Wake to your first full day in Rome for a morning at leisure. After your first complimentary hotel breakfast in Italy, head out and see the city as local shutters are hauled open, and the bustle of Roman life begins to stir.
The afternoon’s city tour will be sure to hit the most coveted sites, so use your morning to wander the leafy streets of Trastevere – a bohemian neighbourhood by the River Tiber with bustling piazzas and unique trattorias for your first taste of Italian fare.
Return to your hotel briefly before embarking on an afternoon tour to some of Rome’s most celebrated landmarks. Following your guide, discover the layers of history that make this city so extraordinary – from ancient Roman ruins to Renaissance masterpieces, baroque fountains and charming piazzas where locals gather for their passeggiata (evening stroll). Each stop reveals another chapter in Rome’s 3,000-year-long story, bringing all that history to life in front of your eyes.
This afternoon, perhaps set out on a guided walking tour through the heart of the Eternal City, tracing the splendour of Baroque architecture and art. The route includes several of Rome’s greatest icons, including the magnificent Trevi Fountain, the Column of Marcus Aurelius, the Palazzo di Montecitorio (designed by Bernini), the Pantheon, Palazzo Madama – home to the Italian Senate – and the lively Piazza Navona.
The evening is yours to explore once more. Try your own passeggiata through the romantic streets of Trastevere, claim a table at a neighbourhood trattoria, or enjoy a gelato while people-watching along the River Tiber.
Enjoy a leisurely final morning in Rome. Relish a sleep-in as the city wakes up or head to a local cafe for one last taste of the city’s energy.
After lunch, board your private coach for the journey north to Tuscany. Rome’s urban sprawl gives way to endless countryside – you can almost taste the tannins as vineyards come into view. This is Tuscany, where every vista is a Renaissance painting come to life.
Signature Accommodation: Torre a Cona
Arrive at the grand estate of Torre a Cona, where you’ll find 30 elegant rooms in a magnificent 18th-century villa set among 500 acres of vineyards and olive groves. This luxury boutique wine estate, owned by the founding family of Martini & Rossi, is a true postcard-worthy icon nestled in Tuscany’s rolling hills. Rooms are characterised by 18th-century features and decorations, with soft colours that recall the Tuscan countryside and furnishings of fine fabrics chosen by the countess.
Check-in and take a moment to absorb your surroundings – the scent of lavender and rosemary in the gardens, the gentle rustle of olive trees and the spectacular vineyard views. This estate, steeped in history and beauty, will be your home for the next four nights.
Insider Experience: Dinner at The Osteria di Torre a Cona
As evening approaches, savour dinner at The Osteria di Torre a Cona, a relaxing space tucked into the estate’s lemon house.
The Osteria embodies a new dining concept that reflects the property’s philosophy: simple elegance, modernity and a deep connection to nature. The menu draws inspiration from Tuscan tradition, showcasing locally sourced ingredients in a fashion that speaks to guests of all preferences.
Each course is designed to enhance the natural flavours of the highest-quality seasonal ingredients – aromatic herbs from the garden, vegetables from nearby farms, and the estate’s own olive oil. This is dinner as it should be: unhurried, genuine and unforgettable.
Travel time: Driving – approx. three hours
Insider Experience: Dinner at The Osteria di Torre a Cona
Wake to the gentle sounds of the Tuscan countryside before enjoying a leisurely breakfast at the estate, including fresh pastries, local honey and strong Italian coffee while surveying the vineyards.
Insider Experience: Lunch at the legendary Dario’s butcher shop
After a short drive to the charming hilltop town of Panzano, meet Dario Cecchini, the world’s most famous butcher and an eighth-generation master of his craft who has elevated butchery to an art form.
Step into his acclaimed Antica Macelleria Cecchini butcher shop, where meat hangs from the ceiling, Dante’s verses are recited with passion, and opera blares from speakers as Dario holds court behind the counter. This is more than a butcher shop – it’s theatre, philosophy and poetry all wrapped up in one unforgettable experience.
Watch as the butcher works his magic, perhaps sharing a story, a joke or a passionate speech about the nobility of his craft. Then, settle in at one of the unique onsite dining rooms for a lunch that embodies his beliefs. The fixed-price menu showcases lesser-known cuts prepared through braising, boiling and grilling – techniques that reveal the full potential of every part of the animal. “We believe in good food, good prices and good company,” says Dario, as lunch is served family-style, with diners eating according to their appetite. The restaurant also offers a satisfying vegetarian menu, ensuring no one misses out on the magic of Dario’s butcher shop.
Enjoy the evening at leisure, after a day full of fine food and fabulous company. Stroll through Torre a Cona’s lush vineyards or settle in your room for true peace and quiet.
**Travel time: **Driving – approx. one hour
Insider Experience: Lunch at the legendary Dario’s butcher shop
Today is yours to craft exactly as you wish. Choose from a carefully curated selection of included experiences that showcase Tuscany’s wonders. Whether you’re drawn to art and history, wine and gastronomy or slowly soaking in the atmosphere, there’s an option to match your mood. Don’t worry – if you don’t manage to fit in every activity, tomorrow’s schedule is free for further Tuscan exploration too.
Tuscan cooking class at Torre a Cona : Enter Torre a Cona’s beautiful kitchen for a hands-on cooking class celebrating the heart and soul of Tuscan cuisine. Learn to craft fresh pasta from scratch, rolling silky sheets of dough, shaping delicate ravioli and mastering the art of pappardelle. Work with seasonal ingredients plucked straight from the estate’s gardens and discover the secrets behind long-time Tuscan classics.
Wine tastings and estate tours: Journey through centuries of family history and winemaking tradition with expert guides. Learn about the estate’s historic cellars and the legendary Vinsantaia – where Tuscany’s legendary dessert wine, vin santo, aged for years in oak barrels.
Horseback riding: From decanting to cantering, this is a dream for many and reality for few. Exploring the Tuscan countryside on horseback is a unique way to become acquainted with the estate’s undulating scenery, offering an enchanting experience available from beginners up.
Hike the estate: Explore Tuscany’s beauty on foot with experienced environmental guides who know the territory’s geology, flora, fauna, history and local traditions. Routes are available for all levels, from leisurely strolls to more challenging hikes.
Spa and massage treatments: Indulge in a rejuvenating massage with natural essential oils in Torre a Cona’s tranquil spa setting. Let a professional masseuse melt away tension as soft music serenades and you lose yourself in this quiet corner of paradise.
Alternatively, enjoy a quieter day of downtime, perhaps with a good book and a stroll through the olive groves. In the evening, settle in with a glass of Chianti (at own expense) and watch the hills turn to gold. This is dolce far niente – the sweetness of doing nothing – at its finest.
Another day in Italian paradise where the schedule is yours to make the most of. Choose from a carefully curated selection of included experiences that showcase Tuscany’s wonders. Whether you’re drawn to art and history, wine and gastronomy or slowly soaking in the atmosphere, there’s an option to match your mood.
After breakfast, Tuscany will sail into the rear-view mirror as your coach races towards Maranello. Today brings together two of Italy’s most celebrated passions: artisanal food and legendary automotive engineering.
Delight in a visit to a traditional cheese farm, where you’ll witness skilled cheesemakers carrying out the 900-year-old craft of making Parmigiano Reggiano. Watch as enormous copper cauldrons bubble with fresh milk, transforming into curds that will be hand-moulded, brined and aged for at least 12 months in temperature-controlled ageing rooms. Sample Parmigiano Reggiano of various ages – from the younger, creamier wheels to the deeply complex, crystalline varieties. Learn to identify the subtle flavour notes and understand why this cheese, made from just milk, salt and rennet, is considered one of the world’s finest. It’s a masterclass in patience, precision and respect for tradition.
Continue to Maranello, the home of the Prancing Horse, where Ferrari has been raising automotive legends since 1947. Work up an appetite at the Ferrari Museum, delving into a world of speed, passion and Italian engineering. Admire iconic models that have defined motorsport and discover the stories behind Ferrari’s greatest triumphs in interactive exhibits, simulators and cabinets of enduring memorabilia.
Insider Experience: Lunch at Ristorante Cavallino
Just across the street, discover the hallowed establishment that has fed Ferrari’s drive for success since 1950, Ristorante Cavallino. Originally the factory’s staff canteen, it has been transformed into a dining destination for friends, drivers and distinguished guests. These historic rooms have witnessed celebrations and commiserations, hosting an extraordinary range of memorable events where Enzo Ferrari’s trailblazing vision came to life.
The restaurant underwent a stunning renovation in 2021, and the space now pays homage to traditional Italian trattorias while incorporating Ferrari’s racing heritage. In addition, the restaurant supports local autistic teenagers and adults through Il Tortellante – the initiative of Chef Massimo Bottura and wife Lara Gilmore which recognises the therapeutic benefits of making tortellini by hand.
Soak in the unique atmosphere as you settle into seats surrounded by mounted engines, then dive into the menu together, including an unmissable tortellini dish, and Mòdna – a classic sachertorte reimagined with sour cherries. Crafted by one of Italy’s greatest chefs, Massimo Bottura, each dish showcases Emilia-Romagna’s finest ingredients, from the now-familiar Parmigiano Reggiano to aceto balsamico.
Continue your journey to Bologna, one of Italy’s most gastronomically important cities. Check into your hotel and enjoy a relaxed evening at your leisure. Make the most of your free time with a walk through the world’s longest and most famous porticoed streets, discover a traditional osteria for dinner, or simply relax and reflect on a day that perfectly captured the essence of Italy.
Travel time: Driving – approx. three hours
Insider Experience: Lunch at Ristorante Cavallino
After breakfast, lace up your walking shoes for a tantalising journey through Bologna – a city so devoted to food that Italians affectionately call it ‘La Grassa’ (The Fat One). This is the birthplace of tortellini, tagliatelle al ragu, mortadella and countless other culinary treasures that define Italian cuisine.
Set off with your expert local guide through the historic city centre, where medieval towers rise above endless porticoed streets and the aroma of fresh pasta drifts from family-run trattorias. Your progressive tasting tour serves as lunch, taking you to carefully selected stops that showcase the city’s gastronomic soul.
Taste mortadella – Bologna’s silky-smooth, pistachio-studded pork sausage – and sample tortellini in brodo, those tiny stuffed pasta parcels floating in golden capon broth that Bolognese grandmothers have hand-shaped for centuries. Taste true tagliatelle al ragu, where meat is slowly braised for hours until it melts into a rich, velvety sauce that clings to fresh egg pasta.
Between bites, your guide will reveal Bologna’s hidden corners – the ancient canals that once powered the city’s silk industry, the towers built by feuding noble families, and the oldest university in the Western world, founded in 1088.
Return to your hotel with the afternoon free to explore at your own pace. Perhaps climb the Asinelli Tower for sweeping views over Bologna’s terracotta rooftops, browse the stalls at Mercato di Mezzo, or find a cafe under the porticoes and watch Bolognese life unfold.
Today’s scenic route takes you through a region that puts Italian food on a pedestal for the world to enjoy. Emilia-Romagna is arguably Italy’s greatest food valley, home to cherished ingredients you will soon taste at their source.
Insider Experience: Prosciutto tasting
Your first stop takes you deep into the hills south of Parma, where the magic of prosciutto begins. Visit a traditional prosciutto producer where pork leg, sea salt, time and plenty of passion are the only ingredients used to create what many consider among the finest prosciutto in the world. Walk through cellars built according to traditional architectural models, with large windows that welcome the mild Marino sea wind.
Before your very own tasting, learn how salting masters still salt each haunch by hand, and watch the traditional ‘needle sampling’ method – where a horse shank bone is inserted into the meat and immediately smelled for aroma and quality.
Insider Experience: Parma foodie walking tour
Continue to the elegant city of Parma for a progressive tasting journey, including a special stop home to the best prosciutto they’ve ever tasted. This isn’t your typical tourist trail; these are the addresses locals keep close and food lovers toil to find.
Stop at a legendary salumeria for prosciutto and pancetta, and watch as the store’s experts slice impossibly thin ribbons of aged ham. Sample culatello, the prized ‘king’s cut’ from the heart of the ham, alongside mortadella, coppa and other cured treasures.
Your culinary crawl continues with four carefully curated stops: a historic pasticceria for traditional cake, a neighbourhood panino shop where simple sandwiches delight, a pasta spot showcasing the region’s signature shapes, and finally, a gelateria serving the flavours of an Italian summer.
Board the coach for the final leg of your journey to Milan, Italy’s fashion and design capital. As you travel through the Lombardy plains, reflect on the extraordinary flavours of Emilia-Romagna and the culinary secrets you’ve been privy to today.
Arrive in Milan in the late afternoon and check-in to Milano Verticale | UNA Esperienze. The evening is yours to explore a city unlike other Italian capitals. The hotel’s Porta Nuova district is a joy to explore, with its pedestrianised piazzas of aperitivo bars and design-forward restaurants. If you’re hungry for more Milanese moments, the cobblestone streets of Brera are just a 20-minute walk away for an evening spritz or late-night gallery visit.
**Travel time: **Driving – approx. three hours
Insider Experience: Prosciutto tasting
Insider Experience: Parma food crawl
Your final full day in Italy begins with a journey illuminating Milan’s fascinating duality – a city where ancient Roman ruins stand alongside cutting-edge architecture, and centuries-old traditions meet modern innovation.
Set off with your expert local guide to discover the city’s magnificent highlights. Stand in awe before the Duomo di Milano, one of the world’s largest Gothic cathedrals, its forest of marble spires and 3,400 statues reaching toward the sky. Step inside to witness light filtering through stained glass windows that have been illuminating the faithful since the 14th century.
Continue through the opulent Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, Italy’s oldest active shopping arcade, where luxury boutiques nestle beneath a soaring glass dome and intricate mosaic floors. Learn the quirky Milanese tradition of spinning three times on the bull’s testicles in the floor mosaic for good luck – a ritual that has polished the brass to a mirror shine over decades.
Insider Experience: Milanese foodie walking tour
Take a delicious turn as you explore the city’s artisan food traditions on a food-filled Milanese walking tour. Stop at Cova Montenapoleon, an historic bakery specialising in panettone, and sample a slice of this impossibly light, fragrant bread.
Discover other regional specialties including creamy risotto alla milanese, the city’s signature saffron-infused rice dish, and cotoletta alla milanese, the breaded veal cutlet that has been feeding Milanese since the Middle Ages. Your guide will reveal the stories behind many beloved dishes and point you toward the city’s finest addresses for Milanese cuisine as you experience it all like a true local.
Return to your hotel with the afternoon free for final explorations or relaxation. Perhaps revisit a neighbourhood that captured your heart or hunt for last-minute treasures in Milan’s design boutiques.
Insider Experience: Farewell Dinner at Locanda Perbellin
When dessert arrives and the final wine is poured, take a moment to absorb the laughter, the clinking glasses and the contentment of a special meal and trip well spent.
Buon appetito, and grazie mille for an unforgettable Italian adventure.
Insider Experience: Farewell Dinner at Locanda Perbellin
Farewell your fellow travellers as your Italian itinerary comes to an end, and your French finale begins. After breakfast, you’ll be transferred to Milano Malpensa Airport (MXP) for your flight to Lyon (LYS) with a short stopover in Brussels (BRU).
Touching down in Lyon, make your own way to Radisson Blu Hotel in the third arrondissement.
The rest of your day is at leisure, so adjust to French time and prepare for 11 days of calm cruising from tomorrow morning.
Travel time: Driving – approx. 45 minutes / Flying – approx. 90 minutes; 90 minutes
Wake to your first morning in France, with a Radisson Blu breakfast waiting downstairs ahead of your cruise embarkation.
Make your way to Quai Claude Bernard where the Scenic Sapphire awaits on the banks of the Rhône, before exploring the ship and settling into your suite on the jewel deck. Once aboard, you may like to relax on the sun deck, enjoy a drink overlooking the city or head ashore independently.
Lyon is known for its historic passageways, Roman heritage and exceptional food scene, so the ship remains docked overnight, giving you a leisurely night of exploration.
This evening, meet the Scenic crew and fellow travellers over an onboard dinner, toasting to the wonders that await downstream.
11-day cruise onboard the Scenic Sapphire
Today, your cruise officially begins, gliding south along the Rhône towards Vienne, a riverside town with more than 2,000 years of history. The city was once an important Roman settlement, and its ancient theatre, temples and baths still shape the character of the old town.
Choose how you’d like to explore with your first of many Scenic Freechoice experiences. Join a guided walk featuring Vienne’s well-preserved Roman theatre, or take a cycling tour past the Temple of Augustus and Livia, Roman ruins and the green banks of Île Barlet.
Return to the ship for lunch and enjoy the changing landscapes of the Rhône Valley as you continue south. This evening, relax over dinner while the river carries you towards Provence.
This morning, arrive in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, one of the Rhône Valley’s best-known wine villages where the surrounding vineyards are celebrated for rich reds made from Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre.
Choose from a selection of Scenic Freechoice experiences. Enjoy a wine tasting, join a chocolate workshop featuring local wines, or cycle along the ViaRhôna to the Passerelle de l’Oiselay.
Later, arrive in Arles, a city shaped by Roman history and the artistic legacy of Vincent van Gogh. Depending on your choice, discover its ancient amphitheatre, visit Les Baux-de-Provence and the Carrières de Lumières, or explore Provençal olive oil and lavender traditions.
Spend the morning exploring more of Arles, founded by Julius Caesar and home to some of the best-preserved Roman monuments outside Rome. Join a local guide through the old town, trace Van Gogh’s artistic connections or travel into the Alpilles to explore Les Baux-de-Provence and its immersive art installations.
You may also visit an olive farm to learn about traditional Provençal recipes and oil production, or discover how lavender, thyme and rosemary are transformed into fragrant essential oils.
Return to the ship and settle into an afternoon of cruising towards Avignon. Watch the riverbanks unfold from the Sun Deck before arriving in the historic City of the Popes.
Wake to a slow morning in Avignon, once the seat of the papacy and now one of Provence’s most characterful cities. Encircled by medieval walls, the old town is home to the World Heritage-listed Palais des Papes and the remnants of the famous Pont d’Avignon.
Yet more Scenic Freechoice experiences are yours for the choosing. Take a guided walk through the city and the Pope’s Palace, visit the ancient Pont du Gard, shop for local ingredients with a Scenic chef before a cooking demonstration, or explore Gordes and Sénanque Abbey in the Luberon.
Come evening, enjoy a Scenic Enrich experience inside the Palais des Papes. Once the public has departed, enter the Gothic palace for an exclusive dinner accompanied by a private classical concert.
This morning the cruise docks in Viviers, where narrow lanes, cathedrals and stone facades have changed little over the centuries. With a local guide, explore the Cathedral of St Vincent and the historic centre, or learn about the French Resistance and the Battle of Montélimar during the Second World War.
In the afternoon, choose how to discover the surrounding region. Travel through the Ardèche National Park to the Caverne du Pont-d’Arc Museum, sample wines from the Côtes du Rhône Villages, or visit Grignan, where a Renaissance castle rises above the Provençal rooftops.
Return to the ship for an evening on board as you continue along the Rhône.
A leisurely morning floats north towards Tournon, with arrival in the hillside town due this afternoon. The town is framed by terraced vineyards and the Rhône River; its historic castle and cobbled streets offering a relaxed introduction to this corner of the Ardèche.
Choose a guided walking tour through the town and its castle, then cross France’s oldest suspension bridge to Tain-l’Hermitage, home to renowned chocolatiers. Alternatively, hike through the surrounding vineyards or cycle beside the Rhône to the village of Glun.
Back on board, enjoy an afternoon aperitif and take in the scenery from the ship. Tonight, a dessert buffet showcases classic French pastries prepared by a local pâtissier.
Today returns to Lyon, as the Rhône and Saône rivers meet. The city’s history stretches from its Roman foundations to its silk-making past, with hidden traboules, grand squares and more than 4,000 restaurants to discover.
Choose from a guided city tour featuring the historic passageways and Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière, a visit to the medieval village of Pérouges or a silk-painting workshop exploring Lyon’s long connection with the textile trade.
This evening, step ashore for a Scenic Enrich experience at the 17th-century Chapelle de la Trinité. Admire its Carrara marble interior before an exclusive a cappella choir performance.
Dock this morning in Mâcon, ahead of 24 hours exploring this gateway to the Burgundy wine region. Here lies a riverside town of pastel-coloured facades, historic churches and famous wine connections.
Today’s Scenic Freechoice experiences include a visit to Cluny and its former Benedictine abbey, the restored Château de Cormatin, and a meeting with a local truffle farmer. Alternatively, discover the heritage of Tournus, including its Hôtel-Dieu and Romanesque Saint-Philibert Abbey.
Back on board, watch a cooperage demonstration and learn how artisans shape oak barrels for the wine and spirits industries. This evening, dine at Crystal Dining during an exclusive onboard experience prepared by Michelin-quality chef, Didier Goiffon.
Embrace a second morning in the Mâcon region, with a choice of experiences that highlight Burgundy’s food, wine and architecture. Travel through the rolling Beaujolais hills to meet a local vintner and taste the region’s drops, or visit the village of Vonnas for a cooking demonstration inspired by the cuisine of Michelin-quality chef, Georges Blanc.
You may also explore Bourg-en-Bresse and the Monastère Royal de Brou, a 16th-century Gothic and Renaissance masterpiece commissioned by Margaret of Austria.
Return to the ship for one final afternoon on the river. Take in the passing vineyards and villages from the sun deck, or enjoy the ship’s facilities before an evening toast to 11 days of Scenic cruising.
Wake to your final morning aboard the Scenic Sapphire, with one last breakfast on the journey back to Lyon.
Savour these views of the countryside that has shaped southern France’s food and wine traditions, reminiscing on all you’ve seen and sipped over these 22 days.
After breakfast, farewell your Scenic crew and disembark in Lyon. A Scenic transfer will drop you at Lyon Airport (LYS) where your tour concludes.
Please note: Please do not book your onward travel before 1pm.
Travel time: Driving – approx. 30 minutes