Essential La Dolce Vita

Make your own way to the hotel in Rome, where you can check in and settle into your room. The rest of the day is yours to start getting to know the Eternal City, whether that means a first wander through the streets or simply resting after your journey.

Rome - Assisi - Siena - Florence. We make an early start this morning, leaving Rome at 7:15am by deluxe coach for Assisi, a medieval town ringed by ancient walls. Here we visit the Basilica of St Francis, famous for its frescoes by Giotto and Cimabue. You will then have some free time to find lunch in the town before we continue on.

Our route carries on to Siena, a UNESCO-listed city known for its shell-shaped Piazza del Campo, home to the celebrated Palio horse race. From here we travel through the Tuscan countryside to Florence, where we check in to our hotel for the night.

This morning we explore Florence, the cradle of the Renaissance. We visit the Duomo with Brunelleschi's Dome, Giotto's Bell Tower and the Baptistery, then take in Piazza della Signoria, the Palazzo Vecchio and the Basilica of Santa Croce. There will be free time to stop for lunch along the way.

The afternoon is yours. You might spend it exploring more of Florence, or take the option of visiting Pisa to see its famous Leaning Tower and the Piazza dei Miracoli. Your evening is free too, with dinner at a restaurant of your choosing.

Florence - Bologna- Venice. We leave Florence and travel to Bologna, a city known for both its culture and its cooking. Together we walk from Piazza Malpighi to Piazza Maggiore, taking in the San Petronio Basilica and the Palazzo del Podesta along the way.

You will then have free time in Bologna, and there is no better way to spend it than sampling the city's famous street food, an authentic taste of true Bolognese cuisine. In the afternoon we continue to Venice, where we check in to our hotel and settle in for the night.

This morning we transfer to Piazza San Marco to discover the highlights of Venice with our guide. We view the Doge's Palace from the outside and cross the famous Bridge of Sighs, hearing the stories behind one of the world's most remarkable cities.

Afterwards, the rest of the day is yours to enjoy Venice as you please, perhaps getting lost among the canals or finding a spot for lunch before making your way back to the hotel for the night.

Venice - Tuscany wine region - Rome. We depart Venice and travel south through Tuscany to Montepulciano, a hilltop town celebrated for its Vino Nobile wine and its far-reaching views. On arrival you will have free time to stroll through the historic centre and find somewhere for lunch, with a little longer to enjoy the town before we drive back to Rome.

Today is free to discover Rome as you wish. With so many monuments and a historic centre around every corner, you can shape the day however you like, from ancient ruins and grand piazzas to a long lunch in a local trattoria.

You will spend another night in Rome.

Rome - Pompeii - Sorrento. This morning meet your tour leader. We then depart at 7:00am by coach, crossing Lazio and Campania towards the Bay of Naples, stopping along the way for a lunch of authentic Neapolitan pizza.

Next we visit the world-famous ruins of Pompeii. With Skip-the-Line access and our guide leading the way, we explore the houses, shops, frescoes and mosaics of this Roman city, buried by the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD.

Afterwards we drive along the scenic Sorrentine Coast to Sorrento, where we check in and enjoy dinner at the hotel before settling in for the night. (The dress code for dining is smart casual, men must wear trousers and a jacket is recommended).

Please note: On winter departures of this tour during the months of November - March, lunch is not included today.

Sorrento - Capri - Sorrento. The day is free to enjoy Sorrento and its views out over the sea. If you would like to venture further, you can take an optional trip to the island of Capri or explore the Amalfi Coast. In the evening enjoy dinner at the hotel

Please note: On winter departures of this tour during the months of November - March the Amalfi Coast optional excursion is not available.

Sorrento - Rome. Your morning in Sorrento is free. You might browse the shops and pick up a bottle of the local limoncello. In the afternoon we leave Sorrento return to Rome. On arrival we check in to the hotel for our final night.

After a final breakfast at the hotel, your tour comes to an end. You depart Rome with plenty of memories from an 11-day journey across Italy.