Italian Classics By Rail: Cruise Extension

Day 1: An Afternoon in the Cradle of the Renaissance

An afternoon in Florence is never simply a walk, it is a conversation with centuries. Begin in Piazza della Repubblica, where Roman foundations lie beneath the daily bustle, before losing yourself in medieval streets that open onto Piazza della Signoria, Florence's enduring seat of civic power. From here, the city's icons unfold in graceful succession: the Duomo soaring in colored marble, the Ponte Vecchio glowing above the Arno, and finally the Galleria dell'Accademia, where Michelangelo's David commands the room with a presence that is, quite simply, impossible to forget.

Day 2: A Morning in the Market and a Private Cooking Class

There is no better introduction to a city than its neighbourhood market. Accompanied by a local chef, you will move between stalls where color, aroma and the sounds of daily Florentine life weave together into something entirely authentic. Ingredients chosen with care, the freshest produce, fragrant herbs, everything that gives Tuscan cooking its character, are carried back to a private kitchen, where the art of pasta-making is passed on through simple, unhurried gestures. Understanding not just technique but the tradition behind each dish, you will sit down to a long and satisfying lunch made entirely by your own hands, a meal that tastes, above all else, of place.

Day 3: An Introduction to Europe's Oldest University City

Bid farewell to Florence as you board your Business Class Frecciarossa high-speed train and glide through the magnificent Italian countryside towards Bologna. Once settled, your guided city walk becomes a slow and considered immersion into a place shaped by nearly a thousand years of scholarship. Pause at the stern grace of the Fontana del Nettuno, contemplate the lean of the medieval towers and stand before the immense Basilica di San Petronio, whose vastness seems to hold centuries of human striving within its walls. Bologna is a place where history is not preserved behind glass but lived in daily, humming quietly beneath its ancient porticoes.

Day 4: Parmesan, Ferrari and the Soul of the Emilian Countryside

Some mornings are best spent in pursuit of something deeply, unapologetically Italian. Begin at a working Parmigiano Reggiano farm, where you will follow the cheese through each stage of its meticulous production before sitting down to a guided tasting of wheels aged to different depths, each one distinct in character, texture and quiet intensity. The afternoon shifts register entirely with a visit to the Ferrari Museum in Maranello, where Formula 1 icons, elegant grand tourers and daring prototypes trace the arc of a brand that has always chased the edge of possibility. Before leaving, a moment in the F1 driving simulator offers a fleeting, exhilarating glimpse into what it feels like to inhabit that myth.

Day 5: A Private Tour of the Fashion Capital

Once again, the Frecciarossa carries you onwards to Milan, where a guided afternoon brings the city's many layers into focus. Stroll through streets that pulse with energy before stepping inside the magnificent Duomo Cathedral, one of the finest examples of Gothic architecture in the world. Continue to the Teatro alla Scala, whose celebrated exterior speaks quietly of the great performances contained within, before pausing for a cappuccino in the Italian manner. As the day softens into evening, take to the rooftop terrace of Terrazze Martini for aperitivo hour, signature cocktails, elegant small bites and sweeping views across the city skyline, a fitting toast to a journey through the very best of northern Italy.