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Expert-led small-group tours

This video was filmed on our Footpaths of Umbria tour in June 2023 and gives a flavour of what to expect on one of our holidays.

Exploring Italy on a cultural tour

We also offer fresh perspectives on old friends, using art historians, not musicologists, on our opera tours of Verona and seeing Florence, Padua and Bologna through the prism of science and medicine as well as art. We bring you Puccini at the maestro’s lakeside villa, the mosaics of Ravenna and the frozen worlds of Pompeii and Herculaneum.

We dine finely in Piedmont, throw light on the Dark Ages in the northern Adriatic and stand at the crossroads of European civilisations in Sicily. We gaze up at Michelangelo’s David and down at Etruscan tombs. We give you Italy, packaged in a gilt-edged portfolio.

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Cultural tours in Sicily

Whether it’s on a private tour of Palermo’s Palatine Chapel or a guided walk on Etna with an expert vulcanologist, you will be fully immersed in dazzling cultural inheritance.

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Cultural tours in Venice

With special, out-of-hours access to the Basilica di San Marco - as well as on-the-spot insights by our expert lecturers - we give you an unrivalled view of La Serenissima.

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Cultural tours in Florence

Special access is a feature of our Florence tours: visit the vast baroque Palazzo Corsini al Parione, dine at the Palazzo Corsini al Prato, and gaze across the city and Appenines beyond from Palazzo Gondi.

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Cultural tours in Rome

From the underground chambers of the Colosseum to Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel frescoes viewed in tranquil solitude, we uncover both Rome's cultural triumphs and lesser-known masterpieces.

Browse Italy tours by theme

Why travel with us?

Leading expertise

Since 1988 we have been the most influential organisation in the field of cultural travel, offering an unequalled range of tours and events. Pioneering and innovative, we have led the way with ideas and itineraries and by setting the benchmarks for customer service and administration.

Privileged access

Special arrangements are a feature of our tours – for admission to places not generally open to travellers, for access outside public hours, for private concerts and extraordinary events. In innumerable ways, we lift our clients’ experience far above standards which are regarded as normal for tourists.

First-rate speakers

Expert speakers are a key ingredient in our tours. Academics, curators, writers, broadcasters and researchers, they are selected not only for their knowledge but also for their ability to communicate clearly and engagingly to a lay audience. Their brief is to enlighten and stimulate, not merely to inform.

Holiday protection

We provide full financial protection for our package holidays which include international flights, by way of our Air Travel Organiser’s Licence (ATOL); and for those that do not include a flight, by way of a bond held by ABTOT – The Association of Bonded Travel Organisers Trust Limited.

Personal service

We aim for faultless administration from your first encounter with us to the end of the holiday, and beyond. We want you to come back again and again – as most of our clients do. We can provide options without international travel if you prefer to make your own arrangements.

Award-winning

Five consecutive years as Best Special Interest Holiday Company at the British Travel Awards (2015–19) reflects our commitment to excellence. With a remarkable 99% satisfaction rating from more than 1,100 independent reviews, our attention to detail and client care is unmatched.

Most of our tours run with between 10 and 20 participants. Our travellers are self-selected by common interests and an endorsement of our ethos. You are highly likely to find yourself among like-minded companions, whether travelling solo (as 50% of our clients do) or with a travel partner.

Value for money

The price includes nearly everything, not only the major ingredients such as hotel, transport and the costs of the lecturer and manager but also tips and drinks with meals. The price published is the price you pay. You can secure your booking today with a 15% deposit.

What do others say about Martin Randall Travel?

Showing 2184 reviews
Vienna at Christmas
Efficient, see comments above
*****
Felix
30 Dec 2016
stimulating and amusing
I was impressed with my first tour with Martin Randall, the quality of the pre-orientation and the leadership of the events on the ground
*****
DOWNLAND
02 Mar 2019
Fascinating and entertaining Berlin
From the Nordic Embassy complex to the Berliner Philharmonic to the Chapel of Reconciiation to the DZ Bank Building (inside is amazing) to mention just a few locations this was a well paced tour. Tom Abbot is an excellent lecturer. Our Tour Manager Fiona was lovely and ensured the tour ran smoothly....
*****
Edinburgh Traveller
14 Jul 2023
Classical Music and Architecture
The programme was intense and delivered on both the music and architecture fronts. Both specialist lecturers were top class.
*****
Ruth
24 May 2023
Interesting symposium with excellent, (well qualified) lecturers covering a wide range of topics within a historical survey.
Martin Randall always provides excellent tutors/lecturers whether at home or abroad, together with administrative staff with dedication to service to clients. They are not cheap but nevertheless I rate them as giving value for money
*****
Scotty
07 Nov 2017
Cathedrals of England
Could not be better on the basis of this trip. Earlier trips (not for several yeras) were also very memorable
*****
Mr C T 17
02 Nov 2017
Berlin, Dresden, Potsdam tour
History, art and architecture brought alive and relevant by an excellent itenerary and lecturer. A busy schedule but enjoyable.
*****
pfk
06 Oct 2019
Perfect
Perfect Manager Perfect Management
*****
Bear
27 Jun 2018
A remarkably well-organised river cruise throughout a region we were already familiar with, but which we came to love even more via the expertise of all those involved.
Using the delightful theme of 'Bacchus and Orpheus' as our guide, we cruised the Rhone, accompanied by a delightful musicologist, Professor Richard Langham-Smith, and wine expert, Marc Millon. Journeying from Macon to Avignon, we 'tasted' the best of French music in the most deli...
*****
Kate
18 Jul 2017
Fascinating Textile Tour to India
Martin Randall Travel provided a terrific experience. I learned much from lovely experts in the field of study. The company provided the tour I dreamed of.
*****
Northfield Vic
21 Feb 2018
Exceptional opera tour with nuseum via sits in Berlin
Well informed and organized and accessible
*****
Ms E S 23
13 Apr 2023
The ultimate history of Venetian Art experience.
I have been travelling with Martin Randall for over 20 years and I have never been disappointed.
*****
Nitrous
21 Nov 2017

Joining a Martin Randall Cultural Tour

Between 10–22 participants can usually join our small group tours, though the upper limit can be lower dependent on the tour.

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