Get settled into Rome for your 3-night stay. Take time to get acquainted with the area on your own. This evening, join your fellow travellers for a welcome dinner featuring regional delicacies. (D)

Start your morning with a ride on La Metro – Rome’s underground system. First stop – a locally guided tour of the Eternal City’s most iconic monuments. Walk over cobblestoned streets and weathered passageways to discover famous sights such as the Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon, and Piazza Navona, one of Rome’s most breathtaking Baroque esplanades. The remainder of the day is yours. Perhaps you’ll wander through one of Rome’s many museums, such as the Capitoline or stroll the Avenue of the Imperial Forum for views of the Colosseum. This evening, consider an optional dinner in a popular restaurant, where you’ll indulge in a
hearty meal accompanied by wine and local entertainment. (B)

Make the most of a free day in Italy’s capital city. Perhaps you will join an optional tour* to the Vatican Museums and St. Peter’s Basilica, taking in world-renowned wonders such as the Sistine Chapel and Michelangelo’s mural of the Last Judgment. In the afternoon, consider strolling through the Borghese Gardens for views of the city’s skyline or meander through
Rome’s bohemian Trastevere district. (B)

Your Roman sojourn comes to a close today. Say Arrivederci Roma as you transfer** to Montecatini Terme to begin your tour of Tuscany, in the famous spa resort town of Montecatini Terme, nestled in the heart of the rolling hills of Tuscany. This evening, get to know your fellow travellers during a welcome dinner where regional foods and Italian wines kick off your adventure. (B, D)

Enjoy a guided tour of Lucca, Tuscany’s best-kept secret. Discover Renaissance walls, Romanesque churches, and
medieval streets flanked by towers. Explore on your own before setting off for Borgo a Mozzano. See the Ponte del Diavolo (Devil’s Bridge) and the nearby remains of the Gothic Line – the Germans’ last defence during WWII. Visit the Museum of Liberation and see authentic fortifications and bunkers. Make your way to a Tuscan winery and learn about the art of winemaking as you taste local varieties. (B)

An early morning takes you to Florence where an extensive walking tour showcases the beautiful “Cradle of the
enaissance.” Start with a visit to the Academy Gallery* to see Michelangelo’s sculpture of David. Join a local Florentine guide and make your way through the city on foot. At the
Piazza del Duomo, see the impressive Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore and the gilded bronze doors of the Baptistery dedicated to St. John. Take in views of the Piazza della Signoria and Santa Croce Square before enjoying the remainder of your time in Florence to explore this unparalleled city as you choose. (B, D)

Learn more about Montecatini’s history during a halfday guided walking tour and visit to the historic Tettuccio Spa,**
known for the health benefits in its mineral waters -OR- journey to Siena on a full day excursion and embark on a walking tour through its narrow Gothic streets, getting to know the local lifestyle in a contrada (neighbourhood) whose community is centered around the colourful Palio horse race. (B)

Explore historic sites in the ancient maritime Republic of Pisa, including the Piazza dei Miracoli, or “Field of Miracles” (UNESCO). Keep your camera handy at the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa. Visit the Baptistery, the largest in Italy. This evening, travel to the quiet countryside to learn the secrets
of traditional Tuscan cuisine. Partake in a cooking class, using local ingredients and culinary techniques that have been passed down for generations. Enjoy your freshly-prepared meal for dinner. (B, D)

The day is yours to relax and experience the local flavour. Take this opportunity to shop at the local boutiques and dine at one of Montecatini’s fine local restaurants. Or, perhaps you will choose an optional full day excursion to Cinque Terre with its rugged coastline dotted with terraced vineyards. Explore this string of fishing villages nestled between the mountains and the Mediterranean. (B)

At a nearby cheese farm, learn how the famous pecorino
cheese is made before sampling it for yourself. Soak in breathtaking views as you travel to the hilltop village of San Gimignano, one of Tuscany’s most picturesque places. Explore this enchanting medieval town, from its famous 14 towers to its magnificent vistas overlooking vineyards. Enjoy free time and perhaps indulge in some gelato. Later,
attend a Tuscan feast of traditional cuisine and wines set in the countryside. (B, D)

This morning, traverse the Apennine Mountains and cross from Tuscany into the Emilia region, Italy’s foodie haven. Visit a villa where the family still ages their Balsamic Vinegar production in the attic, as countless generations have done before them. Then, pause at a local farm producing
Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese according to traditional codes dating back to the 1300s. After a light lunch at the Parmigiano cheese cellar, your exploration of Emilia’s Food Valley concludes with a demonstration – and tasting – of authentic gelato, before arriving in Bologna, your home for the next 2 nights. (B, L)

Spend the morning exploring Bologna in company of an expert guide. During your walking tour, discover the origin of Bologna’s several nicknames – la dotta (the learned) and la rossa (the red, from the colours of its bricks) and la grassa (the fat). Perhaps the latter nickname is the most fitting. Food is a true passion here, as Bologna is the birthplace of some of Italy’s most iconic foods: tortellini, mortadella – the progenitor of baloney – and Bolognese sauce. Visit
the ancient seat of the University – the oldest continuously operating in the western world – before browsing Bologna’s speciality food shops. Then, sample local delicacies such as Parma ham and lasagne during lunch at a local eatery. Spend the afternoon at leisure in this lively town. Indulge in some people-watching at a café in Piazza Maggiore, the expansive plaza at the heart of the city’s social life, or search for Bologna’s very own leaning towers: the Garisenda and
Asinelli. Whatever your interest, Bologna guarantees the perfect stroll as it boasts over 23 miles of covered sidewalks lined by colonnades offering protection from rain and heat. (B, L)