Sordevolo Passion Play, Italian Lakes Trio & Cunard Mediterranean Cruise

Your holiday begins as you fly from Australia to your destination.

Arriving in Biella, your holiday begins with a two-night stay in this elegant Piedmont town set at the foothills of the Italian Alps. Take time to settle into your hotel and enjoy the peaceful surroundings of the Elvo Valley, where traditional Italian life unfolds at an unhurried pace.

Late afternoon, you’ll travel to the Passion Play Museum, where you’ll learn about the history and traditions behind this remarkable five-yearly event. Enjoy exclusive backstage access, dinner at a local restaurant, and then take your seat for the performance.

Today you’ll transfer to Lake Maggiore, in the foothills of the Italian and Swiss Alps. During a four-night hotel stay, explore the Borromean Islands with their aristocratic palaces and discover charming lakeside villages.

Enjoy a guided walking tour of Como’s historic centre, discovering highlights including the Cathedral, Basilica of St. Fedele and Porta Torre. Stroll through elegant squares such as Piazza Cavour and Piazza Duomo before enjoying free time to relax and savour lunch at leisure.

During a day at leisure on the shores of Lake Maggiore, you could explore the Borromean Islands, with their magnificent palaces and enchanting gardens, or take a leisurely boat ride to discover charming lakeside villages.

Embark the Centovalli Railway for a picturesque journey through the “One Hundred Valleys”. Pass by deep gorges and cascading waterfalls. Glide across colourful alpine meadows, over numerous bridges, and through vineyards and forests of chestnut trees.

Today you’ll transfer to Verona for a one-night stay, stopping en route to savour a relaxing lunch by the beautiful shores of Lake Garda.

The stunning Queen Elizabeth emanates sophistication, opulence, and enduring allure. On board, enjoy an array of amenities, such as exquisite dining venues, sumptuous lounges, a splendid theatre, and a serene spa.

Ever visited a 14th century pharmacy? Things have changed a little since then, but it’s well worth a look during your visit to a Franciscan monastery. Don’t froget to stroll along the promenade and medieval city walls.

Corfu boasts some of the most stunning scenery in the Greek Isles. Drive along the coastline and through the mountainous interior to see the Achilleon Palace built by the Empress Elizabeth, join in an island celebration and feast, or explore the winding streets of Old Town.

Cruising the Greek Islands on board your Cunard Queen feels like sailing through a postcard, where olive-clad cliffs meet sapphire seas, fishing boats gently sway in quiet harbours, and whitewashed houses gleam along sunlit coastlines beneath circling seabirds.

Sail along this narrow passage to witness the landscapes and coastal towns on both sides. The strait is known for its views of the Calabrian and Sicilian coasts, as well as the Messina skyline.

Napoli, as it’s known to Italians, has a little bit of everything – ancient churches and universities, stunning parks, and wonderful restaurants. The Duomo is perhaps one of the most beautiful ancient cathedrals in the world. Take time to explore the Palazzo Reale, a palace built at the turn of the 12th century. Or visit the Museo Archeologico Nazionale to see one of the most comprehensive collections of Greco-Roman artefacts anywhere, including an abundance of mosaics from the buried city of Pompei.

Take a veritable journey through time as you stroll past the Colosseum, custodian of almost 2000 years of history, to the elegant streets of Rome which are home to the top names in fashion.

Tucked into the Ligurian coastline between the cities of Genoa and Pisa, the charming and atmospheric La Spezia is one of Italy’s most important commercial harbours and home to its largest naval base. La Spezia is also the gateway to the UNESCO World Heritage Site Cinque Terre, a collection of five fantasy-like coastal villages perched immaculately on the contours of the coastline.

This island famed as Napoleon’s birthplace is a perfect summer resort. Explore its fine sandy beaches and deep forests of pine and chestnut, which cover more than half the landscape.

Stretch your legs on a palm-lined seafront promenade where stylish shops boast their wares and bar clientele settle back in their chairs with a hard few hours of people-watching ahead. Blissful!

Valencia is an exhilarating mix of history, art and intellectual activity. Brave the 200 steps up to the summit of the amphitheatre, for a giddying panorama of orange rooftops and blue-domed churches.
Valencia’s rich Hispanic culture is visible everywhere in the city’s architecture, often reflecting Roman, Visigoth, Moorish, and Aragonese traditions.

Your holiday complete, today you’ll disembark your ship and head to the airport for your flight home.

Land back in Australia.