On day 6, journey through misty mountain passes and limestone spires of the Dolomites, a UNESCO site famed for alpenglow hues. Learn about First World War front lines that once cut across these serene valleys, then pause in a village café to sample traditional apple strudel.

Later, ascend by cable car to a panoramic terrace where jagged massifs ring green meadows and bell towers pierce the sky. Breathe crisp resin-scented air and pause for photos and reflection before descending to your alpine base for a quiet evening.

Travelling east on day 7, you’ll trace vineyard-draped ridgelines around Conegliano Valdobbiadene, a UNESCO-listed cultural landscape and birthplace of Italy’s finest Prosecco Superiore DOCG. Visit a boutique estate to sample Glera-based sparkling wines alongside a light lunch of local cheeses and salumi.

Winemakers share how steep terraced slopes and centuries-old pergola training create lively, orchard-fruited cuvées. Afterwards, continue to Venice and the S.S. La Venezia, ready to begin your week of lagoon sailing amid shimmering canals and marble-fronted palazzi.

Welcome to Venice on day 8 with early morning entry to the Doge’s Palace, stepping into frescoed halls and the Golden Staircase before public opening. Cross the Bridge of Sighs and hear of councils, courts and the might of La Serenissima.

Then, wander an authentic sestiere with your guide to discover quiet campi, artisan workshops and daily rhythms far from the crowds. Along the way, notice Byzantine brickwork, Gothic tracery and water-lapped facades that tell the story of a city built on trade and tide.

Return in the evening of day 8 for a private, after-hours visit to St. Mark’s Basilica as custodians illuminate its golden mosaic vaults. In the hush of the nave, the Pala d’Oro and jewel-bright tesserae shimmer to life, revealing stories of apostles, emperors and merchants.

With the doors closed to the public, your guide unpacks Venice’s Byzantine ties and the basilica’s role in civic ritual. This rare access invites you to pause for photos and reflection beneath the soaring dome before stepping back into moonlit Piazza San Marco.

On day 9, choose between two UNESCO-listed cities. In Vicenza, trace Andrea Palladio’s classical facades—the Basilica Palladiana, refined palazzi and the intimate Teatro Olimpico—to see how proportion and light shaped European architecture.

Alternatively, head to Padua to explore the Basilica of Saint Anthony and atmospheric squares like Prato della Valle. Hear tales of scholarly tradition at one of the world’s oldest universities and enjoy a free hour for espresso under the arcades before rejoining the ship.

Reboard in the afternoon of day 9 for a scenic sail across the Venetian Lagoon toward the islands of Mazzorbo and Burano. Watch as bell towers and salt marshes slip by, fishermen tend nets, and the water mirrors an ever-changing sky.

Come evening, enjoy a free stroll on Burano after day-trippers depart. Photograph rainbow-painted fishermen’s cottages, visit lace ateliers that preserve a centuries-old craft, and linger on quaysides where pastel reflections ripple in the quiet canals.

Begin day 10 on tranquil Torcello, cradle of Venice’s earliest settlement. With an expert, step inside the Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta to study glittering Byzantine mosaics, including a vast Last Judgment that spans the apse like liquid gold.

Continue on foot through Mazzorbo’s kitchen gardens and wooden bridges to colourful Burano, where lace-making traditions live on. Your guide reveals island lore and daily rhythms as you soak in the lakeside atmosphere before returning to the ship for a relaxed afternoon.

Alternatively on day 10, visit Murano to witness master glassblowers at work inside a traditional fornace. See molten gather whirled and coaxed into vases or chandeliers with canes, shears and breath—techniques guarded by guilds since the 13th century.

Your host explains colour recipes, murrine patterns and how Murano glass travelled from ducal palaces to royal courts. There’s time to browse refined showrooms and pause for photos and reflection along quiet canals before meeting the ship.

Spend day 11 in Chioggia, the Adriatic town nicknamed “Little Venice.” Join a guided exploration of canal-lined streets and stone bridges, learning how salt-pan trade and a proud fishing fleet shaped its independent spirit.

At the bustling fish market, discover seasonal catches and the rituals of local vendors as your guide decodes dialect terms and recipes like saor and broeto. Enjoy a free hour to sip a spritz on Corso del Popolo or photograph the Vigo Bridge before returning to the ship.

On day 12, set out by boat to explore the Po Delta, a labyrinth of reed beds and brackish lagoons where the Po River meets the Adriatic. Glide past fishing huts on stilts and watch for herons, egrets and—season permitting—greater flamingos feeding in the shallows.

Learn how shifting sands, Renaissance engineering and modern conservation have shaped this vital wetland. Return to the ship for lunch as you enjoy a leisurely sail back to Venice, with low islands and distant campanili sliding by.

On day 13, board a sleek launch to cruise the Grand Canal, Venice’s watery thoroughfare lined with Gothic and Baroque palazzi. Glide beneath storybook bridges as gondolas and vaporetti weave around you, revealing a city that moves to the rhythm of the tide.

You’ll arrive in style at the Rialto Bridge, the 16th-century stone arch that spans the canal’s narrowest point. Step ashore to explore arcaded shops and pause for photos and reflection as market boats bob along the quay.

Glide across Lake Maggiore on day 3, admiring grand Belle Époque villas and snow-dusted peaks as you cruise between the Borromean Islands. Enjoy exclusive early access to Palazzo Borromeo on Isola Bella, a Baroque treasure of frescoed salons and terraced gardens where white peacocks stroll the parterres.

Afterward, call at Isola dei Pescatori, a tiny fishing village of narrow lanes and sun-bleached stone. Wander past laundry-fluttered balconies and quiet chapels, then soak in the lakeside atmosphere with time to lunch at a waterside trattoria before cruising back to Stresa.

On day 4, discover Verona’s Roman Arena, elegant Renaissance palaces and the bustle of Piazza delle Erbe on a guided walk through this UNESCO-listed city. Hear how merchant wealth and Scaliger rule shaped its pink marble streets and Shakespearean lore.

Sit down to a refined, Michelin-starred lunch at Il Desco, where seasonal Veronese ingredients meet contemporary technique in vaulted, fresco-kissed rooms. Between courses, learn about Valpolicella terroir and the city’s culinary traditions before enjoying time to browse boutiques or pause for photos and reflection beneath medieval arches.

Arriving in South Tyrol on day 5, join a local expert to explore Bolzano’s porticoed old town, where pastel facades, German-Italian street signs and bustling markets reveal a crossroads of cultures. Hear how Alpine trade routes and Habsburg ties shaped the city’s character.

Enjoy free time to visit the South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology, home to Otzi the Iceman, a remarkably preserved 5,000-year-old mummy discovered in nearby glacier ice. Study his tools and clothing, then enjoy a free afternoon to sip a local Lagrein or browse artisan delis before continuing to your Dolomites stay.

On day 2, join a local expert to explore Milan’s cultural icons—the Duomo’s soaring marble forest, the glass-vaulted Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, and the storied Teatro alla Scala. Stroll elegant piazzas, pause beneath gilded arcades, and hear tales of Verdi, Visconti and the city’s avant-garde spirit.

Continue to Lake Como for time at leisure along the promenade, where cypresses frame glittering Alpine waters and villa gardens scent the breeze. Enjoy a lakeside coffee, browse chic boutiques, or simply pause for photos and reflection before travelling on to your Stresa base by the shores of Lake Maggiore.

Ease into Italy on day 1 with a convivial evening at your centrally located hotel near the Duomo di Milano. Meet your Travel Concierge and fellow travellers over regional specialities and Lombard vintages as you share first impressions and set the tone for the journey ahead.

Between courses, hear a brief orientation to the days to come and learn how Milan grew from medieval mercantile hub to today’s design capital. The mood is warm and relaxed—time to enjoy a free evening in the stylish heart of the city or simply linger over dessert before turning in.