Behold some of the world’s most impressive Byzantine mosaics, which adorn the walls and ceilings of Ravenna’s 6th-century basilicas and mausoleums.

Depart from the pier and enjoy a brief drive through the ancient city of Ravenna. After a photo stop at the 6th-century Mausoleum of Theodoric, a rotunda-shaped tomb that the emperor built for himself, you’ll arrive at the city center and begin your walking tour.

Ravenna is revered for its well-preserved Byzantine mosaics, and you’ll see them in all their glory at sights such as the Sant’Apollinare Nuovo basilica, which Theodoric also built. Most of the original mosaics depicting the life of Christ still exist, and the colors are vibrant, even after 1,500 years.

You’ll also tour San Vitale Basilica, whose Byzantine mosaics are considered the finest in the western world. Be sure to note the glittering mosaics in the ceilings of the choir and apse. More spectacular mosaics await you at the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, which dates even earlier to 430 A.D. The Roman empress who commissioned the tomb was never buried here, but it certainly would have been a grand final resting place.

Nearby, you’ll find the tomb of the poet Dante, who died in Ravenna in 1321 while exiled from Florence. The mound of dirt to the right of his tomb is where Dante’s urn was buried to protect it when Ravenna was bombed during World War II.

An hour of free time follows your walking tour, after which you’ll return to the pier.

OVERVIEW

Settle in for a picturesque drive inland to Brisighella for an enlightening walk through the heart of the medieval village and a lunch that reflects the cuisine of the Emilia-Romagna region. Sometimes called the Three Hills Village for its three prevalent gypsum hills, Brisighella exudes a wonderful medieval ambiance, especially along the Via del Borgo. This 14th-century covered walkway was once used to transport gypsum on donkeys, the reason it is nicknamed Donkey Way. Other architectural highlights include the 14th-century La Rocca fortress and a clock tower that was erected a few centuries later. It perches on one of the three hills. Your ensuing lunch will be prepared with locally sourced ingredients such as brisghello, an olive oil so distinctive that it earned a Protected Designation of Origin certification. Emilio-Romagna cuisine is also renowned for its specialty cheeses, prosciutto, tagliatelle pasta and Bolognese ragú sauce, some of which will be served.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Walk through medieval Brisighella, which nestles among three iconic hills.
• See 14th-century landmarks such as Donkey Way and La Rocca castle.
• Dine on traditional cuisine from the Emilia-Romagna region.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Artistic expression takes many forms on this phenomenal excursion, which offers an in-depth look at the area’s iconic ceramics, architecture and mosaics.

Depart from the pier and enjoy a leisurely drive inland to Faenza, a city celebrated for its glazed earthenware pottery, known as faience. Your guided walking tour here includes a stop at the International Museum of Ceramics where you’ll trace the global history of the craft through its extensive collection. This marvelous collection includes pieces from the Far East, works by modern artists such as Picasso, and centuries-old faience ceramics.

Continuing on, you’ll soon arrive at the late 15th-century Faenza Cathedral. While its exterior is rather plain brick, the interior holds a number of invaluable pieces of Renaissance art, including paintings and a wooden choir stall. Following your exploration of the cathedral, you’ll have a bit of free time before being treated to a leisurely lunch of regional specialties. Afterwards, you’ll make your way back to Ravenna for a walking tour through the city center.

Byzantine mosaics take center stage here at sights such as the 6th-century Sant’Apollinare Nuovo basilica. Almost all of its original mosaics depicting the life of Christ still exist, and the colors are surprisingly vibrant, even after 1,500 years. You’ll also tour the San Vitale Basilica, whose Byzantine mosaics are considered the finest in the western world, and they too are in splendid condition.

More spectacular mosaics await you at the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia. The Roman empress who commissioned the tomb in the 5th century was never buried here, but it certainly would have been a grand final resting place. After visiting, you’ll re-board your coach and transfer directly back to the pier.

Visit two of the Venetian lagoon’s islands, Murano and Burano; the first world-famous center of glass-making and the second renowned for its lace. First you’ll travel along a portion of the beautiful Giudecca Canal passing St. Mark’s Basin and other landmarks, then cross the lagoon to Murano, where you’ll visit a glass factory and have a unique opportunity to see how beautiful Murano glass is made, followed by some time for shopping. After visiting the glass factory, continue with a leisurely trip across the lagoon to lovely little Burano with its gaily painted houses and brightly painted fishing boats. Enjoy a walk through the streets of this charming and picturesque island where fishermen are always mending nets or repairing their boats.

On Burano, one encounters a way of life that is rapidly disappearing. Women sometimes sit in their doorways working on a piece of lace. Burano lace is extremely delicate and time-consuming to create. A small piece may take several weeks to complete, making it highly prized. You'll have a chance to admire some of these works of art when you visit one of the stores that sell the famed Burano lace.

Explore the Renaissance gem of Ferrara, a city so architecturally and historically important that it has been deemed a World Heritage Site.

Depart from the pier and as you drive in a northwesterly direction, the Italian countryside soon reveals its charms. Fertile farmland, earthen colors and a keen sense of history prevail throughout the Po Valley. The past is especially revered in Ferrara, a planned Renaissance city whose layout influenced urban design for centuries.

Ferrara’s network of broad, straight, parallel streets were plotted around the city’s lavish churches and palaces, the most impressive of which you’ll see during your guided walking tour. The largest monument from the medieval period is the city cathedral, a Romanesque-Gothic masterpiece containing important artwork such as bronze statues of saints and paintings from the Ferrara school.

Among the finest palaces is the Palazzo dei Diamanti or “Diamond Palace,” whose façade is adorned with thousands of pointed marbled blocks carved to represent diamonds. Inside lies the acclaimed National Gallery of Ferrara. You’ll also enjoy a grand view of the imposing Estense Castle in the center of town, a medieval fortress complete with a moat, drawbridges and four towers.

While walking through the Jewish Ghetto, be sure to read the historical markers that tell the story of the community, a version of which was retold in the book “The Garden of Finzi-Continis” and the Academy Award-winning 1971 film of the same name. Finally, you’ll have free time to explore a bit on your own before driving back to the pier.

Start with an orientation ride along the Giudecca Canal to St. Mark’s Square, where you’ll meet your guide for a walking tour through the heart of the city and take in many of its famous landmarks. Learn a bit of the history of 'The Most Serene Republic of Venice' and see the impressive Doge’s Palace with its beautiful Gothic architecture of lacy white limestone and pink marble. Adjacent to the palace, the Basilica of St. Mark stands proud as the centerpiece of Piazza San Marco. One of the best examples of Byzantine Architecture, its exterior is magnificently adorned.

See the Bridge of Sighs, the bell tower, the clock tower and many other important buildings as your guide takes you through the narrow streets that lead up to the Grand Canal and the Rialto Bridge. During your tour, you’ll stop at a glass factory showroom where you’ll see a demonstration on how the famed Murano glass is made, followed by some time for shopping or browsing. At the end of the tour, you’ll meet your escort at a designated time and place for the return to your ship.

Capture the moment by taking the perfect selfie photo in Venice! Instantly share your experience with family & friends on your favorite social media site as many of the stops will include wi-fi in real time. Professional photographers & selfie experts will teach you how to take the best selfie photo including composition, posing, lighting etc. Capture the spirit of this incredible destination.

HIGHLIGHTS

Your tour will start with a private boat transfer along Giudecca Canal. Your tour will have designated selfie stops at

• San Giorgio Bell Tower
• St Mark Square
• Bridge of Sighs
• Rialto Bridge
• Please note that there is a long drive from Ravenna to Venice, approximately 2.5 hours each way.

To make this experience even more fun you will be provided with a selfie stick to help catch the perfect picture. End your picture-perfect day with a beverage from the Fondaco bar.

Delve into the architectural splendor of Bologna on a walking tour of its historical squares, churches and the former seat of the university, which was founded in 1088.

Depart from the pier and enjoy a scenic seventy-five minute drive west into the heartland of the Emilia-Romagna region, where you’ll find its energetic capital of Bologna. Regarded as one of Italy’s most beautiful cities, it’s dominated by spectacular architecture from the Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque periods.

Despite its size, Bologna is easy to negotiate on foot, a benefit your walking tour confirms. It begins in lovely Piazza Maggiore, an expansive pedestrian square that marks the oldest part of the city. Constructed to serve as Bologna’s symbolic and physical heart, the square is surrounded by magnificent medieval buildings such as the Palazzo del Podesta. Another landmark here is the Fountain of Neptune, which was built in 1556 by order of the pope as part of his beautification program.

Nearby, you’ll see the San Petronio Basilica, Europe’s sixth-largest church. This amazing structure would have been Italy’s largest cathedral if the pope hadn’t halted construction so it wouldn’t eclipse the size of St. Peter’s Cathedral in Rome. The Palazzo del Archiginnasio, once the seat Bologna’s university, was built next door to fill the space that the basilica would have occupied if it had followed the original plans. It contains a fascinating 17th-century theater where cadavers were publically dissected to further anatomical knowledge. Following your guided tour of Bologna, you’ll have a brief amount of free time before rejoining your coach and traveling back to the pier in Ravenna.

Marvel at the legendary racecars and racing memorabilia in the Ferrari Museum, an irresistible attractions for auto enthusiasts who love these almost mythical racing machines.

Depart from the pier and drive inland to Maranello, home of the legendary Ferrari Museum, also known as the Galleria Ferrari. It houses the world’s largest collection of iconic Ferraris, all of which were manufactured in the factory next door over the last six decades. Many of the cars on exhibit made racing history, including the single-seater that earned Ferrari its first world championship in 1951.

The museum is divided into theme areas such as Competition, Prototypes, and the GT world. Every imaginable classic red Ferrari is here, although the exhibits change frequently. You may see an F1-89 with controls on the wheel, the Ferrari 250 GT driven by Stirling Moss in the Tourist Trophy, and a GTB4 Competizione, which was highly successful both on the racetrack and commercially.

But Ferraris aren’t the only items on display. There’s also a mock-up of founder Enzo Ferrari’s first office, where the Prancing Horse legend began in 1929. You may see racing suits and helmets, Formula One trophies and engines, wind tunnels, pit walls, and even a sound box, where you can hear the roar of racecars on the track. The entire history of Ferrari is presented, and you can immerse yourself in it during both your guided tour and later during free time. Afterwards, you’ll rejoin your coach and transfer back to the pier.

After transferring from your ship to St. Mark's Square, you’ll meet your guide and see the facade of St. Mark’s Basilica, a church of inestimable beauty. Your next stop is the Doge’s Palace, a magnificent Gothic masterpiece with its pink marble exterior and lacy stone arches dating from the 14th century. A guided visit will take you through apartments and rooms filled with paintings. ‘Paradise,’ by Domenico and Jacopo Tintoretto, fills an entire wall in the Great Council Hall. Also learn about Venice’s political history.

See the lagoon through the grillwork of the Bridge of Sighs as you walk across to the old prison cells on the other side where Casanova was once held. After this visit to Doge’s Palace you’ll continue to a nearby glass factory showroom where you'll see a demonstration on how the famed Murano glass is made, followed by some free time to take a gondola ride, explore the area, shop, or perhaps visit the interior of St. Mark’s on your own. You’ll meet your escort at a designated time and place for the return to your ship.

Enjoy a day touring diminutive San Marino, the world’s oldest republic, which being inland has survived surprisingly intact since being founded in 301 A.D.

It's a relaxing ninety-minute drive through the picturesque countryside to San Marino, which perches atop the slopes of Mount Titano. Despite being Europe’s third-smallest state (after Vatican City and Monaco) and least populated state, San Marino has a surprisingly large number of fine boutiques, restaurants, and intriguing museums.

Upon arrival, you’ll have free time to explore them on your own. You may wish to start in the medieval city center, which you’ll enter through the Porta San Francesco. The expansive Piazza della Libertà, was built in the 14th century over ancient cisterns.

The adjacent Public Palace features stone excavated from Mount Titano and is decorated with coats-of-arms from the nine districts that comprise San Marino. The nearby Basilica of the Saint has a neoclassical design and contains the relics of Saint Marinus, the republic’s founder, who fled here after being persecuted for his Christian sermons. If you’re feeling ambitious, you might also climb the hill to La Rocca, an 11th-century fortress towering above Mount Titano. Enjoy lunch on your own and perhaps do some shopping before rejoining your coach for the drive back to Ravenna.

Discover artistic Faenza by visiting highlights such as the International Museum of Ceramics, a wonderful prelude to the wine tasting that follows.

After departing from the pier, you will settle in for a leisurely drive inland to Faenza, an artistic city known for outstanding ceramics and gorgeous urban spaces. As you pass Faenza’s beautiful plazas and ancient Roman walls, you will soon understand the charm of this city on the Lamone River.

An enlightening stop at the cathedral on Freedom Square reveals even more. Construction began in the late 15th century, but the brick façade was never covered in marble as intended. The interior is more elaborate, especially the sculptures and wooden crucifix from the 1400s.

Still, Faenza’s fame comes from its ceramics, an artistic tradition that dates to the 12th century. While browsing the International Museum of Ceramics, you may see floor tiles with Islamic themes, glazed majolica earthenware and modern ceramics that show how this ancient art has progressed.

Then, following a bit of free time in Faenza, you will visit nearby Poderi Morini, a winery that first produced only Sangiovese, the area’s most characteristic wine. During the tasting in the atmospheric cellar, you will sample several of the other wines that may include a red made with Longanesi grapes that bears an intense herbaceous aroma. The winery’s signature white is more delicate with hints of linden blossom and banana.

To complement the tasting, you will be served a snack of locally produced meats and cheeses before returning to the pier.