DAY 1: DEPART USA. Overnight flight to Rome.

DAY 2: ROME AT LEISURE. Welcome to Rome! On arrival at Rome's Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci Airport, there are complimentary transfers to your tour hotel. Relax or spend the rest of the day exploring this wonderful city. As evening falls, join your Tour Director and fellow passengers for a Welcome Drink.

Hotel: Grand Ritz/Grand Hotel Palatino

DAY 3: ROME SIGHTSEEING. With a local guide, visit the Vatican Museums, the treasure house of the Catholic faith with vast collections of ancient and Renaissance art. Continue to the Sistine Chapel, a masterpiece of Michelangelo's fresco skills. Then enter St Peter's Basilica to see Bernini's 'Popes' Altar' above the spot where St Peter is reputed to have been crucified. Afterwards, cross the River Tiber to ancient classical Rome and visit the world's largest Roman arena, the Colosseum, the scene of many gladiatorial contests, and overlook the Forum, the centre of ancient public life. The afternoon sees time set aside for sightseeing at your own pace. As night falls, why not enjoy a night out with splendid Italian food and wine. (BB)

DAY 4: ROME - FLORENCE. Travel north to the picturesque medieval town of Siena and stroll through its cobbled streets to the vast Campo Square, where the Palio horse race takes place amid great festivities. See the 'Fountain of Joy' and then walk up to the black and white striped cathedral. After some free time, continue through the cypress clad hills and vineyards of Tuscany to Florence. (BB,D)

Hotel: Sheraton

DAY 5: FLORENCE SIGHTSEEING. A guided tour takes you inside the Academy Gallery to see Michelangelo's original statue of David, then continue to the Cathedral to see Giotto's belltower and the 'Gates of Paradise' adorning the Baptistery. Visit the political stage of Florence, Signoria Square, filled with works of art, and finally see the tombs of Galileo and Michelangelo in Santa Croce Basilica. After watching a leatherwork demonstration, you have spare time to shop or continue sightseeing. (BB)

DAY 6: FLORENCE - ITALIAN LAKES. Travel to Pisa to see the famous Leaning Tower, the white marble cathedral and Baptistery before heading north to Milan to admire the Gothic Cathedral and famous La Scala Opera House. After some time here, head to the beautiful Italian Lake District for a two- night stay at a lakeside holiday resort on Lake Maggiore. (BB,D)

Hotel: Simplon/Splendid

DAY 7: ITALIAN LAKES AT LEISURE. The day is set aside to relax and enjoy all the fantastic sights this beautiful lakeland area has to offer. Why not take a cruise over to Isola Bella, one of the picturesque Borromean Islands? (BB,D)

DAY 8: ITALIAN LAKES - VENICE. Briefly enter Switzerland to visit the mountain ringed resort of Lugano. Take time to stroll by the lake's shores and shop for watches or fine chocolate. Continue to Verona to see Juliet's balcony and the ancient Roman Arena. Then it's off to romantic Venice, 'Queen of the Adriatic'. (BB,D)

Hotel: Continental/Sant'Elena/Bellini

DAY 9: VENICE SIGHTSEEING. What better way to see Venice than from our private launch, cruising past palazzos and churches to St Mark's Square? See the Basilica, the Doges' Palace and Bridge of Sighs. Watch a demonstration of glass-blowing before enjoying a highlight ride by traditional gondola along the picturesque canals. Spend time at leisure exploring at your own pace. As night falls, why not enjoy a traditional Venetian dinner with music? (BB)

DAY 10: VENICE - ASSISI. Skirt the Venetian Lagoon and cross two of Italy's most important rivers, the Adige and Po, before approaching the city of Ravenna. Stop to visit the Church of St Apollinaris in Classe with its dazzling mosaics. Then the scenery changes dramatically as you drive through the Apennines to Assisi to see the Church of St Mary of the Angels and enjoy a guided visit inside the Basilica of St. Francis. (BB,D)

Hotel: Grand Hotel

DAY 11: ASSISI - SORRENTO. Drive past the vineyards of Frascati and Castelli Romani to the Commonwealth Cemetery in the shadow of the brooding hilltop monastery of Cassino. Continue along the clifftops to the picturesque holiday resort of Sorrento, which bustles with life until late each night. Hotel: Corallo/Crowne Plaza di Stabiae (Pozzano). (BB)

DAY 12: ISLE OF CAPRI EXCURSION. Visit Sorrento's Piazza Tasso and watch the art of 'intarsio' wood inlaying. Cruise to the island of Capri and ascend to Capri town by funicular railway. There is time to explore before returning to Sorrento. (BB,D)

DAY 13: SORRENTO - ROME. Drive to the ancient Roman city of Pompeii, eerily preserved by the eruptions of Mount Vesuvius in AD79, and walk with a local guide through cobbled streets to explore some of the shops, villas and temples. Return to Rome where you stroll to the Spanish Steps before your Highlight farewell dinner including pasta, wine and music. (BB,HD)

Hotel: Crowne Plaza St Peters/Tiberio

DAY 14: RETURN TO USA. The tour ends with complimentary transfers to Rome Airport. (BB)