Italy Grand Tour — 10 Nights

Met at Fiumicino and driven into the city. The first evening is for the centro storico on foot — the Pantheon, Piazza Navona and the Trevi Fountain lit after dark — and dinner in Trastevere across the river. Overnight in Rome.

A private guide for the Colosseum, the Roman Forum and the Palatine hill above it, walked as one site and in that order while the morning is cool. The afternoon is free: the Capitoline museums, or the Aventine hill for the keyhole view of St Peter's. Overnight in Rome.

The Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel with a guide and a timed entry, then St Peter's Basilica. The afternoon is the Spanish Steps, Villa Borghese and the shopping streets between them, or a rest before a last Roman dinner. Overnight in Rome.

Ninety minutes north through the Tuscan hills. The Duomo, Brunelleschi's dome and the Baptistery in the afternoon, and the Oltrarno for the evening — the artisan quarter across the Ponte Vecchio, where the restaurants are quieter. Overnight in Florence.

The Uffizi in the morning with a guide and a timed entry — Botticelli, Leonardo, the Medici collection — then Michelangelo's David at the Accademia. Late afternoon at San Miniato al Monte for the view back over the city, which is better than the busier terrace below it. Overnight in Florence.

A private car south into the Chianti. Siena first — the shell-shaped Campo, the striped cathedral and the lanes between — then a slow drive back through the wine villages with a stop for lunch and a tasting at an estate. Return to Florence for the evening. Overnight in Florence.

Two hours east across the plain to Venice, arriving by water taxi along the Grand Canal. St Mark's Basilica and the square in the afternoon, then the quieter lanes behind it as the day-trippers leave. Overnight in Venice.

The Doge's Palace and the Bridge of Sighs at opening with a timed entry, then the vaporetto out across the lagoon to Murano for the glass furnaces and Burano for its painted houses. A gondola at dusk if you want one. Overnight in Venice.

Two and a half hours west to Milan. The Duomo and its rooftop terraces among the spires, the Galleria beside it, and Leonardo's Last Supper at Santa Maria delle Grazie at the time slot booked for you. Overnight in Milan.

An hour north to the lake and a day on the ferries: Bellagio on its headland, Varenna across the water, and one of the villa gardens — Balbianello or Carlotta — that made Como famous. Back to Milan for a last dinner. Overnight in Milan.

A private transfer to Malpensa for your flight home.