“Up at the villa…and down in the city”

Our escorted cultural tours are curated and led by a friendly and knowledgeable multi-lingual team based in Italy and the UK. Our gently-paced tour itineraries are engaging and stimulating with a particular accent on private access, client comfort and hospitality.

Our guests are welcomed as friends and are at the forefront of everything we do whether you are travelling alone, with a partner, or a party of friends.

Curating tomorrow’s adventures

“Memory is the treasury and guardian of all things”

“Immortal glories in my mind revive, and in my soul a thousand passions strive”

Discover our tours

Our tours

Glittering Prize: The Invention of the Italian South
& The Kingdom of the Two Sicilies

On Christmas night 1130, the antipope Anacletus II crowned Roger II of the Normans, King of Sicily. The kingdom came to be known as the ‘Kingdom of the Two Sicilies’ and was derived from the idea that the royal dominion centred in Palermo looked beyond the lighthouse of the Straits of Messina towards the mainland and a ‘second Sicily’. The island and its southern Italian mainland were dominated for centuries by competing dynasties predominately from France and Spain: the Hauteville, Hohenstaufen, the Anjou, Aragonese, Habsburgs and the Bourbons all coveted this Mediterranean prize.

James presents a lecture in London on the history of the Italian south. He explores the period from medieval times to unification through the development of the kingdom in its political capital Palermo and its intellectual one, Naples, and the context of its ruling dynasties and their patronage.

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What our guests are saying

Many thanks James (and Ziga) for guiding us so well around the splendours of Slovenia! I thoroughly enjoyed the tour and seeing something of Slovenia: a beautiful country with much to offer the tourist. Everything was well thought through and organised and even the weather improved after the first two days! Thank you very much indeed!

‘A Hidden Europe: Discovering Slovenia’ 14 - 20 May 2026, Mr DL, Manchester
James, Thank you for looking after me so well on my first trip with you. I have lovely memories of Slovenia. I am astounded by your knowledge, but what makes your tours so special is your kindness and individual care of your guests, laced with great humour. I am delighted to feel I now belong to a very exclusive "James Hill club", and I will certainly select another holiday when the timing is right and tell my friends about you. As well as the interesting and varied tour, of particular note is the choice of venues for our gastronomic meals, offering exquisite food in the most stunning locations.

‘A Hidden Europe: Discovering Slovenia’ - 14 - 20 May 2026, Miss JA Bartholomew, West Sussex
The Hotel Cornaro was consistently excellent. The breakfasts were wonderful and the serving staff, in fact all the staff, could not have been more pleasant or accommodating. I was most impressed that each day when I returned to my room after breakfast, the room had already been serviced. Also, the location so close to all the major important sites in town was very convenient. The coaches and minibuses were all good. They were comfortable and clean, and the drivers were competent and very pleasant. All the meals were delicious and quite substantial. The general information both before and during the trip was comprehensive and detailed. I was particularly impressed with the meticulous booklet about the trip. it is one of the best that I have seen in a long time. The visits were well planned, and the guides were first rate. Ivaca was one of the best guides I have experienced. Not only was his knowledge extensive but he was patient and gracious with all our questions.

‘Imperial Settings: Split & The Dalmatian Coast’ 4 - 9 May 2026, Ms J Hickey, Canada
What a wonderful few days that was - thank you so much! Everything about the tour was perfect in my opinion, and you and Rachel were both so informative, interesting, helpful, and delightful. All my heartfelt thanks to you and Rachel for making it such a delightful tour.

Nature Untamed: Private Gardens of Eastern Sicily 12 - 17 April 2026, Miss HMM Somerville, London
I really enjoyed the trip. I can’t think of ANYTHING that needs changing. Our hosts were welcoming, generous and interesting and the gardens a real novelty for me. The hotel is my idea of the best sort of smallish hotel. Attractive, glorious situation - at least my room was in such a position! They were so welcoming and Gerhart generous with his time. Lovely breakfasts with proper service by smiling people.

Nature Untamed: Private Gardens of Eastern Sicily 12 - 17 April 2026, Mrs PJ Escombe, Northamptonshire
Thank you, James, for a wonderful tour. You certainly managed to fit in a multitude of facts, your memory is amazing on dates and general knowledge, but you seem to add things that no other guide seems to tell us. The food was delicious, the hotel was lovely, and all in all I think I place this tour as a favourite.

Glorious Discoveries: Art, Archaeology & Opera in Naples March 2026, Mr & Mrs JH Culmer, Surrey
A wonderful, informative, and inspirational trip with excellent local guides Ludovica and Felicia. But the cream on the cake is James – with his encyclopaedic knowledge, his amusing stories, and his great care of all his participants.

Glorious Discoveries: Art, Archaeology & Opera in Naples 22 - 27 March 2026
James was amazing during every part of the tour. I liked the fact that we started the morning at a sensible time. Looking forward to another trip sooner than later.

Nobility & Diplomacy: Turin & The House of Savoy - 9 - 14 March 2026, Mr JP and Mr BT, Kent
It was a splendid trip that was memorable for all the right reasons. James was a superstar! Both in terms of his encyclopaedic knowledge and being Tour Manager as well as Lecturer. Very good choices in terms of the restaurants and the food provided. A decent break is welcomed when taking in a lot of new information during the day.

Nobility & Diplomacy: Turin & The House of Savoy - Monday 9 - Saturday 14 March 2026, Mr CK Makin, London
Enid and I greatly enjoyed the trip. This was entirely due to your entertaining and informative leadership, your excellent organisation, and your exceptional contacts. It really was a connoisseur’s Rome. We cannot recommend it too highly.

All Roads: Connoisseur’s Rome 22 - 28 February 2026, Mr & Mrs CTW Humfrey, London
We enjoyed the Rome tour with James very much, it was excellent & fantastic. James always manages to bring something extra and makes it more enjoyable (e.g. with super dinners - those endless tasting menus!). He always gets the balance right: learning, discovery, enjoyment, and pleasure. James Hill tours are just in a different league. There is no way we would be able to find these places ourselves, or indeed privately tour all those gorgeous palaces.

All Roads: Connoisseur’s Rome 22 - 28 February 2026, Dr R Zheng & Mr P Hill, London
Generally, a wonderful, outstanding tour! The private visit to the Vatican Museum we will remember for the rest of our lives. Six of us benefitted from James privately taking us on the Friday afternoon to Villa Adriana, for which all six of us were very grateful indeed. That was a real eye-opener for me, and James’s logistical arrangements and characteristically erudite guidance absolutely made it for us all.

All Roads: Connoisseur’s Rome 22 - 28 February 2026, Dr DW Abecassis, Oxfordshire
What a wonderful tour that was! Thank you and Hugh so very much for all you did to make it so enjoyable and completely smooth-running. I can’t think of any improvements that could possibly made. The hotel was perfectly placed and very comfortable. We had some truly delicious meals and, of course, the art in Florence speaks for itself. Even the weather was perfect!

Painting the Divine: Beato Angelico & Quattrocento Florence November 2025, Miss H Somerville, London
It proved to be an exceptional few days for the study of art in Florence and all aspects of the tour were excellent or very good. Nothing disappointed and we met with blue skies and sunshine. The tour was highly organised and ran smoothly, lunches and dinners were of a very high standard and in well chosen venues. Both James and Hugh contributed a huge input at every museum and church we visited and I was very grateful for having time to absorb and appreciate every art work. The Fra Angelico exhibition was outstanding and had clearly required considerable research and organisation to bring all the exhibits together in Florence. All in all it proved an unforgettable exploration of Florence and I enjoyed every moment of returning to a familiar city.

Painting the Divine: Beato Angelico & Quattrocento Florence 2025, Mrs A Blaseby, Buckinghamshire
I thoroughly enjoyed the tour. Everything worked like clockwork and from the hotel to the drivers, the meals and the timed visits was excellent. James is very attentive to detail and very responsive to the individual needs of the group members. This is what makes a James Hill Tour so very special and such a treat. Our lecturer, Hugh, was superb. He was extremely knowledgeable but excited our interest and nurtured it rather than overwhelming us. It was extremely well judged and a delight to be guided by such an expert. Many thanks to all involved for making this such a wonderful trip.

Painting the Divine: Beato Angelico & Quattrocento, Florence, November 2025
James and Hugh were superb guides. I learnt so much about the history of Florence as well as the art. Hugh was particularly good on architecture both inside and outside buildings and took us to some additional sites as we were walking. James was a fount of knowledge and very caring – he made sure that everyone was comfortable with the itinerary and took special care of those that found longer walks difficult. They both had a very good manner to keep us all engaged – helped by excellent headsets.

- Painting the Divine: Beato Angelico & Quattrocento Florence 2025, Mrs J Day, Surrey
It was a fabulous trip to Florence with the cultural immersion, good food & good company. James and Hugh were professional, welcoming and made the experience a trip to remember. The tour was just the right amount of visits and length for me. I liked the immersion for a few days and some time off to make my own way around. Both James & Hugh were excellent guides, providing a great context and detail of the subject matter. There is so much to see in Florence, so it was a great way to concentrate the mind by selecting a period to focus on. Thank you so much for your efforts - all the arrangements went to plan & I had a lovely room. I know a lot of work must go into make these tours a success & I very much appreciate the personal touch.

Painting the Divine: Beato Angelico & Quattrocento, Florence 2025, Ms MV Chisholm, Somerset
We thoroughly enjoyed our trip. The visits to the homes of Signora Fernanda Guilini and Signor Vittorio Guilini were most memorable as was Tosca at La Scala.

Art and Invention: Milan & La Scala 2025, Mr R Mrs S, Cambridgeshire
The Milan Art Tour went beyond our expectations! James’s magisterial performance was astounding in the academic field and his excellent choice in culinary matters was most enjoyable. The group was congenial and we were most impressed by the access James provided to Museums, private collections and of course the pièce de résistance for me The Scala and the Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie for Leonardo Da Vinci’s seminal work.

Art & Invention: Milan & La Scala, Mrs G Navidi-Walker, London
We would just like to say what a wonderful time we had under your guidance in Sicily. Thank you very, very much. One of the main reasons we like coming on your tours is that you provide things that we could not experience if we were travelling on our own. This time you excelled yourself with visits with drinks, lunches or dinners in palaces and gorgeous private gardens.

Mediterranean Kaleidoscope: Autumn in Sicily 2025, Mr and Mrs SA Mortimore, London
James’s knowledge and enthusiasm is phenomenal. It would be impossible to see these places without the excellent planning and leadership that James gives in spades. It was a very enjoyable holiday.

A Hidden Europe: Discovering Slovenia 2025, Mrs RA, London
That was the most fantastic trip - the best group holiday I’ve experienced. Rachel was an outstanding guide - her insights into design as well as planting were invaluable. And she was endearingly open and straightforward. I feel I learnt a huge amount.

Cardinal Virtues: The Villas & Gardens of Lazio, 2025, Ms L, London
The Slovenia tour was one of the most pleasant I have experienced. An unknown country to me and, I suspect, to many of the group. What a beautiful, green and clean gem! The art was a revelation and the people we encountered a delight. Of course, your attention to detail to all aspects of the tour was the cherry on top.

A Hidden Europe: Discovering Slovenia 2025, Mrs JM, Somerset
Thank you so very much for organising our wonderful week in Rome. I thought all your arrangements were second to none and it was a huge privilege to see a lot of the beautiful things we saw and in such perfect circumstances.

Connoisseur’s Rome 2025, Helen Somerville, London
It was truly superb and everything in your control went like clockwork. Our fellow guests were delightful and I’m sure that they will all have been as delighted and indeed impressed as we were. Your access to very beautiful places is surely unsurpassed in Rome and we felt very privileged to be able to benefit from it…your prodigious knowledge so readily shared remains the object of our awestruck admiration. We look forward to another trip with you.

Connoisseur’s Rome 2025, John & Ros, Hertfordshire
My first tour with you, flying under your own flag, was a delight and I look forward to as many more. Your attention to every possible detail from destination to accommodation to day to day planning of sights and sites, to restaurants and menu choices were all spot on. It was particularly impressive to experience you rustling up activities to keep us out of the unforgiving weather on our last day …. Your kindnesses to and endless patience with us all are truly special and made for a very happy few days with congenial travelling companions.

Cultural Fault lines: Discovering Trieste & Istria 2025, Norma B.
We enjoyed our tour with you tremendously. Every detail to ensure our comfort was perfect, very good clean comfortable hotel rooms, with good pillows! More than excellent food and wine and most of all your indeed superlative self guiding us so well. You shepherded us around so carefully, and your extensive knowledge and really great style of lecturing was truly appreciated. Thank you for a fascinating tour.

Cultural Fault lines: Discovering Trieste & Istria 2025, Charles & Angela H.
Thank you for a lovely trip, it was a unique experience. I learned so much and the whole experience was wonderful. Having exclusive visits to the various venues and your ability to identify specific works of art allowed us to focus our attention and get so much more from the experience.

Connoisseur’s Rome 2025, AP, Oxfordshire
Thank you so much for a most interesting and friendly trip with such a delightful group. The lunches and dinners were especially well eaten, and a lot of thought went into the arrangements. Such highlights were too many to mention other than La Scala, The Last Supper and the charming sister and brother evening.

- Art & Invention: Milan & La Scala, AT, London
My understanding of Italian art, architecture and history was expanded thanks to your extremely full and interesting commentaries and notes. The breadth and depth of your knowledge is astounding. You had clearly put so much thought into planning not only the programme of visits but also the choice of hotel and restaurants. You looked after us all so well and created a real sense of friendship and companionship among the group.

Connoisseur’s Rome 2025, BMG, Oxfordshire

We respect your privacy. All tours are operated under the financial protection of James Hill Travels Ltd. All the flights and flight-inclusive holidays on this website are financially protected by the ATOL scheme. When you pay you will be supplied with an ATOL Certificate. Please ask for it and check to ensure that everything you booked (flights, hotels and other services) are listed on it. Please see our booking conditions for further information or for more information about financial protection and the ATOL Certificate go to: https://www.atol.org/about-atol/atol-certificates/

Read our June 2026 Newsletter

“Up at the villa…and down in the city”

Curating tomorrow’s adventures

“Memory is the treasury and guardian of all things”

“Immortal glories in my mind revive, and in my soul a thousand passions strive”

Discover our tours

Glittering Prize: The Invention of the Italian South & The Kingdom of the Two Sicilies

What a wonderful few days that was - thank you so much! Everything about the tour was perfect in my opinion, and you and Rachel were both so informative, interesting, helpful, and delightful. All my heartfelt thanks to you and Rachel for making it such a delightful tour.

A wonderful, informative, and inspirational trip with excellent local guides Ludovica and Felicia. But the cream on the cake is James – with his encyclopaedic knowledge, his amusing stories, and his great care of all his participants.

James was amazing during every part of the tour. I liked the fact that we started the morning at a sensible time. Looking forward to another trip sooner than later.

Enid and I greatly enjoyed the trip. This was entirely due to your entertaining and informative leadership, your excellent organisation, and your exceptional contacts. It really was a connoisseur’s Rome. We cannot recommend it too highly.

We thoroughly enjoyed our trip. The visits to the homes of Signora Fernanda Guilini and Signor Vittorio Guilini were most memorable as was Tosca at La Scala.

James’s knowledge and enthusiasm is phenomenal. It would be impossible to see these places without the excellent planning and leadership that James gives in spades. It was a very enjoyable holiday.

That was the most fantastic trip - the best group holiday I’ve experienced. Rachel was an outstanding guide - her insights into design as well as planting were invaluable. And she was endearingly open and straightforward. I feel I learnt a huge amount.

Thank you so very much for organising our wonderful week in Rome. I thought all your arrangements were second to none and it was a huge privilege to see a lot of the beautiful things we saw and in such perfect circumstances.

Thank you for a lovely trip, it was a unique experience. I learned so much and the whole experience was wonderful. Having exclusive visits to the various venues and your ability to identify specific works of art allowed us to focus our attention and get so much more from the experience.

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Glittering Prize: The Invention of the Italian South
& The Kingdom of the Two Sicilies