Join us for a 10-day, 9-night, counter-clockwise circumnavigation of Sicily, taking in the very best this fabulous island has to offer. We start in Palermo – rich with culture and history – and then hug the coast, exploring the largest island in the Mediterranean whose enviable position attracted every major Mediterranean power to its shores, from the Greeks and Romans, to the Byzantines and Arabs, to the Normans, French, and Spanish. This mix of cultures created a place like no other, with a unique language, cuisine, and architecture. We visit the stunning Greek temples of Segesta, Selinunte, and Agrigento; bustling seaside towns; the sparkling salt pans of the western coast; the wild beaches of the southern coast; Baroque hill towns in a vertical landscape in the southeast; and the mystical landscapes of the interior. We end on the slopes of Etna, still an active volcano and now home to some of the best wineries in Sicily cultivating its rich volcanic soil, all within reach of charming Taormina and its ancient Greek ruins.

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Puglia is the heel of the famous Italian boot, surrounded by the sea and steeped in a rich history reaching back to prehistoric times. Puglia's top highlight is the incredible beauty of the sea in sparkling turquoise and cerulean blue. This week-long trip takes in the best of the region from Otranto's castle and chapel of bones, easy bike rides or walks in the olive groves, to the white city of Ostuni, the prehistoric megalithic stones of the Salento, the fairytale trulli houses of Alberobello, and the intricate, creamy stone carvings of Lecce. Puglia's food is exceptional - a heady mix of abundant appetizers, organic zero-kilometer cuisine, fabulous biodynamic wines, and the freshest, best ingredients.

Capturing light is the nexus of photography and the classic way we transmit our travel experiences to others. This week-long exploration of water and light begins in the grand scenery of the Italian Lakes and finishes in incomparable Venice. Artists have been drawn for centuries to the light reflecting off the deep, crystalline waters of the Italian Lakes. Lush gardens tumbling to the water's edge, sumptuous villas, and charming fisherman villages captivated the Romantic poets Byron, Shelley and Wordsworth. Venice presents a different situation for artists, a magical conundrum of not knowing where water ends and land begins in this ornate floating city. This trip is suitable for photographers and non-photographers alike, as we will also enjoy the food, wine, history, and culture of both locations.

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Designed around a week-long stay at fabulous Hotel Cipriani in Venice, this trip features daily lessons with beloved artist and author, Sally Spector. Drawing can be mesmerizing wherever one does it, but drawing in Venice is in the realm of dreams for many an artist. You will learn more about this fundamental art technique as we explore Venice from our base at the Cipriani, whose fabulous detailing, gardens, pool, and fountains provide respite and artistic inspiration, both. All levels are welcome! We will concentrate on rendering in pencil, pen, and ink, with washes of watercolor, exploring the incredible range of effects that these materials make possible.

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Join fellow art lovers for a 8-day art adventure to Italy featuring an exclusive tour of the Venice Biennale international contemporary art exhibition paired with insider access to a curated mix of architecture, landscape, and culinary experiences. We start in sophisticated and energized Milan before moving just outside Verona in the heart of the Valpolicella wine region for two nights in your choice of superior rooms or junior suites at Byblos Art Hotel, a 16th century villa transformed by contemporary art from such luminaries as Sol LeWitt, Damien Hirst and Anish Kapoor. This trip takes in northern Italy's unique urban centers and spectacular rural landscapes including Milan and its secrets; the romantic city of Romeo and Juliet, Verona, whose Roman core is still protected by the curving Adige River; the country villas and gardens of the world-renown Valpolicella wine region; Vicenza, a High Renaissance town brimming with villas, palaces, and civic buildings designed by Andrea Palladio; and incomparable Venice, its sparkling lagoon and surrounding islands so fragile next to the Adriatic Sea. For your lodging in Venice, chose from the iconic Bauer Il Palazzo on the Grand Canal or charming Violino d'Oro next door. Along the way we meet local experts, enjoy wonderful dining experiences and boat rides, and give you lots of opportunities to explore on your own.