There’s no better place to begin your immersive Italian adventure than in Rome. Go a bit off the beaten path to the Testaccio neighborhood (a favorite among Rome’s foodies) and get swept away by the whimsical architecture of the “fantasy district” in Quartiere Coppedè. It’s all about the views in Amalfi, where rainbow-hued homes are stacked on the cliff side and winding roads lead you to Positano and Salerno.

Savor some Italian comfort food in Sorrento and fuel up for a day of archaeological exploration in Pompeii. We stay late in port here so you’ll be able to capture the true essence of la dolce vita. Next stop: Sicily, where Mount Etna looms large and the hilltop village of Taormina offers stunning views of the island from an ancient Greco-Roman amphitheater.

Our next destination allows you to discover one of Italy’s best-kept secrets—the Puglia region. Experience unique Romanesque style and endless orchards and olive groves in Brindisi and Lecce. We divert briefly from Italy to visit Kotor, Montenegro. Trust us, this medieval fortress city is well worth the detour.

We return to Italy to experience the mélange of Latin, Slavic, and Germanic cultures in historic Trieste before sailing for Venice, where you’ll have two days to soak in every last ounce of timeless romance before you debark.