A free afternoon leaves plenty of time to sample the regional specialities of Venice and some of Italy's 360 pasta varieties. Perhaps you'll take trip to the nearby islands of the Venetian lagoon. Our journey today is one of scenic splendour. We head north into the rich plains of Lombardy into Italian-speaking southern Switzerland. We have free time in the stylish lakeside resort of Lugano before climbing up to almost 7,000 feet into the Alps and on through William Tell country to the charming town of Lucerne.
Dinner is included at our hotel.
This morning we head into France and the countryside of Burgundy, one of the most prestigious wine growing areas on earth. Here we see vineyards straddling the west-facing slopes of the Cote d'Or. Then heading north, we drive on to Paris, the City of Light. We will see the Arc de Triomphe, the Champs Elysees and the sweeping banks of the river Seine. The highlight is a visit to the gothic masterpiece of Notre Dame.