Roman frieze in reds representing the cult of Dionysus on wall of the Villa of the Mysteries in Pompeii

Ruined Greco-Roman temple at Paestum with columns intact and umbrella pines

Best Italian holidays for culture

View our selection of our best hotel holidays in Italy for culture

Expressions Holidays offers you some of the best cultural holidays in Italy, where you can appreciate the atmospheric surroundings produced by great art, architecture, music and history, or participate in a world-renowned cultural, musical or artistic event or festival. Culture in all shapes and forms resonates throughout Italy, from the Italian Lakes to the island of Sicily and the country possesses a wealth of sights for you to discover. With our cultural holidays in Italy, you are offered garden tours for small groups, fly-drive holidays where you can explore the legacy of Michelangelo and the Medicis, tour the Graeco-Roman remains of Sicily, enjoy the museums and monuments of Florence or Rome, or delight in contemporary Italian culture with the love of the automobile or the Verona opera. Stay in one or more of our personally-selected luxury hotels with tailor-made travel arrangements by air, rail and car. Travel on your own or join one of our small group tours.

Our best Italian cultural holidays include

● Travel arrangements with flights, transfers or car-hire as required
● Flexible durations and multi-centre stays
● Accommodation in personally-selected 4-or 5-star hotels
● Selected small group tours
● Private sightseeing and entrance tickets can be arranged

Included in all our holidays

● Concierge service
● Handcrafted helpful hints and local information provided with all our holidays
● Personal service by your sales consultant who looks after all aspects of your holiday
● Full financial protection with our ATOL (3076) for all holidays including a flight and our ABTOT for all non-air holidays

Call us on 01392 441245

Palms and umbrella pine trees in ornamental garden at Villa Rufolo overlooking deep blue sea

GARDENS OF THE AMALFI COAST, CAPRI AND ISCHIA TOUR

6-night garden tour of the Amalfi Coast, Capri and Ischia for small groups of up to 14 people staying in Sorrento and Ischia. Includes La Mortella. From £3,690 per person.

Cactus on the cliffs overlooking the emerald sea at Capo Vaticano in Calabria

NAPLES TO THE TOE OF ITALY AND SICILY FLY-DRIVE TOURING HOLIDAY

12-night fly-drive touring holiday from Naples to Taormina in Sicily, including stays in Sorrento, Maratea, Tropea and Taormina. From £3,695 per person.

Palladian classical villa with round rooftop called La Rotonda near Vicenza

PALLADIO'S VENETO FLY-DRIVE TOURING HOLIDAY

9-night fly-drive touring holiday of Palladio’s Veneto, staying in Padua, Vicenza and Verona. From £1,740 per person.

Baroque fountain of Neptune with water around and ochre houses at the Piazza Navona in Rome

VENICE, FLORENCE AND ROME BY TRAIN TOUR

11-night holiday by train to Venice, Florence and Rome with rail travel on Eurostar and overnight stops each way. From about £3,260 per person.

Iron lamp outside St Mark's Basilica and pink Doge's Palace in Venice

VENICE, FLORENCE AND ROME FLY-RAIL TOUR

9-night fly-rail touring holiday from Venice to Rome, also stopping in Florence. Choice of hotels and add extra nights if desired. From £3,090 per person.

GARDENS OF THE ROME AREA TOUR

6-night garden tour of the area near Rome for small groups of up to 14 people staying in Orvieto and Frascati. Visits to Ninfa and Landriana. From £3,460 per person.

Ruined medieval building with footbridge over river in foreground

ROME AREA GARDEN HOLIDAY FOR INDIVIDUALS

6-night holiday for individuals to the Rome area to visit the iconic and influential gardens of the area, Renaissance to 20th Century. Stay in 2 different locations and we include a hire-car. Local garden notes provided. From £1,370 per person.

Blue waters of Lake Como with the balcony and garden frontage of the Villa Monastero

GARDENS OF LAKE COMO AND LAKE MAGGIORE TOUR

6-night garden tour of Lake Como and Lake Maggiore for small groups of up to 14 people with Included visits to Villa Carlotta and Isola Bella. From £3,530 per person.

Fountain and pond with water lilies and pots of red flowers by gate at Villa Carlott on Lake Como

ITALIAN LAKES GARDEN HOLIDAY FOR INDIVIDUALS

6-night holiday for individuals to the Italian Lakes to visit the iconic gardens of Lake Como and Lake Maggiore. Stay in 2 different locations and we include a hire-car. Local garden notes provided. Local garden guides optional. From £1,845 per person.

Side of the Greek theatre in Taormina with umbrella pine tree and pink bougainvillaea in terraces of the town

SPLENDID SICILY: THE ISLAND OF SICILY FLY-DRIVE TOUR

12-night fly-drive touring holiday from Taormina to Palermo, staying at Taormina, Siracusa-Ortigia, Ragusa, Agrigento and Palermo. Choice of accommodation. From £2,830 per person.

GARDENS OF TUSCANY TOUR

6-night garden tour of Tuscany for small groups of up to 14 people in Chianti and Lucca areas reflecting the diversity of Tuscan villas and their gardens. From about £3,230 per person.

Scattered tall cypress trees lining track through fields in Tuscany

UNDER THE TUSCAN SUN TUSCANY IN DEPTH FLY-DRIVE TOUR

14-night fly-drive touring holiday including Lucca, Florence, Chianti, Cortona, Montalcino and the Maremma. From £4,220 per person.

TUSCAN GARDEN HOLIDAY FOR INDIVIDUALS

6-night holiday for individuals to Tuscany to visit the iconic gardens of Chianti and Lucca areas. Stay in 2 different locations and we include a hire-car. Local garden notes provided. Local garden guides optional. From £2,060 per person.

CULTURAL HOLIDAY TO THE AMALFI COAST FOR FAMILIES

7-night holiday based on the Amalfi Coast with included visits to Pompeii, Herculaneum and Paestum. From about £7,200 for a family of 2 adults and 2 children.

Umbrella pine and flowers and plants in stone terraces of the Villa Rufolo in Ravello with the sea in the distance

RAVELLO MUSIC FESTIVAL HOLIDAY

3-night opera holiday to the Ravello Festival, with three nights at a choice of 5-star hotel in Ravello and tickets for one performance included. From £1,830 per person.

FOR THE LOVE OF THE AUTOMOBILE HOLIDAY

5-night cultural break exploring the relationship of Italy, Italians and the automobile. Stay in two hotels in northern Italy and progress from Turin to Bologna, visiting the places associated with luxurious brands of Italian car, from Alfa Romeo to Ferrari. From £1,380 per person.

Statue of David with the terracotta cupola of the cathedral in Florence

IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF MICHELANGELO HOLIDAY

6-night holiday following in the work of Michelangelo in Florence and Rome, and visit places associated with the great artist and his works of art in both cities. From £1,680 per person.

Aida act one men on stage in long white and gold robes

VERONA OPERA FESTIVAL HOLIDAY

3-night opera holiday to the Verona Opera Festival, with three nights at a choice of hotel in Verona and second sector seats for one opera performance included. Additional opera performances can be booked. From £1,350 per person.

Baglio Oneto aerial shot of hotel showing hotel buildings, pool and surrounding Sicilian countrysode

PAINTING HOLIDAY IN SICILY

4-night fly-drive luxury holiday to Sicily for local painting tuition. From about £1,180 per person.

Stone carving of the emblem of the house of Medici on side of wall of building in florence

IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF THE MEDICIS HOLIDAY

4-night cultural break exploring the history of the Medici family in and around the city of Florence. You stay in a 5-star hotel on the River Arno just outside Florence and explore, with our guidance notes, in the city itself and by hire-car visiting the Medici villas. From £1,760 per person.

PAINTING HOLIDAY IN TUSCANY

6-night fly-drive luxury painting holiday in Tuscany’s Chianti countryside with three 3-hourly lessons from local painter included. From £1,990 per person.

Statue of composer Puccini in front of punk and green building in Lucca

PUCCINI OPERA FESTIVAL HOLIDAY

4-night opera holiday to the Puccini Opera Festival in Torre del Lago, with four nights at a luxury hotel nearby, hire-car and second sector seats included. From £1,680 per person.

IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF PALLADIO HOLIDAY

4-night holiday following in the work of the great High Renaissance architect Palladio, staying in a 4-star hotel at Vicenza and exploring the region with its Palladian villas by hire-car. From £1,090 per person.

Verdura Resort evening with palm trees and swimming pool reflections

VERDURA RESORT Sciacca, Sicily

This is a superb, luxurious, 5-star beach resort with 168 rooms, 32 suites and three villa suites. Extensive activities and facilities for families and couples. Wide choice of rooms and dining.

HOTEL INDIGO VERONA Verona

Super-value 4-star hotel of just 62 rooms on an elegant boulevard in the centre of Verona, just 8 minutes’ walk from the Arena.

LOCANDA DON SERAFINO Ragusa

The Locanda Don Serafino is an historic, boutique hotel in Ragusa Ibla with a fine dining Michelin-starred restaurant with vaulted ceilings and rooms partially carved in the rock.

THE ASHBEE Taormina, Sicily

The Ashbee is an historic but beautifully refurbished, luxury, boutique, 5-star hotel with stunning gardens and views in Taormina.

VILLA IGIEA Palermo, Sicily

Rocco Forte’s Villa Igiea in Palermo is a 5-star seaside meets city sanctuary. 100 rooms and suites with a fresh, Sicilian theme.

BORGO SANTO PIETRO Tuscany

A sumptuously furnished, luxurious 5-star boutique hotel of just 20 rooms and suites located in a country estate about 20 miles from Siena. Michelin-starred restaurant, exquisite gardens, estate activities.

COMO CASTELLO DEL NERO Tavarnelle, Tuscany

Historic, 5-star, castle-hotel with 50 rooms on a wine estate in Chianti, Tuscany. Spa, Michelin-starred restaurant, tennis, pool. Tuscan experiences and activities.

View of the exterior of the hotel with leafy vines growing over the front

VILLA LE BARONE Tuscany

This is a charming 4-star hotel with 28 rooms housed in a genuine Renaissance villa in the Chianti countryside, full of character and personal service. Traditional restaurant, cosy rooms and beautiful gardens with views.