Top to Toe of Italy

We leave St Pancras after meeting at our exclusive Departure Office. Travelling on the Eurostar in Standard Premier Class, we enjoy a light meal and drinks on board as we travel to Paris. On arrival in the French capital, we change trains, and continue by high-speed rail to Turin, where we spend the night.

• Dinner
• Eurostar Meal

Enjoy a morning to explore Turin, a stylish city that boasts airy city squares, verdant parks and broad boulevards of Renaissance architecture. Leaving Turin in the afternoon, we continue to the 'Floating City' of Venice, where we spend two nights. An intricate network of lagoons and canals makes Venice one of the most unique cities in the world, and this, along with its romantic heritage, means Venice has enchanted visitors for centuries.

• Breakfast, Dinner

We discover Venice on a guided tour, seeing St Mark's Basilica, the heart and soul of the city for centuries, and the grand Doge's Palace, before a free afternoon. Venice lends itself to idle wandering, and possibly the best way to enjoy its captivating charms is to let yourself get lost in the myriad of winding alleys and twisting lanes that make up the city centre. There's a host of incredible art and architecture to discover, before settling down in a quaint restaurant to enjoy some of the country's freshest seafood. Experience it like a local by ordering some cicchetti, Venetian tapas, and a glass of the city's signature drink, prosecco.

• Breakfast

Saying goodbye to Venice, we join the train to Florence, where we spend three nights. 'The jewel of the Renaissance' is a city of many treasures. Picturesque, narrow streets and handsome squares, including the Piazza della Signoria - the people-watching centre of Florence - are only part of the city's charm. Much of the beauty of the city is found indoors, with one fifth of the world's Renaissance art kept and displayed in Florence's museums, galleries, churches and palaces. This afternoon's tour includes the Ponte Vecchio and the Duomo, before some free time, perhaps to explore one of the art galleries.

• Breakfast, Dinner

We visit the traditionally Tuscan city of Siena. The medieval city is remarkably well preserved and boasts a mix of narrow streets, pretty open spaces and magnificent buildings focused around the Piazza del Campo, a grand shell-shaped piazza. We take a guided tour of the charismatic city that includes the spectacular Duomo. Built from alternating strips of black and white marble, the striped cathedral is one of Italy's greatest, and houses artworks and statues by Donatello, Bernini and Michelangelo, as well as a unique and elaborate mosaic floor.

• Breakfast

We travel by rail to Pisa, where we have a fascinating guided tour of its main sights at the Field of Miracles. We see the Romanesque Duomo, a striking white marble building, and the world-famous Leaning Tower, one of Europe's most iconic structures. We continue to the ancient city of Lucca, where you're free to explore at your own pace. You could take a stroll or a bike ride along the city's medieval walls, or perhaps visit the Guinigi Tower, known for the oak tree growing through its top.

• Breakfast

We travel by rail to the 'Eternal City' of Rome, Italy's buzzing capital. From the remains of the ancient Roman Empire, including the structurally impressive pantheon, the Roman Forum and of course, the famous and inspirational Colosseum, to the Baroque detail of the Trevi Fountain, Italy's capital city is a treasure trove of culture and history. The modern-day has still made its mark, however, and there's a wonderful café culture in the city alongside fantastic bars and shops. We check into our hotel for the next three nights.

• Breakfast, Dinner

We discover the landmarks that have shaped the city of Rome on an insightful guided tour of its most famous sights. We step back in time at the dramatic ruins of the Colosseum, where citizens would watch mighty gladiators fight, as well as the Roman Forum, the hub of daily life in ancient Rome. We also take in the magnificent Baroque Trevi Fountain, a wonderfully detail sculpture set in a tiny square. Your afternoon is free to continue exploring. Perhaps visit the Pantheon and its domed roof - a masterpiece of human engineering that has seen surprisingly little change in 2,000 years.

• Breakfast

Enjoy a free day to take in Rome at your own pace. A city of world-class history, architecture and art, there's plenty on offer here. You could visit the Vatican City, behind the walls of which sits a wealth of art, architecture and culture, including priceless masterpieces by the likes of Da Vinci, Raphael, and Michelangelo, as well as the extraordinary Sistine Chapel - one of the world's greatest Renaissance treasures. Or, you could take it easy and enjoy an authentic cappuccino or espresso and sweet pastry amid Rome's vibrant street life.

• Breakfast

Leaving ancient Rome, we take the train to Naples, where we continue to a local 'agriturismo' farm - a farm specialising in serving traditional food. We sit down in the rustic surroundings to enjoy a delicious meal, sampling handmade mozzarella and indulging in a tasting of limoncello, a zingy local lemon liquour, before we continue to Sorrento. This beautiful coastal town sits perched on a towering cliff in its own mini bay within the larger Bay of Naples and is surrounding by fragrant lemon orchards. We enjoy an orientation tour of the town before we check into our hotel for the next three nights.

• Breakfast, Lunch

We take to the waters with a scenic boat trip along the Amalfi Coast, admiring the famed stretch of coastline from a unique perspective. We first sail to Positano, an unspoilt village perched on the cliffside, where the pretty pastel houses seemingly tumble into the turquoise sea. Enjoy a little time to soak up its photo-worthy beauty before we continue to Amalfi, where you have free time to discover its historic charms. The town delights with its sun-kissed, café-lined piazzas and tiny beach, and after some time here, we return to Sorrento where we turn our hand to pizza making, learning the secrets to the revered Italian dish.

• Breakfast, Dinner

We travel by rail to the incredible preserved Roman city of Pompeii. The city spent the best part of two millennia buried by volcanic ash after the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD79, and was only discovered again in 1749. Today, the ancient city of Pompeii is still fantastically preserved, giving visitors an incredible insight into everyday life during the Roman Empire. We wander the city streets, popping into what would have once been thriving bathhouses, restaurants and shops as the ever-present peak of Mount Vesuvius dominates the background.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Leaving the mainland of Italy behind, we travel to Sicily, just off the 'toe' of Italy's 'boot'. Crowned by mighty Mount Etna, the volcanic island is packed with history and boasts some stunning scenery. We check into our hotel in the seaside town of Giardini Naxos, where we spend three nights.

• Breakfast, Dinner

We get to know Sicily's most famous sight today as we discover Mount Etna. Europe's largest volcano, Etna's striking lava fields reach out almost to the sea, a truly compelling sight. We to the highest point accessible by road, where there's some free time to explore the other-worldly landscape. Later, we enjoy a journey on the Circumetnea train, travelling around the mountain's base, taking in the nearby villages as well as the breathtaking scenery.

• Breakfast, Dinner

We visit the nearby resort town of Taormina where we take a guided tour of its highlights. Chic Taormina is Sicily's most popular town, perched on a rocky cliff high above the azure ocean, and boasting some breathtaking views. Our guided tour includes a visit to the spectacular Teatro Greco. This grand theatre was built during Roman times in a Greek style and is immaculately preserved. From the theatre, there's incredible views across the bay and the rest of the island, all crowned by dramatic Mount Etna.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Our holiday comes to an end today, as we transfer to Catania airport for our flight home.

Please note: you will need to take your luggage back to the UK with you on your flight, as opposed to it travelling via our luggage transfer service.

• Breakfast