A Taste of Italy: Taormina to Venice

After breakfast at the hotel, you will transfer to the Golden Eagle Danube Express and settle into your private en-suite cabin. Watch the dreamy Sicilian landscapes pass by outside your window as the train travels to Ragusa.

Ragusa is a photographer’s dream: a hilltop town bursting with Baroque charm–with honey-hued churches and grey-stone houses tumbling down the hillside.

Enjoy a fun cooking demonstration this afternoon, where you’ll learn about regional flavors and secrets of traditional Sicilian cuisine.

Breakfast is served in the dining cars as you arrive into the lively Sicilian capital, Palermo. A gentle walking tour through its vibrant old town reveals a captivating blend of architectural styles. During your tour, you’ll enjoy an aperitif and private concert at the grand Teatro Massimo, Italy’s largest opera house.

After lunch, choose to delve deeper into Palermo at your own pace: visit Corleone to explore its Anti-Mafia Museum and enjoy breathtaking mountain views, or head to Monreale to admire the golden mosaics of its world-famous Norman Cathedral.

In the early morning, be part of a truly once‑in‑a‑lifetime moment as the train is gently taken apart and rolled onto the waiting ferry for the Straits of Messina crossing. You can remain aboard the train for this extraordinary crossing, or climb to the ferry’s top deck to feel the salt air and take in sweeping views of the Italian mainland.

Upon arrival, the train is carefully pieced back together, ready to carry onward—an unforgettable experience.

Arrive in the charming coastal town of Maratea, set dramatically between the mountains and the sea. Ascend to the iconic Christ the Redeemer statue, where sweeping panoramic views stretch across the Tyrrhenian coastline, offering one of southern Italy’s most breathtaking vistas.

Later, continue to the elegant Santavenere Hotel, beautifully positioned above the sea. Here, enjoy a relaxed and immersive pizza-making class, led by expert chefs who will introduce you to the art of traditional Italian pizza. Then, enjoy your freshly made pizza in the refined coastal setting.

This morning, arrive in the elegant city of Verona. Immortalized as the setting of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, Verona reveals its rich tapestry of Roman, medieval, and Renaissance heritage during an informative guided walking tour. Highlights include the magnificent first-century Roman Amphitheatre in Piazza Bra, one of the best-preserved in the world, as well as the city’s historic squares and atmospheric streets.

Later this afternoon, continue to Venice, where you transfer to a five-star hotel for a one-night stay in the heart of this extraordinary city, allowing time to relax and soak up the unique ambience of the canals and palazzi at your leisure.

In the evening, you will enjoy a farewell reception dinner, giving you the opportunity to reflect on your journey through Italy.

Following breakfast in the hotel, you will be transferred to the airport for onward departures.