Italian Sojourn

Discover the former capital of the mighty Venetian Republic, the beautiful city of Venice. Famous for the canals that crisscross this “floating” city, Venice is ideal to explore on foot or by one of the excellent local water buses, or vaporetti. You will be met at your ship for a short transfer to your hotel. The rest of the day and evening are at your leisure. A Viking Host is available to help you plan your time in Venice so you can make the most of your visit.

Today will afford you ample time to explore this storied city at your own pace. Discover the myriad hidden passageways and courtyards of Venice, and watch the ancient and modern worlds unfold over the perfect cup of cappuccino. Be sure to visit the magnificent Doge’s Palace and its works of art and elegant St. Mark’s Square, or take a boat over to Murano to glimpse the work of its legendary glassmakers. (B)

On your final day, you will transfer by motor coach to the airport for your return flight. (B)

Depart your ship in Venice and enjoy a scenic drive to Lake Maggiore. Check in to your hotel and spend the rest of the day at your leisure, then enjoy dinner this evening with your fellow guests. Your Viking Tour Director is available to help you plan your time at Lake Maggiore so you can make the most of your visit. (D)

Take a private boat ride across the lake to the Borromean Islands, owned by the Borromeo family for centuries. On Isola Bella, visit the Palazzo Borromeo to admire its collection of period furniture and decor, then stroll through the botanical garden full of rare plants from across the world. Enjoy free time for lunch on Isola dei Pescatori and visit the baroque-style summer palace on Isola Madre. Walk its grand halls and view exquisite collections of paintings, armor and silk tapestries. (B)

Transfer to Como, long a draw for poets, artists and actors; George Clooney has a summer residence, Villa Oleandra, on its shores. Admire the beauty of your surroundings during a scenic cruise on the city’s eponymous lake. Disembark at the village of Bellagio, the “Pearl of Lake Como,” and enjoy free time to independently explore its stone lanes and cobblestone stairways lined with graceful, century-old buildings and inviting shops. Return to Lake Maggiore for dinner. (B, D)

This morning, check out of your hotel and transfer to the airport for your return flight home. (B)

Disembark your ship in Venice and travel to the 16th-century Villa Giusti outside of Verona, temporary residence of King Victor Emmanuel III during World War I. Its lush palace gardens are considered one of the finest examples from the Italian Renaissance. Stroll among the age-old trees, gargoyles, fountains and echoing grottoes of this tranquil setting. After, proceed to Verona. Check in to your hotel, then enjoy free time to explore the city before having dinner at a local restaurant. (D)

Discover romantic Verona, the setting of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. During a guided walk of this UNESCO World Heritage Site, you will see the balcony of Juliet’s House, the legendary home of the Capulets. View the Verona Arena and stroll through Piazza delle Erbe and the open air Piazza dei Signori, then contemplate the monumental Scaliger Tombs. After lunch, transfer to Como, where you will check in to your hotel. This evening, enjoy dinner at a local restaurant. (B, L, D)

Board your private boat for a scenic cruise on Lake Como, long a draw for poets, artists and actors; George Clooney keeps a summer residence on its shores. Pass historic Villa Carlotta, renowned for its botanical gardens, and stop for free time in Bellagio, the “Pearl of Lake Como.” Return to Como for lunch on your own and free time to shop. Later, admire the Gothic Como Cathedral during a guided walk. This evening, take a cooking class, then enjoy the delicious dishes you have prepared. (B, D)

After breakfast, check out of your hotel and transfer to the airport for your return flight. (B)

This morning, disembark your ship and transfer to Venice for a guided walk along the winding cobblestone lanes of the vibrant Cannaregio neighborhood, once home to the city’s Jewish population. After lunch on your own, transfer to your hotel and check in. You are free to spend the rest of the day at your leisure. Your Viking Tour Director is available to help you plan your time in Venice so you can make the most of your visit.

Enjoy a hearty breakfast, then you may choose to partake in an optional excursion with your fellow travelers. After lunch on your own, take a guided walk through the city, stopping to visit St. Mark’s Square. Admire its famous Campanile and the grand interior of the basilica, then view the 14th-century Doge’s Palace, once the seat of government for the Venetian Republic and Courts of Justice. Tonight, enjoy an evening of bellinis and Italian cuisine. (B, D)

After breakfast, set out for a guided stroll through the historic city center. At the bustling Rialto Market, browse stalls displaying the day’s catch and observe locals as they shop, followed by a cicchetti lunch at a typical bacaro, or tavern. Spend the remainder of the afternoon at your leisure. This evening, take a cruise on the Grand Canal by water taxi, admiring the impressive palaces that line its banks and overarching bridges along this famous waterway. (B, L)

After breakfast, check out of your hotel and transfer to the airport for your journey home. (B)