Top to Toe of Italy

Your vacation begins today as you arrive in the classical city of Venice on Italy's east coast. With centuries of history, breathtaking bridges and buildings, and a unique cityscape made up of more than 100 islands woven together by canals and lagoons, this city makes the ideal starting point for our Italian adventure.

Make your way to our 5-Star hotel on the island of Lido and check in for the first of two nights. This luxurious hotel is set away from the crowds of Venice yet has all the city's most popular attractions within reach. Take time to get settled in and enjoy views of the hotel's private beach before meeting your Tour Manager and the travel group this evening. Together, we sit down for dinner in the hotel's restaurant. Overnight Venice.

• Dinner

This morning, we discover Venice on a guided tour. A boat transfer takes us through the winding waterways to Cornoldi Pier, where our excursion begins.

We tour the charming backstreets, viewing the church where composer Antoni Vivaldi was born, before marveling at the Bridge of Sighs and arriving in St. Mark's Square. Here, we view St. Mark's Basilica and Doge's Palace, as well as Caffè Florian, a coffee house that first opened in 1720.

In the afternoon and evening, you are free to explore independently and may opt to enter the basilica or Doge's Palace (payable locally). Venice's winding alleys and twisting lanes in the historic center are ideal for idly wandering, and there is incredible art and architecture to discover before perhaps settling down in a restaurant to enjoy some of the country's finest seafood. Experience it like a local by ordering some cicchetti, Venetian tapas, accompanied by one of the city's signature drinks - prosecco, Aperol spritz or bellini. Overnight Venice.

• Breakfast

A private boat transfer takes us to the railway station this morning to travel by First Class rail to Florence. After checking into our central and stylishly decorated 4-Star hotel on the elegant Via Tornabuoni, there is time to relax before we embark on a guided tour of this fascinating city.

Along the way, we view some of Florence's treasures, including the red-tiled Duomo and the free-standing campanile tower designed by Giotto. The dome and tower dominate Florence's skyline, but seeing the detail of the polychromatic exterior up close is a delight.

Moving to the medieval city center, we view the fortified 13th-century Palazzo Vecchio and the Loggia dei Lanzi in the Piazza della Signoria before concluding our tour at the famous 14th-century Ponte Vecchio.

Take a couple of hours to continue sightseeing at your own pace, then rejoin the group for dinner at a local restaurant this evening. Overnight Florence.

• Breakfast, Dinner

A new location lies ahead today as we take a day trip to medieval Siena, a Tuscan city where a labyrinth of narrow streets opens to charming piazzas.

After arriving by rail, we discover Siena's most popular destinations on a guided tour from the Fortress of Santa Barbara. We continue to the church of San Domenico, where we enjoy free admission, and then proceed to the Baptistery and the Duomo, which is one of Italy's most magnificent. Enjoy the medieval scenery and architecture as we continue along via di Città to Siena's city center, Tolomei Square and, finally, the city's most famous sight, Piazza del Campo.

There is free time in the afternoon before we journey back to Florence by rail. You could sample some locally cured meats and cheeses or climb the spiral staircase at the Museo dell'Opera del Duomo for a panoramic view over Siena.

You have a free evening in Florence to explore the city's labyrinthine streets and pretty piazzas before perhaps choosing to eat at a trattoria, sampling traditional Florentine steak. Overnight Florence.

• Breakfast

After breakfast at the hotel, we travel by local rail to Pisa, beloved for its famous Leaning Tower. On arrival, we see this structure and many others on a guided tour. On entering the "Field of Miracles" through the Porto Nuevo, we view the white marble Romanesque cathedral, the circular Baptistry, and the Leaning Tower of Pisa itself. This popular tourist attraction has been slanted since it was built in the 12th century.

In the afternoon, we continue by train to the walled city of Lucca, where you are at leisure to explore the ancient ramparts and picturesque streets. The maze-like center has a Duomo and other frescoed churches, striking piazzas - including the Piazza Anfiteatro, once a Roman amphitheater - a botanical garden and art galleries all inside the city walls. You can opt for lunch in a local trattoria, maybe trying a typical Luccese soup or the local filled pasta, tordelli.

After returning to Florence early this evening, you are free to continue exploring, perhaps taking a stroll alongside the Arno River to experience the city at sunset. Overnight Florence.

• Breakfast

With a morning at leisure in Florence, you might want to peruse Florence's impressive galleries, churches and Medici palaces, which display a fifth of the world's Renaissance art. If you plan to visit the Uffizi Gallery, book your tickets ahead of time. Alternatively, you may prefer to stroll across the river to Boboli gardens to see fantastic views of Florence or visit the Mercato di San Lorenzo - the city's largest market.

In the early afternoon, we head to the train station for our journey to Rome, Italy's capital and Eternal City, in First Class. This dynamic city is a melting pot of art, history and religion, with ancient sights around every corner. After checking into the hotel this afternoon, you are free to begin getting acquainted with Rome's many offerings.

Rejoin the group at the hotel this evening for dinner. Overnight Rome.

• Breakfast, Dinner

This morning, we enjoy a grand introduction to Rome and its history on a guided tour. We transfer by coach to the Colosseum, Italy's most renowned classical site, where our excursion begins with a tour of its exterior. This immense structure is the largest ancient amphitheater ever constructed, believed to host around 50,000 spectators during gladiatorial contests.

Continuing our walking route, we learn about the powerful governing center of ancient Rome and its emperors while looking upon the outside of the Roman Forum, Piazza Venezia and the Roman Pantheon. As we arrive at the Trevi Fountain, we stop for a morning coffee.

Our tour ends in Piazza Navona - a square with a Baroque fountain and border of ochre-hued buildings, cafés and restaurants. You may then continue soaking up Rome's beauty and unique style at your own pace this afternoon and evening.

For dinner tonight, you might like to search out some delicious Roman specialties, such as carbonara. Overnight Rome.

• Breakfast

Savor a full free day with endless opportunities to experience the great city of Rome. Today is the perfect chance to experience the Holy Year in nearby Vatican City. You might like to wander through St. Peter's Basilica to see the open Holy Door, peruse the art and history that line the walls of the Vatican Museums or participate in the Jubilee events. Of course, the biggest attraction in Vatican City is the Sistine Chapel, whose interior is covered in Renaissance frescoes by Botticelli, Ghirlandaio and, most famously, Michelangelo. We recommend booking your visit ahead of your vacation online.

Staying in Rome, you could walk up the Spanish Steps to Villa Borghese Park, where you can relax in landscaped gardens or see art and sculptures in the Borghese Gallery.

Rome offers an array of eateries, many of which offer alfresco seating. For lunch and dinner, maybe choose a trattoria to enjoy a plate of pasta with a glass of wine or dine like a local at an outdoor café. Overnight Rome.

• Breakfast

The delights of coastal Italy are on the horizon as we transfer to Rome's station for our First Class rail journey to Naples this morning. On arrival, we transfer by coach to Sorrento, stopping en route at a local agriturismo - a traditional farmhouse - established and run for four generations by the same family. Here, enjoy a lunch of fresh produce from the estate, including homemade limoncello and mozzarella, while surrounded by ancient olive groves, lemon orchards and vineyards.

In Sorrento this afternoon, we check-in for the first of three nights at our hotel, which has delightful views across the town and bay towards Mount Vesuvius. We then get to know this alluring town, set in its own small bay within the vast Bay of Naples, on a short orientation tour. Sorrento is perched on a natural terrace above dramatic cliffs overlooking the sea, and its narrow, cobbled streets feature Renaissance palaces and Romanesque churches.

As the tour concludes, you are free to relax or continue exploring further for the remainder of the evening. Overnight Sorrento.

• Breakfast, Lunch

The rich culture and captivating beauty of the Amalfi Coast beckons as we set out on a cruise on the Tyrrhenian Sea. This scenic coastline is a UNESCO World Heritage Site stretching along the Gulf of Salerno, south of the Sorrento Peninsula.

A coach transfer takes us to Sorrento's port, where we board our cruise. First, we sail to Amalfi, the "Jewel of the Amalfi Coast." With free time here, you could visit the cathedral, Duomo di Sant'Andrea, which overlooks the town's main piazza.

Our cruise continues to Positano, where pastel houses drape the rocky hillsides and tucked-away beaches open to turquoise water. Here, we are at leisure to soak up the atmosphere, wander the wisteria-veiled streets, and maybe enjoy lunch at a café in the harbor area.

We return to Sorrento in the late afternoon before this evening's pizza-making experience at a local restaurant. Led by a master pizzaiolo, we learn the secrets of this revered dish before sitting down to dine on our creations with a glass of wine and dessert. Overnight Sorrento.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Enjoy a highlight of our journey this morning as we travel back in time to Pompeii, the city preserved by volcanic ash from the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D. Following a coach transfer to the station, we travel by local train to this fascinating archaeological site for a guided tour.

Our guide takes us through the remarkably intact streets of Pompeii, where we walk among the shops, villas, baths, temples, and restaurants of this UNESCO World Heritage site. We also see Pompeii's amphitheater - the oldest in the world - and some of the city's extraordinary frescoes. Our tour provides a tangible understanding of daily life in an ancient city, and after, you are free to continue exploring its ash-preserved wonders independently.

After retracing our journey by train and shuttle back to our hotel, we sit down to dinner together in the hotel's restaurant. Overnight Sorrento.

• Breakfast, Dinner

With an early start, we have breakfast at the hotel and then leave Sorrento behind, transferring to the town of Salerno, where we catch the train to Sicily in First Class. The route provides excellent views of the gleaming Tyrrhenian Sea as we travel the full length of the Calabrian coast and into the unspoiled region of Calabria, known as the "toe" of Italy.

In Villa San Giovanni, the train is shunted on to a ferry specially equipped with rails for a journey across the Strait of Messina. You are welcome to stay in your seat on the train or relax on board the ship while enjoying great views of Sicily. As the ferry docks, we return to the rails for the final leg of our journey to Taormina and then continue by coach to our hotel in nearby Giardini Naxos.

Our accommodation here is an elegant beachfront hotel with a private beach. The laid-back coastal town has a good choice of restaurants for dinner this evening, serving local specialties, including swordfish, and the baked pasta dish 'ncasciata. Overnight Giardini Naxos.

• Breakfast

A highlight of our Sicilian trip awaits today as we visit the island's most iconic sight. An active volcano with a height of more than 10,000 feet and a circumference of around 93 miles, Mount Etna is as captivating as it is massive.

Our coach transfer takes us to Rifugio di Sapienza, the highest point of vehicular access on Mount Etna. Here, you can view the Silvestri craters, the elemental volcanic scenery, and the otherworldly landscape of basalt rocks formed from drying lava flows. For another perspective on the scenery, you could book a cable car ride or a Jeep excursion higher up Mount Etna (payable locally).

This afternoon, we get a different view of Mount Etna as we continue to Adrano by coach to join the Circumetnea Railway to Randazzo. This route is the most scenic stretch of the narrow-gauge railway that travels round the base of the volcano and reveals lava fields that often encroach on nearby towns.

Returning to our hotel this afternoon, you have a free evening to relax on the beach or find dinner locally. Overnight Giardini Naxos.

• Breakfast

Our day starts with a leisurely breakfast at our hotel before we transfer by coach to the historic town of Taormina. During our two-hour guided tour, we see the Greek theater, which is believed to date from around the third century B.C. Dug out of Mount Taurus, this vast venue could seat upwards of 5,000 spectators who would gather to watch Greek tragedies or comedies and, during the later Roman period, gladiators. While the amphitheater is impressive in its own right, it also offers beautiful views of the Ionian Sea and Mount Etna.

Our tour concludes at a local cake shop or "pasticceria," where we indulge in a sweet taste of Sicily - a cannolo. Meaning "little tube," these crisp, ricotta-filled pastries are the island's most famous dessert.

There is the option to spend your afternoon in Taormina following the tour and return the short distance to Giardini Naxos independently this evening. Tonight, we gather in the hotel's restaurant for a three-course dinner - our final meal in Italy together. Overnight Giardini Naxos.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Catch glimpses of the Ionian Sea and soak up the atmosphere during your final breakfast in Sicily. Your Italian adventure draws to a close as you check out of the hotel and begin your journey home this morning. You are free to transfer to the airport or the railway station in Taormina independently.

From the Floating City of Venice on Italy's east coast to the rolling fields of Tuscany, the ancient capital city, the colorful villages of the Sorrento Peninsula and, finally, the cultural island of Sicily, this adventure has truly presented Italy from "top to toe." Complemented by rich culture, delicious cuisine and stunning scenery, each day has been a showcase of Italian wonders.

• Breakfast