Sirmione on Lake Garda 2012 

Our holiday to northern Italy begins at the magnificent restored station at St Pancras, where we board the Eurostar to Paris. We travel in Standard Premier Class, enjoying a light meal and drinks during the journey. In Paris we stay at the Mercure Hotel, beside the Gare de Lyon, where we have a free evening to explore the romantic French capital city. On Day 2 we board the high-speed TGV, travelling south across glorious countryside towards the mighty Alps. We travel over the Italian border and through Turin to Milan, before heading east by coach towards Lake Garda, with the Italian Alps to the north and the vast, flat Lombardy Plain to the south. We arrive at the southern end of Lake Garda, where the lakefront is almost sea-like - inviting beaches line the shores of the wide expanse of water. Our destination is the picturesque town of Sirmione, which occupies a peculiar position on a thin and craggy peninsula jutting 4km into the lake. Surrounded on three sides by water, Sirmione is one of the most peaceful towns on Lake Garda. We spend seven nights at the Hotel Continental, overlooking the lake. (Day 1-E; Day 2-B,D)

A free day today presents a variety of options and opportunities to explore. Sirmione is a pleasure to discover; the town is bursting with history and charm, including the imposing Rocca Scaligera - a beautifully preserved 13th century castle surrounded by a large water-filled moat that dominates the Old Quarter of town. The Grotte di Catullo, the remains of one of the largest Roman villas in Italy, is another of Sirmione's most famous sights, while the town is home to Lake Garda's only thermal spring - you can spend the day pampering yourself and relaxing at the famous Aquaria Thermal Spa, located next door to the hotel. Alternatively, spend the day relaxing on a sun lounger at the hotel, enjoying the terrific local climate and perfect lake views from the pool-side terrace. (B)

Today we travel to the stylish city of Milan - Italy's fast-paced and fashionable economic capital. We begin our time in Milan with a guided tour, by coach and on foot, including a visit to the incredible Duomo - the largest Gothic cathedral in the world. We visit the world's most famous opera house, the 'Teatro alla Scala', and the beautiful 19th century glass-roofed shopping arcade, the 'Galleria Vittorio Emanuele'. The highlight of our trip to Milan is a visit to the famous church and cloister of Santa Maria della Grazie where we see Leonardo da Vinci's celebrated painting 'The Last Supper'. (B,D)

Our excursion today takes us by coach to beautiful Verona - a city of Roman ruins, medieval buildings, Italian culture and romance; the setting for Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet. Our guided tour of the city, which takes us into Verona's historic heart, surrounded on three sides by a loop of the picturesque River Adige, includes Juliet's balcony and Verona's great Roman Arena. The amphitheatre remains largely intact and is still used today as an open-air opera house, with performances taking place during the summer season. There is some free time following our tour to explore Verona at your own pace - the charming narrow streets and picturesque piazzas make the city a pleasure to explore, while an abundance of pavement cafés offer the perfect opportunity to relax with a drink, savour the atmosphere and watch the world go by - a truly Italian pastime. Leaving Verona, we continue to a local wine co-operative in Valpolicella where we have a dinner of homemade dishes accompanied by locally-produced wine, enjoyed in the idyllic setting of a rustic farmhouse. (B,D)

Another free day is a great chance to relax and enjoy the warm local climate. It is market day in Sirmione, with colourful stalls filled with local produce and crafts. Your options for exploring the area include the chance to take a ferry to one of the nearby lakeside towns, such as Bardolino or Gardone. In Gardone you can visit the hillside estate that was home to the Italian poet and fighter pilot, Gabriele d'Annunzio, from 1922 to 1938. The extravagant gardens cover six acres, all planted according to the poet's exact plans. As well as the impressive gardens, why not visit the Cittadella itself, where d'Annunzio composed his work, and the fascinating War Museum. (B)

Today we board the train in Desenzano for a full-day excursion to the fabulous city of Venice. Arriving at the city's Santa Lucia station close to the Grand Canal, we are greeted by a truly glorious view of the shimmering Venice lagoon. A private boat transports us along the Giudecca Canal - our first chance to soak up the wonderful atmosphere of this unique city. We arrive at St Mark's Square, undoubtedly one of the most beautiful city squares in the world. Overlooked by St Mark's Basilica, the large open space is surrounded by Doge's Palace, the Procurator's residence, the famous Sansoviniana Bookshop and the iconic bell tower, as well as the waters of the lagoon. Our local guide greets us in St Mark's Square and takes us on a walking tour of the city, leading us around the narrow winding streets and small squares to visit some of Venice's main sights, including St Mark's Basilica. Your afternoon is free to explore at leisure - take an enchanting gondola ride on the canals, passing Marco Polo's house and learning about the city's history from the informative gondolier, or explore using Venice's water-bound public transport network - the Vaporetti. We return to Lake Garda by train at the end of a truly remarkable day. (B,D)

Travelling by coach up Lake Garda's eastern shore, we make our way north to Malcesine, where the lake resembles the Norwegian fjords; a narrow stretch of Lake Garda where dramatic cliffs rise steeply from the very edge of the water. Malcesine is home to the 14th century Scaligeri Castle which dominates the town. We take a guided tour followed by some free time to explore at your leisure. You may wish to take this opportunity to travel by cable car up to the summit of Monte Baldo, Lake Garda's highest mountain, which rises up behind Malcesine and separates the lake from the Val d'Adige, the valley of the river which flows through Verona. The modern Malcesine cable car is the simplest and most spectacular way to get to the summit, climbing to 1750m. On the upper section the cars revolve slowly to give a spectacular panorama of the lake and its surrounding mountains. We return to Sirmione by boat, passing the many small villages along the shore. (B,D)

We leave Sirmione on Day 9, travelling back through Italy and Switzerland to Dijon, where we overnight at the 4-star Mercure Dijon Centre Clémenceau. On Day 10 we complete our journey home, travelling on the TGV to Paris, where we board the Eurostar to London. (Day 9-B,D; Day 10-B,E)

E = Eurostar meal, B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner
These meals, where shown, are included in the price of your holiday