Tuscany, Bologna & Lake Como with Bernina Express

Your journey through Northern Italy begins today at London St Pancras, where you meet the Tour Manager and your group of fellow travellers. Together, we join the Eurostar Plus service, enjoying a light meal at our seats enroute to Paris. On arrival, we switch trains and continue across France, passing the Italian Alps, on our way to the city of Turin.

The first capital of Italy and the former seat of the House of Savoy, Turin presents centuries of history in a beautiful setting. The city centre is surrounded by grand Baroque buildings and filled with charming cafés serving the famous wine and delicious culinary offerings of the Piedmont area.

Arriving this afternoon, we check in to our hotel in the heart of Turin and then gather for our first dinner.

•  Eurostar Light Meal
• Dinner

After breakfast, your morning is free to explore the nearby attractions of Turin. The city is one of bustling modern spirit, but it still showcases the past through its intricate Baroque and Renaissance architecture. Fringed by the Italian Alps, Turin's wide boulevards and grand public squares offer plenty of spectacular views.

Shortly after midday, we walk to the railway station for our First Class journey to Florence. On arrival, a coach transfer takes us onwards to Montecatini Terme, our base for the next three nights. This picturesque spa town is set in the Tuscan countryside and split into two parts: The lower town is known as Montecatini Terme, while on the hill above us is the Old Town of Montecatini Alto.

After checking in to our perfectly positioned hotel, there is some free time to settle in and look around the neighbourhood before we reconvene for dinner this evening.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Today is a holiday highlight as we travel by rail to the 'Jewel of the Renaissance', Florence. We walk to the railway station this morning for the short journey, and on arrival, enjoy a tour of the city's treasures. Our guide takes us to the Basilica of Santa Maria Novella, Piazza della Signoria, the Florence Cathedral, Ponte Vecchio and Piazza della Repubblica. Afterwards, we visit the Accademia Gallery with included admission to see one of the world's most beloved sculptures, Michelangelo's 'David'.

The afternoon is yours to enjoy at your own pace. Apart from breathtaking buildings and pretty piazzas, Florence has an astounding collection of Renaissance art, which you can find in its galleries, churches and Medici palaces. If you want to visit the Uffizi gallery, booking ahead is essential. Another wonderful way to experience Florence is to stroll across the river to wander amongst the Mediterranean and historic ornamental plants of the Boboli gardens, carefully maintained to fit Renaissance design.

We make our return journey by train and then have a free evening to dine locally.

• Breakfast

 A day of rich traditions and picture-postcard views lies ahead today as we board our coach mid-morning to journey into the Tuscan countryside to Tenuta Torciano. This sprawling wine estate, situated outside of San Gimignano in the heart of wine country, has been family-owned and operated for 13 generations.

Here, we learn about the Italian art of pizza making, with our chef expertly guiding every step from ingredient selection to dough making and baking. We utilise seasonal ingredients to make pizza, before eating a few different varieties for lunch, alongside a tasting of the exceptional wines produced on the estate.

From here, we continue to San Gimignano, whose 14 ancient towers welcome us to this hill town. Enjoy a free afternoon to wander the medieval streets of its historic centre - a UNESCO World Heritage site - before we return to our Montecatini hotel this evening. For dinner, you could explore the nearby restaurant options, perhaps enjoying some more Tuscan cuisine, such as steak Florentine.

• Breakfast, Lunch

Gaze upon the rolling vineyards and hill towns of Tuscany this morning as our coach takes us north to Bologna. A tapestry of terracotta medieval structures, Roman ruins and contemporary architecture lines the streets of this renowned locale, and we encounter their distinctive beauty on a guided tour.

Our route features the historic buildings that frame Piazza Maggiore, as well as Neptune's Fountain, Palazzo Re Enzo, Palazzo D'accursio, Piazza della Mercanzia and the Basilica of Santo Stefano. A highlight comes as we approach the 'Two Towers', Asinelli and Garisenda, whose slightly leaning profiles stand as city symbols.

There is some free time to find lunch or continue exploring before we continue the afternoon with a gastronomic tour. Get acquainted with the region's flavours as we explore a colourful medieval market, artisan shops, a chocolate factory, and groceries while mingling with locals. Each stop provides a deeper understanding of why Bologna is regarded as Italy's culinary capital.

We depart Bologna after our tour, continuing to our hotel in Parma, where we check in for two nights and have dinner this evening.

• Breakfast, Dinner

A UNESCO World Heritage-listed Creative City of Gastronomy and the capital of the Food Valley, Parma is a lesser-visited gem. In addition to being known for some of Italy's greatest culinary contributions, it charms with elegant piazzas, Romanesque buildings and rich culture that extends beyond the table. We uncover its ambience and historical architecture on a morning walking tour. Weave past Palazzo Ducale, the Baptistery, Piazza Garibaldi, the Duomo and the 16th-century university.

We continue our explorations with a coach journey to Langhirano, where we visit a Parma ham factory. We witness the making of prosciutto from salting fresh ham to the curing process. Afterwards, we enjoy a tasting of the savoury, yet slightly sweet, meat and sit down to a lunch featuring local products.

Upon returning to Parma this afternoon, you are free to continue exploring Parma's best features - and flavours - at your own pace. The city centre features numerous shops offering authentic tastes of the Emilia-Romagna region, including balsamic vinegar, Parmigiano Reggiano cheese and artisanal cured meats, as well as restaurants featuring local specialities.

• Breakfast, Lunch

The romantic scenery of Lake Como and the Italian Alps beckons this morning as we begin our journey towards idyllic Como. Our route pauses as we arrive in the stylish city of Milan, where distant views of the Alps hint at the beauty ahead.

A guide meets us upon arrival, and together, we set out on a guided tour. We visit the 14th-century Gothic Duomo, known for its high altar and artistic stained glass windows, and enjoy admission to its rooftop, where breathtaking views of the city abound. Our tour continues to Castello Sforzesco and Montenapoleone, Milan's high-end shopping street.

You can continue exploring independently or find lunch in one of the atmospheric cafés. We then reboard the coach for the final leg to Como, whose backdrop includes the Alps and shores dotted with luxurious villas, orange trees and sunlit village squares. Arriving mid-afternoon, we check in to our hotel, from which you can get your first glimpse of the lake or wander the city centre ahead of our group dinner.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Our day begins with a guided walk through Como. This destination is renowned for its lake views and gardens, and has a historical importance that we can appreciate as we explore. Look upon the classical medieval buildings and the impressive Gothic Duomo, and admire the charms of the Old Town while learning its stories. We then head to the shores of Lake Como to board a boat cruise to Bellagio.

Lush views surround us as we cross the water. Watch out for tucked-away villas nestled along the shore, and admire the pretty lakeside villages which are synonymous with the region. Docking in Bellagio, the 'Pearl of Lake Como', you have a free afternoon to soak up the views and history. Wander along the flower-bedecked promenade or through the streets of the lower town in search of an al fresco café for lunch.

Reboarding our boat, we cruise back to Como, where there's a free evening to have dinner locally, perhaps in one of the elegant restaurants overlooking Lake Como.

• Breakfast

Dubbed the rail experts' best-kept secret, crossing the Alps on the Bernina Express is an incredible experience. While most passengers journey from Switzerland to Italy, today, we follow it in reverse, travelling from Tirano to St Moritz.

After transferring to Tirano by coach, we settle into our panoramic carriages and prepare for a journey of exceptional scenery on a UNESCO-listed route. Winding out of our Italian valley town, the train spirals the corkscrew viaduct at Brusio and begins climbing. Enjoy jaw-dropping views of the Palü Glacier before we cross the Bernina Pass and make our way up to Ospizio Bernina at more than 7,300 feet above sea level. Mountain views continue to guide our journey through the Engadine Valley to St Moritz.

Stepping off the train, you can lunch independently before exploring St Moritz independently. From the lake to Via Serlas and the 12th-century Leaning Tower, there is much to uncover in this stylish resort. Our coach takes us back to Como later this afternoon, and we have dinner together on arrival.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Enjoy a slow morning to breakfast at the hotel or take a stroll along the pedestrian pathway beside Lake Como. A coach collects us from our hotel in the late morning and drives us to Milan's railway station, where our train to Chambéry awaits.

This four-hour journey begins with the Alps in the distance and becomes more dramatic as we near the French border. Look out at the towering peaks and sweeping valleys, and then watch as preserved medieval buildings come into view as we near our destination.

The French city of Chambéry boasts a distinct Italian ambience, which you can admire as you walk to our hotel from the station. After checking in to our hotel for the night, we sit down to the final dinner of our holiday.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Brimming with culinary delights and spellbinding scenery, this Italian expedition provided a memorable glimpse at the offerings of the northern regions. We explored Tuscany from our charming base in Montecatini Terme, visiting Michelangelo's David in Florence and a 300-year-old wine estate in San Gimignano, where we learned about pizza-making and wine. From here, we experienced the flavours of Bologna and Parma, and then spent three nights beside stunning Lake Como. Topping off all of this with a ride on the UNESCO-listed line of the Bernina Express created a journey to treasure.

Your holiday draws to a close this morning as we walk to Chambéry's station to join the train to Paris. Switching trains in the French capital, we take our Eurostar Plus seats and enjoy a light meal at our seats as we travel towards London St Pancras, from which you are free to return home.

• Breakfast
• Eurostar Light Meal