DAY 1: UK - Venice area.
Fly to Venice where you will be met by our representative and transferred to your hotel in the Venice area for one night. (D)

DAY 2: Venice area - Padua - Salsomaggiore.
Your holiday starts with a highlight: a memorable canal boat ride to the heart of Venice. This enchanting 'floating' city is undoubtedly the most romantic in all Italy, with its criss-crossing canals, ornate water-washed palaces, enchanting arched bridges and hidden piazzas. Later, return to the mainland for a drive to Padua, a city with Shakespearean references, with time to admire its historic centre and grandiose St Anthony's Basilica. From here, continue on to Salsomaggiore Terme, your base for the next five nights. (B, D)

DAY 3: Salsomaggiore.
This morning enjoy an introductory walking tour of the charming town of Salsomaggiore, exploring its handsome architecture, pedestrianised café-lined streets and beautiful public park. Your tour includes a visit to its best-known landmark - the ornate spa house Terme Berzieri, an extraordinary example of liberty-style architecture protected as a national monument. The rest of the day is free for you to explore at your own pace or enjoy our optional afternoon excursion to Mantova, a town in Lombardy with a stunning medieval centre. (B, D)

DAY 4: Parma & Castles of the Duchy.
Today our first stop is the Sanvitale Castle at Fontanellato, an enchanting, moat-ringed medieval fortress. The castle is celebrated for its masterpiece by Parmigianino - a ceiling fresco depicting the myth of Diana and Actaeon. Next, enjoy a visit to the Meli Lupi fortress of Soragna. Transformed in the 17th century, this splendid edifice was home to Soragna's famous Meli Lupi princes and is still inhabited by one today. Admire the castle's lavish Baroque frescos, paintings and furnishings. From the castle, continue to the fascinating Museum of Parmigiano Reggiano, a unique celebration of its most famous export - Parmesan cheese - which tells the history of this legendary delicacy and how it is made. After sampling this local speciality, continue on to Parma, one of Italy's prettiest, yet often neglected cities. The visit includes a memorable walking tour of the city, taking in its medieval square and Romanesque cathedral with frescos by Correggio. (B, D)

DAY 5: Cinque Terre.
Look forward to wonderful scenery today as you cross the Apennines to La Spezia, a small city with a rich naval heritage on Italy's delightful Tyrrhenian coast. From here, a short train ride takes you to the spectacular Cinque Terre region, where the beauty of the rugged cliffs and romantic fishing villages once inspired Lord Byron. You will have the opportunity to walk along the famous 'Love Path' or 'Sentiero dell'Amore', a breathtakingly beautiful trail carved into the rocks between Riomaggiore and Manarola affording dramatic sea views. There is also the chance to continue to Monterosso, a picturesque seaside resort. Your Tour Director will explain all the options for your day and provide you with train passes and tickets to the 'Sentiero dell'Amore'. (B, D)

DAY 6: Salsomaggiore.
A day at your leisure to explore charming Salsomaggiore. Why not stroll through its tree-lined avenues or take advantage of some of the therapeutic wellness treatments the city is famous for. Alternatively, join our optional day trip to vibrant Milan, Italy's fashion capital. This historic, buzzing city brims with artistic heritage and boasts a spectacular cathedral, its mighty Gothic Duomo. (B, D)

DAY 7: Salsomaggiore - Verona - Vicenza - Venice area.
Bid farewell to this beautiful region today on our return to the Venice area, but not before experiencing two further pearls of Italy's cultural heritage. First stop is romantic Verona, a delightful city where Shakespeare set Romeo and Juliet, to admire its famous Juliet balcony. From here, on to Vicenza, where you'll enjoy a locally guided tour around its most famous sights. The highlight is your visit to the stunning Olympic Theatre, the world's oldest covered theatre. Arrive in the Venice area early evening. (B)

DAY 8: Venice.
After breakfast, transfer to Venice to embark your cruise ship, MSC Musica. (B, D)

DAY 9: Bari.
Facing the Adriatic, on the edge of the plateau of the Terra di Bari, Bari is divided into two main parts marked out by the Corso Vittorio Emanuele: the old city, a network of medieval streets and monuments, where visitors will lose themselves in the beauty of the impressive Romanesque-Pugliese structures, and the quarters which were developed after 1820 and characterised by perfectly straight streets and squares. (B, L, D)

DAY 10: Corfu.
This picturesque island is a popular holiday destination, and is known for its splendid beaches. The Old Town of Corfu has many colourful shops and lovely arcades and the surrounding countryside is filled with rich orange and olive groves. (B, L, D)

DAY 11: Santorini - Mykonos.
Santorini is a beautiful crescent shaped island with sheer cliffs that rise out of the sea. Visit Thira town, thought by many to be the lost city of Atlantis. Take a walk through the streets, with their characteristic white houses, with blue domed roofs and wonderful views over the sea. In the evening the ship docks at the fascinating Greek island of Mykonos famed for its cosmopolitan nightlife and Greek hospitality. (B, L, D)

DAY 12: Piraeus (for Athens).
After breakfast why not join an optional sightseeing tour of the Acropolis and Athens? The tour includes a visit to the Parthenon and the Acropolis museum, followed by a tour of the city by coach. (B, L, D)

DAY 13: Katakolon (for Olympia).
Katakolon on Greece's Peloponnese is the gateway to ancient Olympia, which was not only the birthplace of the Olympic Games, it was also a sanctuary dedicated to the god Zeus. Highlights of an optional excursion to Olympia include the ruins of the spectacular Temple of Zeus and the vast stadium, built to hold 45,000 spectators. (B, L, D)

DAY 14: Dubrovnik.
Noted for its imposing buildings, squares and fortified walls, Dubrovnik is Croatia's best preserved medieval city. It lies on the rugged southerly coast beside olive and pine bordered shingle beaches. (B, L, D)

DAY 15: Venice - UK.
Early morning arrival in Venice is a wonderful lasting memory. Disembark after breakfast and transfer to the airport for your flight to the UK. (B)