Village Italy in 14 Days Tour

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The famous hill towns of Italy!! Dreamy, quaint, old and hill-y. The food was great, our tour guide, Deborah, was marvelous and knowledgeable, our bus driver, Giovanni, was fun and involved. If you have seen all the “big cities” in Italy, this is a great tour to expand your exploration of this beautiful country.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Mmmmm…it was all so wonderful. Maybe the truffle-hunting dog and our outstanding dinner that night after the truffle excursion. Maybe the cathedral-churches-basilicas of the saints in so many of the small towns - Padua, Assisi, Siena. Maybe the winding, narrow streets of Montefalco and Volterra…"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wonderful Village Italy tour with a fantastic guide, great itinerary and fun travel group. As always the local guides are a definite plus and the special activities like the cooking class, truffle hunting, Carrera marble open air museum, olive oil press, wine tasting and boat rides were the best! The Ravenna mosaics and fabulous frescoes in the chapels and basilicas were beautiful. Wonderful food and Tuscan hillsides of olive trees and grapevines were so memorable.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I loved the tour of the tortoise contrade in Siennna. Visiting their church and the museum was so cool with their proud flags, colors and the wonderful display of clothing, shields, winning banners, etc. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The Village Italy tour took us to so many villages on the road less traveled. It was like a college class, learning about the rich history, geography, geology, art history, food, wine, and the people of each village we visited.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many wow moments everyday on this tour. Traveling by boat along the Ligurian coast, past the wave-washed harbors and hill-hugging villages of the Cinque Terre was a jaw dropping wow moment for sure with such beauty and stunning views. Another wow moment was when our Tour Director Andrea, treated us to an hour concert at our hotel in Ovieto. Andrea is an acomplished musician. He played the guitar while a local accomplished singer sang. It was fantastic."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was one of those tours where you are unable to pick a favorite place because you enjoyed every one. Loved being off the beaten path of the typically visited cities of Italy. As always, Rick placed us right in town, so we were always able to do more exploring ion our own. Words can not express how fantastic our guide Andrea is. So knowledgeable, helpful, warm and kind; he really ampted up our great experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Tough question! So many! I guess it was the first view of the countryside from our hotel in Tuscany. Took your breath away!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Best of 6 we have done due to the lead guide Andrea. His passion, knowledge, and special tours made us all more thankful for taking Rick Steves tours. As always an excellent group of very interesting and generous partners.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Andrea’s explaining and teaching about the history and purpose of art work in churches that turned them into libraries at a time when there were no books."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was very well planned, great lessons on local histories, art and culture. Every tour guide was so interesting, really knew how to share their knowledge in simple terms and often with humor. I truly felt I got way more than the actual price. The guides were filled with love, passion and generosity regarding their fields of expertise

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Learning that the Eutruscan society considered men and women equal."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It started with the most brilliant, relatable, humorous, kind, appropriately firm, helpful, extraordinary guide with impeccable social boundaries. Andrea went out of his way to ensure our safety as well as our pleasure. If you could clone him for the upcoming tours I booked, I would be thrilled. All of the village guides were very informative. Most of the hotels were very good.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The American female tour guides (Siena, Volterra) who relocated to Italy and carved out impressive, thoughtful, meaningful lives for themselves, while learning the Italian language. They were outstanding, as was the female guide in Carrara. Also the WWII American cemetery tour, which was a surprise, was heartwarming and beautiful."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour guide Andrea was outstanding. His depth of knowledge of art, architecture and history provided us with a wealth of information throughout our journeys.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Each time we entered the small village and were immersed in the Italian way of life. The culture, the pride in craftsmanship, the presentation of the food and the ability to just relax in all the restaurants."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Everyday of this tour wowed us as we were able to explore so many villages , many we would have never discovered if it were not for the thoughtful itinerary of this tour. Our guide Andrea’ s pride in his country was so evident and hiis passion for art history brought so many frescoes and art alive fas we visited Duomos and cathedrals along the way. Accommodations were true to the spirit of the tour , helping us to experience family run villas and hotels and being so welcomed by the people .

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I loved the cooking class on the farm. We learned so much about authentic Italian cooking and created dishes unlike cooking classes we’ve experienced before. The boat ride along the towns of Cinque Terre was so beautiful. Andrea ‘s concert with the beautiful vocalist was an evening we won’t forget. This entire trip was one wow moment after another. I highly recommend ! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our main tour guide, Patricia, was fantastic! She put us all at ease on day one with her friendly manner, irrepressible sense of humor, and thoughtful insights about the places we visited and the food we ate. She was so knowledgeable and welcomed any and all of our questions and thoughts.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I had many "wow" moments while taking in the gorgeous countryside from our bus and the incredibly beautiful art and architecture in the small towns. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was the best trip I’ve ever taken. I enjoyed the different places we visited, the things we learned about Italian culture and history, and our guide was determined to curate a special experience for everyone in our group.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Visiting Siena and hearing our local guide share her unique passion for the Palio horse race blew me away. Such a fascinating tradition! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

From start to finish, we enjoyed everything.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"the moasics in Ravenna"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I was looking forward to learning more about Italian history, art, cuisine and wine, but was not expecting the number of amazing experiences that this tour afforded. Every day was filled with so many new experiences. Our tour guide, Cristina, was absolutely incredible. She curated our daily experiences, and always took the time to let us know how to navigate the cities and towns that we visited, as well as point out the important things to see and do.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many "wow"moments. The mosaics in Revenna were outstanding, beyond imagination. The farmhouse that we stayed in in Leonina in Tuscany was picture book perfect. Seeing famous sites like Assisi, Pisa, the Carara marble quarries was amazing. Everywhere we went was really a "wow" moment!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

A once in a lifetime experience. We had an absolutely exceptional Rick Steves guide (Cristina-Maria) and a wonderful group of fellow travelers.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the "other side" of Italy, i.e., the smaller towns and villages. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Thoroughly enjoyed the whole tour. Seeing the small towns and countryside of Italy was great. Accommodations were great and our tour guide Cristina was amazing.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Montefalco, Assisi and discovering all the small lanes and cobbled streets away from the main attractions. And of course, all the frescoed ceilings of all the cathedrals and basilicas."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The tour was fun and interesting. We really enjoyed the “extras” that we wouldn’t otherwise have experienced when traveling on our own,.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Ravenna Mosaics and the winery outside of Orvieto. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Cristina was amazing.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Tour of Carrara quarries."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I really enjoyed the diversity of experiences and insights into Italian history and culture. The local tour guides were really excellent, and our tour guide put a lot of effort into keeping our tour on track and adapting as we went. It was very gratifying to meet other travelers and share our experience with them.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Tough call, maybe I'll go with the San Vitale Basilica in Ravenna, which really struck an emotional chord with me. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my first RS tour, loved the ease of not having to book hotels, transportation, getting tickets, but also loved the free time to wander and explore on my own! We had a wide variety of young, old, couples, honeymooners and singles! Your guides are ALL enthusiastic, funny and they know their stuff! Loved Lucca ,our bus driver! We were rained out for our truffle hunt and boat ride to Cinque Terra, that was a low point.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"WOW moment...hiking to a photo spot to see Vernazza (Cinque Terra) from above!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Great tour!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Loved Assisi even though it was raining."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

My wife and I are veterans of many Rick Steves tours, and this was our first since COVID. We enjoyed the trip very much, but it was not our best.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our "wow" moment was not a good one. Near the end of the trip we were instructed to leave any unneeded bags stored under the passenger compartment of the bus. After two days of rain we discovered the bus compartment leaked. The canvas bag we stored under the buss held all the expensive leather goods we'd purchased for friends and family. Much of it was damaged and we are still assessing if it can be repaired."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was an amazing tour. I highly recommend it. It’s my 3rd RS tour and again I was blown away by just about everything. Our tour guide Ann was very knowledgeable about history, art, culture, gave us important tips and made the trip memorable. Our driver Stefano was great.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were many “wow” and “goosebump” moments in this tour: The amazing frescoes and sculptures inside churches, basilicas and cathedrals, the charming hilltop towns like Assisi, Volterra and Todi. Beautiful and elegant Padua and Lucca, unique Sienna (in a good way) and its unforgettable and amazing Cathedral, cooking lesson at La Pietriccia, Carrara and the impressive marble quarries, Cinque Terre and the beautiful and serene Lake Orta. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Overall the tour was wonderful, very educational. The pace was fast, no sleeping. Alot of walking and not just 'some hills' as in the description, but some days were all hills. Local guides were excellent. Bus and driver were excellent. Like being able to leave things on the bus during excursions. We got rained out two days and a bit stormy the one day, so didn't get the boat ride in Cinque Terre. Got train ticket instead.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Loved the cooking lesson with Stephano in Tuscany. Involved the whole group and we got to eat what we prepared! We even came away with recipes."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wow! This trip was amazing! Every attention to detail was exceeded, and the places we experienced were beautiful and charming!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Driving through the rolling valleys of Tuscany, dinner at the top of Montefalco, the view of Lake Orta, cooking class in Tuscany"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Ann was our guide. She made our trip very fun and adaptable. This is our 3rd RS Tour and we enjoyed the journey all 3 times!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many wonderful moments on our tour. The guides were terrific, the extra side activities were outstanding including the Scrovegni Chapel, the trip to Todi, the truffle farm, cooking class. Winery visit, the beautiful lodging in Tuscany, our train pass in the Cinque Terre. All the delicious private meals, gelato and chocolates. And of course, wine. We especially loved our final day in Lake Orta exploring the chapels of Monte Sacre di Francisco. What a treasured way to end!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

My first ever tour and international travel experience far exceeded my expectations. The Villages of Italy tour was the perfect first tour for me. I learned a lot from my guide and fellow travelers about navigating a foreign country. Ann was such a kind, funny, knowledgeable guide. My tour companions were amazing and welcomed and included this solo traveler.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I had never experienced the type of cathedrals that we visited in many cities. In particular Ravenna’s mosaics and the village and church in Assisi were stand outs as amazing experiences. Our local guides were all amazing. Having a knowledgeable local guide along with Ann really enhanced the experience for me. Frankly, I enjoyed all of the villages we visited…Padua, Assisi, Lucca, Tuscany countryside, cinque de Terre were just perfect places to visit."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was wonderful. We had a great tour director. The local guides were excellent. We saw and learned a lot. We especially enjoyed the cooking class, wine tasting, truffle hunting, and learning about olive oil. We had a great group of fellow travelers. The hotels and provided meals were very good.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were a lot of wow moments! We especially liked the basilicas with the wonderful frescoes, mosaics, statues, and architecture. We very much enjoyed learning about the Etruscans at the Estruscan Museum."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a wonderful guide, Nina, great driver and a nice group of people that all made this tour memorable. The weather didn’t cooperate at times but we all made the best of it.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many wow moments including Roberto and his small museum and the small hill village on the way to the Siena countryside. The not so favorite wow was the massive crowds in the Cinque Terra still there in October."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my first trip to Italy and I couldn't have asked for a better experience. The site and towns we got to experience really were a great reflection of the country and I enjoyed every stop on the tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Siena and Ovieto were definite highlights for me. And it may seem silly with all of the amazing things we saw, but the hotel Belvedere San Leonino was a definite wow and I fully plan to go back there to stay some day. Just gorgeous. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The Villages of Italy tour is a fantastic tour! We saw places and experienced things that we never would have found on our own!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I am obsessed with architecture, gardens, and history, so it is no surprise that Italy has satisfied my appetite! This tour gave me a “wow” moment at Tuscany’s Hotel Belvedere when I walked through the garden to the terrace overlooking the vineyard and beautiful countryside. Shortly after, the breathtaking sunset all but took my breath away, a perfect peace overcomes you in this magical atmosphere. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The entire tour was delightful - a great mix of beautiful sites, history, culture, and things to do. I liked the small walkable historic old towns that we visited, especially those on hilltops. Our guide Nina was very knowledgeable and entertaining and greatly added to the wonderful experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Of the many wonderful experiences on this trip, the sight that most took my breath away was the magnificent façade of Orvieto Cathedral lit by the afternoon sun. We visited many charming towns on this trip, but Orvieto in its entirety was my favorite."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Our group was great as was our tour guide Nina. The Villages of Italy tour kept us away from the crowded big cities which we really liked. There was a nice variety of activities and we enjoyed having time on our own to explore..

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Lake Orta was beautiful at night. Breathtaking."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our 12th RS Tour…it’s all about your guide to start with and our guide, Nina, was outstanding! The venues and scope of Tour was very good…one of our best RS Tours. Another very important value on this and other RS tours are the “City/Local guides”…they add so much to the Tour experience and this Tour had excellent “Local” guides. Another important point from our experiences with RS tours are your fellow tour members…we were blessed with great tour mates! This Tour is a highlight of the RS tours!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"You commonly read in the Tour reviews too many “wow’s” to pick one…and this Tour that is really the case. As an experienced RS tour member…and trying to be helpful to those considering this Tour…the “Wow” for me was the Tour itself! We’ve been on other great Italy RS tours but this Tour definitely stands out! The people we engaged with…the unique venues we experienced along with the cultures we were able to experience created a “wow” Tour! I must go back to an earlier comment, our guide Nina!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was our 1st fully guided tour. 3rd time in Italy. We used RS resources to plan before, but wanted to delegate decision making. We also hoped to encounter fellow travelers, who love Italy. Our expectations were exceeded. The pace was rigorous and packed full of delightful adventures. Our outstanding guide, Trina, as well as local talent, shared knowledge which helped us better understand and appreciate the historical & cultural evolution of Italy up up to modern day.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Giotto frescos of the Scrovegni Chapel in Padua & Mosaics of Galla Placidia in Ravenna were magnificent. It was mind boggling how these masterpieces were created with such exquisite detail, using basic tools. No surface left unadorned. Furthermore, to have withstood the passage of time. Respect for art and history is part of the Italian way of life. They co-exist with old and new, side by side, just as their ancestors had done."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Wonderful time. Great guide, learned a great deal during "coach class time".

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The country side out of Siena. Perfect and just what I imagined Tuscany would be."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Good blend of visits to historic places, and some food prep, visits to olive processor, and marble quarry

Favorite "WOW" moment

"mosaics in Ravenna "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our 2nd RS tour and was exactly what we had hoped for: outstanding tour guide, great itinerary, good hotels and just the right balance between time with the group and time on our own. I appreciate going to places we have not previously been to in a group. We can then return on our own to spend greater time in areas of particular interest.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I can’t say that there was one specific moment. The two things that really stood out to us were not part of the tour itself but places recommended to us by our guide which we would not have otherwise known about. I am referring specifically to the Orvieto Underground tour and the old hospital turned into an art gallery and museum next to the duomo in Siena. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Well planned, seemless execution every day, friendly, knowledgeable and caring tour guide and driver. Fantastic trip!!!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the churches and hearing the history!!!!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great tour-itinerary, guide and group

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The mosaics in Ravenna"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was amazing! I learned so much about the history of Italy that I never knew. I loved walking through the small towns and staying in the Villas.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There are so many! The Villa at Montefalco, The basilica in Ravenna, the basilica in Assisi, the Tuscan country hotel, the layers of ancient roads under a church and Lake Orta. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was a Fabulous tour from start to finish. Having been to all the big cities as well as several regions of Italy, the Villages tour was a perfect way to go deeper into the culture and history of my favorite country. The pace of the tour as well as the balance between planned activities and time on your own was very good.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It is not possible to choose one as a single bite of amazing local food drenched in olive oil and paired with the perfect wine is a wow. There were several places and experiences that did stand out for me: seeing the operating theater at the university in Padua, the Orvieto market, the Etruscan museum and learning about that art and civilization, pottery making in Deruta and being so high up in the marble quarry in Carrara"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wonderful tour that covered the smaller towns in northern Italy. We avoided the big crowds but got to see amazing art and a beautiful countryside.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Wow for an incredible art experience: Scrovegni Chapel. Wow for beautiful countryside: rural Tuscany. Wow for artisans: pottery making in Deruta. Wow for history: the Etruscan Museum. Wow because we're geologists: the Carrara Marble quarry."

One of the best Rick Steve’s tours yet. Patricia,our guide, made this trip very special!!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were several but the best for me was Lake Orta. Amazingly beautiful "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wonderful itinerary and experience with every thing people think of when they think of Italy.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Not sure if it was Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday because Thursday, Friday and Saturday were equally impressive or better. Of course, Sunday may have been the best of all. Specifically, the boat tour of the Cinque Terre village. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was wonderful. Our guide, Patricia, was an excellent guide and made the tour especially memorable. Patricia consistently went above and beyond to ensure we were all having a wonderful time in Italy. After looking back at my pictures, I can’t believe all the places we went, things we learned, and I know I could never have been able to accomplish everything we did if I had not been on a Rick Steves tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were many WOW moments. The beautiful hotel in the Tuscan countryside, duomos in Orvieto and Siena, wine tasting in Umbria, boat excursion in the Cinque Terre, and the Carrara marble quarry were the highlights for me. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

My partner and I loved the Village Italy tour. We had both been to Rome and Florence on previous trips and this itinerary allowed us to explore the smaller less crowded areas in Northern Italy. We enjoyed the history and of coarse the wonderful wine and food.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Ravenna Mosaics were an incredible sight. Although we arrived on a very rainy day, these mosaics were so beautiful that I was glad we made the stop in Ravenna. The Chianciano Etruscan Museum was my favorite history lesson. Roberto made the civilization come to life and the museum was just the right size to inspire but not overwhelm."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall experience was great, as expected. The lodgings were all exceptionally beautiful, clean, and conveniently located. Villa Pambuffetti in Montefalco and Hotel Belvedere in Tuscany were both breathtaking in the main house (although I heard a few grumbles from those staying in the "annex" buildings). The considerable walking (5-10 miles per day) and uphill/stairs were (one day I clocked 45 flights of stairs!) a perfect counterpart to my nonstop enjoyment of fine food and wine! -

Favorite "WOW" moment

"University of Padova, est 1222, was fascinating! Such rich history, beautiful buildings,, and fun traditions! Every time we walked through the main gate and narrow ancient cobbled way into a new village. WOW! Learning about the Palio horse race in Padua. Experiencing the Cinque Terre for the first time."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our first RS Tour met and exceeded our expectations. I loved our time in Montefalco, Orvieto and Lucca, so much history and beauty. Our tour guide Andrea was full of knowledge of art, history and local customs and was a delight the whole trip. We enjoyed the many shared group meals and wonderful food and wines. All local guides provided unique and often funny insights to the local area. We learned so very much about the different villages and how they are often so very different.

Favorite "WOW" moment

" So many WOW moments it is hard to pick just one. Truffle hunting in Trevi Umbria was a fun group hike in the hills with Bruello and his dog. The love between man and dog was obvious and Bruello was so very proud. We then shared the truffles in a group dinner. Then again the private concert and happy hour in Orvieto with Andrea and Martina was a pure delight. Lastly, the Etruscan museum with Roberto was so much fun & gave us so much information about the pre-Roman Etuscan civilization. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wonderful trip with an excellent guide and travel group. Local guides were fantastic and meals were lively

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Too many to describe! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Absolutely terrific guide, itinerary and experiences-cannot praise this trip highly enough!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So many moments-but either getting to see Etruscan ruins under the church in Orvieto or the restaurant meal arranged by Andrea’s chef friend"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The village of Italy tour far surpassed any expectations that I had going into this trip. I feel that we got to experience far more in two weeks than we ever would’ve two months on our own in Italy. Our accommodations and group dinners were top-notch and some of them hand selected by our guide to exclusive we were able to stay close to amazing sights and taste local fresh cusine . What really made our Tour unique was our amazing guide Andrea and driver Sergio. What an amazing duo!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So many wow moments. One was our tour of the mosaics in Ravenna really took my breath away. And our tour of Siena had such rich and intriguing history. We also had a private concert from our tour guide Andrea and his amazing vocal accompanist, this was a special and unexpected treat in his hometown of Orvetio. Our cooking class with Stefano and stay in a villa in Tuscany was my top wow moment. Breathtaking! This was truly heaven on earth. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my 4th trip to Italy, two using Rick Steves' books to navigate, and the first Rick Steves' tour. Andrea is an amazing teacher and guide. I learned so much more about Italian history and culture through his eyes, giving everything we saw and experienced deeper meaning. The local guides also gave their own flavor to the story, sometimes literally during the cooking class, or figuratively as the guide in Lucca who "spit" on the Pisani at every opportunity. City-State is real.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Not one...many. Scrovegni Chapel frescos by Giotto, the stunning 1500 yr. old mosaics of San Vitale in Ravenna, Basilica of St. Francis and learning who the man really was, Andrea and Martina's happy hour concert in an Entruscan basement, my friend and I's walk around Orvieto's walls, the gorgeous view from our room in San Leonino over the Tuscan countryside, and the stunning hike between Levanto to Vernazza in the Cinque Terre. At one point we could see all five villages dotting the coast."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This trip was our first guided tour and it was excellent. The guides, the itinerary, the accommodations, our bus driver (Sergio), and food were all outstanding. Our guide, Andrea, was great - very knowledgeable about everything, with wonderful insights into the local culture and history. All of the local guides were all fantastic as well.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many - I really enjoyed the Truffle hunting with Brunello and his dog in Umbria, all of the group dinners, the wine and olive oil tastings, the ceramic workshop artisans in Deruta, the list just goes on."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We have made several trips to Italy and all have been exceptional. On previous trips, we visited a couple of hill towns but this tour focused on hill towns and smaller villages, each with its own unique history, flavors and culture. Each site was amazing and our guide, Andrea, provided over-the-top history, detail and fun facts that captivated our interest. At each site, the same plea was made...can we stay just one day more?

Favorite "WOW" moment

"On each tour, I struggle with this question. There are always more that a few. However, we particularly enjoyed the Etruscan history, a topic on which we had almost no knowledge. Roberto Vecchi (sp?) led us through the Etruscan Museo at Chianciano. His knowledge and dry humor made the morning an A+ university course. Later in Orvieto, we went underground with Francesco Bocelli (archeologist) to see actual remnants of the Etruscan city there. All was an exceptional learning experience."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was simply outstanding. Our tour guide (Ann) was fantastic, and made the tour fun and informative. Her organization and knowledge blew us away!! The sites visited in the different villages were wonderful, and special events (wine tasting, olive oil making, truffle farm, ferry rides, Carrara quarry, cooking class, pottery making, etc.) with just our group were extra special. Meals and even the bus (with awesome Ezio driving) were excellent.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hotel Belvedere di San Leonino! While visiting Sienna was nice (during our stay at Hotel Belvedere), we would have enjoyed just hanging out by the pool, taking in the countryside or tasting their wine."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our second Rick Steves Tour and I really enjoyed it. I felt like I truly experienced Italy in a much more personal way than I did when traveling independently. Our tour guide, Ann, was outstanding! She knows Italy inside out and also relates well with the participants. She is funny, honest, and almost from the beginning I felt like she was my friend. And the local guides added so much! They were all incredibly passionate and knowledgeable about their town and made us feel at home.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hard to narrow it down to one. The amazing mosaics and frescoes and the marble quarries were breathtaking. I think what was most memorable to me was learning about the "contrades" (neighborhoods) in Sienna and the amazing competitions that occur between them. This really came to life due to the enthusiasm our local guide shared for her contrade and all that it involves."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wonderful experience! Great itinerary, superb tour guide, fun, cohesive group.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Too many to mention. From strolling in village squares, a wine & food tasting in a villa, opera in Lucca, scenic views from my hotel room to riding a bicycle along the sea coast in the Cinque Terre region: divine!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Loved the locations on the tour

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Sunset in Orvieto on the trail around the wall"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We've done 4 Rick Steves tours and this was the best. Ann, our tour guide was wonderful. The group was friendly and jelled quickly. The amount of free time was perfect.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Saturday market day in Orvieto. I had stopped to pick up some pears from a produce vendor. He politely ignored me for 10 minutes while he was dealing with his regular clients. They were local Italian Mom's and Nonna's buying their produce for their Sunday family lunch. They chatted (in Italian) endlessly about the fruit and veggies offered. The huckster wasn't being impolite to me. I was just a tourist and these were his regular weekly customers. It was an experience to be treasured."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Very informative and enjoyable

Favorite "WOW" moment

"How much i enjoyed my fellow travelers "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We loved the format of this tour on that we were able to stay two nights in each location. More villages were incorporated enroute to our travel destinations.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So interesting to see the Carrara marble operation. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

This was my first RS tour. Our guide Nina, n the local guides were very passionate about their teachings. The itinerary was perfect.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hiking Cinque Terra n viewing the Mediterranean Sea. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great guides, good choices of points of interest, eliminated all worries for traveling, eating, lodging....

Favorite "WOW" moment

"basilicas, the quiet country places"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour was great. Ruth, our leader, seamlessly wove together the culture and history of village Italy. Cheerful every second. Though British, fluent in Italian. Our "team" fed off of her leadership. Our free time breakout groups always had a good time in these very manageable Italian villages. New experiences with interesting people, with tasty food and wine. The pace of tour was just right, yet a lot was covered. A very enjoyable trip.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Probably seeing the multitude of hill towns, showing the need for defensive locations in the good old middle ages."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Ruth was a WONDERFUL guide. Knowledgeable, nurturing, tireless, funny, etc. can’t say enough positives about her. And we were fortunate to have a great group of travelers. We had a great time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hard to say as there were many. Perhaps the sheer beauty of the Cinque Terre. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent tour through the hill towns of Italy. It was a great combination of sightseeing and time on our own. Our overall tour guide was outstanding and the local tour guides did a great job teaching us about their areas. Their passion was evident and infectious.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many: the cooking class in Chianciano, our beautiful hotel in the Chianti countryside, the wine tasting, the amazing Orvieto cathedral, learning about the contrade in Siena, and hiking Cinque Terre. And getting to know our fellow travelers. We had a wonderful group! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour was a truly beautiful experience! The group we traveled with was a lot of fun - we thoroughly enjoyed everyone's company and loved the unique experiences together that only a Rick Steve's tour makes possible. Our tour guide - Ruth - was the best: her knowledge of the history of each region and the right places to go while there was invaluable - what a gem!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Impossible to narrow it down to just one, so won't try: the boat tour along the coast of Cinque Terre, the gorgeous afternoon drinking wine on the terrace in Chianti, the Etruscan caves, watching the unexpected fireworks over Lake Orta from the balcony of our beautiful room, everything about the lovely little town of Civitella Del Lago...just to name a few."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour guide Ruth was exceptional! She set the tone for a wonderful trip. This was our 6th RS Tour and as always, each day was filled with unique experiences that we would never be able to do traveling alone. The Villages of Italy tour allowed us to see and experience the unique small villages of Italy.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Sitting on the grounds at the Belvedere Hotel in the beautiful Tuscany region, enjoying a glass of wine with new friends, and looking out over the beautiful countryside! It is a very simple “wow” moment, but exemplifies the unique experiences of meeting new people on a RS Tour and enjoying the beauty of the country of Italy! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide Ruth was fantastic! Her attention to detail was great along with her knowledge of the the culture and humor to make our trip fun and memorable.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"That’s a tough call. But The cathedral in Sienna was very memorable. Lots of frescos on the walls abd floors! "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

After ten RS tours, we can say this was one of the best. Two key factors: Ruth was outstanding in leadership on all levels. Secondly the group dynamics was exceptional, experienced supportive . Slightly disappointed in Al Fagiago Hotel(**)they tried hard seemed overwhelmed, very small room.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Loved revisiting Umbra and Tuscany. The hands on cooking lessons were great fun."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Ruth's soothing and soft spoken British demeaner was a hit with our group! She worked above and beyond to ensure a memorable experience for all. Our group clicked very well, and we were all sad to say good-bye to one another at the conclusion. The frescos, mosaics, history lessons, food, Roman and Etruscan relics were eye-popping! I learned so much and enjoyed the culture. This experience as all travel abroad reminded me of what we have to be grateful for as U.S. citizens.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Touring the Etruscan caves, the mosaics in Sienna, the frescos in Assisi, the boat ride and cliff walk at Cinque Terre, and the beauty of Lake Orta! Also, the anatomy classroom at the University of Padova was astonishing. Seeing the oldest documentation of a handshake preserved on an Etruscan vase was a "wow" moment. The history of old villages of Italy with the gorgeous views were stunning. The museum of painted eggs, and all the wiener dos in Lucca were fun surprises! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Ruth is a great guide, conscientious, enthusiastic and a joy to be with. The tour buddies were friendly, lots of fun to share the trip with and inclusive (I travel solo). The sights and activities were well planned and thought-out. The right mix of tour and free-time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I never have just one "wow" moment. The tour is filled with so many interesting sights and things to see and do; it is impossible to choose the "best". "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was wonderful how so many different people could meet on a tour and just share their passion for exploring the world. We made a lot of new friends which is quite a feat for a pair of introverts.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Watching Bruno play fetch with his truffle dog, Mira, using a truffle she had just found."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was fantastic. Italy is amazing and this was such a great way to experience it. We loved our tour guide, our fellow travelers, the local guides, our bus driver, the sites we visited, the places we stayed, the food we ate and the wine we drank--pretty much everything about it!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were many "wow" moments every day but if I had to pick just one it would probably be the mosaics adorning the Basilica of San Vitale in Ravenna. I was blown away by their beauty and the artistic achievement that they represent!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

We enjoyed great sites and adventures with wonderful group members. Our tour guide, Rebecca, was very responsive and exceptionally skilled at planning that met our needs. Local guides were also wonderful. One of our favorite aspects of our two Rick Steves trips has been the balance between time with the group and time on our own. On this tour, it was great to take a very comfortable tour bus OR boat OR train as we traveled from location to location. Plenty of walking which was also great!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Dinner at sunset out on the stunning covered patio at Montefalco - breathtakingly beautiful. The setting was gorgeous in every way... view of sunset over the hills, beautiful table settings with soft lamplight when the sun had set , etc. Service was perfect and food/wine exceptional. Actually, everything at this location was "my favorite "wow" moment - the pool with an amazing view, the breakfasts, the property gardens, room amenities, etc."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide (Rebecca) was awesome! She kept everything moving and her "guide choices" were great for the group

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Way too hard to pick one moment because every time we saw something the next town had something else. How am I supposed choose between a mountain of white marble in Carrera, the Cinque Terre towns or Orvieto?"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Our tour guide Rebecca was absolutely outstanding. She knows the culture, the language, the ins/outs. She had excellent recommendations and we were so often "really glad and relieved" that we took her advice. Also, it was such a great variety of locations / specialties / experiences. It was so great.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We were very impressed with the Umbrian and Tuscan medieval mountain towns: Montefalco, Orvieto, and so many more. They were the thing of dreams: exactly as wonderful as we had imagined and hoped for. Great experiance!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

From shared family experiences on previous tours, my expectations were high from the start. I wasn't disappointed at all. In fact, even with that high bar set this experience far exceeded those expectations. We had a tremendous guide that really got to know us from the beginning and shared not only his knowledge (which was unbelievable) but his personal stories that made our travels that much more unique and special.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"To have one favorite wow moment is very difficult because there were several! If I have to limit it to one I'd have to say, for me it was our surprise visit to see the Palio trials from the terrace of the Piccolomini Palace's archive. From there we were able to see and feel the excitement and anticipation of the people of Siena during the events leading up to the Palio races. The view and sounds of it all is something you can not capture or do justice through words, video or pictures. Amazing!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our Tour Guide Andrea, he really kept us busy and entertained. He had an extensive knowledge of Italy and the culture and History. He spoke about all of it during the tour and it was NOT boring. He turns out to be a very skilled musician as well (plays guitar). I recommend a Jam session between Rick Steve's and Andrea some day. i think they would enjoy playing together (Rick on Piano of Course). There were NO grumps or sourpusses in our tour group. One and all were great together and respectful.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My Wow moment was listening to our Tour Guide Andrea and a very good singer play at a restaurant where we had dinner in Orvieto. The singer and guitar back up by Andrea were fantastic. It was a real treat! The singer was as beautiful as her voice was, and I think I almost fell in love with her when she stood up and was taller than me. I did not know a man could "swoon" Lol"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

A superb tour, perfect for avoiding the busy crowds encountered in Italy during high season.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The mosaics of Ravenna have been on my 'to do' list for some time now. Twice in the past planned trips to see the mosaics did not materialize. To finally see the magnificent mosaics was gratifying in the extreme--they did not disappoint! Other worthy mentions: 1) the surprise balcony view of the Siena palio preparations; 2) the fabulous Giotto frescoes in Scrovegni Chapel; 3) the Signorelli frescoes in Orivieto and the impassioned descriptions that day by our wonderful guide Andrea! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our 1st RS tour was outstanding! We were hesitant about group travel, but ours was close & enjoyable. Our amazing guide, Andrea, really made it special with his extensive knowledge of art history, his musical talents, the numerous impromptu activities he provided, & the way he went above & beyond with the group. The itinerary was stellar: lovely villages, tiny hill towns, incredible food & wine, unique experiences, stunning villas, gorgeous landscape, and fascinating history. I want to go again!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Each day of this tour was one "wow" moment after another! My top 3: The private concert performed by our guide, Andrea, and a local singer followed by an incredible group dinner at Febo in Orvieto (all organized by our guide on a free evening). The terrace viewing of the Palio trials in Sienna followed by lunch on the Piazza del Campo as we watched the horse assignment festivities and got caught up in the Palio excitement. The jaw-dropping beauty of the Cinque Terre and the Ligurian Sea."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our third amazing RSE tour.. Our guide, Cristina, was not only extremely knowledgeable about history, art, architecture and culture, but, also went above and beyond all expectations. The regions and villages we visited gave us a close-up view of the various cultures that helped us appreciate Italian similarities and diversity. Food! Each meal from a simple slice of focaccia to multi-course feast was amazing and represented the Italian philosophy of fresh ingredients and clean taste.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Several! Just to name a few: Attending a recital in the Orvieto Duomo given by an amazing Norwegian organist on the 5,585-pipe organ. Enjoying the spectacular view from the Vineyard Trail above Manarola in Cinque Terre. Savoring a multi-course lunch prepared by our tour group during a cooking class in Chianciano. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

We visited several amazing cities and villages. The beauty of the countryside is incredible. The knowledge of history from our tour guide was outstanding.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Swimming in the Ligurian Sea @ Cinque Terre"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was rewarding as it included and highlighted the various time periods of Italy from the Etruscans, to Romans, thru the Dark Ages until the spark that ignited the Renaissance spread like a wildfire. This tour made clear that the Renaissance was not isolated to the large cities like Rome and Florence but touched each and every destination we were fortunate to visit in the Village Italy tour. The places we visited were fascinating and captivating.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I was most touched by the visit we made to the Florence American Cemetery and Memorial. The beauty of the grounds was so reflective of the beauty in the country but it came with the grim reminder of what was sacrificed by so many to save not only history and culture but preserve the beauty of freedom. Unfortunately, remembering that sacrifice is something I too often forget not only while traveling overseas but also in the United States. Thanks for this visit."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

When we signed up for the trip, it felt like the price was steep. By the end of the tour it felt like a bargain considering all the experiences the trip included.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The view from the hotel in the Tuscan countryside was spectacular. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was outstanding, and Christina is an excellent guide and tour manager.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So many, it is hard to pick just one. Our stop at the World War II cemetery that honors U.S, servicemen and women who died in the war in Italy was especially moving. This was an unexpected surprise as it was not a part of the published itinerary."

I truly became a traveler to the villages of Italy, not just a tourist.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"A lot of WOW moments, Safe to say I enjoyed the immersed feel of this tour."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall, I'm extremely pleased! The tour allowed the right amount of time in each city/village with excellent village tours and enough time to explore on our own. Our tour guide, Lorenza, was a delight and I was amazed at her knowledge of the history of the areas. Our local guides were also excellent, personable and fun! Our traveling companions were also delightful; it always astounds me to find how closely matched the participants are, almost as if they had been hand-picked.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many wow moments on this tour - Giotto in Padua, the mosaics in Ravenna, the egg museum in Civitella del Lago, the Duomo in Orvietto, Assisi, and Carrara. As well as the unexpected - Trumpet fanfare in Orvietto, the delightful Nidi pasta at Trattoria del Moro Aronne & the Florence American Cemetery & Memorial! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was a wonderful trip! We want to thank our tour guide Lorenza as well as the excellent local tour guides (Roberto, Anna, Elena, Chiara, Giuseppe). Our group was cohesive, friendly, and considerate. We truly enjoyed the experience of sharing the great Italian culture, food and wine with each other.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We were able to navigate the Vernazza to Monterosso trail and the views were amazingly beautiful! Also enjoyed and wowed by the Etruscan and Egg museums."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

On our last RS tour, I asked other members what is your favorite tour? The answer was Village Italy. They were right! I thoroughly enjoyed the smaller towns, villages and the friendly people

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The backside view of Monterosso. Walked up the road past the castle ruin, turned a corner and got the most fantastic view that took my breath away! I actually said, “WOW!”"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Traveling to the villages of Italy gave me an opportunity to feel a bit more "immersed" in the culture versus only going to the big sightseeing cities.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The beautiful mosaics in Ravenna and the cathedral in Orvieto."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was very diverse in its stops and the experience of its guides. It was a good complement to the more urban Italian destinations.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Discovering Monterosso's "Old Town" (after 3 previous visits) and panoramic viewpoint overlooking vineyards, town, churches, cemetery and rugged coastline."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my third tour with Rick Steves and I was not disappointed. Our main guide Lorenza was incredibly knowledgable and helpful and had a terrific attitude the entire trip. She was a whiz at organization and I cannot think off anytime that things did not go according to plan. She even managed to fit in a couple of extra treats and surprises along the way, including an emotional stop at the memorial for fallen U.S. servicemen during World War Two.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It’s a toss up between the Cathedral at Orvieto and the Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi. Both were incredible and most definitely “Wow!”"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Exceptionally well organized. Our guide was organized, helpful, knowledgeable and friendly. The local tour guides were phenomenal, particularly Roberto at the Etruscan museum. Each village had very interesting highlights. The two nights spent at each stop was enough to feel rested and not always go, go, go. This was an incredibly interesting and fun tour!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"First, the Etruscan museum! What a fascinating civilization! Second, the truffle hunting dogs. What a unique experience to have on a tour!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We were part of a very cohesive group on this tour. All of our companions seemed to enjoy being with one another and spending time experiencing new adventures.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Surprisingly, the truffle hunt. We had watched the Rick Steves video showing a truffle hunt, but our truffle hunter and his two dogs were amazingly successful! They found four big truffles and many smaller sizes. The most experienced dog posed for us at the end of the hunt with all of the "catch" with one large truffle in her mouth. Very impressive!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our group was great together. I liked the size of the group, the willingness of everyone to be accepting of one another, and everyone not expecting to be pampered.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I was so surprised about how much fun cooking together with a knowledge chef could be. Along with that, our meal turned out to be one of my favorite for the entire trip. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The entire tour was wonderful. Our guide Rebecca was outstanding and knowledgeable as well as all the local guides that took part in our tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I really don't have a wow moment because all of the elements of the tour were all wows. I would highly recommend this tour for those visiting Italy for the first time. This is our fifth Rick Steves tour. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This tour had been recommended to us, by others on a previous RS tour, for the quality of the food and wine. We couldn't agree more, but would also add the outstanding quality of the local guides narrating our visits to mosaic-ceilinged chapels and Etruscan museums, cooking classes and wine vintners, etc. We learned a lot, even in topics we thought we were already pretty knowledgeable about. Our resident guide, Rebecca, was great too as was our patient and impressive driver, Giovanni.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were many, but for me personally I might cite the visit to the Etruscan museum, as after visiting that I was the most inspired to learn more about their culture after the trip."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was wonderful! Excellent guides, great locations and a great group of fellow travelers.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Ravenna. The beauty of San Vitale’s mosaics, when I walked inside took my breath away."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Another great experience with Rick Steves' Tours! I had already signed up for a Rick Steves' Switzerland tour next month, but when I came back I signed up for two more tours next year.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Many wow moments The American cemetery. This December I plan to visit the cemetery near Bastogne where many of my Dad's unit are buried. Years back we planned to attend a service but he decided not to. Sienna I watched about 30 of Anna Piperato's webcasts during COVID, it was great to see in person. Ravenna, I learned the "barbarians" were Christians, it was "wow" seeing art from different periods clustered together. World's Oldest Anatomy lab in Padua. I just helped on the world's newest."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour guide Cristina was outstanding. She looked after us very well, she had a great sense of humor, she gave us very interesting talks during the bus rides and the walking tours, and she helped to establish a real sense of family among the tour participants. All of the tour participants were very nice and friendly and it was a pleasure getting to know them and spend time with them. Sergio, the bus driver, was excellent and did an amazing job of driving the bus on narrow roads.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the marble quarry near Carrara. The landscape on the steep mountain sides and the scale of the quarrying operations was amazing. I had never seen anything like that before."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Visiting the smaller village towns was an ideal way to take in the Italian culture. So much beautiful scenery. Great tour guide and great tour members made the trip even more enjoyable. The pace of the tour was just right never felt too rushed.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I have many but will point out two of them. Visiting the farm where we all helped cooked was a fun experience. Thought that was our best meal too. Also spending time in Cinque Terre and taking in the spectacular scenery. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Very good itinerary and excellent guides

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Etruscan Museum with guide Roberto Bechi"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Village Italy was everything I wanted and more! The rugged hill towns, fabulous food, friendly tour mates and Cristina (our awesome guide) made this tour amazing. The flow of Village Italy was good with passionate local guides and plenty of time to explore on our own. Special shout out to Cristina who helped secure alternative transportation on our last day due to the Italian train workers strike.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Too many 'wow' moments! A few of the many standouts include: the beautiful villa in Montefalco, learning about the Palio in Siena, the tasty seafood feast in Cinque Terre and all of the amazing frescoes and mosaics. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Fabulous itinerary with visits to many interesting and beautiful villages, excellent guides

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Arriving in Vernazza by train from Monterosso at 7:11 AM with NO other tourists yet there, allowing us to quietly savor the beautiful town and vistas!!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I loved this tour! We had a wonderful group of fellow travelers and outstanding guides. The pace of the tour was perfect with a good balance between time on our own and time spent on group activities. Visiting the smaller cities and towns was (to me) so much more enjoyable than navigating large cities.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I have two “wow” moments. The place we stayed in the Tuscan countryside (Belvedere San Leonino) was unbelievable….the setting was magical with incredibly beautiful vistas. The other “wow” moment was attending the optional Puccini concert in Lucca. I am not an opera buff but this concert was amazing…beautiful setting and captivating performances."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was a great group of like-minded travelers. The itinerary was a great balance of scheduled activities and free time to explore. One of the best tours I've been on!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Taking the boat to the CInque Terre along the beautiful,sunny Mediterranean Coast. It was awe-inspiring!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had to leave the tour early last year due to Covid. We were determined to return and finish the tour We did and were extremely pleased.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"No one event "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were too many to give a favorite, including the fish soup for our last meal, the friendships formed, the great history throughout the tour and our tour leader including cultural tidbits and great stories"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The overall tour experience was wonderful. We had an outstanding tour leader who gave us so much history of Italy and the towns we visited. The pace of the tour was just right with adequate time to explore each town on our own. Almost all of town guides were very good.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the Scrovegni Chapel and the basilica of St Francis in Assisi."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

RSE tours never fail to expand our learning in each trip we took. The immersion in the culture, traditions and people interaction in every place always add to the enrichment of our knowledge and appreciation of the world, village Italy on this trip.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"All the local guides who made their respective places come alive with their in-depth narrative, use of humor, clear and concise language. They made us captive audiences and placed us right in the center of each location's time in history. The Etruscan museum, small and remote, was very well deserved in its inclusion in the itinerary."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This tour was the best of the four RS tours I’ve taken.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Both of the Villa stays overwhelminged me. The privilege of staying with people who are so open to sharing their intimate Italian life is heartwarming "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I loved itinerary: not only covered most well know places but also off the beaten path. Learned huge amount of history, culture and enjoyed local cuisine. Our tour leader was knowledgeable, very experinenced and humorous, which made the tour experience wonderful. We also enjoyed our fellow traveler.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There are many: top three was learning about Etruscan, Assisi tour and Tuscan cooking lesson. Roberto the tour guide for Etruscan Museum was wonderful. He made somebody like me usually don't like ancient museum interested in the whole museum experience. The tour guid for the Assisi also gave wonderful presentation about the Basilica's history and art. The hands on cooking lesson in Tuscany was fun and I truly learned the meaning of slow eating."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour to Italy exceeded our expectations!! All the stress of getting from village to village was completely taken care of and our bus driver Marco did an excellent job getting in and out of tight spots and maneuvering the many windy roads of Italy. Local guides were passionate about their areas of expertise. We cannot say enough about our main tour guide David. His extensive knowledge of Italy and sense of humor made our trip truly memorable.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It's hard to pick one because there were so many but an archaeological tour below the church of Sant'Andres in Orvieto was amazing."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The Village Italy Tour exceeded my expectations: guide, locales, hotels, transportation, trip notifications were all exceptional.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Viewing the coast from the cities of Cinque Terre was amazing!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour was jam-packed with great experiences. Our guide David was fantastic. He was very knowledgeable, caring, entertaining, and went beyond my expectations. I thought all the local guides were very good as well. I enjoyed all the locations we visited and the places we stayed at.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Lots of great moments"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Efficient, some flexibility with our outstanding guide, tasty meals and very comfortable accommodations. Tour bus and driver excellent. Wonderful teaching and cultural sharing from guide. Tour was an excellent sampling if less travelled areas of Italy. Hassle free, right balance if structured and free time. Extra points of interest added by our guide, fabulous! Many of the hotel hosts also went the extra mile to provide for our group.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Too hard to choose just one! Cooking lesson with a Tuscany farmer, so great. Cold press olive oil coop, truffle hunting followed by truffle dinner were my 3 top “wow” experiences"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was the best vacation I've ever had!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many, it's hard to choose just one. It was probably seeing Eric Clapton in Lucca, Italy. It wasn't officially part of the tour, but our guide discovered that he was playing that night and presented it as an option for our free time. We quickly snapped up tickets. A close second was when our guide, also a musician, arranged an impromptu concert for our group at our hotel in Orvieto. So many "wow" moments on this trip! We loved every minute!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

well planned out itinerary, interesting tour guides in each town we visited. Very knowledgeable tour guide and bus driver

Favorite "WOW" moment

"the truffle hunt "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had an amazing tour guide Patrica and she was so organized and knew so much about the area. We had a great group of people on the tour and that added to the experience. The weather was fantastic and the scenery spectacular . It was nice to see to experience Italy in the country and villages. We had a lot of hands on experiences, cooking, wine tasting, truffle hunting, olive oil production, and special guides telling us about their villages ! The meals that were included were excellent!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I am having a hard time to pick my favourite moment. I loved it all, our hands on activities could be my favourite "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

So well organised, ao informative, so rich in varied experiences.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Levanto Bay, though it's a hard choice."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

From the hotels to the Villages and the variety of experiences at all the stops, nothing was ever a disappointment. I enjoyed watching the locals ride their bikes, hang their laundry out the window and learning about the hundreds of years of art and architecture that still exist today.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite "wow" moment was the views from the Hotel Belvedere in San Leonino in Tuscany. The vineyards, rolling hills, olive trees and stone buildings were everything I had pictured Tuscany to be. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

A perfect blend of unique activities with the traditional tour perspectives on the history, art and culture of Italy. I learned so much and met amazing people in my tour group. Our tour guide was the best I’ve ever experienced.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Hotel Belvedere in Tuscany was sublime - it showcased the region’s beauty and was a perfect restorative retreat. Lake Orta was especially beautiful and a wonderful surprise, as we had never heard of it before our tour. The best “through the back door” experience and what sets Rick Steve tours apart. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The group was friendly and fun. The itinerary was packed with unique events coupled with adequate time off.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The truffle hunt with the farmer the dogs and the dinner."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This is a wonderful tour, loved visiting the small Villages! Patricia our guide was absolutely amazing. She is fun, experienced, knowledgeable and has a great knack for bringing people together. Our group bonded quickly under Patricia’s guidance. The hotels on this tour are beautiful, I hope to return to a few. The food was delicious, we enjoyed the group meals. As always the local guides were excellent, especially Giuseppe’ in Assisi.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We loved the hotels in Montefalco and Chianti. Taking in the views at our villa in Chianti was a wow moment. The church in Assisi was beautiful despite the crowds outside. Also the exterior of the cathedral in Orvieto a complete wow moment. Our seafood meal in Levanto at the Prima Vera hotel was the best meal we have ever had on any tour. Pottery stop was a favorite many purchases sent home. Must also mention our bus driver Mario, what a wonderful person, we were his last tour before retirement."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

We very much liked all we covered during the tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Lake Orta was a lovely location to spend time and explore. We also really like the Cinque Terre. It was great going back there again."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Every town we visited was unique and offered many opportunities to appreciate the culture.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There are so many. The cooking class was excellent especially with learning how to cook in a slow-food manner and with recipes!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour had a well-designed itinerary, an outstanding guide, wonderful experiences, and a happy congenial tour group. This was an experiment for us to try traveling with a group, and it was better than I could have ever expected. Fabulous!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It’s very difficult to pick just one - maybe surveying the marvelous evening view from the ramparts of Montefalco. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Enjoyed learning about the earlychurch and its influence in the early societies post Roman Empire.The Crusades and the Biblical art that was added to the cathedrals, churches, Duomo to teach the stories of the Bible. Each community competing with the other for the largest and best displays of stories from the Bible and of their local Saint. Hiring of the best artist available to put their town on top. Competition rules! Andrea was excellent at giving us the information to understand this et al.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The tour of the Duomo in Orvieto where Andrea pointed out the frescoes of Signorelli, and explained their meaning and special features of the art."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The joys of the unique small towns and experiences was refreshing and engaging. Our tour guide Andrea was like having a trusted friend available, so caring and concerned with each individual. His personal knowledge of art, history and the Italian culture was immeasurable. We had a great group of companions, turned friends. This was the perfect tour to actually enjoy the Italian people, food, history and art. This tour with Andrea is why travelers gain a unique worldview.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Scrovegni Chapel: I was not prepared for how moving the experience was. Also, being at Hotel Belvedere di San Leonino was like sitting in the middle of a movie. Absolutely amazing!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Patricia was a fantastic tour leader, taking care of all the details so we could have the best possible experience. I really appreciated all the extras she built in to the tour, her restaurant advice was spot on, and she made us laugh every day. I especially loved the many towns we visited in Tuscany and Umbria, and the experiences (like the pottery making, cooking demo, and truffle hunt). A lot has changed in the world of travel, and I do think it's time for RS to upgrade their hotel choices.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Patricia offered an optional trip to visit Civita di Bagnoregio, timing it for late it the day when it wasn't at all crowded. My first glimpse of the footbridge and the village high above the canyon took my breath away. I loved the long walk across the bridge and I couldn't stop saying "wow." The uniqueness of Civita and the vistas from the bridge and from the village -- jaw dropping gorgeous countryside -- were a huge WOW."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Enjoyed the intimate nature of small hill towns......except Cinque Terre

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The cooking class for lunch"

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

Patricia was an AMAZING guide! Good tour but will not likely take another RS tour because of the accommodations. They were lacking & he needs to rethink hotel choices. This was the sentiment of most on our tour. We are not the “hippy backpackers” of his early days. Most of us are retired professionals who have worked very hard throughout our careers, paid mortgages, educated our children and saved money. We deserve and want decent beds, quiet rooms & LOVELY centrally located accommodations.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I don’t really have one. It was nice overall. If anything the truffle hunt was a pinch me moment"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great- our guide Patricia was fabulous bus driver Giovani was also great individual guides at each location were also great

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Marble quary tour"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our first Rick Steves tour. We were especially impressed with our guide Patricia. The local guides in each city were outstanding ,not just for their knowledge but their pride and warmth exhibited to the group. Other than the hotel in Orvieto and the very interesting hotel in Padua we were very pleased with the hotels. The group meals were some of the best of the entire trip. We loved the cooking class, wine tasting, truffle hunting and dinner and the farm lunch.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many wow moments on this trip. I have to give a special recognition to our tour guide who made so many of these moments possible. The tour guide is essential to make the trip special and Patricia did just that. She added some things to our itinerary because she wanted to make sure we would see the things she thought special. We especially loved Volterra and Porto Venere which were additions to the trip. She is a true gem and Rick Steves is lucky to have her."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I loved it. Exceeded all expectations. Our tour guide was fun, knowledgable and was always thinking ahead. We were lucky to have Patricia. The itinerary wonderful, hotels beautiful.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Can't say just one! Hiking around (and up and down) Orvieto, Volterra Etruscan Museum, hiking Cinque Terre. All the food and all our fellow travelers."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We loved our tour. Cristina was fantastic

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The hike from Cornelia to Vernazza"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This tour is the perfect combination of active time and relaxing time. It was really fun and the towns are beautiful. The smaller locations led to more mom and pop experiences, especially with restaurants. Our guide, Cristina, was great and the local guides were excellent. Again, the village venues allowed the guides to give very personal tours, which was delightful.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The amazing concert in Orvieto and touring the Carrera marble quarry. There were twelve more wows but I'm already over the limit!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Everything exceeded our expectations.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Music! First a “surprise” from our guide Cristina, aperitivos and wine while listening to two fabulous guitar players in our own private room. Second, opera, a recommendation from our guide Cristina to attend a performance on our own. These two memories will stay with me. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our first Rick Steves tour. Hopefully not our last! Great people, great planning, wonderful time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our days in Tuscany were perfect. Beautiful setting, an amazing room and view, great food. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Last year , 2023, my evaluation of the Germany tour was "outstanding" I never thought in a million years any thing could surpass that experience . Well here I am May 2024 totally blown away with the fantastic ,small villages of Italy . Our guide, no not guide, dear friend Christina tied every exciting moment together with her knowledge and she created an atmosphere that caused the entire group to melt into a family vacation. We will be scheduling our next tour shortly.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Too many to count, The accommodations , the food , and the hands on experiences. I was totally overwhelmed for 2 weeks ."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide, Cristina, was wonderful! She was beyond knowledgeable of everything connected to the tour and was empathetic to our individual needs. All the locations we traveled to were incredible, getting better and better as the tour went along, and we did not think that was possible. The food, local tours, extra ("surprise") excursions, and extra lengths Cristina went to made it a fabulous 14 days.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hiking along in the Cinque Terra hillside from one town to the next and Lake Orta. Both locations were stunningly beautiful and so peaceful. The Cinque Terra towns actually got super crowded by midday, but we ventured out early and avoided the crowds. The town we slept in (Levanto), was nice and calm throughout our stay. Side note - we loved the villa in the Tuscan countryside, too, and the villa in Montefalco. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Top quality from start to finish. It was our first tour and we plan on doing others!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"No single moment...just one interesting experience after another. Enjoyed it all!"

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

Tour itinerary, sites and activities were all good and as expected. Tour guide was okay - did the job but didn't raise the experiences to anything special or extraordinary as we have experienced with other tour guides on previous Rick Steve's tours. A member on the tour became ill on one of the first few days and while masks, back of bus, and other procedures were followed, by the end of the tour about half of the tour group was ill. Not anyone's fault, just the risk of traveling in a group.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Puccini concert in Lucca, not included on the tour but available while were were in Lucca, was outstanding!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

We were introduced to so many small towns/villages and experiences we would have otherwise not experienced on our own. Our tour guide Deborah was topnotch, so knowledgeable and accommodating, and took great care of us all. We had a great group and loved the beautiful countryside, the cooking lesson, enjoyable meals at the olive oil mill, truffle hunt...too many to count. This was the perfect tour to get a feel for the country, food and art without the crushing crowds of the bigger cities.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were many, but two out of three of us vote for the boat ride along the Cinque Terre coastline on a spectacular day, and my husband just loved the Hotel Belvedere location in Castellina. The setting was stunning, he was ready to stay there another day or two!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Everything was top notch. Our you guide was caring, knowledgeable and a great guide. We got to experience so many things you just couldn’t on your own.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I think truffle hunting "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

It was so interesting and fun!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Too many WOW moments to pick one! Mosaics, the Tuscany countryside, seeing Cinque Terre from the boat! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

My husband and I felt our tour guide was very knowledgeable and helpful and friendly. She worked very hard to make sure all the tour participants were safe and well taken care of.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Lake Orta was beautiful. The tour boat ride was very scenic. And our hotel was very nice and conveniently located."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Another great Rick Steves' tour (our 5th). Another great tour leader. Interesting activities, great locations. Overall very happy with this tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seafood dinner at hotel in Levanto"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Village Italy was just what I wanted after other trips to the big cities. I often said that if I ever went back to Italy all I wanted to do was eat and this tour satisfied that. Great guide, good traveling companions, good local guides, just enough churches and of course, lots of wonderful Italian food and wine.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It was a meal in Levanto on our own. The previous evening a local chef prepared a seafood feast for us. We went back to his restaurant the following evening and I had one of the best meals of my life. Homemade spaghetti with an amazing sauce of garlic and olive oil all topped with a generous amount of local seafood. That's what I came for and it will remain as one of the best meals of my life. Wow!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Trina was a great resource which really enhanced our Italian experience. Overall the tour offered an excellent choice of small towns, a realistic travel schedule and time for viewing and experiencing events and activities. The local tour guides overall were excellent!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many, but I'd have to cite some of my favorites, which include: the truffle experience - especially watching the "hunter&dogs", the cathedrals (and associated history) which were magnificent, the boat ride through the "Cinque Terre" and also on Lake Orta. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I loved the tour’s combination of iconic Tuscan rolling hills and scenic views from villas with the bustling and historic cities of Lucca and Orvieto. The mixture of cultural experiences from viewing world famous medieval frescos, mosaics and jaw dropping basilicas to wine tasting and pairing, cooking class and truffle hunting, to the beautiful Italian Riviera and Lake Orta boat rides. Spectacular views, comfy hotels and of course, delicious food and wine made this a wonderful tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The views of the classic Italian countryside from rolling green hills, the colorful hill towns of Cinque Terre and pristine Lake Orta made this trip stand out. My favorite cultural experience was searching for truffles and eating a delicious meal at the restaurant on the truffle farm. The hotel, Belvedere di S. Leonino was my favorite followed by the views from the hotel in Lake Orta. I was very happy to be away from the congested cities and populated tourist and local cruise ship stops. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The entire tour was great. Our guide Ann exceeded our expectations.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were many. Probably Orvieto and the small town of Montefalco. Lake Orta was a great ending."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Italy in late April and early May provided cooler temperatures to enjoy the country. There were some rainy and cool days but we "weathered" it just fine.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Meeting some Serbian high school students in a cafe before the tour even started. We had lunch and noticed some teens eavesdropping on our conversation. This prompted me to start a conversation with them and it became a wonderful cultural exchange experience."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my 3rd Rick Steves' Tour. As with the previous 2, this one was also outstanding.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I would say walking across the bridge at Civita and seeing the village perched on a hilltop."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The Village Italy tour is beautiful, entertaining, educational, fulfilling, and lots of fun.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the mosaics in the Byzantine San Vitale Basilica and the tour of the marble quarry in Carrrara."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Everything was perfect. A beautiful country shared with a great tour group led by our talented Rick Steves’ tour leader Patricia.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So many but I enjoyed the time spent in Tuscany at the hotel in San Leonino."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

It was a great tour made even better by our wonderful guide, Patricia, and a particularly good group of fellow travelers. I chose the tour for the scenery and the villages but also loved the visit to the marble quarry, seeing artisans working on ceramics and alabaster, and learning about the frescoes in the basilicas.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The views from our lovely hotel in San Leonino. Also the wonderful truffle-centric dinner after getting to see the dogs sniff out the truffles."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was so fun, so many sights and experiences that were beyond all of our expectations. Great group of people on the tour, and a good mix of "group time" and time to explore on our own. The orientation to each new village was so valuable and enabled us to use our "free time" in a way that fit our interests. Even the time on the bus was useful - we learned so much about Italy, from its history to current everyday life. I enjoyed "practicing" my Italian (even though it was quite limited!).

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were really so many that it's hard to say. In general, the scenery was lovely and breathtaking. I also loved the very old buildings and learning about their history. The mosaics, especially those in Ravenna, were a real favorite of mine - they were so brightly colored, and when seen from a distance, I had to remind myself that they were made from tiny pieces of glass! I also loved the experiences on the tour, like the truffle hunt with the dogs, and the cooking lesson - both were SO fun."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We loved our Village Italy tour with Patricia as our guide. She is very funny and informative, so helpful with any needs we had, and gave us great information about each place we visited. The villages we visited were beautiful, we had terrific local guides, and learned so much about the culture and history of each location. This was our 11th Rick Steves tour and have met great folks on each of our tours.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My "wow" moment was our visit to the Etruscan Archaeological Museum in Chianciano Terme with local guide Roberto. He was funny and incredibly informative about the fascinating artifacts from the 7th century BC to the 2nd century BC found in the museum. He brought that era to life for us. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I was stunned by the incredible art and culture I encountered. The churches, the Italians, the vineyards and landscape was stunning.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The basilica of San Vitale. I had read about the tiles in the autobiography of Thomas Merton. It was beyond the beyond!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This is my 10th Rick Steves tour and despite less-than-cooperative weather, I enjoyed this trip immensely, thanks to great tour mates and all that guide Cristina and bus driver Ezio did to create a feeling of family among us. The experiences we had were ones that independent travelers would never have access to (e.g., truffle hunting, ceramics studio, visiting a Palio contrade's club house) or think to do (e.g., Florence American Cemetery). The hotels were nicer than I’ve had on other RS tours.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Chasing two excited dogs around on their quest for truffles followed by a truffle-infused meal with a view of the sun setting over the Umbrian countryside. And then, on the way home from that dinner, our whole group singing “That’s Amore” and “Volare” together on the bus ride back to our Montefalco hotel. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great tour, great history lesson. Cristina on the Village Italy tour is amazing. She is very professional and yet she was able to inject fun and a positive experience in everything we did.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"2 things stood out. I loved truffle hunting! I have developed a new found appreciation for truffles. I thoroughly enjoyed visiting and learning about Assisi. The world needs more men like Francis of Assisi. His story is very inspiring and the local guide (Giuseppe) was a hoot! Giuseppe was full of facts about the history while also being hilarious! I wish I had him in college for European history. Thanks for that gift!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I enjoyed the group meals, the beautiful accommodations, and Cristina was a wealth of knowledge. The local guides were also very knowledgeable and entertaining.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were many, but I fell in love with the Hotel Belvedere di S. Leonino and would love to go back to stay there for a longer time, using it as a home base to further explore the Tuscany region."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This is such a phenomenal tour! My wife and I chose this particular itinerary for our honeymoon because while she had never been to Italy before, I have spent a decent amount of time there. This tour allowed her to experience the beauty of the Italian culture, mentality, cuisine, history, art/architecture, and general lifestyle. Since none of the "greatest hits of Italian tourism" are on this itinerary, it allowed me to visit many destinations that I hadn't had the opportunity to see yet

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were SO MANY special moments enjoyed throughout our two weeks on this tour, it's difficult to pick just one! My favorite "wow" moment was probably enjoying time wandering the steep, ancient, winding, cramped, beautiful, narrow walkways of Porto Venere, Corniglia, and the rest of the Cinque Terre. And that experience would have been even better if we didn't get rained on during most of our time in Liguria, so we could have hiked between the Terre."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was an excellent tour! We went to beautiful locations with the best group of travelers and guide! I loved this trip!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Too many to mention! The churches and art were beautiful as was the countryside we visited. I enjoyed watching the Italian women painting ceramics, the truffle hunting dogs, and the cooking class was a blast. The afternoon in Pistoia was fun - finding a good sandwich, a bottle of wine, and a wall to sit on while enjoying the view with some new friends.... perfetto!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I totally enjoyed this tour! Our guide Cristina Pernechele was a true joy! She treated us like her family and made the tour that much more enjoyable. She went above and beyond to ensure that we were ensconced in the Italian culture and experience.She shared the history beyond everything we saw and helped us immerse ourselves in our surroundings, from wine pairings to tasting foods like Italians and enjoying the beautiful countryside. The extra touches, Gelato tickets and other surprises were Fun

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many moments that it's hard to choose. I loved the hands on cooking lesson and then eating what we cooked! The truffle hunting was a unique experience ending with dinner on the hill with a captivating view and sunset. The tours through the cathedrals and basilicas were filled with rich history, memorable and not to be missed. There was a beautiful private concert that is not to be forgotten. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Cristina, our tour guide was awesome. Ezio, our bus driver, was very skilled and entertaining. The tours of the villages were well thought out and our local guides were awesome.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We had just arrived in Montefalco and Christina was taking us on a tour of the village. She noticed that a small church was open, which she had never seen before, so we went in to look. The new parish priest was excited to see us and talked excitingly to Cristina in Italian. We had just left and were walking down the street when he stepped out and called to Cristina. He had forgotten to show us the frescos in a small anteroom. It was just such an intimate and friendly moment in a small village"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was a well-planned, well-executed tour--our 11th R.S. Europe experience. Our guide and bus driver worked together smoothly, making the best use of everyone's time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hands-down, the most magical event for me was a surprise evening concert by Gabriele & Martina--a talented guitarist and captivating vocalist--in Orvieto. This performance was an above-and-beyond experience organized by our guide, and one I'll always remember. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was excellent. I loved the small villages for the window into their history and culture. They were all easy to navigate and explore. The scenery in the countryside as we traveled between towns was spectacular. And the food and wine was consistently of high quality. Our tour guide was also a highlight.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I was fascinated by the medieval mosaics we got to see in Ravenna at the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia and the San Vitale Church. The mix of history in this town is truly amazing - early Christian, Roman, Byzantine, and Venetian. The glass and gold-leaf mosaic pieces are spectacular and really worth the time to visit. It was also a great location for a lunch stop for a taste of the delicious piadine."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Best tour ever, we have been on 6 so far.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"the view of the country side "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Very well organized, stellar guides, great travelers in the group, excellent activities each day, felt I was truly able to experience the culture of the small Italian villages in a unique way.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"A toss-up between rounding the corner and viewing the Cinque Terre from a boat, and being at the St Patrick’s well looking down at the start, then up from the bottom. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Lovely group of people and outstanding guide! We have been to most of the places on this tour on our own multiple times and thoroughly enjoyed Trina and the local guides bring them to life!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"That’s not easy…the truffle hunt, the cooking class with Francesco and Ravenna were definite wows! We have been to the other Civita…Civitella de Lago was much more beautiful and what a treat to have an American who lives there take us through his home 😁"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was an excellent experience - a nice balance between tours, experiences and free time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We had two - one was being in Assisi. Besides the excellent tour of the cathedral, learning more about their role in helping Jews escape during WW2 was fascinating. And then, viewing Cinque Terre by boat. Lovely views of these precariously placed towns on the sides of the cliff was fascinating."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We thoroughly enjoyed our tour. Touring the small villages of Italy gives you more local flavor and puts you in closer touch with the people and culture of the country. The major cities have the must-see, monumental sights, museums, and art. Touring the villages offers a more intimate look at the history of Italy prior to the Renaissance as well as the lives of the local people today. It gives you more hands-on experiences.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The WOW for this tour was the food served during our group dinners and group activities that were included as part of the tour. Especially memorable and delicious was the “Ligurian Feast” prepared and served by Carlo and Daniela at Primavera Hotel in Levanto.But that was not the only food highlight during the tour! Other food highlights included: Dinner after the truffle hunt Wine and food in Orvieto Cooking class in Chianciano Lunch served at Olive Mill Lasagna First and last group meals"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my 3rd RS trip. It was a whirlwind of activity for 2 wks with a great group of like-minded, seasoned travelers. The sights, the hotels, the food, the wine—all contributed to an outstanding time. Trina, our outstanding guide, managed a myriad of details, giving us a tour and history of the Middle Ages, all the while meeting local guides, juggling buses, trains and boat rides for us and keeping her smiles everyday.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So many to choose from! All the underground ruins, Padua’s Scrovegni Chapel and University anatomy theater, the mosaics, the ceramics in Deruta, the truffle hunt, the Carrara marble quarry, the cooking lesson, all the churches, Lake Orta, the boat trip to the island, the olive oil mill, stopping of at very old —villages—even Dustin Hoffman and Helen Hunt filming a movie in Lucca!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was beyond expectations! Deborah was a tour guide explenaire, tending to.all our needs.The towns, tour guides and food were all wonderful. My only suggestion would be to change the terminating village from Lake Orta. Yes, it is beautiful and the hotel is great. ( Truthfully, I think this was a little too obvious pr of leaving us with a positive experience.)From there, it was a difficult or expensive commute, We were lucky to have a good tour guide to arrange logistics.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I loved our tour with Anna where we learned about the contrades in Sienna and saw the museum wirh the colorful Palio uniforms and amazing video. I also loved going truffle hunting! The dogs brought back the truffles in their mouths like balls. We saw freshly dug up black truffles and learned about the seasons for white ones. The meal afterwards was great! Also loved the visit to the Carrara quarry. Beautiful location with very intetesting history.Glad we had time to purchase some. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The group was friendly and mixed well; the tour director (Deborah) was almost pathologically attentive to details in her attempt to ensure a successful experience for everyone. The order in which we visited places, hitting the obligatory stops (e.g. Padova, Ravenna) early and climaxing the trip in the Cinque Terre and on Lake Orta, guaranteed a continuously growing sense of wonder.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"For me it was seeing the "Four Saints" altarpiece by Fra Filippino Lippi in Lucca's San Michele church. A close second was the view from Nessun Dorma where Tamara and I had lunch in Manarola."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Never having been to Italy, I decided to tackle the small towns knowing that it was possible I would not get a fulsome introduction to the country, culture and its people. My experience tells me that, while I may have missed to classic wonders of the larger cities, the tour was so carefully designed to capture the essence of northern Italian that I will be much better prepared to explore some of the larger cities and different regions. Very memorable indeed!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There is no single moment. However I believe for me the histories of the small hilltop locations and the reverence that the Italian people have for their history (both good and bad) was something I have not experienced especially living in North America. Of the town I would say Orvieto was my most favourite. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I didn’t bring know how to improve it . The tour, the guide, the stops were all amazing .

Favorite "WOW" moment

"That is difficult. There were so many. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent from start to finish. Great itinerary flawlessly executed by our guide and bus driver.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Deborah, our guide, was my wow moment. Among the pantheon of Rick Steves guides, she really stands out. In addition to executing the itinerary and providing background and information for places we visited, she organized our airport transfers, helped us to strategize use of our free time including making reservations and getting tickets for that time, made sure we tried the beverages, snacks and meals that were typical of each place we visited. A helpful and charming presence."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Starting with our guide. She was simply outstanding. On the long bus rides she kept us all informed and even entertained. Local guides were all knowledgeable as well. I got to see and learn about the REAL Italy, not just the big touristed destinations. We visited some very out of the way locations including a sleepy hill town and several wine/olive oil producers. Also marble and alabaster shops! Such amazing diversity on this your. Loved it so much!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite wow moment occurred in the town of Voltera. It had sprinkled a bit and as we were gazing over the Etruscan ruins below, a beautiful double rainbow appeared. The lighting was spectacular. Later in the trip the normally calm sea were driven by a hard wind storm, creating waves crashing into the short and reaching heights of over 100’. I’ve never seen a sea like that before so that was mesmerizing. The power and beauty of nature as seen from high atop gorgeous Italian villages. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Nina our guide was enthusiastic, knowledgeable, well organized and was able to adapt with ease to some unplanned situations. Was impressed with the bus driver's skill especially managing some tight spaces and driving us safely from place to place. Fellow travellers were a joy to share the experiences with. Really appreciated that each tour member had their own audio system. Liked not having to crowd around guide nor strain to hear what was being discussed.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Rather than any specific wow it was the guides who brought history alive that was so meaningful. Walking through a village one always learned something memorable. For example did not previously realize the importance of the Etruscans, nor the challenges of village life throughout the ages due to constant threat of invasion. Won't forget guide's sharing personal stories of their family's life during WWII. Also now have a new appreciation of olive oil and the influence of food on wine."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was a wonderful tour with many amazing sites. I loved the character of the small villages so much more than that of the larger cities that I have visited.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I loved the cooking session where we were able to embrace the 'Slow Foods' philosophy."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I really enjoyed our time in Italy and learning about the people, history, and food.

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

We had a great time! We appreciated the ratio of guided tours and free time. Our tour guide and local guides were amazing!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I loved everything!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Good guides and driver, sight memorable, too much time spent wine tasting and selling wine. I don’t object to wine I just don’t care for it. Had I know 2 hours of so many days would be spent on wine tasting, i would have chosen a different tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Meeting Emilio Frati was one of those serendipity moments that only happen on Rick Steves tours."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was superb. Of course, it starts with the guides and Andrea was terrific giving us his Italian viewpoint on life in smaller towns. He was backed up by the fabulous Donaldo, who is a superb lead guide on his own. The variety of activities and sites are enormously diverse starting with a university town of Padua and continuing through Umbrian hill towns and wild Tuscan scenery. You get to have wine tastings, olive oil tastings, your own pasta lunch, ceramics workshop and a marble quarry.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were a few. The amazing frescos in the Scrovegni Chapel, the mosaics in Ravenna and a beautiful tour through Siena including the Piazza del Campo, home of the famous Palio horse race."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Wonderful overview of different regions of Italy. The guide and assistant were very knowledgable and eager to help in whatever was required. Our fellow tour mates were enthusiastic and engaging. The majority of sights were interesting, and the "work-around" for the days we were not in Lucca turned out to be exactly what we would have planned for ourselves (extra time in Siena).What a great way to learn about the history and meaning behind the sights we were seeing.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The mausoleum of Gala Placidia in Ravenna. The quality of the mosaics, both in artistic details and the craftsmanship was astonishing. The exterior definitely belies the wonders inside. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Well organized. Great tour guide. Interesting and comfortable hotels. Wonderful fellow travelers. Great experience!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The trip was full of wonderful experiences but I was most imprint the dedication of our guide, Deborah, who led us on a promised orientation walk in the pouring, never ending rain in Lucca…and she was bright and cheery throughout the very soggy walk!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great guide, wonderful tour members and experiences! I loved all the small towns and the medieval buildings.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Cinque Terra, with its picturesque and very colorful old buildings and its very dramatic, crashing waves."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our Village Italy tour was excellent. Our guide. Deborah, was outstanding. She knew so much about the various areas on the tour and shared that knowledge in an understandable way. As an American, it was so impressive to see towns, churches and artwork completed hundreds of years before our country was discovered! The hotels and restaurants were more than adequate and plentiful free time allowed it had to be the mosaics us to continue the discovery on our own.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It has to be the mosaics in the San Vitale Basilica in Ravenna. These beautiful mosaics done in 1/4 inch tiles that have endured for centuries were amazing. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Thank you for leading us on a memorable, educational, and gorgeous trip in villages of Italy. Our cosmopolitan leader, Deborah, filled each day with a delightfully woven stream of interesting information on a variety of subjects including geology, agriculture, art, politics, history, culture, customs, religion, shopping, and cuisine. She constantly worked to enhance our experience yet appeared to do it effortlessly and also added cool little surprises. What fun!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The day in Ravenna seeing glorious mosaics from the 5th century to the present."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Everything I expected. Great guide - friendly travelers - beautiful views - wonderful towns

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Two actually - Cinque Terre - large waves breaking against the walls and cliffs. Not what I was expecting, but so beautiful. Beautiful sunset over the vineyards and hills at Hotel Belvedere di San Leonino - breathtaking."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Outstanding tour. Every aspect was very well coordinated and executed

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Giotto frescos "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

This was an excellent overview tour. We learned a lot and realized how much history we didn't know. The frescoes, the small workshops, the picturesque villages and the people who work and live there will remain vividly in our memories.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"For me (Bob) the truffle hunting experience was a wow moment. For my wife, the Giotto frescoes in the Scrovegni Chapel and in Assisi were highlights. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent guide (Deborah) and Coach Driver (Pierre), felt very informed and safely transported in their capable hands. The tour coach was very comfortable and all of our overnight accommodations were beyond my expectations. Overall, the daily schedules were just about perfect, though a couple more of the days could have used an intermediate “break” to relax and give some thought to what we were seeing. The people and sites visited were awesome!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I had studied a lot of Italian history and architecture in college, and even though the trip did not include Rome or Florence, I was eager and amazed to see the the smaller villages and towns, and experience their own cultures and history. The Italian people were very friendly and accepting of we “touristi” (?), and it was nice to be able to converse with so many without stumbling over language barriers. Still amazed at how many hilltops had churches and small villages surrounding them!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Your tour certainly overdelivered, from the fabulous art to small town villas, cooking lesson, olive oil pressing and the food and wine!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My first glimpse of the Mediterranean Sea and the quaint towns of the Cinque Terra"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wonderful itinerary, excellent guide, she was very prepared and experienced , she made the trip a true pleasure

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My wow moment was visiting the Cinque Terre towns, the waves were tremendous, the boats could not go out but the waves crashing into the cliffs was amazing to watch and feel."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

A very enjoyable tour with really good food and wine. Plenty to do and see. Guide Deborah was top-notch.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"No exceptional "Wow" moment, but at least a couple of very memorable experiences. First, the stunning mosaics of the Basilica San Vitale in Varenna. Second, seeing waves from the rough surf spectacularly crashing against the seaside cliffs of the Cinque Terra towns...what a memorable sight."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide Ann was knowledgeable and organized. All our group experiences were well-planned, and our group dinners were AMAZING. Our fellow travelers were congenial, flexible, and engaging, and there were no whiners or grumps: the quintessential Rick Steves travelers!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Walking the ramparts in Orvieto, with the spectacular views over the Umbrian countryside. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Well organized, well executed. Problems with weather smoothly handled. Had a medical issue that was handled very well by tour guide and local rep.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Evening in Montefalco. Completely unexpected."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our second Rick Steves tour was another outstanding experience. We enjoyed visiting the smaller cities in Italy with a friendly group of travelers. We enjoyed each stop so much that we always wished we had more time to spend there.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"On the day we were scheduled to visit the Carrera quarries, the weather prohibited that visit, so our guides took us to a sculptor's workshop instead. We saw many projects and talked with one of the sculptors at work. This was a highlight for many of us. We are so grateful for our guides and the flexibility that allows them to turn what might have been a lost morning into something very inspiring. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

It was a great tour. Our guide, Ann, was absolutely amazing and added so much to our overall experience. It was a little bit of a slower pace (compared to our tour last year, 21 day Best of Europe), but still provided a lot of unique experiences.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Sienna. Our guide in Sienna, Ann, was amazing, enthusiastic, and wonderful. She did an amazing job educating us about the Palio and all the different Contrada. Salute!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Being our 10th Rick Steves tour....it continued to meet the high bar of excellence! The tour guide, Ann, was phenomenal; the lodging was lovely local and small feel villa-hotel; food and wine--FANTASTIC; transportation service of the bus was excellent; local guides in almost every instance were passionate, knowledgeable, and engaging.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Ravenna and specifically The Basilica of San Vitale and the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

October in Italy was a great experience. Ann Long was our guide. She was pleasant and knowledgeable.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Sienna! We loved having the local guide take us to her own Contrada and explain the details and symbolism. It was to educational and FUN!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I have always wanted to visit Italy - a lifelong dream. Given the opportunity, I chose seeing the small towns and countryside over standing in lines to visit historical sites. This trip gave me everything I wanted to experience and did it perfectly.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The day we were supposed to visit the Carrara marble mining operations, it rained. The local guide quickly implemented a plan to get us to visit a site where chiseling slabs into beautiful forms is still practiced. It was a highlight of the trip. A woman sculptor was asked on the spot to tell us about her work and how she transforms the bulk marble into beautiful figures. She was amazing, and the local guide was amazing in lining that up for us so quickly."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This tour was great fun with a variety of interesting and cultural experiences. While I deeply appreciated the art and history of the Scrovegni Chapel, the basilica at Assisi, the Orvieto cathedral, and the Ravenna mosaics, I enjoyed and was fascinated by the dogs hunting truffles and our time at the olive oil mill. The small towns and agriturismos away from the hoards of tourists offered a relaxing and calm travel experience. I think the "village" experience is why I enjoyed this tour so much.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The mosaics in Galla Placida's Mausoleum and Basilica San Vitale in Ravenna were stunning and of interest to me because I saw the mosaics in Monreale and Palermo last year on the Rick Steves Sicily tour. The mosaics in Ravenna are earlier and very different but nonetheless memorable. A very different "wow" for me was the time we spent walking around the medieval hill town Civetella del Lago. I felt like I had been transported back in time exploring this quiet town with beautiful views."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Where to begin! This tour exceeded my expectations. This was my first Rick Steves tour and I have always enjoyed his travel series. Our tour guide was amazing and couldn't imagine anyone other than her taking us on this journey. The villages of Italy took us to so many medieval villages that were so amazing and each had their own story to be told. I am so pleased I got to experience the journey.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many wow moments that it's hard to pick just one. Every village was a new experience, every piazza had it's own charm and to sit and have an apertivo and watch everyone stroll by was a moment to reflect on. To stand under the worlds oldest Etruscan arch was an amazing moment to be a part of. The bus driver singing to us was fun and visiting an olive oil press coop made me want to stay there. There were so many wow moments and my fellow travelers on the trip were the best!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was wonderful, our guide so knowledgeable and our bus driver super professional and great personality

Favorite "WOW" moment

"That’s a bit difficult it was all amazing plus we spent 2 days in Venice and a day in Florence “saw David that was wow and 2 dats in Milan saw the last supper wow but as part of the tour loved Montefalco, Basillica San Vitale , the Etruscan ruins, all of it "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The tour was everything that was promised as well as a little more as we have come to discover with RS Tours. Our guide and bus driver were both excellent as well as accommodation and activities. However, en route to the tour I re-injured by knee which made the experience so different than we other RS tours. I was in pain a lot even as I used every technique my physio has suggested for treating the problem. I rested it as much as I could. Everyone on the tour was supportive and kind.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Watching the sunset from our Tuscan villa over that beautiful scenery and before heading to another wonderful dinner. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This tour was absolutely fantastic! Can’t say enough for our guide Trina, bus-driver and the tremendous group of fellow travelers. This tour gave me an enriched experience of the vast beauty, history and people of the small villages and towns of Italy. Our visit to Civitella del Lago and Volterra was off the charts fabulous. If you want to truly experience the Italian lifestyle, pace, regional food, and beauty of small villages and towns this is the tour to take!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Way, way too many wow moments on this tour but the one that stands out was our local guide Giulia in Siena. Her enthusiasm and passion to impart in depth knowledge, opened our minds to a clear full understanding of the Palio and the Contrada’s of Siena was amazing. The visit to La Tartuca (The Turtle) Contrada was fascinating. She managed to bring Siena history and present day culture to a greater understanding and I left enriched by the experience. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our wonderful guide, Trina, delved into the history and demographics of Italy, shared her love for the country, and introduced us to Italian phrases, people and places. Her ability to connect with each one of the group and help us meld was outstanding.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many! The truffle hunt near Trevi, the cooking lesson at Chianciano Terme, the visit to the Painted Egg Museum in lovely little Civitella del Lago, the guided tour in Siena, the pottery factory in Deruta, beautiful Lake d'Orta and the visit to the island - what could I say was my favorite moment?"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Cristina was the best! So full of knowledge and always helpful.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We really loved the stop in the tiny village of Civitella al Lago. So quaint and beautiful!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Cristina was an amazing guide who went above and beyond to make sure our trip was memorable and enjoyable.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite wow moment was Cristina’s little surprise trip to Civitella del Lago for some wine and bruschetta and gorgeous lake view. But the real wow moment there wasn’t planned at all. An American named Steve was watering his plants and he invited us inside to go see his patio view!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We were immersed in culture, history, scenery but most of all like minded people full of energy to learn and share both of themselves and our journey. It left a book mark on my life

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The trip was fun, educational, and a wonderful experience. The enthusiasm of our guide Christina P and the local guides made all the difference. They were wonderful.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Ravenna church, Sienna horse race information, Lucca, hand painted pottery, Etruscan museum. all were WOW."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our 7th RS tour and was the best yet! The tour was perfect in length and all that we got to see and do. Our guide Andrea was so passionate and caring. The local guides were all so engaging.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Everything we did was a "wow"! The frescoes at the Scrovegni Chapel were not to be missed. The mosaics in the Basilica de San Vitale in Ravenna were incredible. The Duomo di Orvieto was gorgeous. The truffle hunt and the truffle dinner were unforgettable. The concert that our multi-talented guide Andrea performed in. The cooking class at the agriturismo. The olive oil farm and luncheon. The Deruta ceramics workshop. The wine tasting in Orvieto. Dinner in Montefalco. The marble quarry! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This tour delivered on every expectation that I had. There were quaint villages, some fantastic art and churches, and history around every corner. Andrea did an outstanding job guiding and answering our questions. My fellow tour members were upbeat and excited as I was to experience Italy.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Unbeknownst to us, our guide, Andrea, was an excellent guitarist who had played for years in a small band. When we got to Orvieto, his home town, he reconnected with two friends to do an impromptu concert for us in a small rock-lined meeting room below the hotel. The acoustics were perfect and his friends were fantastic musicians and singers. It felt so special to get a magnificent show in such an intimate setting. I'll always remember it. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my 2nd RS tour and it was incredible. Andrea is an amazing guide. His passion for his country and his extensive knowledge of art history really added to the experience. Unfortunately he got sick and had to leave before the end but he was so exceptional that I am thankful we had him for as long as we did.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our private concert from Andrea and his friends was a really special treat! The biggest wow was that each city was better than the last. The tour got better every day! And our final guide who was only with us for a day or so went above and beyond which was much appreciated! That had to be tough to pinch hit at the very end but she fit in great with our group! Super excited to book next years RS tour!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I enjoyed this tour very much. I was surprised to see how much variety there was in the culture of the different cities and towns we visited, in the food characteristic of each region, and in the landscape we traveled. The "extra" activities - truffle hunting, visits to an vineyard and olive mill, a cooking class, a pottery and the Carrara mines - were well-chosen to reflect the flavor of northern Italy. My favorite, though, was the amazing art treasures of Scrovegni, Ravenna, and Assisi.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The visit to the Turtle contrada in Sienna afforded a glimpse into the intricate rules of the Palio and the heightened emotions it stirs in the city. The history of the race viewed from the perspective of the Turtle's museum and two of its members continues to intrigue me."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was a whirlwind of fun!! Well organized, great variety of towns/cities and activities. The people, as usual, were all welcoming and friendly to this single traveller. The logistics of getting us from one place to another was without fault.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"CinqueTerre: I have wanted to go back there for years. Although it was so crowded I still enjoyed being there again. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

This was our 3rd Rick Steves tour. It was a fantastic tour although we experienced an issue with our guides.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The view from the boat of the Cinque Terre. The water and weather was perfect."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Loved everything about the trip, fully met expectations for a wonderful time in Village Italy.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Every town/village we came to seemed like it couldn't be any better, and then the next one would top that!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We enjoyed the best tour guide ever with a wonderful group of fellow travelers. This tour was perfect for us because of the focus on small towns, many of which we would likely never see on our own. There were many days that we were surprised with visits to “bonus” villages not listed on the main itinerary. Outstanding!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Watching the artisans creating beautiful pottery in Deruta was amazing. I could have stayed there an entire day. Another wow moment was seeing the mountains of snow-white stone and learning how Carrara marble is quarried. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I’ve been to Italy a handful of times but never to the smaller hill towns. The hill towns were all individuals and all quite charming. This tour showed me a side of Italy I hadn’t experienced before. Many locations felt less crowded, less touristy, and still had so many artifacts, architecture and art to admire.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I try to study something about a culture before I travel. This time I focused on Galileo and his scientific influence. Therefore, it was thrilling to be in Padua where Galileo lectured at the University of Padua and see his lectern and then be out in the streets at night with all the current university students all huddling in groups drinking Spritz’s and socializing. I enjoyed seeing how the university community continues to thrive this many years later."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was filled with history, interesting information about Italy, Italian art, Italian customs and the Etruscans.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The boat ride along the Italian Riviera was great, seeing all the little villages from the water (Mediterranean Sea)."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I thoroughly enjoyed the Villages of Italy tour, it was fabulous! The tour gave plenty of opportunity to meet local people who really care about what they do, and are proud of their heritage. Compared to the Best of Italy which I did in 2019, it was focused more on the food, the wine, the culture and also included the highlights of the small towns we visited. It was a good pace and there was plenty to see and do. I embraced the dolce vita, relaxing by the pools, eating pasta and drinking wine.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I travelled with a good friend on this tour and at the end of each day we said to each other that it was another 'wow' day, truly. We enjoyed making an Italian meal with wonderful people passionate about food, truffle hunting and savouring them later in a fabulous dinner, watching pottery made and painted by hand, scenic boat cruises, a fabulous wine tasting paired with delicious food at a family winery, many walking tours to see the small villages and a Tuscan stay that took our breath away!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wonderful accommodations, great food, and wonferful fellow tour goers.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Wow views of the hilly Tuscan landscape."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The tour was engaging, interesting, and included many fun activities as well as good perspectives on Italy’s culture and history. Our tour guide, Ruth, was very knowledgeable, helpful, and attentive. We had ample opportunity for independent wandering as well as guided experiences. The tour covered a lot of ground, so most stops it’s not possible to see everything; that’s good, because you’ll only want to see so many cathedrals. Great tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I really enjoyed the cooking class at Stefano’s agriturismo. He demonstrated passion for craft which rubs off and gets you excited about….. pasta making, sausage, pesto, organic farming, etc etc etc. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We were thrilled beyond our wildest expectations. Our tour leader Ruth was incredible. She went above and beyond on giving us the best experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Tuscany! Just the views! Loved where we stayed, food and wine, such a magical experience!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was exceptional. Our tour guide, Ruth, was amazing. The variety of cultural experiences were well above my expectations. I especially appreciated how knowledgeable all the specialty guides were: Assisi, Sienna, the Carerra Marble quarry, truffle hunting and the olive oil mill.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My "wow" moment(s) was the peaceful solitude experienced near the Tomb of St. Francis in Assisi."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was fantastic! Every day was perfectly organized with options to do more or less. The places we went to were beautiful from incredible cathedrals to simple olive oil presses. The tour director (Ruth) was fabulous! She was extremely well organized and always had a smile to make sure we had a great time. We have already been looking at another trip because this was so incredible!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I’ve been asked this question by friends and family. Each time I have answered the question differently because there were so many wow moments. The few hours we spent having dinner in the home of couple that ran the olive presses outside of Luca was amazing. The beautiful food and wine and kindness this couple shared with us really moved me."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This tour was my first international trip since 2019 and it was a fabulous way to start traveling again. Our guide, Nina, was pitch perfect. She shared so much about the culture, history and people of Italy that I came away with a greater appreciation for the country. She set the tone for the group the first night we met. She was warm, humorous and very focused on ensuring we had the best vacation. She established ground rules and expectations as well as taking the time to get to know us

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the coast of Cinque Terra from the sea. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Overall, the tour was lovely - I felt like I got such an "off the beaten path" experience of Italy, which was a delight. I do think there was too much packed into the tour and wouldn't have mind cutting out a few stops.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Having a drink on the patio at the Hotel Belvedere in Castellina in Chianti and just looking at the rolling Tuscan hills - it was stunning. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

This was a good group to tour with. Nina is an excellent guide. The pace of the tour was much more intense than I expected. Choosing village Italy felt like it might have more leisure, but this was the most packed and busiest tour I've taken.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The countryside of Umbria and Tuscany from sunrise to sunset; simply breathtaking!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This tour moves quickly and is packed with memorable experiences. I loved touring villages I might not have found on my own. There was lots of variety - something for everyone!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So many! One was making our way through the winding streets of Siena and suddenly popping into the blindingly sunny and beautiful Piazza del Campo. Another was enjoying our truffle dinner at sunset after accompanying the truffle hunter and his dogs on their hunt."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I loved the focus on Italian villages and the countryside, as opposed to spending time in larger cities. The diversity of experiences provided to our group - from truffle hunting, to a cooking class, to a delightful lunch at an olive oil cooperative - contributed to a broader perspective on Italian life. Our guide Nina was excellent and brought a wealth of information to our travels.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I am not sure I can identify just one “wow” moment because there were several: Stefano’s approach to Italian cuisine and the chance to assist with food preparation was lots of fun; the history of the Italian hill towns like Montefalco, and our stay at a beautiful inn in Tuscany were among the high points for me."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The tour was very good and overall another great experience. The title “Small Villages Italy” however seemed to be misleading as we were in larger places and experienced huge crowds in areas.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Orvieto and the time spent there was my favourite town, history and area. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent itinerary. Tour guide Trina was just terrific.We lost a passport on the first day and she did everything within her power to help us. (It turned out ok). She was consistently cheerful, personable and informative. She clearly loves Italy and its history and culture. Hotels by and large were good to very good. Nice balance of structure and free time. Scheduled meals were generally very good (first night in Padova especially so).

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Many. For me probably the time in Ravenna at the tomb of Galla Placidia and San Vitale. I've seen pictures of both all my life but the actual live experience was very special. Also the town and setting of Civitella Di Lago (sp?) was a great surprise."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was outstanding. Well organized, great guide (Patricia), great group of travel mates. Awe inspiring sights, scrumptious food, amazing history plus just enough time on our own for exploring.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"How to pick just one…the whole tour was one big WOW. I loved Civitella del Lago with its egg museum and the boat ride up the Cinque Terre was spectacular."

It was a wonderful experience. Our group and our leader was wonderful. I experienced places I would not see on my own. The tours were usually good. But the best tours were led by our leader, Patricia, who had such a passion for the country

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Belvedere hotel was magnificent. The views were astounding. I would of loved to have stayed an extra dat"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Though I would classify myself as a reluctant traveler our guide (Tricia) provided the most enjoyable experience with narratives that brought the wondrous visuals to life. The many opportunities to develop relationships with our tour group provided almost a family experience during the daily adventures.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The duomo of Orvieto. To imagine being a part of a 300 year project spanning many generations was hard to comprehend. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Fantastic 2 weeks with great group of people and superb guide. Daily itinerary posts were helpful and informative. Website description of tour was accurate.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many that it’s hard to narrow to just one. The “off the beaten path “ village of Civitella del Lago was a favorite because of the preservation of historical structures of centuries BC. Volterra was a close second. Porto Venere had stunning combination of architecture and water views."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Thoroughly enjoyed the work of our tour guide Brad.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Truffle hunting and the following dinner"