A Grand Tour of Italy

First Class Rail to Milan

We meet at our dedicated Departure Office in St Pancras, before travelling by Eurostar to Paris, then onwards to Milan, where we overnight. On Day 2 we enjoy a fascinating guided tour of Milan, including the spectacular Duomo and the Teatro alla Scala. We also visit the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, where we see Leonardo da Vinci's famous painting of the Last Supper. The rest of your day is then free to continue exploring Milan at leisure.

Rome

Today we travel by high-speed rail to Rome, and then walk to the Massimo D'Azeglio Hotel, our base for four nights. On Day 4 we take a guided tour of the 'Eternal City', exploring some of the many fantastic sights and monuments in this remarkable city. We visit the fascinating Roman Forum, the centre of Roman public life for centuries, see the Colosseum, the largest amphitheatre ever built in the Roman Empire, and admire the Trevi Fountain, Rome's world famous Baroque masterpiece. This afternoon you are free to savour the sights and sounds of Rome's seductive beauty at leisure.

Vatican City

Today we are joined by a local guide for a visit to Vatican City. Our tour of the tiny principality includes the captivating Vatican museums and the wonderful Sistine Chapel, with superb frescoes painted by Renaissance artists including Michelangelo and Botticelli. One of the most breathtaking sights in Rome is found inside St Peter's Basilica, which has the largest interior of any church in the world. Following the tour, you can spend more time in the Vatican, or continue exploring Rome at leisure.

Exploring Rome at leisure

Today you are free to continue exploring the fascinating city of Rome at your own pace. You may wish to visit the remarkably well-preserved Pantheon, ascend the monumental Spanish Steps or take a walk through the bustling city. Be sure to try some of the local cuisine - with a rich culinary history, Rome has hundreds of pizzerias, trattorias and gelaterias to offer in its sprawling ancient streets. Perhaps enjoy a traditional wood-fired pizza in a local restaurant, or enjoy al fresco espresso on the corner of a Roman piazza and watch the world go by.

To Florence in First Class

This morning we travel to the beautiful city of Florence, the Renaissance capital of the world. We spend three nights here at the NH Firenze Anglo American, located next to the station and close to the city's historic attractions. This afternoon we enjoy a guided tour of the city's many treasures, including the Duomo with its iconic red-tiled dome and the Ponte Vecchio - a 14th century bridge that is home to 43 jewellers' shops. Tonight we enjoy dinner in a local restaurant.

Rail Excursion to Pisa and Lucca

Today we travel by rail (Standard Class) across the wonderful, rustic countryside of Tuscany, where rolling vine-covered hillsides stretch as far as the eye can see and acres of olive groves and row upon row of cypress, walnut and bay trees surround the railway lines. We pass remote farmhouses and isolated villages as we head to Pisa, the city famous for its leaning tower. In Pisa we enjoy a guided tour that includes the city's incredible Field of Miracles. Here we see the iconic Leaning Tower, and the marvellous white marble Duomo, one of the finest examples of Romanesque architecture, with sublime Moorish mosaics. Later we continue to the beautiful city of Lucca - a place of true beauty that has managed to escape the tourist crowds; one of Italy's bestkept secrets. The heart of the city is filled with charming piazzas, small community churches and fabulous art galleries, linked together by narrow cobbled streets and intricate passageways, and we have time to explore the city at leisure. Splendid Renaissance architecture mingles with historic buildings from the Middle Ages, making the city a pleasure to explore on foot.

Venice

This morning we leave Florence by high-speed rail, travelling in First Class to the floating city of Venice. On arrival, we transfer to our hotel for three nights, the La Gare Hotel Venezia on the island of Murano. There is time for you to start your exploration before dinner tonight.

On Day 11 we enjoy a guided tour in the heart of Venice, beginning in St Mark's Square, which is dominated by the magnificent Basilica di San Marco and the venerable Palazzo Ducale, or Doge's Palace. This afternoon you are free to soak up the atmosphere of this romantic city. For a bird's-eye view of the city, take the opportunity to climb the Campanile de San Marco, which offers incredible vistas over the buildings clustered around the centre and the shimmering lagoons further out.

On Day 12 you are free to continue exploring Venice at your own pace. Take an enchanting gondola ride on the canals or explore using Venice's water-bound public transport network - the Vaporetti.

To Turin and London in First Class

Today we leave Venice, travelling to Turin for the night. On Day 14 we travel to Paris, by high-speed TGV, before taking the Eurostar service to London.

Please note

Please note that while every departure of this tour will feature the same excursions, the order may differ from that shown above.