.

Accademia Gallery

From $65 per person

The day is yours! Enjoy a free day in Florence or add an excursion to the Tuscan hill towns.  

Need inspiration for your day in town? Escape the crowds and wander through the Boboli Gardens, located behind the grand Pitti Palace. Explore the extensive greenery, hidden pathways, and stunning sculptures in this peaceful oasis. Dive into the vibrant Mercato di Sant’Ambrogio, serving locals for more than 100 years. Smaller than its more famous counterpart, the Mercato Centrale, you’ll get an intimate and authentic appreciation for how Florentines live. Browse through market stalls bursting with fresh produce, regional delicacies, and traditional wares. Join the locals for a coffee or a bite to eat at the market’s lively cafes. 

San Gimignano: Medieval Sights & Tuscan Flavors

From $115 per person

The route from Florence to Assisi takes you through the picturesque landscapes of central Italy. As you leave Florence behind, you’ll journey through rolling hills, vineyards, and idyllic Tuscan countryside dotted with cypress trees and quaint farmhouses.

• Visit the Basilica of San Francesco d’Assisi  and admire the stunning frescoes by renowned artists, including Giotto, depicting the life of Saint Francis.
• Take in the serene and spiritual hilltop sights before ending the night with the included cena—dinner—served with beer or wine.

Please note: The Basilica of San Francesco d’Assisi is closed on Sundays for worship.

You’ll be so glad that you have more time in Assisi. Take time to lose yourself in the medieval streets of Assisi’s historic center, characterized by stone buildings, piazzas, and alleyways. Discover local artisan shops, cozy cafés, and hidden corners you’ll treasure. Looking for more guided exploration? Join the optional excursion to Perugia, brimming with Renaissance art and architecture, where you’ll enjoy an expert-led tour, Umbrian cuisine, and a visit to a cave wine cellar—with a tasting, of course.  

Perugia: City Highlights & Wine Tasting

On our way to the Sorrento peninsula, stop in Pompeii. Step into an ancient city frozen in time, where excavated ruins unveil the daily life and tragedy of a bygone civilization. Marvel at the well-preserved streets, houses, and public buildings that offer a glimpse into the life of ancient Romans.  

Continue to the Sorrento peninsula and sit down for an included dinner served with beer or wine. 

With the Sorrento peninsula as your stomping ground for the day, add an optional excursion to the resort island of Capri. Or, use this free day to journey to nearby Positano or Amalfi on your own for a hike up narrow, colorful streets or scenic coastal trails. Al fresco dining with a cliffside view is a must.  

Capri: A Day on the Iconic Island

From $125 per person

Step into Rome, a living tapestry of contradictions where ancient ruins coexist with a vibrant, modern spirit. Lose yourself in a chaotic symphony of honking Vespas, busy markets, and secret alleyways.

• Immerse yourself in the grandeur of Imperial Rome, where history unfolds around every corner.
• Experience the awe-inspiring Colosseum, the monumental amphitheater that echoes with the roar of ancient spectacles where you can walk in the footsteps of gladiators and feel the weight of history.
• Traverse the evocative ruins of the Forum, once the pulsating heart of Roman life. Imagine the echoes of parades and gripping trials as you explore the remnants of this ancient marketplace.
• See Palatine Hill, one of the oldest parts of the city and said to be the birthplace of Rome itself.

On your free day in Rome, you can discover the hidden gem of Trastevere, a bohemian and mostly car-free neighborhood filled with narrow streets and delectable trattorias. Need a moment of respite? Visit the picturesque Aventine Hill, home to the peaceful Giardino degli Aranci (Orange Garden) and the famous keyhole view of St. Peter’s Basilica—which you can visit by adding the guided tour of Vatican City to your day. Here, you’ll also experience the grandeur and serene beauty of the Vatican Museum, as well as the Sistine Chapel’s venerated ceiling fresco. The day is yours to seize.

Finally, join your group at tonight’s farewell dinner, served with beer or wine. You’ll be treated to a multi-course traditional Italian meal and a hearty helping of live traditional entertainment.

Iconic Sights: Vatican City

Transfer to the airport for your flight home or resta ancora un po'—Italian for stay a little longer—to relish more of Rome’s unforgettable sites.   

Use your free day in Rome to enjoy the city at your own pace. Be sure to ask your Tour Director for recommendations—there’s more to Rome than meets the eye, including beneath the city. Did you know that you can descend into eerie underground chambers adorned with bones and skeletal remains in a unique display of artistic macabre at the Capuchin Crypt, also known as the Bone Chapel? And when in Rome, do as the Romans do and bring a refillable water bottle to top off at any of the city's nasoni—cast-iron water fountains.  

Don’t feel like making decisions? Add a guided walking tour through Rome where you can delight in the lushness of the Trevi Fountain and the Piazza Navona. How could this day get any better? Add a pasta-making class where you can end the evening dining on your own creation!   

Pasta-Making Class & Dinner

From $119 per person

Walking Tour of Rome's Iconic Sights

From $85 per person

It’s your final full day in Rome. You won’t want to skip the guided tour of St. Paul’s Basilica—one of Rome’s four major papal basilicas.  

Prefer to spend the day on your own? Whether you want to take it easy over a morning cappuccino or take in the beauty of the Galleria Borghese’s art collection, the day belongs to you.   

Celebrate your trip and raise your glass for a farewell drink with your fellow group members on your last night in Rome.  

Ancient Rome: St. Paul’s Basilica & the Catacombs

Transfer to the airport for your flight home. Arrivederci e a presto—goodbye and see you soon. 

Book for just $99 down

That’s all it takes to secure your spot on tour with AutoPay. Then, pay for your trip in interest-free, monthly installments.†

Overall rating 4.7 out of 5

5 out of 5 stars

I have to start with our tour guide, Stefania. This young woman has such a wealth of knowledge about the country she calls home. And her love for it is evident in the way she expresses herself in the stories that she tells. I am so glad I decided to go with EF tours for my first trip to Italy. Had I...

The Grand Tour of Italy was very informative and enjoyable. The tour director Stefania was outstanding. Lecco, Venice and Rome hotels were excellent. Florence and Assisi hotels had major problems with room temperature and/or hot water and staff had poor attitude. Assisi had a very poor breakfast.

Traveler photos

Hotels, flights & FAQ

This scenic hotel is located in Lecco, on the shores of Lake Como. Guests enjoy free Wi-Fi, a gym, and restaurant. Nearby, you’ll find walking paths, ...

This classical hotel is located in on the Venetian island of Lido. Guests enjoy a solarium, fitness center, and free Wi-Fi. Nearby, you’ll find the Ve...

This modern hotel is located in the Lugarno neighborhood of Florence. Guests enjoy the outdoor terrace, on-site restaurants, and bar. Nearby you’ll fi...

This traditional hotel is located near the city center of Assisi. Guests enjoy a restaurant, pool, and spa. Nearby, you’ll find the Basilica of Santa ...

This cozy hotel is located in the city center. Guests enjoy an outdoor pool, bar, and free Wi-Fi. Nearby, you’ll find Piazza Tasso, Marameo Beach, and...

This modern hotel is located near Termini Station. Guests enjoy free WiFi, a minibar, and laundry center. Nearby, you'll find Arcibasilica di San Giov...

• Round-trip flight for your tour
• Airport transfers at your destination
• A great price locked in today
• 24/7 support from our dedicated service team
• Options for arriving early, staying longer, or requesting an upgrade
• Flexible rebooking options if your tour itinerary changes
• Find out more about flights
• In order to enter Italy, U.S. and Canadian citizens need a valid passport with an expiration date extending at least six months beyond the date of reentry.
• We recommend having at least one blank passport page for entry stamps.
• Beginning in 2025, U.S. and Canadian passport holders must register for an ETIAS travel authorization in order to enter many European countries.
• Passport holders from over 60 visa-exempt countries (including the U.S. and Canada) will need to apply for an ETIAS travel authorization in order to visit 30 European countries. That means that even if you’ve previously traveled to any of these European countries without a visa, starting in 2025, you’ll need to get ETIAS authorization to visit them again. If you’re traveling to multiple countries with this requirement, you only need to complete the form once. All Go Ahead travelers are responsible for obtaining their own ETIAS travel authorization before departure. For more details, please visit our Help Center .
• If you are not a U.S. or Canadian citizen, you must contact your destination country’s consulate for your specific entry requirements.
• You can see the most up-to-date entry requirements for the destination(s) you’ll visit on tour by going to goaheadtours.com/entry-requirements and searching the code MIT.
• Round-trip flights booked through Go Ahead Tours arrive in Milan (Malpensa) airport and depart from Rome.
• Transfers to and from the airport at your destination are included for travelers who have purchased their flights through Go Ahead Tours. Travelers who purchase their own flights may request airport transfers with Go Ahead Tours for an additional cost if they are arriving or departing on the standard day.
• When you arrive in Milan, a Go Ahead representative will be waiting for you in the arrivals hall with a Go Ahead sign or a sign with your name(s). If you don’t see a representative immediately, please be patient and stay in the arrivals area. They may be assisting another traveler who has also just arrived and will be back shortly.
• Please note that the transfer between Milan Malpensa airport and your hotel in the Lake Como region is typically more than an hour drive. Please contact us with any questions regarding this transfer.

Physical Activity Level

This is a high physical activity-level tour. You can expect to be on the move on a regular basis throughout the course of the tour.

Tour Pacing

This is a steady-paced tour. The pace of a tour itinerary considers how often you’ll switch hotels, the amount of planned daily activities, and how you’ll get from place to place. You can expect:

• 3 full days of included activities
• Most transportation by motor coach
• Occasional transportation by boat
• About 3-4 hours of bus time daily

Walking, Terrain & Physical Requirements

• Travelers should be prepared to walk 2-3 miles per day- this includes city streets, cobblestones, stairs, and hills.
• Cobblestone streets can become slick when wet.
• The city of Venice is fully pedestrian with 3-5 steps leading up and down the many bridges throughout the city.
• The terrain around the Roman Forum and the Colosseum includes inclines and uneven stairs.
• Travelers should be healthy enough to participate in all included walks without assistance.
• Please Note: Adding optional excursions may increase the total amount of walking on tour.

Climate Considerations

• In the summer months (June-September), travelers can expect heatwaves with temperatures consistently above 90F.
• Venice experiences the Acqua Alta, or high water, during the fall and winter months. During this time, travelers can expect the lower parts of the city to flood for a few hours during the day.

Physical Activity & Tour Pace Questions

• Go Ahead Tours and the Tour Director who accompanies your group are unable to provide special mobility or luggage handling assistance to travelers on tour. The responsibility of the Tour Director is to ensure the group enjoys a smooth and informative journey, and they can’t be relied on to provide individualized assistance to any one traveler.
• This tour moves at a reasonable pace to avoid missing scheduled stops. The rest of the group cannot miss any scheduled activities because of the needs of an individual.
• Due to the pace and physical activity level of this tour, mobility aids such as wheelchairs or walkers will be difficult to use and are not recommended. Please notify Go Ahead Tours before your departure if you plan to bring these on tour with you.
• If you have mobility concerns or tour pace questions, please visit our Help Center or send a message to our Customer Experience Team. We’re here to help!
• This tour includes various modes of transportation including water taxi and private motor coach. Some modes of transportation will have raised platforms or steps and often not provide access to ramps or lifts.
• A water taxi ride in Venice is included in the price of your tour.
• All other included transportation on this tour is by private motor coach.
• In Venice, water taxis are the main form of transportation and typically require travelers to step down into a rocking boat.
• Please note that our travelers are limited to one checked bag and one carry-on bag per person due to storage limitations on motor coaches and boats.
• Some airlines may impose additional charges if you exceed baggage size and weight restrictions. Be advised that you are responsible for any baggage fees incurred on all flights.
• Contact your airline(s) for baggage size and weight restrictions for your flights.
• Make sure you label your baggage and keep valuables, medication, and documents in your carry-on bag.
• Travelers must manage their own luggage throughout tour as porters are not guaranteed. This includes at hotels, airports, and boarding water taxis.
• We recommend packing lightweight, loose-fitting clothing that can be easily layered to accommodate varying temperatures, as well as a light jacket or rainwear.
• A sturdy pair of walking shoes or sneakers is recommended for sightseeing.
• You may want to pack dressier attire if you plan to visit a high-end restaurant or attend a special performance.
• It is preferable not to visit churches or other religious sites with bare legs and shoulders (and entrance may be denied on this basis).
• We recommend packing a reusable water bottle to cut down on single use plastic waste.
• We recommend packing a universal adapter, as well as a voltage converter if you plan on using your own hairdryer or other device without a built-in converter.
• We recommend packing your Insurance Card (from your primary insurance provider) in your carry on luggage.
• Go Ahead handpicks every hotel to strike the balance of comfort, location, and local charm.
• Accommodations are typically three and four star hotels.
• All accommodations include a private bathroom.
• Most rooms will include a safe for valuables.
• Your hotels will have Wifi, but it may be limited to common areas.
• Elevators in hotels are not guaranteed.
• Some hotels on this tour require travelers to walk with their luggage a few blocks as buses cannot drop travelers off right out front.
• Please be advised that the strength of the air conditioning in European hotels/buildings is often not as strong or as cool as what you might be used to in the U.S. or Canada.
• We cannot guarantee that your hotel accommodations will have laundry services or facilities. We recommend checking directly with the hotel once they are confirmed about 30 days prior to departure.
• Specific accommodations will vary based on your departure date.
• Excursions are available for purchase prior to departure, and most excursions will be available for purchase while you are on tour directly through your mobile app for an additional $10 USD.
• We recommend purchasing excursions at least 3 days prior to your tour departure. Please note some excursions have advance booking deadlines. Check your tour itinerary for more information to ensure you don’t miss the deadline to add them.
• Optional excursions may be canceled on tour due to reasons like low enrollment, weather or unexpected closures. If an excursion you signed up for is canceled by Go Ahead Tours, you will be refunded the full cost of the excursion. Please note it may take up to 60 days for your refund to be processed.
• Your Tour Director may offer their own optional excursions which can only be purchased on tour via cash (in local currency).
• At least 60 days prior to departure, check with your doctor or healthcare provider for the latest updates and entry requirements, or visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's website at cdc.gov .
• If you have dietary restrictions and/or food allergies, please notify Go Ahead Tours at least 30 days prior to your departure by logging in to your account and updating your traveler info. To update this information closer to your departure date, please contact our Customer Experience Team.
• If you have medication that you take daily, be sure you have enough for each day of the tour as well as any possible delays encountered.
• Most of our itineraries include headsets used during certain sightseeing tours so travelers can hear their guides or Tour Director. If you use an assisted listening device, such as a hearing aid or cochlear implant, please visit our Help Center for more information or contact our customer experience team. Please note that at this time not all our destinations offer headsets due to supplier limitations.
• The water is safe to drink throughout your tour unless posted otherwise.
• This tour includes 6 dinners. Included meals may be plated set menus, buffet or family style depending on the location. Dinners include one glass of beer, wine, or soft drink and water, coffee and tea.
• Breakfast each morning is also included at the hotel and is typically buffet style with hot and cold options.
• Venice and Northern Italy are known for flavorful meats and pastries.
• Tuscany is world-famous for its wine, oil, sauces, and pasta. Menus favor subtle, lighter pastas and desserts made with nuts, fruit, and honey. Try a dish featuring the region’s Chianina beef, perhaps the most prized breed of cattle in all of Italy. For wine, popular Tuscan reds include Chianti, Brunello di Montalcino, and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, which are primarily made from the Sangiovese grape. Well-known white wines are also made around the San Gimignano region.
• In Umbria, don’t miss sampling both the reds and whites produced around Orvieto and Perugia.
• The cuisine of Southern Italy is often what diners think of when imagining Italian flavors—pasta with tomato sauces, olives and olive oil, zucchini, veal, and fish are all featured prominently on menus throughout the region.
• Roman food is typically freshly prepared and varies depending on the season. Must-try bites include cacio e pepe (a simple dish of pasta, cheese, and pepper) and supplí (a fried rice ball similar to Sicily’s arancini).
• For more authentic meals, try local trattorias, small restaurants set away from the main piazzas. A typical Italian meal includes wines and the occasional beer, followed by a few sips of after-dinner drinks like grappa or limoncello.
• At the conclusion of your tour, it is customary to offer your Tour Director and driver a gratuity in local currency. Please keep current exchange rates in mind.
• We recommend tipping the equivalent of $10USD to $12USD per person per day for your Tour Director and the equivalent of $3USD per person per day for your driver.
• If applicable, we also recommend the equivalent of $2USD per local guide.
• Tips can only be paid in cash.
• The cost of porterage is included in your tour price, and it is not necessary to tip baggage handlers.
• You will use the euro on this tour.
• Better rates of exchange are usually available overseas, although it’s worth ordering some currency from your local bank to use when you first arrive.
• We strongly advise that you take debit/bank cards and credit cards, which can be used to withdraw cash at local banks as needed.
• You can use most debit/credit cards at ATMs on the international networks Cirrus and Plus, but make sure to check with your home bank about withdrawal fees.
• Inform your bank and credit card company of your travel plans so that they won’t confuse your international purchases for fraudulent charges.
• International banks and businesses primarily accept debit and credit cards that work with the EMV chip system. If you do not already have at least one debit or credit card with a chip in it, we strongly recommend requesting one from your bank prior to your tour.
• Plan ahead and bring cash to tip your tour director, local guides, and bus drivers. We also recommend keeping coins in the local currency on hand, as some public bathrooms may charge a fee for use.
• To ensure you feel prepared before traveling on tour, we strongly recommend you download the EF Go Ahead Tours mobile app. The app is free and provides important deadlines, entry requirements, your detailed itinerary, packing tips and more. You can also connect with fellow travelers through the chat feature in the app.
• Wifi is available in most hotels, though some charges may apply.
• There is no Wifi on any of the motor coaches.
• Please contact your mobile service provider for information on roaming charges.
• Your Tour Director will be leading your group throughout your journey. You will have the same Tour Director throughout your tour.
• The role of the Tour Director is not only to provide information and context on the destinations you visit, but also to confirm services, coordinate inclusions, prepare each days’ activities and support travelers while on tour. As such, they must focus on the success of the group, and cannot provide individualized assistance to any one traveler.
• One of the benefits of traveling with EF Go Ahead Tours is our on tour emergency support team.
• Our extensive network of offices around the world, and our integration of ISO 31000: Risk Management Guidelines, help our dedicated 24/7 Emergency Service teams anticipate and address on-tour challenges in a flexible and iterative way.
• This team supports travelers and Tour Directors using a combination of extensive training, simulations, incident response planning, and decades of experience to help manage emergencies if they arise, ranging from personal health concerns or injuries to major world events.
• As needed, On Tour Support can facilitate additional support for travelers on tour, arrange assistance from outside specialists, and liaise with local and international authorities to help solve on-the-ground issues. In addition, the team is dedicated to supporting and facilitating communication between travelers and families in the event of an emergency while on the road or at home.
• Italy is 1 hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) and 6 hours ahead of Eastern Time (ET).
• When it’s noon in New York, it’s 6pm in Italy.
• When you travel with EF Go Ahead Tours, you’ll make a positive impact on the places you visit, and the people and animals you meet along the way. That’s because our three core Responsible Travel commitments—protecting the environment, supporting local communities, and promoting animal welfare—are at the heart of every tour we offer.
• Travel, when done responsibly, can make an enormous socio-economic impact to communities. To maximize your impact, eat at locally owned restaurants and shop at local businesses. Ask your Tour Director to point out restaurants they recommend.
• Prepare for your trip: be aware of the monetary norms such as tipping and negotiating in a market, learn about the destination’s forms of etiquette, and take some time to learn a few words in the local language.
• When interacting with locals, make sure to ask people for permission before you take their picture, and approach cultural differences with empathy and an open mind.
• EF Go Ahead Tours encourages our travelers to limit their waste while on the road, especially single use plastics. You can avoid single use plastics by packing your own toiletries, using electronic documents, and bringing a reusable water bottle and shopping bag. If you need to use plastics or paper, please recycle.
• Environment: On this tour, we recommend the use of a reusable water bottle, as the local drinking water is safe for travelers. Your Tour Director can provide additional guidance on local water standards. Make sure to bring a reusable water bottle to cut down on single use plastics.
• If you are interested in visiting any of Florence's many museums during your free time, we recommend that you make reservations in advance. See uffizi.org for the Uffizi Gallery or accademia.org for the Accademia Gallery. Please note that the museums are closed on Mondays.

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4.5 out of 5 stars

Giro d'Italia 2024

Latest news from the race.

'Like a deaf frog' - Nairo Quintana ignores criticism and targets Giro d'Italia stage wins

How to watch the 2024 Giro d'Italia

Tadej Pogačar can dominate the Giro d’Italia but nobody can control its chaos – Analysis

2024 giro d'italia overview.

The 2024 Giro d'Italia, celebrates its 107th edition this year, with the Corsa Rosa starting in Turin on Saturday, May 4 and ending in Rome with a circuit stage around the Colosseum on Sunday, May 26.

The route will cover 3,400 kilometres and 44,650 metres in vertical elevation across the 21 days of racing. 

RCS Sport, organisers of the race, have designed a balanced race route that includes two time trials (of 40.6km and 31.2km), along with a Strade Bianche-style gravel stage in Tuscany on stage 6 and six mountain top finishes.

Primož Roglič was the overall winner of the 2023 Giro d'Italia but he will not defend his victory, instead he will focus fully on the Tour de France.

The balanced 2024 route has attracted Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates), Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers), Ben O'Connor (Decathlon AG2R), Julian Alaphilippe (Soudal Quick-Step), Cian Uijtdebroeks and Olav Kooij (Visma-Lease a Bike), Michael Woods (Israel-Premier Tech), Dani Martinez (Bora-Hansgrohe), Laurence Pithie (Groupama-FDJ), Biniam Girmay (Intermarché - Wanty), Romain Bardet (Team dsm-firmenich PostNL), Caleb Ewan and Luke Plapp (Jayco-Visma) and Alberto Dainese (Tudor Pro Cycling).  

Cyclingnews will provide comprehensive coverage of the 2024 Giro d'Italia, with live minute-by-minute coverage every day, full stage reports, as well as interviews, breaking news, race analysis, and the latest tech from our team around the world and on the ground in Italy.

Subscribe to Cyclingnews  for the comprehensive Giro d'Italia experience so you'll never miss a moment of our coverage.

2024 Giro d'Italia Route

The 2024 Giro d'Italia is the 107th edition of the Italian Grand Tour, taking place from May 4-26. 

The  2024 Giro d'Italia route  will see the peloton tackle six summit finishes in the daunting stages through the Alps, Apennines and Dolomites , culminating in the final double ascent and descent of the Monte Grappa before a transfer to the capital Rome for a final stage. 

The route also includes the Cima Coppi, Stelvio Pass at 2,758 metres, positioned mid-route on stage 16.

Giro d'Italia Records

Most overall wins: Fausto Coppi, Alfredo Binda, Eddy Merckx (five); Giovanni Brunero, Gino Bartali, Fiorenzo Magni, Felice Gimondi, Bernard Hinault (three).

Most stage wins: Mario Cipollini (42), Alfredo Binda (41), Learco Guerra (31), Constance Girardengo (30), Eddy Merckx (25) ... Mark Cavendish (16)

Most mountain classification wins: Gino Bartali (seven); José Manuel Fuentes (four); Fausto Coppi, Franco Bitossi, Claudio Bortolotto, Claudio Chiappucci (three)

Most points classification wins: Francesco Moser, Giuseppe Saronni (four); Roger De Vlaeminck, Johan van der Velde, Mario Cipollini (three)

Most starts: Wladimir Panizza (18); Pierino Gavazzi, Domenico Pozzovivo (17)

Youngest winner: Fausto Coppi, 1940 (20 years and 268 days)

Oldest winner: Fiorenzo Magni, 1955 (34 years and 180 days)

Smallest margin of victory: 11 seconds (Fiorenzo Magni, 1948)

Largest margin of victory: 1:57:26 (Alfonso Calzolari, 1914)

Fastest edition: 2013 (40.113kph)

Giro d'Italia 2024 stages

• Giro d'Italia 2024 route
• Giro d'Italia history

• Rest Day 2024-05-13

• Rest Day 2024-05-20

Latest Content on the Race

By Barry Ryan published 24 April 24

News Colombian admits condition will not allow him to target general classification in first Grand Tour since Tramadol positive

By Dani Ostanek published 24 April 24

News Watch all the action as Pogacar, Thomas, O'Connor, Uijtdebroeks, Bardet, Alaphilippe, Caruso and more do battle in Italy

Slovenian the overwhelming favourite but the Corsa Rosa always produces unexpected drama

Tadej Pogačar opts for rest and recovery during countdown to 2024 Giro d’Italia

By Stephen Farrand published 23 April 24

News 'I think I can still be a little better but not a lot’ says UAE Team Emirates leader

Giro d'Italia 2024 start list

By Cycling News last updated 22 April 24

‘Take responsibility, ride for the win’ - Tudor primed for Giro d’Italia debut

By James Moultrie published 15 April 24

News DS Matteo Tosatto on Swiss team's ambitions as they prepare for first Grand Tour

'A feeling of unfinished business' - Biniam Girmay set for Giro d'Italia return

By Barry Ryan published 13 April 24

News Intermarché-Wanty confirm Eritrean will ride corsa rosa two years on from historic stage victory

'I need to prioritise my health' – Wout van Aert to miss Giro d'Italia

By Dani Ostanek published 11 April 24

News Belgian speaks for first time since high-speed Dwars door Vlaanderen crash, Laporte to replace him in Corsa Rosa

Tim Merlier to ride second Giro d'Italia in 2024, Soudal-QuickStep boss confirms

By James Moultrie published 9 April 24

News Belgian sprinter will make first Grand Tour appearance in 18 months

Nairo Quintana injury update reveals he ruptured ligament in Volta a Catalunya crash

By Alasdair Fotheringham published 5 April 24

News Colombian will miss Tour of Alps, no date set for return to racing

Top News on the Race

Giro d'Italia still a 'serious option' for Wout van Aert despite multiple fractures

Miguel Indurain - 'Tadej Pogačar can do the Giro d'Italia-Tour de France double'

Tadej Pogacar heads to altitude to reach high peak for Liège-Bastogne-Liège, Giro d'Italia

Larry Warbasse wants to 'help Ben O'Connor make the Giro d'Italia podium'

Giulio Ciccone ruled out of Giro d'Italia following saddle sore surgery

Related features.

'It's a year to rebuild and find my feet again' – Caleb Ewan starts over at Jayco-AlUla

Tim Wellens: If anybody can do the Giro-Tour double, it’s Tadej Pogačar

‘I don’t go into races worried that I’m not good enough’ – Ben O’Connor on leadership, setbacks and the Tour de France

Less can be more as Giro d’Italia tries a shift in emphasis – Analysis

APRIL SALE:   Discover and book at   up to 60% off!

The Best of Italy

• In-depth Cultural
• Fully Guided
• Personalized
• Coach / Bus

Places You’ll See

• Introduction
• Day 1 ARRIVE IN ROME, ITALY
• Day 3 ROME–ORVIETO–MONTECATINI
• Day 4 MONTECATINI. EXCURSION TO FLORENCE
• Day 5 MONTECATINI–PISA–VENICE ISLAND
• Day 6 VENICE ISLAND
• Day 7 VENICE ISLAND–ASSISI
• Day 8 ASSISI–POMPEII–NAPLES–CAPRI
• Day 9 CAPRI
• Day 10 CAPRI–SORRENTO–ROME
• Day 11 ROME

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What's Included

• Accommodation
• Additional Services

Adventure Type

• Fast booking confirmation
• Carefully planned itineraries
• Travel with like-minded people
• Choose your preferred dates and duration
• Upgrade your accommodation
• Customize the itineraries

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Operated by Globus

It began more than 90 years ago, when a young man purchased a boat to transport visitors across Lake Lugano, Switzerland. Who would have thought that this single boat would launch one of the world's leading travel companies? Today, the Globus family of brands is a global company reaching every corner of the world, yet remains family-owned and steeped in the values Antonio Mantegazza had when he set out across Lake Lugano in 1928 - to enlighten travelers by showing them the very best of the destinations we know so well. At Globus, we create first-class escorted tours with just the right balance of included features & free time. We’re all about hidden gems, not hidden charges. We throw in more visits, toss in more experiences & include more sightseeing, all in the price of the vacation.

Sustainability Initiatives

Reduce Carbon Emissions

Animal Welfare

Supporting Destinations

Sustainability Programs

Customer Reviews

• Overall Rating Excellent 5.0
• Itinerary Excellent 5.0
• Guide Excellent 5.0
• Transport Excellent 5.0
• Accommodation Excellent 4.4
• Food Good 4.0
• Tour Operator Globus 5.0
• Most Recent
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• Highest First
• Lowest First
• A Leticia · 27th October 2023 The tours were amazing, but I would have preferred a little more free time to explore locals shops and restaurants. Trip date: October 2023 Review collected by Globus
• A Anonymous · 27th October 2023 Our guide Pia and driver Antonio were superb. The tour went very smoothly. Only downside is would have liked a little more free time Trip date: October 2023 Review collected by Globus
• A Nicolo · 27th October 2023 This trip was the BEST!! Our incredible guide, Pia, made this journey so much fun! She's a gem!!! Trip date: October 2023 Review collected by Globus
• A Wendy · 26th October 2023 We've had a FANTASTIC tour guide Pia Roy!! What an amazing journey she has taken us on! Our driver Antonio is WONDERFUL!!! Trip date: October 2023 Review collected by Globus
• A Karen · 26th October 2023 Good time Trip date: October 2023 Review collected by Globus
• A Felix · 25th October 2023 tour director Lucas and driver Santo were excellent and very knowledgeable. Trip date: September 2023 Review collected by Globus
• A Kathryn · 25th October 2023 Everything was interesting. It was very crowded and a great deal of walking. The whisper sets were extremely frustrating. I miss a lot of what the guide was saying. The hotels were very nice. Overall a great vacation. Trip date: October 2023 Review collected by Globus
• A John · 23rd October 2023 Our tour leader Chyrra from Globus was excellent. Everything worked like clockwork. The group was cooperative.It was a whirlwind of a tour. Not a lot of free time Trip date: October 2023 Review collected by Globus
• A Catherine · 23rd October 2023 The itinerary was a little rushed. We loved our guide. Chiara was very helpful. The hotels we were in had AC that did not work very well. and the TV's for night viewing had only one viewing channel that was English and no way to change to closed... Show more Trip date: October 2023 Review collected by Globus
• A Amy · 23rd October 2023 Excellent tour for a person who has never been to Italy! Our tour guide was outstanding! Trip date: October 2023 Review collected by Globus

Dates & Availability

Pay-by-instalments

Take advantage of our 0% interest instalment plan on selected departures. Learn More

• Upcoming departures
• August 2024
• September 2024
• October 2024
• August 2025
• September 2025
• October 2025
• Wednesday 1 May, 2024 Saturday 11 May, 2024 English Sold Out Based on Double Room €4,046 See Similar Tours For These Dates
• Monday 6 May, 2024 Thursday 16 May, 2024 English Sold Out Based on Double Room €4,027 See Similar Tours For These Dates
• Wednesday 8 May, 2024 Saturday 18 May, 2024 English Sold Out Based on Double Room €4,046 See Similar Tours For These Dates
• Monday 13 May, 2024 Thursday 23 May, 2024 English Sold Out Based on Double Room €4,123 See Similar Tours For These Dates
• Wednesday 15 May, 2024 Saturday 25 May, 2024 English Sold Out Based on Double Room €4,123 See Similar Tours For These Dates
• Monday 20 May, 2024 Thursday 30 May, 2024 English Sold Out Based on Double Room €4,027 See Similar Tours For These Dates
• Wednesday 22 May, 2024 Saturday 1 Jun, 2024 English Sold Out Based on Double Room €4,046 See Similar Tours For These Dates
• Monday 27 May, 2024 Thursday 6 Jun, 2024 English Sold Out Based on Double Room €4,123 See Similar Tours For These Dates
• 7 Other Unavailable Departures
• Get Instant Confirmation Wednesday 29 May, 2024 Saturday 8 Jun, 2024 English Multiple Room Types €4,123 Confirm Dates
• Get Instant Confirmation Monday 3 Jun, 2024 Thursday 13 Jun, 2024 English Multiple Room Types €4,123 Confirm Dates
• Wednesday 5 Jun, 2024 Saturday 15 Jun, 2024 English Sold Out Based on Double Room €4,775 See Similar Tours For These Dates
• -12% Get Instant Confirmation Monday 10 Jun, 2024 Thursday 20 Jun, 2024 English Multiple Room Types €4,123 €3,643 Confirm Dates
• Get Instant Confirmation Wednesday 12 Jun, 2024 Saturday 22 Jun, 2024 English Multiple Room Types €4,123 Confirm Dates
• Wednesday 19 Jun, 2024 Saturday 29 Jun, 2024 English Sold Out Based on Double Room €4,123 See Similar Tours For These Dates
• Get Instant Confirmation Monday 24 Jun, 2024 Thursday 4 Jul, 2024 English Multiple Room Types €4,104 Confirm Dates

Frequently Asked Questions

A trip note - which contains essential information about your trip will be given to you. Information such as the daily itinerary, where to meet on the first day, what time the trip starts, how to get to the joining point hotel, included activities, visa information, etc will be mentioned in there. Please contact us for this.

Got a question about this tour?

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Good to Know

• Currency € Euro Italy

As a traveller from USA, Canada, England, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa you will need an adaptor for types C, E, F, L.

• Unfortunately we cannot offer you a visa application service. Whether you need a visa or not depends on your nationality and where you wish to travel. Assuming your home country does not have a visa agreement with the country you're planning to visit, you will need to apply for a visa in advance of your scheduled departure.
• Here is an indication for which countries you might need a visa. Please contact the local embassy for help applying for visas to these places.
• For any tour departing before 14th June 2024 a full payment is necessary. For tours departing after 14th June 2024, a minimum payment of €250 is required to confirm your booking with Globus. The final payment will be automatically charged to your credit card on the designated due date. The final payment of the remaining balance is required at least 50 days prior to the departure date of your tour. TourRadar never charges you a booking fee and will charge you in the stated currency.
• Some departure dates and prices may vary and Globus will contact you with any discrepancies before your booking is confirmed.
• The following cards are accepted for "Globus" tours: Visa, Maestro, Mastercard, American Express or PayPal. TourRadar does NOT charge you an extra fee for using any of these payment methods.
• Insurance Unless otherwise mentioned, TourRadar does not provide travel insurance. We do however recommend purchasing it through our tried and trusted partner, World Travel Nomads .
• Accessibility Some tours are not suitable for mobility-restricted traveller, however, some operators may be able to accommodate special requests. For any enquiries, you can contact our customer support team , who are ready and waiting to help you.
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THE 10 BEST Italy Photography Tours

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• Up to 1 hour
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• 5.0 of 5 bubbles
• 4.0 of 5 bubbles & up
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• The ranking of tours, activities, and experiences available on Tripadvisor is determined by several factors including the revenue generated by Tripadvisor from these bookings, the frequency of user clicks, and the volume and quality of customer reviews. Occasionally, newly listed offerings may be prioritized and appear higher in the list. The specific placement of these new listings may vary.

1. Rome Night Photo Tour

2. Unusual Venice Walking Tour

3. Fully-Day Private Tour to Cinque Terre from Florence

4. A must have City Portrait Session

5. Private Professional Photoshoot Tour in Venice

6. Naples Private Photoshoot with a Professional Photographer

7. Verona, Sirmione and Lake Garda Tour with Boat Cruise From Milan

8. Private Full-Day Amalfi Coast Driving Tour by Luxury MiniVan

9. Private Gondola Ride with Professional Photographer in Venice

10. Private Gondola ride and Photo Session in Venice.

11. 3 Hours Private Original Venice Photo Walk

12. Truffle Hunting Experience with Lunch in San Miniato

13. Etna Trekking to the Summit Craters - Ashàra Volcanological Guides

14. Private Tour&Photoshoot in Rome in Fiat 500 with a real local

15. 1-Hour Private Guided Photoshoot in Rome

16. Walking Tour and street food Tour Palermo

17. "Milano Style: Your Italian Fashion Experience"

18. Small Group Tour to Positano by Boat at Sunset

19. Dolphin watching - In search of dolphins in the Gulf of Catania

20. Murano by Private Watertaxi Including Glass Blowing Demo with Hotel Pickup

21. Private Rome Photography Walking Tour with a Professional Photographer

22. Doge's Palace: Skip the line Ticket, Audio Guide & VR Experience

23. Salerno Walking Tour

24. Photoshoot Tour in Rome with Professional Photographer

25. Private Photo Tour on the Amalfi Coast with Fiat 500

26. Professional Photoshoot in Venice

27. Vespa Tour Through Rome's Charms with Photography

28. Rome: Your Own Private Photoshoot at the Trevi Fountain

29. Private Photoshoot on Personal Gondola in Venice

Tuscany Photo Tour 2024 #1 | La Bella Toscana

This Tour is Full, Join the Waitlist.

• tour #1: may 7 to 13 (6 nights) • group size: min 5, max 10 • cost: $3,975, single supplement $475 • tour starts and ends in pisa, space is limited • reserve my spot » • i have questions » • sign up for updates » • see all 2024 tours ».

Tour Description

Dates | cost | difficulty, tour extensions, what to bring, photo gallery, imagine medieval hill towns, cypress-lined lanes, the scent of herbs and wildflowers, rolling green hills, delicious fresh food and wine, and best of all, capturing stunning, professional images on our tuscany photo tour., one of the best destinations in the world to take a photo tour and create your own stunning masterpieces. join our popular tuscany flagship tour.

It is hard to describe just how magical it is to be out in the Tuscan landscape with your camera. I often have to pinch myself to believe that I am really there. It is that special. Tuscany is a photography lover’s paradise.

You are invited on this immersive trip with award-winning photographer Jim Nilsen  and designer Magrit Baurecht Nilsen . On this guided Tuscany Photo Tour you will explore the sensual landscape and villages of Tuscany and learn how to create stunning photographic masterpieces worthy of publication. In addition to guiding you to the best photogenic locations in Tuscany, this photo tour also includes instructional sessions in workflow and post-processing using photo editing software so that you can craft the best images possible.

This photography tour is based out of the charming medieval hill town of  Pienza, a UNESCO World Heritage site in the heart of the Val d’Orcia, a region that is universally recognized as one of the most beautiful landscapes on earth. We will spend six nights in a cozy hotel with the best breakfast buffet in all of Italy. This will be our home base for daily photographic forays into the surrounding countryside. Many of the iconic Tuscan images you may already be familiar with were captured near Pienza. This convenient proximity offers us the opportunity to spontaneously return to specific photo sites to catch just the “right light.” This is “slow travel” at its best.

Join us for a wonderful Tuscany Photo Tour to one of our favorite regions of Italy.

• On our Tuscany Photo Tour based out of charming Pienza, some of the destinations we will visit include the medieval hill towns of Montepulciano, Montalcino, Monticchiello, San Quirico d’ Orcia, Sorano, and Pitigliano.
• On some days, you will have the option to rise early to capture images such as a quintessential Tuscan farmhouse at blue hour and in the early morning light with mist rising in the valley before enjoying your first well-deserved cappuccino.
• Our lovely hotel in the heart of the charming medieval town of Pienza offers a wonderful buffet breakfast.
• At night, when all the tourists have gone back to Florence or continued on to Rome, our small photo tour group will have the tranquil car-free lanes all to ourselves. It doesn’t get any more romantic than the tiny “Via dell’Amore” (love street) and “Via del Bacio” (kiss street). We like to think of ourselves as travelers rather than tourists and our approach to this photo tour reflects our slow travel philosophy. By spending seven nights based in one location, we will be able to experience the daily rhythms of life in a small Tuscan town.
• In addition to great photo opportunities on our Tuscany Photo Tour, we will be lecturing (mostly in the field) on photographic topics including:
• Composition
• Digital Workflow
• Panoramic Photography
• Depth of Field calculation
• Focal Blending
• Blue Hour Photography
• Filters, Neutral Density, and Neutral Density Grads
• Photoshop & Lightroom Tips and Tricks
• Nik Software

This is a sample itinerary that is subject to change depending on weather and other circumstances beyond our control. Changes in the itinerary are always made to provide the best possible experience for our clients. 

May 6, 2024

Plan on spending this evening in Pisa. This will allow you time to get some rest before the tour begins and also ensure that you arrive on time for the following day’s departure for our Tuscany Photo Tour. Or treat yourself to a few nights before the tour to adjust to jetlag. There are many places to explore out of Pisa including Florence and Lucca.

Our Tuscany Photo Tour group meets at the Hotel NH Pisa  at 10 am for departure to Pienza which takes approximately 3 hours. After checking into our B&B, we will have a group meeting before heading out to explore Pienza and photograph our first sunset at the nearby “Terrapille” farmhouse. This is one of the most photogenic scenes in Tuscany and was even featured in the movie Gladiator.

May 8 – 12

We have five full days to explore the magical Val d’Orcia region and beyond with our van.

Our Tuscany Photo Tour group will depart Pienza at 10 am for the journey back to Pisa. You also have the option of not returning to Pisa with the group if you want to continue on your own, for example to Rome. In that case, taxi transport can be arranged to the nearby town of Chiusi where one can catch trains north to Florence or south to Rome.

Dates:  May 7 – 13, 2024 (6 nights in Pienza) 

Cost:  $3,975 | single supplement $475, a 5% discount will apply to those also attending the cinque terre photo tour., a $500 deposit will secure your spot., click here to make your deposit for 2024 », what is included in the tuscany photo tour.

• 6 nights lodging
• All breakfasts
• Daily van transportation to photo locations
• All entrance fees and tolls as well as ground transportation except for transport to and from the airport.
• Jim & Magrit’s expertise in guiding and photographic instruction

Tuscany Photo Tour level of physical difficulty:  2 out of 5

Involves some walking on steep hills and uneven surfaces.

We will be traveling in  9-passenger vans and you must be physically able to step in and out of the van with your own efforts. The step-up into the van is higher than a typical home stair-step.

Join us before your Tuscany Photo Tour after,  on the picturesque Cinque Terre Photo Tour, or before on the Czech Republic Photo  Tour. A 5% discount will apply to all tours!

Czech republic & prague photo tour 2024 | old-world charm, april 24 to may 2 | 2024(8 nights), cinque terre | timeless italy photo tour, may 15 to 19 | 2024(4 nights), personal items, camera equipment, and weather conditions | tuscany photo tour.

Temperature range for this time of year : 54 to 66º F

Average monthly rainfall for this time of year : 3 ”

Please pack light , as we will not have room in the van for more than one piece of luggage plus a camera bag for each of us. Please restrict your main piece of luggage to no more than 26 inches . Magrit & I both travel for 4-5 months with 25-26 inch Travel Pro Max Lite luggage. Most airlines are now charging for more than one piece of checked baggage. Keep in mind that laundry service is available in Pienza.

Long pants and socks so that you can tuck your pants into your socks to avoid tick exposure while in the field. Short, lightweight gaiters are useful. Here is a fun brand , $20….you need to attach the included piece of self-stick velcro to the back of your shoe.

Tick repellent.

Headlamp with Red Light Mode.

Two pairs of shoes:  One sturdy pair for in the field that you can get wet and muddy. One pair for evenings.

Lightweight rain jacket and rain pants.  You don’t have to go all out here, but if we have some wet weather and it is not raining too hard we can still go out and get some good photos.   I really suggest a rain jacket if nothing else. We have worn cut-open Hefty bags as skirts and they work great when we did not have rain pants. The rain gear will keep you dry when walking in tall, wet grass.

Small umbrella for rain and shade.  I use an umbrella often to block the sun from hitting the front element of my lens. Black is best. I like this one.

Sweater or light jacket for a possible chill on early morning shoots.  A light layer underneath a rain jacket can be surprisingly warm. Magrit & I both travel with lightweight down vests and jackets.

Hat for sun and rain protection.

Camera Equipment . On this Tuscany Photo Tour a long lens is recommended. I suggest at least up to 300 mm on a full-frame. I now travel with a Full Frame Sony system and carry a 16-35, 24-105 and 70-300. A sturdy tripod is essential.

ITALY PHOTO TOUR

An intense week of photographic adventures designed especially for those who wish to visit one of the most exciting and evocative parts of italy., 8 days / 7 nights, 4 persons max, 2.790,00€ per person, all year round, all skill levels, easy walking, lake como , milan , pavia hills , old bergamo  and to choose venice , cinque terre , bologna , mantova., milan, the commercial capital of italy, will be the starting point of this italy photo tour for visiting the many iconic places that only in italy can you find., together with your tutor you will discover picturesque places, take amazing shots as well as perfect your photographic technique and consequently your style. photo tours are much more than the alternative to tourist trips. in fact, they are designed exclusively for photographers. this way they can visit those destinations where they can take extraordinary photographs . above all, respecting their own needs and timelines., lakes, hills, villages and cities will be the privileged subjects of this italy photo tour. whatever your favorite genre in these intense days you will practice with most of the existing photographic genres. you will be able to alternate between landscape photographs, street photography, architecture and portraits. then, in the evening, a festival of lights and reflections will grab your attention until you choose the best shot, set up the tripod in front of you and take the perfect shot, the one you've been looking for a long time or even better, the one you never imagined even existed., don't worry you will never be alone, the tutor who will guide you will know how to advise you on what kind of photography you are most inclined to practice, and together you will decide which subjects it will be most useful for you to look for, in order to take more and more exciting and evocative shots., it will be a complete 360-degree experience far from the crowds that invade the most touristy places you will get to know the real italian beauties, the ones that are not mentioned in tourist guides., you will taste typical local dishes accompanied by wines from artisanal wineries that you can visit. time will slow down to let you savor every moment of these extraordinary days of relaxation and fun in the best way possible., italy photo tour will be conducted in english language, we organize photo tours to visit wonderful places and take extraordinary photographs. you will be accompanied by a professional photographer who knows all the cultural, landscape and logistical aspects of the destination. with his support you will be able to perfect your technical level and discover new creative solutions., we offer exciting and fun adventures to all photography enthusiasts who want to share unique experiences and practical advice. experiencing different types of photography directly in the field, you will be able to check with the tutor the results obtained at the end of each day., italy photo tour itinerary, day 1: arrival  we will pick you up at the milan airports around midday., day 2: milan tour we will take you around the city to get to know the most characteristic neighborhoods. piazza duomo, brera, isola, city life, savona and in the evening the navigli where you can sip a tasty aperitif while waiting to take pictures at sunset., day 3: como lake full day to visit most of the villages overlooking the lake. menaggio, tremezzo, cernobbio, bellagio, briennio, nesso, lenno, argegno, varenna. we will use the ferry to go from one shore to the other., day 4: old bergamo this is the ancient part of the city of bergamo. here the walls that surrounded the old village perched on the hill are still intact. inside, medieval buildings line the typical stone streets, and the whole evokes a magical atmosphere of yesteryear., day 5: pavese hills  the morphology of these hills give rise to wonderful, unique landscapes. from their ridges one can admire the most striking views that span 360 degrees. they are also famous places for the typical dishes that are served with extraordinary wines from the rows of vines grown on these very slopes., day 6: to choose  on this day you can choose one of the destinations up to 3 hours' drive away from milan that you can visit in a day, namely venice (3h), cinque terre (3h), bologna (2h), and mantua (1,3h). if you wish and by booking in time, it is possible to stay in cinque terre extra days at a cost of €185.00 per day per person (minimum 2 people)., day 7: ediing session  this is the day dedicated to processing the shots taken during the previous days. you will learn how to select images to get a collection of shots ready to be displayed in an exhibition or to publish a book., day 8: departure  we will drop-off at the milan airports around midday..

The duration of the Italy Photo Tour extends from Sunday afternoon (4pm) to the morning of the following Sunday (10am) for a total of 8 days and 7 nights. As above is just an outline schedule to let you know how the week is organized, which will surely be different from the previous and the next. So many factors come into play: weather, light, length of days at different times of the year. Therefore, to ensure the best conditions for the workshop to take place, the schedule of days may be subject to change.

ACCOMMODATIONS (APARTMENT DOUBLE OCCUPANCY)

Webpocket 4g unlimited giga, car transports, gas, tolls, road taxes, etc, pick up/drop off at milan airports, editing session, assistance and guidance by a professional local photographer 24/7                           , not included, airfare to/from italy, meals (breakfast/lunch/dinner), single supplement (500€), visa (if necessary), attractions tickets (monuments, towers, etc), travel insurance, everything is not mentioned in the "included" list , italy photo tour calendar 2024, white = available | red = booked up, italy photo tour calendar 2025.

THE TUTOR FOR YOUR ITALY PHOTO TOUR

Mino di vita is the tutor of this extraordinary italy photo tour who will accompany you throughout your stay. he is also the person who studied the itineraries to show participants the ideal place and time to take the best photographs. by profession he is an interior photographer, but by passion he is an urban landscape photographer. read more.

WHAT CUSTOMER THINK ABOUT ITALY PHOTO TOUR

Perfectly familiar with the locations of the itineraries, Mino Di Vita took us to areas hidden from other tourists at the right time of day to make us appreciate the atmosphere and inspire us to take extraordinary photographs. Thanks to his advice te We also benefited from his deep photographic knowledge and generous advice on technique-he taught us things about our cameras that we did not know! In addition, he was a friendly and fun host and guide, which enriched our overall experience.

Audrey Davis

Mino's artistic skills are incredible. I learned how to consciously photograph in order to get a publication-ready photo project from my shots. He also taught me to look differently at what is in front of me and avoid taking mundane shots. It was all very constructive and memorable was the patience of this tutor who was very attentive to my needs by adapting his lessons to my level of photographic preparation.

James Miller

I am very happy to have participated. Italy Photo Tour was extraordinary. It was simply an incredible experience thanks to an amazing person. I feel so grateful to have had the opportunity to meet you. Well done Mino.

Lee Williams

I had the privilege of participating in Italy Photo Tour with Mino Di Vita. It was an extraordinary experience not only from a human point of view, but also from a technical point of view. Mino is a very knowledgeable tutor who made sure that we were always at the right time in the right place.

Luke Harris

FAQ ABOUT ITALY PHOTO TOUR

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ITALY'S BEST PHOTOGRAPHY TOURS & WORKSHOPS

Discover our upcoming photography workshops, spring in tuscany | photo workshop.

• 26TH APRIL - 2ND MAY 2024
• 6 NIGHTS | 7 DAYS
• MAX. 5 PARTICIPANTS
• FROM 2790,00€ P.P.

SPRING IN TUSCANY | PHOTO WORKSHOP | 2ND DATE

• 3RD-9TH MAY 2024

EARLY SUMMER IN TUSCANY | PHOTO WORKSHOP

• 10TH-16TH JUNE 2024

SUMMER IN TUSCANY & CINQUE TERRE | PHOTO WORKSHOP

• 11TH-18TH JULY 2024
• 7 NIGHTS | 8 DAYS
• FROM 4590,00€ P.P.

SUMMER IN THE DOLOMITES | PHOTO WORKSHOP

• 22TH-28TH JULY 2024
• FROM 3790,00€ P.P.

LATE SUMMER IN TUSCANY | PHOTO WORKSHOP

• 8TH-14TH SEPTEMBER 2024
• FROM 3290,00€ P.P.

EARLY AUTUMN IN THE DOLOMITES | PHOTO WORKSHOP

• 26TH SEPT - 2ND OCT. 2024
• FROM 3590,00€ P.P.

EARLY AUTUMN IN TUSCANY | PHOTO WORKSHOP

• 6TH-12TH OCTOBER 2024

AUTUMN IN THE DOLOMITES | PHOTO WORKSHOP

• 18TH-25TH OCTOBER 2024

OUR PHOTO WORKSHOPS PLAYGROUNDS IN ITALY

Italy has definitely no shortage of photography locations, but these ones are where decided to do our workshops in! We offer both fixed departures as well as customized tours all-year round. Visit the page of the location you would like to visit to discover all the options!

Cinque terre

hello everyone! it's leo of TUSCANY PHOTOGRAPHY TOURS!

Who's going to lead your next italy photo tour.

I’m Leonardo Papèra, the owner of Tuscany Photography Tours and a full-time professional landscape photographer based in.. Tuscany, that’s right! What I aim to do every time I’m on the field is to exploit the knowledge I learnt along the years and the conditions that Mother Nature will grace me in order to convey emotions, narrate a story and achieve a fascinating, natural visual result in all my pictures.

If you’d like to know more about me, either visit the “About Me” page or directly visit my personal website – that’s where you’ll get to know who I am and my personal vision on photography!

mentioned, awarded and published by

Why choose us?

Small group only.

We decided to set a limit of 5 people on each one of our workshops and in order to give us the ability to follow every participant of the tour up close, without any rush. We want to be sure that you will always have the right attention and we want to be there if you have any doubt, at any time!

guaranteed departures

We are locals, awarded teachers.

We want to make sure that you will have a visible growth in your photographic knowledge during your stay and that’s why you will be followed by awarded photographers that will teach you everything you need to boost your vision, both on-the-field and in postproduction.

we speak English

All-year round, customers reviews, what people say about us.

YOUR NEXT WORKSHOP STARTS HERE.

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Tuscany and Cinque Terre

• Shared Room Room shared with another participant in the trip
• Single Room *Depending on availability
• Italy Photo Tour + Florence Extension - Shared Room Room shared with another participant in the trip
• Italy Photo Tour + Florence Extension - Single Room *Depending on availability

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We are an official travel agency for photography lovers. If you have any doubt, we’ll be happy to help you! You can contact us by phone, email or WhatsApp.

+34 625 01 44 81

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ITALY PHOTO TOUR DATES

• MAY 23 TO 31, 2024 (OPTIONAL EXTENSION TO FLORENCE FROM MAY 31 TO JUNE 2) | DEPARTURE CONFIRMED
• MAY 22 TO 30, 2025 (OPTIONAL EXTENSION TO FLORENCE FROM MAY 30 TO JUNE 1) | SPOTS AVAILABLE

NEXT ITALY PHOTO TOUR IN

Italy photo tour details.

For next May, we offer you another fantastic Photography Tour in Italy . From May 23 to 31, 2024 , we will photograph the extraordinary natural landscapes and towns of Tuscany and the Cinque Terre . During these 9 days, we will travel through the amazing fields of Tuscany, in their spring splendor . Among others, we will photograph magical views, hills, cypresses, and charming villas. On the other hand, we will delve into the Cinque Terre National Park, where we will photograph its 5 picturesque towns .

As with the rest of our Photo Tours, we will spend most of each day photographing several of the most spectacular points of each destination, but always paying special attention to the best hours of light, sunrises, and sunsets , where we will go to the most suitable locations to obtain the best possible images. Therefore, we will get up quite early each day during our stay and, in the same way, we will return late to our hotels, even doing night photography sessions during some of the days, especially in Tuscany.

As always, all this accompanied by the organization by our own travel agency for photography enthusiasts , and accompanied by one or several photographic guides knowledgeable of the destination. In addition, we offer you an optional 2-night extension in Florence , where we will have the chance to photograph this beautiful city, cradle of the Renaissance, with its spectacular monuments and buildings.

What to photograph during this Italy Photo Tour?

This Italy Photo Tour (Tuscany and the Cinque Terre) will focus mainly on landscape photography . However, we will also have the opportunity to enjoy other types of photography , such as architecture and urban landscape , through to night photography , travel photography , and even portrait .

As we said, landscape photography will be the prime focus during our Italy Photo Tour . In a region as beautiful as Tuscany, the photographic possibilities are constant and limitless. Its valleys , hills , rows of cypresses, stunning villas … everything in the area is worthy of being photographed. Therefore, we will spend all day visiting various locations to photograph the most impressive views . In turn, we will dedicate special attention to sunrise and sunset , as they are normally the best moments of light of the day.

Moreover, we will look for the beautiful fogs that sometimes arise among the Tuscan hills at the first hour of the day. If we are lucky enough to find them, we will enjoy some magical conditions to photograph this beautiful area .

On the other hand, in the second part of the Italy Photo Tour , already in the Cinque Terre , we will focus on seascape and urban landscape photography . By the Mediterranean Sea, the beautiful towns that make up the Cinque Terre will offer us dreamlike views . Again, the photographic possibilities will be extraordinary.

In turn, especially in Tuscany, but also in the Cinque Terre, we will carry out some night photography sessions .

Why are we doing this Italy Photo Tour at this time of year?

In our opinion, May is a perfect time for this Photo Tour , as we will enjoy the spring splendor in Tuscany. The meadows and hills will be completely tinged with green, a perfect moment to photograph their beautiful sceneries .

On the other hand, we will enjoy the first flowers of spring , which will facilitate the composition of beautiful images.

In turn, in the Cinque Terre , we will not find the typical summer overcrowding, being able to explore the area calmly, to make the most of it from a photographic point of view .

Who is this Italy Photo Tour for?

This Italy Photo Tour (Tuscany and the Cinque Terre) is a simple trip , suitable for all audiences . It is a trip suitable for all levels, both physical and photographic , as well as for all ages . Any photography enthusiast will greatly enjoy a photography workshop in Italy like this.

Firstly, there is no minimum physical level required to participate in the Italy Photo Tour . Practically all the locations we will photograph will be close to the places where we leave our vehicles. Therefore, any walk we will do will be short and simple , being a trip adapted for all fitness levels.

Likewise, there is no age limit , anyone with a reasonably good health condition is welcome to join.

On the other hand, you do not need to have a minimum photographic level , nor previous experience photographing. Our photographic guides take care of advising and helping each participant during the trip. In this way, you will receive personalized attention adapted to your level , so you will achieve fantastic results, getting hundreds of beautiful images after the trip.

Finally, you do not need a professional photographic equipment , nor even a minimum equipment to participate. With any camera, you will take full advantage of the trip, so do not worry about the equipment. Although further below you will find a section of recommended equipment for the Italy Photo Tour , it is just a list of the ideal photographic equipment for it. N or are they indispensable items to be able to participate . In addition, sometimes some of our clients come with compact cameras, and even taking pictures simply with their smartphones.

With all this, we offer you a fantastic photo tour through the beautiful Tuscany and Cinque Terre . Two of the most spectacular areas of Italy, where you can fully enjoy photography. A trip suitable for all levels and physical conditions, in which you will take hundreds of photos, while you learn and improve your photography.

All this in a very small group, with the common bond of passion for photography and travel . Do not miss this wonderful opportunity , and book your spot for this photographic adventure now.

What to expect from this Italy Photo Tour?

• Photographing the most spectacular landscapes in Tuscany under the beautiful spring colors
• Visiting the most beautiful villages in the Tuscan region
• Enjoy the most stunning locations in Tuscany; cypresses, hills, fabulous villas...
• Capturing the magical views of the picturesque Cinque Terre villages
• Understanding and learning to use ND filters in landscape photography
• Getting tips, ideas and instruction for composition, as well as learning different photography techniques
• Doing some night photography sessions, both in urban and in rural sceneries
• Learning the importance of including the human figure in landscape photography
• Obtain at least two photo editing videos made by our photographers.
• Conduct an online group processing session after the trip, where we will edit some of the photos taken during it.

ITALY PHOTO TOUR ITINERARY

Day 1 | italy photo tour.

Our Italy Photo Tour (Tuscany and Cinque Terre) will begin with the group meeting at Florence airport.

From there, we will move to Tuscany , where we will spend the first half of our Italy Photo Tour . In this area, the landscapes are like something out of a fairy tale, making it easy to lose track of time photographing the beautiful valleys and hills alongside the villas that abound in the area. In addition, we have planned this trip at an ideal time to enjoy the intense greens typical of spring , which will give us endless possibilities to fully enjoy our passion for photography.

Everything in this area seems taken from a fairy tale, and this charm will make it very easy for us to achieve beautiful images of the wonderful landscapes that surround us.

DAY 2 | ITALY PHOTO TOUR

On this first sunrise of our Italy Photo Tour , we will go to capture the most famous view of Tuscany, the Podere Belvedere villa. From here, sometimes you can witness fog in the middle of this magical valley, something that would undoubtedly add even more beauty to an already breathtaking view.

The magical Tuscan landscapes, world-renowned, will offer us great images in every corner , every view, every town… apart from numerous rural paths where we lose ourselves photographing those meadows, the cypresses, the hills, and their shapes… a real feast for the eyes and senses, and a true paradise for any landscape photographer. We will spend a large part of the day visiting some of the magical Tuscan towns , such as San Quirico d’Orcia and Pienza .

For sunset, we will go to another spectacular location, where a path lined with cypresses winds up to another fantastic villa.

DAY 3 | ITALY PHOTO TOUR

Today we will wake up early again to do a new sunrise session in the Tuscan valleys , with the La Vitaleta chapel in the background. After making the most of the first light, we will move to the chapel itself, to photograph this small jewel of Tuscan architecture up close.

We will continue our journey along some of the roads and paths of the area, where we will make several stops to be able to photograph the scenic landscapes that we will have around us.

In the afternoon, we will visit other interesting towns in the area, such as Montepulciano and Monticchiello, before heading to the location from which we will capture the sunset, with an amazing zigzagging road in the middle of a green hill .

Once it gets dark, we will go to rest at our accommodation.

DAY 4  | ITALY PHOTO TOUR

We will wake up early again to c apture the first light of the day , from another beautiful location where, once again, we can enjoy a zigzagging road climbing a beautiful hill. This is one of the typical views of the area but, with the first light of the day, it acquires even greater beauty.

After breakfast, we will continue our tour through the Tuscan lands, visiting some of the towns we have left in the area, such as Montalcino . We will end the afternoon in an incredibly beautiful location , in the middle of mounds with photogenic shapes, with a group of beautiful cypresses in the background. Here we will

spend several hours, being the place from which we will photograph the sunset .

DAY 5 | ITALY PHOTO TOUR

On this last day in Tuscany, we will wake up early again to c apture the first light of the day , again with the Podere Belvedere villa in the background. We will try our luck with the magical mists that sometimes appear in this valley. We will photograph the area from several different locations, with different views of this fabulous villa.

After breakfast, we will start our journey towards our new destination, in the surroundings of the Cinque Terre National Park .

Once checked into our hotel, we will head to photograph our first sunset in one of these towns, Manarola . Famous for its view of colorful houses, we will also photograph the location in the blue hour, returning to the hotel once it is dark.

DAY 6 | ITALY PHOTO TOUR

Today we will photograph our first sunrise in the Cinque Terre , from the beautiful town of Vernazza .

We will have breakfast in the same town after our session, and then take a short tour of it, along one of the beautiful trails that connect the picturesque towns of the Cinque Terre . After that, we will move to the town of Monterosso al Mare , where we will visit a small photographic gallery.

After exploring the town, we will move to Riomaggiore , another of the beautiful towns of the Cinque Terre, where we will photograph the sunset with a wonderful view of the town next to the blue waters of the Mediterranean Sea .

DAY 7 | ITALY PHOTO TOUR

We will get up early again, to photograph the sunrise from Manarola , returning to the area we already photographed on our first sunset in the Cinque Terre.

We will have breakfast in this same town, and then move to the town of Cornigglia . After walking through the town until the early afternoon, we will move again, this time to Vernazza , where we will photograph the sunset . For this sunset, we will ascend to a hill, from which we will enjoy excellent views of the town and the sun, as it sets over the sea.

Once it is completely dark, we will return to our hotel to rest after another intense day of travel and photography.

DAY 8 | ITALY PHOTO TOUR

This will be our last full day of our Italy Photo Tour (Tuscany and the Cinque Terre) , so we will make the most of the time before saying goodbye to this area.

We will wake up in Riomaggiore , in search of different lights than those we already had on our previous sunset in the town. We will spend the morning photographing its beautiful streets, its colorful houses, and its small fishing port .

In the afternoon, we will take a drive in our vehicles along the road that connects the five towns. We will photograph beautiful views from various viewpoints located along the route, finishing the day by capturing the sunset from one of them.

After a well-deserved dinner, we will return to our hotel to rest.

DAY 9 | ITALY PHOTO TOUR

Today we will head to Florence airport, where this Italy Photo Tour (Tuscany and Cinque Terre) will end.

OPTIONAL EXTENSION AFTER THE PHOTO TOUR OF TUSCANY AND CINQUE TERRE

We have prepared an optional extension of this Photo Tour of Tuscany and Cinque Terre , which will take place in the beautiful city of Florence . This extension, lasting 2 days, will take place after the initial base trip.

In this short extension, we will photograph the most impressive locations of magical Florence , a mythical city and cradle of the Renaissance .

DAY 1 – EXTENSION TO FLORENCE

As soon as we take the travelers not participating in this extension to the airport, we will head to our accommodation for the next few nights, in Florence. The first afternoon of this extension will be spent visiting the outskirts of the city, going to photograph the best views of it from the Piazzale Michelangelo . Sunsets from here are often memorable. We will photograph the sunset and the blue hour from here, before heading back to the hotel when night falls.

DAY 2 – EXTENSION TO FLORENCE

We will get up early to photograph the sunrise in the Ponte Vecchio area, another of the architectural gems of this beautiful city. We will stay taking photos in the area until the light becomes harsher.

After breakfast, we will take a photographic tour of Florence, capturing some of its most famous locations. We will spend the whole day in the city, photographing, among other places, the Santa Maria Novella church, the Piazza della Repubblica , the Palazzo Vecchio , the Piazza del Duomo , and the impressive Santa Maria del Fiore , one of the most beautiful cathedrals on the planet.

We will stay in the center until dusk, photographing the sunset in the area , and revisiting the Ponte Vecchio before returning to our hotel.

DAY 3 – EXTENSION TO FLORENCE

Today ends this extension to Florence, but we will not miss the opportunity to go out to capture the first lights of the day in this unforgettable city . Just like when we arrived, we will leave the city after enjoying the best views of it from the Piazzale Michelangelo . This time, we can enjoy the views with the light illuminating it from an opposite side to the previous sunset. It will undoubtedly be a fantastic finale for a city like Florence.

After our last sunrise, we will have breakfast and head to the airport, where this Photo Tour of Italy will end.

ITALY PHOTO TOUR CONDITIONS

Pricing and bookings.

The cost of this fantastic 9 day (8 night) long Italy Photo Tour, is US$2,790 per person. Price includes double shared accommodations with another participant in the trip, according to the itinerary.

Price calculated for a minimum group of 6 participants. In case there were less than 6 people for the group, customers will have the chance to continue with the trip paying an extra supplement, or to receive a full refund if the trip has to be cancelled.

Single room supplement: US$800, depending on availability.

The cost of the optional 2 day long Florence Photo Tour extension, is US$400. Price includes shared double accommodation basis.

To book your spot for this Italy photo tour, you can send us an email to [email protected], or call us at (+34) 625 01 44 81 (also available by WhatsApp). You can also book your spot with the form located at the top right area of this page.

General Considerations

This Italy Photo Tour is organized by the Official Travel Agency ‘Viajes Fotográficos – Dream Photo Expeditions’ ( hereinafter referred to as ‘the travel agency’).

The travel agency carefully studies and designs all the trips that we offer, always trying to adapt them to our travelers needs. All our itineraries and activities are chosen from a photographic point of view. However, the itinerary shown here is just an idea of some of the places that we will be visiting, not being contractual information about what we’ll do during the trip. The tour leaders, photo guides, other guides and/or the travel agency and organizers of the tour, reserve always the right to do any kind of changes to the itinerary and the tour, both before and during the trip.

In this sense, it will be up to the photographer/s guide/s or to the travel agency, the decision of changing any of the programmed activities, places to visit, and shooting sessions for each day, depending on factors as weather, security or light conditions, but not limited to these. We will always be in search of the best possible experiences and moments of light for the customers of this trip. However, sometimes we may decide to change plans depending on some factors. The program may also be changed in case of emergency, injury of illness of any of the participants or main photographers.

At the same time, both the photographers and the travel agency reserves the right of changing the tour leader/s, in case it’s necessary. Some of the reasons might include injuries, illness or hospitalization, severe health problems, accidents, (both of themselves as well as first grade relatives too), etc. In those cases, the agency will bring another photographer able to guide the group in the same destination.

Documentation

Each traveler is responsible of having all the documentation needed for the trip, as well as for entering the destination/s. To visit Italy, you need a valid Passport and might need a visa or an electronic travel authorization to enter the country. Always check the requirements with your country authorities before traveling to a foreign destination.

The photographers and the travel agency have no responsibility about each traveler’s documentation, or about the requirements to be allowed to enter in Italy or any other country.

Travel Insurance

This Italy Photo Tour includes a basic assistance insurance. However, we strongly recommend you to bring a full travel insurance, which has unlimited or high limit money coverages in case of accident or disease.

Personal Counseling

The travel agency will give personal counseling and advice to travelers when purchasing their trip. Customers will receive a list with everything that they might need for the route, tips about how to prepare a medical kit for the travel, recommendations about the photography gear for the place, etc… At the same time, our staff will be happy to help and solve any doubt that the clients could have while they are preparing their trip.

Responsability

We are completely sure that this Italy Photo Tour will be an unforgettable experience for travelers, as well as an intensive learning process. The travel agency will always try to promote values such as respect (cultural, social and environmental). Those values will always prevail in all our trips. At the same time, ‘Dream Photo Expeditions’ will always ensure that the impact of their trips is never negative for the country, their citizens or their wildlife.

The travel agency, tour leaders, guides, or the photographers hosting the trip, will have no responsibility at all for any accident, loss, theft or damage suffered by the customers participating on it.

Each customer declares that he or she accepts all the conditions on this trip at the time he or she is doing a reservation request and/or payment for it.

At the moment of booking, the client will be required to send an initial payment of US$1000 (US$863 if choosing single room). Payments can be done by bank transfer, by credit or debit card, and by PayPal. However, please notice that credit or debit card and PayPal payments are subject to a supplement fee, to cover the costs of these payment methods.

The remaining balance will be due 60 days prior to the trip. If one client doesn’t make effective any of the expected payments in the deadline, the organizers has the right to cancel the contract with that participant, without any refund, as the terms previously seen. The features that make up the combined travel contract come from the information given to the client in the brochure or program, as well as from the indications regarding this information that could have been given when confirming the reservation.

Cancelations

In case the agency doesn’t complete the minimum group needed to confirm the trip, customers will have the choice between doing the trip paying an extra supplement, or being issued a full refund.

If the travel agency needs to cancel the trip, for any reason, customers will get a 100% refund of the cost of the photo tour.

However if the client doesn’t show or cancels the trip, the following cancellation policies will be applied:

– Less than 60 days prior to the trip: US$600 (US$863 in case they had chosen single room basis). – Greater than 60 days prior to the trip: 100% of the trip cost.

Prices are based in the Exchange rates by December, the 28th, 2018. The currency may be updated until 21 days prior to the departure, according to Spanish Travel Laws, applying a supplement/discount in case of change.

Once the reservation is done by the client, and the services and their prices are confirmed by us, these prices only could be revised until 20 calendar days prior to the departure dates, only in case there are variations in the transportation costs (including the fuel prices), in accommodations, in rates and taxes referring to certain services (such as landing, boarding in ports and airports), or in monetary exchange rates applied to the trip.

ITALY PHOTO TOUR MAP

ITALY PHOTO TOUR GALLERY

MORE INFO ABOUT ITALY PHOTO TOUR

Starting/ending location.

Florence International Airport, Florence, Italy ( Google Maps )

• Accommodation in mid category hotels (3 or 4 stars) during the 8 nights of the photo tour, on a double shared room basis.
• Transportation during the photo tour, plus all the related expenses, including picking up at the airport.
• Train tickets or passes for the Cinque Terre National Park
• Services of the professional photographer/s leading the group.
• Personalized services, attention and photography instruction.
• Basic travel insurance.
• Organization and services of an official travel agency with more than 5 years and 40 photo tours of experience.

Not included

• Flights and/or transportation to and from Florence, Italy.
• Meals (breakfast, lunch or dinner), snacks or beverages.
• Entrances to museums or attractions, when applicable
• Personal expenses.
• Anything not included in the “Included” section.

RECOMMENDED PHOTO GEAR FOR THE ITALY PHOTO TOUR

We recommend you to bring a DSLR or Mirrorless system camera with interchangeable lenses, but you can join the photo tour bringing any kind of camera, including compact ones, or even a smartphone.

Wide Angle Lens

A wide angle lens will be really useful to capture both the wonderful landscapes in Tuscany, as well as the cityscapes and seascapes in the Cinque Terre. 

Standard Zoom

An standard zoom, like a 24-70mm, or a 24-105mm, will be very useful on this trip. With that focal length range, you will be able to capture a great variety of the scenes we’ll find.

TELEPHOTO LENS

A telephoto lens like a 70-200mm will be really useful during this trip. In Tuscany, we will use it to capture distant landscapes, as well as to isolate subjects, focusing on contrasts between colors, shapes, etc… 

FAST LENS FOR NIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY

These kind of lenses are not essential at all, specially if you already have a fast wide angle. However, if you already have a lens like a 14mm 1’8 or a 20mm 1’4, you could bring ir for a possible night photo session.

A tripod will be needed for our low light photography sessions, such as the sunrise, sunset and night photography ones. We recommend you bringing a really sturdy one, so it’s not easily moved by the wind.

PHOTOGRAPHY FILTERS

We recommend you bringing ND filters for long exposure photography, as well as graduated ND filter for sunrises and sunsets. A polarizer filter will be very useful too, to add saturation or avoid reflections.

REMOTE CONTROLLER

Bringing a remote or an intervalometer will be a great idea, because they will be very useful in low light sessions, avoiding the need to touch the camera, and therefore minimizing the risk of moved images.

Bringing enough extra batteries is essential for a trip like this. Given the cold temperatures, batteries will run much faster than usual. Therefore, you should bring enough batteries to avoid running out of energies.

MEMORY CARDS

We also recommend you bringing enough memory cards so you can store all the pictures you will take during the trip, or even doing security copies. Given their low price, it’s better to carry extra cards.

PRactical Information

Is there a minimal physical level to join this italy photo tour.

This Italy Photo Tour is recommended for any person, no matter the age or the physical level to join the trip. As long as you are able to walk for a short five minute hike with no difficulty, you are welcome to come with us. Most of the photo locations are located just a short walk from the places where we’ll park. Therefore, we can assure you that this is a very easy to do trip (one of our easiest ones). 

At the same time, there is no age limit for the tour, as well as your health and conditions are reasonably good.

Do I need a minimal photography level to join the Italy Photo Tour?

There is no need of a minimal photography level to join this Italy Photo Tour. You don’t need to be a professional photographer to come to this Italy Photo Tour, nor even having a lot of experience with your camera. All our photo tours are open to all levels, even for beginners, or unexperienced photography users. Sometimes, we even have people just taking shots with their smartphones. Same way, no minimum photo gear is mandatory.

One of our highlights is providing customized attention, so we will help you to get the best possible images, regardless your previous level. We’ll be there to help you becoming a better photographer!

What kind of weather can I expect during this Italy Photo Tour?

During this Italy Photo Tour, we can expect mid to warm temperatures during the day. It will be a bit cooler during our sunrise, sunset and night photo sessions, but nothing complicated to deal with.

We recommend dressing in layers, so you can add or remove clothes depending on the conditions. You should also bring a light or mid jacket, and a Gore Tex jacket or similar, for the possible rain. Mountain boots or hiking shoes would be perfect for most of the time. Once you confirm your booking, you will also receive a guide with the recommended gear list for this Italy Photo Tour.

Are meals included on this Italy Photo Tour?

This Italy Photo Tour, as most of our trips, doesn’t include meals (breakfast, lunch or dinner). This will give us maximum flexibility during the trip, in order to focus mainly in the most important thing: photography. Normally, we will be having breakfast in the hotel or in cafes near the area, before or after our sunrise shooting session (depending on tour schedule). For lunch, sometimes we’ may be stopping at restaurants, but we’ll be often buying food at supermarkets (fruit, snacks, sandwiches, etc…), and doing a picnic on the locations we visit. Then, we will have dinner at the hotel or in town. 

One way or another, do not worry, we will have the opportunity to enjoy the delicious Italian cuisine. Pasta and pizza will be available (and delicious) anywhere!

Which payment options do you offer?

Currently, the main payment option we have is the bank transfer. However, if you prefer it, we also have other payment options, such as credit or debit card, PayPal or Transferwise. Please notice that these other payment options may apply a commission fee. You can ask us about these different payment options. 

If you choose to pay by credit or debit card, or by PayPal, you can process your payment online, when you finish the booking process. For bank transfer payment, you just have to proceed with the booking and then, once you finish the process with the chosen payment method, you’ll receive an email with al the instructions and bank details. 

What kind of accommodations will we have?

During this Italy Photo Tour, we’ll be normally staying at 3 or 4 star hotels. Each traveller will be staying in a double twin shared room, shared with another participant of the tour. Rooms will always include a private bath. 

If you come with another person to the Italy Photo Tour, you’ll share the room, However, if you are traveling alone, we’ll choose a roommate for you between the other participants in the trip (always same genre). Anyway, you will also have the chance to choose a single room for you, paying an extra supplement. Contact us for all details.

Can I join this photo tour regardless my country of residence?

Anyone can join this Italy Photo Tour, no matter your country of residence. Our main travel agency is settled in Santander, Spain, but our trips are open to customers from countries all around the world. Therefore, we may have clients from different places in our photo tours.

This Japan Photo Tour will begin meting up at Florence International Airport, Italy. Therefore, all the participants need to get there for the first day of the tour, traveling from their country of residence, with no need to travel to a particular town to fly together to Florence.

What else should I bring to the tour?

Once you have confirmed your booking for this Italy Photo Tour, we will send you the Italy Photo Tour info with a recommended gear PDF guide. This will include suggestions not only about the photography gear, but also about the clothes and accessories you might need during this photo tour. To sum up, you won’t have to worry about anything, since our expert photo leaders and guides will inform you about everything you will need, so you can enjoy your travel as much as possible!

As a first tip, we would suggest you bringing a light color down or shell jacket (for example red, orange, yellow, light green, etc…). That jacket will protect you from the cold and the rain but, at the same time, you’ll look great when photographed in some of the most beautiful locations around the Tuscany countryside!

DO YOU WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT US?

Check the reasons to travel with us, read other traveler reviews, discover our vip traveler advantages, enjoy our photo gallery, do you have any doubts, check our faq, similar tours, italy photography tours, spring photography tours, related tours.

Privacy Overview

All Tours and Workshops

Italy photo tours & workshops.

Tours in Italy Tours Outside of Italy

Amalfi Coast / Village Life

The Amalfi Coast offers a sun-drenched Mediterranean escape and a photographer’s paradise.

April 12-18, 2024

Tuscany Villages & Landscapes

Leave the crowds behind and savor the rolling velvet landscapes, charming hilltop towns along with the authentic rustic foods and wines of Tuscany. 

SOLD OUT-WAIT LIST

FOUR SPOTS REMAINING

Como and the Romantic Italian Lakes

Experience Italy’s romantic Alpine lakes where artists and royalty have gone for inspiration since medieval times.

September 16-22, 2024

TWO SPOTS REMAINING

The Dolomites |  Fall Colors Tour

The Dolomites may be the best mountain range in the world for a photo tour. In addition to the high-drama peaks and the serene alpine villages, you can taste that rich blend of Italian and Austrian culture and cuisine. 

Begin and end in Venice

Optional 4-day Venice extension October 25-28

October 18-25, 2024

Puglia – Best of Southern Italy

Puglia, on the heel of the boot, remains largely undiscovered and holds a raw and authentic experience for photographers and their partners. Experience the traditional foods and wines along with the warm welcome of the Deep South.

Matera extension May 14-17

May 7-14, 2025  

SIX SPOTS REMAINING

Ligurian Coast | Camogli ~ Portofino ~ Cinque Terre

The Ligurian coastline is one of the most beautiful and photo-rich regions of Italy. Photograph the famous Cinque Terre, but then escape the crowds and stay with us in our favorite coastal town on the Portofino Coast.  7 Days / 6 nights

Bologna / Foto & Foodie Tour

Combine street and fine art photography with cooking and dining in the heart of Italian cuisine, the famed Emilia Romagna region. Gabriele Angelini guides this “foto-foodie tour” on home turf.

2025 dates to be announced

Private Tours – Name your date

We offer private, small group photo tours in many regions of Italy, year-round. You choose how many days you want and where. Here’s an example tour: Landscapes and villages of Tuscany and the Cinque Terre.

Workshops in France and the USA

The great canyons photo tour .

Zion National Park / North Rim of the Grand Canyon / Slot Canyons and Lake Powell. These are some of the most dramatic views on earth for a landscape photographer to explore. Please join us for this small group, unhurried six- day tour through the Great Canyons of the Southwest.

Friends of the Workshops

Copy My Trip: A grand rail tour of Italy from Rome to Venice

Apr 19, 2024 • 7 min read

Rolling through the Italian countryside on a restored 1960s train? A once-in-a-lifetime experience © Sina Hotels

Lonely Planet associate editor Ann Douglas Lott recently traveled through Italy aboard a vintage train, regional trains and bus. Here, she shares some tips and insights for anyone planning a similar trip.

When I told people I had a trip planned to Italy , the joy with which they talked about their own travels there was endless – the dreamy landscapes, the fascinating ruins, the life-changing slice of pizza they had, how their daily cup of coffee just hasn't compared since – but I knew I wouldn't truly understand that joy until I experienced it for myself.

Yes, I was recently a first-timer in one of the planet's most-visited destinations, so my expectations were exceedingly lofty. The plan was a grand rail (and occasional bus) tour stopping in Rome , Perugia , Florence and Venice – all in just one week. Initially, the pressure to cram in as much as I could that week was at the front of my mind, but thanks to the Italian art of slow living, I learned to appreciate pacing myself as I journeyed (and ate) my way through this incredible country.

Also a first-timer in Italy? Here's what you should know

Where did you stay? What was the vibe?

Four fabulous destinations meant four fabulous, centrally-located hotels to match. I was invited to stay at a different five-star Sina hotel in each city: the 150-year-old Bernini Bristol in Rome, the hilltop Sina Brufani in Perugia, the classy Villa Medici in Florence and the canal-side Centurion Palace in Venice.

The brand has been owned and operated by the same family for over 60 years, so that classic Italian charm is undeniable. I also just adore a hotel that  feels  like the destination it's in, so details like the Brufani's elegant, classical decor and the Villa Medici's grand, early 19th-century lobby enhanced the whole experience. While considered luxury hotels, don't dismiss these if you like to stick to a tighter travel budget ; nightly rates at these properties cover a broad spectrum, typically depending on the popularity of the destination. Perugia, for example, would suit a budget traveler more than Florence (Perugia was my favorite stop – more on that later).

Some highlights: 

• Sipping Aperol spritzes on the hotel's panoramic rooftop at sunset in Rome
• The Perugia hotel's pool with a glass bottom that peers into an ancient ruin, plus the view of Umbria's rolling hills from my room
• The vintage keys and private garden with its own pool at the Florence hotel
• Enjoying views of the Grand Canal from the Venice property's front porch

Favorite activity from the trip?

Let's talk about the ultimate train ride. It's always a good idea to roll through the Italian countryside, but on a beautifully restored 1960s masterpiece? That's a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The Arlecchino is the stuff of Wes Anderson films, with its roomy, brightly colored velvet seats, massive windows, vintage bar car and a chic, retro viewing cabin at either end of the train. Departing from Rome, we crawled through Lazio and into the Umbrian countryside, between green hills, through mountain tunnels and past lovely medieval towns like Assisi .

I count myself lucky to have scored a seat on this journey to Perugia – the Arlecchino doesn't run daily like the Trenitalia lines. But the operator of this line, Fondazione FS Italiene , runs similar journeys throughout the country almost daily, so you can still experience the magic of riding on a vintage Italian train. Tickets can be booked on the website , where you can also learn about each of their historic lines. Prices vary depending on the journey, but most hover around €50 per adult. If you prefer a speedier ride and choose to go the Trenitalia route, staggering views are guaranteed no matter which service you board.

Plan your own rail adventure through Italy with our tips for getting around

Best thing you ate?

The aforementioned life-changing slice of pizza? It was a mozzarella and guanciale slice from Zizzi Pizza in Rome. But the best thing I ate was a ridiculously fresh sandwich from I' Bacaro De Bischeri in Venice: warm focaccia, prosciutto, arugula, caramelized onions and burrata.

Honorable mention: the amaretto mousse and tiramisu from Osteria Al Bacareto in Venice, ham and parmesan fettuccine from Harry's Bar The Garden in Florence (conveniently located inside the Villa Medici hotel) and a simple bite of burrata – so fresh it was still warm – in Perugia. Oh, and the whole gelato spread at Gelateria Nico in Venice, though I'm partial to stracciatella  (chocolate chip).

Want more Italian restaurant recs? Here's where you should eat in Florence right now

What was the most touristy thing you did? 

When in Venice, book a glass factory tour! Our hotel arranged for a water taxi to deliver us to Murano for a factory and gallery tour of Schiavon Art Team's headquarters, one of the island's many glassblowers. The taxi ride across the lagoon was a glamorous experience in itself – a private, classy wooden boat with leather seats – but you can also take a vaporetto to Murano for a fraction of the cost.

We entered a vast gallery of vibrant glass chandeliers, plants, abstract faces and even a mural of the Avengers (they can do it all). But the highlight was observing the glass masters at work – a team of five almost dancing to keep the glass hot while also perfecting the movements and timing of sculpting the given subject, in this case, a beautiful blue marlin. I could've sat there all day, but the canals were calling.

What was the most under-the-radar activity you enjoyed?

If you need a place to stop between Rome and Florence, this is it. Umbria is everything you love about Italy without the crowds (except during Perugia's annual chocolate and jazz festivals in March and July, respectively), and the one night I spent in Perugia's medieval center wasn't nearly long enough.

While there was still daylight, I toured the underground fortress Rocca Paolina . You can enter the fortress via escalator from a small park called Giardini Carducci , which happens to be a fabulous spot to watch the sunset over the rolling hills of Umbria's countryside. The next morning, head to Sandri for a coffee and pastry – this is Perugia's most famous cafe. It's been a family-run business since 1860, and multiple locals told me it sells the best pastries around.

Did you bring home a souvenir?

Oh, did I shop. Here's the haul: in Florence, I snagged a pair of red and pink velvet Mary Janes at Bramada . It was a love-at-first-sight-through-the-window kind of moment. The rest of my shopping was in Venice: a marble-covered notebook of watercolor paper from Il Papiro (and regular notebooks for my family), a Murano glass charm necklace from The M Venezia (just €20–25 each) and a vintage red scarf with illustrations of Capri from Vintageria for just €5 – perhaps a sign that Capri should be my next Italian destination?

Pick up more souvenirs at these local shops in Rome and Florence

Best tip for someone who wants to plan the same trip?

The timing of this trip was simply marvelous: March shoulder season, specifically the week before Easter. The weather was decently warm as highs hovered around 15°C (60°F), the sun was mostly shining, and the Easter crowds hadn't yet made their way to the more popular cities. I packed a short, thin coat for the cooler nights and occasional wind.

Also, when you book a regional train ticket (aka, not the stylish Arlecchino), you have to validate it before you board your train. Otherwise, you'll face a hefty fine when ticket inspectors come to scan your ticket on board. Look for one of the green machines at the head of the platform, and insert your ticket to get it stamped. This isn't required on high-speed trains, though – those tickets are valid for a specific train service and seat.

Ann Douglas traveled to Italy on the invitation of Sina Hotels. Lonely Planet does not accept freebies in exchange for positive coverage. 

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Harley-Davidson HOG Rally, Senigallia, 2024

60019 Senigallia, Province of Ancona, Italy

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About this trip

This is a fully guided tour to the Harley-Davidson rally in Senigallia, Italy.

We have deliberately chosen a route to get to Italy that includes great riding.  The route out to Senigallia includes some wonderful roads in France, Switzerland and Italy, including some amazing high alpine roads in the Alps mountains including Grimsel Pass, Furka Pass and Nufenen Pass.  In Italy, we ride through the Tuscany region and visit wonderful places such as Sienna and Cortona. Check out the route on the map at the bottom of this page.

The tour starts in Folkestone in the UK and we take 7 full days of riding to get to Italy.  We will be staying at 3 and 4 star hotels on route. We arrive in the coastal town of Senegallia on the east coast of Italy on the day the rally opens, Thursday.  We are then at the HOG rally for 3 nights.

The rally site is in the main square of Senigallia and we have two hotels there. The first is a 3-star hotel right on the sandy beach and this hotel is an 8-minute walk to the rally site. The second is a 4-star hotel just a 4-minute walk to the rally site. There is a supplement on the tour price to stay at the 4-star hotel. Both hotels are in terrific locations.

Of course, at the rally site there will be much to do, including bands, the expo, demonstration motorcycle rides, the parade and much more!

Our group sizes normally range from 10 to 14 motorcycles. Due to the likely popularity of this tour, we will run two groups.

With this tour, after the rally you will be riding back to the UK and you have a choice about how you do that. The standard tour includes for riding back over 3 days mainly on motorways through Italy, Switzerland, France, Luxembourg and Belgium.

Alternatively, you can opt to take a 5-day ride back to the UK which includes a stop over in Venice (with a guided tour of the city by Tour1), riding the dramatic San Boldo Pass, riding in the wonderful Dolomite mountains and then riding the spectacular Grossglockner Pass, before getting back on faster motorway roads to Calais. There is a supplement for the tour price if you want to take the 5-day ride back.

Available Packages

Please note, if two riders are sharing a room, you both need to complete one of these booking forms. It is one booking per motorcycle.

Available options

Your organizer.

Muted Reactions to Israeli Strikes on Iran Hint at De-Escalation

Israel had vowed retaliation for Iran’s attack last weekend, but the strikes reported overnight were limited, and Iran downplayed them.

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Farnaz Fassihi ,  Ronen Bergman and Patrick Kingsley

Here are the latest developments.

The Israeli military struck Iran early on Friday, according to two Israeli and three Iranian officials, in what appeared to be Israel’s first military response to Iran’s attack last weekend but one whose scope, at least initially, appeared to be limited.

The Iranian officials said that a strike had hit a military air base near the city of Isfahan, in central Iran. Initial reaction in both Israel and Iran was muted , which analysts said was a sign that the rivals were seeking to lower the temperature of their conflict. World leaders, who for nearly a week have urged Israel and Iran to avoid starting a broader war in the region, called for both sides to de-escalate tensions on Friday.

The Israeli military declined to comment on the strike. A senior U.S. official said that Israel had notified the United States through multiple channels shortly before the attack. All the officials spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly.

The explosions came less than a week after Iran fired more than 300 missiles and drones at Israel — nearly all of which were shot down — in response to an April 1 strike on an Iranian diplomatic compound in Syria that killed seven Iranian officials. That attack brought the decades-long shadow war between Israel and Iran — waged on land, at sea, in air and in cyberspace — more clearly into the open.

Here’s what else to know:

A Western official and two Iranian officials said that Israel used both missiles fired from warplanes and drones in the strike , suggesting that the attack included more advanced firepower than initial reports indicated. Iranian officials initially told The New York Times that the attack had been carried out only by small drones, possibly launched from inside Iran, and that radar systems had not detected unidentified aircraft entering Iranian airspace. They said that a separate group of small drones was shot down in the region of Tabriz, roughly 500 miles north of Isfahan.

In public, Iranian officials sought to downplay the strike. Maj. Gen. Abdolrahim Mousavi, the commander in chief of Iran’s army, said explosions heard early Friday in Isfahan “were from our air defense firing at a suspicious object,” and that there had been “no damage.” Iranian news agencies appeared keen to show that things were “back to normal” in the city.

President Ebrahim Raisi of Iran had warned that “the tiniest act of aggression” on his country’s soil would draw a response. But in the hours after Israel’s strike, there have been no public calls for retribution by Iranian officials. One lawmaker, Seyed Nezamedin Mousavi, called the strike “ridiculous,” saying it showed Israel “is content with these ineffective actions.”

Isfahan is one of Iran’s most famous and historic cities . The area also hosts a number of Iranian military sites. Iranian media reported that nuclear facilities in Isfahan had not been hit.

Israeli leaders came close to ordering widespread strikes in Iran on the night Iran attacked, officials said, but the war cabinet postponed a decision. Mr. Biden and other world leaders urged Israel for days not to retaliate in a way that would inflame a wider Middle East war while it fights Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon, both allies of Iran.

Alissa J. Rubin

An explosion damages a military base in Iraq used by an Iran-backed armed group.

Iraq’s joint military command says one person was killed and eight were injured in an explosion early Saturday at a base used by an Iranian-backed armed group, Harakat al Nujaba, in Iraq’s Babylon Province.

In a carefully worded statement, Iraq’s military did not attribute the explosion to an air attack with a missile or a drone. “Air Defense Command confirmed that there was no drone or jet fighter in the airspace of Babylon Province before and during the explosion,” the statement said.

Privately, however, military officials say it appears that at least one projectile hit inside the Kalsu base’s perimeter. A video taken shortly after the event and posted on social media showed damaged buildings and a large rubble-filled crater. A second video showed several parts of the base on fire.

According to Iraq’s joint command, the base is used by several elements of the Iraqi security forces including the Iraqi Army and police as well as the Popular Mobilization Forces , or P.M.F., an umbrella organization.

The P.M.F. includes some brigades that are backed by Iran. The one stationed at this base, Harakat al Nujaba, has participated in attacks on U.S. installations in Iraq and Syria. More recently it has joined with other Iranian-backed forces in Syria and Lebanon to attack Israeli territory.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the strike.

The U.S. military, which has carried out strikes on Iranian-backed armed groups in Iraq in the past, said in a statement released shortly after the attack that it had not participated in strikes on locations in Iraq. The Israeli military declined to comment.

The explosion came a day after Israel attacked a military air base near the city of Isfahan in central Iran, according to two Israeli and three Iranian officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly. That attack, on Friday, appeared to be Israel’s first military response to Iran’s huge drone and missile attack on Israeli soil nearly a week ago.

Falih Hassan contributed reporting from Baghdad.

Farnaz Fassihi

Iran’s foreign minister, Hossein Amir Abdollahian, who is in New York attending U.N. meetings, told Iran’s state news agency that the small quadcopter targeting a military base in Isfahan did not have casualties or damage. “Israel is determined to portray its defeat as a victory,” Mr. Amir Abdollahian said, the most senior official to comment on the attacks and draw a link to Israel publicly.

Christoph Koettl and Christiaan Triebert

Satellite imagery shows that a precision attack damaged an air defense system at an Iranian base.

The Israeli attack on an Iranian air base in Isfahan hit a crucial part of an air defense system, a New York Times analysis of satellite imagery found.

Images showed that the precision attack at the Eighth Shekari Air Base damaged or destroyed the “flap-lid” radar , which is used in S-300 air defense systems to track incoming targets.

The Times used several satellite images in its analysis; the location of the damaged area was first pointed out on the social media platform X by Aurora Intel , and the findings have also been confirmed by a former U.S. government imagery analyst, Chris Biggers.

The radar is typically surrounded by several vehicles, including four trucks carrying missiles. Before the strike, the missiles were seen positioned next to the radar. After the strike, they had been moved and did not appear visibly damaged. It was not clear why the missiles had been moved. However, the fact that they appear undamaged indicated that the attack had a very precise target, according to Mr. Biggers.

Other areas of the air base and adjacent airport also appeared to be undamaged. The precision of the strike, deep within Iran and with several sensitive sites close by, suggested Israel chose the specific and narrow target, the air defense system.

According to the Missile Defense Project of the Washington think tank Center for Strategic and International Studies, Iran has acquired Russian-made S-300 air defense systems to deter Israeli and other airstrikes.

Reporting from the Capitol

Liberal Democrats urge ‘no’ vote on Israel aid to pressure Biden on Gaza.

A group of left-leaning House Democrats is urging its colleagues to oppose the $26 billion aid package for Israel, hoping to maximize the number of “no” votes from the party and send a warning to President Biden about the depth of his political coalition’s discontent over his support for Israel’s tactics in Gaza.

Framing the upcoming vote as a make-or-break moral choice akin to Congress’s votes to authorize and fund the Iraq war, progressive leaders in the House are working to muster a sizable bloc of Democratic opposition to the aid measure, which is expected to pass on Saturday and become law in the coming days.

“In the wake of those votes, people came around much, much later and said, ‘We shouldn’t have allowed that to go forward,’” Representative Pramila Jayapal, Democrat of Washington and the chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, said of the decades-ago debate over Iraq. “And I think that this is that moment.”

Representative Joaquin Castro, Democrat of Texas, called it a “defining vote,” adding, “We’re either going to participate in the carnage, or we’re not.”

There is little doubt that the bill, which would send roughly $13 billion in military assistance to Israel as it continues its offensive in Gaza, will pass the House, along with money for Ukraine, Taiwan and other American allies.

But progressive Democrats estimated that 40 to 60 members of their party may oppose it on the House floor on Saturday. That would be a striking signal from Congress, where ironclad bipartisan backing for Israel has long been the norm. And it would highlight the fraught divisions the war in Gaza has sown within the Democratic Party, even as more Democrats including Mr. Biden have begun to criticize Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s approach to the conflict and urge him to better protect civilians.

The legislation would allocate $5 billion to Israel’s defense capabilities and $9 billion for “worldwide humanitarian aid,” including for civilians in Gaza. But it would not place further conditions on how Israel could use American military aid, nor block future arms transfers from the United States as an increasing number of Democrats have sought to do.

Democrats who are leading the push against the Israel aid bill said they strongly supported the Jewish state and its right to defend itself, and would vote in favor of sending military aid that supports Israel’s defense capabilities, such as by replenishing the Iron Dome, David’s Sling and Iron Beam defense systems. They also denounced the Oct. 7 terrorist attack by Hamas that prompted the war, and said the hostages taken by Hamas must be released.

But they argued that approving more offensive weaponry without conditions was an untenable moral and political position that would amount to an endorsement of Mr. Netanyahu’s prosecution of the war, including his intention to invade Rafah over the objections of the Biden administration. More than 33,000 people in Gaza have been killed since the start of the conflict, according to the health ministry there, and the population is facing a hunger crisis.

“I understand the need for defensive weapons for Israel, particularly in light of the attack by Iran,” said Representative Ro Khanna, Democrat of California, who ran his first campaign on an antiwar platform and helped lead efforts to end U.S. participation in the war in Yemen. “But there is no justification to provide bombs and weapons to Netanyahu to continue the war in Gaza that is killing thousands of innocent Palestinian women and children.”

Saturday’s vote will recall a similar situation from 2007, when the speaker at the time, Nancy Pelosi, Democrat of California, split a piece of spending legislation to allow Democrats to register their opposition to funding the Iraq war while backing a domestic funding bill. Speaker Mike Johnson, Republican of Louisiana, similarly divided the foreign aid package to be considered on Saturday in order to get each element across the finish line in the face of distinct coalitions of resistance to different pieces of the bill.

In a critical test vote on Friday , the House agreed, 316 to 94, to bring up the package, with 39 Democrats — mostly progressives — joining 55 Republicans in opposition.

“This is a moment for members of Congress who support a safe and secure Israel to send a message that giving Netanyahu more offensive weapons is not a path for peace and security for Israelis and Palestinians,” Representative Becca Balint, Democrat of Vermont and the first Jewish member of Congress to call for a cease-fire, said in an interview. “To give Netanyahu more offensive weapons at this stage, I believe, is to condone the destruction of Gaza that we’ve seen in the last six months. And it’s also a green light for an invasion of Rafah.”

Representative Lloyd Doggett, a Texas Democrat who led the opposition to funding for the Iraq war in 2007, said the conversations among Democrats in Congress opposing continued U.S. backing for the war in Gaza were “not unlike” those that took place 17 years ago.

“We may well be casting the vote on whether a much wider war takes place, and whether American weapons go that result in the death of thousands of innocent people,” Mr. Doggett said.

The Democrats who oppose the aid package for Israel represent a minority of their caucus. But they see a “no” vote as part of a strategy to pressure Mr. Biden to condition aid and halt future offensive weapons transfers. Through many meetings, text chains and conversations with the administration, they have worked to shift the president’s approach to Israel, while underscoring the electoral risks Mr. Biden faces among voters who helped power him to the White House in 2020 and are now furious over his handling of the war.

“The only way to get a course correction is for a sizable number within the Democratic caucus to say it must shift,” Ms. Balint said.

Representative Dan Kildee, a Michigan Democrat who has been pressing Mr. Biden to withhold offensive weapons from Israel, said a big “no” vote would strengthen the president’s hand to do so.

“It helps the administration to have some number of Democrats express ourselves in this way,” he said.

Representative Greg Casar, Democrat of Texas, said he hoped a substantial number of Democrats opposing the bill would give the Biden administration greater leverage to influence the Israeli government’s approach to the war.

“I hope this vote will show the world that there is a really significant segment of the United States that doesn’t want to see expanded and widening wars,” he said.

Farnaz Fassihi and Eric Schmitt

Israel used missiles as well as drones in its overnight strike on Iran, officials say.

Israeli warplanes fired missiles on Iran during a retaliatory strike early Friday morning, one Western official and two Iranian officials said, suggesting that the attack included more advanced firepower than initial reports indicated.

It was not immediately clear the types of missiles used, from where they were fired, whether any were intercepted by Iran’s defenses or where they landed.

The Western official and the Iranian officials requested anonymity to discuss classified information.

Previously, Iranian officials said Friday’s attack on a military base in central Iran was conducted by small aerial drones, most likely launched from inside Iranian territory. A separate group of small drones, they said soon after the attack, was shot down in the region of Tabriz, roughly 500 miles north of Isfahan.

Israel has not publicly claimed responsibility for Friday’s attack and would not comment on the use of planes or missiles.

Israel’s strike came in response to an Iranian attack last weekend in which Iran fired hundreds of missiles and drones at Israel. A majority of the weapons used in that salvo were fired from Iranian territory and intercepted by Israel and its allies before causing any damage.

By contrast, the Iranian officials said, Iran’s military did not detect anything entering Iran’s airspace on Friday, including drones, missiles and aircraft. Iran’s state news agency IRNA reported that no missile attacks occurred and that Iran’s air defense system was not activated.

Iran’s decision to launch its strike primarily from its own soil last week was perceived by Israel as an escalation in the countries’ long-simmering shadow war. The Iranians believe the large salvo is helping with deterrence. Throughout the yearslong conflict, the two countries have traded clandestine attacks, including targeted assassinations, cyberattacks and conventional strikes conducted from and within third countries.

Iran’s attack last week was itself prompted by an Israeli strike on April 1, in which Israeli aircraft killed several Iranian armed forces commanders in Syria.

By using drones seemingly launched from inside Iran’s territory rather than its own, Israel hinted at a willingness to turn down the temperature on the conflict while also demonstrating an ability to conduct attacks that Iran could not detect.

One Iranian official, a member of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, said that even though the strike did little damage, the likelihood that drones were fired from under Iran’s nose sent a message about Israel’s capabilities.

A guided missile fired from an undetected warplane, even if it landed outside Iranian territory, would most likely deliver a similar threat.

Officials from both countries remained largely quiet about Friday’s attack, a gesture that appeared aimed at de-escalating a conflict some fear could spiral into a broader regional war. Israel’s silence on the attack, an Iranian official said, would allow Tehran to treat the strike as it had comparable previous attacks and not prompt an immediate response.

Mahdi Mohammadi, a senior adviser to Iran’s Parliament speaker, said that Israel’s limited attack on Iran showed that Iran had achieved its goal of deterrence. Israel’s refusal to openly claim responsibility, he said, amounts to a victory for Iran.

Israel’s attack, he said on the messaging app Telegram, was meant to show that it had the “capability to access Iran but in practice it also showed that it has accepted that it should not repeat its miscalculation.”

Peter Baker

The White House maintained public silence about the Israeli strike on Iran. “I’m not going to speak or speculate about any of the reports that are out there,” Karine Jean-Pierre, the White House press secretary, said at her daily briefing. John Kirby, the national security spokesman who typically speaks on foreign policy issues, did not join the briefing.

Jean-Pierre did repeat the president’s standard position urging against widening the war: “We do not want to see this conflict escalate. We continue to consult with our allies and partners, including in the region, to reduce further risk of escalation in the region.”

Raja Abdulrahim

Israel reportedly strikes an air defense site in Syria.

The Israeli military struck a Syrian air defense site in southern Syria with missiles early Friday, causing material damage, though no casualties were reported, according to Syrian state news media.

Syria’s official news agency, SANA, provided no other details and Israel did not comment on whether it was responsible for the attack, in keeping with its usual practice.

The strike happened around the same time that Israel carried out a strike on a military air base near the city of Isfahan, in central Iran.

That strike came less than a week after Iran fired more than 300 missiles and drones at Israel — nearly all of which were shot down — in retaliation for an April 1 attack on an Iranian diplomatic compound in Syria that killed seven Iranian military officers.

Friday’s strike in Syria targeted a radar system in the southern province of Dara’a, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a monitoring group based in Britain.

The Syrian military detected Israeli aircraft entering Syrian airspace, but its air defenses did not try to intercept the strikes, the Observatory said.

Iranian-backed armed groups throughout Syria have been on high alert since Iran’s strikes on Israel last weekend, the Observatory said. The groups obscured their positions and gave some of their leaders a week of leave.

Iran is closely allied with Hezbollah, the Lebanese militia, and with the Syrian government, and both Hezbollah and Iran’s Quds Force operate in Syria. For years, Iranian proxies like Hezbollah have launched strikes at northern Israel.

Israel has repeatedly targeted Iran and its allies with strikes in Syria, including in Damascus, the capital, and Aleppo.

Attacks across Israel’s borders with Syria and Lebanon have escalated since the Oct. 7 assault by Hamas on Israel.

Since the first of the year, Israel has carried out nearly three dozen attacks in Syria, destroying buildings, military headquarters and weapon and ammunition warehouses, the Observatory said. The strikes have killed 129 fighters and 12 civilians, the group said.

Adam Rasgon

Jordan will not allow its airspace to be violated by either Israel or Iran, Jordan’s foreign minister told his Iranian counterpart in a phone call, the official Jordanian news agency, Petra, reported.

Jordan lies between the two enemies, and it played a key role in helping shoot down the barrage of missiles and drones Iran fired at Israel on Saturday.

Leily Nikounazar and Gaya Gupta

Residents of Isfahan describe their fears of an escalated war.

Daily life appeared to return to normal in Isfahan on Friday, according to Iranian state news media and a resident who was interviewed, hours after Israel’s attack on a nearby military base continued the cycle of strikes and counterstrikes between the two countries.

But tensions from the overnight attack reverberated through the city, and some residents described the threat of full-fledged war as crippling — despite analysts’ assessment that both nations were trying to avoid further escalation.

Mehrdad, 43, an engineer from Isfahan, said the latest retaliation left him and his pregnant wife feeling stressed and unwell. He asked that his last name not be used for fear of retribution.

“The future of this country concerns me,” he said. “I believe nothing good is expected.”

Though he said that the city had returned “back to its normal” and reactions from officials were muted — which he believed was to help make people feel at ease — many residents remain scared after a stressful night of explosions.

For the first six months of the war between Israel and Hamas, Iran’s involvement in fighting had been limited to its proxies, including the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah and the Yemeni Houthi militia. But after Iran’s first direct strike on Israel last weekend, Mehrdad said, “things are coming to the surface.”

He hoped that diplomatic mediation would put an end to the threat of war, and he worried that the county’s infrastructure would be “ruined” by further Israeli attacks.

“Our economic situation is awful. We have 50 percent annual inflation,” he said. “Now guess what would happen if the war materialized. What would happen to our living conditions in this country?”

Mahsa, 34, an accountant from Isfahan who also asked that her last name not be used for fear of retribution, described a tense atmosphere of fear and instability. The economy is often the main topic of conversation when people gather, she said, and many are worried about the consequences of a wider war.

“When Iran attacked, we were all worried and we really didn’t know what to expect,” she said, describing the cycle of retaliation between Israel and Iran as a “show game.”

“Of course, after this Israeli attack, the direction of the game will be determined,” she added. “Either a full-scale war, or the end of this line, or just threats.”

The distress is crushing. Mahsa said her mental health had deteriorated, describing an instance last week when she broke down sobbing in the middle of the street for seemingly no reason while on a run. Dreams seem “more impossible to achieve, day by day,” she said.

“We don’t have much mental energy left,” she added.

An earlier version of this article misstated the gender of Mahsa, an accountant from Isfahan, Iran. She is female, not male.

How we handle corrections

The seemingly small scale of Israel's attack may give both countries an exit from the cycle of escalation. “It appears we are out of the danger zone and, because Israel’s strike was limited, it has allowed both countries to back down for now,” said Sanam Vakil, director of the Middle East and North Africa program at Chatham House.

The few Iranian officials who have talked publicly about the attack have downplayed it, suggesting a bid to de-escalate. A lawmaker, Seyed Nezamedin Mousavi, called the strike "ridiculous,” saying it showed Israel “is content with these ineffective actions.” A former foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, dismissed it as "fireworks."

Cassandra Vinograd

Here is a look at the recent history of Iran-Israel hostilities.

For decades, Israel and Iran have fought a shadow war across the Middle East , trading attacks by land, sea, air and in cyberspace. A recent round of strikes — mainly an aerial barrage by Iran against Israel last weekend — has brought the conflict more clearly into the open and raised fears of a broader war.

A retaliatory Israeli strike on an Iranian air base on Friday, however, appeared limited in scope, and analysts said it suggested an effort to pull back from the dangerous cycle and potentially move the war back into the shadows.

Here is a recent history of the conflict:

August 2019: An Israeli airstrike killed two Iranian-trained militants in Syria, a drone set off a blast near a Hezbollah office in Lebanon and an airstrike in Qaim, Iraq, killed a commander of an Iran-backed Iraqi militia. Israel accused Iran at the time of trying to establish an overland arms-supply line through Iraq and northern Syria to Lebanon, and analysts said the strikes were aimed at stopping Iran and signaling to its proxies that Israel would not tolerate a fleet of smart missiles on its borders.

January 2020: Israel greeted with satisfaction the assassination of Maj. Gen. Qassim Suleimani , the commander of the foreign-facing arm of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, in an American drone strike in Baghdad.

Iran hit back by attacking two bases in Iraq that housed American troops with a barrage of missiles, wounding about 100 U.S. military personnel .

2021-22: In July 2021, an oil tanker managed by an Israeli-owned shipping company was attacked off the coast of Oman, killing two crew members, according to the company and three Israeli officials. Two of the officials said that the attack appeared to have been carried out by Iranian drones.

Iran did not explicitly claim or deny responsibility, but a state-owned television channel described the episode as a response to an Israeli strike in Syria.

In November 2021, Israel killed Iran’s top nuclear scientist, Mohsen Fakhrizadeh , and followed up with the assassination of a Revolutionary Guards commander, Col. Sayad Khodayee , in May 2022.

December 2023: After Israel’s bombardment of Gaza began in response to the Oct. 7 Hamas-led assault, Iranian-backed militias stepped up their own attacks . And late last year, Iran accused Israel of killing a high-level military figure, Brig. Gen. Sayyed Razi Mousavi , in a missile strike in Syria.

A senior adviser to the Revolutionary Guards, General Mousavi was described as having been a close associate of General Suleimani and was said to have helped oversee the shipment of arms to Hezbollah. Israel, adopting its customary stance, declined to comment directly on whether it was behind General Mousavi’s death.

January 2024: An explosion in a suburb of Beirut, Lebanon, killed Saleh al-Arouri , a Hamas leader, along with two commanders from that group’s armed wing, the first assassination of a top Hamas official outside the West Bank and Gaza in recent years. Officials from Hamas, Lebanon and the United States ascribed the blast to Israel , which did not publicly confirm involvement.

Hezbollah, which receives major support from Iran, stepped up its assaults on Israel after Mr. al-Arouri’s death. Israel’s military hit back at Hezbollah in Lebanon, killing several of the group’s commanders .

March: An Israeli drone strike hit a car in southern Lebanon, killing at least one person. Israel’s military said it had killed the deputy commander of Hezbollah’s rocket and missile unit. Hezbollah acknowledged the death of a man, Ali Abdulhassan Naim, but did not provide further details.

The same day, airstrikes killed soldiers near Aleppo, northern Syria, in what appeared to be one of the heaviest Israeli attacks in the country in years. The strikes killed 36 Syrian soldiers, seven Hezbollah fighters and a Syrian from a pro-Iran militia, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a British-based group that tracks Syria’s civil war.

Israel’s military did not claim responsibility. But the country’s defense minister, Yoav Gallant, wrote on social media, “We will pursue Hezbollah every place it operates and we will expand the pressure and the pace of the attacks.”

April: A strike on an Iranian Embassy building in Damascus on April 1 killed three top Iranian commanders and four officers. Iran blamed Israel and vowed to hit back forcefully.

Two weeks later, Tehran launched a barrage of more than 300 drones and missiles at Israel, an unexpectedly large-scale attack , although nearly all the weapons were shot down by Israel and allies. Israel said for days it would respond, before a strike on Friday hit a military air base near the central Iranian city of Isfahan.

Israel has commonly used exploding drones in attacks on Iran.

Iranian officials said that the Israeli strike on Friday morning was carried out by small exploding drones, a tactic that would follow a well-established pattern in Israeli attacks on Iranian military targets.

As Israel has targeted Iranian defense and military officials and infrastructure, small drones — specifically ones known as quadcopters — have been a signature of those operations. Quadcopter drones, so named because they have four rotors, have a short flight range and can explode on impact.

The drones might have been launched from inside Iran, whose radar systems had not detected unidentified aircraft entering Iranian airspace, Iranian officials said. If the drones were launched within the country, it demonstrates once again Israel’s ability to mount clandestine operations in Iranian territory .

Israel’s military has not commented on Friday’s strike. Though it rarely claims responsibility publicly for attacks against Iranian targets, several attacks in recent years have used drones:

August 2019: Israel sent an exploding drone into the heart of a Hezbollah-dominated neighborhood in Beirut, Lebanon, to destroy what Israeli officials described as machinery used in the production of precision missiles.

June 2021: A quadcopter exploded outside Tehran at one of Iran’s main manufacturing centers for centrifuges, which purify uranium and are used at the country’s two major uranium enrichment facilities . Western officials have closely watched activity at those facilities for signs that Iran could be moving toward producing a nuclear weapon. Iran claimed that there had been no damage to the site outside Tehran, but satellite images showed evidence of significant damage.

February 2022: Six quadcopters exploded at Kermanshah, Iran’s main manufacturing and storage plant for military drones.

May 2022: A strike targeted the highly sensitive Parchin military site outside Tehran, where Iran develops missile, nuclear and drone technology. Quadcopter drones exploded into a building, killing an engineer and injuring another person, Iranians with knowledge of the attack said at the time.

January 2023: A drone attack on an Iranian military facility in January 2023 caused a large explosion in the center of Isfahan, the city near the air base that was struck on Friday. At the time, Iran made no effort to hide the fact that an attack had happened, but said it had done little damage. Iranian state media reported that drones had targeted an ammunition manufacturing plant but had been shot down by a surface-to-air defense system.

Michael Crowley

Traveling with Secretary Blinken

Blinken says the U.S. has not been involved in ‘offensive operations’ in Iran.

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken said on Friday that the United States “has not been involved in any offensive operations” in Iran when asked about Israel’s strike on the country on Friday, but he declined to comment further.

Mr. Blinken spoke on the last day of a meeting of Group of 7 ministers in Capri, Italy, where the agenda was dominated by the conflict in the Middle East, including the exchanges of strikes in the past week between Israel and Iran. In remarks to reporters before departing the island, Mr. Blinken said the G7 was unified in urging de-escalation between Iran and Israel to avoid a wider war.

But Mr. Blinken would not even directly confirm the Israeli strike, which appeared to be the country’s first military response to Iran’s attack last weekend, referring instead to “reported events,” and he would not say whether the United States had been notified in advance of the Israeli action. Shortly before he spoke, Italy’s foreign minister, Antonio Tajani, told reporters that the United States had been “informed at the last minute” of the Israeli strike.

“But there was no involvement on the part of the United States,” Mr. Tajani said. “It was simply information which was provided,” adding that he believed the G7’s collective efforts deserved credit for “the small scale of the event.”

Mr. Tajani did not say how he knew the United States had not been notified in advance, but he had recently come from a meeting with Mr. Blinken and other G7 ministers. A senior American official said on Friday that Israel had notified the United States through multiple channels shortly before its attack on Iran.

The G7 weighed in collectively in a statement concluding the three-day meeting, urging countries to prevent further escalation “in light of reports of strikes” on Friday. The G7 includes Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United States and the European Union.

The statement also said that the member nations “condemn in the strongest terms Iran’s direct and unprecedented attack” on Israel.

“Israel and its people have our full solidarity and support and we reaffirm our commitment toward Israel’s security,” it added.

The G7 also issued a new warning to Tehran, demanding that “Iran and its affiliated groups cease their attacks” throughout the Middle East and saying that “we stand ready to adopt further sanctions or take other measures.”

Mr. Blinken said of Iran that “degrading its missile and drone capabilities” was a key G7 goal.

Mr. Blinken also addressed the ongoing conflict in Gaza, pointing a finger at Hamas for the failure so far to reach a cease-fire deal that would include the release of Israeli prisoners.

“The only thing standing behind the Gaza people and a cease-fire is Hamas,” he said.

But he also addressed a major friction point with Israel, warning against what Israel says is its planned attack on the southern Gaza city of Rafah, where more than a million Palestinians have sought shelter from fighting elsewhere in the enclave. Israel has said an invasion of Rafah is necessary to eliminate Hamas battalions in the city.

“We cannot support a major military operation in Rafah,” Mr. Blinken said. Mr. Blinken said that protecting and caring for civilians amid such an operation was “a monumental task for which we have yet to see a plan.”

Asked about the U.S. veto on Thursday of a United Nations Security Council resolution to recognize a Palestinian state, Mr. Blinken said that while the United States supports the creation of such a state, doing so requires negotiations and that the proposed resolution “will have no effect on actually moving things forward and achieving a Palestinian state.”

He added: “You can put something down on a piece of paper and wave it around. It has no effect. What does and can have an effect is actual diplomacy.”

Mr. Blinken also noted that, under U.S. law passed by Congress, U.N. acceptance of a Palestinian member state would require “cutting off all of our funding for the United Nations.”

The Iranian news media appear keen to show that things are “back to normal” in Isfahan. The official news agency, IRNA, published a gallery of photos — people strolling, shoppers at a market, a child with a soccer ball — that it said showed “normal life” in the city today. Flights at the Isfahan airport, which had been suspended for a few hours, have resumed, it said.

Joe Rennison

S&P Global Ratings downgraded Israel’s credit rating on Thursday evening, citing the confrontation with Iran. It lowered Israel’s rating to A+ from AA-. That’s still a high rating on a scale that runs from triple-A down to D.

Maj. Gen. Abdolrahim Mousavi, the commander in chief of Iran’s army, said explosions heard early Friday in Isfahan “were from our air defense firing at a suspicious object. There has been no damage from the incident.” He said that experts were investigating the episode.

Reporting from Jerusalem

World leaders call for de-escalation after Israel’s strike in Iran.

World leaders on Friday urged Israel and Iran to de-escalate tensions after Israel struck an Iranian military base, the latest salvo in a cycle of retaliation that has raised fears of a broader war in recent weeks.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak of Britain, whose military participated in defending Israel last weekend against Iran’s missile and drone attack, told reporters, “Significant escalation is not in anyone’s interests — what we want to see is calm heads prevail across the region.”

Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, the European Union’s executive arm, told reporters during a visit to China, “It is absolutely essential that the region remains stable and that all sides refrain from further action.”

Italy’s foreign minister, Antonio Tajani, said the Group of 7 nations — which includes Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States — had changed the agenda of its meeting Friday on the resort island of Capri to “address the Iran issue and put priority attention on the Middle East.”

“The political goal of the G7 is de-escalation,” Mr. Tajani said.

The government of Jordan, which has been criticized in the Arab world for playing a role in intercepting Iran’s attack last weekend, issued an especially pointed plea.

“Israeli-Iranian retaliations must end,” Ayman Safadi, Jordan’s foreign minister said on Friday. He urged the international community to turn its attention back to Gaza, where six months of Israel’s bombardment and ground invasion have killed over 33,000 people and led to extreme hunger in parts of the territory.

“The inhumane war on Gaza must end now,” Mr. Safadi said. “The focus of the world must remain on ending the catastrophic aggression on Gaza.”

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