January 20-25, 2026
Five Days in Florence
Over the course of 5 days, we'll delve into the Italian Renaissance with visits to my favorite museums, including the Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, the Museo di San Marco, and the Pitti Palace. If you took Art History in college and loved it, you will be in heaven. (Also, I used to teach Art History, but this is my chance to enjoy the fun part of teaching without having to grade terrible papers.)
​
We'll also explore Tuscan cuisine, which differs from the pizza and pasta that characterize Italian food abroad, as well as visit local artisans for a hands-on opportunity to learn about the history from the makers' perspective in this inspiration-drenched city.
January 27-31, 2026
Five Days in Naples
This hybrid tour is ideal for independent travelers who would also like to discover Naples in the off-season, when we can move freely through the historic center and fully appreciate the incredible concentration of beautiful sights and delicious food. The Renaissance in Naples is my scholarly area of expertise, and I look forward to sharing with you the lesser-known treasures of Naples.
Over the course of 5 days, we’ll unfold the rich story of Naples, spanning 3,000 years. We'll explore subterranean Naples and the ancient Greek cisterns beneath the city, then visit the Treasury of San Gennaro, home to a collection of precious jewels larger than the Crown Jewels of Britain. We'll also see the Ipogeo Cristallini, which was featured in Episode 17: The Theater of Life and Death in Naples.
​
Between exploring neighborhoods and historical sites, we'll enjoy pizza, ragù, and the city's excellent street food. The trip includes a trip to Herculaneum and Villa Oplontis, lesser-visited sites near Pompeii.
May 17-24, 2026
Jenny Kroik's Italian Art Colony
Join illustrator Jenny Kroik for a week of creativity in Southern Italy. Borgo La Pietraia will be transformed into our private art colony, and there will be plenty of side trips for inspiration, including the Paestum temples, papermaking in Amalfi, and bread making with Nonna Angela.
​
We have 10 suites available for either single or double occupancy.
October 27-31, 2026
Five Days in Venice
This hybrid tour is ideal for independent travelers who also want to explore Venice during the very beginning of the off-season, when it might be raining, but no less beautiful. Venice is a moody and atmospheric experience, and late October is a gorgeous time to visit this singular city without the large crowds.
Over the course of five days, we'll delve into the Venetian Renaissance with a key visit to the Gallerie dell'Accademia for an in-depth exploration of Vittore Carpaccio's paintings of Saint Ursula and the 11,000 Virgins. We'll visit the Scuola di San Rocco, the Jewish Ghetto, and explore the northern lagoon, which is the soul of Venice. And we'll adore the Four Tetrarchs outside the Basilica of San Marco.
​
Our food and wine experiences will center around cichetti culture. As a preview to our visit to the Peggy Guggenheim Museum, I recommend watching Ripley on Netflix, so you can start to immerse yourself in the rich inner world through which I like to explore Venice.
November 3-7, 2026
Five Days in Rome
This hybrid tour is ideal for independent travelers who would also like to discover Rome in the short, quiet stretch between the end of high season and before Christmas. These 5 days will be filled with ancient Roman despots, Baroque drama, and plenty of Pecorino Romano.
We’ll do our best to scratch the surface of the extraordinary span of experiences to be had in Rome. Because I'm obsessed with Caravaggio, we'll hang out with him quite a bit, plus visit the Ara Pacis museum, the Baths of Caracalla, and do an after-hours tour of the Vatican Museum, not just for the Sistine Chapel, but to see Nero's bathtub made of imperial porphyry.
​
Between exploring neighborhoods and historical sites, we'll also discuss exactly why Bernini's St. Teresa is in ecstasy over Negronis at Dagnino and make sure to try pasta alla amatriciana, carbonara and norcia.