Blaze a trail through la bella Italia – your epic journey begins in Rome, once the powerful capital of the world and yours to explore before meeting your travel companions and Travel Director for a light supper and orientation drive introducing you to some of the city’s iconic and unexpected highlights.

Join a Local Specialist for an included sightseeing tour to introduce you to life in modern day Rome and how Romans lived in ancient times. Tour the extraordinary Vatican Museums with a Local Specialist, including views of Michelangelo’s magnificent frescoed ceiling in the Sistine Chapel. While in Vatican City, you’ll pause to admire the majestic exterior of St. Peter’s Basilica and its grand square. Then venture into Ancient Rome to see Circus Maximus, where the thundering noise of chariot races once filled the air. The afternoon is yours to explore at leisure. Stroll down the Spanish steps or sit in an outdoor cafe on the famous Via Veneto, or continue your encounter with Ancient Rome on Palatine Hill to see the Temple of Apollo and Flavian Palace, among other excavations.

Travel east through the mountains of Campania to the orange and olive groves of Puglia on the Adriatic coast, your home for the next two nights. This evening, enjoy a delicious local dinner at your hotel.

Enjoy a morning at leisure. Consider an Optional Experience or relax with a swim at your hotel. This afternoon, the conical limestone houses of Alberobello take centre stage during our guided tour with a Local Specialist. Here, you’ll see the UNESCO-listed collection of almost 1,500 trulli dating back to the 14th century. This evening, enjoy a Be My Guest experience at a traditional masseria. Meet Signor Luciano for dinner on his Alberobello farm where you can taste seasonal produce, including fresh almonds, cherries, tomatoes and olive oil.

You’ve got the day to explore Pompei your way. Take it slow with time to relax in town or join an Optional Experience to the Amalfi Coast. This scenic drive shows off southern Italy’s bold coastline, with a stop in Positano. Known for its steep streets and local shops, it’s a great spot to pick up a souvenir or enjoy a bite by the sea before heading back for dinner.

Cruise the deep blue waters of the Tyrrhenian Sea to the beautiful Isle of Capri. Enjoy a guided tour of Capri town with a Local Specialist. After, explore or sip cappuccino in the glamorous piazzetta.

Explore the tragic history of the ancient lost city of Pompeii with a Local Specialist. Gain a deeper understanding of what life was like in this Roman settlement that lay buried for centuries after Mount Vesuvius erupted. Continue your journey through the rolling green and golden fields of Umbria, arriving at the mystical hilltop town of Assisi. Meet your Local Specialist for a visit of the stunning Basilica of St. Francis, featuring exquisite frescoes by Giotto. You’ll stay at one of Trafalgar’s Stays With Stories – a fully renovated old Franciscan monastery.

Venture to the Adriatic coast on your way to Venice. A city like no other, you’ll explore its canals and waterways during your time on the islands of the Venetian Lagoon, home to the artistic tradition of blown glass.

This morning start the day by observing the delicate craft of Venetian glassblowing that spans centuries. Your MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience helps to preserve the traditions that have been handed down through the generations and you’ll be inspired to buy a souvenir to remind you of the talent and skill shared enthusiastically by the master craftsmen. Next you’ll glide by private launch along busy waterways to view the Bridge of Sighs, Doge’s Palace and St. Mark’s Basilica before exploring the city on your terms. Stroll beside the Grand Canal, nibble on delicious cicchetti at a cosy bacaro or cross the lagoon for an Optional Experience to the colourful fishermen’s Island of Burano.

Celebrate the epic tale of Romeo and Juliet during this morning’s visit to the fair city of Verona and view the Roman arena built in the 1st century and famously used for opera these days. Later, experience the fashion capital of Milan. Enjoy free time to explore on your own after an orientation of the city’s iconic sights. See the exquisite Gothic Duomo, La Scala Opera House and the Galleria, one of the world’s oldest shopping malls. This afternoon, you’ll have free time to explore further, relax at your hotel or choose to join an Optional Experience with a Local Specialist for a deeper look at Milan, including a visit inside La Scala.

Head north to Lake Maggiore, where you’ll stop in the elegant lakeside town of Stresa. Enjoy free time to explore the boutiques and gardens. Choose to join an Optional Experience to the Borromean Islands where you’ll cruise by boat to Isola Bella and tour its Baroque palace and terraced gardens with a Local Specialist. Later, continue to Lake Como, known for its dramatic mountain backdrop and peaceful shores. Spend time exploring on your own or join a Local Specialist for an Optional Experience cruise past lakeside villas and towns. Return to Milan this evening with time to relax and reflect on a day spent exploring Italy’s lake district.

Travel to Genoa, once a powerful maritime republic and home to centuries of seafaring history. The day is yours to explore this vibrant port city at your own pace. You might wander through the UNESCO-listed Old Town, with its maze of narrow alleyways and Renaissance palaces, or visit the restored harbourfront, home to one of Europe’s largest aquariums. Take in the views from Spianata Castelletto or stop by the house where Christopher Columbus is believed to have been born.

Enjoy another day in Genoa with the option to discover more of the Ligurian coast. You may choose to join an Optional Experience to Porto Venere and the Bay of Poets, named for the writers who were inspired by this stretch of shoreline. Explore with a Local Specialist, taking in seaside views and colourful harbour towns. Alternatively, stay in Genoa to explore more of its Old Town or relax at your hotel. This evening, come together with your fellow travellers to share stories and enjoy dinner in the city.

Travelling south through the scenery of Tuscany, you’ll arrive in Pisa to view its famous Leaning Tower before continuing to the Renaissance city of Florence. This afternoon is yours at leisure to wander through the grand squares and labyrinthine lanes of Florence, whose connection with the Medici family saw this city become one of the world’s most cultural centres. Consider a visit to the Academy of Fine Arts to see the Michelangelo’s statue of David, amble along the Arno River or ascend the stone steps up to Piazzale Michelangelo for spectacular views of the city.

Join a Local Specialist  this morning to view the city’s finest masterpieces – the magnificent Duomo, Giotto’s Bell Tower and the 13th-century Santa Croce Basilica, the final resting place of Michelangelo, Galileo and Machiavelli. Later, learn about the quality and workmanship of two of this city’s historic industries at demonstrations of Florentine leathercraft and 18-carat gold. Then, spend the rest of the afternoon as you wish. Walk across the Ponte Vecchio which has straddled the Arno River for almost 700 years, or wander through the Renaissance Boboli Gardens, stopping for a slice or two of  schiacciata along the way.

Today journey past the sprawling vineyards of Chianti and beneath the hill-towns of Umbria before arriving in Rome. This evening, savour an Italian dinner and raise a glass to your journey with signature Roman dishes crafted from family recipes passed down through four generations.

Your epic encounter with Italy has come to an end. Say arrivederci to Rome and your newfound friends at the end of your Grand Italian Experience.