New Pope elected in the Vatican City

Vatican, 14 March – After five secret ballots, the Conclave of Cardinals in the Sistine Chapel voted Argentinian Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio the new Pontiff of the Catholic Church. Pope Francis, as he is to be known, is the first non European Pope in 1000 years.

A crowd of over 150,000 in St Peter’s Square cheered as white smoke billowed from the most widely watched chimney in the world.

As our Vita Italian Tour season is about to begin we are happy that the cardinals are now finished with the Sistine Chapel so that our groups will get a chance to experience Michelangelo’s frescoes when we visit Rome.

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Where is Mario? Follow him in one of Italy's Best

Where is Mario? Follow him in one of Italy's Best Kept Secret Destinations. Come and discover Pesaro and Le Marche Region: a place we call home when in Italy.

The spectacular Valley of the Temples in Agrigento

The spectacular Valley of the Temples in Agrigento, Sicily. It is the largest archaeological park in Europe and boasts some of the finest ancient Greek temples in the world. Pictured is the Temple of Concordia with a bronze statue by Igor Mitoraj in the foreground. The statue represents the tragic Greek myth of Icarus who flew too close to the sun. This is one of our favourite places to explore on our small group tour the Colours of Sicily. Check the link in our bio for more on this and other small group tours of Italy.

North of Verona you will find the beautifully terr

North of Verona you will find the beautifully terraced rolling hills of the Valpolicella wine region. They have been making wine in this area since the time of the ancient Greeks and Romans. Today there are over 400 wineries here dotted throughout the countryside producing one of Italy's finest reds, Amarone. With characteristic medieval villages and stately wine estates it's no wonder this region is known as the 'Pearl of Verona'. Want a private chauffeur driven tour or custom self-drive itinerary to visit Valpolicella? Check-out the 'Tailor-Made Travel' link in our bio for more info.

The enchanting coastal village of Cefalu in Sicily

The enchanting coastal village of Cefalu in Sicily is known for its beautiful crescent shaped beach as well as its stunning 12th century Norman Cathedral. Always a favourite stop on our Colours of Sicily small group tour. Check the link in our bio for more info.

One of the most beautiful coastal villages in all

One of the most beautiful coastal villages in all of Italy, Cefalu is a favourite stop on our Colours of Sicily small group tour. Check the link in our bio for more info.

The vibrant streets of Monopoli in Puglia. One of

The vibrant streets of Monopoli in Puglia. One of the jewels of the southern Italian Adriatic Coast. In the warmer months this once traditional fishing village comes alive with movement through its maze of alleyways of the historical centre and ancient port area. This photo was taken from our most recent small group tour the Spectacular South. To find out more check out the link in our bio.

The beautiful seaside town of Termoli on the Adria

The beautiful seaside town of Termoli on the Adriatic Coast of Italy. It's historical centre has a maze of little laneways and small cobbled streets dotted with restaurants, bars and craft shops. It is a favourite stop on our Spectacular South small group tour. Find out more about Termoli or our small groups tour via the link in our bio.

We are now taking bookings for our Colours of Sici

We are now taking bookings for our Colours of Sicily luxury small group tour for 2024. Visit breathtaking UNESCO destinations like Ragusa, Siracusa and Agrigento - experiencing local culture and authentic cuisine. Find out more about this and our other small group tour departures via the link in our bio.

Happy National Carbonara Day! Did you know only fi

Happy National Carbonara Day! Did you know only five ingredients are allowed when preparing an authentic Pasta alla Carbonara. Read our latest blog in our link bio to find out how to create this popular Roman dish. Buon Appetito. 📷: @piagavacooks

Boasting a landscape with deep valleys, rolling hi

Boasting a landscape with deep valleys, rolling hills, olive groves, and terraced vineyards, the Le Marche Region offers a true taste of unspoiled rural settings married with historic medieval towns, rich in culture and a magnificent Adriatic coastline.

Vita Italian Tours plan tailor-made self-drive and chauffeur driven itineraries for travellers to visit this beautiful region. To learn more about the Le Marche region or tailor-made travel, visit the links in our bio

Friuli Venezia Giulia, located in the northeast of

Friuli Venezia Giulia, located in the northeast of Italy, on arrival doesn’t project the typical Italian landscape, but shows a mix of Austrian and Slovenian influences. A picturesque coastal region, it’s one of the least visited regions in Italy, but one that has so much to offer.

Vita Italian Tours plan tailor-made self-drive and chauffeur driven itineraries for travellers to visit this beautiful region. To learn more about the Friuli Venezia Giulia region or tailor-made travel, visit the links in our bio. 📸:@photographybrch

Prepare for spectacular views and dramatic landsca

Prepare for spectacular views and dramatic landscapes when visiting the Dolomites in the north of Italy. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the contrasting landscape projects a unique light show depending on the time of day you visit. Our Northern Lakes & Dolomites small group tour offers a comprehensive visit to this magnificent part of the world. If independent travel is more your style, let us plan a tailor-made self-drive or chauffeur driven private itinerary for you. To read our Blog on the Dolomites or learn more about our tours or tailor-made travel, visit our link bio.

Sitting in the shadow of Mt Etna is Catania, the s

Sitting in the shadow of Mt Etna is Catania, the second largest city on the Mediterranean island of Sicily. Offering travellers an abundance of cultural treasures, incredible markets, street food and fantastic local wine it is a must visit destination. A highlight is almost certainly the narrow streets leading towards and around the historic fish market. They are full of street vedors, bars and restaurants perfect to emmerse yourself in the Catanese lifestyle. Our annual small group tour Colours of Sicily explores not only Catania but the best of Sicily or if independent travel is more your style we tailor make travel itineraries for those wanting a more personal experience. Check out the links in our bio for more information.

The Spanish Steps and the Fontana della Barcaccia

The Spanish Steps and the Fontana della Barcaccia in Rome. Easily one of the most famous and easily recognisable urban landscapes of Italy. Want to find out more about the fountains of Rome? Vita Italian Tours founder Mario takes us on a walking tour of Rome's famous fountains. Check out the link in our bio.

Along the sandy beaches on the Adriatic Coast of I

Along the sandy beaches on the Adriatic Coast of Italy you will find the small town of Termoli. Once a fishing port, it is now starting to grow in popularity as a travel destination beyond locals. Visit the link in our bio to learn about this beautiful unexplored destination.

Gracing many of Italy’s postcards, the 677 year-

Gracing many of Italy’s postcards, the 677 year-old Ponte Vecchio is about to be restored for the first time. Visit the link in our link bio to read about what awaits Florence’s old bridge.

Happy World Pasta Day! Celebrating with a plate o

Happy World Pasta Day!
Celebrating with a plate of Pappardelle ai Funghi Porcini. One of our favourite autumn pasta dishes from our recent Best of Tuscany, Umbria & Le Marche small group tour. Pasta is a staple for Italians everyday and with over 400 different types there are so many to try. Buon appetito!

Slow cooked poached egg with zucchini and asparagu

Slow cooked poached egg with zucchini and asparagus cream with croutons of Matera bread. All local ingredients served with the famous bread from Matera which is prepared using century old traditions from the Sassi area.

One of our favourite dishes from our recent Spectacular South small group tour. For more information on this tour check the link in our bio.

The tranquillity and stunning beauty of Lago di Co

The tranquillity and stunning beauty of Lago di Como in northern Italy.

#vitaitaliantours #smallgrouptours #discoveritaly #lakecomo #lagodicomo #wanderlust

We’ve added a second departure for our Spectacul

We’ve added a second departure for our Spectacular South luxury small group tour for 2023. Visit Abruzzo, Puglia and Matera experiencing local culture and authentic cuisine, as well as the diverse landscapes. Find out more in our link bio.