Ciao and welcome to Italy! After you pass through customs at Malpensa Airport, you will need to make your own way to Stresa. The fastest and cheapest way to get to Stresa is by using the trains from the airport, the journey should take about an hour and cost around AUD $18. Once you’ve arrived into Stresa, a holiday village perched on the banks of Lake Maggior, check into your waterfront hotel and this evening, meet your tour leader and fellow travellers over a welcome dinner.

If you don’t wish to make your own way to Stresa, you can add a transfer at the time of booking.

After breakfast, you will have some time to enjoy the serenity of your surroundings and the pristine fresh air of the Italian Lakes District. Then, embark on a full day tour of Lake Maggiore including stops at its three islands — Isola Bella with its stunning gardens of the Palazzo Borromeo, considered one of the greatest gardens in the world, Isola Madre, also famous for its palazzo, and Isola Superiore with its waterfront cafes.  We return to our hotel where you will have time in the evening to explore the town centre for local cuisine.

Many of the trains we will be catching over the next couple of weeks will be trains that the locals use to commute. Some will span the vast plains of central Italy while others, like today, will be particularly special. 

Today we embark on the Centovalli Railway, known in English as ‘Hundred Valleys’, a rail journey that traverses the dramatic mountainous scenery between Domodossia in Italy and the village of Locarno in the Italian speaking region of Switzerland. Along the way, you will pass 83 bridges, 31 tunnels and numerous waterfalls before arriving at the lakeside village of Locarno, where we will have some free time to explore before continuing our journey to another lakeside location, the city of Como. Sharing the town’s namesake, Lake Como is by far the most famous lake in the region and the quaint city of Como is the perfect place to explore. Your centrally located waterfront hotel mean

The town of Como is known for more than sharing the name of the worlds famous lake, in fact, the lake takes its name from the town, and it is a town worth discovering. Before we hit the waters, we have a guided tour of Como. Home to an impressive cathedral, some great museums and cafe lined piazzas alongside remnants of the medieval era, you will be just as impressed with the town the lake was named after. However, we are not forgetting about the lake itself, as we enjoy a boat cruise of Lake Como which will include a stop at the famous village of Bellagio, easily one of the prettiest villages on the lake. Take some time to explore Bellagio on foot before returning back to Como for an evening at your own leisure.

We depart early this morning from the pristine waters of Como to make our way to Verona. However, on our way we will be stopping in the largest city in the region, and considered the economic centre of the country, Milan. Home to some of the most famous fashion houses in the world, Milan is the centre of business, trade and commerce for one of the largest economies in the world. Today we take in the city's most famous attractions including the incredible Duomo, a masterpiece of Gothic architecture, as well as the Sforzesco Castle and the Quadrilatero della Moda, the upscale shopping district. We will also have the opportunity to travel on an historic tram. Afterwards, we depart by train for Verona, where you will have the opportunity to explore the city on foot if you wish.

One might sense that Verona is a very romantic place, an easy conclusion considering the world’s romantic story was set in the city. William Shakespeare set approximately a third of his plays in Italy, and easily one of his most famous stories was set in Verona, Romeo & Juliet. Today, this city is adorned with references to the famous couple and on this morning’s walking tour you will visit the house of Juliet, dressed to reenact the era the play is set in, balcony and all. This afternoon, we will be visiting one more lake in the region - Lake Garda. Enjoy an excursion on the lake and see the striking Sirmione and its fortress. To put it simply, there is nothing else like it, literally. The fortress itself is the only example of a medieval port in the world. Afterwards, we return to romantic Verona. Continue to explore this beautiful city on foot as you head out for the evening for dinner.

After breakfast, we depart Verona on a high speed train over to Venice. Easily the most famous city on water in the world, Venice was founded by fleeing citizens of the Roman Empire when the Lombards sacked Italy from the north when the empire fell. They began building houses on stilts to seek refuge and over centuries, the magnificent Venice was created. The metropolitan area itself is made up of several islands, and we are going to stay on Venice’s little neighbour, Murano. Home to the region's famous glass blowing industry, Murano is a mini Venice complete with colourful houses. We enjoy a short tour of Murano this evening before time to explore the many local restaurants for some incredible food.

Today, we explore Venice! We’ll catch the Vaporetto (a Venetian public waterbus) to the historical centre of Venice. Enjoy a guided tour as you navigate through narrow alleys, canals and small bridges to discover the main attractions including the Rialto Bridge, St Mark's Square and its Basilica, the Doge’s Palace and the Bridge of Sighs. This afternoon, the city is yours to explore in your own time to discover the wonders of Venice. This evening, you will meet your new group of travellers as you join the next segment of your tour which takes you down to Sorrento, over a dinner.

Another day of exploring in Venice. Catch the Vaporetto over and enjoy a full day of exploration in your own time. With yesterday spent walking around and discovering sites from the outside, spend today going into some of the spectacular attractions in the city. The Doge’s Palace is a particular highlight, encompassing the history of the mighty Republic of Venice. Or the Academia, the museum gallery of pre-19th century art, founded by Napoleon himself, is another particular highlight. Otherwise, get lost, roam the streets and discover many of the city's fantastic shops.

We say arrivederci to Venice and catch another high speed train which gets us to the Tuscan city of Florence within just two hours. Florence is most famous for being the birthplace of the Renaissance, considered one of the greatest waves of culture to have ever been experienced. There are many theories about how and why it happened in Florence and the city itself is teeming with references to its famous inhabitants of that time including Michelangelo, Da Vinci and the famous ruling dynasty and patron of the arts, the Medicis. You will learn all about them on today's walking tour as you walk the streets until you get to the Duomo, the stunning cathedral in the heart of the city.

Florence is also the capital of Tuscany, famous world over for its quaint villages and produce. We will be exploring the region more on a full day Siena and Chianti Countryside tour. Upon arrival in Siena, you will enjoy a tour of the incredible medieval city before you will explore the Chianti region, the most beautiful part of Tuscany. We will stop in the famous Chianti villages to enjoy wine and local product tastings before returning to Florence. This evening will be spent at leisure.

We travel south to the epicentre of Italy and the Roman Empire, Rome itself. A city that has defined the world, there will be much to take in over the next couple of days. Upon arrival, we will meet for a guided walking tour of the city where you will take in the sites such as Piazza Navona and the world famous Pantheon, one of the only few examples of a Roman building that stands intact as it did back at the time of the empire. Tonight is yours to explore Rome in your own time to discover many of its famous restaurants and nightlife.

After breakfast, you will have the opportunity to use the hop-on hop-off bus to get a panoramic tour of the city until you reach the Vatican. Today, we will skip the queue to the Vatican Museum and have direct access to St Peter’s Basilica, the Sistine Chapel and the museum itself as you enjoy a guided tour. Inside, you will discover an abundance of breathtaking masterpieces that cannot be matched by any other museum. Be in awe as you take in the galleries, ancient sculptures, tapestries, middle-age maps, paintings and stunning relics. In the basilica itself you will see Pietà by Michelangelo and the colossal bronze altar. In the Sistine Chapel, you will see first hand the greatest work of Michelangelo, where he painted the ceiling, by hand, in what is considered one of the greatest works of the Renaissance.

We depart Rome to go further south towards Naples. Upon arrival, we will begin a day tour of the Sorrentine Peninsula, which includes the extraordinary Pompeii. Once a major Roman city, the city was completely destroyed in AD 79 after the eruption of Mount Vesuvius, a major event of the ancient world. For centuries, Pompeii was lost, buried under volcanic ash and many thought lost forever. It became world famous again for its rediscovery in the 1920’s when the site was excavated to discover that the volcanic ash has pristinely preserved the city, giving us a wealth of knowledge about life in ancient Rome. Afterwards, you will continue to one of the most beautiful coastal cities in the country, Sorrento, where you will check into your seafront hotel for the next three nights and enjoy an included dinner.

There is time to enjoy breakfast this morning before we enjoy a full day on the island of Capri, famous since ancient times for its beauty. Capri was where the Roman Emperors themselves had villas to escape the madness of Rome. Today, it is a fascinating oasis for artists, writers and celebrities and home to high end fashion and local hand-crafted shops. First, we visit Anacapri before going to the famous Piazzetta, where you can get incredible views over the gulf. We go back to Sorrento in the afternoon. Dinner is included in the hotel tonight

A day to relax by the sea. You are within walking distance to the centre of Sorrento and its beaches, and today is yours to unwind. Enjoy the serene surroundings of Sorrento or perhaps take a ferry to continue exploring this iconic coastline.

After breakfast, your journey from north to south of Italy concludes.