Italian Scene (Winter)

The 'Eternal City' has captivated travellers for centuries and you'll not be disappointed as it prepares you for an exhilarating journey across Italy. On arrival in Rome, check in to your hotel, relax or get ready for your very own introduction to Rome. Later this evening, meet your Travel Director and fellow travellers for a glimpse into what lies ahead.

With so much to see and do, you could explore Rome for an eternity without getting bored. Join a Choice Experience to the Roman Forum or start your day the Italian way. Get to grips with the city's main attractions, joining a Local Guide. Cross the Tiber to see the mighty Colosseum and the countless other ancient sites which featured prominently in the days of the powerful Roman Empire. Why not select a Choice Experience dinner in a characteristic trattoria to soak up the city's effervescent atmosphere?

The Bay of Naples beckons and our first stop is in the picture-perfect resort town of Sorrento. Pastel-hued residences cling impossibly to craggy cliffs that plunge into the deep blue waters of the Tyrrhenian Sea. Enjoy your time soaking up the sun-drenched views.

You won't need to venture far to catch the scent of the 'world's best lemons', which you'll see in abundance at the local markets. Taste some of the mouth-watering fresh produce grown locally or consider a Choice Experience to the artists' paradise of Positano, followed by a scenic drive along the Amalfi Coast. The Sirens of Sorrento may be nowhere in sight, but their alluring call will be possible to resist.

Enjoy the atmosphere as you explore the beautiful Bay of Naples during your free time this morning. Alternatively, choose to join a Choice Experience guided walking tour of Pompeii, buried under the volcanic ash for centuries after the eruption of Mount Vesuvius.

Leaving the Bay of Naples behind, journey past Cassino and see the monastery which featured as a backdrop for some of the fiercest battles of World War II. This poignant reminder of war gives way to a place of pilgrimage as you head north to Assisi, where an orientation reveals a medieval town that has changed very little since the time of St. Francis.

Your journey continues across the Apennines and through the Emilia-Romagna region, credited with being the origin of tortellini, mortadella and parmesan cheese. Before you know it, you'll arrive in Venice, the Queen of the Adriatic, where a Choice Experience will see you gliding through the city's canals in a gondola.

Embark on a cruise by private launch to bustling St. Mark's Square in the heart of Venice. Admire the most famous of Venice's 417 bridges, the Bridge of Sighs, and enjoy views of the Doge's Palace and the Byzantine St. Mark's Basilica.

Later, enjoy a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience, as the extraordinary talents of glassblowers take centre stage during a visit to their workshop. Then, consider a Choice Experience to the island of Burano for a relaxing meal with your travel companions.

The plains of Veneto are all that stand between you and Verona, the tragic stage for Shakespeare's star-crossed lovers. View the ancient Roman Arena, where concerts are still held to this day, and Juliet's Balcony, from which a fictional Juliet once called for her Romeo. Indulge in a romantic moment of your own before leaving Verona, bound for Italy's irresistible Lake District.

Arriving on the shores of Lake Como, you'll see first-hand why this scenic setting has been a favourite summer retreat of the rich and famous for centuries. You could choose to board an optional cruise this afternoon to make the most of this idyllic setting. Enjoy dinner at your hotel this evening.

The white marble façades of Pisa's Cathedral Square gleam in the sunshine, but it is the famous Leaning Tower that gets most of the glory when you visit this 'Meadow of Miracles', so named by 20th-century Italian writer and poet Gabriele d'Annunzio. Since Medieval times, the exquisite structures in the piazza have symbolised man's journey through religious life – the Baptistery representing birth, life represented by the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, and the Camposanto, death.

After a short drive from Pisa, you'll arrive at your hotel near Florence, the birthplace of the Renaissance. A full day of sightseeing lies ahead, so kick back and enjoy the company of your travel companions this evening at an optional dinner in the Tuscan countryside.

There are few cities in the world with an artistic legacy equal to that of Florence. Your Local Guide shares a superb commentary of the city's artistic and architectural heritage during a walking tour, which includes views on the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, the Baptistery, the impressive Giotto's Bell Tower and the Ponte Vecchio. Visit Piazza della Signoria and squeeze in some time for shopping – Florence is particularly renowned for its high-quality leather and 18-carat gold jewellery.

Later, return to Rome, where your journey began. Spend the evening forging final memories with new friends or consider a Choice Experience that whisks you away on one last sightseeing trip, complete with a mouth-watering dinner and live entertainment.

If Italy has become engraved in your heart as it did for celebrated poet Robert Browning, you'll have a hard time saying arrivederci. As the legend has it, if you tossed a coin in the Trevi Fountain, you're destined to return. Until then, bid your Travel Director and travel companions a fond farewell.