Impressions of Italy - JG Explorer

Ferry to Calais and overnight stay in France on a bed and breakfast basis.Ferry to Calais and overnight stay in France on a bed and breakfast basis.

Travel onwards to our overnight hotel in Basel, with dinner included. Along the way, we stop in the French city of Strasbourg, which sits on the German border and boasts a lovely Old Town with quaint colourful houses and twisting alleys, the canals of Petit France and the magnificent Strasbourg Cathedral. For 227 years, this imposing sandstone structure was the tallest building in the world and at its summit, the views stretch as far as the Black Forest.

We continue on to Hotel Biondi in Montecatini Terme, driving through stunning Alpine vistas. Just one highlight is St Gottard Pass, which connects the northern and southern regions of Switzerland and offers panoramic views of snow-capped peaks and lush valleys. We also stop en-route in Pisa, where must-sees include the world-famous leaning tower, the marble cathedral and spectacular baptistery of the Piazza dei Miracoli.

Today we enjoy a guided walking tour of Montecatini Terme. As one of the largest spa towns in the area, renowned for its curative waters, we take a look at the Parco delle Terme di Montecatini, an oasis of thermal waters, stunning Art Nouveau architecture and peaceful gardens. The rest of the day is left free to relax at the hotel or continue seeing the sights. You may like to visit the contemporary art gallery of MO.C.A, which displays works of Joan Miró and Claes Oldenburg.

We leave Montecatini Terme and travel via Siena, a beautifully-preserved hilltop city surrounded by olive groves and vineyards, best known for its Palio horse race which takes place each summer in the Piazza del Campo. We continue south to the Eternal City and check into the iH Hotels Roma Z3, where we stay for two nights.

We start this exciting day of sightseeing with a guided city tour of Rome. Highlights include Via Veneto, Santa Maria Maggiore, Circus Maximus, Ponte Sisto, Castel Sant'Angelo and the iconic Colosseum, the largest amphitheatre ever built in the Roman Empire. We continue our tour on foot, taking in some of the most famous sights of the Italian capital; the Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, Piazza Navona and the Spanish Steps. The rest of the day is free to explore the city at your own pace before we return to the hotel for dinner.

After checking out of our Rome hotel, we head to Florence, undoubtedly one of Italy’s most charming cities. Just some of the city’s must-sees include the Palazzo Vecchio, with a history dating back to the Medici rule, and the Ponte Vecchio, Florence’s lovely ‘Old Bridge’, which is still occupied by gold and silversmiths today. The true icon of the city, the Duomo, is a real sight to behold, featuring a terracotta-tiled dome, a green and pink-hued marble exterior and an impressive bell tower by Giotto. Afterwards, we travel to the Hotel Kona near romantic Verona, our base for the next two nights.

We explore the city of Venice, a floating work of art replete with locals lounging back in sunny piazzas with a spritz in hand. Boasting wonderful attractions and postcard perfect views around every corner, highlights include St Mark’s Square, the Bridge of Sighs and of course the gondolas that ply their trade up and down the canals.

Travel to our overnight hotel in France, with a light evening meal included.

Continue to Calais for our return ferry home, stopping along the way in the pretty city of Reims for some lunch at your leisure.