Best of Italy

Whether you enjoy treading in the footsteps of the past at ancient historical sites, exploring picturesque and unique towns, gazing in wonder at world-famous works of art or striking out on a hike amidst dramatic natural scenery, there’s an Italian UNESCO World Heritage site for you.

Better still, travelling by private jet with ACS means you can discover these sites at your own pace. Fly in comfort and privacy whenever suits you to maximise your time away and avoid wasting it navigating commercial airlines or trains. Meanwhile, booking onward travel and hotels through The Travel Division at Air Charter Service adds another layer of convenience, so you can rest assured you’ll be staying in vetted and approved accommodation. Our seamless and efficient solutions mean you could take a trip of a lifetime to visit several sites – here’s a flavour of what you could expect from an Italian odyssey.

From home to Milan for world-famous artwork

Kick off the trip with one of the world’s most famous UNESCO World Heritage sites, the Santa Maria delle Grazie church and convent. While the intricately painted pointed arches inside are more than enough reason to visit, the main attraction is Leonardo da Vinci’s masterpiece, The Last Supper. Seeing such an important mural in person is a magical experience, elevated by the fact that numbers are carefully controlled to allow visitors to absorb the artwork in peace.

STAY: The Four Seasons Hotel is a converted 15th-century convent with high-ceilinged

modern suites and a luxury spa to set the tone for your trip.

Milan to Venice for scenery and sparkling wine

Although staying in bustling Venice, itself a World Heritage site, the purpose of your stay in this region is to head to the mountains and embrace the wonder of nature. 

Begin by exploring the majestic scenery of the Dolomite Mountains, 18 peaks across more than 350,000 acres comprising sheer cliffs, verdant valleys and hidden pastures. Charming mountain villages sit alongside geological marvels, so there’s something to admire, whatever your tastes. Awesome in the truest sense of the word, the natural landscape offers plentiful opportunities for hiking, where you can take a moment to pause, breathe deeply and find your serenity. 

Continue your relaxing visit to the area by visiting nearby Colline del Prosecco di Conegliano e Valdobbiadene, the region of Italy that grows grapes for Prosecco and has done since the 17th century, mostly by family-run businesses that exist to this day. The lush green hills striped with thriving vines is a gorgeous backdrop to sample one of the country’s most famous exports.

STAY: Featuring classic Venetian architecture and an enviable view of the lagoon, Hotel Danieli is a stunning place to stay made up of three inter-connecting palaces that date back to the 14th, 19th and 20th centuries.

Venice to Florence for a masterpiece of a city

Next up is the capital of Tuscany. Widely considered to be the birthplace of the Renaissance with a Latin name meaning ‘to blossom’, it’s perhaps unsurprising that Florence is a tribute to human achievement and artistic brilliance. The city’s winding streets are home to palaces, museums and churches decorated by masters such as Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci and Botticelli. The Uffizi Gallery is a must-visit, as is the Duomo di Firenze, with its iconic terracotta dome that punctuates the Florentine skyline. After soaking up the culture, enjoy some Tuscan cuisine along the banks of the Arno River.

STAY: In the heart of Florence, the Four Seasons Hotel boasts a spa and a Michelin-starred Italian restaurant, so you can unwind after a day of soaking up the culture.

Florence to Rome for historic homes

There are 13 UNESCO World Heritage sites in Rome alone, and no visit to the city would be complete without taking in the likes of the Colosseum, Roman Forum, the Pantheon and Trevi Fountain. 

However, just outside the city in nearby Tivoli are two stunning UNESCO gems to visit which take you on a journey through time: Villa Adriana and Villa d’Este. 

Villa Adriana was Emperor Hadrian’s country estate built between 117 and 138AD, a complex of classical buildings inspired by the architectural traditions of Egypt, Greece and Rome to create Hadrian’s ideal city. Particular highlights include The Temple of Venus and The Maritime Theatre, and it all sits within a 200-acre garden. 

Fast forward to the Renaissance, the architectural flourishes of which are perfectly captured within Villa d’Este. The extravagant interiors feature well-preserved frescoes and the famous cardinal’s bedroom constructed in 1576, while the fountains, ornamental basins, and flora and fauna in the gardens offer space for a moment of peace and tranquillity.

STAY: Founded in 1894, the St. Regis Rome is an historic icon located in one of the city’s most impressive palazzos. The suites combine Roman elegance with Belle Époque styling, featuring light colour and Rubelli fabrics.

Rome to Pompeii for outstanding archaeology

There’s nowhere quite like Pompeii. The ruins of the Roman city left after the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79AD give a vivid impression of what life was like as you walk through streets where time has stood still. Visit homes, temples and marketplaces featuring exquisitely preserved frescoes and mosaics. Pompeii is also home to the oldest amphitheatre in the world (dating from 70BC), where circus games and fights between gladiators would have entertained the citizens. While the plaster casts of people’s remains are a haunting and humanising spectacle, the graffiti around Pompeii creates a bridge through time to the lives that were lived here. One famous piece reads: “Lovers, like bees, spend a sweet life like honey.”

STAY: A 13th-century Capuchin convent built into the cliffside and has been sympathetically refurbished to create the Anantara Convento di Amalfi Grand Hotel, a five-star spa retreat just a few minutes’ walk from the Piazza del Duomo in central Amalfi, with spectacular views overlooking the harbour.

Pompeii to Amalfi for rugged coastal beauty

Needing no introduction, the next UNESCO site is a 25-mile stretch along Italy’s southern Sorrentine Peninsula: the Amalfi Coast. Discover for yourself why the sensational scenery continues to captivate visitors as you explore the beautiful towns that hug the cliffs. The diverse natural landscape has a lot to offer too, with rocky areas and woodland sitting alongside cultivated citrus groves and vineyards. Why not sample the region’s famous limoncello liqueur, made from lemons grown in terraced gardens along the coastline.

STAY: Anantara Convento di Amalfi Grand Hotel.

Amalfi to Puglia for a storybook village

Heading into the ‘heel’ of Italy, Alberobello in Puglia is an extraordinary village. The iconic ‘Trulli’ – traditional limestone dwellings with conical roofs and whitewashed walls – line higgledy-piggledy streets that give the impression you’ve stepped into a fairy tale. Dating from the mid-14th century, the roofs were ingeniously designed to collect rainwater and channel it into underground cisterns, providing a water source for residents. Today, the Trullis are a mixture of homes, restaurants, hotels and boutique stores. It’s a charming village like nowhere else.

STAY: Nestled where the hills of the Itria Valley meet the Adriatic Sea, Borgo Egnazia is inspired by the shapes, materials and colours of a typical Puglian village for an authentic and luxurious stay.

Puglia to Sicily for a natural wonder

For your final visit, hop across to the island of Sicily, which has been shaped by UNESCO World Heritage site Mount Etna. It is the tallest active volcano in Europe and the volcanic soil it has produced supports a wide range of plant life and agriculture across the island. You can go on a guided hike in the volcanic area or, for a less strenuous option, take a 4×4 tour so you can see the fascinating geological features up close.

STAY: Perched high above the Ionian Sea, San Domenico Palace features an infinity pool, sea views, Italian gardens and Michelin-starred dining within a beautiful 14th-century Sicilian convent.

The next chapter?

After an exhilarating Italian itinerary savouring the finest ‘the boot’ has to offer, you might find yourself intrigued by the experiences the world’s other 260-plus UNESCO World Heritage sites have to offer – let us help recast that curiosity as reality.

Image Credit: GETTY