Day One. We travel to our overnight ferry to the continent, where we enjoy dinner, entertainment and breakfast onboard.
Day Two. We continue to our dinner, bed and breakfast overnight hotel on the continent.
Day Three. We arrive in Tuscany, where we check into our hotel for three nights, and sip a welcome drink.
Day Four. Our treat today is a guided walking tour of Florence, the enchanting capital of Tuscany and home of world class art. Iconic sights include the Ponte Vecchio, Piazza del Duomo, the David of Michelangelo statue and the Uffizi Gallery. Afterwards, continue exploring at your own pace. Browse the jewellery shops on the quirky bridge or relax in the Piazza della Signoria – possibly the world’s most beautiful city square.
Day Five. This morning it’s a guided walking tour of Pisa’s landmarks where snapping a selfie at the iconic Leaning Tower in the Square of Miracles is a must do! Afterwards, continue exploring the winding streets at your own pace. Perhaps wander along to the Square of the Knights, flanked by splendidly decorated buildings including an elite
university and a statue of Cosimo I – the First Grand Duke of Tuscany. In the afternoon, we move on to Lucca, where you can walk along the ancient walls to get an overview of this grand city. Soak up the ambience in a pretty piazza or visit the rooftop garden at the top of the Guinigi Tower.
Day Six. We check out of our hotel then step back in time to medieval Tuscany with a guided walking tour of ancient Siena – a historic old town with stunning architecture. This fairytale settlement features soaring spires and medieval walls. Its heart lies in the vast Piazza Del Campo, a shell-shaped concave pulsating with atmosphere and the location for a famous bareback horse race, as well as a setting in the James Bond movie, Quantum of Solace. Afterwards, free time to continue exploring – don’t miss Siena’s extravagantly ornate cathedral. Later we continue to Pomezia, our gateway to Rome, and check into the Hotel Principe for three nights.
Day Seven. A holiday highlight as we travel into the centre of Rome, a city with an unparalleled history of gladiators and racing chariots. The Colosseum, Trevi Fountain and Pantheon are just some of the landmarks on today’s guided walking tour. Other delights include the imposing Vittorio Emmanuel II – a colossal marble monument dedicated to
the first king of a unified Italy. Then there’s the astounding Pantheon - a circular temple dating from 27BC and one of the best preserved of all ancient Roman buildings.
Day Eight. Returning to the eternal city, choose either free time to continue exploring or, for a supplement, join our optional escorted tour of the Vatican City, taking in one remarkable work of art after another along with famous sights such as the Sistine Chapel, St Peters Square and the Vatican Museum.
Day Nine. We check out of our hotel and make our way to the Villa Pace Park Hotel, on the outskirts of Treviso for our two night stay.
Day Ten. We travel to Tronchetto to catch the ferry to St Mark’s Square in Venice for a guided walking tour discovering landmarks such as the Ponte di Rialto, Doges Palace, St Mark’s Basilica and the Bridge of Sighs. Afterwards, perhaps wander the maze of narrow streets and pleasant piazzas or take in the views from one of the many ornate bridges that overlook the Grand Canal. In the afternoon, we hop aboard a boat to visit the pastel
painted islands of Murano & Burano, famous for delicate glassware and dainty lace.
Day Eleven. We check out of our hotel and journey to Verona, the truly beautiful city of Romeo and Juliet. Perhaps head to Piazza Bra and catch the little land train for a fun half hour, taking you on a circuit of Verona’s highlights, showcasing the old castle, Roman gates, cathedral, Ponte Pietra and Piazza Erbe. Don’t miss the well preserved Roman amphitheatre and Juliet’s balcony on the Via Cappello. Later we continue to Lake Garda where we enjoy free time in this gorgeous resort, along with a dinner, bed and breakfast stop.
Day Twelve. We head to our dinner, bed and breakfast overnight hotel.
Day Thirteen. We continue to our overnight ferry back to the UK with dinner, entertainment and breakfast on board.
Day Fourteen. We journey home after an unforgettable adventure.