DAY 1: UK - Venice.
Fly to Venice where you will be met by our representative and transferred to your hotel for an overnight stay. (D)

DAY 2: Venice - San Marino - Chianciano.
We drive south across the delta of the River Po, arriving close to the shores of the Adriatic Sea for an included tour with local guide of the capital of San Marino, Europe's smallest republic. This fascinating clifftop city boasts three fairytale castles and a stunning, impeccably restored centre. In the afternoon we journey west to Chianciano, an elegant Tuscan town with its own thermal spa and handsome parks, where we will stay for the next five nights. (B, D)

DAY 3: Assisi - Lake Trasimeno
This morning enjoy a half-day excursion, with local guide, to pink-stoned Assisi. The birthplace of St Francis, Assisi is home to a myriad of fine historic monuments, most notably the St Francis Basilica, where the Saint is buried and which is best known for its exquisite frescoes by Giotto. On the way back to Chianciano, we will stop by the shores of Lake Trasimeno, one of Umbria's best loved beauty spots. (B, D)

DAY 4: Orvieto and Todi.
Another day sampling the delights of Umbria's rich cultural past, with a full day excursion to spectacular Orvieto, which sits astride a volcanic rock and is crowned by its magnificent Duomo, lavishly decorated with intricate mosaics, sculptures and frescoes. Later onto Todi for a visit of its charming medieval town. (B, D)

DAY 5: Arezzo.
Today a visit to one of Tuscany's jewels, the honey-coloured town of Arezzo, with its sloping Piazza Grande, fresco-painted church of San Francesco and 1st-century Roman amphitheatre. (B, D)

DAY 6: Pienza - Montepulciano.
A chance to spend the morning relaxing in elegant Chianciano and enjoying its stylish shops, parks and spas at your leisure. In the afternoon we travel to Pienza, a fine Renaissance town known for its cathedral and stunning central Palazzo. From there, to Montepulciano, a hilltop town famed for its ruby-red wine, where you can enjoy a wine tasting session and linger in its captivating main square to admire the Renaissance palaces and duomo. (B, D)

DAY 7: Urbino - Venice area.
Morning journey to Venice area, with a stop at enchanting Urbino, birthplace of Raphael, en route. Stay overnight in the Venice area and round off your tour in style with an optional dinner and evening out in Venice. (B)

DAY 8: Venice.
Transfer to Venice to embark your cruise ship, MSC Musica for a relaxing 7 night cruise round the Eastern Mediterranean. (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: Katakolon.
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 11: Santorini, Greece - Mykonos, Greece.
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), Greece.
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: 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 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)