Indulge in rustic Italian cuisine, Roman relics and Baroque masterworks on a 11-day odyssey that combines a picturesque overland exploration of Lake Como and Venice with an extensive cruise through the Adriatic and along Italy’s west coast. Delve into the depths of delectable Northeast Italian wine vintages and savor Amarone’s cherry and cinnamon nuances in a cool, underground Valpolicella winery. Overnight provides time to float past Venice’s romantic arched bridges and ancient alleyways on a gondola ride. Dip a kayak blade in the clear waters near old harbor walls outside Dubrovnik. Sample homemade cheeses and sausages in a family-run olive grove near Kotor. Wander between restored mosaics, broken columns and cracked pottery amid Pompeii’s storied ruins. Dine on authentic, handmade pizza while gentle coastal breezes waft through Sorrento’s aromatic citrus trees.

Upon arrival at the Malpensa airport in Milan, an English-speaking guide will be waiting.  Board a motor coach for the 90 minute transfer to Lake Como and your 5-star luxury hotel where you will be greeted by the hospitality staff and checked into your room. You will have time to relax and get settled with an evening at your leisure after a long day of travel.

Breakfast is included at your hotel. This is your day to enjoy a private boat cruise tour. Meet your guide and board the boat. The first stop will be in Tremezzo to visit the beautiful gardens of Villa Carlotta, one of the many villas on the lake. Tour the gardens then re-board the boat to cross the lake to Bellagio, considered the jewel of the lake. Take a lively walking tour of the town and dine on the local cuisine at a restaurant overlooking the lake. Explore Bellagio on your own and see the Tower of the Arts, Villa Serbelloni Park, San Giacomo Church or Loppia Beach. Return by boat back to the hotel with the evening at your leisure and overnight.
 
(Includes overnight at your 5-star hotel and breakfast and lunch at Bellagio)

Chef-crafted omelets are a must for breakfast at the hotel before boarding your private transfer with your English-speaking guide for the 2.5-hour drive to Verona to reach Cantina Mosconi Bertani, a hidden winery. You’ll do a wine tasting of such wines as Amarone paired with cheese and charcuterie. Then it’s a 90-minute drive to Venice to the Palace Bonvecchiati, an impressive Venetian Palace. The afternoon is at your leisure before you meet your tour leader for a walking tour of St. Mark’s Square and the Rialto area. Try a Spritz, a typical Venetian aperitif. Mingle with locals in a Bacaro (Venetian wine bar) for a farewell dinner of local Venetian food. Spend the night in the luxurious the Palace Bonvecchiati.
 
(Includes breakfast at the hotel, dinner in Venice and overnight at the Palace Bonvecchiati. Wine venue is subject to change)

Breakfast at the Palace Bonvecchiati, then meet with your private Windstar Tour Guide, and transfer to your waiting Windstar ship.

No other sea approach in the Adriatic raises goose bumps like Venice, a small ship exclusive where the entire city and its lagoon are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. On your luxurious home-away-from home, you arrive already equipped with a sense of what it’s like to live in the city that’s neither land nor water. Add your own sigh to the Bridge of Sighs, sip a spritz al bitter as you plot your agenda, and let the water taxis do your navigating unless you don’t mind getting lost. Not such a bad prospect, with serendipitous discoveries around every corner.

The lovely fishing port of Rovinj on the west coast of the Istrian peninsula bordered on three sides by the Adriatic Sea. You can tour the maze of cobblestone streets that lead to the hilltop St. Euphemia Cathedral with its towering steeple dominating the skyline. Old Town Rovinj is a delightful tangle of medieval streets and twisting stairways. Seek out the Bronze Age ruins of Monkodonja, the hidden beaches or the breathtaking natural beauty of the 6-mile-long Lim Fjord.

Split welcomes you with open arms, Mediterranean style, and a bustling harbor lined with busy cafés. Beyond, looms stately Diocletian’s Palace a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the center of town. Within the palace walls, a majestic cathedral soars, surrounded by polished marble streets lined with every type of tempting shop. If you’re longing for a quiet respite, head for the western end of town for an easy stroll through a verdant mountain park. Or take an optional tour to Trogir, another UNESCO site.

While larger ships must pass by, we anchor right beyond the famous walled city so you can admire its beauty with every glance. Tender ashore and step right into Old Town, a UNESCO site where no cars are allowed, just eons of history. Capture the exhilarating views on your camera — and in your memory. End your day at the Buza Café (if you can find it) watching bold divers leap off the cliffs into the crystalline sea. 

Today you’ll discover one of Sicily’s jewels, the charming village of Giardini Naxos, nestled in one of the world’s most beautiful bays. An optional excursion to the popular hillside town of Taormina will be a highlight of your voyage — from the stunning setting of the iconic Greek Theater to the sparkling beaches along the Ionian Sea. Take a more adventurous tack and explore the UNESCO site of Mount Etna, Europe’s most active volcano.

UNESCO World Heritage Sites abound in Sorrento.   Optional tours will take you to the archaeological areas of Pompeii and Torre Annunziata, or the 4^th century B.C. city of Herculaneum. Perhaps your choice will be a boat ride to Positano, the legendary home of the Sirens. Perched on a terrace on the spectacular Amalfi Coast, Sorrento offers exceptional views of the Bay of Naples and Mount Vesuvius. 

In this enchanting city the past and present intersect in perfect harmony. Casually intermingled among ancient ruins and majestic cathedrals are the trappings of a modern metropolis: Skyscrapers,cafes, boutiques selling designer footwear. But of course what you seek first in the heart of Rome is its breathtaking history.  A good place to begin is the Vatican, with its Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica. Works by Bernini, Michelangelo, Caravaggio, and Raphael are just a few of those on display, any one of which is worth hours of contemplation. Then the ancient ruins—Colosseum, Forum, Circus Maximus. And of course the Trevi Fountain for the obligatory coins promising your return to the Eternal City.