From Florence to Venice by Train

Florence is often associated with the Renaissance movement, and rightly so, which you will discover with your private guide as you take an in-depth look at the Piazza della Signoria and del Duomo, as well as also Ponte Vecchio and other lesser-known sites. Your guide will tell you the ins and outs of the history as well as stories that surround these monuments, including Fra Angelico decorating the convent of Saint Mark, Savonarole's condemnation and execution in 1498, and Machiavelli teaching Laurent II of Medici. When your brains have been filled with all kinds of fascinating facts, and legs are weary, find yourselves a cosy pizza spot or bustling bar and settle in for the evening.

Tantalise your tastebuds on a guided gastronomical tour of the San Lorenzo Covered Market - a foodie’s paradise. It offers an extraordinary selection of regional delicacies, allowing visitors to sample the best of Florentine cuisine. Think cheeses, meats, olive oil, schiacciata, cantucci... not forgetting the famous red wine produced just outside of Florence: Chianti Classico. When the tour comes to an end, you will get the chance to taste different meats and cheeses as well as fresh focaccia and delicious truffle-based products (including oil, cream, honey and butter). Choose between a to-die-for pasta dish or first-class wine tasting to round off your tour.

Today is the day you’ll get to head out and explore Florence’s beauty by yourselves. The red roofs and dome of Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence rise up between the banks of the Arno River and the Tuscan mountains, and the city’s splendour is evident in its Renaissance palaces, churches and royal villas, thanks to the Medici family. Art and culture lovers should take a trip to the Uffizi Gallery, which is one of the most stunning in the world, as well as Pitti Palace, the Galleria dell'Academia, the Specola and its fantastic collection of wax anatomical models, and the History of Science Museum, which has a section dedicated to Galileo. All this sightseeing is bound to make you peckish, and food fanatics shouldn't miss out on a traditional bistecca alla Fiorentina (Florentine steak) or mouth-watering pasta with white truffle.

If you fancy a little more structure to your day, there is the option of a guided tour of the Fra Angelico neighbourhood, home to the illustrious Italian monk and painter of the Early Renaissance, to explore the Convent of San Marco and the Hospital of Innocents, with its most famous paintings.

This morning you will hop aboard the train and slowly wind your way through the Italian countryside, on a three-hour journey past sprawling lowlands and cypress-topped hillsides. You will be collected from the station and taken to your beautiful Venetian hotel, from which you can head out and get your bearings around this waterway-filled city. The best way to discover Venice is to get a little lost. There is plenty nearby to discover, including the Grand Canal, St. Mark's Square and the basilica and its mosaics, before enjoying a coffee and a zaletti (Venetian cookie) at Florian. Visit the Gallerie dell 'Accademia before wandering around the Rialto fish market and the Pinault collection of contemporary art. When legs inevitably get weary, sit back and relax on a gondola ride at Punta della Dogana.

After a leisurely morning, it’s time to head back out into the pretty streets of Venice. Exploring the city in the company of a local guide is the very best way to unlock the secrets of the many sites, monuments and buildings that line the waterways. Your guide will kick things off in St. Mark’s Square with an introduction to the buildings which surround one of the most beautiful and ancient squares in the world. You’ll be able to admire the Procuratie from the outside, as well as the Bell Tower, the Library and the imposing Byzantine era Basilica that was dedicated to St Mark. You will then reach the Doge’s Palace, which is one of the greatest examples of Gothic architecture, where masterpieces by some of the greatest Italian artists such as Titian, Tintoretto and Guardi are preserved. Although Venice is one of the most visited cities in the world, it hasn’t lost its secrets and charm. When you part ways with your guide, wander through cobble-stone squares or along the winding waterways to get a real feel for Venice.

Get your camera at the ready. Today you will spend a few hours with a professional photographer who knows Venice inside and out. They will combine some iconic sites with some of the more off-the-beaten-path, secret sites, streets and piazzas that will make for fantastic photos. You'll learn some of the skills of photo snapping, and how to capture the best moments of your day. Take things at your own pace and stop for an aperitif as the sun begins to set on your last night in Venice.