Top Italy Art & Culture Classes

Get hands-on experience with one-to-one guidance during a private glassmaking lesson. Discover the secrets of Murano glassmaking techniques from one of the most renowned craftsmen of Venice. The 90-minute workshop includes all materials—including your own marvelous glass artwork to take home—plus a 10 percent discount on glassworks from the artist.

Get first-hand experience making mosaics on this workshop with a master mosaicist. At a historical family-owned mosaic studio, work with local marble tiles to create traditional Roman mosaics. Learn about texture, composition, and marble tile cutting while hearing stories about the history of the craft. Take home your completed mosaic at the end of the workshop.

Tuscany has been known for its pottery since ancient times, and with this hands-on class you’ll enjoy an introduction to traditional Tuscan “majolica” in just a few hours. Head to a family-run workshop in Montelupo, a village known for its pottery production since the Renaissance. Visit a real pottery factory and learn about Italian techniques then create your own masterpiece that you can take home alongside a master potter.

Partake in one of Italy’s most time-honored art forms during this two-and-a-half-hour small-group glass-blowing workshop on the island of Murano. Suitable for beginners, workshops include a live demonstration and hands-on instruction in shaping molten glass. Make an original art object to take back home as a souvenir, ready for pickup the next day. Your glass piece can also be shipped worldwide at an additional cost.

Find out what it takes to be an ancient Roman gladiator at the Gladiator School of Rome. During a hands-on lesson with instructors from the Historic Group of Rome, learn how to fight with authentic weapons of the time while wearing a traditional gladiator tunic and belt. Located on the Appian Way, not far from the Colosseum, this class is a unique and interactive way to learn about ancient Roman history, sports, and culture. Select a lesson time when booking.

One of the most dazzling Renaissance gardens in Italy, the Boboli Gardens are a highlight of Florence. Avoid a delay at the entrance with this skip-the-line ticket and make the most of your time exploring the grounds. Take in the sculpture-lined walking paths, ornate fountains, decorative grottoes, and other highlights at your own pace, stopping to snap photos and relax far from the crowds in this extensive Italian-style park.

Discover the Vatican on a group tour of the Sistine Chapel and the Vatican Museums with an expert guide. Navigate the vast complex of rooms, artwork, and history with a guide, who brings the ancient collection to life. Skip all the entrance lines to explore halls such as the Gallery of the Maps; step inside the Sistine Chapel to admire ‘The Creation of Adam’ by Michelangelo and finish your tour visiting St. Peter's Basilica. Choose from several departures, or upgrade to a small-group tour.

Visit the famous Boboli Gardens, an oasis in the heart of Florence, on a 1-hour guided tour of the Pitti Palace’s royal gardens. Built for Cosimo I de' Medici in the 16th century, the gardens feature exquisite landscaping with a variety of plant life, fountains, and statues by master artists including Michelangelo. Your guide shares stories about the garden’s design and architects for a comprehensive overview.

The Catacombs of Rome are a popular attraction—bypass the long lines outside with this Roman Catacombs and Crypts Skip-the-Line Small-Group Tour. This tour also gives you skip-the-line access to Capuchin Crypt and Basilica San Nicola in Carcere, making it a great pick for travelers short on time. See Rome's mysterious side with a guide who knows the history well so you can get more out of your visit.

Bring an extra suitcase to stock up on discounted Italian fashions with a 4-hour shopping tour from Florence to the Barberino Designer Outlet. Enjoy transportation to and from the charming mall, with discounts of up to 70 percent at more than 100 boutique shops. Shop brands like Dolce & Gabbana and Ferragamo with even bigger savings using the special discount card included with your ticket. Spend 4 hours shopping at your own pace.

Go back in time two millennia on this intriguing guided walking tour of Pompeii. Meet your local guide at the entrance of the ancient archaeological site and get ready to explore the incredibly preserved Roman city, which has been frozen since Mt. Vesuvius erupted in AD 79. Highlights include the Forum, a theater, a ‘fast food’ restaurant and even a brothel. Have children with you? Then choose the family tour, which comes complete with puzzles and maps to engage the little ones.

The ancient city of Pompeii is home to some of Italy’s most impressive Roman ruins and a private tour is the best way to maximize your time. Enjoy the undivided attention of your guide as you explore the UNESCO-listed ruins, learn more about Roman life as you stroll around the Forum, and see the world’s oldest surviving Roman amphitheater.

Visit Europe’s largest archeological site and one of Italy’s top attractions on this half-day Naples shore excursion to Pompeii. Your expert local guide offers a comprehensive look at the haunting highlights of Pompeii. See the thermal baths, the Forum, and Lupanare on this tour that is not to be missed, and explore worry-free thanks to Viator’s guaranteed on-time arrival to your ship. If time in Naples is limited, this it the best way to see it all!

Arrange for a stress-free ride to Rome Fiumicino Airport with this private transfer service. Meet your driver at your Rome city hotel, and relax on the journey to the airport in a private vehicle for up to eight passengers.

Make the most of your time in Florence with this comprehensive combination tour, covering all of the city’s iconic sights in one half day. Skip the line and enjoy a guided tour of the Accademia Gallery to marvel at Michelangelo’s 'David'; gaze up in wonder at the great red dome of Florence's Duomo from the outside; and explore the streets of the historic city center with insights from an expert guide. Then, skip another line to end the day with another guided visit of the immense Uffizi Gallery.

Ride a Vespa through Tuscany on this tour from Florence. A local guide leads the way up through the scenic hills, where you pass the famous Piazzale Michelangelo and the Church of San Miniato al Monte. Afterward, head back to our country estate for a traditional Italian meal to top off your journey. To ensure an intimate experience, this tour is limited to a small group.

Explore the ancient ruins of Pompeii on this small-group tour. Enjoy skip-the-line access to the ruins and discover what life was like before the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79. Follow your archaeologist guide around the western part of the town and see important buildings and structures such as the Basilica, the Forum, the thermal baths, a brothel, some residential homes, and more.

Visit the Musei Capitolini (Capitoline Museums) in Rome to learn about the Roman Empire. Considered to be the world's first museum, as a space where art is accessible to the public, the Capitolini features art and artifacts that depict the city's history, including a sculpture of Romulus and Remus, the founders of Rome. Booking admission in advance saves you time in the ticket line.

See Rome decorated for the holidays on this Christmas walking tour. You’ll pass by the city’s historical landmarks and visit lesser-known locations while learning about Roman holiday traditions. Make stops at Piazza Navona and the Christmas market, and try a seasonal cake (panettone) with a cup of hot chocolate before admiring the nativity scene at St. Peter’s Square.

Visit Cinque Terre, Italy’s UNESCO World Heritage-listed collection of five cliffside villages, on this private day trip from Florence. Don’t miss the opportunity to discover the charm and beauty of this coastal region, with stops in Manarola, Vernazza, and Corniglia. Admire the spectacular scenery made up of terraced hills and endless sea views; have time to browse local shops and walk along colorful streets; and take a scenic drive along the coastal road. When booking, you have the option to upgrade to include an additional stop in the Tuscan city of Pisa.

Explore the Tuscan countryside in true Italian style — on a Vespa! After a short van ride from Florence and a riding lesson, spend a full day zipping along scenic country roads from the seat of your own personal Vespa. Pass by historic vineyards, villas and olive groves while your guide shares insight into local history and culture. Tour an organic farm and winery in the famed Chianti Rufina region, where you’ll enjoy a traditional Tuscan lunch and wine tastings.

Discover the many delights of Tuscany’s wine country on this small-group tasting tour from Florence. Travel along beautiful hillside roads through vineyards, olive groves and cypress trees. Visit 2 top-rated wineries in the famed Chianti Classico region, tour the cellars and learn how wine is produced using traditional methods. Taste different wines, along with olive oil and Tuscan specialties like fresh cheeses and bruschetta. Group size is limited to twenty-five participants for a more personalized experience.

Skip the long general admission lines at Florence’s Accademia Gallery by prebooking this Accademia Gallery Admission Ticket with timed entry. This admission ticket is easy to pick up from near the entrance, where a host greets you and assists you as needed. Get special timed entry into the museum and explore the works of Michelangelo, Botticelli, and other impressive artists at your own pace.