A Grand Tour of Italy

Our holiday starts when we meet our Tour Manager and group at London St Pancras and board the Eurostar to Paris. Travelling in style in spacious Standard Premier Class we are served a light meal at our seats. From the French capital, we continue by First Class rail across France to Italy, passing the Italian Alps as we travel to the handsome and stylish city of Turin. We check into our central hotel for an overnight stay, and this evening enjoy our first dinner together in a local restaurant.

• Dinner
• Eurostar Light Meal

With a morning free in Turin there's time to explore our attractive surroundings. This dignified city is an important centre of business, finance and technology, but is also a showcase of Baroque, Renaissance and modern architecture. Fringed by the Italian alps, the city's wide boulevards and grand public squares are lined with enticing cafés and bars.

This afternoon we travel by rail, past the French and Italian Alps, continuing to glorious Rome, still regarded by many as the centre of the world. From the remains of the ancient Roman Empire to its delightful Baroque fountains and enticing cafés, there are endless places to experience in the 'Eternal City' and we have three nights here to explore. Our luxuriously furnished hotel is perfectly placed for seeing Rome's major sites. Tonight we have dinner with our group.

• Breakfast, Dinner

This morning we're introduced to Rome's most iconic landmarks on a guided tour. We transfer by coach to the awe-inspiring Colosseum, Italy's world-acclaimed classical site and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, where our tour begins. Please note that entry is not included but you may like to return to the site during your free time in Rome. We see the impressive Roman Forum, once the powerful governing centre of ancient Rome, the elegant Piazza Venezia and the Roman Pantheon, a stunning architectural masterpiece.

We also visit the fabulous Trevi Fountain and take a short break at Giolitti, the oldest gelateria in the city. There we enjoy gelato in the same charming parlour visited by Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck in the classic film 'Roman Holiday'. Our tour ends in Piazza Navona, an atmospheric square where you're free to soak up Rome's beauty and effortless style and continue at your own pace for the rest of the afternoon and evening. Before you leave the square, take time to admire the famous Fuimi Fountain, the 'Fountain of the Four Rivers' with a statue sculpted by Bernini.

Within 15 minutes' walk of Piazza Navona are the wonderful Spanish Steps. Walk up here, and you'll reach Pincian Hill and Villa Borghese park - a vast green expanse of landscaped gardens where you can relax, or see stunning art and sculpture in the Borghese Gallery.

Tonight you dine independently, and there are countless eating places to discover in the central part of the city where we are based. Maybe choose a traditional trattoria to enjoy a delicious bowl of pasta, or opt for a more formal dinner in a ristorante.

• Breakfast

This morning is a highlight of our holiday as we are taken by coach for a tour of the Vatican City. As the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church, the Vatican is not only home to the Pope, but also to an incredible vault of art and architecture. In the Vatican Museums we see some of ancient Rome's most significant sculptures and some of the world's greatest Renaissance treasures. Not least, we experience the breathtaking frescoes which cover the walls and ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, painted by Michelangelo, Perugino, and Botticelli.

After this absorbing tour, you are at leisure for the rest of the afternoon and evening. You're free to remain in the Vatican City complex for as long as you wish, or transfer back to the hotel before continuing your sightseeing of this amazing city. Many great architects and artists of the Renaissance period were involved in creating this masterpiece and you have the option of climbing the cathedral dome, using a lift or the stairs.

Nearby the Vatican, overlooking the Tiber, is the Castel Sant'Angelo, once used by the Popes as a defensive castle. From the top of the building you have the most outstanding views over the city of Rome, and at sunset the light casts a beautiful glow over the city.

Rome offers countless places to eat, often alfresco, where you can enjoy a simple bowl of delicious pasta or a slice of crispy pizza with a glass of wine, or enjoy people watching from a café or gelateria.

This evening is free to dine independently, and you may like to explore beyond the city centre. Hidden away from the main tourist hubs, across a bridge of the Tiber River, is a lively medieval district called Trastevere. Here you can experience authentic Rome, soak up the character and charm of this foodie suburb, favoured by local residents as well as an increasing number of tourists.

• Breakfast

We travel by rail to Florence, the Renaissance capital of the world, where we spend three nights. After checking in to our central, stylishly decorated 4-star hotel on the fashion street of Via Tornabuoni there's time to relax over lunchtime before we set out on a guided tour of the city and some of its wonderful treasures.

Our tour of this wonderful city takes in the striking terracotta-tiled Duomo, which dominates the centre of Florence, and the ornate free-standing campanile tower designed by Giotto. We also pass the beautiful Santa Maria Novella Church and its delightful piazza, the legendary Ponte Vecchio, the city's renowned medieval bridge which is now lined with jewellery shops. Other striking squares which we encounter include Piazza della Signoria and Piazza dell Republica.

At the end of our tour, you're free to return to our hotel at leisure. There's time to do a little local shopping, or maybe enjoy a refreshing drink in one of Florence's enchanting squares, before dinner at our hotel.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Today you're free to discover Florence at your own pace. Besides spectacular architecture and fantastic piazzas, the city's galleries and Medici palaces are overflowing with Renaissance Art. If you'd like to see Michelangelo's statue of David, there are impressive copies in the Piazza della Signoria - one of the city's main squares - and the Piazzale Michelangelo. The original statue is inside the Accademia, along with other early-medieval works of Florentine artists. Florence's most famous art venue, the Uffizi Gallery is within five minutes' walk from our hotel and has an astonishing collection - however, please note that queues can be long so it helps to book ahead.

You could make your way to one of the city's roof terraces for lunch or stroll across the river for a peaceful walk through the vast Boboli Gardens, designed for the Medici family and opened in 1766, this relaxing green space has fragrant flowerbeds, Renaissance statues and great views of the city and beyond. To experience life as a local, visit one of Florence's great markets. Mercato di San Lorenzo is the city's largest where you'll find stalls of delicious fresh produce, leather goods and unique crafts, an indoor and outdoor dining area, and a Chianti wine booth.

This evening you're free to make your own dining choice and the central districts of Florence have dozens of inviting options. The city has a reputation for excellent cuisine - from humble osterias or traditional family-run trattorias serving Tuscan bean stew and aubergine parmigiana, to formal ristorantes offering dishes featuring wild boar, truffles, and fabulous cheese platters - the same pride in preparing food is evident in each establishment.

• Breakfast

This morning we rail across rural Tuscany, travelling among rolling hillsides and olive groves, to visit two of Italy's smaller, but impressive historic cities. We arrive in Pisa where a guided tour introduces us to the famous Field of Miracles. Here, we see Pisa's iconic Leaning Tower, and the striking Romanesque Duomo, which glows in white marble.

We continue by rail to Lucca, a beautiful walled medieval city where you are free to explore. Lucca is a pleasure to wander around on foot, but to avoid getting lost you might like to pick up a map at the Tourist Office. The maze-like centre of Lucca has a Duomo and many unusual churches, each overlooking vast piazzas with their own unique character. The Piazza Anfiteatro, once a Roman amphitheatre, still has some of the spirit of its past - and around this part of the city are many small restaurants and cafés in which to find lunch. Lucca also has a peaceful botanical garden, art galleries, and a tranquil ornamental garden which you can visit at Palazzo Pfanner, all inside the city walls. Another wonderful way to see this Renaissance city is from above, on a walk along its perfectly preserved walls.

We return to Florence by rail at the end of the afternoon and this evening you are free to dine independently.

• Breakfast

After a leisurely morning we board the train for the next magical part of our grand tour, a stay in Venice. On arrival, we are taken by private boat directly to the waterfront of our stylish 4-Star hotel on the island of Murano where we spend the next three nights. Away from the crowds of Venice, and with a more laid-back atmosphere, this picturesque island is actually a group of small islands joined by bridges, and it has a frequent ferry boat connection with the main island.

Renowned worldwide for its glass production heritage, Murano is more residential than the mainland and features traditional Venetian architecture with pretty canals of ochre-toned buildings. The remainder of the day is free, for you to relax or explore independently before we gather again for dinner this evening.

• Breakfast, Dinner

This morning we are taken by boat to discover the beautiful sites of Venice on a guided walking tour. An intricate network of lagoons and canals makes this one of the most unique cities in the world, and, along with its romantic heritage, the city has enchanted visitors for centuries. With our local guide we tour the hidden backstreets, viewing the church where composer Antoni Vivaldi was born, and the nostalgic Bridge of Sighs before arriving in St Mark's Square. This magnificent piazza has been the heart and soul of Venice for hundreds of years and its breathtaking beauty has inspired many artists, most notably Canaletto. It is here that we view the stunning St Mark's Basilica and the towering campanile of the Doge's Palace, which was once a political powerhouse and the residence of the Doge of Venice - today it's preserved as a fascinating museum. On two sides of the square are historic cafés including the famous Caffè Florian, a coffee house that first opened in 1720.

After our tour, we are free to explore independently and may opt to enter St Mark's Basilica or the Doge's Palace. Venice lends itself to idle wandering, and one of the best way to enjoy its charms is to let yourself get lost in the myriad of winding alleys and twisting lanes that make up the historic centre, discovering how it got its nickname of 'La Serenissima'. There's a host of incredible art and architecture to discover, possibly before settling down in a charming restaurant to enjoy some of the country's finest seafood. Experience it like a local by ordering some cicchetti, Venetian tapas, and a glass of one of the city's signature drinks - prosecco, Aperol spritz or bellini.

You may choose to have dinner on the main island of Venice before making your own way back to Murano by ferry or water taxi. The ferry service is every 30 minutes between Venice and Murano, and runs into the evening. Please check at the ferry points for the last departure time.

• Breakfast

Today is free to soak up the atmosphere of enchanting Venice. For a bird's eye view of this sensational city of islands, maybe climb the Campanile di San Marco, which offers incredible vistas over the centre and shimmering lagoons further out. The Basilica di San Marco is well worth entering, with its rich interiors and dazzling Byzantine features, but it is a popular site for tourists. There are an incredible number of other churches to visit in Venice, 170 to be precise, ranging from Romanesque to Gothic and Baroque. If you choose only one, the San Giorgio Maggiore church is considered a beauty - with a stunning façade, artworks by Tintoretto, and a classic view of Venice. The church is one vaporetto stop from St Mark's square, at the San Zaccaria stop.

You may also like to visit the Peggy Guggenheim gallery which is just across the bridge in a residential neighbourhood of the city called Dorsoduro. There is a small garden and views of the canal. This side of the island has a lot of character and offers several waterside eating places, as do the districts of San Polo and Cannaregio where you can eat like a local on Venetian classics such as clam risotto or squid ink pasta.

Of course the ultimate Venice experience is to take a captivating gondola ride through the city's luminous canals - gliding beneath ancient bridges, passing ornate Venetian palazzos and historic buildings - the perfect way to fall under the spell of this ethereal city.

This evening we are transferred by private boat for dinner in a popular restaurant.

• Breakfast, Dinner

After saying arriverderci to Venice, we take the train to Chambéry in France, travelling in First Class and passing the Italian Alps enroute. On arrival in Chambéry we check in to our hotel for an overnight stay before travelling on to London tomorrow. Chambéry is an attractive city, set beneath the Rhône-Alpes. As the former seat of the Dukes of Savoy, their impressive château still dominates the picturesque town centre. The town has a handsome cathedral, and its central square - Place Saint-Leger - is surrounded by historic monuments, colourful tall houses and several outdoor restaurants.

We enjoy a final farewell dinner at our hotel this evening.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Leaving Chambéry this morning, we travel by First Class rail to Paris. On this comfortable and relaxing journey we have time to reflect on the special moments of our grand tour, and maybe share memories with fellow travellers and new friends. On arrival in the French capital, we change trains, joining the Eurostar service to London St Pancras travelling in spacious Standard Premier Class with a light meal served at our seats.

• Breakfast
• Eurostar Light Meal