Bellerive, Salò

Rome

Italy not only has many of the greatest 16th and 17th century gardens in Europe, it also has some which have been extensively restored and indeed created in the 20th century. We visit two of these at Ninfa and La Landriana.

5 nights price from £2645 per person

Milan

From 'risotto' and 'parmigiano' to 'tiramisù' and 'cappuccino', the Italian language has become a culinary 'lingua franca' synonymous with some of our favourite dishes. Designed for those with a curiosity about Italian which extends beyond the menu, our new holiday combines the best of Milanese cuisine with informal conversation classes.

Lake Como

After a morning walking tour of Como, we travel by hydrofoil to Bellagio, known as the ‘Pearl of the Lake’. At the Villa Melzi exotic species thrive in the warm climate – the garden is renowned in springtime for its riotous display of azaleas.

Milan

La Scala, Milan is, for most opera lovers, the world’s most revered and important opera house. The theatre opened in 1778 with a performance of an opera by Salieri and since then many of the greatest Italian operas have received their first performance on its hallowed stage.

Held every summer in Pesaro, where the composer was born in 1792, the Rossini Festival has always attracted the world’s greatest bel canto singers. Marilyn Horne, Montserrat Caballe, June Anderson, Rockwell Blake, Chris Merrit and Juan Diego Florez are just a few of those who have sung in Rossini’s hometown.

5 nights price from £3397 per person

The mountains that fringe the crystal waters of Lake Como provide a dramatic backdrop to elegant villas and some of the world’s finest gardens.

Naples

The ancient, imperial history of Naples and its glorious bay is so powerfully etched into the minds of travellers to the region that it often comes as a shock to remember that, after the fall of the Roman Empire, Naples was reborn and went on to establish itself as a major cultural centre.

6 nights price from £2879 per person

Milan

Marking the 150th anniversary of its premiere, Milan’s La Scala will stage two full cycles of Wagner’s Der Ring des Nibelungen, the first in a decade.

7 nights price from £5978 per person

Venice

The second of our two weeks in Venice with Charlie Hall will take you beyond La Serenissima itself, to the islands of the lagoon, Giotto's magnificent frescoes in Padua and the Palladian villas of the Veneto. A series of world-class experts will give lectures on Venetian cuisine, opera and modern art.

8 nights price from £4948 per person

Venice

The first of our two weeks in Venice with Charlie Hall provides a fascinating in-depth introduction to the art, architecture and history of La Serenissima in the company of world-class experts, as well as a day in Ravenna, last capital of the Western Roman Empire.

5 nights price from £3126 per person