Fly by scheduled flight. On arrival transfer to the MS Serenissima and enjoy welcome drinks and dinner as we moor overnight.

After breakfast we drive to Lecce, often referred to as ‘The Florence of the South’ with its amazing collection of Baroque architecture. A guided walk will include a visit to the beautifully decorated Santa Croce Basilica and Piazza Duomo, considered one of the finest and most impressive squares in southern Italy. After the tour, there will be an exclusive, private visit to one of the city’s palazzos. The owner of the palazzo will personally take us on a tour, sharing interesting stories and anecdotes regarding his family and the palazzo itself. We will also enjoy a concert of traditional music and dance of the Salento region called La Pizzica. Return to the ship for lunch and spend a relaxing afternoon at sea.

After a morning at sea we arrive into Ancona from where we drive inland to Jesi. Jesi was a prosperous town in the Middle Ages and Renaissance leaving a legacy of many beautiful palaces, churches and civic buildings which we will see during our guided city walk. The city was also the birthplace of the musician and composer Giovanni Battista Pergolesi in 1710 and we will see the theatre named after him before visiting the workshop of Maestro Quagliano to learn about the construction of violins, violas and cellos, all built according to classical traditions. Apart from music, this part of Marche is famous for its Verdicchio wines and we will enjoy a tasting accompanied by regional delicacies before returning to the ship. We remain moored in Ancona overnight.

A morning drive takes us to Pesaro, an attractive seaside resort on the Adriatic coast. We will explore the town, see the remarkable mosaic floor of the cathedral and visit the Civic Museum. However, our main reason for visiting Pesaro is to see the birthplace of the composer Gioachino Rossini. Our tour will take us to Via Rossini where we visit the house where he was born in 1792 and the small museum containing some of his original scores and documents. See the Conservatory, built with funds bequeathed to the Town Council on his death in 1868, and the local theatre which was named after him. We hope to enjoy a concert of his music with students at the city’s “Accademia del canto”. Return later to Ancona where there will be some free time to relax on board or explore independently. Maybe visit the 11th century Cathedral of San Ciriaco, the art gallery (Pinacoteca Communale), the archaeological museum or the remains of the Roman amphitheatre.

From our berth in Ravenna there will be a choice of tours today. Ravenna has a rich history being the capital of the Western Roman Empire and capital of the Ostrogoth Kingdom of Italy whilst the port of Classe was one of the largest in the Roman world. From the 4th to 6th century, the city became a hub for skilled craftsmen who covered the city’s churches in stunningly beautiful mosaics which were described by Dante as a “symphony of colour”. A morning tour will include the Basilica di Sant Apollinare, named after Ravenna’s patron and featuring mosaics of biblical figures such as Abraham and Emperor Constantine IV. Meanwhile, at the Basilica di San Vitale we will see mosaics representing scenes from the old testament and the Byzantine Emperor Justinian. Return to the MS Serenissima for lunch and an afternoon at leisure. Alternatively join a full day tour to Bologna, considered one of the most beautiful cities in Italy it is dominated by spectacular architecture from the Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque periods. Our exploration of music heritage in Bologna includes Bologna’s main music chapel inside the Basilica of San Petronio, the huge Gothic church of San Giacomo Maggiore, containing the private chapel of the noble Bentivoglio family, and the small oratory of Santa Cecilia. We end at the museum and library of music which exhibits musical instruments, manuscripts, original music scores and opera libretti spanning nearly six centuries of European music. The collection includes pieces from Padre Martini who met with a young Mozart on his visit to the city in 1770. We will enjoy lunch in the city and some free time before returning to the ship and sailing this evening.

After breakfast we will take a private motor launch, passing many of the 40 picturesque islands that surround the Venetian Lagoon to visit two of the most beautiful islands which are home to the city’s artisans. Murano has been renowned for its glass manufacture since 1291 and here we will witness masters of this delicate craft at work. Continue to Burano, a tiny island dotted with brightly painted houses but also famed for its traditional lace making, an art still practised by many of the local women. This afternoon and evening are free to explore at your own pace as we moor overnight. Should there be a performance at La Fenice we will be able to assist with bookings once the schedules for the theatres are released, we hope to send details of this 12 weeks prior to departure.

This morning we take a private tour of the famous Fenice Opera House. Founded in 1792, the theatre has staged many premieres of operas by Rossini, Bellini and Verdi. Despite being destroyed by fires in 1836 and 1996 the theatre has been restored to its original glory. After lunch we embark on a walking tour to discover the hidden corners of Venice. An off-the-beaten-track itinerary through the Arsenale, a colossal shipyard of the Serenissima Republic; the San Giorgio dei Greci Church and its secret courtyard; Campo Santa Maria Formosa, one of the city’s largest squares and Marco Polo’s House. We end at the Chiesa della Pieta, a former convent and orphanage and an authentic masterpiece of the 18th century by Giorgio Massari. The young orphans that stayed here were encouraged to study music and their most famous teacher was Antonio Vivaldi. It was here that he composed the Four Seasons and we have arranged for an exclusive private concert of Vivaldi themed music performed by a Venetian orchestra. It will be a thrilling experience to hear the music performed where it was created. Return to the ship for dinner as we sail this evening.

Arrive in Croatia at the tip of the Istrian Peninsula and the former Roman settlement of Polensium, now known as Pula. On a morning tour we will discover one of the best preserved Roman amphitheatres left in the world. The Arena, built in the 1st century AD was designed to host gladiatorial contests with seating for up to 20,000 spectators. This afternoon we will set sail to the atmospheric town of Rovinj where the houses inside the old town are small and lean into each other creating a unique atmosphere. Our guided walking tour will include the Franciscan Monastery, City Palace and the 17th century clock tower before we visit the town’s main landmark, St Euphemia Church, which is built on the top of a small hill. This Baroque building built in Venetian style was dedicated to the saint and martyr whose sarcophagus, according to a legend, was miraculously washed ashore somewhere around 800 AD. We will enjoy a private choir concert before returning to the ship and sailing this evening.

Rijeka has flourished under many empires from the Romans to Habsburg and Austro Hungarian which is reflected in the varied architecture in the city centre from the Roman arch to the 17th century St Vitus Church. A short walk from the pier is the Zajc Theatre. Named after Croatian composer, Ivan Zajc and built in 1885 this is the main theatre in Rijeka and we will be able to see the stunning ceiling which contains works by Gustav Klimt. Continue to the Governor’s Palace which houses the Maritime and Historical Museum. Here we find the Kresnik Collection dedicated to the life and work of Franjo Kresnik, a famous Croatian violinist, known as ‘the man who reads violins’. He built 52 violins himself, eight of which remain in the museum, and we will be treated to a private performance of one of these instruments. Return to the ship for lunch and enjoy an afternoon at sea.

Disembark this morning and transfer to the airport for our scheduled flight to London.

Itineraries are subject to change.